King of the Wilderness

Chapter 396: Chapter 230: The Champion of the Frozen Throne

Then, he took out the super-bright LED headlamp from his backpack. Walking to the igloo, he crawled inside, adjusted the headlamp’s brightness to its maximum in the darkness of the igloo, and then placed it in the very center, allowing the light to evenly illuminate the entire dome.

He exited the igloo and quickly walked back to the camera.

Snow is the best conductor and softbox for light. The high-intensity headlamp emitted a glaring white light inside the igloo, which, after penetrating the half-meter-thick snow walls, was evenly scattered and softened by countless ice crystal particles.

Finally, from the entire interior of the igloo and that arched entrance passage, there emanated a golden glow akin to a hearth.

At this moment, the white igloo stood silently like a giant jade lantern illuminated from within, on the cold snow field lit by starlight and auroras.

One cold, one warm, one blue-green, one golden-yellow—two extreme lights formed a picture filled with surreal beauty.

Lin Yu’an looked at the scene before him, knowing that this was what he wanted.

He pressed the record button on the camera and then quietly circled to the back of the igloo, completely hiding himself in the shadows to avoid ruining this perfect image.

Standing quietly, together with the silently recording camera, they jointly witnessed this miracle under the night sky.

A few minutes later, he walked back to the camera and stopped the recording. Eagerly, he pressed the playback button on the camera’s display screen.

When the video played on the small screen with extremely smooth motion and pure colors, the igloo he personally built was stably emitting warm and bright golden light from its interior and entrance.

Surrounding the snowfield was dyed in a warm tone, and the texture of the snowbrick seams was clearly visible under the glowing effect, full of a handmade feel.

In the distance of the igloo, there was the undulating snow-covered mountains outlined clearly by the aurora, and the spruce Forest line on the ridge representing the edge of life.

The whole picture combined movement and stillness, merging cold and warm. This dynamic image was more real and shocking than any static photograph he had seen before.

He stood still, watching the video for a long time.

After a long while, Lin Yu’an packed up the equipment and took one last look at the starry sky, feeling an unprecedented calm and relief.

He knew that he was ready.

Ready to welcome the final countdown and then go home.

On the morning of December 21, 2021, the fiftieth day, as expected.

A helicopter landed steadily in the snow, and before the wind and snow stirred up by the rotor blades had completely subsided, Mark leaped out first from the cabin door. He was followed by a medical personnel with a huge emergency medical kit and a cameraman carrying a camera.

”An!” He quickly approached without immediately embracing but first carefully scrutinized Lin Yu’an, as if trying to discern how he had been over the past few days from his face.

”Congratulations, brother.” In the end, he stretched out his arms and gave Lin Yu’an a solid hug.

”You did it! Fifty days! You’ve accomplished this incredible challenge again!”

”Not too bad.” Lin Yu’an smiled as he patted him on the back, his voice a bit hoarse.

Mark released him and pointed at the shelter and the igloo smokehouse behind Lin Yu’an, sincerely praising, ”Honestly, An, you’re the most home-like camp builder I’ve ever seen. That smokehouse is simply a work of art.”

Lin Yu’an chuckled, ”You have to find something to do, or else you’d go crazy. The smoked fish inside tastes pretty good. Want to take some back and try?”

”Haha, I’d love to!” Mark laughed heartily and then returned to the topic at hand, his tone becoming sincere and concerned, ”Seriously, Lin... without that little one these past few days, were you... okay?”

Lin Yu’an’s gaze instinctively drifted to the empty shelter. He was silent for a moment, a complex smile appearing on his face, filled with both longing and comfort.

He honestly said, ”Not so great, to be honest, very unaccustomed. The shelter was eerily quiet. Several times, I woke up in the middle of the night and instinctively reached out to touch the little one beside me, only to find nothing.”

He took out the red rubber ball from his pocket and tossed it lightly in his hand.

”But the thought that she’s in a safer, more professional place being well taken care of, and that I’ll be able to see her soon, puts my mind at ease.”

Mark looked at the small ball in his hand, a look of sentiment in his eyes, ”Dr. MacKeez sends us a daily brief. She says December is doing well, though she was a bit anxious at first, she’s starting to gradually adapt to the new environment. She also sends her regards to you.”

”Then I’m relieved.” Lin Yu’an put the small ball back in his pocket.

At this moment, the medical personnel, having prepared the equipment, approached and said, ”Lin, we need to perform a basic check-up before you leave, according to regulations.”

Lin Yu’an obediently sat on a block of wood and extended his arm.

”Blood pressure 95/60, heart rate 55.” The medical personnel looked at the instrument’s readings and frowned slightly, ”Mr. Lin, your body is already in a state of energy depletion.”

Mark added from the side, ”We calculated, and your weight loss rate this time is higher than when you participated in the challenge last time. Taking care of December consumed too much of your energy.”