Traveling back to ancient times to get rich

Chapter 370 Returning from the Arctic Ocean

Two hours later, the dreamlike, wondrous aurora borealis finally faded away. The curtain of light, interwoven with deep blue, emerald green, and rose-red hues, gradually dissipated, leaving only a tranquil night sky. Ye Qingchen stood on the icy ocean, her eyes filled with reluctance. She had played and explored freely under the aurora, collecting many unique environmental and flora and fauna found in this frigid land, her heart overflowing with joy. Now, feeling she had played enough and collected enough, she turned to the group behind her and said, "We should go back now." Everyone nodded in agreement.

The group of twelve, along with the several dogs that had been frolicking nearby, all gathered their belongings upon hearing Ye Qingchen's words, preparing to embark on their return journey. The two locals familiar with the area weren't idle either; armed with specially made fishing nets, they spent considerable effort near an ice hole in the icy ocean, finally catching two fish unique to the region. These fish were famous locally, rumored to possess miraculous healing properties. The two men, thinking that their masters were usually so knowledgeable, might not have yet tasted such a medicinal and incredibly delicious fish, happily prepared them to take back for everyone to try.

Gu Mochen stood to the side, watching the two fish, a familiar feeling suddenly flashing through his mind. He frowned slightly, lost in thought, and after a moment, he suddenly slapped his forehead, a look of surprise on his face. He remembered now; when he was a child, he was frail and sickly, and his grandfather had traveled thousands of miles to this extremely cold land to find these magical fish in order to cure him. His grandfather had spent countless efforts and used ingenious methods to actually bring these fish back to Yun City and release them into the small medicinal hot spring there. If it weren't for Ye Qingchen's spiritual spring water, the fish probably wouldn't have been able to thrive in Yun City's environment, let alone grow so large. Thinking of this, Gu Mochen couldn't help but look at Ye Qingchen, his eyes filled with complex emotions—gratitude and a hint of amazement.

Ye Qingchen seemed to sense Gu Mochen's gaze, turned her head, met his eyes, and nodded slightly, as if conveying her feelings. Ye Qingchen was a person of deep affection and gratitude, and she knew she had taken something precious from this icy ocean—its unique environment and some adorable animals—that she felt guilty about. Now, looking at this ocean that had nurtured so many creatures, she secretly resolved to do something for it. So, she quietly used her mind to carefully sprinkle water from her spiritual spring space onto the icy ocean. She knew that the invasion of alien species could cause unpredictable damage to the local ecosystem, so she didn't add anything else, only hoping that the water from her spiritual spring space would allow all the plants and animals here to grow stronger—a way of giving back to this natural land.

On the ice, the two polar bears were bidding each other a reluctant farewell. The larger bear, who had appeared somewhat weak, suddenly seemed to be infused with a magical power; its body jolted, and its previously listless spirit instantly returned. It looked at its body in bewilderment, its mind filled with confusion. How could its ailments have vanished so suddenly? However, it had no time to ponder this. It only knew that now that it was healed, it could continue to protect its cub, ensuring that its child wouldn't be left alone and destitute in this cruel, frigid land. Thinking of this, the larger bear lowered its head and gently licked the cub's head. The cub, meanwhile, jumped and hopped joyfully around its mother, emitting tender cries, as if celebrating its mother's recovery.

The group slowly left the icy ocean region, retracing their steps. As they traveled, the temperature gradually rose, and their heavy winter coats became increasingly stuffy. Finally, when they arrived near the home of the two locals, they breathed a sigh of relief and quickly removed their heavy clothing. The two locals warmly invited them into their home, preparing to have their family cook the two precious fish. Ye Qingchen, seeing this, was generous. She opened her pack and took out the remaining dried meat, dried milk, sausages, and other food items, handing them to the two locals. Although the food wasn't much, it was filled with her good intentions. Of course, she deliberately chose what they had brought on the journey, to avoid being too extravagant and causing unnecessary trouble. The two locals were deeply grateful, quickly accepting the snacks and also taking out a considerable amount of silver from their bags, intending to leave it for their parents as a token of filial piety.

In a local's home, everyone sat around a large table, their laughter filling the air. In the kitchen, fish simmered slowly in a pot, its rich aroma like an invisible hand gently caressing everyone's nose, making their mouths water. After a while, the aroma grew stronger, seemingly filling the entire house. Meanwhile, the local family was busy preparing other delicacies. Fresh shrimp they had caught from nearby waters, after simple cooking, revealed an enticing pink color, tender and bouncy, bursting with juice with every bite, leaving a lingering aftertaste.

Besides shrimp, there were also dishes made with local ingredients, each brimming with rich local flavor. These dishes might not seem like anything special, but they embody the locals' love for life and their unique understanding of food. Their flavors might not be overpowering, but they are like a clear spring, refreshing and comforting, bringing a unique sense of warmth. The adorable dogs seemed to be drawn by the enticing aroma, their light steps leading them to the dining table. These little guys wagged their tails excitedly, their eyes revealing a longing for the food, gazing expectantly at the people enjoying their meal, occasionally letting out a few sweet, pleading barks, as if begging for food.

Seeing the adorable dogs, everyone couldn't help but laugh, their faces lighting up with smiles. Someone casually picked up some pieces of meat and tossed them to the dogs. The dogs, like hungry tigers pouncing on their prey, quickly grabbed the meat and then contentedly lay down to chew it with relish. In no time, the dogs had devoured the meat. However, they weren't satisfied. Instead, they slowly walked back to the table, continuing to gaze at everyone with those pitiful eyes, as if saying, "I'm still not full, can you give me some more?" Touched by the dogs' endearing appearance, everyone fed them some more food.

And so, the dogs flitted around the dining table, enjoying the food offered to them. As they ate happily, they wagged their tails to express their gratitude. The whole scene was filled with a warm and joyful atmosphere. In this cozy atmosphere, everyone savored the food and shared stories from their trip to the Arctic Ocean. Laughter and cheerful conversation filled the air, as if they had forgotten the hardships and fatigue of the journey.