Arctic survival, starting in hell at minus fifty degrees Celsius

Two weeks later, everyone returned to the camp.

They had almost finished eating, and everyone's skin had become rough, cracked, their faces were red, and their hands and feet were almost all frostbitten.

They were in a hurry to get back, and they didn't stop along the way, spending all their time traveling except for eating and sleeping.

The thick snow slowed them down, and the temperature dropped further after the snowfall, making it even more difficult for them to move forward.

David, in the end, couldn't make it through.

On the way, David contracted a second infection, which eventually led to sepsis. Sun Chengwu tried to bleed him and amputate his limb again, but neither could save him from the brink of death.

In fact, the outcome was already decided when his feet were frostbitten.

On his deathbed, he called Sun Chengwu over and said to him, "Boss, thank you for saving my life time and time again. I really can't go on. Please stop cutting me. It hurts so much."

At least, let me leave without so much pain.

Having said all that, Sun Chengwu stopped insisting and gave up on the rescue.

David fell into a coma after saying those words and stopped breathing two days later.

Two people also died in Lao Yang's team.

There were also casualties in other teams.

When they returned to the camp, only thirteen of the original twenty-five people remained.

The casualties reached half.

Despite being mentally prepared, many people still couldn't help but burst into tears when they saw someone they knew fall.

Nature is cruel, but it treats everyone equally.

Even Sun Chengwu suffered frostbite on both feet, and his ears turned red and purple from the cold, with signs of ulceration.

The others weren't much better than Sun Chengwu.

The way back was more difficult than the way there.

When they saw the campsite and the smoke rising from the chimneys above it, a wave of sorrow washed over them, and many couldn't help but burst into tears.

This journey has been incredibly difficult.

In the camp, someone spotted the returning team.

They rushed forward with great joy, only to be instantly extinguished by the sight of the lifeless bodies and the fact that more than half of the troops had been killed or wounded.

The group returned without saying a word or in the mood to celebrate. The excitement they had felt just two weeks ago when they found a suitable place to live had completely dissipated.

No one expected that the most dangerous time wasn't going there, but coming back.

When Sun Chengwu saw Su Wanqing, he forced a smile, trying to reassure her.

But when Su Wanqing saw Sun Chengwu's frostbitten skin, tears streamed down her face.

She threw herself into Sun Chengwu's arms, saying, "You've worked so hard."

A simple "You've worked hard" eased Sun Chengwu's fatigue considerably these past few days, and he felt that his decision was the right one.

Their sacrifice gave hope for survival to many more people.

That night, Su Wanqing crawled into Sun Chengwu's bed, but the two of them did nothing but hug each other.

They felt each other's body temperature and slept soundly.

This was the most comfortable sleep Sun Chengwu had had in half a month.

They rested for a full week after they returned. Many of them suffered worse frostbite after returning, and Sun Chengwu would take some time every day to treat their wounds.

Guan Fulin believed that due to the shrapnel in his body, he had completely given up physical labor, and Juliana wouldn't let him help. The task of making the ice sled fell entirely on Juliana's shoulders.

Sun Chengwu arranged several assistants for him, and everyone in the camp was at his beck and call, ensuring that after they set off, every four people would be allocated a sled.

Li Mu was also busy, constantly checking supplies and logistics to ensure their journey would proceed smoothly.

Old Yang originally thought that Xu Hui would make the decision for him.

But a single sentence from Li Daikui's wife left Lao Yang feeling utterly ashamed.

She said, "Da Kui risked his life to save yours, not so that you would become cowards."

Old Yang, although I have no right to ask you to die, you have a wife and a family.

Did you think about them when you ran?

Have you thought about what will happen to your wife if you run away?

Old Yang wanted to retort, "I'm about to lose my life, why should I care about them?"

But he dared not say it.

He spoke out, and was completely isolated.

Seven days later, they officially set off, leaving the house behind. Sun Chengwu even left some supplies in the warehouse.

If the Hadza people, or other unfortunate souls, were to arrive in the Arctic, these items might help them get through the most difficult period.

Ataya and her family kept looking back.

If they stay here, they can still see Ollie.

But once they've moved to their new home, they may never see Ollie again in this lifetime.

They didn't want to leave, but they had no choice; they had to go.

If they get caught, Ollie will be in an even more difficult situation.

Because of the large size of the group, it took them more than twenty days to reach the end of the frozen lake.

Everyone looked after each other along the way, but it was inevitable that some people would die.

After the large group reached the frozen lake, its numbers dwindled by one-fifth.

Panic gradually spread within the ranks.

Fortunately, Sun Chengwu had enough prestige to keep the crowd in check and prevent them from causing chaos.

Upon arriving at the new camp, they immediately cut down trees, carved out ice, and started fishing.

The fish and shrimp traps that were originally on the beach were too heavy to bring, so they had to make new ones.

The new camp was bustling with activity; they seemed to have rediscovered their purpose in life.

In just half a month, they rebuilt their home.

Inside the cave, they didn't need to build houses; they only needed to lay out beds and create some partitions to ensure their privacy.

The house is built on the outside.

The kilns for burning charcoal, smelting iron, and firing pottery were all rebuilt.

These things cannot be accomplished overnight.

Sun Chengwu divided the work among the team: some people went to cut down trees, some were responsible for fishing, and the women were mainly responsible for carrying firewood, weaving fish traps, building houses, and making furniture and daily necessities.

Women are treated like men, and men are treated like livestock.

Half a month has passed, and the village has begun to take shape.

With their previous survival experience, they planned their work effectively and were very efficient.

Sun Chengwu also made use of the river that ran through the cave. They kept the fish they caught in the river in fish traps so they could eat fresh fish.

However, fish should only be kept for a maximum of three days, otherwise they will lose weight due to hunger, which would be a loss.

Outside the cave, smoke billowed from the chimneys of the camp, which was surrounded by a fence. Piles of firewood were stacked on the ground. Ataya was helping her younger siblings move the firewood. Guan Fulin, like an old man, sat at the entrance of the camp, watching Juliana direct everyone to build the wooden table, occasionally offering a few pointers.

In the sky, stars twinkle, the Milky Way hangs upside down, and the aurora floats by; everything is peaceful and serene.