The former residents moved to the new territory and were settled into newly built semi-underground dwellings.

The space here isn't large, somewhat cramped, but warm and safe. Compared to that desolate wasteland, it feels like a whole new world.

There's even two meals a day, hot porridge and rye bread to fill the stomach, and it tastes pretty good.

This is already the best life they could imagine.

On the first night, a skinny old man handed over a bowl of hot soup, and the newly arrived man carefully took it, his hands trembling a bit.

"Th-thank you..."

"Don't thank me." The old man grinned, showing several missing teeth. "We just moved here not long ago... Everyone in the territory survives because of Lord Louis."

The man was stunned, lowered his head, looking at the hot soup in his hands: "He doesn't know us, yet he's willing to save us."

"Lord Louis never asks who you are," the old man said gently, "but whether you can survive."

Silence fell in the room for a moment, then soft sobbing followed, as someone quietly wiped their eyes.

"This is not a camp," he whispered, "it's heaven."

They never imagined that someone would be willing to lend a hand to those in hell.

And the name Louis Calvin is deeply engraved in everyone's heart.

......

After resolving McKinney's mess, Louis's life returned to calm.

And as winter officially descended, even the Lord's duties became sparse day by day.

Snow-covered roads and frozen river surfaces have even put an end to the machinations between the nobility.

The Daily Intelligence System churns out content, where eight out of ten are trivial matters like "So-and-so's horse kicked someone's door" or "The warehouse rats are learning new tricks."

Though living in the frost and snow is indeed challenging, Louis had made ample preparations in advance, so there were no real difficulties.

As the old steward, Bradley managed the territory's daily affairs excellently, and most issues needed no intervention from Louis.

Thus, during this time Louis focused mainly on two things:

The first was cultivation, as he was now double cultivating Fighting Energy and Magic!

While it sounded impressive, double cultivating Fighting Energy and Magic was living a double workhorse life.

Like working all day and coming home to tirelessly write, serving the book lovers.

Louis himself knew that, in terms of Fighting Energy, his innate talent was just below average.

Under normal cultivation pace, entering Mid-tier Elite Knight would likely take three to four years conservatively.

But in just two to three months, he had already stepped onto Mid-tier Elite Knight's threshold.

All thanks to the Ice Vein Giant Snake's gallbladder.

It was the kind where drinking it felt like being reborn with a supreme supplement.

And Louis steadfastly drank a pot of snake gallbladder soup every day for half a month.

Though the taste... barely palatable.

But its effects in purifying blood impurities, enhancing physique, and improving Fighting Energy sense were almost immediate.

At this rate, in two months, Louis would be a Mid-tier Elite Knight.

The old cultivation method of sheer willpower is now nothing short of hair-raising to reminisce.

And now?

He only needed to drink soup daily, with some basic training, to visibly increase cultivation.

Grateful for Brother Snake's great contribution!

As for Magic cultivation, it was another story.

He naturally cultivated the Primordial Meditation Technique given to him by the Grand Mage Loken.

Sitting cross-legged daily to focus and gather magic power wasn't too difficult, even feeling quite smooth.

The problem was, he didn't know any Mages, lacked any magic knowledge, and didn't understand cultivation progress.

No guidance, no textbooks to read, and even ignorance of "what Magic a beginner should know."

As for "whether his talent is good," "whether his magic gathering is good," "is this meditation technique excellent" — he had no concept.

Simply mimicking, recalling the black-haired youth's meditation technique.

His magic cultivation process was like pouring buckets of water into a dark well.

Is the well filled? Unknown.

Anything at the bottom of the well? Unknown.

Thus, he could only sit inside and focus on meditation, accumulating magic power while secretly hoping:

"If only a wild Mage could stumble near my Red Tide Territory... Whether old or young, as long as they're alive."

The second point... could also be seen as dual cultivation.

Both Louis and Sif were young and vigorous, having tasted the forbidden fruit, the former restraint long discarded.

Once the blazing fire is ignited, it cannot be stopped.

Sif never refused, occasionally even initiated.

Cuddled in his arms at night, her blue eyes always seemed to carry a hint of deliberate provocation and affection.

Just a glance could set one's heart aflutter.

Thus, in the deep of the night, outside the wooden walls, not a sound could be heard aside from the crackling of the hearth and some rhythmic breathing and soft sounds.

They never broke the silence.

No promises, no plans for the future.

She knew her status, and Louis never proactively inquired.

Yet, like a mutual understanding, no one avoided that step.

But one winter night, she turned her back to him and said: "If there should be children... remember not to let them suffer too much."

Louis paused briefly, gently reached out to hold her: "They won't, they'll have a stable home."

......

Winter is slowly fading away.

This is the end of winter, and the footsteps of spring are faintly approaching in the distance.

When Louis awoke from the bed, the day had just begun to brighten, and the light outside the window was a pale gray-blue.

He turned his head to see Sif quietly lying beside him, breathing steadily, eyelashes slightly trembling.

He extended his fingers, gently nudged her cheek.

"Hmm..." Sif muttered, frowning slightly but did not awaken, merely tilted her face slightly toward him as if seeking warmth in her sleep like a small beast.

Her silver short hair draped on the pillow, softening her cool face with a touch of rosy softness.

Her eyelashes cast fine shadows on her pale face.

Her physique, though still that of a combat-ready warrior, had quietly gained some curves.

The overly thin areas became gentle, with tension that filled the space between bones and skin with healthy vitality.

Through a whole winter's companionship and solace, her aura had gradually warmed both mentally and physically.

Louis blinked, a faint smile in his heart.

Too beautiful for words.

He refrained from waking her, carefully withdrew his arm, sat up, and waved his hand.

A half-transparent screen floated before his eyes, with lines of text quickly jumping on the panel.

[Daily Intelligence Update Complete]

...

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.