Home to Recuperate
The warm energy emanating from the Bronze Flesh Core steadily seeped into all parts of the body along the meridians. It was gentle and unhurried, slowly and steadily repairing all the hidden injuries caused by the giant python's compression.
The dull pain, congestion, and stiffness in my upper body gradually dissipated, and the recovery was very noticeable.
Only her legs were severely injured; the nerves and tendons had been constricted and bruised for a long time. The energy was recovering very slowly, with only continuous waves of soreness, numbness, heaviness, and swelling. Her senses were slowly returning, but she still felt weak, feeble, and unable to hold on.
It was very quiet all around.
The birds that used to circle in the sky had all flown away, and there was no sound from the swamp. The entire depression was empty, with only the occasional muffled sound of mud bubbles bursting.
Lu Heng sat there, quietly sensing the changes in his body.
He knew in his heart that he couldn't stay here for even a moment longer.
He had to leave immediately, as soon as his legs could barely keep him upright.
After sitting quietly and regulating his breathing for a few more breaths, the warmth in his body became more stable, and the blockage in his chest was completely cleared. He raised his hands, turned his body to the side, and rotated his shoulders; his upper body movements had completely returned to normal. He placed his hands on the mud beside him and used his strength to slowly lift his body up, tentatively straightening his knees to stand firmly.
As soon as my legs took on my weight, they began to sway uncontrollably, my knees felt weak and unsteady, as if I were walking on two soft cotton balls, the mud beneath my feet slippery and unreliable, offering no solid support whatsoever.
Being able to stand up is already the best outcome in such a desperate situation.
Lu Heng glanced down at the desolate muddy swamp, his gaze sweeping over the blackened swamp bushes in the distance. The lingering stench of the giant python's dead body still hung in the air, a scent that served as a landmark for swamp predators. The silence now didn't mean that no strange beast would follow the scent in the next moment.
You can't gamble.
He suppressed the discomfort of his aching and swollen legs, adjusted his center of gravity, and slowly moved forward step by step. His steps were extremely small and light, and he tested the softness of the mud with each step before daring to move on to the next.
However, the leg's power generation mechanism has not fully recovered, and the muscles are sluggish, making it impossible to walk steadily.
I had only taken a few steps when my foot suddenly hit a hard, protruding bump.
It's not the jagged, uneven feel of gravel, but a regular, flat, hard resistance.
His ankle was instantly tripped and killed.
My legs felt weak and powerless, and I didn't have time to stop, release the force, or adjust my center of gravity.
His body suddenly lurched forward, without any cushioning, and he slammed heavily into the mud.
With a muffled splash, thick black mud smeared my face, mouth, and eyes. My mouth and nose were instantly blocked by the murky mud, and a cold, suffocating feeling gripped me. The old wounds all over my body were throbbing and numb from the fall, making me look more disheveled and miserable than any other fall I had ever made.
Lu Heng remained calm.
In the instant he felt suffocated, he instinctively held his breath, struggled to pull his arms out of the soft mud, and precisely gripped the Bronze Hunting Blade that was stuck diagonally to his side, pressing it down forcefully.
The sharp blade was deeply embedded in the underlying hard mud layer, firmly stuck in place.
Using this sole means of support, he mustered the last of his strength and inch by inch lifted his upper body out of the mud. The moment he raised his head, he coughed up the mud that had been accumulating in his mouth and nose, and the murky mud dripped down his chin. His clothes were completely soaked in black mud, clinging heavily to his skin.
Once he could breathe easily, he didn't rush to get up, but gently brushed his toes against the hard object that had tripped him.
After several attempts, I found that the rocks were square, with regular edges and corners, and felt exceptionally firm when buried in the mud. They were definitely not naturally formed rocks from a swamp.
Lu Heng raised his hand, gripped the Hunting Blade, and gently scraped the muddy surface.
The soft, wet black mud on the surface was gradually peeled away, revealing a cold metallic sheen. The neat, box-shaped outline was clearly defined, and the patterns of the latches and edging were faintly visible.
It was a Bronze Treasure Chest.
[Bronze Treasure Chest]
Description: Treasure chests left behind in the wild can yield valuable resources and various weapons and equipment.
Upon seeing the object clearly, Lu Heng felt a slight sense of relief. After a fierce battle, serious injuries, and a humiliating escape, this find hidden in the mud was a real compensation.
But he had no intention of checking on the spot.
The Inner Region of the swamp remains treacherous. With his limited mobility and unhealed injuries, opening the box outside would only invite trouble.
Lu Heng raised his hand and lightly touched the Tattoo Space on his wrist. With a flash of light, the heavy treasure chest was instantly stored and sealed away. After doing this, he didn't linger. He identified the direction of the forest and, dragging his aching legs, steadily made his way back.
In the past, this path from the swamp back to the Shelter could be easily walked in twenty minutes on a normal pace.
Today is completely different.
My legs were weak, my body was sluggish, and the mud was slippery. Every step required several times the effort to maintain my balance. I walked and stopped frequently, my steps dragging on to the extreme. It took me almost an hour to cover such a short distance.
It was precisely this extreme disarray that ensured a smooth journey.
He was covered from head to toe in the stench of swamp mud, the heavy, putrid smell completely drowning out any trace of human blood or life force. Coupled with his extremely slow pace and gentle footsteps, he made almost no noise whatsoever. The small beasts roaming the forest and the low-level monsters hunting for food couldn't sense the presence or movement of a living person; no one approached or probed him.
The entire journey was quiet and undisturbed.
Only when the heavy stone door of the cave came into view did Lu Heng finally breathe a sigh of relief and slowly shuffle into the Shelter, covered in mud.
As soon as I stepped into the dry stone cave, before I could even catch my breath, a faint spiritual connection entered my mind the instant I approached the inner planting compartment.
This is a signal from the Purifying Water Lotus.
It is simple and straightforward, reflecting the plant's instinctive depletion, clearly stating that energy is exhausted and vitality is insufficient.
Lu Heng stood still and let out a soft breath.
Having traveled a long and arduous journey, my body aches and I'm exhausted. I had planned to wash and rest first, and treat my injuries, but right now I can only prioritize protecting the spiritual plants, which are the core crops cultivated in the Shelter and must not wither.
He paused for two seconds, then raised his hand to access the Tattoo Space and retrieved a crystal-clear Energy Core from Swamp Giant Python.
As Lu Heng slowly walked into the Planting Room, the leaves of the Purifying Water Lotus in the shallow pond drooped slightly, their color somewhat dull. He gently placed the Bronze Energy Core in the shallow water beside the lotus plant's roots.
The moment the Crystal touched the water, a fine, bluish light slowly diffused outwards.
The tender white roots immediately coiled around it, their fine tendrils clinging tightly to the surface of the Crystal, continuously drawing in the pure energy within. The previously withered leaves gradually unfurled, the shriveled veins slowly filling with vitality, and the depleted spiritual signal gradually dissipated.
After confirming that the Purifying Water Lotus had stabilized and recovered, Lu Heng dragged his tired body back to the bedroom.
His legs were still weak and trembling, making it impossible for him to stand and wash. He simply sat down on the clean floor, took out the clean water he had stored, and carefully wiped his cheeks, neck, arms, and torso, then meticulously washed his legs from his waist down.
The thick layers of silt were cleared away, revealing the bruised and reddened skin underneath, and the sticky, damp feeling all over my body finally subsided.
After cleaning, he took out the transparent mineral water bottle that had previously contained the Tiger Bone Wine.