Plaster Monkey
The lingering heat of the fire slowly dissipated through the forest.
The smell of burning hadn't completely faded from the ground, but the charred monkey carcasses scattered everywhere had already been completely decomposed by the Wristband.
The site has been restored to its original state, leaving only the soil hardened by the high temperature and the scorched fruit tree branches.
Lu Heng caught his breath, recovered from his fatigue, and continued walking deeper into the dense forest.
Not far along, the surrounding environment gradually changed.
Large areas of the ground were flat and firm from years of trampling, free of weeds and tangled branches. Piles of dry twigs and tangled vines clung to the low branches, resembling simple nests. Under the tree roots, there was a thick layer of accumulated fruit pits and rotten peels.
The entire area is covered with wild fruit trees, all of them wild kiwifruit trees.
Lu Heng stopped and looked around.
Now everything is completely clear.
That large group of Rockhowl Monkey we just saw was not just passing through.
This is their lair.
He scratched his head, a little helplessly.
It's like barging into the enemy's ancestral land, slaughtering the entire tribe, and seizing their habitat.
Recalling the moment I entered the forest, I did catch a glimpse of movement deep within the woods. Several small female monkeys, clutching their tiny cubs tightly, had fled in panic and hid deep within the dense forest.
It seems that the elderly and infirm who were left behind sensed something was wrong and ran away in advance.
Lu Heng didn't think much of it and took the opportunity to search around the monkey's territory.
We've just finished a tough battle, and we can't let any resources slip by.
He carefully examined the cracks in the rocks and the shady spots around the tree roots, and discovered patches of climbing and spreading vines.
These vines grow exclusively on mountain cliffs and around monkey dens. They have neat branches and leaves, with five small leaves on each branch, and they grow in patches, covering the crevices of rocks and tree roots.
The Wristband displayed authentication information.
[Herbal: Five-Leaf Vine]
[Rank: Black Iron Tier]
[Description: It grows mostly on mountain cliffs and near monkey dens. Taken internally, it reduces swelling and pain, promotes blood circulation, and disperses blood stasis. When crushed and applied externally, it can accelerate the healing of skin wounds and relieve muscle and bone fatigue caused by prolonged labor.]
Lu Heng harvested all the Five-Leaf Vine, roots and all, and stored them in his Storage Space. His fingertips brushed against the damp vine leaves, which still had forest soil clinging to them. He carefully shook off the pebbles trapped at the roots to avoid taking up too much Storage Space.
Just as I finished putting away the herbs, I suddenly heard a series of faint, sharp, and continuous chirping sounds.
The sound was harsh and noisy, drilling into the ears and making one feel irritable.
Lu Heng frowned and walked towards the sound, his feet crunching over the withered kiwi peels on the ground.
In the open space, a tiny baby monkey was stumbling and running around.
It looked as if it had just woken up from a deep sleep, wandering aimlessly back and forth, constantly screaming. It looked around frantically, pacing and searching, clearly desperately looking for its pack and its mother.
Looking at the little thing, Lu Heng felt an intense sense of disgust rising in his heart.
Even cubs didn't earn him any goodwill.
But it was just a harmless cub. There was no need to attack it without cause and cause unnecessary bloodshed.
Lu Heng forcibly suppressed the malice surging in his heart, too lazy to argue, and turned to leave.
But as soon as he took a step, the little monkey locked onto him and pounced on him at lightning speed.
Using both hands and feet, she clung tightly to Lu Heng's trouser leg, her screams growing more urgent and louder.
Lu Heng tried to swing his foot, but couldn't shake it off at all.
This little creature was extremely small, but its claws gripped tightly, clinging to the clothes and refusing to let go. Its sharp cries were close to the ears, piercing the nerves with each stab.
The incessant chatter and persistent pestering instantly ignited Lu Heng's anger.
Frustration and disgust completely overwhelmed his self-control; he instantly recalled the disgusting things he had seen in related videos.
Plaster Monkey.
The most clingy and disgusting baby monkeys in the mountains and forests are those that are constantly sticky and noisy, making them the most troublesome.
The more I looked at it, the more annoyed I became, and the resentment in my heart kept rising.
Lu Heng lowered his head and suddenly gripped the little monkey's neck tightly with one hand.
He adjusted the angle of his arm, grabbed the Plaster Monkey, and repeatedly slammed it against the hard tree trunk beside him.
Once, twice.
Violent impacts continued to erupt, and tiny specks of blood splattered across the tree bark and onto his forearm.
Lu Heng's expression was cold, and he didn't care at all.
It's not my own blood, so I feel nothing.
The originally sharp and piercing cry gradually lowered and became hoarse, until it finally stopped completely.
The struggle in his hands completely disappeared.
Once Lu Heng confirmed that it was no longer moving, he yanked the baby monkey off its neck and held it up with one hand.
Finally, some peace and quiet.
He raised his hand, gathered his strength, and hurled the Plaster Monkey at a thick tree trunk in the distance, like throwing a target.
A clear, dull cracking sound of bone breaking echoed in mid-air.
After landing, there was no further movement.
Completely resolved.
All the pent-up fighting spirit and frustration from being entangled were released in this moment.
Lu Heng let out a breath, his tense shoulders relaxed slightly, and he felt much more relaxed.
He continued his meticulous search around the monkey's nest, his feet treading through the scattered kiwi bushes, his eyes scanning every tree hole and rock crevice.
Before long, a warm, mellow, sweet fragrance drifted gently in on the evening breeze through the woods.
The aroma is clean and mellow, with a naturally fermented sweetness that is exceptionally enticing.
Lu Heng's eyes flickered, and he immediately followed the scent and walked quickly towards it.
Before long, he found the source in a huge hollow in an old tree trunk.
Deep inside the tree cavity, a large quantity of wild kiwifruit had accumulated. Most of the fruit pulp was soft and fermented, and the juice had soaked into the bottom of the tree cavity, accumulating into a pool of clear liquid, which was wild Monkey Wine.
Worried that fermentation might produce impurities or toxins, Lu Heng immediately activated his Wristband.
[Item: Monkey Wine]
[Rank: Black Iron Tier]
[Description: This product is made from fresh fruit stored by macaques in the deep mountains, naturally fermented in tree hollows. It has a mellow and smooth taste, without any harsh or off-flavors. Long-term consumption can strengthen the body, clear the meridians, remove dampness and cold from the body, and slowly increase physical strength; when applied externally and massaged into muscles, it can activate the meridians, soften fascia, and slightly improve physical agility.]
Upon seeing the attributes, Lu Heng's eyes lit up.
This is truly a great product.
He immediately took out his portable water bottle, poured out the remaining water, and filled the tree hole with Monkey Wine.
He then took out a whole bottle of unused mineral water, tilted his head back, quickly drank it all, and then refilled it with Monkey Wine.
To make matters worse, I simply poured out the other two bottles of spare water and started filling them one by one.
In the end, I saved up a bottle and a half of Monkey Wine, enough to use slowly.
He secretly compared them in his mind.
The Fox-Bone Wine stored in the Shelter is potent and has a strong, heavy medicinal flavor; it is strong but not fragrant.
In contrast, this Monkey Wine has a mild and lingering aroma, and its taste and practicality far surpass those of Fox-Bone Wine.
After putting away all the containers, Lu Heng continued to explore the Inner Region the monkey nest.
On the thickest ancient tree in the entire area, the thick branches stretching horizontally high up are hidden by layers of vines, making its location extremely concealed.
Push aside the tangled vines, and a neatly arranged Black Iron-Level Treasure Chest is quietly nestled in a crevice between the branches.
It was hidden so cleverly that it would be impossible to find without a careful search.
Lu Heng secretly admired the Rockhowl Monkey ' ability to hide things, reached out and took the treasure chest, storing it in his Wristband's Storage Space.
After carefully storing the treasure chest, he didn't linger and continued deeper into the dense forest.
Once you cross the monkey nest area, the surrounding tree species suddenly change completely.
A cluster of rare, tall trees grows in a staggered pattern, their bark delicate and their leaves uniquely shaped, quite different from the common trees around them. A gentle breeze sweeps through the canopy, carrying a faint, light fragrance of grass and wood.
The Wristband updates data synchronously.
[Trees: Spruce Tree]
[Rank: Black Iron Tier]
[Description: A rare and precious tree found deep in the mountains, mostly growing scattered in secluded forests. Its branches and leaves emit a faint, unique fragrance that naturally repels insects. The wood is dense, hard, moisture-resistant, rot-resistant, and not prone to cracking or warping, making it an excellent high-end building material for crafting tools and reinforcing Shelter.]
Lu Heng stopped and looked around, his gaze traveling from the tree roots all the way up to the tall canopy.
After traversing mountains and searching, and experiencing numerous battles, they finally stumbled upon a batch of truly rare and extremely valuable supplies.
With these Chinese Gordonia Wood, the subsequent upgrades and renovations of the Shelter can be taken to another level.