Goodwill

The deathly silence deep within the cave was completely left behind.

Lu Heng walked ahead, his steps steady. The newly formed Insect Queen Bone Demon followed closely behind, its heavy limbs treading over the gravel, making only a low, muffled sound as it landed, without any other noise.

The entire Frost Forest has been completely transformed.

The stench of decay, insect poison, and the stench of rotting vegetation that used to permeate the air have all dissipated. The wind, passing through the branches and leaves of the forest, no longer carries the chill of death, but instead carries a faint scent of reviving vegetation.

As we walked along, the forest was no longer deathly silent.

Wild animals hidden in the bushes, branches, and weeds all revealed themselves. Rabbits, tits, forest deer, and all sorts of creatures no longer fled or hid, but stood quietly in place, silently watching the passing figures.

There was no wariness, no ferocity, and no instinctive avoidance for survival.

All that remained was pure submissiveness and gratitude.

Lu Heng glanced around, feeling uneasy all over.

He was well aware of his actions. From beginning to end, killing the two Insect Queen and destroying the entire Insect Nest was never an act of salvation.

It was all to eliminate deadly threats, to ensure their own survival, and to protect the Shelter home.

That's all.

He didn't intend to save the forest, nor did he think about gaining any spiritual merit in return.

But right now, all the wild animals in the forest seem to remember his kindness.

Several small wild deer tentatively emerged from the woods, heads bowed, approaching cautiously. They gently rubbed their soft antlers against Lu Heng's sleeve, the movements so subtle as to convey a cautious attempt to ingratiate themselves.

Lu Heng's body stiffened.

It was incredibly embarrassing.

He lived in the apocalypse and was used to killing, plundering, and the survival of the fittest. Killing and survival were instincts etched into his bones, but at this moment, facing these unsuspecting and kind-hearted creatures, he felt a strange tightness in his chest.

What's the next step?

How can he hunt the prey in this forest with a clear conscience in the future?

People genuinely remember his kindness, and all the creatures in the forest owe him a debt of gratitude. It would be too awkward for him to turn around and hunt with his knife.

My mind is a mess, not exactly annoyed, but rather I feel a subtle pleasure I've never experienced before.

Having been enveloped in the dark jungle for so long, encountering such pure kindness feels both strange and incongruous.

Lu Heng raised his hand and waved it gently.

He didn't speak, but simply gestured for the wild beasts to disperse.

A few deer hesitated for a moment, then obediently retreated into the woods, still following at a distance, neither too close nor too far, quietly seeing them off.

Lu Heng suppressed the strange feeling in his heart, quickened his pace, and headed towards the Cliffside Shelter.

I've already made up my mind.

I won't touch the Frost Forest again.

He had no shortage of food or hunting resources. If he needed prey in the future, he would go to the desolate wilderness at the edge of the forest or other uninhabited wastelands.

He accepted the respect and gratitude he had shown to the people of this forest that he had personally saved, and he was willing to protect it.

They remained silent the entire way.

The two, one human and one demon, followed the familiar mountain path and steadily returned to the Cliffside Fortress Shelter.

The heavy stone gate closed, isolating the gentle sounds of the forest outside and returning to familiar tranquility.

The Insect Nest attack, which had lasted for several days, has now come to a complete end.

Lu Heng stood on the Shelter platform, looking up at the desolate land in the distance.

The Frost Forest has come back to life, and the insect infestation has been completely eradicated, but the widespread withering and desolation of the entire world still remain.

The vegetation was withered, the land was barren, and the gray sky was devoid of any sign of life.

No one knows how long this global catastrophe will last.

After a brief silence, Lu Heng raised his hand and opened the public channel.

The messages were densely packed, mostly from survivors in the Frost Forest region.

Everyone's story was completely consistent.

The Insect Tide has receded significantly, scattered insect monsters have almost disappeared, the threat of nighttime attacks has been completely reduced, the pressure to survive has been greatly reduced, and we can finally rest in peace.

Many people are feeling fortunate and grateful that their luck has improved.

Lu Heng scanned the list one by one, finding it a bit strange that there were other survivors in the forest. It seemed he would have to warn the wild beasts to keep an eye on things later.

In his area, only some minor problems remain. He needs to completely eradicate the source of pollution and thoroughly eliminate the Insect Nest to allow the entire forest to complete its ecological recovery.

No one knows the source of this upheaval, no one knows the brutal bloody battle that led to the downfall of the Insect Queen, and no one knows that he single-handedly ended the disaster on this land.

The channel was bustling with activity, everyone expressing their relief at surviving the ordeal.

Lu Heng hovered his fingertip above the screen, but ultimately typed nothing and silently turned off the channel.

There's no need to explain, no need to make a fuss.

In the post-apocalyptic world, concealing one's strengths and remaining humble is always the best solution.

After processing his emotions, Lu Heng turned and walked into the inner Planting Room.

In the small, temperature- and humidity-controlled space, all kinds of crops under cultivation are growing steadily.

He reached out and took out the Black Spirit Ginseng he had obtained this time from his Wristband Space.

With its intact condition and fresh root system, it is an extremely rare and precious medicinal herb, with very few remaining in this degenerate age.

Lu Heng carefully loosened a small patch of fertile soil, meticulously planted the Black Spirit Ginseng root, covered it with soil, gently pressed it down, and straightened the roots. His movements were skilled and steady.

This is a long-term resource.

If properly nurtured, it will be of great use in the future, whether for healing, medicine making, or as a scarce reserve.

After planting, his gaze fell on the Blood-Devouring Vine growing steadily by the wall.

Before the catastrophe, in order to avoid the impact of the Insect Tide, he specially transplanted the Blood-Devouring Vine from the forest defense line back to the Shelter.

Now that the Insect Nest are destroyed and the forest is safe, it would have been time to transplant it back to the outer defense line and rebuild the territory's guard barrier.

Lu Heng reached out and touched the rattan cane.

The moment my fingertips touched the cool vines, a clear emotion instantly flooded my mind.

Reluctant to part.

The Blood-Devouring Vine's simple awareness was its reluctance to leave the Planting Room.

Lu Heng stopped moving.

He hesitated for two seconds, then slowly withdrew his hand.

No rush.

Now, all living beings in the Frost Forest are grateful for his kindness, and the entire ecosystem has returned to peace. There is absolutely no possibility of a counterattack threatening in the short term.

With the external situation stable and no immediate threats to the territory, there is no need to rush to reset the defenses.

Let's stay at the Shelter for now.

Allowing the Blood-Devouring Vine to continue growing here may not be a bad thing.

After settling all the trivial matters and handling all the post-war cleanup, the war was over.

Lu Heng's mind calmed down completely.

He turned and left the Planting Room, walking slowly up the cliffside stone steps to the Astrology Room at the top.

With its open view, quiet and deserted atmosphere, this Shelter for calming the mind and exploring the area.

The Insect Queen Treasure Chest, Gift of Frost Forest.

Two exclusive treasure chests lay quietly in the Wristband Space, the most substantial rewards from this fierce battle.

They fought bloody battles, suffering broken bones and serious injuries, trading their lives for their own, and risking their lives to eradicate the source of pollution.

All the sacrifices, all the costs.

It's time to reveal the answer.

Lu Heng entered the Astrology Room and stood still.

The night wind swept through the lookout point, stirring up the dust all around.

He raised his hand, his fingertips lightly touching the Wristband.

Two streams of light slowly emerged and quietly placed in front of him.