New Neighbors
Lu Heng stood on the balcony.
The wind pushed upwards from the valley floor, carrying moisture and the pungent smell of turned-up earth. He leaned on the railing and looked down, remaining silent for a long time.
Overnight, Moonview Valley was transformed.
It's not a change, it's just that an extra piece has been added.
The valley entrance had shifted outwards, and the mountain ridges on both sides reconnected along that new line, widening the valley floor considerably. The sky seemed higher too—not because the clouds had moved, but because the cliffs on both sides had receded, leaving an endless expanse overhead. The grove of trees that had been crowded in the middle of the valley yesterday now stood against the newly grown slope, its position unchanged, yet appearing to be on the edge.
The water is bubbling up from the new land.
A gap opened up where the cliff face rose upstream, and the stream poured down from there, crashing against the rocks at the bottom of the valley and shattering into a mist. The waterfall was new—yesterday there was only a thin stream clinging to the base of the rocks, without even a sound. Below the point of impact was a newly formed depression, which the water first filled before overflowing outwards to form a lake.
The lake was still the same lake, its location unchanged, only its size had increased. The water spread outwards from the original shoreline, overflowing the shallows, the boulders he had trodden countless times, all the way to the roots of the old willow tree on the east side. The expansive water reflected the newly raised cliffs on both sides, their edges still inch by inch burrowing into the mud, utterly silent.
The lake narrows into a stream at its end, meandering along the newly expanded valley. The water volume has doubled, flowing through the entire Moonview Valley before disappearing into the woodland downstream.
Lu Heng slowly withdrew his gaze, his eyes falling to the seeds that had been transplanted a few days earlier at the bottom of the cliff.
The Winter Plum and Secluded Valley Orchid that were buried in the soil by Puppet just yesterday have now sprouted. Tender white buds push through the surface soil, pulling out a slender stem, and tiny new leaves unfold, covered with a thin layer of morning dew.
According to the normal growth cycle, it takes at least several dozen days from seed to germination. To grow like this overnight is completely contrary to common sense.
The reopening of the forest has allowed newly planted vegetation to also benefit.
Lu Heng frowned slightly, a sense of dread creeping into his heart. This land, which had appeared out of nowhere, was brimming with vitality, almost overflowing with it. The plants buried here were forcibly stimulated by this force, skipping the long period of dormancy and sprouting directly. The faint fragrance of the Secluded Valley Orchid drifted up on the wind, much stronger than when it was first planted, gently entering the nostrils and soothing the mind. The Winter Plum seedlings took root in the soil of the cliff face, their dense root systems rapidly extending, firmly gripping the rock and soil, beginning to fulfill their function of stabilizing the soil and blocking the cold.
He didn't linger, turned and left the Shelter. Instead of taking the steep cliff face, he went around to the side along a gentle path, climbing step by step towards the top of the valley. The soil under his feet was soft, mixed with new grass roots, and he sank slightly when he stepped on it.
Standing at the highest point of the valley, the view unfolds completely, taking in the entire Frost Forest.
The outline of the woodland was not completely overturned, but a large area of new forest belts extended outwards, with countless unfamiliar life forms hidden among the trees, rising and falling. Lu Heng squinted and quietly discerned, two guesses arising in his mind.
Were these creatures deliberately sealed off by the forest and then re-emerged as the space expanded, or were they simply moved here overnight?
A thought suddenly occurred to him, and a troublesome idea came to mind.
If these strange beasts are newly born, wouldn't the entire Frost Forest need to be recognized from scratch?
Lu Heng raised his hand and scratched his head, unsure of the situation.
He calmed down and weighed the situation carefully. Moonview Valley was his permanent territory, his foundation was here. The forest continued to expand outwards, and the number of new creatures would only increase. He couldn't possibly chase after every strange beast that appeared, carrying his Insect Armor Sword. Endless sweeping outside would eventually lead to him being surrounded by hordes of beasts and facing an overwhelming attack.
Actively clearing out the entire map is not a viable strategy.
But this does not mean he will stay indoors and completely cut off contact with the outside world.
These new neighbors have appeared, and he needs to meet them eventually. He has no intention of starting a conflict, but he at least needs to meet them to get to know them, understand their habits, and figure out each other's bottom lines. The best outcome is for neither side to initiate a fight, provided that he knows what the other side is like.
After figuring things out, Lu Heng set off and entered the newly transformed Frost Forest to begin his patrol and exploration.
As soon as he entered the woods, he sensed something was amiss.
Amidst the tangled trees, winding paths suddenly appear. The paths are smooth, without any stray branches or large pebbles obstructing them, as if naturally divided by the earth, connecting different sections of the forest. They are not old animal trails repeatedly trampled by wild beasts; the marks are fresh, extending forward along the undulations of the woodland, leading all the way into the depths of the forest.
Lu Heng stopped and looked down at the smooth dirt road beneath his feet. Instantly, he remembered the All-Terrain Off-Road Motorcycle stored in the Wristband's Storage Slot.
Previously, the entire forest was impassable, with broken trees and steep slopes everywhere. Even if the motorcycle were taken out, it would be difficult to maneuver and could only be stored away. Now that these paths have appeared out of nowhere, the vehicle finally has a use.
He walked slowly along the path. The air in the forest was moist, and the scent of grass and trees was heavy. Many newly grown shrubs and saplings crowded on both sides of the road, their branches still bearing the tender green of new growth. Occasionally, a strange roar would come from the forest in the distance. The sound came through the trees, muffled, and he didn't know what kind of creature it was.
Lu Heng did not accelerate rashly, but continued to walk forward. For this initial reconnaissance, caution was the priority. He could get the motorcycle later; for now, he needed to use his feet to sense this new territory, memorize the road directions, and mark the depressions and bushes where ambushes were likely.
As he continued forward, he paid attention to the forks in the road and silently drew a simple map in his mind. The terrain of the new forest belt was slightly different from that of the old forest; the soil was looser, and the vegetation grew much faster, sharing the same source of vitality as the Moonview Valley.
After walking for about half an hour, he turned back and followed the path back towards Moonview Valley.
Standing at the mouth of the valley, I looked back at the vast Frost Forest.
Holding onto Moonview Valley is the bottom line, but exploring and contacting the new neighbors is what needs to be done next. Newly built paths crisscross the forest, connecting to the unknown, and the Off-Road Motorcycle that was originally intended to be idle will soon become his tool for traversing this new territory.
Without further hesitation, Lu Heng immediately prepared to set off into the forest to investigate.
He doesn't plan to bring the Bone Demon with him.
This is merely an attempt to get to know the new neighbors and explore the area, not to actively provoke a conflict.