Drunk
The cold wind, carrying heavy snow, kept rushing towards the cave entrance, and the snow particles hit the outer layer of the protective suit, making a dense, crisp rustling sound.
Lu Heng had been busy outside for most of the day, his hands never stopping for a moment. He used the tip of his spear to chisel through the hard, frozen snow crust, breaking off pieces, moving them, and piling them up. After clearing one patch, he would compact it, repeating the process over and over without stopping. The biting cold of minus thirty degrees Celsius seeped into his clothes, and the long hours of repetitive effort to move the snow left his arms sore, heavy, and stiff. Each breath he exhaled was quickly torn away by the fierce wind before it could even fully dissipate.
After a busy afternoon, a safe Shelter through the shelter was finally cleared.
He slowly straightened up, his back aching, his muscles brimming with the exhaustion of heavy physical labor. Looking up at the cave ceiling, he saw thick layers of frozen snow, already solidified into a hard shell with the rocky eaves. The blizzard outside continued to rage, and he had no climbing tools; attempting to clear the snow would easily lead to a slip and a fall. Lu Heng quietly observed for a moment, then decisively suppressed the urge to clear the snow from the ceiling, deciding to wait for the temperature to rise and the snow to melt naturally.
Turning back into the cave, the heavy stone door closed shut, completely isolating them from the biting cold outside.
He leaned against the cool rock wall for a short rest, his Wristband still displaying the Seven-Day Trial page. A fleeting curiosity crossed his mind, wondering if any new ferocious beasts would spawn in the wilderness today. But he quickly came to his senses; he hadn't completed yesterday's trial, and the original ferocious beast target was still pending, so the system naturally wouldn't refresh any new trial tasks.
The wind and snow howled incessantly outside, and the extreme cold would drain one's energy exponentially, making it pointless to venture out and force one's way out. Lu Heng quickly made up his mind to stay in the Shelter today and rest and recharge his strength.
The cave Geothermal was constantly warmed by heat, making it an ideal training ground in the extreme cold. He took out the Tiger Breathing Technique, which he had recently acquired, and calmed his mind to guide the flow of his breath according to the method. This technique stimulated blood and qi far more intensely than basic breathing exercises. The entire set of breathing movements was expansive and powerful. After practicing it several times, he felt a noticeable tightness in his chest, and all the meridians in his limbs tightened, sending a dull, throbbing pain through him.
Clearly sensing that his physical body had reached its breaking point, and that forcing himself to continue cultivating would only strain his muscles and bones and cause hidden injuries, Lu Heng immediately stopped his breathing and ceased all his movements.
After a short rest, he remembered the tiger bones and matching herbs left in the storage area, which could be used to brew medicinal wine according to the recipe. He took out a clean empty mineral water bottle, put warm water next to the ecological water storage device, rinsed the bottle wall repeatedly, thoroughly washed away the residual impurities, and then turned it upside down to drain.
Moving to the workbench, he meticulously followed the recipe and precise proportions, adding the cleaned Forest Flame Tiger bones and rare herbs for nourishing bones and muscles, then adding purified water to control the optimal ratio.
A soft glow rose from the surface of the workbench, and the internal mechanical structure slowly turned, extracting all the essence of the raw materials. A thick, amber-colored liquid gradually condensed in the transparent bottle, and a mellow, lingering medicinal aroma slowly diffused, filling the entire stone cave space.
Lu Heng raised his hand to summon the trial Wristband, and gently swept it across the bottle. Pale white system text slowly appeared.
[Tiger Bone Healing Wine - Black Iron Tier]
Made from whole tiger bones from Forest Rock Tiger, combined with extracts from various nourishing herbs.
When taken internally, it can relieve soreness and distension in the meridians and repair internal injuries left by fighting and cultivation. Long-term use in small amounts can slowly nourish the muscles and bones and reduce stiffness in the limbs caused by extreme cold. When applied externally, it can quickly dissipate bruises and swelling and accelerate the healing of skin and flesh contusions.
The dim light on the workbench slowly faded, marking the complete end of the extraction process.
Three bottles of clear, amber-colored medicinal wine stood quietly on the table, their rich, mellow aroma lingering gently.
Looking at the hard-won finished product, a hint of regret flashed in Lu Heng's eyes. The real tiger bone, the rare medicinal materials accumulated over a long period of time, and the huge amount of raw materials used, were only used to condense into three bottles of medicinal wine. The system's extraction loss was visible to the naked eye.
But he quickly came to terms with it. Trial workbenches naturally have fixed wear and tear, which is considered part of the system's processing costs and is reasonable; there's no need to dwell on it.
He reached out and picked up a bottle of medicinal wine; the cool bottle felt refreshing to the touch.
In the real world, he was a teetotaler and had never drunk alcohol before. But looking at this bottle of medicinal wine brewed with the bones and blood of ferocious beasts and spiritual herbs, the pungent aroma of alcohol mixed with the rich fragrance of herbs filled his nostrils, and he couldn't help but have the urge to try it.
As his thoughts raced, he suddenly remembered that since killing the Forest Flame Tiger and dividing and storing its flesh, he had never tasted a single bite of tiger meat.
Today, with the mountain blocked by snow and the cave safe and sound, I can treat myself to some medicinal wine and fresh meat from a top-grade ferocious beast in this desperate situation, after days of hard fighting.
Lu Heng then took out a piece of premium tiger meat that had been stored in his Storage Space in a refrigerated container.
The moment the meat was removed, one could immediately sense its quality, far surpassing that of ordinary wild animals. The muscle texture was firm and fine, the blood a warm and pure color, without the slightest hint of fishiness or gamey smell, but rather exuding a pure and rich wild essence. The instant one's fingertips touched it, the body instinctively responded—the meat was of exceptional quality, perfectly suitable for raw consumption, and easily digestible by one's constitution.
His ingrained habit of eating cooked food year-round meant he didn't choose to eat it raw. Instead, he cut off a piece of tiger meat with a good balance of fat and lean and slowly roasted it over an open fire.
The open flame gently licked the surface of the meat, the oil slowly seeping out, sizzling softly incessantly. The domineering and pure aroma of meat quickly rose, diluting most of the medicinal fragrance in the cave. He sprinkled only a little fine salt for simple seasoning, without adding any extra ingredients, preserving the most original essence of the beast's flesh to the greatest extent.
After a short while, the tiger meat was roasted to perfection, with a slightly charred surface that locked in the juices, while the inside was tender and fully cooked.
Lu Heng arranged the roasted meat, placed a bottle of Tiger Bone Wine beside it, and sat down comfortably.
Picking up a piece of meat and putting it in my mouth, the rich, full-bodied meatiness exploded instantly in my mouth, without a trace of greasiness. A domineering, warm medicinal power slid down my throat into my abdomen, and the moment it entered my stomach, the warm air spread out and instantly revitalized the dormant blood and qi throughout my body.
The essence of the Forest Flame Tiger's flesh was indeed extraordinary, warm and nourishing yet powerful. One bite and the muscles and bones throughout the body felt as if they were being gently soothed and relaxed by a warm current.
Immediately afterwards, Lu Heng tilted his head back and drank a mouthful of Tiger Bone Wine.
The liquor was sharp and spicy as it entered the throat, with a strong and uncompromising flavor. The moment it entered the stomach, a scalding heat burst forth, perfectly complementing the nourishing and medicinal properties of the tiger meat.
Meat nourishes the blood and flesh, while medicinal wine unblocks the meridians. The dual medicinal power slowly circulates throughout the body, dispelling all the fatigue accumulated from days of labor and battle, leaving one feeling indescribably comfortable.
Already having no tolerance for alcohol, the combination of strong medicinal liquor and top-grade tiger meat for maximum nourishment resulted in a medicinal effect far exceeding the body's tolerance limit.
With small bites of meat and sips of wine, the entire piece of tiger meat was devoured, and nearly half of the medicinal wine in the bottle was also consumed.
The physical changes came suddenly.
My head gradually felt heavy, a faint dizziness slowly spread, my ears and cheeks felt hot and my skin felt hot and swollen all over. My tense nerves completely relaxed, and my consciousness became slightly hazy and languid.
The cave was warm and cozy, the effects of the alcohol mixed with the potent medicinal properties completely permeating his body. Lu Heng raised his hand and gently rubbed his temples, understanding the situation. His body, which had no history of drinking, was suddenly subjected to the strong liquor brewed from the spiritual medicine of a ferocious beast, coupled with the highly nourishing tiger meat; it was inevitable that he would become intoxicated.
He immediately stopped all movement, forcibly suppressing the urge to continue eating and drinking. Excessive supplementation would not only be useless but would also increase the burden on his internal organs and cause hidden injuries that are difficult to detect.
The remaining tiger meat and medicinal wine were carefully sealed and neatly placed back into the Storage Space.
Outside the cave, the wind and snow continued to howl and surge, and the frozen mountains and forests were chilled to the bone.
In the hazy, drowsy state, through the gaps in the howling wind, he seemed to catch a faint, unusual movement coming from the depths of the forest; a faint, indistinct sound pierced through the wind and snow.
At this moment, his head was throbbing, his consciousness was wavering, and his body was relaxed and languid, leaving him with no extra energy to investigate further. He temporarily set aside his perception of the anomaly and calmed all his thoughts.
Amidst the raging cold of the world, only this stone cave offered a sense of security and warmth. Lu Heng leaned against the icy rock wall, sitting quietly with his eyes closed, letting the warm medicinal power slowly nourish his body. With a slight tipsiness and relaxation, he quietly enjoyed this hard-won moment of peace amidst the desolate snowstorm.