Contentment

The stone door of the cave was firmly set in place, and the heavy stones were tightly sealed against the gaps in the mountainside, instantly and completely isolating the subtle sounds of wind and snow from the outside world.

The constant temperature of the Geothermal module filled the small space, dispelling the last trace of chill brought back from the evening patrol. The cave was so quiet that only his own steady breathing could be heard. Lu Heng raised his hand and stroked the flat stone surface in front of him, taking out and arranging the supplies he had collected during the day.

His movements paused slightly when his fingertips touched the self-heating hot pot seasoning packet that had been opened from the Wooden Treasure Chest.

In the daily struggle for survival in the Frost Forest, his sense of taste had long been tamed by the salty and pungent flavors of dried and smoked meat. Without spices or seasonings, all his food was simply to fill his stomach and provide energy. This base seasoned with a rich and spicy flavor was the rarest and most precious taste he had tasted since the trial ended.

Lu Heng didn't use it all at once. He pinched the edges of the packet tightly, tore it open evenly, and carefully divided the dark red oil base and dried side dishes inside into four equal portions. He only took a quarter of it and placed it in the stone pot. He carefully folded and sealed the remaining base and stored it properly in the Wristband's storage compartment.

Add an appropriate amount of melted snow water to the stone pot, and then use your fingertips to pick up a little bit of refined animal fat and put it into the soup base. The animal fat slowly dissolves in the warm water, mixing with the spices that have settled in the base, and simmers over low heat. Before long, tiny bubbles slowly rise from the bottom of the pot, and a faint aroma of numbing spiciness slowly rises, gradually filling the entire stone cave.

Having abstained from spicy food for so long, his taste buds had become extremely sensitive and fragile.

Even though it's only a quarter of the ingredients, the broth has a mild and gentle spiciness, which would have been negligible before. But now, the slightly spicy aroma that enters the nose and throat brings a distinct burning sensation. It's not harsh or pungent; it soothes the lungs with each breath. The dullness and fatigue that have accumulated in the body over the past few days seem to be gently dispelled by this spiciness, leaving the body feeling refreshed and indescribably relaxed and invigorated.

Lu Heng took out the top-grade tiger meat that he had treasured for a long time.

The tiger meat, stored at low temperatures, has a firm texture and delicate flesh, lacking the coarseness and gamey smell of ordinary wild animal meat. It is a top-quality ingredient that he has saved to replenish his energy in critical moments. Holding a stone knife, he cuts the tiger meat into evenly thick slices with clear and regular textures.

Finally, they found the last few dehydrated vegetables in the Shelter. The shriveled leaves were curled up in a ball; they were a stockpile they had collected a long time ago, which they had been reluctant to use.

All ingredients were added to the boiling red broth in sequence.

The boiling broth coats the slices of meat, and the originally firm tiger meat quickly changes color, absorbing the slightly spicy broth. The vegetables unfurl and melt in the hot soup, and the red and green ingredients tumble in the stone pot. The rich aroma of freshness mixed with the fragrance of pepper layer upon layer, no longer just the simple oily taste of the beast meat, but an extremely luxurious sense of warmth and life in dire circumstances.

Lu Heng squatted in front of the stone pot, his gaze fixed on the boiling surface.

After dozens of days of survival in the frozen wasteland, enduring wind and rain, and constantly on guard against monsters and wild beasts, his mouth had tasted nothing but bland, fishy, and salty flavors. He had almost forgotten what food tasted like. Looking at the bubbling red soup, he felt no exaggerated elation, only a heavy, long-lost sense of peace.

He raised his hand, scooped up a little soup with a ladle, and took a small sip.

A slight spiciness brushed across the tip of his tongue, leaving a mild aftertaste, but the umami flavor was somewhat weak. Lu Heng turned to the side, picked up the stored fine salt, rubbed a very small amount of salt between his fingertips, and gently shook it into the pot, adding no more.

No need for heavy seasoning; the perfect balance of saltiness and savory flavor perfectly complements the richness and succulence of the tiger meat.

He sat with his knees bent on the edge of the bedding, his back relaxed, quietly waiting for the ingredients to fully absorb the flavors. The cave was warm, and a warm aroma filled his nostrils. The tense muscles in his shoulders and back, which had been strained for days, gradually relaxed.

After the broth had boiled for several rounds and the ingredients were fully cooked, Lu Heng picked up a piece of tiger meat that had been soaked in the broth and put it in his mouth.

The tender, juicy meat, infused with a rich broth, is mildly spicy but not overpowering. The rich flavor of the fat and the subtle aroma of the spices unfold layer by layer, sliding down the throat and into the stomach. The warm sensation slowly spreads throughout the body. There's no deliberate attempt to create a feeling of satisfaction; it's simply a genuine, long-lost sense of fullness and contentment.

He ate slowly, his movements gentle and unhurried. He chewed each bite carefully, cherishing this hard-won hot meal.

The amount of ingredients in one pot was ultimately too much; by the end, there was still a full half-full pot of hot pot left in the stone pot.

Looking up at the cave entrance, he saw extremely cold winds and snow outside, with temperatures dropping to minus forty degrees Celsius. The natural low temperature environment was the best preservation chamber. Lu Heng covered the pot with the lid and placed it in a cool, shady corner inside the cave. There was no need to worry about it spoiling; it was perfect for eating the next day, ensuring that not a single bit of the scarce ingredient was wasted.

After tidying up the table, he unscrewed the bottle containing Tiger Bone Wine and took a small sip.

The clear, mellow liquor slid down his throat, perfectly neutralizing the lingering spiciness in his mouth, and the warm sensation sank down his esophagus into his stomach. The warmth of fullness mixed with the effects of the liquor spread, and he subconsciously straightened his back, letting out a long sigh, a deep burp escaping his lips.

Lu Heng raised his hand and gently pressed his slightly bulging abdomen, feeling a firm, full sensation with his fingertips.

After days of hunting, tracking, and investigating potential threats, my body has been constantly on high alert, never truly relaxed. Now, with this hot, oily, and salty meal, the ample supply of carbohydrates and fats has caused my blood sugar to rise steadily. There's no excessive fatigue or soreness; it's just a pure, physiological drowsiness sweeping over my entire body.

My mind slowly went blank, my eyelids grew heavy, and my whole body relaxed.

He didn't lie down immediately, but got up and walked slowly in the narrow cave. His steps were slow and his pace was gentle, allowing him to digest his food gradually. After walking around a few times, he climbed to the second floor of the cave, stood by the window, and looked out at the snowfield through the crack.

The night was thick, and the snow continued to fall, the fine snowflakes silently covering the entire forest.

The entire forest was deathly quiet, without the roar of beasts, the sound of wind, or the soft rustling of falling snow. He stood there quietly, not thinking about the crisis, not calculating supplies, not checking for potential dangers, briefly casting aside all the tension and calculations of survival.

Before going to bed, he would habitually turn on the public channel to observe and monitor the activities of other survivors, and to predict the situation in the entire forest.

But today, he had absolutely no interest in it.

A hot meal soothed all his anxiety, and a heavy drowsiness grew stronger. Lu Heng withdrew his gaze, turned around, and went down to the second floor, lying down on the thick bedding.

The warm, soft bedding clung to his weary body. The moment he closed his eyes, his consciousness sank rapidly; without tossing or turning, without a thought, he fell into a deep sleep.

I slept without any dreams.

The next day, as dawn broke, the snowfall in the forest gradually subsided.

A sliver of light seeped into the cave through the cracks in the rocks, dispelling the darkness of the night. Lu Heng awoke naturally, his body feeling refreshed and relaxed, without a trace of stiffness or soreness. A good night's sleep had completely cleared away the fatigue accumulated over the past few days.

He sat up, casually twisting his neck and stretching his waist, his joints making a slight cracking sound, his whole body light and agile.

After donning full protective gear, fastening every buckle, and confirming that his weapons were in good working order, Lu Heng moved the stones blocking the cave entrance and stepped out of the Shelter.

The air in the forest was dry and cold in the early morning; inhaling it brought a piercing chill that instantly dispelled any lingering sleepiness.

His first priority today was to inspect the giant snowman-shaped warning traps that had been set up around the base yesterday and to investigate any unusual activity in the surrounding area overnight.

But after walking only a few dozen meters, he suddenly stopped.

On the smooth, white snowfield, a few messy imprints are faintly visible.

The traces were faint and incomplete, mostly covered by the thin layer of snow that fell last night, leaving only blurry outlines, making it impossible to identify what species left them. The snow layer was soft, and after another light snowfall, these remaining marks would be completely erased, leaving no trace.

Lu Heng stood still, his gaze slowly sweeping across the entire perimeter of the Shelter.

His base was well-camouflaged, with scents concealed, terrain used to deceive, and comprehensive defenses in place, so that no wild animals or strange creatures had been able to quietly approach the mountain for a long time.

A chilling thought instantly flashed into my mind.

The only clue was that steaming hot pot of spicy food from last night.

The spicy and rich aroma has an extremely strong penetrating power; even in a sealed stone cave, it will still slowly leak out through the tiny ventilation gaps. In the silent, deserted snowfield night, even the slightest unusual smell of smoke will be amplified infinitely, eventually attracting the keen sense of smell of unknown beings in the forest.

A sense of helplessness crossed my mind, but it was quickly replaced by a stubborn determination.

Survival is a constant struggle for survival, a daily ordeal amidst freezing snow and deadly dangers; life is already unbearably agonizing.

Snowstorms robbed him of food, monsters attacked him, and the environment was harsh; he endured it all with gritted teeth. If even a hot meal or a delicious dish required constant caution and self-restraint, then surviving in such dire circumstances would truly be nothing more than a numb and agonizing ordeal.

So what if this fragrance attracts murderous intent?

He could endure the cold, hunger, and danger, but he would never give up the only solace in dire straits. Anyone who dared to invade or harass him because of this little bit of warmth would fight him to the death, never retreating.

Suppressing the surging emotions in his heart, Lu Heng continued walking forward.

At the edge of the field of vision, several giant snowmen standing on the open snowfield were no longer intact.

The massive snow mass collapsed and crumbled on a large scale, with snow scattering everywhere. The cracks were rough and grotesque, not caused by the touch of a small wild animal, but by the sheer force and brutal impact of its enormous size.

While he slept peacefully through the night, an unknown behemoth had already quietly appeared around his Shelter.

The forest remained calm despite the snow, but a deadly threat lurking beneath the snow and deep within the dense forest was already silently approaching.