Discovery

The lingering warmth of the hot spring gently coats the surface of the skin.

Lu Heng slowly opened his eyes in a state of extreme relaxation and drowsiness, his consciousness returning very slowly. It wasn't the awakening after a long night of rest, but rather the awakening from a light sleep after a short rest.

He had previously gone to the spring to heal his injuries and apply medicine to relax. After being tense for many days, his body and mind suddenly relaxed, and he was overcome with drowsiness, only managing to take a nap for an hour or two. The surface tension and bruising were relieved, but the deep internal injuries from the shock to his internal organs had not healed. The previous intense pain, which was so severe that even a light breath would cause him to choke, had subsided, and he could walk slowly and move normally without much difficulty. However, if he exerted himself or expanded his chest too much, he would still feel a dull, aching pain deep in his chest, and there was still a strange tightness and stiffness deep in his muscles and bones.

Lu Heng slowly sat up, carefully moving his shoulders and back, twisting his waist, and meticulously checking every remaining pain point in his body.

When breathing is steady, it is relatively stable, but if you deliberately take a deep breath and exert a little force, a dull pain will rise in the inner chest. It cannot withstand vigorous exertion or prolonged weight-bearing.

A sense of reassurance arose in my heart, but I dared not be careless.

The powerful restorative properties of Tiger Bone Wine, combined with the blood-activating and meridian-clearing effects of Geothermal springs, suppressed the most dangerous acute bruises, restoring his ability to walk and explore normally, and freeing him from the state of excruciating pain with any movement. However, the internal injuries were still there, and his foundation had not healed, so he could not fight with all his might.

He raised his hand to wipe away the remaining moisture from his skin, then quickly dried himself with a clean cloth, his movements steady and efficient.

All external equipment was stored in the Wristband Space, making it completely unnecessary to expose it on the back. In the desolate snowfield, exposing large pieces of equipment would only increase the weight, attract attention, and create openings. In the end, only a Bronze Hunting Blade was left close to the body and worn at the waist, light and easy to carry, suitable for all actions.

After tidying up, Lu Heng looked up at the makeshift wooden warning device he had erected at the entrance of the nest.

Several thin wooden planks were scattered across the opening, making it unstable. The structure was simple but flexible enough.

He pondered for a moment, then raised his hand and gave up, without dismantling it.

The Blizzard Monster's Old Nest was already a high-risk location in Frost Forest. Although the original nest has been completely cleared, the danger level of this area will not immediately drop to zero. If any monsters or beasts that pass by try to explore the nest and touch the wooden planks, it will serve as a warning for their next visit.

Keeping it is a free deterrent; there's no need to waste it.

After confirming that there were no omissions, unusual movements, or hidden dangers inside the cave, Lu Heng turned around and stepped out of the cave.

The moment I stepped out of the cave, a biting, cold wind lashed at me.

The frigid air, tens of degrees below zero, carrying fine snowflakes, penetrated the air and clung to the skin.

At that moment, an extremely strange physical sensation suddenly appeared.

The harsh cold of the snowfield, which he had long since become completely accustomed to, now caused his body to instinctively and physiologically resist it. It wasn't just a simple stinging cold; it was a resistance that emanated from his very bones, an instinctive urge to retreat and shrink back into a warm cave—a highly unusual reaction.

Lu Heng suddenly stopped, a question instantly arising in his mind.

He had been in this Frost Forest for many days, traversing wind and snow day and night. Being exposed to wind and snow was commonplace for him, and his tolerance was already at its maximum. Not to mention ordinary drafts, even when facing a raging blizzard, he had never experienced this strange, instinctive reaction of being afraid of the cold.

He tried to inhale slightly, and immediately felt a dull pain in his chest, so he quickly slowed his breathing. He attributed it to the temperature difference, his unhealed internal injuries, and his weak constitution: his body had just come out of the constant warmth of the hot spring, and his skin, flesh, and bones still retained warmth. The sudden contact with the cold, coupled with his weak constitution, made it difficult for him to adapt in time.

Suppressing his doubts, Lu Heng stopped thinking about it and steadily stepped into the snowfield, heading towards his own cave Shelter, deliberately slowing his pace to avoid aggravating his old chest injury.

Walking through the snow-covered forest, my thoughts calmed down, and I immediately recalled the crisis of yesterday's resource inventory.

The dried hardwood stockpiled in the Storage Space is only enough to last for three days at most.

With heavy snow blocking the mountains, all the thick branches in the wild are frozen solid and absorb moisture. Damp wood is difficult to ignite, produces a lot of smoke, has a weak fire, and is extremely short-lived. Dry firewood has become the most scarce survival resource at this stage. Once the firewood runs out, the nighttime temperatures of tens of degrees below zero can be fatal.

Lu Heng's gaze swept over the low trees in the woods, and he quickly made a mental calculation.

The thick branches were completely soaked in snow water and had no use. However, the small, thin branches in the forest were delicate, with thin wood, less snow accumulation, and a core that was less susceptible to moisture. If collected in batches and dried at high temperatures using the Shelter's Geothermal constant-temperature module, they could be completely dried and dehumidified in no time, enough to temporarily fill the firewood gap and alleviate the immediate crisis. However, one should not use sudden force when chopping branches to avoid aggravating old chest injuries.

Having made up his mind, he stopped sideways under a low pine tree covered in thick snow.

Looking up, the thick, fluffy snow piled up on the branches, bending the slender twigs slightly, and the entire canopy was covered in white.

Lu Heng uttered a sentence in a low, calm tone.

"We're going to get soaked in the snow again."

This was an inevitable outcome.

The entire snowfield was completely covered by snow; the snow would fall off as soon as you touched a branch, leaving you nowhere to hide.

He raised his hand to grip the Hunting Blade at his waist, controlled the force of his strike, and with a slight downward motion of his wrist, steadily chopped at a thin branch to the side.

The blade was sharp, cutting cleanly and decisively into the wood, snapping small branches in two.

Almost at the same second the branch broke, the thick snow piled up on the branch lost its support and fell in large swaths.

Snowballs and flakes rained down, covering everything from head to toe.

Large chunks of snow pelted my head and shoulders, while fine snowflakes scattered and flew everywhere, seeping into the gaps in my collar and melting against my warm skin, the icy snow water instantly soaking through my clothes.

A bone-chilling coldness instantly seeped into the body through the skin.

At that very moment, a sudden and intense feeling of discomfort erupted.

It wasn't just ordinary cold, nor was it the usual freezing sensation.

It was an extremely awkward, deep-seated sense of rejection; my whole body felt inexplicably tight and numb, giving rise to an indescribable, strange discomfort, and the old wound in my chest also felt dull and heavy.

Lu Heng froze on the spot, his brows furrowed, and he became completely alert.

Something's not right.

Something is very wrong.

He began a rapid review and comparison.

Having grown up in the original world, I was used to the cold winter snow and wind, and had long been immune to this kind of low temperature. In the days since I came to the Frost Snowfield, I have been accompanied by blizzards every day, and I have never had such an abrupt and deep-seated uncomfortable reaction.

Only today.

Aside from the hot spring therapy, there were no other unusual experiences.

This unusual sensation is completely different from simply catching a cold; it's an abnormal reaction originating from within the body.

A sense of unease slowly spread, and Lu Heng no longer hesitated. He raised his hand to light up the survival Wristband on his wrist, brought up his personal status panel, and carefully checked his status information.

The screen slowly lit up, and the basic vital signs data appeared normal; body temperature and heart rate showed no obvious abnormalities. Scrolling down, a line of light gray text, never before seen, lay quietly in the status bar:

[Being Parasitized]

The three words were clearly visible, piercing into my vision.

Lu Heng's pupils dilated suddenly, his breath hitched, and he instinctively held his breath. The old wound in his chest was aggravated, and a dull pain shot through him.

Being Parasitized.

He checked the line of text repeatedly, his mind going completely blank for a moment.

When? What happened?

Throughout the entire ordeal, the individual was resting and soaking in hot springs within the Blizzard Monster's lair, without being ambushed, scratched or bitten by monsters, or exposed to any unfamiliar poisons. How could they have developed a parasitic state?

Could there be something hidden in the hot spring?

Recalling the strange, uncomfortable feeling inside when the snow invaded her body, and the instinctive fear and resistance to the cold when she stepped out of the cave, all the fragmented and abnormal clues instantly came together.

The hidden danger had already taken root, but the warmth of the hot spring had masked the unusual sensations, so he was completely unaware of it.

The relaxation and relief that came with the recovery from his injuries vanished instantly. A chilling cold, more intense than the snowstorm on the snowy plains, spread throughout his body up his spine.

He stood in the silent snowfield, looking around at the vast expanse of white snow, with only the faint whistling of the wind and snow in his ears.

The surface injury may appear to be improving, but in reality, an unseen and fatal hidden danger has already been planted inside the body.