In just that short time, Cheng Shuili could already see the white mist of her own breath.
The temperature was still dropping, and Cheng Shuili couldn't help but shiver. She instantly realized she couldn't continue like this and quickly pulled on her Polar Cold-Proof Suit before turning her attention back to the Heating Stove.
【Advanced Heating Stove (Unlit)】
【Remaining fuel burn time: 7 days】
It needs to be lit?
Cheng Shuili slapped her forehead; she had assumed it was automatic.
She rummaged through her pile of supplies for a long time before finally finding the matches she had obtained by glitching the supply crates earlier.
Fifteen matches—that would be enough.
She lit a piece of toilet paper and tossed it into the Heating Stove. The temperature inside the vehicle immediately began to rise at an unnaturally fast pace.
Before long, the Polar Cold-Proof Suit on Cheng Shuili's body also adjusted to a comfortable temperature, even releasing a bit of cool air.
This was both a blessing and a curse.
It meant that once the wood burned out, the temperature inside the vehicle would rapidly match the temperature outside.
However, that wasn't something Cheng Shuili needed to worry about right now.
She took off the Polar Cold-Proof Suit and placed it by the door. This way, it could serve as a winter down jacket that she could just throw on whenever she needed to go outside.
After organizing her supplies, Cheng Shuili lay back down on the sofa. She habitually opened the Regional Channel, only then noticing the wall of wailing messages inside.
【Embrace】: Can someone give me some hot water? I'm literally freezing to death.
【Gentle】: I'm already wearing six layers of clothes, with a winter down jacket on the very outside, and it's not helping at all.
【Moon】: Does anyone have more warm clothes? I'll trade food for them; I still have a box of self-heating rice. Those of you who got a Heating Stove don't even need winter clothes, right? My friend sent me the description for the Heating Stove.
【Eastward Flow】: I'll trade a cotton coat with you. DM me for details.
【Six Days】: The person above, remember to save some for yourself. You can't stay near the Heating Stove forever. Are you going to lug the Heating Stove around just to open supply crates?
【Eastward Flow】: Almost forgot about that. @Moon, the deal's off.
Seeing the opportunity slip away, Moon flew into a rage and directly tagged Six Days in the Regional Channel with a threat.
【Moon】: @Six Days, mind your own business.
This kind of thing happened every moment. Aside from watching the drama, Cheng Shuili didn't have any other thoughts on the matter.
Looking at the two icons in her friend list, she thought for a moment and sent out a message.
【Angry Crow Takes Flight】: Do you have enough heating equipment?
Liang Shanbo replied very quickly; it was clear he was watching the two people argue in the Regional Channel.
【Liang Shanbo vs. Pig】: Enough for now. It's really warm once the Heating Stove is on. The winter supplies I prepared earlier are completely useless inside the vehicle now.
【Angry Crow Takes Flight】: Good.
Cheng Shuili only replied with one word; as long as there was no problem, it was fine.
For these two long-term partners, Cheng Shuili would naturally lend a hand whenever she could.
One was a simpleton who hadn't even raised the price for a good item like the Steel Dagger and had later gotten a set of winter gear for Cheng Shuili—even if it wasn't needed now.
The other was her long-term meal ticket. To some extent, Cheng Shuili's diet depended on how Wan Yi was doing.
But being dependent on someone else felt quite uncomfortable; Cheng Shuili frowned almost subconsciously.
Then she realized that, clearly, Wan Yi was the one dependent on her. Every time Wan Yi cooked with fresh ingredients, they were retrieved from the refrigerator and sent over by Cheng Shuili.
It could be said that the two of them completed each other; the loss of either would be a huge blow to the other.
Wan Yi didn't reply to the message.
Cheng Shuili thought about it and figured the other person might have gone to sleep early.
It was already almost one in the morning.
Cheng Shuili took one last look at the large truck parked behind her.
She had to wake up early tomorrow; that truck was also a threat.
The next morning, as the sky began to brighten, Cheng Shuili, who had slept for less than six hours, opened her eyes promptly at seven o'clock.
She habitually looked out the window. What met her eyes wasn't a familiar terrifying monster face, but a grease monster's face covered in white snow, with only its eyes exposed, looking somewhat dorky.
Cheng Shuili: "..."
She propped herself up in disbelief and leaned closer to the window to take a better look.
She definitely wasn't seeing things; these monsters were a hundred times stupider than she had imagined.
It had snowed for half the night, yet this grease monster had actually stood there obediently all night. The snowflakes had even piled up into a point on its head, yet the creature hadn't even shaken its head once.
When it met Cheng Shuili's eyes, it actually got excited. One by one, they tilted their heads back and let out "Awoo~ Awoo~" sounds, creating a private snowfall right in front of her as they shook the snow off.
To be honest, it was strangely romantic.
Cheng Shuili withdrew her gaze and climbed out of her sleeping bag wearing only a T-shirt.
She hadn't slept comfortably last night; in this temperature, sleeping in a sleeping bag was actually a bit too hot.
Furthermore, something cold and hard inside the sleeping bag had woken her up several times during the night.
Looking just now, she remembered that those were several bottles of mineral water she had tucked into the sleeping bag, fearing they would freeze if left out.
Cheng Shuili: "..."
Sometimes she really wanted to kneel down and beg herself not to be so cautious.
Then she realized that even while kneeling, one can still be cautious.
Cheng Shuili went to the sink in her T-shirt and shorts to wash her face. As a handful of ice-cold water hit her face, her mind instantly cleared. Before she even had time to wipe the water off, she walked to the back of the cabin to check on the truck.
It was gone.
It seemed the Highway Merge had already ended.
Cheng Shuili didn't let down her guard. She tucked the Steel Dagger into the small of her back before pulling open the door and stepping out of the vehicle.
The area within three meters of the vehicle was the same temperature as the interior.
Cheng Shuili intended to get out and do some Tai Chi as a morning exercise, and while she was at it, check if there were any other vehicles nearby.
It would soon be eight o'clock.
Usually, a Highway Merge at this time would mean an inevitable, fierce battle.
The system seemed to still be favoring her, or perhaps there was a cooldown period for the Highway Merge.
Cheng Shuili didn't see any other vehicles.
She let out a lazy yawn, completely ignoring the monsters glaring at her from the surroundings as she struck a haphazard Tai Chi starting pose.
It was just morning exercise.
As long as she did it, who cared what it looked like?
After finishing a set, Cheng Shuili felt no pain or soreness, and she hadn't even broken a sweat.
However, her joints definitely felt more comfortable, which was why she had persisted these past few days.
Wan Yi's message notification rang at the right time. Only then did Cheng Shuili see the several messages the other person had sent at six o'clock.
【Wan Yi】: I went to sleep early last night and didn't see your message. I just woke up from the cold.
【Wan Yi】: No problems now, just that wood is a bit scarce. But I suspect we might be able to get wood from today's supply crates. The system can't just watch us burn through all our wood, right?
【Wan Yi】: What are we having for breakfast?
【Wan Yi】: I still have some century eggs and meat here. Let's have century egg and lean meat porridge today. I hope you don't have any dietary restrictions.
【You have received a gift from player Wan Yi: one bowl of century egg and lean meat porridge x 756g.】
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