Chapter 50: Extreme Cold

Even though Zhao Kuo had mentally prepared himself, the superstorm was still far more violent than he had imagined. Winds exceeding level 8, carrying chunks of snow, surged through the subway tunnel. The entire train swayed in the freezing wind, and the wheels pressed against the tracks, emitting an unpleasant creaking sound.

The chat channel was also in chaos.

"Damn, I just checked with a thermometer. The temperature outside is already below -50°C. Even Mohe, the coldest place in China, doesn't get this cold!"

"So what if it's below -50°C? I'm from the south, and I've got a strong spirit—I'm not afraid of the cold!"

"Not good! My window just got smashed by a snow block. I almost turned into an ice sculpture!"

"Brothers, make more stoves and reinforce your windows with wooden planks. The glass in primary carriages can't withstand such strong winds and heavy snow."

"This is so frustrating. Even if we don't freeze to death, it'll be hard to reach the next station on time. Damn this subway world!"

"Stop complaining and focus on reinforcing your carriages. Sigh."

"Keep it up, brothers. We've come this far—don't give up now."

"…"

Zhao Kuo was somewhat surprised by the encouraging messages in the chat. But then again, it made sense. Those who had made it this far were no ordinary people.

Fortunately, Zhao Kuo had reinforced the windows of several carriages in advance, or things would have been much more troublesome. He glanced outside and saw that the glass was completely covered in snow and starting to freeze. Even with the air conditioner and stove running, the temperature in the small room was still uncomfortably cold.

At that moment, the air conditioner let out a beep and slowly closed its vents.

"What's going on?" Tang Yingying frowned, holding the remote and trying to restart the air conditioner.

Zhao Kuo shook his head. "The outdoor unit is probably completely frozen. Tonight's going to be tough."

Air conditioners couldn't operate in extreme cold, which showed just how low the temperature outside had dropped.

"What should we do? Should we stuff the gaps with straw to keep the heat from escaping?" Tang Yingying pouted, suggesting the idea she had seen in survival shows where shelters were built this way.

In survival shows, moss was usually used, which worked better, but straw would have to do. Luckily, Zhao Kuo had plenty of straw, and the one-square-meter rice paddy always came in handy at critical moments.

Without wasting time, Zhao Kuo and Tang Yingying quickly took straw from the warehouse and started filling the gaps in the small room. Although the room was made of wood, there were still plenty of cracks.

It took them over half an hour to fill all the gaps. Three stoves were burning fiercely in the room, the flames swaying and providing some warmth. But Zhao Kuo could still feel the temperature dropping steadily. Even sitting by the stove, his breath quickly turned into white mist.

"We'll have to sleep together tonight," Zhao Kuo said. In such cold weather, it would be unbearable without sharing body heat.

Especially since Tang Yingying had just recovered from an illness and was still in a weakened state. Zhao Kuo was worried she might freeze to death in her sleep.

Tang Yingying nodded. It wasn't the first time they had slept together, so she was used to it. To prevent carbon monoxide poisoning, they left a small gap in the door for airflow, but the influx of cold air was still excruciating.

Tang Yingying stacked three sheepskins together as a blanket and crawled under them, leaving only her head exposed. The temperature outside continued to drop. In this inexplicable storm, many players' carriages were damaged, and the cold air rushed in like a grim reaper. Many began building temporary shelters in their carriages, wrapping themselves in animal hides in an attempt to survive the freezing night.

Zhao Kuo didn't remember how he fell asleep. The three stoves and three layers of sheepskin finally managed to resist the extreme cold. Combined with the warmth of Tang Yingying's body in his arms, it gave him an incredibly peaceful feeling.

When he woke up, the superstorm had ended. Zhao Kuo glanced at the chat channel and found that fewer people had died in the storm than he had expected.

Tang Yingying, still curled up in the blanket, looked up at him and seemed to understand his confusion. "Professionals have better physiques than ordinary people, so they can resist harsh conditions like extreme cold. But it's only slightly better. Also, you're really warm. Can I sleep with you from now on?"

Zhao Kuo narrowed his eyes. "Let me remind you, you're a reincarnator. You came back to revive your sister. We've always been in a cooperative relationship."

"Pfft, it's not like my figure is bad. Don't tell me you didn't feel anything with the lights off!" Tang Yingying pouted.

Zhao Kuo didn't respond and climbed out of the blanket. It was terrifyingly cold outside. He quickly draped a layer of sheepskin over himself and stepped out of the room, only to find that the subway was completely buried in snow, with a thick layer of ice covering the train. If they didn't clear the ice and snow, there was no way they could start the train.

Sure enough, when he tried, the subway was completely unresponsive. It seemed the real terror wasn't the superstorm itself but the aftermath it brought.

Zhao Kuo sighed and called out to Tang Yingying, who was still curled up in the blanket. "Stop being lazy—get up and shovel snow!"

Tang Yingying summoned her ​Plush Bunny​ and ​Plush Crocodile. "It's too cold. Let them do it."

Zhao Kuo looked at the two summoned creatures that had scurried to his side, rubbed his forehead, and then called out Little White. Indeed, why do it yourself when you have pets? In some ways, Tang Yingying was too clever.

After assigning the task, Zhao Kuo returned to the blanket. There was no helping it—it was just too cold outside. The perceived temperature was at least -34°C, and even the three stoves seemed powerless against it.

The blanket was much warmer, especially with Tang Yingying's body temperature of over 36°C—truly a lifesaver. But what she had said earlier was also true. With such a good figure, as long as the lights were off…

Zhao Kuo noticed some unwelcome changes and quickly cut off his thoughts. He asked, "You're a reincarnator. Do you know what the next station is like?"

Tang Yingying, still in the blanket, shook her head. "No, the station distribution is random. It's impossible to predict. But each station has its own characteristics. Who knows…"

"Alright," Zhao Kuo said, his gaze drifting as he looked at the rough ceiling.

After clearing the snow, they would reach the next station in a few hours. If nothing unexpected happened, Zhao Kuo would still be the first to arrive, with a significant lead over the others. Perhaps he should start preparing early.