82: Going out

At six in the morning, the RV's morning light mode activated on schedule.

The temperature remained constant at twenty-three degrees Celsius, and the air was fresh.

It was a world apart from the eternal night and extreme cold outside the vehicle.

But today, no one could sleep peacefully until they woke up naturally.

Qin Lin was the first to get up. He accessed the System Store from the driver's cabin and began preparing for today's operation.

[Product Search: Ultra-Low Temperature Protective Equipment]

A list expanded, displaying a dazzling array of cold-weather gear on the screen.

Qin Lin carefully filtered through the options and finally selected a complete protective System:

[Abyssal Walker Fully Enclosed Cold-Resistant Suit (Single Person Set)]

[Protection Rating: Fully adaptive to environments from -100°C to +30°C]

[Composition: Inner layer thermostatic suit, middle insulation layer, outer protective shell]

[Matching Equipment: Fully enclosed helmet, multi-function gloves, magnetic boots (ice adhesion function)]

[Endurance: Built-in energy core, can maintain constant temperature for 72 hours when fully charged]

[Price: 300 survival points]

Not cheap.

Qin Lin also purchased auxiliary tools:

[Ice Axe, 30 survival points]

[thermal cutter ×1, 80 survival points]

[Environmental Detector ×1, 50 survival points]

[Emergency Medical Kit (ultra-low temperature specific) ×1, 40 survival points]

Total: 500 survival points.

It was the first time spending this many survival points.

Qin Lin still felt a bit of a sting.

After all, daily food, clothing, and expenses, even at their highest, only amounted to around 150 points and could last quite a while.

This single outing was costing 500 points.

If it weren't for the 2000-point reward from Su Yuran's pregnancy, it wouldn't have been enough.

After confirming the purchase, the material transfer port glowed faintly.

A silver box, half a person's height, appeared in the corner of the living room.

At that moment, doors from other rooms also opened one after another.

Su Yuran was the first to come out. Seeing Qin Lin already fully dressed, she was momentarily stunned.

"So early?"

"Leave early, return early," Qin Lin said.

Lin Wanwan and Han Yurou also came out.

Han Qing was the last to emerge. Today she wore a dark blue high-neck sweater.

Her hair was neatly tied in a bun, and she wore light makeup, looking calm and professional.

But Qin Lin noticed her gaze flickered briefly when it landed on him, then quickly looked away.

"Everyone, gather around. I'll explain today's plan."

Qin Lin opened the silver box.

Inside, the Abyssal Walker cold-resistant suit was neatly displayed.

The silver-grey outer material had a metallic sheen, with smooth lines full of a technological feel.

The helmet had a streamlined design, with a visor made of dark composite glass.

"Wow, so cool!"

Han Yurou exclaimed.

"This was bought from the System Store. It can withstand temperatures down to negative one hundred degrees Celsius."

"Today, I'm going to the Hydroelectric Power Station five hundred meters away. There's a complete piece of eternal frozen marrow there."

"Getting it will bring the RV one step closer to its next upgrade."

He spoke while moving.

The inner thermostatic suit was soft and close-fitting, like a second skin.

After putting on the middle insulation layer, his body clearly felt warmer.

The outer protective shell was the heaviest, but the joints were designed for flexibility, not hindering movement.

Finally, he put on the helmet. The moment the visor closed, the built-in System activated.

[Abyssal Walker System Activated]

[Self-check completed: All functions normal]

[External environment scan: Temperature -74.3°C, wind speed 31 km/h, visibility <30m]

[Internal thermoregulation System: Activated. Current skin temperature 36.5°C]

[Oxygen supply System: Started. Remaining duration 71 hours 58 minutes]

[Communication module: Connected to RV main network]

[Wishing you a successful operation]

A gentle electronic female voice sounded inside the helmet.

Qin Lin tested his movements; they were very flexible.

The glove fingertips could extend small tools like knives and tweezers. The magnetic boots made a slight suction sound when stepping on the floor.

"This suit can guarantee my activity outside for two to three hours."

Qin Lin's voice, processed by the helmet, carried a hint of electronic tone.

"I've already studied the power station's layout. I'll enter through the maintenance tunnel; the target is in the underground control room. If all goes well, I can be back within an hour."

"And if it doesn't go well?" Han Qing suddenly asked.

Everyone looked at her.

Han Qing walked over and carefully inspected the connection points of Qin Lin's equipment.

Her fingers touched the interfaces of the protective suit, her movements meticulous.

"Every seal needs to be checked. At these temperatures, even a tiny gap can cause frostbite within seconds."

She spoke while checking.

"The connection between gloves and cuffs, boots and pant legs, the helmet's sealing ring..."

Her fingers stopped on a buckle on Qin Lin's chest.

"This is a bit loose."

Qin Lin looked down and saw her profile.

She was very close; he could see the flutter of her eyelashes.

"Let me adjust it."

Han Qing's fingers worked deftly, refastening the buckle.

During this process, her fingertips inevitably brushed against Qin Lin's chest.

Through the protective suit, the sensation was faint, but Qin Lin's heartbeat still quickened.

Han Qing seemed to realize something too; her hand paused briefly.

Then she quickly finished the check and took a step back.

"Done."

Her voice was very calm.

"But still be careful. Minus seventy-something degrees is no joke. Once the equipment malfunctions..."

"I'll be careful," Qin Lin interrupted her.

"And with the System monitoring, the RV will sound an alarm if any vital signs become abnormal."

Han Qing nodded and said nothing more.

But her gaze was complex, containing concern, worry, and... something else.

"Everyone step back, I'm opening the door." Qin Lin walked towards the vehicle door.

The other four retreated to the center of the living room, watching nervously.

Qin Lin took a deep breath and pressed the door open button.

The moment the door slid open, the outside world surged in.

Not air, but death.

The extreme cold rushed into the cabin like a physical entity, carrying a sharp howl.

The living room thermometer's numbers plummeted wildly:

23°C → 15°C → 5°C → -10°C... In just three seconds, the area nearest the door was already covered in white frost.

The surface of a water glass on the table instantly coated with a layer of ice.

Ice patterns, like cracks, appeared on the ecological box's glass.

Everyone gasped.

That wasn't cold; it was something else.

An absolute low temperature that stripped away all life energy.

Even from a distance, even with the RV's air conditioning System operating at full power,

they could still feel that bone-piercing chill.

Like countless ice needles stabbing into their skin.

But the RV was, after all, a Lv4 Disaster Conqueror.

Just as the temperature dropped to -15°C, a pale blue energy barrier unfolded at the doorway, isolating the interior and exterior spaces.

The temperature drop stopped, then began to slowly rise again.

[Active Defense System: Environmental Isolation Barrier Activated]

[Barrier Strength: Can withstand temperature differences from -100°C to +100°C]

Qin Lin stood at the doorway, the barrier one step in front of him.

He could see the white blizzard outside, hear the howling gale, but the temperature was already isolated.

He glanced back.

Su Yuran's face was pale, her arms tightly wrapped around herself.

Lin Wanwan bit her lip, tears glistening in her eyes.

Han Yurou, frightened, hid behind her mother.

And Han Qing... Han Qing looked at him, something churning in her gaze.

"I'm leaving," Qin Lin said.

"Wait."

Han Qing suddenly took two steps forward.