"Is the snow getting heavier?" Su Feng raised his left hand toward the sun, but all he could see were endless snowflakes and a faint glimmer of sunlight.
A sense of helplessness washed over him. Who could've predicted such a massive snowstorm?
And it seemed like the snow was only getting worse, threatening to turn into a full-blown blizzard.
Thankfully, he had Combusken and Haunter by his side. Without them, being stranded in this endless snow would've driven him mad.
Oh, and there were also his enthusiastic viewers.
Glancing at the drone hovering above him, Su Feng noted that no harsh environment seemed to affect it.
[Feng, maybe you should retreat. Safety first!]
[This snow is insane. Something's not right.]
[I'm from H City, and even I've never seen snow this heavy. Stay safe, Feng.]
[The weather forecast said no snow in H City's surrounding areas. What's going on?]
[Bro, weather forecasts have been useless since Pokémon showed up. No point checking.]
[Feng, do you need rescue? Just say the word, and we'll send help.]
"No need for rescue," Su Feng declined gently. "Even if you could get here quickly, finding me in this snow would be nearly impossible. Plus, it's too dangerous for rescuers."
He glanced at Combusken and Haunter. Haunter seemed fine, but Combusken was shivering slightly.
"Combusken, are you really not cold?"
"Cha!"
Combusken immediately put on a brave face, but its trembling body betrayed it.
Without hesitation, Su Feng picked up Combusken, unzipped his winter coat, and tucked the Pokémon against his chest, leaving only its head exposed.
"You're not cold, but I am. Warm me up," Su Feng said in a commanding tone.
"Cha~" Combusken looked up at him and nodded obediently.
Combusken was great in every way—except for its stubbornness.
Feeling Combusken's initially cold body gradually warm up, Su Feng's worries eased.
But within minutes, Combusken turned into a little furnace, heating Su Feng to the point of sweating.
Damn, this is too warm.
Still, seeing Combusken snug and almost dozing off in his arms, Su Feng decided to endure it. A little heat was better than letting Combusken freeze.
Since he was live-streaming, Su Feng didn't want to reveal the existence of Poké Balls, so he kept Combusken and Haunter out. Besides, Combusken's weight was negligible to him.
Haunter watched with a hint of envy. If only I could feel cold too.
As time passed, the snow grew heavier, and even Su Feng began to tire.
After trudging through the blizzard for nearly half an hour, Su Feng finally found a small cave to take shelter in.
There might've been other Pokémon inside seeking refuge from the snow, but that was the least of his concerns now.
"Huff… huff…" Su Feng panted as he entered the cave, gently setting Combusken down.
Haunter floated deeper into the cave to check for other Pokémon.
For pure Ice-types, this snowstorm might've been manageable, but for non-Ice Pokémon living in snowy regions, it was a disaster.
"What's with this insane snow?" Su Feng muttered, leaning against the cave wall and staring at the snow outside.
He glanced at his phone, where the chat was flooded with messages of concern.
Warmth filled his heart.
"Don't worry, everyone. This cave is perfect for shelter."
"But I need to rest for a bit. I'll start a fire soon to warm up."
"If nothing goes wrong, I'll stay here until the blizzard stops. Friends near H City, stay safe. I don't know what it's like in the city, but it's best not to go out in this weather."
[Feng's risking his life to stream and still comforting us. He's too good for this world.]
[Feng, the city's fine. There's some snow, but nothing like what you're dealing with.]
[Host, stay awake no matter how tired you are! Don't fall asleep!]
[Body temperature is crucial. Start a fire ASAP.]
The viewers' reminders made Su Feng realize how drowsy he was. But he knew they were right.
Struggling to his feet, he pulled some charcoal from his backpack and had Combusken light it with a small flame.
Soon, the cave was filled with warmth.
As the fire crackled, Su Feng felt his body gradually warming up, the comfort spreading through him.
Haunter returned from deeper in the cave.
"Find anything, Haunter?"
"Kee~ Kee-kee~ Kee."
Haunter gestured animatedly, as if trying to convey a lot of information.
But its flurry of movements made it hard for Su Feng to understand.
"There are two Pokémon deeper in the cave, right?"
Haunter nodded vigorously, trying to describe the Pokémon's appearance, but Su Feng still couldn't grasp it.
Realizing the communication barrier, Su Feng decided to open the system shop and purchase something he'd been eyeing for a while but had been too stingy to buy.
[Confirm purchase of the ability to communicate with Pokémon?]
"Yes."
As Su Feng confirmed, a faint green light enveloped him.
Not only did he feel a slight boost in physical strength, but his stamina, drained by the blizzard, also began to recover.
It was like chugging a health potion.
Seeing a chunk of his hard-earned points vanish, Su Feng felt a pang of regret.
But what's done was done.
"Haunter, I didn't catch that earlier. Can you repeat it?" Su Feng asked tentatively.
Haunter gestured again.
"Kee~ Kee-kee~ Kee. (Feng, there are two little white bears in the cave. One seems sick—it's got a runny nose. But the sick one is taking care of the healthy one. It's weird.)"
Haunter's voice remained the same, but in Su Feng's mind, it transformed into a clear, bell-like tone.