Volume 1, Chapter 2: Level 1.5 Thatched Cottage

For Lin Yifan at this moment, what mattered most? Without a doubt, it was the thatched hut! Living through days when it poured outside and drizzled inside was unbearable; he didn’t want to endure another minute. He needed to upgrade the hut. He had to upgrade it!

His longing was soon answered. The once precarious thatched hut began to shake violently. Just as Lin Yifan worried it might collapse at any moment, the dilapidated structure started to rebuild itself inch by inch before his eyes. After a flash of white light, the rundown hut transformed into a brand-new thatched house.

Staring at the fresh, pristine shelter, Lin Yifan’s face stiffened. He quickly opened the information panel:

[Brand New Thatched Hut (5 square meters)]
Grade: 1.5
(Overall Evaluation: A newly constructed thatched hut. Although its protective capability remains weak, it is sufficient to shield from wind and rain!)
Next Level: [Level 2 Safe House: Rough Wooden Cabin]
Upgrade Requirements:
[Black Iron Wooden Cabin Blueprint: 1/0]
[Basic Wood 50/0]
[Basic Stone 50/0]
[Basic Clay 30/0]
(Kind Reminder: If you find higher-quality safe house blueprints, you may build according to those for superior security!)

A slight disappointment flickered in Lin Yifan’s eyes. Initially, he had hoped to upgrade the safe house directly using items, bypassing the trouble of hunting for blueprints and materials. But it seemed the upgrade had failed.

However, he then noticed a change in the “Item Enhancement” description:

[Item Upgrade 5/1: Can raise an item's current quality by one level. (Items requiring blueprints cannot be fully upgraded without them.)]

“Oh, it’s the missing blueprint!” Lin Yifan suddenly understood. To upgrade the safe house next time, he’d first need to find the blueprint.

Though the outcome wasn’t as expected, at least the hut had reached level 1.5, and the materials required for upgrading had significantly decreased. All in all, it was still a gain.

With four upgrade chances remaining, what should he enhance next? Lin Yifan glanced around inside the hut, searching for anything to improve to boost his survival chances. Unfortunately, the hut was empty except for a fire in the center and a rusted axe lying by the hearth.

---

He focused his thoughts on the axe.

Name: [Rusty Axe]
Grade: [Inferior]
Evaluation: [Made of black iron and wood, the axe is heavily rusted, with a chipped blade. Its quality is extremely poor, with disappointing power. It can be used for chopping trees but is better suited as a breeding ground for tetanus bacteria!]

Lin Yifan swung the axe a couple of times; the weight felt manageable. Yet, seeing the large notch on the blade, he doubted its effectiveness.

But he had item upgrades! A craftsman must first sharpen his tools. Without hesitation, Lin Yifan used one item enhancement on the axe.

A flash of white light appeared, and before him stood a gleaming new iron axe.

Name: [Sharp Iron Axe]
Grade: [Common]
Evaluation: [Crafted from black iron and wood, this axe is of ordinary quality. Still, it is more than sufficient for chopping trees or fending off enemies!]

He swung the new axe twice, finally breathing a sigh of relief. The mysterious presence haunting the night had weighed heavily on his mind. Holding a sharp weapon gave him a greater sense of security.

Though there was still a fire inside the hut, perhaps worth upgrading, Lin Yifan had only three item upgrades left. How could he waste one on a fire pile?

At that moment, a message popped up on his screen:

Current Time: Survival Year 20245, April 28th, 6:58 AM
Daybreak: 7 AM
Nightfall: 5 PM
Today’s Weather: Light Rain
Temperature: 20°C
[Kind Reminder: Daylight is imminent; a new day of survival is about to begin. All survivors, please prepare accordingly. Also, a strong warning: return to your safe house before nightfall, or face the consequences!]

Is dawn approaching?

Lin Yifan peered through a gap in the thatched hut, looking outside. Yet the world beyond remained shrouded in darkness, showing no sign of the dawn’s first light.

But when the clock struck exactly seven, the pitch-black night lifted instantly, and the entire land was bathed in bright light.

Staring in astonishment, Lin Yifan muttered, “The day… begins so suddenly?”

At that moment, he finally understood the nature of this world.

A thick gray mist hung everywhere.

---

The fog blanketed the entire world, concealing all beneath its dense veil. He could barely discern anything around him.

Fortunately, the mist was thinner near the safe house, growing denser the farther one ventured.

Lin Yifan didn’t know whether it was the rain or if this world was perpetually engulfed in fog.

His sixth sense warned him that the mist was dangerous.

Regardless of the danger, he had to venture out for supplies.

Before crossing over, he had eaten a bowl of instant noodles, but now hunger gnawed at him.

He needed food and water to survive.

Yet looking at the faint drizzle outside, Lin Yifan felt a headache coming on.

His only clothing was the pure cotton pajamas he had purchased online.

Though the weather wasn’t cold, getting soaked would likely cause a cold.

After some thought, he turned to the straw curtain wall surrounding the hut.

Decisively, he used the axe to cut down a piece, then pulled some straw to make a rope.

He tied the top of the curtain into a bundle with the straw rope, shaping it into a cone-like brush.

Next, he spread some of the dangling straw with his right hand and placed it over his forehead.

In an instant, a rudimentary straw hat was complete.

The long straw was just enough to cover his body and shield him from the rain.

Wearing his homemade hat and clutching the axe, Lin Yifan took his first step into this world.

He had previously observed that directly in front of the safe house were only some low shrubs — no stones or suitable trees for harvesting.

The only advantage was the relatively open sightline.

To the left lay a dense forest, while to the right, another forest interspersed with many thorny vines.

To enter the right side would mean clearing the vines first, wasting precious time.

So, without hesitation, Lin Yifan chose the left.

After walking for two or three minutes, he spotted a dawn redwood tree as large as a water barrel.

Born and raised in a rural area of southern China, Lin Yifan was familiar with many trees.

He had also noted that this environment resembled the ecology of southern China.

In the mountainous areas there, dawn redwoods were disliked because their soft wood was unsuitable for furniture.

But Lin Yifan liked it.

Who could resist soft wood that was easy to cut?