Volume 1, Chapter 7: Night Falls, Returning to the Shelter

Lin Yifan took one look at the crimson moon and dared not glance at it a second time. He felt an instinctual dread that something ominous would occur if he continued to stare. While he could not confirm if this premonition was true, he dared not gamble with it. This Realm of Survival had completely defied his understanding of the natural world, so it was safer to adhere strictly to the rules.

He was only about a hundred meters from his safe house, a distance he could cover in a single sprint. Yet, at that moment, he heard an all-too-familiar sound emanating from behind him.

"Bzzzzzz..."

It was the sound of mosquitoes—a sound etched into the bones of every person from the south. The buzzing was so deafening that Lin Yifan didn't even dare to imagine how many mosquitoes were behind him.

Only after reaching the safe house did he finally exhale in relief. Leaning against the door, he retrieved the straw mat he had used that morning to fashion a hat and hung it back over the entrance. Meanwhile, he craned his neck, cautiously peering in the direction of the buzzing. Unfortunately, night fell too rapidly, and the world plunged into darkness before he could catch a clear glimpse. However, judging by the sound, the number of mosquitoes was unimaginable. He could only wonder when they would launch an attack on the safe house.

Lin Yifan dared not even hope that they wouldn't attack. This was the Realm of Survival; every creature that appeared surely had a purpose. Otherwise, why would a swarm of mosquitoes appear right after he had rolled a "Potent Insecticide" from his supply box? He had initially thought there was no rush to craft the repellent, but now it seemed essential. He feared that if he fell asleep in the middle of the night, he might be carried away along with his entire shelter by the swarm.

Daring not to look any longer or linger outside, he carried the treasure chest he had been using to collect rainwater into the hut and shut the door tight. Inside, the campfire still emitted a faint glow. He had replenished the fire that morning while harvesting his first batch of logs. Since two units of wood burned for five hours, he had added six units at once to ensure the fire would stay lit. He remembered the earlier announcement clearly: only a safe house with a fire could maintain a certain level of security. Thus, the fire was of paramount importance, and he dared not let it go out, not even during the day. The warmth brought a small measure of comfort to Lin Yifan after the shock of the mosquito swarm.

Having run for his life, he was truly exhausted. After taking off his straw raincoat, he pulled the white treasure chest he had dug up from beneath the blueberry bush and used it as a stool by the fire. He had no intention of opening it yet; with water, meat, and a few wild blueberries, he wouldn't be going hungry anytime soon. His "Random Buff, One Draw Per Day!" talent would refresh after midnight. The item upgrade talent he had rolled today had already proven its value, and he hoped to get something similarly useful tomorrow. Therefore, he decided to wait until after 12:00 AM to open the chest.

After resting for a moment, he didn't remain idle. He took out the blueberry bush and planted it in the nutrient-rich soil. Before planting, he plucked all the remaining berries. Since the soil could amplify growth, he figured the bush might bear fruit again quickly. The soil did not disappoint; shortly after planting, tiny flower buds appeared. Lin Yifan estimated that by tomorrow morning, the bush would have new fruit. This meant he would have a continuous supply of blueberries, some of which he could even trade for other resources.

Next, Lin Yifan took out the cobra carcass. Using his axe, he carefully slit the snake's belly to retrieve the gallbladder. Snake gallbladders were known to clear toxins and improve eyesight—definitely a valuable item. He had originally intended to swallow it himself, but since the snake had been dead for quite some time, the gallbladder wasn't particularly fresh. After hesitating for a long while and finding himself unable to bring himself to eat it, he set it aside to use for trading.

He then carefully peeled off the snake skin. Using a wooden spike he had fashioned with his axe, he stretched the skin flat and pinned it to the ground near the fire to dry. Snake skin was useful; if cured properly, it could be made into shoes. Moreover, it was a traditional medicinal ingredient. With no high-tech or Western medicine in this world, he would likely have to rely on traditional remedies in the future. Lin Yifan had to plan for his future; he couldn't afford to waste even the most common materials.

With the skin taken care of, he began processing the snake meat. Unsure which organs were toxic, he dared not discard them outside, as the scent of blood might attract predators. He tossed the viscera into the fire to incinerate them. As for the meat, he rinsed it with a bit of rainwater and prepared to cook it in his frying pan.

However, after taking out the pan, he changed his mind. While it could be used for frying or steaming, cooking the meat without any seasonings would result in an incredibly fishy, pungent dish. It would be better to roast it as skewers over the fire. With this in mind, he used his axe to split some wood, cut the meat into small pieces, threaded them onto sticks, and placed them around the campfire to roast. As for the frying pan, he filled it with a little water and set it over the fire. Although the collected rainwater was clear, it was still raw water; drinking boiled water was far more comfortable and safe.

After finishing his tasks, Lin Yifan finally let out a long breath. Soon, the snake meat began to sizzle, releasing a rich aroma that made the starving man's mouth water. He waited until the meat was thoroughly cooked before he began to eat. The water in the pan had boiled, and having no cup, he simply held the pan to drink. A swallow of hot water felt wonderfully warming. Though he wasn't exactly cold, the damp, chilly weather was uncomfortable, and the hot water was a welcome relief.

While drinking, he checked the chat channel. Back on Earth, he had the habit of browsing his phone while eating. Now that he had no phone, peeking at the chat was his only form of entertainment. Upon opening the channel, he saw that the number of people in the top right corner had dropped to 97,960. More than 2,000 people had gone offline. That represented over 2,000 lives lost.

Looking at the figure, a chill ran through Lin Yifan’s heart. He had initially looked down on this "Realm of Survival," as he hadn't encountered any real danger all day, aside from the cobra. But now it seemed the world hid dangers far greater than he had imagined. With his vigilance heightened, he began to read the messages in the channel. He had spent the entire day busy—either chopping wood or searching for treasure chests—and hadn't wasted a single second, so he hadn't paid attention to the chat. He had assumed everyone else was just like him, working diligently to find supplies and striving to survive in this strange world. However, the messages in the channel surprised him; he realized he had been far too optimistic.