Starting Off Survival With A Small Treehouse

Chapter 40 - 40: Crawl!

Without another word, Xu Xin leapt onto the rusty iron ladder and began desperately climbing upwards.

The red gas—wasnʼt it the same stench that had burst forth from the iron door of the underground tunnel, making him question his very existence?

That smoke would rise, surely spreading along the tunnel, until it filled the entire passage!

He absolutely couldnʼt let those fumes catch up to him, whether they were toxic was another matter, but he never wanted to smell that Hell-like fish can odor again!

Climb! Climb faster!

With a small panda named Keke on his shoulder and a golden treasure chest strapped to his back, Xu Xin climbed frantically upwards as if on steroids.

Carrying the golden chest was like running with weights, but when he thought of the patterns on the chest, he gritted his teeth and refused to let it go.

He didnʼt know how long heʼd been climbing, only that his hands and feet were nearing numbness.

At last, unable to persevere, he hung there on the rusty ladder, gasping for air.

He looked backwards, his face showing fear.

Surprisingly, and to his relief, the Red Mist hadnʼt followed closely behind. It was far below, and with his night vision, Xu Xin could barely make out the faint red.

The spread of the red gas seemed slower than heʼd imagined.

Xu Xin breathed a huge sigh of relief, plopping down on a section of the ladder to rest.

Before the red gas caught up, heʼd better eat something first.

Xu Xin pulled out an apple and started munching, while handing one to Keke.

Keke also started nibbling on an apple atop his shoulder.

Once man and panda had eaten their fill, Xu Xin was more or less rested.

He was amazed at how he felt physically; had it been in the past, he wouldnʼt have recovered so quickly after such intense exertion. His physical condition had vastly improved.

He glanced below—the red gas had drawn a bit nearer but was still far away.

However, Xu Xin wasted no time, continuing his upward climb.

Only by reaching the surface, on the treehouse-protected ground, could he find some peace of mind.

This time, Xu Xin maintained his pace, no longer frantic, inching ever closer to the exit with each step.

After climbing another long stretch, just when he felt he was nearing the exit, Keke suddenly began chirping frantically, full of anxiety.

”Whatʼs wrong?” Seeing Keke so alarmed, Xu Xin turned to look.

And was aghast!

That trace of red was alarmingly close, only five or six meters away.

How could this be! Why was it spreading so quickly?!

In an instant, Xu Xin grasped the principle. The red gas spread slowly but not from the source below; as more was released, the concentration increased, and with heightened pressure, the spread naturally accelerated!

”Damn!” Xu Xin cursed, speeding his upward climb.

This time he learned his lesson, maintaining his pace without exerting full force, yet the speed was taxing on his body, and his breathing began to falter.

While climbing, Xu Xin glanced back repeatedly—the red was now only two or three meters away!

”I see the exit!” Xu Xin burst with excitement, disregarding any rhythm and climbed as fast as he could.

Just before the Red Mist was about to catch him, Xu Xin lunged through the iron door, using every last ounce of strength to lift the heavy iron cover and slam it shut over the exit.

Bam!

Wisps of red smoke seeped through the final crack in the iron cover, while the rest were trapped beneath, confined within the infinitely long passage.

That streak of red smoke drifted into Xu Xinʼs nose.

”Ugh—”

Just a small wisp made Xu Xin nauseous; he couldnʼt imagine what itʼd be like if drenched in the red smoke.

Sitting at the exit, Xu Xin breathed heavily; his arms and legs trembled from the excessive climb, and he felt quite dizzy.

Keke sprawled on his legs, tilting his head as if to ask, ʼWhy are you so tired?ʼ

”You little thing!” Xu Xin grumbled, tousling Kekeʼs head gently.

After resting for a few minutes, Xu Xin felt his strength return and stood up.

He exited the passage, sunlight fell upon him; it was already high noon outside.

Having stayed in the relative darkness for so long, Xu Xinʼs eyes couldnʼt handle the sudden light, shielding them with his hand.

Gradually adjusting, he looked at the ordinary plants on the ground, finally smiling with relief.

The world below was truly oppressive; the physical and mental toll on this journey had been relentless. Having seen the monsters of the underground, Xu Xin found the surfaceʼs beasts oddly endearing.

The surroundings remained desolate from the wilted yellow flowers.

”Home, home!” Xu Xin now just wanted to return to the treehouse for a good sleep.

Although his Orange (blue) kept his spirits high, the fatigue in his body and mind was at its peak; all he wanted was to lay in bed and waste away.

Currently, it would take about an hour to walk back from his location.

”Ugh... when will I get a means of transportation?” Xu Xin thought of the one-hour walk ahead, his recently relaxed legs tensed with pain again.

He glanced at the little fellow on his shoulder who had started to nap again, shaking his head helplessly. Goodness, am I the steed here?

No choice, he had to walk back.

It was already afternoon of the second day. Judging by the sun, it was around two oʼclock, the hottest time. Xu Xin pulled out the bottled water from his new supply and took a couple of gulps, leisurely strolling towards the treehouse.

Once he used the Special Treehouse Root Potion, the treehouseʼs protection range would extend three kilometers outward, quadrupling the area, daunting for exploration merely by walking.

Xu Xin opened the map; only the beasts in the northwestern hills were visible. Once the treehouseʼs protection expanded, even those hills would be safeguarded.

”The iron armor should be unlocked by now. Perhaps I can try hunting beasts there.”

After over an hourʼs walk, Xu Xin finally arrived at the lakeside, the treehouse across the lake.

The lake appeared calm, barely discernible were the piranhas swimming within.

”Hmm? Why do these piranhas seem more active, extending their range? Am I imagining it?” Xu Xin frowned. He noticed that the nearest piranha appeared closer to the shore than when heʼd left the previous night.

”Maybe itʼs just coincidence,” Xu Xin consoled himself, having no effective means of dealing with piranhas.

As he strolled by the lakeside, Xu Xin picked up plenty of reeds to craft ropes.

Returning beneath the treehouse, Xu Xin took out the gray potion from his backpack and poured it at the treehouse roots.

[Treehouse roots begin secondary growth, lasting two hours; treehouse cannot be entered or exited during this period.]

Xu Xin: ”...?”

What does root growth have to do with entering or exiting the treehouse!

Frustrated, Xu Xin stared at the nearby treehouse, having traveled several kilometers, only to be locked out of his home by his own treehouse.