Unfortunately, Fang Chang currently lacks lime, so he can't treat the roof to prevent moths and damage. This means he will likely need to construct a new roof soon.

In the wild, lime is a precious and important resource.

Even though Fang Chang is now a practitioner and can avoid most dangers beyond his sight, using lime could greatly enhance his living comfort. Therefore, Fang Chang plans to prioritize acquiring this valuable material.

After installing the roof, he tried it out and found it quite satisfactory.

After all, he's moving from a small shack, just long enough to lie down, to a structure nine feet long and nine feet wide—a mansion of sorts, nearly a hundred feet in total. How could he not be pleased?

The ground remained dry, thanks to Fang Chang moving the fire inside to dry it in advance. However, like the roof, this is only a temporary measure, and the ground will eventually become damp.

The next step is to move the collected firewood and hay into the house, construct a bed about a foot above the ground, and relocate a few belongings from the shack.

The small hut won't be wasted; it can serve as a firewood shed, and if the unfortunate event of "the hut being blown apart by strong winds" occurs, it ensures some safety with a backup.

Additionally, the bonfire needs protection from rain.

After some thought, Fang Chang decided to dig a firepit inside the house. Given the current conditions, it's the best option.

In truth, he should have reserved the firepit's location from the start. He dug through the padded ground in the house's center, moved stones from the stream to encircle it, adjusted them for aesthetics, and completed the simple firepit.

Luckily, this place is on a cliff. Although the air is warm and the ground is humid, the groundwater level is low, so no water emerged during excavation.

He moved in the accumulated plant ash, spreading it at the pit's bottom.

He also transferred the bonfire there, reducing its intensity. In the firepit, the fire can burn more stably without excessive flame, which might threaten the thatched hut.

...

"Woof! Woof—woof—!"

"Squeak—"

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In the early morning, after a night spent in the mountain wind, Fang Chang finished his morning routine and began building a windscreen wall. The white-haired monkey, who had been in a distant tree, had left and soon returned riding a dog.

Given the monkey's size, riding a yellow dog appeared quite majestic.

"Is this Lin Hai's dog? Has he come up the mountain again?" Fang Chang observed, recognizing the yellow dog's origins.

The monkey rode the dog around the area proudly, with the yellow dog cooperating well. Seeing this, Fang Chang smiled at the monkey and said, "Not bad, you look like a general charging into battle. But remember to return the dog, as it belongs to someone."

The monkey squeaked in agreement.

Building walls is a tedious task.

There are many options, such as plastering the frame with mud, weaving mats, using mud to "dry base," sticking sticks into the ground as a fence, or building with stones.

After considering the options, Fang Chang chose a method suited to the available resources.

First, he inserted several wooden sticks, each as tall as a person, into the ground, then gathered stones from the stream and built a two-layer wall up to waist height, ensuring it was solid and windproof.

Next, he split bamboo into thinner strips and wove them between the remaining sticks.

Bamboo is a wonderful material.

The monkey helped transport thin bamboo strips back and forth. Though puzzled by the godlike human's actions, the monkey was still compelled to assist.

"Thank you."

After thanking the monkey, it rode the yellow dog away quickly, likely to return the dog to the woodcutter.

Fang Chang turned his attention back to his work, admiring the beautiful thatched house with its wooden frame, thatched roof, and bamboo and stone walls. The doors and windows were still open, but he planned to tie a fence as a door tomorrow.

Entering the house, he added firewood to the firepit and took out a few bamboo tubes.

These were sections he cut when splitting bamboo with a stone chisel the previous day. Without proper utensils, fresh bamboo tubes can be used for cooking or boiling water—only fresh bamboo will work, as old bamboo won't boil water once burned.

The bamboo tubes were tied with rattan. Fang Chang filled them with water at the stream, returned to the house, and placed one in the firepit.

Several tea trees grow on the cliff's edge, bathed in clouds, mist, and morning sun daily, and they appear quite extraordinary.

Fang Chang picked a few leaves that morning and put them in bamboo tubes to brew.

While waiting for the water to boil, he didn't remain idle. He selected the slender piece from the uncut jade given by the monkey and sharpened it on stones by the pond with water from the bamboo tube.

Jade, the beauty of stone.

It is more uniform and delicate than ordinary stones and quite hard. Fang Chang intended to make a small jade knife, a slow task with an uncertain completion time.

The fresh tea leaves rolled in the boiling bamboo tube water, creating a beautiful sight.

For ordinary people, processed tea leaves offer more health benefits than fresh ones, but for Fang Chang, that's no concern; he sought the flavor.

When the water cooled slightly, he sipped gently, the strong aroma leaving a fragrant aftertaste.

The only drawback was the fresh tea leaves' green and astringent taste. If the opportunity arises, he might try frying tea in the future.

Another day passed.

While it wasn't yet time for rain, a hint of it was already in the air.

After making the fence gate, Fang Chang prepared for rain by collecting more firewood and food in the forest.

Preparation isn't excessive, especially since Fang Chang plans to burn some utensils, which requires a lot of firewood. Wild fruits, vegetables, and plant tubers make delicious meals, and he can eat them in order of their storage life.

Another pre-rain task was digging gutters. He dug a circle around the house and led a ditch to a low area, ensuring water could drain away. Fang Chang completed this with stone chips and his hands, a modest effort.

Yet, in the eyes of the monkeys watching from distant trees, Fang Chang, bent and digging, appeared harmonized with heaven and earth, maintaining his tall stature.

In the afternoon, heavy rain arrived as expected.

"Boom—"

Thick dark clouds turned day into night, lightning snaked across the sky, and thunder echoed through the mountains. Accompanied by fierce mountain winds, the heavy rain poured down.

The thatched hut withstood the storm, standing firm against the elements. Next to the firepit, Fang Chang read a Daoist book by firelight, occasionally sipping tea from the bamboo tube, feeling quite comfortable.

When it rains, it's time for a break.

The rain continued into the evening.

Fang Chang tidied his clothes and stepped outside, witnessing the clouds and rain, the setting sun like a dandelion, and a beautiful rainbow in the sky. Large cloud formations, edged with gold by the sun, displayed a lovely pink hue.

The mist had cleared from the cliff, revealing an expansive view.

Suddenly, a roar sounded from behind.

A flash flood surged from the creek's upper reaches.