Courtyard House: Time Traveler Not Yet a Ghost

The morning light once again struggled to pierce the perpetual mist above the Yanshan Mountains, sparingly casting its rays upon the valley floor. After a full day of clearing and planning yesterday, this forgotten wasteland had shed its initial wildness and chaos, revealing a clear outline suitable for habitation. The air was crisp, mingled with the earthy smell of freshly turned soil, the fragrance of plant sap, and the faint sulfurous odor from the continuously rising hot springs.

He Damin stood in the middle of the valley, stretching his shoulders and back, which were slightly sore from yesterday's intense logging and hauling. He changed into a set of thick work pants and a dark cotton shirt that he had obtained from the Japanese warehouse, and on his feet were a pair of sturdy suede boots—these clothes were originally probably the equipment of Japanese engineers or logistics personnel, and although they were a little loose on him, they were exceptionally suitable for the work at hand.

His gaze first fell upon the largest, towering ancient tree, so large that it would take three people to encircle it. This tree had grown there for countless years; at the base of its trunk was a naturally formed, enormous hollow, about ten feet high and five or six feet deep, dry inside with hard wood. Yesterday, he had carefully cleaned the inside of the hollow, scraping away rotten wood and insect-eaten parts, revealing smooth, dense wood grain. Now, this natural hollow would form the foundation for the "living room" and master bedroom of his planned "two-bedroom, one-living-room" treehouse.

"Let's get started," He Damin murmured, his eyes calm and focused.

With a thought, the supplies looted from various Japanese warehouses in the Taiji Space's anode storage area began to selectively appear on the open ground of the valley. Bundles of processed high-quality pine and fir timber (from a hollowed-out Japanese construction warehouse), thick waterproof tarpaulins, large rolls of coarse hemp rope and even finer, tougher nylon rope (from a communications equipment warehouse), nails, bolts, hinges of various sizes, and even several brand-new axes, saws, hammers, and chisels—tools commonly found in Japanese warehouses.

Instead of rushing up the tree, he first used the natural tree hollow as the core to reconfirm the structure of the entire treehouse in his mind. Then, he selected several of the thickest and straightest cedar logs as the main load-bearing pillars. Using the terrifying strength of a master of internal energy and precise control of his power, he forcefully sharpened the ends of the logs, which were as thick as a bowl. Then, channeling his strength into his arms, he drove them deep into the solid ground around the tree like a pile driver, forming a sturdy hexagonal base frame. The top of the base was cleverly bound and mortised to the thick, horizontal branches of the ancient tree.

Next came the laying of the floor. He pre-assembled and nailed together planks of varying lengths and thicknesses on the open ground, forming several enormous floor modules, comparable in size to a room. Then, using his agility and brute force, he lifted these heavy modules one by one onto the base frame and secured them tightly. This process took him most of the morning, but the results were remarkable—a remarkably stable wooden platform, about ten feet off the ground and covering an area of ​​over thirty square meters, had taken shape, perfectly connecting with the entrance to the tree hollow below.

The afternoon's work was more meticulous. Using the platform as a foundation, he began constructing the walls and roof. The walls employed a double-layered wooden plank structure with tar paper sandwiched in between, providing both wind and warmth while effectively insulating against sound and moisture. The window positions were pre-planned, using thick panes of glass (likely spare glass from some instrument or vehicle) found in a former Japanese warehouse, their edges slightly polished and perfectly usable, set into wooden frames. The roof was constructed with longer timbers forming a sloping, V-shaped frame, covered with layers of tar paper and thick wooden planks, and finally weighed down with flat stones sourced locally to ensure it wouldn't leak even in heavy rain or snow.

The "living room" section directly utilizes the existing tree hollow space, simply enlarging and renovating the entrance and installing a sturdy and durable wooden door (made from thick wooden planks pieced together from the warehouse). The interior of the tree hollow was further repaired and leveled, with dried thatch and several layers of woolen blankets (warehouse supplies) laid out on the inner side to serve as a sleeping area. The extended portion of the platform is divided into two relatively independent small rooms using lightweight wooden planks, intended as future storage rooms or meditation rooms.

As the last rays of the setting sun once again painted the western cliff tops crimson, a rustic and sturdy treehouse, seamlessly integrated with the towering ancient trees and perched high above the ground, stood prominently in the center of the valley. Lacking elaborate carvings and paint, it exuded the natural fragrance of wood and a rugged, solid beauty, perfectly blending into this breathtaking landscape.

He Damin climbed the wooden ladder, built against the tree trunk and equipped with a simple railing, onto the platform and pushed open the wooden door to the "living room." The interior space wasn't particularly spacious, but it was enough for one person to move around and live in. The natural curve of the tree hollow created a wonderful sense of enclosure, and its properties of being warm in winter and cool in summer were beginning to emerge. Looking out from the reserved window, the valley scenery and the distant cliffs were spread out before him, offering an excellent view.

"A place to live is now complete." He nodded with satisfaction, and casually placed a few kerosene lamps and a few boxes of matches that he had found in the warehouse into a niche that had been specially carved out inside the tree hole.

On the first day, the main focus was on building the treehouse.

The next day, as dawn broke, He Damin began the new project.

The first issue was the renovation of the hot spring. The natural hot spring pool, about half an acre in size, in the center of the valley, had irregular shapes with natural rocks and soil around its edges, and the bottom of the pool varied in depth. What he needed was a cleaner and more user-friendly "hot spring swimming pool."

He selected the side of the hot spring near the stream inlet as the main area for use. Using tools and brute force, he excavated and expanded the selected area, shaping it into a rectangular pool about three zhang long, one and a half zhang wide, with a reasonable gradient of depth. For the pool bottom and walls, he didn't use cement (although he had some stored there, preparing and using it was too troublesome), but instead chose a more "luxurious" material—a large quantity of blue bricks salvaged from a Japanese warehouse!

These blue bricks, hard and uniform in size, were likely originally intended for the construction of a stronghold or barracks. Now, He Damin carefully laid them one by one on the bottom and walls of the pool, filling and smoothing the gaps with a mixture of fine clay and sand. The inlet and outlet were connected to the existing stream via bamboo pipes (made from local materials), ensuring a continuous flow of fresh water. The original heat of the hot spring was sufficient to maintain the water temperature, while the blue brick walls gave the entire pool a clean, uncluttered, and antique feel.

In just half a day, a blue-brick hot spring swimming pool with wisps of steam rising from the bottom was completed. He Damin tested the water temperature; it was just the right amount of hot, enough to dispel all the fatigue and chill from working in the mountains.

Next came the task of addressing sanitation. He followed the underground stream that flowed from the hot spring and disappeared into a crevice in the rocks, and in a slightly elevated, sheltered corner downstream, he built an extremely rudimentary "dry toilet." He dug a deep pit, lining the bottom with gravel and charcoal for initial filtration and seepage prevention. Wooden planks with holes were laid across the pit, and lime and dry soil were provided for covering. Most importantly, he cleverly introduced a small stream, creating a shallow, continuously flowing pool next to the toilet for washing and flushing. Wastewater was channeled along a small ditch to a low-lying area away from residential and agricultural areas for natural seepage. Though rudimentary, it ensured maximum hygiene and prevented water pollution.

After finishing all this, the sun was past its zenith. He Damin returned to the treehouse, took out a simple meal from the Tai Chi space—a few white steamed buns, a can of beef, and a pot of boiled spring water—and quickly ate it to replenish his strength.

The afternoon's work is relatively easy, but it requires more patience and planning—planting.

He walked to a patch of black soil, roughly two acres in size, located downstream from the hot spring and receiving relatively ample sunlight, which had been partially cleared the day before. The soil had been deeply tilled, making it loose and fertile. He didn't intend to grow staple grains here. The grain stored in his Taiji Space was plentiful, enough to last him for a long time. What he needed were precious medicinal herbs that could continuously support his cultivation, heal injuries and illnesses, and perhaps even be used for trade.

With a thought, he retrieved the medicinal seeds, roots, and seedlings stored separately in the Taiji space. There were ginseng seeds (from old ginseng fruits collected in places like Xishan), Ganoderma lucidum spores (collected from certain harvested Ganoderma lucidum), tubers of Polygonum multiflorum, Polygonatum sibiricum, and Poria cocos, and seedlings or seeds of some common North China herbs, but of excellent age and quality, such as Angelica sinensis, Astragalus membranaceus, and Glycyrrhiza uralensis. There were even a few rare spiritual herbs he had accidentally discovered deep in the mountains and carefully transplanted into the space to maintain their vitality, such as "Seven-Star Lotus" and "Cold Jade Grass." Although their grade was not high, they might grow better in this spiritual environment.

He meticulously planned the planting areas according to the habits of the medicinal herbs. Shade-loving ginseng and lingzhi were planted near the cliffs and under ancient trees; sun-loving astragalus and licorice were planted in the sunniest central areas; semi-shade-loving herbs like he shou wu and huang jing were planted in the transition zone; and the few delicate medicinal herbs were carefully planted in the corner where the hot spring mist swirled and the microclimate was most mild and stable. He poured his heart and soul into each plant, covering it with suitable soil and watering it with spring water containing a trace of true energy.

After planting, he took out some thin bamboo poles and hemp rope from his storage space and built simple trellises for some of the medicinal herbs that needed climbing or support. The whole process was quiet and focused, as if he were having a silent communication with these plants that might save his life or help him in the future.

As the last rays of sunlight disappeared from the cliff top, and the valley was once again shrouded in twilight and the rising mist from the hot springs, He Damin straightened up and patted the dirt off his hands. Looking at the nascent medicinal herb field before him, though it was still bare after being planted, he could almost see a vibrant future filled with the fragrance of herbs.

As night fell, he lit the kerosene lamp in the treehouse, and a warm glow shone through the window. He sat on the "bed" covered with a blanket inside the tree hollow and, by the light, began to organize and arrange the other supplies he had taken from the space.

Weapons, ammunition, gold, silver, money, precision instruments, books, and documents remain stored in the most secure core area of ​​the Taiji Space. Items that might be used daily have been selectively removed and placed inside the treehouse. Several sets of clothes, bedding, pots and pans, salt and seasonings, some durable dry rations, first-aid medicines, writing brushes, ink, paper, and even a few Japanese military or cultural books captured from Japanese officers (used for gathering intelligence or passing the time)... all these items fill the two small storage rooms and part of the living room space, yet remain neatly organized.

"The treehouse is finally settled in." He Damin looked around his little world, feeling a sense of peace. Although he was in a dangerous place, compared to the bloody battlefields and noisy cities he had been through before, this place offered him an unprecedented sense of security and tranquility.

"However, the supplies will only increase." He looked out at the deep night and pondered, "The treehouse has limited space and is not a place for long-term storage. Perhaps... we should really build a more secluded and sturdier permanent warehouse in this valley."

This idea took root in his mind. He could modify the natural caves in the cliff face, or secretly excavate deep underground... but he needed to plan carefully to ensure absolute safety and secrecy.

He blew out the oil lamp and lay down on the dry, warm blanket. The valley was utterly silent, save for the gentle murmur of the hot spring and the faint sound of the wind rustling through the treetops in the distance, like the most natural lullaby.

Two days of hard work transformed this desolate place, giving his weary body a complete rest. He knew this was just the beginning. His years of secluded cultivation deep within the Yanshan Mountains would slowly unfold in this little paradise he had created himself. Meanwhile, the flames of war and the hunts of the outside world had not gone far, but had simply changed their form, continuing in the darkness.

With thoughts of the future in mind, He Damin drifted into his first truly peaceful sleep since arriving in Yanshan. The valley night gently enveloped the newborn treehouse, the gurgling hot spring, and the medicinal herb field that held so much hope.