Apocalypse Star House Hoarding

Chapter 146

❤️ SPECIAL THANKS AGAIN TO JESSIE FOR KOFI ❤️

This was the last day Yu Xi and her family would stay at the inn, though none of the others knew this.

Yu Feng felt a sense of camaraderie with the group. After all, they had journeyed together from S City to the inn. Despite some conflicts along the way, he had witnessed the chaos of the boar attack through the Star House window and could somewhat empathize with the others’ frustration.

He suggested that before they left, they should at least say goodbye to a few people in the group. However, this idea was immediately dismissed by Fan Qi, who sharply criticized him.

“Say goodbye? To whom? For what? Have you not overheard how those people talk behind our backs when you’re coming and going?”

Thanks to the Strength Pills they had both taken twice, Yu Feng and Fan Qi could clearly hear every whisper made when others assumed they couldn’t.

“Well, they’re scared, you know, unlike us who—”

“Oh, Yu Feng, I didn’t realize you had such a Saint Complex.“

If the gossip had been solely about them, Fan Qi might have tolerated it. But most of it revolved around Yu Xi, and that was something she couldn’t forgive. “Their mess, their problem. Just because my daughter didn’t rush out to help in time, they feel justified to insult her behind her back? And here you are, magnanimously suggesting we inform them before we leave?”

“I wasn’t trying to defend them! I was furious when I heard what they said about Xi Xi—” “Too bad being angry doesn’t stop you from wanting to inform them. You know they’d probably curse her while secretly hoping she stays behind to clean up after them. Do you want a front-row seat to their moral blackmail as they plead for her to stay?”

Fan Qi wasn’t naturally confrontational, nor did she enjoy arguing with Yu Feng. She just felt the need to check him occasionally. Their daughter’s possession of the Star House had shielded their family from the worst of the apocalypse.

They lived in comfort, safe in a simulated apartment impervious to harm. They never ran out of electricity, water, or gas, had ample supplies, enhanced physical strength, and the life-saving ability to teleport in emergencies. The apocalypse had barely touched them, while others suffered immensely.

Over time, Yu Feng sometimes showed signs of guilt—moments of sympathy and self-reflection. Was it heartless of them to turn a blind eye to the suffering of others while enjoying their security?

Fan Qi wasn’t without empathy herself, but she refused to let her good intentions spiral into recklessness. As a mother, she saw herself as the last line of defense for her daughter. Until Yu Xi became invincible, Fan Qi would remain vigilant, quashing unnecessary pity wherever it emerged.

“Fine, I get it,” Yu Feng relented. “I was just asking. Not everyone in this group is two-faced, you know. Xi Xi might not leave without saying a word.”

He was referring to Chen Tong, Xia Xuan, and Ma Tiantian. The three women hadn’t participated in the gossip, nor had they shown any animosity.

Recently, seeing Yu Xi bring back large hares and mutated fruits from her outings, they had asked if they could join her on her trips. They wanted to train, adapt to the apocalypse, and learn how to hunt and forage without causing unnecessary trouble.

The three women originally thought Yu Xi might offer some parting words, but instead, she simply nodded and agreed.

When they joined the training outings, Yu Xi didn’t hold back any knowledge. Just as she had done with Fan Qi and Yu Feng, she silently protected them while teaching practical skills—hunting techniques, sharpening their reflexes, identifying harmful plants, harvesting edible fruits, and recognizing seemingly ordinary grass stalks with special uses.

This was why Yu Feng had suggested saying goodbye—he had witnessed how Yu Xi treated them.

“Don’t worry. This is her decision to make, and she’ll know what’s best,” Fan Qi said, finishing her lecture. She patted Yu Feng and turned to prepare breakfast.

Yu Feng might not have noticed, but Fan Qi had. When Yu Xi went to the last apocalyptic world, Fan Qi had kept her eyes on the wall clock. When the second hand reached ten, she finally snapped out of her daze.

One second equaled a year. Ten seconds… ten years.

Their daughter had spent ten whole years in that world. When she returned that night, she was noticeably quieter. The next day, her eyes held a deeper sense of gravity.

In ways they couldn’t fully see, their daughter was growing up.

Perhaps after a few more missions, her psychological age would surpass theirs. The things she didn’t share with them were a testament to her ability to make her own judgments.

Sure enough, on their last training day, Yu Xi didn’t bring along Fan Qi and Yu Feng. Instead, she took only the three women.

“We’re leaving,” she said plainly during a break.

With one of the buildings collapsed, everyone in the group now lived in the same building, which required room reassignments. Chen Tong now shared a room with Xia Xuan and Ma Tiantian, next door to Yu Xi’s family. She had decided she didn’t want to live with Zou Yan anymore.

“The outside world is chaotic now, and people are on edge. As women, you need to protect yourselves. Remember the grass I showed you earlier today—memorize its appearance and where it grows. Mutant boars hate the smell. Keep some with you, find a new place to live, and they won’t bother you again.”

She handed over a key. “This is to our room. Tonight, when no one’s around, go to the living room cabinet. The supplies inside are for you.”

“How can we take your things?” Chen Tong hesitated, taking the key but feeling overwhelmed—whether by the weight of Yu Xi’s words or her calm demeanor while announcing her departure.

“It’s just a farewell gift. Don’t dwell too much on the items themselves.” The supplies weren’t extravagant but consisted of increasingly scarce essentials: hygiene products, sanitary pads, disposable underwear, some convenience foods, and a few medicines.

As she said, it was just a parting gesture—a token of their time together.

Ultimately, Ma Tiantian broke the solemn mood. While thanking Yu Xi, she instinctively moved to hug her, only to realize her dirty protective gear contrasted with Yu Xi’s pristine appearance. She awkwardly hugged herself instead, expressing her gratitude and happiness to have known her.

Her self-hug amused Chen Tong and Xia Xuan, lightening the melancholic atmosphere with laughter.

Thankfully, communication signals weren’t entirely cut off yet. If they tried, they could still stay in touch.

“Thank you for everything you’ve done for us,” Chen Tong said. “I hope we meet again.”

Xia Xuan added, “Safe travels, Yu Xi.”

At midnight, the new world mission arrived.

[Seventh Apocalyptic World]

Difficulty Level: Medium-High

World Type: Biochemical

Variant: Blood

The mission details displayed were concise yet weighty:

[World Mission]:

Survive for six months (Reward: 300 Star Coins).Accompany your sole relative and ensure their peaceful remaining months (Reward: 400 Star Coins).Failure Condition: Death.

Reading the task description and the “medium-high” difficulty level, Yu Xi paused.

This was her first mission at such a high level of difficulty since the apocalyptic world involving fragments of alien invasion—the same mission where she first experienced a near-death sensation.

The scant details of this task added to its complexity. Without a specified timeframe for the apocalypse’s onset, she was left with a disadvantage, needing to stay alert from the start. The type, labeled only as “Blood,” offered no further clarification apart from the “Biochemical” category. If not for the latter hint, she would have been completely in the dark.

More crucially, this wasn’t a fragmented world—it was a complete apocalyptic world. This increased the chances of being detected by the System Tower, possibly leading to escalated challenges during the six-month survival period.

After reflecting on these uncertainties, Yu Xi sighed. “System…”

[System]: “Host, I’m sorry. I attempted to link this to a fragmented world but was unsuccessful.”

“It’s fine. I was mentally prepared for this,” Yu Xi replied calmly. This was why she had implanted two abilities in advance and pushed herself to adapt and train, preparing to survive in such scenarios.

“System, I want to activate the Starhouse’s ‘Quick Relocation’ function.”

[System]: “Host, activating the ‘Quick Relocation’ function costs 100 Star Coins. The Starhouse will randomly relocate once a month, three times in total.”

“Confirm.”

[System]: “Quick Relocation function activated. The reset timing is set for the 6th of each month at 6 AM. The first reset will occur in six hours. During this process, host and guests must remain inside the Starhouse. Current balance: 677 Star Coins.”

This function was essentially a teleportation-enabled version of Up, moving the Starhouse to random locations on the planet. The exact destination and whether they would encounter humans remained unknown.

The uncertainty wasn’t terrifying—it was even slightly thrilling. Relocations were constrained to rooms with doors, meaning they wouldn’t appear in completely uninhabitable areas. The only concern was whether they would materialize in a crowded space, raising questions about their sudden appearance.

After explaining the function to Fan Qi and Yu Feng, Yu Xi urged them to get some rest. By morning, everything would be clear.

She brewed herself a cup of coffee and stood by the darkened living room’s floor-to-ceiling window, staring at the sleeping mountains outside.

“Goodbye,” Yu Xi murmured softly.

Instead of sleeping, she planned to sort the Starhouse’s inventory, separating essential supplies for the mission from those she wouldn’t take. Given the scarcity of resources in the original world, she aimed to bring only enough food and water for six months, forcing herself to gather more supplies in the apocalyptic world.

For the remaining hours, she trained her abilities further. A medium-high biochemical apocalypse was on an entirely different level than the previous zombie apocalypse. Without knowing the specifics of the “Blood” type, preparation was her best strategy.

When 3 AM approached, Yu Xi decided to get some rest, realizing that if her parents wanted to explore the new environment after the relocation, she’d need to be awake to assist them.

At exactly 6 AM, the Starhouse reset its location. Outside, the serene view of the mountains and the inn gradually blurred, replaced briefly by a deep black void dotted with stars and flowing nebulae. Within seconds, the Starhouse settled in its new location.

When Yu Xi awoke, she heard the sound of waves, close yet distant.

Waves?

She quickly got out of bed, pulling back the partially drawn curtains. Outside the window, beneath a pale blue sky, stretched a vast ocean.

Her room appeared to be on the fourth or fifth floor, offering a clear view. Between the building and the sea lay dense greenery, with glimpses of red-and-white umbrellas and a pool. Further beyond was a beach, where waves rolled and crashed with the wind.

This was a seaside hotel.

Downstairs, the living room’s south-facing windows provided an even clearer view. Green vines draped over the building’s façade, partially obscuring the glass.

Looking beyond, Yu Xi recognized two towering structures in the distance, partially overtaken by greenery, but their iconic tops confirmed her suspicion.

This was Nan Hai Island.

Their first relocation had taken them to one of the southernmost points of the country—a popular vacation destination before the apocalypse.

“Thud!” A large mutated seabird landed above the living room window, flapping its wings before disappearing into the building above.

From this, Yu Xi deduced that the hotel, though intact, was likely abandoned.

Fan Qi and Yu Feng woke shortly after, marveling at the ocean view from their room. Over breakfast, the family hastily prepared to explore.

Yu Xi equipped her parents with [Moisture Breathing Masks] for better protection than regular masks and ensured they wore protective gear.

Before leaving, she reiterated the importance of using the instant return feature if emergencies arose.

With a cautious nod, Fan Qi and Yu Feng agreed.

Backpacks ready, weapons in hand, the family opened the door to the Starhouse and stepped out into the unknown.