Apocalypse Star House Hoarding

Chapter 320

There were originally 27 people in the group—one had died, but the rest had been saved after her arrival.

After surveying the battlefield, Yu Xi reached into the side pocket of her athletic pants and gently patted Bean Sprout, who was tucked inside for comfort. Then, she turned to look at the people emerging from the storage shed and greenhouse.

“How many of you are left?” she asked.

A young woman closest to her was about to speak when someone else stepped forward first.

“There were 97 of us in total. Now…” He glanced at the dried-up corpse not far away, his voice turning heavy. “Now, there are 94 left.”

Yu Xi: …

Ninety-four…

That number felt ominous.

As she looked down, momentarily speechless, another person spoke up.

“Thank you for saving us. How did you get up to this highland?” She turned toward the voice. It was the man who had been holding the storage shed door earlier. He was tall and strong, with a kind-looking face. His expression carried both gratitude and curiosity as he looked at her.

Seeing that she didn’t respond immediately, he assumed she didn’t like being questioned and quickly added, “Ah, I didn’t mean to interrogate you. Let me introduce myself—my name is Da Feng. You just saved our lives. I’m grateful beyond words—I really am just curious…”

At this, everyone understood the underlying question.

This highland was unique—the only known way up or down was via the cable car.

But the cable car had been shut down for months.

With a 2,000-meter altitude difference between the highland and the ground, how had she managed to get up here?

Not to mention her combat skills and weaponry…

And then there was her appearance—black, fitted T-shirt, light gray athletic pants, combat boots, and her long hair neatly tied back in a ponytail. Her sharp yet refined features, paired with the cool and composed gaze in her eyes, created a striking contrast that made her seem even more formidable.

Yet, in this post-apocalyptic world, she wasn’t wearing protective gear. She didn’t even have a backpack.

She looked like she had simply gone out for a casual stroll—only to stumble across this scene and decide to save them.

Da Feng, the burly man, had unintentionally hit upon the truth.

Yu Xi really had just gone out for a walk, spotted the situation, and come over to help.

Before, she would have disguised herself before intervening—at the very least, she would have worn a mask to cover her face. But now, with her absolute strength and self-preservation ability, she didn’t bother anymore.

So whether they were curious or confused, she didn’t address it. Instead, she asked again, “How long have you been here? Are you short on food and water?”

Some people instinctively tensed up at the question, growing wary.

But Da Feng didn’t hesitate. He answered openly, “We’ve been here since last December, staying at the lodges near the southern cliffs. We haven’t left this place since. Food and water have lasted us so far, but supplies are running low. It’s been harder to catch poultry lately, so we started planning for farming…”

Da Feng wasn’t stupid. From his perspective, if she had any malicious intent, she wouldn’t have bothered saving them. Letting them die would have made things easier for her.

Yu Xi was quite satisfied with his straightforward attitude. She nodded at him and said, “The recent rainfall seems to have triggered another wave of mutations in some creatures. The mosquitoes earlier likely came from the bamboo sea. It’s unclear if more swarms will appear, so it’s best if you all stay indoors for the next few days. Keep your doors and windows shut and observe the situation carefully.”

Unlike the northern town she had visited before, this highland was better off than most civilian refuge points.

As long as they remained cautious, they could continue living here.

After giving her warning, Yu Xi turned to leave.

But before she could take another step, a young man standing beside Da Feng couldn’t hold back any longer.

“Wait! May I ask… what’s your name?”

Yu Xi had already noticed him earlier. He was the one who had informed her of the remaining number of survivors. Ever since he had spoken, his eyes had been fixed on her, burning with intensity.

She swept her gaze over him, pausing briefly when their eyes met.

When she had been rescuing people earlier, she had vaguely sensed that this man was good-looking. Now that she saw his face clearly, he was indeed strikingly handsome.

After the mutations of plants and animals, everyone was struggling for survival, no longer able to care about their appearance. Like the other survivors on this highland, he wore slightly worn long sleeves and pants, his hair was somewhat messy, and sweat covered his forehead.

But even in such a state, he stood out from the crowd—not just because of his superior looks but also due to his distinct presence. And… he seemed a bit familiar?

【…】

Feeling Xing Min’s silent reaction, Yu Xi’s lips curled slightly.

The others, unaware of the true reason behind her smile, naturally assumed it had something to do with Min Cheng. Their gazes shifted toward him, each harboring different thoughts.

Some sighed in admiration—celebrities were celebrities, after all. Even in the apocalypse, outstanding looks still drew attention, making them envious.

Others felt uneasy. This woman was powerful—unarmed, yet clearly well-supplied, as even her hair was immaculately clean.

Someone this strong, well-equipped, and now seemingly interested in Min Cheng… With such an overwhelming advantage in strength, who could stop anything from happening if she truly set her mind to it?

Meanwhile, Min Cheng stared at her faint smile, feeling his heart race once again.

Since his debut as an artist, he had been surrounded by all kinds of beautiful women. He had assumed he was immune to the idea of love at first sight.

Yet now, standing before a girl whose name he didn’t even know, his heart was pounding uncontrollably?

Was this just the suspension bridge effect?

He wasn’t sure—maybe.

But she was so young, yet calm and composed in times of crisis. Her immense strength and mysterious aura made her inexplicably captivating. For the first time since the apocalypse, he felt grateful for his former status as a celebrity.

“Hello, I’m Min Cheng. If you’re not too busy, would you like to come see where we live? The lodges we stay in are the best accommodations on the highland, and there are spare rooms. If you’d like, you can stay with me!”

Yu Xi raised an eyebrow: …??

【…………】

“I mean, you’re welcome to stay with us,” Min Cheng corrected himself, but he made no effort to hide the eagerness in his eyes.

Da Feng, hearing this, turned to look at Min Cheng in surprise.

As his assistant and bodyguard, Da Feng had been close to him even before the apocalypse. No one understood Min Cheng better than he did.

So to hear him say something like this now… He was lovestruck?

**

In the end, Yu Xi naturally didn’t go with them to the lodge.

She had already gathered all the information she needed, and whether she visited their lodging or not didn’t really matter. She figured she could bring Star House over sometime in the future and “set up shop” a few times instead.

Before leaving, she pulled a small, compact walkie-talkie from her pants pocket. After explaining how to use it and which frequency to tune in to, she handed it over.

“If there’s an emergency, use this to call me.”

“What’s your name? How should I address you if I need to contact you?” Min Cheng asked as he took the walkie-talkie. His disappointment was evident—his gaze never left her.

“My name is Ya Tong.”

Leaving behind her teammate’s name, Yu Xi turned and walked away.

Once she was out of their line of sight, Yu Xi reattached the Life Assistance Device to her ear and retrieved the drone controller. In the air, the drone—still operating in stealth mode—continued its surveillance under her command, serving as her extra eyes.

There were still many areas on the highland she hadn’t explored. She planned to cover them all today, especially since the recent rainfall had triggered secondary mutations in some creatures. She wanted to assess whether there were any other dangerous mutated beings.

After all, there were still 94 survivors here. With the difficulty of accessing the area, if the danger level escalated as rapidly as it had in the northern city, she needed to warn them in advance.

Sensing that Yu Xi had left, Bean Sprout quietly peeked its tiny roots out of her pocket, then fully revealed its flower bud. It understood that she had hidden it earlier to protect it.

Still, its mood was a little down. Now that no one else was around, it didn’t climb onto her shoulder like before. Its roots drooped, and its flower bud hung slightly, looking dejected.

“Don’t worry. Once you grow a little more, you’ll be able to protect me too.” She channeled a bit of plant energy into it, gently stroking its flower bud. “When you bloom, you’ll definitely be beautiful.”

Bean Sprout instantly perked up, its previously drooping bud lifting with excitement. Snuggling into Yu Xi’s pocket, it started imagining what it would look like when it finally bloomed.

That day, using the drone and her plant abilities, Yu Xi scouted the entire highland.

Most of the flora and fauna had mutated, but in many cases, the changes only resulted in increased size and physical strength. Toxic plants were rare and remained deep in the forests, competing with other mutated creatures, forming a new food chain.

Upon review, the mutated mosquito swarm remained the most dangerous threat. Now, she understood why the survivors here dared to go outside without protective gear.

Before returning to her simulated apartment, her earlier application of 【Sunblock Spray】 had worn off. Immediately, the oppressive heat and humidity enveloped her, making her feel suffocated.

No wonder Bean Sprout, which had been in her pocket all day, had wilted a little. It only perked up again after she transferred more plant energy to it.

She pulled out a thermometer to check the real-time temperature. Despite the overcast sky, it had reached a scorching 40°C (104°F). No wonder the survivors she had met earlier were drenched in sweat.

This kind of humid heat was even more unbearable than direct sunlight.

It was only early May, yet the weather had already reached midsummer temperatures. What would the climate be like in the actual summer?

Yu Xi walked into the replica Western-style building cluster on the northern side of the highland. In a secluded corner with no surveillance, she teleported back to her apartment with Bean Sprout.

Cool air rushed toward her as she arrived home.

After changing her shoes and washing her hands and face, she found Yu Feng and Fan Qi on the terrace, preparing dinner.

Before she left that morning, Fan Qi had asked what she wanted to eat.

Yu Xi had traveled through countless stations with her team, tasting all kinds of food. Yet, in her heart, what she missed the most was simple, homemade dishes.

That morning, she had checked the vertical planting wall and found that the tomatoes were perfectly ripe—plump, red, and bursting with freshness.

She suddenly craved tomato and scrambled eggs—juicy tomatoes simmered into a bright red sauce, mixed with golden, fluffy scrambled eggs, finished with a sprinkle of chopped scallions, served over steaming white rice. Just the thought of it made her mouth water.

The wild rice stems were also ready for harvest, standing fresh and green inside the glass greenhouse, filling the air with their distinct fragrance. She loved their aroma, so she also requested stir-fried wild rice stems with smoked tofu and shredded pork.

Ever since they got used to eating in the open, scenic terrace, the family had made it a habit to have lunch and dinner there, leaving only breakfast indoors.

That morning, Yu Xi had found a new kitchen island and an electric stove in her Star House storage. After confirming the placement, she had asked Xing Min to modify the terrace, adding a water source, power supply, and drainage system—effectively turning it into an open-air kitchen.

Now, as she returned home, she saw Fan Qi and Yu Feng cooking at the newly installed induction stove on the terrace.

Dinner was abundant—tomato scrambled eggs, stir-fried wild rice stems with smoked tofu and shredded pork, dry-fried pork belly, and fish ball soup with greens and mushrooms. All were simple homemade dishes. Yu Xi didn’t want to keep her parents too busy, so she only requested a few dishes. Then, from her storage, she brought out cumin-grilled lamb ribs, salt-and-pepper crayfish, rainbow ice juice, and dwarf sweet wine.

It was worth mentioning that the salt-and-pepper crayfish had been stored for a long time. It was a seasonal delicacy and wasn’t available in every world. At the very least, during her time in the Endless Train world, she hadn’t seen it at any station.

So now, every portion eaten meant one less in her reserves.

“Let’s eat!” Yu Xi moved the table and chairs to the north side of the terrace. After sitting down, she remembered something and took out a small walkie-talkie from her storage.

Just in case the survivors at the lodge needed emergency help, she planned to keep the walkie-talkie outside for the next few days.

Fan Qi had been in a great mood these past few days. As she ate, she kept gazing at the bamboo sea outside.

Since the apartment had been reset to the edge of the highland cliffs, the northern view from the terrace was breathtaking—rolling peaks and a vast sea of bamboo stretching endlessly. A suspended cableway ran through the landscape, spanning several miles. Before the apocalypse, riding the cable car here must have been an incredible experience.

“How about I take you both for a ride over the valley in my low-altitude vehicle tomorrow?” Yu Xi suddenly suggested. Her parents had never ridden in her low-altitude car before. In the past, she had been cautious, partly to conserve star currency. After all, teleporting back cost star currency, but now, with her energy reserves overflowing, they could teleport hundreds of times a day without issue.

After Yu Xi explained the mechanics of teleportation and energy usage, both Fan Qi and Yu Feng nodded in agreement, mostly intrigued by the idea of riding in a low-altitude vehicle.

Seeing her parents so excited about the ride, Yu Xi had another thought.

Before, when energy was scarce, she could only reset Star House about once a month.

But now, with this much energy, couldn’t they reset it every few days and explore the entire planet?

Xing Min suddenly spoke in her mind.

【If you want, I can reset it tonight. This planet has many beautiful places. Do you want to see the pyramids? Or visit the snowy mountains? Scans show a white sand beach in a tropical ocean—there’s a small island with a lighthouse. The surrounding scenery is stunning, and at night, you can see the Milky Way. I can reset Star House inside the lighthouse.】

After spending an entire day sensing Xing Min’s 【…】, Yu Xi saw through him but said nothing.

She took a sip of the dwarf sweet wine, praised its flavor, and then asked about the spaceship system upgrade progress.

【…15%.】

Yu Xi: After all these days, only 15%? Forget it—she’d wait until the upgrade was complete before starting her global tour. Besides, she had just made new acquaintances today and left them a walkie-talkie. What if they ran into trouble tonight? No need to rush off.

【…】

Yu Xi chuckled and focused on her meal.

**

Maybe she had jinxed it.

Just after midnight, while she was asleep, the static crackle of an electric signal woke her up.

She instantly became alert, quickly realizing that the sound was coming from the walkie-talkie she had left in the corner of her room.

The person on the other end seemed unfamiliar with using a walkie-talkie. The static noise lasted for a while before a nervous voice finally came through.

“Ya Tong? Ya Tong, are you there? … Ya Tong?”

Yu Xi picked up the device and pressed the button. “I’m here. Speak.”

“It’s Da Feng! … Ah Cheng—Min Cheng is in trouble!”