Apocalypse Star House Hoarding

Chapter 94

Yu Xi was always cautious. Knowing acid rain was expected tonight, she had already pulled down the movable nano-ceramic alloy panels on all the unsealed windows in the villa, except for those in her current space. This space was her bedroom, which included a bathroom, closet, and a study—quite large.

Each of these areas had windows, though fortunately, they were not floor-to-ceiling, and pulling down the panels could completely isolate them from the outside. The alloy panel on the study window was open, and through the safety bars, she could see the rain streaks covering the glass.

Standing up, Yu Xi put on protective gloves, opened the window slightly, and used a pH testing device to check the rainwater.

The rainwater had a pH of 5.3, indicating mild acid rain. According to her research, this world experienced mild acid rain sporadically across cities over the past two decades. Rain of this level posed minimal harm with occasional exposure, though frequent exposure could erode skin, cause hair loss, and lead to respiratory issues.

Some cities occasionally recorded acid rain with a pH below 4.0. Initially, people panicked, but over time, they grew accustomed to it. For the people of Fan City, such rain was now ordinary, with some even too unconcerned to carry umbrellas. The more cautious residents avoided getting their hair and skin wet and washed with soapy water after being outdoors to neutralize any acidic residue.

Every half hour, she tested the rainwater’s pH again. For several tests, the pH remained between 5.3 and 5.6, still within the mild acid rain range.

Several cars were parked on the driveway in front of the neighboring villa, and even from a distance, she could clearly hear music playing—Feng Xu seemed to be hosting a party. His parties were far more lively than hers. She knew his villa had a glass room with a pool, his favorite venue for pool parties. At least a dozen people were inside, drinking, chatting, and enjoying the food.

Some guests flirted with new acquaintances, sneaking out from the villa to the cover of a tree in the courtyard, ignoring the drizzle as they whispered.

Yu Xi’s hearing was keen; she could hear even the cheesy pick-up lines clearly. Since taking her third power-enhancing pill, she had gradually gained control over some of her senses. For example, she could now muffle excessive noise in crowded areas or focus her hearing within a specific range. However, she was still practicing, like learning to ride a bike—sometimes successful, sometimes not.

Around 11:30 p.m., she tested the rain again, and this time the pH dropped sharply to 4.4. A pH of 4.4 signified heavy acid rain, though it was still well above the pH level of 0.1 typical of pure sulfuric acid. In this world, this level of acid rain only warranted “caution” as it wouldn’t cause immediate harm upon skin contact.

She called out toward the wall, “TV.” A screen gradually appeared on the wall, displaying colors and images. It was a transparent, voice-activated television panel that almost disappeared when turned off.

She used voice control to switch to a news channel. It was late-night news hour, summarizing the day’s headlines with occasional live updates.

Approaching midnight, no specific news segment appeared about the acid rain, though a rolling ticker at the bottom of the screen mentioned heavy acid rain in certain areas tonight, advising citizens to take precautions and limit outdoor activity—a standard, automated announcement.

In this world, such announcements appeared once or twice a month. Fan City was a heavy industrial city, with factories emitting large amounts of sulfur dioxide and nitrogen compounds into the air; its high volume of vehicles also released nitrogen oxides and hydrocarbons. Nitrogen oxides react with water to form nitric acid, resulting in nitric acid-based acid rain, while sulfur dioxide forms sulfuric acid-based rain.

Thus, Fan City’s rain was often acidic.

Thirty years ago in this world, such events would have caused widespread panic. Over time, after repeated regulatory efforts to improve air quality, people would become complacent whenever the air improved, eventually slipping back into old habits. This cycle repeated until now, where people had grown desensitized.

It was like the tale of the boy who cried wolf. After too many false alarms, when the wolf finally came, no one believed it—or even paid attention.

Tonight, the pH level of the rain didn’t stabilize around 4.0 as usual but continued to drop. By 12:30 a.m., when Yu Xi tested again, it had fallen to 3.0, nearing the acidity of vinegar (pH 2.9).

Yu Xi decided not to monitor further. She pulled down the alloy panel on her study window, freshened up, changed into a cotton short-sleeved pajama set, and went to bed. The invisible alarm system in the yard was activated, and the villa was thoroughly sealed with nano-ceramic alloy panels. She had nothing else to do for now, so she opted to rest early and conserve her energy for the city’s post-acid-rain aftermath.

Meanwhile, the party next door was still going. Someone suggested relocating to a nearby hotpot restaurant for a late-night snack, and the idea was met with enthusiastic support.

Most guests had parked close to the villa and didn’t think to bring umbrellas, given the light rain. They stepped out, hurrying to their cars in the drizzle, but as the first person reached the open, he let out a cry of pain.

“Ouch! This rain really hurts!” He clutched his exposed arm and then his face.

Someone behind him instinctively looked up at the sky, only to let out a blood-curdling scream, “My eyes! My eyes!”

It felt as if boiling oil, not rainwater, had splashed into his eyes—burning and searing, making it impossible to open them. He reached out blindly to grab the person beside him for support, but pulled too hard, dragging the other person down onto himself.

The second person, who was already feeling sharp pain on their face and scalp, felt an even more intense sting after being yanked, and both of them stumbled and fell, blocking the first person’s attempt to retreat back inside the villa.

The three people collapsed on the lawn, where their hands, arms, and faces met the rain-soaked grass. They cried out in shock and pain, feeling as though they had fallen into a cauldron of boiling oil or were being licked by flames. No matter how much they tried to shake off the rainwater, the burning sensation wouldn’t go away.

Their skin, where it touched the rain, turned red and soon darkened, while the surrounding grass yellowed and blackened. The air became filled with a pungent, stinging odor, irritating their throats as if something sharp were lodged inside.

The others, who had been about to step out, were horrified by the sight and retreated. One person moved forward to help but was forced back by the sharp, burning pain on their exposed arm as soon as it touched the rain. Looking at their arm, now red and blistered as though scalded, they muttered in horror, “This rain isn’t right… It’s not just rain… It’s like… sulfuric acid!”

The mention of “sulfuric acid” froze everyone in their tracks. A moment ago, they’d been drinking and enjoying themselves, but now they were all wide awake, faces filled with shock.

On the lawn outside the villa, the three people’s cries grew more desperate as their reddened skin darkened and blackened, emitting faint wisps of smoke, as if being scorched.

“What should we do? At this rate, they might die!”

“We can’t just leave them out there! We need to get them inside!” Someone began looking around for tools. “Grab umbrellas—quick, we can use them to shield against the rain!”

Several people grabbed umbrellas from the stand by the villa’s entrance and were about to rush out when Feng Xu, who had arrived from the pool area, stopped them. “The umbrellas won’t work; they’re too thin! Can’t you see that even their clothes are starting to corrode? This rain’s acidity has gotten stronger!”

“Then what do we do?”

Feng Xu spotted a thick rug in the living room and instructed, “Use that! It’s thick enough and should hold up for a short time. Two people hold it overhead, and two more wrap their hands in clothes to protect them and pull the injured in quickly.”

Some people stepped forward to help with Feng Xu’s rescue plan, while others, trembling and silent, retreated to the corners of the villa, keeping their distance from the doors and windows, hoping not to be noticed.

Feng Xu noticed these cowards in the corner through the corner of his eye. They were unfamiliar faces—guests he didn’t know, likely freeloaders invited by his other friends. Normally, he wouldn’t mind as long as there was a crowd, but in a life-or-death situation, seeing such selfish behavior disgusted him. He mentally marked their faces, planning to blacklist them along with the friends who brought them.

Five or six people readied themselves, holding the thick rug overhead as they prepared to rush out the front door. Feng Xu wrapped both hands in thick towels, positioning himself in the middle to assist in the rescue.

Under the rug, the group could barely see due to the acrid smell and white smoke filling the air. The person at the front felt a few droplets of acid rain splash onto him, and the pain made his hands shake, nearly losing his grip on the rug.

“Hold on!” shouted Feng Xu from the center, “Keep it steady!”

Despite the rug’s size, it only shielded their heads, allowing stray droplets of rain to occasionally splash in. Gritting their teeth, they quickly reached the three-meter distance to the fallen group. The three lying on the ground were motionless; it was unclear if they were unconscious or dead.

Feng Xu knelt down to check. “They’re still alive! Help me lift them!”

However, lifting a fully unconscious adult was easier said than done, especially with the acid rain making everyone reluctant to touch them directly. One rescuer accidentally unwrapped his protective clothing, and the exposed skin touching an injured person burned immediately, causing him to flinch and drop the person halfway.

“It’s no use, Feng! We can’t save all of them at once—let’s just carry one back first.”

Feng Xu, gritting his teeth against the pain as he lifted one person, replied, “No, we have to save them all in one go. If they stay out here any longer, they won’t survive.”

Two of the rescuers glanced at each other but disregarded his instructions, choosing instead to lift a single person between them.

“What are you doing? Each of you, take one!” Feng Xu shouted angrily.

But his command had little effect. Both had been splashed with acid rain, their palms burned from handling the injured, and any courage they had was now overshadowed by fear. In the few seconds of hesitation, Feng Xu realized what was happening. Frustrated, he cursed them for being cowardly and threatened to cut ties with them if they didn’t follow his orders.

Under normal circumstances, people would rush to obey Feng Xu. But at this moment, the abnormal acid rain and searing pain magnified everyone’s fear beyond anything they could control.

In peaceful times, few people are truly brave enough to put others before themselves. The two rescuers exchanged a glance, then, in silent agreement, released their grip and let the injured person drop back to the ground.

Feng Xu’s expression darkened, and he was about to say something when someone swiftly approached with an umbrella, bent down, and pulled one of the unconscious individuals out from under the rug without hesitation. They then quickly carried them back into the villa, placing them on the floor.

The whole process was seamless, executed with such ease that it seemed the rescuer barely felt the weight. The figure then dashed back out, grabbed the second person, and brought them inside before returning one last time to take the third person from Feng Xu’s grasp, rescuing them with the same efficiency.

The urgency of their actions made Feng Xu feel as if he were holding onto something incredibly precious.

Once all three were safely indoors, the five people under the rug scrambled into the villa, tossing the acid-rain-soaked rug under the eaves where it started to corrode.

With the villa’s lights shining brightly, Feng Xu finally got a good look at their rescuer. They wore a thick, hooded protective suit, a strange silver-gray mask covering the lower half of their face, and protective goggles on the upper half, with not a single strand of hair visible. Feng Xu couldn’t even tell if the person was male or female.

Their umbrella was equally peculiar, with a metal canopy that gleamed dully under the lights.

After setting down the umbrella, the figure moved the three unconscious individuals near the bathroom, instructing others on how to administer first aid. “Use dry cloths or towels to absorb the acid rain, then rinse thoroughly with water. Finish with soapy water on the wounds to neutralize the acid. If you can’t fit in the bathroom, don’t crowd—call an ambulance immediately.”

The voice, slightly muffled by the silver-gray mask, was distinctly feminine.

She seemed ready to leave as soon as she finished giving instructions. Ignoring the pain in his body, Feng Xu took a few quick steps to catch up, wanting to thank her. She hesitated for a moment, seemingly taken aback by his sincere expression. Lifting her umbrella, her voice came again from behind the mask, still somewhat unclear: “No need to thank me. Do the same for yourselves—dry off the acid rain first, rinse with water, and use soapy water on any injured areas to neutralize the acid.”

With that, she opened her umbrella and strode away, disappearing swiftly into the rain without looking back.

Feng Xu watched her retreating figure in a daze, realizing only after she had vanished that he hadn’t even asked her name.

…

Random Task Progress: Rescue 3 near-death individuals on the lawn of the left-side villa. Rescued: 3. Task complete. Reward: 30 star coins. Total star coins: 408.

Hearing the cheerful notification sound, Yu Xi’s mood lifted immensely. The morning grogginess from being awakened by the random task was gone. It was only her second day in the apocalyptic world, and she had already earned 50 star coins. How could she not be in a good mood?

Taking advantage of the night, she quickly circled back to her own villa, leaping into her courtyard from the nearby greenery. She headed straight for the indoor pool area, entered the pool shower room with her umbrella in hand, and turned on the water to rinse herself thoroughly.

Only after all traces of acid rain were washed off her umbrella and protective suit did Yu Xi remove her goggles and the moisture-breath mask. Despite half an hour of use, the mask still appeared fresh and moist, as if new.

She had already confirmed with the system that the mask could be reused within its 24-hour limit. She didn’t need to keep track of the time herself; as the time limit decreased, the mask’s moisture would gradually dry up, eventually losing its adhesive quality and falling off her face automatically. That would be her cue to replace it with a new one.

The alloy umbrella could fully block the falling acid rain, the chemical protective suit shielded her from splashing droplets, the moisturizing breathing mask prevented inhalation of acidic gases, and the protective goggles safeguarded her eyes. With such comprehensive gear, moving through the acid rain was manageable for her—for now, at least, given the current level of acidity.

Earlier, when she had briefly stepped out of the villa, she measured the rain’s acidity at a pH level of 1.8, nearing the strength of ordinary sulfuric acid. By 4 a.m., the rain stopped.

Starting around 2 a.m., sirens from ambulances echoed across the city and continued until dawn. According to the morning news, the acid rain reached a peak acidity level close to pH 0.8. Although this high acidity didn’t last long and occurred in the dead of night, Feng City’s vibrant nightlife meant many were still out, resulting in severe injuries citywide within that short five-minute span.

Numerous people with minor injuries flocked to hospitals after the rain ceased, some suffering from intense throat pain due to inhaling acidic gases. The healthcare system barely managed to stay operational, struggling to treat the surge of patients.

Vehicles, buildings, and infrastructure across the city suffered various levels of corrosion. Even farms and orchards in suburban areas with protective covers sustained extensive damage, as no one expected such a highly acidic rain to fall from the sky. People could only watch helplessly as their nearly harvest-ready crops were ruined by the acid rain.

Seventy percent of cities across the country were similarly hit, with varying degrees of acid rain. Some of the ultra-heavy industrial cities, already plagued by frequent acid rain, faced near-catastrophic conditions; reports indicated acidity levels as low as pH 1.0—equivalent to concentrated sulfuric acid. Drone footage captured devastating scenes of cities ravaged by the acid rain.

Author’s Note: After researching real-world acid rain events, I found a case of vinegar-level acid rain (pH 2.9) that really occurred.

In this world, Yu Xi might end up with dual identities.