Apocalypse Star House Hoarding-Chapter 120

New Mission Delivered
The first thing Yu Xi noticed was the
500 Star Coins
reward listed after the second task.
“What’s going on? This task offers 500 Star Coins?” she muttered.
The amount of Star Coins rewarded typically correlated with the task’s difficulty.
“‘Establishing a human shelter,’ combined with a mid-level difficulty world… this storm can’t just be a simple storm.”
For a storm to reach apocalyptic proportions, the early stages would likely involve typhoons and thunderstorms. Depending on the geographical area, the middle stages could bring floods, tsunamis, waterspouts, and widespread power and water outages.
In the later stages, the problems of power and water shortages would persist, and supplies would run dangerously low. If societal order collapsed and floods went untreated, there might even be outbreaks of epidemics.
If it were just her surviving for six months, a small stockpile of supplies would suffice. But establishing a shelter? Food and water would become significant challenges.
Yu Xi deeply felt that earning this 500 Star Coins would be no easy feat. As she pondered the consequences of failing the task, her eyes landed on a detail:
“Optional task.”
“Optional task? Does that mean I don’t have to do it?” she asked.
Indeed,
World Task 2
was not mandatory. Completing it would earn Star Coins, but failure wouldn’t result in penalties.
Relieved, Yu Xi decided, “Let’s see how things go. If it’s doable, of course, I’ll try.” After all, it was a significant 500 Star Coin reward. But realistically, building a shelter wasn’t something she could accomplish alone. She’d undoubtedly need help along the way.
Her attention then shifted to the word “shard.” Having experienced “fusion” missions before, she understood what “shards” entailed.
“This is a shard world?”
Yes.
Shard worlds formed when an apocalyptic world was destroyed and fragmented. Yu Xi had encountered apocalyptic worlds fused with shard worlds twice before. However, she’d never entered a standalone shard world and didn’t know how it differed from normal apocalyptic worlds.
“What’s the difference between a shard world and a regular apocalyptic world?” she asked.
That is for the host to discover.
Yu Xi rephrased her question. “Is the mid-level difficulty of this storm apocalypse related to this being a shard world?”
Yes
.
She waited for the system to elaborate, but it didn’t. Its brief, concise response made her oddly nostalgic for its earlier mechanical, overly detailed explanations.
Another thought struck her. “Since this is such an unusual world, will you be sending me help this time?”
As expected, the system didn’t respond. She continued, “By the way, I forgot to thank you last time. Whether Lin Wu’s appearance was part of your plan or not, I probably wouldn’t have made it through those final hours without his help.”
For a moment, Yu Xi felt as though the system’s silence carried some subtle emotion. “Am I imagining things, or do you seem a little upset?”
World mission delivered. Please prepare. Task begins at midnight tomorrow.
“Alright.” But with only 24 hours to prepare—and considering the original world was now also in an apocalyptic state—there wasn’t much she could do beyond researching and preparing minimally.
She spent two hours drafting a simple plan for establishing a shelter while researching relevant information. Then she set an alarm and went to bed.
…
The next day, the meeting was held in the public lounge on the ground floor of another lodge diagonally across from Yu Xi’s building.
Yu Xi left her parents in the Star House, ate a simple homemade smoked chicken sandwich, and stepped out wearing long-sleeved athletic wear, a mask, and a hat.
She had already taken four strong anti-allergen pills. With her current constitution, the itchy fuzz of the “grain grass,” the sharp proboscises of mosquitoes, or the toxins of millipedes had no effect on her. The long sleeves and mask were merely to avoid standing out too much in front of others.
The lodge’s suite felt stuffy. Yu Xi inspected the window frames and corners of the room for issues before taking out a large bottle of insecticide to spray the entire suite. Though they lived inside the Star House, the area outside still required regular upkeep. Otherwise, there was no telling when they might step out of the Star House into a swarm of bugs.
Her building housed a handful of familiar faces: Chen Tong and her husband, the Gou family of four, Zheng Feng and his parents, and Lu Bin with his parents.
The two-story lodge featured four suites on the second floor. The first floor had a dining room, a lounge, and two additional suites.
Zheng Feng’s father, who had difficulty walking, stayed on the ground floor with his family, while Chen Tong and her husband occupied the suite next door.
The second floor housed the Gou family, Lu Bin’s family, and Yu Xi’s family.
The second floor of Yu Xi’s building had an empty suite, which was initially occupied by Manager Huang along with Wang Meng and Wang Yin. However, after just one night, they requested to switch rooms to another building.
The other building was larger, offering both suites and single rooms. Xu Yan, Xiao Zhang, Ma Tiantian, and Xia Xuan were all staying there. The request to move came from Wang Meng, who claimed it was because all the younger people were in that building, and since the lodge had plenty of space, they should spread out instead of crowding together.
Wang Meng and Wang Yin, who had previously exchanged a few sharp words with Yu Xi in the supermarket, were cousins. Both were participating in a talent show as idol singers. The show had garnered attention and a large following, and the two were among the popular contestants. However, just as their careers were taking off, the world abruptly fell into chaos.
No matter how famous an artist was, fame meant little in the face of life-and-death struggles. When people couldn’t even secure their survival, who would care about what new dance an idol had learned, what song they sang, or what photos they shared online?
Neither Wang Meng nor Wang Yin had any family. Years ago, they had signed with their current company, and Manager Huang Hui had been looking after them like an older sister. The two spent their years alternating between school and company training, never working or engaging with society. They lacked real-world experience, and their lives had been far removed from practicality.
When the apocalypse came, they were forced out of their familiar lives. Huang Hui pitied them, seeing how years of effort and dreams had crumbled overnight. She continued to care for them, tirelessly cleaning up after their personality-driven antics and the trouble they sometimes caused.
Huang Hui knew Wang Meng’s true reason for wanting to move to the other building wasn’t Yu Xi, but Xu Yan.
…
As Yu Xi descended the stairs, she overheard a quarrel coming from the ground-floor suite. Chen Tong and her husband, Zou Yan, were arguing. It seemed Chen Tong wanted him to attend the meeting, but Zou Yan refused to leave the building.
“I’ve already come all the way here with you,” he said. “Now I just want to lie down. Whether it’s gaming or watching shows, I’m not going to some pointless meeting.”
As their argument escalated, something was smashed inside the room. By the time Yu Xi reached the first floor, she saw Chen Tong leaving the suite with her head lowered.
From the neighboring suite, Zheng Feng happened to step out at the same time. He greeted Chen Tong with a smile but immediately noticed her expression. Understanding the situation, he gently patted her back and offered a few comforting words.
Since arriving at the lodge, the Yu family had kept mostly to themselves, thanks to the comfort of the Star House, making them less familiar with the others. Yu Xi, however, didn’t mind. She chose not to intrude and quietly followed Chen Tong and Zheng Feng toward the other building.
…
The small courtyards of the lodges were modest and similar in design. On either side were pavilions and stone benches. In the past, during pleasant weather, guests at the lodge would set up grills outside for barbecues, gather for board games, or lounge in deck chairs with a drink, enjoying the peace of the countryside under the moonlight.
But now, no one lingered outside. Trips to the vegetable planting area or livestock zone to gather food were hurried, with people fully covered for protection and returning as quickly as possible.
At Xu Yan’s building, Ma Tiantian and Xia Xuan were already there. Wang Meng and Wang Yin had also come downstairs with Huang Hui, but the atmosphere in the room felt tense. Wang Meng looked upset, Wang Yin was softly consoling her, and Huang Hui stood near Xia Xuan, apologizing to her about something.
Yu Xi had just arrived when Gou Yaoyang and his brother, along with Lu Bin and Xiao Zhang, walked in. They carried several bags of vegetables, suggesting they had gone to the lodge’s planting area early that morning.
As Gou Mingfeng entered, he looked around, then headed straight toward Wang Meng and Wang Yin. He exchanged a few words with Wang Yin and handed her one of the vegetable bags he was carrying.
Wang Yin accepted the bag, thanking Gou Mingfeng a few times, which made him grin from ear to ear like a blooming flower. Gou Yaoyang glanced at his silly younger brother and shook his head with a touch of exasperation.
In this small room, the complexity of human emotions was fully on display.
With Yu Xi’s heightened senses, she could perceive everything happening around her even with her eyes closed. It was inevitable that, in a relatively calmer environment, people would form bonds.
Especially among young men and women, given their current circumstances—traveling together as a convoy from S City to this lodge—emotions naturally began to form. These could be friendships or budding romantic feelings between the sexes, a normal and uncontrollable human tendency.
If Yu Xi hadn’t had the Star House or the experience of traversing apocalyptic worlds and growing through countless trials, she too might have developed feelings for someone after repeatedly fighting side by side with a few exceptional individuals.
However, including the time she spent in different worlds, her psychological age was now over thirty. She had worked with the military in zombie-infested worlds, ventured deep into ruins, and fully immersed herself in rescue missions in the meteorite world.
Now, she found it difficult to develop dependence or romantic feelings for anyone, even after fighting alongside them multiple times. Take Lin Wu, for instance. Despite their shared life-and-death experiences, all she felt toward him was camaraderie. She trusted him as a teammate, could face enemies with him, and entrust her back to him—but she never blushed or felt her heart race for him, let alone admired him romantically.
Sensing the subtle undercurrents between the men and women in this room, Yu Xi couldn’t help but reflect that her brief relationships around her university years felt like they belonged to another lifetime.
Now, when faced with the typical romantic dynamics and instincts of others, her heart was as still as water.
She couldn’t tell if this detachment was a blessing or a curse.
…
The day’s meeting didn’t go smoothly. Of the originally planned discussion points, only one was resolved.
When they moved on to the second issue, disagreements arose. Tensions escalated when Wang Yin remarked, “This lodge belongs to a friend of Sister Huang. If it weren’t for us, do you think you’d be staying here at this price?” Her words brought the discussion to a boiling point.
Yu Xi, unwilling to deal with unnecessary disputes and mindful of the midnight mission, stood up and quietly bid Xu Yan farewell.
“Wait,” Xu Yan called out, walking to a nearby cabinet. He retrieved a bag and handed it to her. Inside were two packs of coffee beans, part of his private stash. He had brought them out of habit during their escape, thinking the lodge would have a coffee grinder.
After arriving, he realized the lodge’s rustic style didn’t align with his expectations, and the coffee beans had gone unused. Remembering Yu Xi had swept up a lot of coffee beans at the supermarket, he figured she might have a grinder.
“Are you asking me to grind these for you? Sure, come by tomorrow afternoon to pick them up,” Yu Xi said.
Xu Yan looked momentarily speechless. “They’re for you. Keep them. These are Red Label beans, a gift from a friend of mine.”
Yu Xi was surprised. Red Label coffee beans were rare, and even before the apocalypse, they were difficult to buy, even with money.
She accepted the bag, but immediately noticed Wang Meng’s gaze on her. Not wanting to get entangled in any awkward dynamics, she masked her expression and said, “I can’t accept this for nothing. If you need my help in the future, just let me know.”
Xu Yan chuckled and hesitated briefly before replying, “Actually, I do need a favor. Do you have time this afternoon? I was hoping you could accompany me to the foot of the mountain.”
Yu Xi quickly understood—he wanted her as a bodyguard.
“I have something to do today. Can it wait until tomorrow afternoon?” she replied. After tonight’s midnight mission, she’d have a month of downtime and could go anywhere.
“Sure, I’ll come find you tomorrow,” Xu Yan said with a smile.
Until the moment Yu Xi left, the two groups were still deep in discussion, unable to reach a conclusion.
Returning to the Star House, she spent some time organizing her warehouse inventory. She prepared a corner with enough food and supplies to last one person for over half a year. The rest she sorted and stacked neatly, prioritizing items based on their weight and importance. These were the supplies she planned to leave in the Star House, taking advantage of the time differential.
Metal ice, being compact, was packed into eight and a half boxes for the mission world, while forty boxes were left behind in the Star House. For food, two-thirds were convenient ready-to-eat options, one-third were semi-prepared meals needing minimal processing, and a small portion consisted of takeout. She also packed two large boxes of drinks and stress-relieving snacks.
All weapons and the gold and diamond boxes were included in her apocalyptic gear. She also packed a box of well-organized medications, a multifunctional survival backpack, and protective equipment she had stocked up on during the acid rain world.
In summary, the items she planned to carry into the mission world prioritized weapons, medication, and protective gear. Food was easier to acquire in the early days, but weapons and medical supplies were much harder to find.
Moreover, since the system had not revealed her identity in the new world beforehand, Yu Xi wasn’t sure what role she’d be playing. Gold, jade, and diamonds didn’t take up much space, so she brought them all just in case.
At 11:58 PM, Yu Xi stood in the living room on the first floor. With a single thought, she transported all the supplies she planned to leave behind out of the Star House warehouse, instantly filling the entire floor.
At 11:59 PM, under the watchful eyes of her parents, Yu Xi walked to the black door on the second floor of the simulated apartment.
“Take care of yourself,” Fan Qi said softly, brushing her daughter’s face with a tender hand.
…
When Yu Xi regained consciousness, her first instinct was to raise a hand to shield herself from the intense sunlight overhead. The blazing heat and glaring rays made it difficult to adjust.
As she steadied herself, she realized she was standing on the edge of a running track. The noise around her was overwhelming—shouts of encouragement filled the air, as though a competition was underway.
Moments later, she observed the scene more closely. It appeared to be a school sports field, and young boys and girls were participating in a relay race.
Am I a high school student again?
she wondered, glancing down at herself. Instead of a school uniform, she saw a cream-colored suit with a knee-length skirt, slender long legs, and a pair of high heels.
Not a student, then. A teacher, perhaps?
The students’ noise made it difficult for her to focus on absorbing information about the world. Looking around, she spotted a pathway leading away from the track toward the school buildings and decided to head in that direction.
The campus was large, with many buildings scattered across it. Yu Xi entered the nearest one. Since most students were on the field for the sports meet, she planned to find an empty classroom to sit down and process the world’s information.
As soon as she stepped into the first-floor hallway, she spotted a couple near the back door of a classroom. A boy and a girl in school uniforms were tightly embracing and—kissing.
Yu Xi froze.
Before she could leave unnoticed, the boy spotted her. He hastily let go of the girl, looking flustered, and called out, “Teacher Yu Yu!”
So, I really am a teacher.
Yu Xi frowned and was about to say something dismissive to leave the situation when the girl in the boy’s arms turned to face her. With a slightly awkward expression, the girl softly said, “Mom.”
Yu Xi: …
…
Thingyan
: alright Lin Wu is out as the potential ML. I think it’s that guy who took over Lin Wu in the last world 🤔