Apocalypse Star House Hoarding-Chapter 137

They spent another day traveling along the southern part of the peninsula, moving from east to west.
The wind here was milder, but the rain remained torrential.
During the day, Ya Tong would deactivate her weapon’s protective barrier since this level of wind and rain posed no threat to the fully enclosed yacht. At night, she reactivated the barrier, primarily to shield against unexpected dangers.
Whether it was waterspouts, typhoons, lightning storms, or malicious intruders attempting to board, the barrier could neutralize all threats. Furthermore, any significant impact or damage to the barrier would immediately alert Ya Tong, ensuring she woke up in time to respond.
Because of this, the group of five could rest peacefully at night and wake early in the morning, ready to continue their journey.
The southern part of the peninsula had not been hit by tsunamis, but it had still suffered significant damage from the relentless rain. Large stretches of coastline and parts of the cities were lost.
Rain, though less destructive than tsunamis, had still managed to inundate the coastal areas. Most buildings in the southern coastal cities remained intact. As the yacht moved along the waterlogged cities, the group could see a variety of makeshift vessels moored outside waterlogged buildings—rubber rafts, paddle boats, bathtubs, small wooden boats, and two-story speedboats were all present.
In comparison, their luxurious yacht, while striking in appearance, was not entirely out of place.
Ya Tong and Yu Xi observed the residents inside the buildings. Many people still lived in these semi-submerged structures.
Some stayed out of attachment to their homes, adapting to a life of scavenging for supplies during the day and returning to rest at night.
Others stayed because they had elderly or sick family members. For them, the idea of constantly moving was impractical, so they chose to remain until it was no longer tenable.
And some people, perhaps, had simply given up.
The peninsula had remained isolated from external rescue operations. Despite the isolation, occasional signals from radios and television broadcasts revealed that the outside world was also ravaged by typhoons, torrential rain, and tsunamis. Yet for the peninsula’s inhabitants, these distant s felt like glimpses into an unreachable world.
Some had tried to leave the peninsula by boat but never returned, their fates unknown. Others, primarily those living in the west, packed their belongings and drove out of the peninsula. But like those who took to the sea, they too vanished without a trace.
As time passed, rumors spread.
Some people suddenly recalled family members who had left the peninsula long ago but had never returned. Strangely, they realized that until recently, they hadn’t found this unusual or concerning, as if their memories had been clouded by some inexplicable force.
Now, with the fog lifted, they recognized the abnormality: their loved ones had been gone far too long without any contact.
Panic set in. Attempts to call their family members went unanswered, and law enforcement, overwhelmed by the ongoing disasters, offered no help.
As the end of days unfolded, some people regained fragments of suppressed memories, giving them an acute awareness of the strangeness around them. Yet, with chaos reigning and people dying daily, these revelations garnered little attention.
…
When the yacht anchored near a building for the night, Ya Tong and Yu Xi, benefiting from their enhanced hearing, picked up snippets of conversations revealing various unsettling truths.
“It seems like the world’s rules have a way of managing those who left the peninsula and entered the temporal loop before the apocalypse fully set in,” Yu Xi remarked.
“Yes,” Ya Tong nodded, “It feels as though it was done to maintain order in this fragmented world before the disasters began.”
She sighed, her thoughts turning introspective.
“It’s cruel,” she continued. “It’s as though the people here were given a choice: to live in lies or face the apocalypse.”
“More like they weren’t given a choice at all,” Yu Xi responded.
Ya Tong fell silent at this, her thoughts drifting to her own world of origin. To the system tower’s inhabitants, her world had also been nothing more than a task realm.
Was it possible that all the disasters that had occurred there had been orchestrated in the same way?
The waters around them were pitch black. Without electricity, the buildings that had seemed faintly alive during the day now appeared lifeless in the dark. Only a few windows glimmered faintly with the flicker of candlelight.
To avoid drawing attention, the yacht maintained a low profile after detouring to the southern coastline. Even during dinner, only a few dim interior lights were used.
Ya Tong thought this was prudent. Since all the yacht’s power came from fuel, and the yacht consumed fuel rapidly, she constantly worried that Yu Xi might run out. Yu Xi didn’t have the heart to tell her that much of the fuel stored in her inventory had been stockpiled from the Meteor World…
“By tomorrow morning, we should reach the first shipyard. Judging by the current water level, that shipyard is likely entirely submerged.”
Yu Xi nodded. “I’ll dive alone tomorrow. You stay on the yacht.”
Ya Tong clinked her glass against Yu Xi’s. “Be careful.” The two had worked together countless times and needed no further words for reassurance.
…
The following day, the yacht stopped two hours into its westward journey.
There were no buildings nearby—just water as far as the eye could see. Only faint glimpses of submerged hills could be seen in the far distance.
Ahead, large orange steel gantry cranes rose from the water, their frames partially submerged. These massive outdoor cranes, typically towering over ten stories high, were used for assembling ship segments. Now, more than half their height was underwater.
These distinctive cranes marked their destination—the shipyard was beneath the water in this area.
Yu Xi, already equipped with her diving gear, stepped out onto the deck. Without activating the yacht’s barrier, she opened the dining room’s automatic glass door and was instantly engulfed by the pounding rain.
Turning, she perched on the yacht’s railing and executed a smooth backward dive into the water.
The water muffled the relentless roar of the rain. Yu Xi switched on the waterproof searchlight attached to her wrist, illuminating her surroundings underwater.
This area was home to final assembly shipyards, where ship hulls, outfitting components, piping systems, and cabin insulation were assembled and tested. Other equipment, like marine engines, was sourced from specialized factories.
The odds of finding a fully completed ship here were higher than at integrated shipyards.
Yu Xi followed one of the steel support columns of the massive cranes, descending along its structure until she reached the dock area below.
There was indeed a ship below, its sheer weight keeping it anchored in place like an enormous immovable stone. Yu Xi adjusted her searchlight to its brightest setting and began inspecting the hull closely to determine whether the ship had been fully assembled.
Finding a completed ship was easier said than done. Even if they managed the first 99 steps, the final success still depended on luck.
At the first shipyard, Yu Xi found no completed vessels.
She sent a text to Ya Tong via the waterproof transparent phone on her wrist and continued toward the second shipyard.
Ya Tong, upon receiving the message, restarted the yacht and carefully navigated past the crane structures using the radar detection system.
They searched three shipyards in total. Most of the ships were incomplete. One ship appeared finished, but when Yu Xi used her transportation storage ability to retrieve and inspect it above water, she discovered that many critical mechanical components were missing.
“Should we keep it for now and gather the necessary equipment later? We could find someone knowledgeable to install them,” Ya Tong suggested while swapping out Yu Xi’s oxygen tank on the deck.
Yu Xi looked at the massive cargo ship floating stably on the surface. When stored in her transportation space, all seawater inside the ship had been automatically removed. However, without its machinery, the ship couldn’t sail.
“A ship that can’t move is just a floating island. It’s not completely useless, but it’ll be troublesome to deal with later.”
“Fine, we’ll keep it for now. If we find a better cargo ship later, we can replace it.” Yu Xi donned her mask, indicating she was ready to dive again.
“It’s already afternoon, and you haven’t had lunch. Shouldn’t you eat something first?”
“I’ll check out a public dock further ahead and come back to eat if I find it.”
Public docks typically housed finished ships, ready to set sail. Unless struck by a tsunami, these ships could respond to storms or typhoons and leave dangerous areas immediately. As such, finding ships there was even less likely.
Ya Tong maneuvered the yacht to the vicinity of the public dock, but before it had fully stopped, Yu Xi had already dived into the water.
Meanwhile, in the kitchen on the main deck, Chen Lei and his son, Chen Shengxin, were preparing lunch. They had learned that Yu Xi would eat aboard after her dive.
Chen Lei, a single father, wasn’t as skilled a cook as Ya Tong, but he was adept at simple home-style dishes. Over the past few days, they had taken on the responsibility of meal preparation with Yu Xi’s permission.
The yacht’s fridge and pantry were well-stocked with ingredients, making even the act of cooking feel like a privilege compared to the scarcity they had witnessed.
Initially, both father and son had been somewhat intimidated by “Qu Yichen.” The youth’s cold and intense gaze made them instinctively fearful, as though he could see through them.
However, their impression changed one night when Chen Lei awoke and saw “Qu Yichen” paddling a rubber raft loaded with rice and flour. Under the cover of darkness, he visited each building, lingering briefly before returning with an empty raft.
Chen Lei later realized that Yu Xi had been delivering supplies—quietly and without seeking credit.
Since that night, Chen Lei’s perception of “Qu Yichen” had completely shifted. The fear he once held was now replaced by deep respect—despite the fact that Qu Yichen was younger than his son. It didn’t stop Chen Lei from admiring the young man.
Lunch was nearly ready. Chen Shengxin carried a plate of sliced watermelon to the semi-outdoor dining area at the back of the yacht. The electric glass doors were securely closed, keeping the rain out.
Yu Zhenzhen stood by the glass, staring at the spot where Yu Xi had dived into the water.
“Are you hungry? Want some fruit?” Chen Shengxin asked cautiously.
“Just leave it on the table. I’ll wait for my mom to come back before eating.” Yu Zhenzhen frowned with worry. “She said the chance of finding a ship at the dock was slim, and she’d only take a quick look. Why is she taking so long?”
She wanted to send a message to Yu Xi but was afraid it might distract her underwater, so she forced herself to wait patiently.
“Don’t worry. Your mom’s incredible—she’ll be back soon.”
Chen Shengxin set the watermelon down and stood by her side to wait.
Yu Zhenzhen kept her eyes on the water, while Chen Shengxin occasionally stole glances at her. Suddenly, she gasped and ran toward the back deck, opening the glass door before he could react.
He grabbed a nearby umbrella and hurried after her, shielding her from the rain.
“Look!” Yu Zhenzhen exclaimed, pointing toward the water on the other side of the yacht.
Chen Shengxin followed her gaze. The once-empty water was now occupied by a cruise ship!
It was a mid-sized passenger cruise ship, nearly 100 meters long and 20 meters wide, spanning five decks. According to the bridge’s documentation, it was used for island tours, with 108 guest cabins capable of accommodating about 600 passengers.
If other functional rooms were included, the capacity could be even greater.
The cruise ship was semi-new when Yu Xi found it, tilted near the submerged dock. Many of the windows were shattered, and a few corpses—likely crew members—remained inside. The exact events of that day were unclear.
Yu Xi released the cargo ship in a clear area of water, then transferred the cruise ship (after removing the corpses and water) into her transportation storage. Once it surfaced, the cruise ship floated steadily.
She hadn’t expected it to be so stable.
Ya Tong maneuvered the yacht closer while Yu Zhenzhen stayed aboard to keep watch. The other four boarded the cruise ship to inspect it. Apart from some broken windows and disorganized, water-damaged furnishings in a few rooms, the ship’s main machinery was intact. Even the water and fuel tanks were full.
“With some repairs and a proper crew, this cruise ship can be fully operational,” Ya Tong noted, visibly pleased. Such a well-equipped ship was far more practical than a larger cargo ship. Though it would require time and effort to restore, it was a significant asset for their future plans.
After lunch, Ya Tong held a brief meeting. The next step was to return to the central highlands of the peninsula. Along the way, they would stop at several locations to search for bulk food, water, and fuel, most of which were underwater.
Chen Lei and Chen Shengxin had no objections—not that they could have changed anything. Ya Tong was merely informing them.
The cruise ship couldn’t accommodate other vehicles besides rescue rafts when stored in the transportation space, but it could hold supplies. Its massive storage capacity made it an ideal depot for their collected resources.
Ya Tong and Yu Xi returned to the cruise ship and loaded it with all the materials they had previously gathered from warehouses. The supplies were placed in sealed, undamaged storage rooms before Yu Xi stored the ship in her space. This freed up their personal storage for further scavenging.
They continued their journey, stopping intermittently along the water, heading toward the highlands..
..
Over the following days, torrential rain continued to engulf the entire peninsula. The rain showed no signs of stopping, relentlessly washing over the land and steadily raising water levels.
If a satellite image were taken, it would reveal that the peninsula’s landmass had shrunk by nearly half, with large swathes of land submerged.
The remaining survivors were retreating toward the central highlands. As the yacht passed through cities, various boats became the primary mode of transportation. Occasionally, they encountered large ships that had survived the typhoon, carrying many refugees.
However, the terrain of the submerged land varied greatly. While larger ships could navigate along the outer edges of the peninsula, venturing inland often led to grounding.
Once grounded, a ship was immobile, and waiting for water levels to rise enough to free it could take an indeterminate amount of time.
Some, under pressure from food and water shortages, abandoned the relative safety of their ships to seek a new way to survive. Others adopted a scavenger mindset, stopping at every exposed building to break in and search for supplies.
Everything edible, drinkable, or usable was taken.
In some cases, these buildings were still occupied. Conflicts arose between scavengers and those unwilling to leave their homes. More restrained individuals relied on warnings and defense, while the ruthless resorted to violence—either robbing the residents or being driven off by the homeowners.
During the early days of chaos, while the world hadn’t yet descended into desperate fights to the death over a single piece of bread, many people’s hands were already stained with blood.
Those fearful of such disorder desperately sought refuge in the central highlands, where the land remained above water. Rumor had it that government officials had also relocated there, bringing substantial supplies and continuing to distribute food and clean water daily.
In contrast, the people from waterlogged cities survived by drinking rainwater.
However, rainwater was teeming with bacteria, and most people lacked knowledge about proper filtration or disinfection techniques. Many didn’t even have the means to boil it. As a result, those with weaker constitutions often fell ill after consuming too much.
In such circumstances, the sick were left to recover on their own—or succumb to their ailments.
The only thing motivating people to keep moving was the thought of dry land in the highlands. There, even under the constant assault of thunderstorms and typhoons, one could find shelter in dilapidated buildings. A roof over their heads, a fire for warmth, and a spot on the floor to sleep was infinitely better than standing in the unrelenting cold rain wrapped in a plastic poncho.
But when these people finally exhausted all their resources and reached the highlands, they discovered the place was already bursting at the seams.
Nearly everyone who survived the peninsula’s disasters had fled here. The massive influx of refugees turned the highlands into a chaotic mess.
…
Wang Mufeng and his family of three were considered lucky. He had always enjoyed water activities, frequently taking trips to the coast. As a result, he, his wife, and their teenage son were all excellent swimmers.
Moreover, their family owned a fully enclosed inflatable boat and a collection of practical water equipment, such as full-body wetsuits, snorkeling masks, breathing tubes, ear and nose plugs, and flippers—basic but effective diving gear.
They originally lived in a city near the eastern hills. When the floodwaters struck, they quickly packed their belongings and drove away.
However, road congestion soon brought them to a standstill, and the flood caught up with them. In a critical moment, the family worked together to deploy their inflatable boat, tossing their water gear and essential supplies aboard.
Thanks to the boat, they survived. Along their arduous journey from the east to the central highlands, they encountered all kinds of people.
Some feigned friendliness, their eyes fixed on the boat. Others, driven mad by desperation, fought each other for resources. On one occasion, a brutal man emerged victorious in a fight over supplies but spared Wang Mufeng’s family, walking away without taking their lives.
That night, Wang Mufeng picked up the dead man’s weapon—a sharp firefighter’s axe—with trembling hands and resolved to protect his family at all costs. He was determined to bring them safely to the highlands.
However, when they finally reached the highlands, they found that the situation there wasn’t much better than in the flood zones.
Food was indeed being distributed daily, but organized groups had formed, preying on others to steal their shares.
Hotels and guesthouses were packed to capacity. Even open corridors with leaky roofs were being traded for food as rest spots.
After being robbed of his rations for the third time and beaten for resisting, Wang Mufeng overheard a conversation among his attackers.
Apparently, a peculiar refuge lay in the northern highlands.
Unlike the government-run shelters, this one operated mysteriously, and entry wasn’t open to everyone. To apply, individuals needed to bring identification along with five kilograms of soil or one liter of fuel per person.
Only those who passed an interview could gain access.
Criminals with prior convictions had tried to bluff their way in by claiming lost identification but were turned away. Even without physical IDs, simply providing an identification number was enough for verification.
However, passing the ID check was only the first hurdle. The interview process was far more critical.
Rejected applicants ed that the interviews were strange, consisting of a few timed questions. Those who lied or made random guesses, thinking they could outsmart the interviewers, were invariably denied entry.
The group of looters who had beaten Wang Mufeng were among those rejected. Now, they were venting their frustration and vowing to seize the refuge by force someday.
Listening to their boasts as he shielded his head from their blows, Wang Mufeng couldn’t help but sneer inwardly. With just you lot?
That evening, he returned to the small shelter where his wife and son were waiting, shivering and starving. Seeing their pitiful state, he made a decision: they would try their luck with the northern refuge.
…
The next day, the family of three trudged through the pouring rain, crossing two hills in the highlands. When they finally reached the northern area, they found no buildings—only a vast expanse of gray water below the slopes.
The northern highlands were already close to the coastline. With the rising water levels, the northern lands were completely submerged.
“Dad!” his son tugged at his sleeve, pointing to the opposite slope. “There’s a ship over there!”
Wang Mufeng squinted through the rain, straining to see.
Sure enough, a cruise ship was docked in the water across from them.
…
At the same moment, inside the cruise ship, the number of refugees onboard reached fifty.
Elsewhere on the ship, Yu Xi heard a familiar notification from the system.
[World Mission 2: Establish a Human Refuge (Optional Task) Complete. Host receives 500 star coins. Current star coins: 730.]
…
Thingyan
: Thank you to all who have commented. It’s been hectic these days that I haven’t been able to reply you all. Please forgive this translator 🙇‍♀️