Apocalypse Star House Hoarding-Chapter 186

The room was silent for a moment.
Yu Xi rubbed her temples and sighed, “Did I not make myself clear?”
This time, Yan Shang lowered his eyes and said nothing, as if his earlier question had already crossed his limits.
In the end, it was Hei Mu who spoke up: “Master, I understand you mean well, but no matter what happens outside, it doesn’t concern me. I just hope life stays the same. I’ll continue to prepare your favorite meals every day and handle all the little things around you.”
Coming from Hei Mu, with his composed and earnest demeanor, the words seemed particularly convincing.
After all, he had been with “Yu Xi” for five or six years as her butler and caretaker, proving himself highly capable. With him around, she didn’t need to worry about household chores or any minor tasks.
As for Jian Shou, like Hei Mu, he had been by her side for years, quietly doing his job. He had even gotten injured protecting her the previous day. If he chose to stay, no matter how dire things became, she would keep him with her.
But this conversation was mostly directed at Yan Shang and Xi Yuan. Especially Xi Yuan, who had just been purchased by “Yu Xi” and hadn’t even spent much time with her yet. He had every reason to leave and pursue his own life.
Yu Xi’s gaze fell on Xi Yuan. Ever since she had started talking, he had been turning his head away, his dark bangs partially covering his eyes. From his pale and delicate face, she couldn’t discern what he was thinking.
“Alright, there’s no need to rush your decision. This is an important matter. Take today to think it over, and let me know your choice tomorrow,” Yu Xi said, rising to call Hei Mu to the kitchen.
She had no intention of returning to the company. Until the outside situation deteriorated further, she would stay at the apartment and monitor the nearby sinkhole.
With plenty of supplies stockpiled, there was little else to do. Apart from preparing meals, she couldn’t think of anything to occupy her time.
The apartment had a dedicated cold storage room, which also housed a large freezer. Vegetables, fruits, eggs, milk, drinks, and alcohol were stored in the cold storage, while fresh meat was in the freezer. No matter what “Yu Xi” wanted to eat, Hei Mu could always prepare it for her.
With half of the stock still left, Yu Xi decided to use up what was in the apartment over the next few days.
“There’s bamboo fungus. Let’s make bamboo fungus chicken soup tonight.”
“Alright.”
“The matsutake mushrooms look good too. Grill them—they’re best enjoyed in their natural flavor.”
“Understood.”
“We’ve got squid, mussels, and prawns… How about a seafood rice dish? Make a generous portion.”
“Yes, Master.”
…
Yu Xi, though not fond of being addressed as “Master,” understood it wasn’t something she could change immediately. Hei Mu had been with “Yu Xi” for years, and forcing a change now would only raise suspicion.
Hei Mu worked tirelessly through the afternoon to prepare a sumptuous dinner.
Jian Shou, nursing his injured arm, had spent the afternoon resting in his room. Yan Shang helped in the kitchen, while Xi Yuan remained in his room all afternoon and even skipped dinner.
His unusual behavior raised Yu Xi’s suspicions.
Sure enough, late that night, someone quietly pushed open her door and approached her bedside.
Yu Xi had been awake the moment the door opened but remained still, waiting to see what the person intended to do.
She wasn’t yet certain if this world was a complete reality or a fragment. If it was complete, the System Tower would inevitably send someone else. Perhaps Xi Yuan had already been replaced by another tasker, which might explain his altered behavior.
In the darkness, she felt the faint shift of air as the person reached out toward her.
Before the hand could touch her, Yu Xi swiftly grabbed and yanked the figure forward. Rising in one motion, she flipped them onto the bed and pinned them down. “Who are you?”
The person struggled twice but couldn’t budge. A sharp, icy chill emanated from her grip, and the wrist she held felt as though it was frozen solid.
A cold, razor-sharp object pressed against his neck, exuding a deadly aura.
Sensing something off, Yu Xi frowned and withdrew the ice blade. She reached over and turned on the lamp, bathing the room in warm light that dispelled the darkness and illuminated her captive.
The boy beneath her was pinned with his arms twisted behind him, lying on his side, unable to move. He wore only a thin, nearly translucent robe that had slipped open further due to his struggles.
His pale face was now flushed, either from exertion or some other reason. Seeing her frown at him without further action, his gaze gradually filled with embarrassment, frustration, and self-mockery.
“You don’t actually like me, do you?” he asked, his voice tinged with bitterness.
Yu Xi: …?
Clenching his jaw as if making a final stand, he continued, “Hei Mu is your long-time butler, Jian Shou never leaves your side, and Yan Shang… ever since he became your subordinate, you’ve doted on him endlessly. But me? I’m nothing. Those words you said earlier—those were meant for me alone, weren’t they? You want to abandon me, don’t you?”
Yu Xi was a bit surprised. No matter how his mind worked, she had to admit his intuition and guesses were quite accurate.
“So, what exactly are you trying to do now?” Yu Xi looked at him, her tone devoid of softness despite his reddened eyes. “Offering yourself up? Do you think that if something happens between us, you can then ask to stay? Is this the plan you came up with after spending an entire afternoon and evening? Is this really all you’re capable of?
“I know you’re a companion-type Subordinate, and I know I bought you, but didn’t I already say that things are different now? The situation outside is worsening. You can choose based on your own needs. If you want to leave or stay, just say it outright.”
He stared at her, his eyes still glistening with unshed tears. “I… can choose to stay?”
“…” Yu Xi sighed. “So you didn’t understand. Why you couldn’t just ask directly? I said you could choose. If you want to leave, I’ll sign the order. But if you want to stay, of course, you can.”
Xi Yuan looked at her, as if seeking confirmation. “Really? Even if I don’t do anything or can’t do anything… you’d still let me stay? You wouldn’t kick me out?”
“Yes.” Yu Xi nodded. “I won’t kick you out.”
For some reason, looking at him, she felt like she was seeing a helpless little animal, desperate for reassurance.
Thinking it through, she realized that both Xi Yuan and Yan Shang had only recently left the Subordinate training school. This meant they had only been “created” a few months ago. Given Subordinates’ inherent lower status compared to natural humans, their lack of security and distrust of her words was understandable.
Yu Xi released her grip on him and stepped back. “Do you understand now? If you do, remember this: I don’t want something like this happening again.”
Xi Yuan immediately understood her meaning. His face, which had just returned to its pale complexion, turned red again. Awkwardly, he turned his head. “Don’t worry. Unless you ask, I’ll never make a move on you…”
He tightened the robe around himself and, after taking a few steps toward the door, paused before leaving. “…Thank you.”
**
After locking the door, Yu Xi pressed her forehead in exasperation and asked the system, “Xi Yuan isn’t a Tasker, right? I’m about 70-80% sure he isn’t, but I want to be certain.”
No response.
“…?” Yu Xi had grown accustomed to Xing Min’s taciturn nature, but he hadn’t said a single word since she entered this advanced world. Could it be he had been completely blocked by the world itself?
【…】
Oh, apparently not.
【I don’t know why, but Taskers shouldn’t be able to enter a Subordinate’s body.】
Yu Xi was surprised. “How do you know that?”
【…】
【I tried.】
Yu Xi: ??
【Not on them—on a dying Subordinate outside. But I couldn’t get in.】
“That makes sense. You can’t enter healthy bodies without being detected.” Yu Xi thought for a moment. “Maybe there’s some distinction between Subordinates and natural humans that we don’t understand… But that’s a relief. At least I don’t have to worry about someone suddenly turning into a Tasker. These four can be useful, especially Jian Shou and Hei Mu. With them around, you won’t have to expend energy entering the mission world. The four of them should suffice…”
【…】
Yu Xi: ??
The conversation with Xing Min inexplicably ended that night.
The next day, when she tried to call him again, there was still no response.
However, Yu Xi had no time to dwell on this because the sinkhole visible from her apartment had become the site of the first appearance of a “Red Lotus.”
**
The weather that day was exceptionally clear. In the living room, the large stretch screen was tuned to 24-hour news coverage.
Yu Xi had recently taken a liking to staying on the apartment’s spacious balcony. The height of the 18th floor offered a great view.
She often stood by the railing, observing the sinkhole area for changes, then settled into a wicker chair with the aroma of Hei Mu’s hand-brewed coffee and freshly made brownies.
After their conversation that night, Xi Yuan had become much more reserved, refraining from making sulky comments to draw attention.
Hei Mu had already expressed his wish to stay. Jian Shou, though taciturn, had formally assured her the next day that he wouldn’t leave either.
As for Yan Shang, he seemed unchanged, likely due to a conversation he had with Xi Yuan. Having already been inclined to stay, everything went on as usual for him.
The sinkhole area across from the apartment, now designated as a high-risk zone due to the potential appearance of a “Red Lotus,” had seen most of the rescue personnel withdrawn. Machines and Subordinates were left to continue the search.
However, even the Subordinates had been evacuated by today.
The golden window for rescue operations had passed, and any further efforts were unlikely to yield anything but corpses.
Authorities had marked the potential impact zone for a “Red Lotus” appearance, cordoned off the area, and prohibited entry. Residents within the zone had hastily packed their belongings and left.
This was a scene absent from Yu Xi’s memories—publicly revealing the existence of “Red Lotus” and listing its characteristics had slightly altered the status quo.
At the very least, the residents originally living in high-risk zones had avoided their doom this time.
However, every decision has supporters and detractors.
Before lunchtime, a large number of people gathered around the high-risk zone, holding banners. They were families of those who went missing on the day of the sinkhole disaster. These people had already protested once when the rescue efforts were significantly reduced.
Now that the rescue operation had completely stopped and the area was designated a high-risk zone off-limits to everyone, they couldn’t accept it.
Their loved ones hadn’t been found yet. Even though they understood the chances were slim, they clung to the faint hope that perhaps their family members were still alive, trapped beneath layers of rubble, barely holding on and waiting for rescue.
How could the rescue be called off like this?
These were lives—human lives! Natural humans!
If the authorities didn’t want to risk natural human lives, why couldn’t they send Subordinates instead?
If a Subordinate dies, it’s just a Subordinate. Factories can always produce more. Why stop the rescue entirely?
After days of fear and sleepless nights, these grieving families were on the verge of madness. Waving their banners, they shouted and protested loudly, threatening to break through the cordon and enter the zone themselves to search for their loved ones’ remains.
Yu Xi stood on the balcony, observing the chaos below.
Beside her, Hei Mu, who couldn’t hear what the crowd was saying, had already seen similar debates online and could guess the situation.
“Everyone knows Subordinates aren’t humans…” he muttered. Seeing Yu Xi glance at him, he quickly added more coffee to her cup. “My apologies, Master.”
Yu Xi gazed at his clean-cut jawline and spotless white gloves, refraining from making any soothing remarks.
Hei Mu
What he said was a fact, an ingrained perspective in this world. Comforting words wouldn’t change reality and would only sound insincere.
Across the way, the protesters had torn down the cordon and were yelling hysterically. Some even started charging toward the sinkhole.
In a world where natural human populations had dwindled, it wasn’t surprising for people to use their lives as leverage.
Hei Mu seemed unwilling to watch any longer. Setting down the coffee pot, he excused himself to fetch freshly prepared snacks for Yu Xi from the kitchen.
Yu Xi casually acknowledged him with a hum, her gaze sweeping over the sinkhole before suddenly freezing.
This city was filled with tall buildings. Every sinkhole was buried under rubble and debris, slowing the emergence of a “Red Lotus” compared to open plains.
But when the first “petal” emerged from beneath the wreckage, the collapse intensified rapidly.
Smack—
A loud, heavy slap resounded, halting the protesters mid-step.
Though they had broken through the cordon, they were still outside the sinkhole’s boundary. Their charge was more of a threat than an actual attempt to approach the sinkhole.
They’d seen the viral footage online but believed that terrifying thing only appeared alongside sinkholes. Here in the city, the sinkholes had been quiet for days. If something was going to emerge, it should’ve happened already.
They never expected the creature to show up at that very moment.
The crowd froze in fear at the sight of a blood-red, undulating appendage twisting in the air.
And then a second, a third… As the blood-red appendages increased, the ground began to shake under their blows. Dust clouds rose, and a deafening roar erupted. The debris within the sinkhole became the first “meal” to be consumed.
Finally realizing the danger, the crowd turned to flee. But the “teeth” had already begun to churn, generating a massive suction force akin to a Category 10 hurricane—or worse—pulling everything toward it as if trying to clear the entire area.
Even those at the cordon’s edge were unable to move. Many clung desperately to anything they could grab, hugging tightly to trees, poles, or debris.
One man, lacking the strength to hold on, barely grabbed onto a tree by the roadside before being lifted off the ground. In moments, the suction tore him from the trunk.
The next second, his body slammed into a building wall with a sickening crunch. He let out a scream of pain before being whisked away like a leaf caught in the wind, vanishing amid the swirling debris.
From her apartment balcony, Yu Xi and the four Subordinates watched.
Even at this distance, Yu Xi could feel the violent wind pulling against them. At the sinkhole’s center, a visible vortex of air had formed, sucking everything into its void.
Starting with the debris, broken vehicles, fallen trees, streetlights, and billboards… One by one, new structures were struck by the long “petals,” shattered, and swallowed whole.
“My god…” Yan Shang muttered in a trembling voice beside her.
**
By the end of the day, three sinkholes in this city had seen the emergence of “Red Lotus.” High-risk zones became death traps.
Similar scenarios unfolded across every city and wasteland on the planet.
The apocalypse had officially begun.