Apocalypse Star House Hoarding-Chapter 202

On the third day of their journey, they were still four-fifths of the way to their destination.
The outdoor temperature was 30°C, already noticeably hot outside. Inside the armored vehicle, the insulation delayed the temperature rise, keeping the cabin relatively cooler for the time being.
It was midday when the two vehicles coordinated to stop 20 minutes later on a slightly elevated open area. About 200 meters to the left of this high ground lay what was once a deadly forbidden zone: the Cracked Earth Red Lotus Zone. The formerly lush trees on the high ground were now barren branches, offering an unobstructed view of the entire forbidden zone. This was Yu Xi’s first time witnessing the aftermath of the red lotus’s death.
Massive red “petals” had fractured within the gray fog, sliced apart by ice blades, and were eventually covered in snow and ice. Now that the snow had melted, the fragments of the “petals” were exposed to sunlight, their once-vivid blood-red color completely faded. They were shriveled, charred black, resembling the ash remnants of burnt wood. Along the way, other grotesquely shaped dark red debris could also be seen. These were the thawing remains of blood-blistered human tissue, once frozen by the ice blades. Some fragments still faintly retained the shape of fingers or faces, eliciting an intense sense of revulsion with just one glance.
Initially, the group was in high spirits due to the rising temperature, but their mood quickly turned somber as they encountered more and more of these remains. Moreover, they soon realized the temperature was rising at an alarmingly unnatural pace.
Everyone had already shed their cold-weather gear, first removing their thick wool clothing and now wearing only thin layers, yet the sealed vehicle cabin still felt stifling. Upon reaching this relatively clean high ground, they were eager to step outside for fresh air.
Yu Xi used the radio to inform the vehicle ahead that she had a device capable of testing air quality. She planned to disembark first for a safety check before allowing others to get out.
“Are you concerned… about airborne viruses?” asked Hei Mu, the driver. Following Yu Xi’s instructions, he kept the vehicle running to maintain the air filtration system.
Inside Yu Xi’s armored vehicle were familiar faces: herself, Xing Min, Hei Mu, and three others. In the lead vehicle were Cheng Fang’s team of five and Yin Yin’s family of three.
“I hope not,” Yu Xi replied, pulling out a stack of N95 masks from her bag. Since opening the door would expose the cabin to unfiltered air, she had everyone wear a mask temporarily. After she exited and the door was closed again, the filtration system would quickly restore the cabin’s air quality.
Jian Shou leaned against the window, observing the surroundings. “It should be fine. If the temperature had stayed at this morning’s 5–6°C, melting snow would lead to standing water, and in time, waterlogged corpses could breed various bacteria and viruses. But at this rate, all the water is being evaporated by the sun too quickly.”
Yu Xi nodded in agreement but decided to use her air quality tester, a compact and efficient device from the Acid Rain World. After a brief test, she tapped on the window to indicate the air was safe.
Everyone from both vehicles disembarked. Without the protection of the vehicle, the blazing sun bore down on them directly, and the oppressive heat felt overwhelming.
“This is terrifying. Just yesterday, we were bundled up in down jackets, huddled in the vehicle because the heavy snow made the road barely visible. Yet, in just 24 hours, the temperature has surged from -20°C to 30°C!”
Cheng Fang expressed his amazement while he and his team donned protective gear. They approached a nearby withered tree and collected a sample from an unidentifiable piece of blood-blistered human tissue. The sample was placed into an insulated container for transport back to headquarters.
Cheng Fang had participated in a research group meeting while at the mountain shelter. Most of the scientists present had arrived with the resort convoy, and their comprehensive research had yielded significant findings. After reviewing and discussing the data, the experts resumed experiments, ultimately reaching a conclusion:
The remnants of blood-flesh tissue trapped in the ice blades weren’t entirely dead but had entered a state of self-preserving dormancy in low temperatures. When these remnants entered a human body through ice blade wounds, they integrated into the bloodstream. The trigger for reactivation and parasitic mutation was human emotion.
Victims were advised against extreme emotions such as rage or hysteria. Intense outbursts accelerated the mutation of these dormant tissue remnants in the bloodstream, hastening their assimilation with human flesh. Dormant red lotus tissue fragments would fully revive, using the human body as an incubator to rapidly reproduce and evolve.
This parasitic state shares similarities with the condition of the blood-blistered humans, yet there are distinct differences. It resembles an indestructible virus—extreme weather events merely transform its state of existence without eradicating it.
Now that the cold and ice blade weather had seemingly ended, they could only speculate about the future behavior of the uninfected and parasitized soft tissue. To prepare, they promptly collected data and samples whenever possible, ensuring the headquarters had ample research material.
“Mom, it’s so warm! Is summer here?” Yin Yin, too young to comprehend the dangers of a sudden temperature spike, simply enjoyed the sun’s warmth spreading over her body. She was delighted to see the gray mist and clouds parting, revealing the same blue sky from her memories.
Her mother held her close, keeping her away from the corpses of blood-blistered humans scattered among the withered trees. Yin Yin’s father stood beside them, shielding them while gently stroking his daughter’s cheek.
Life in the mountain shelter had provided decent meals, and even though they’d spent days on the road in armored vehicles, Cheng Fang had prepared ample supplies. Yinyin had three regular meals daily, and her previously thin, hungry face now had a little more healthy fullness.
Yin Yin’s father was immensely grateful to the group for saving his family of three during this crisis. Before the apocalypse, he had been merely a skilled laborer with no wealth or connections. Their survival was entirely due to the team’s kindness.
He worked hard to contribute, taking on any tasks he could handle, such as driving through the night without requiring shifts. He believed his teammates should rest well to be prepared for danger. Meanwhile, Yinyin’s mother took care of tidying the vehicle, handling all the mundane chores like organizing and cleaning the space, which, though spacious, could quickly become chaotic after days of constant use.
Yin Yin, too, was well-behaved. Having witnessed the cruelty of humanity in the apocalypse, she deeply appreciated the kindness of the warriors accompanying them. She adored everyone and cherished this warm environment, cheerfully helping her mother by tidying, serving meals, and fetching water.
After checking the air quality, Yin Yin’s father approached Yu Xi, mentioning that their vehicle still had a batch of foldable solar panels stored away. These hadn’t been installed earlier due to the ice blade climate, but with the rising temperatures, they could now be utilized to power the vehicle without solely relying on crystal fuel.
Yu Xi was impressed by his foresight. While modifying the armored vehicle at the mountain shelter, she had acquired over 300 crystal fuel units for the storage tanks, ensuring a comfortable journey without electricity restrictions. However, the solar panels now presented a more sustainable energy source.
After a quick meal of instant rations, everyone worked together to install the solar panels on both vehicles. By mid-afternoon, drenched in sweat from the task, they cleaned up, rehydrated, and resumed their journey.
With Cheng Fang’s vehicle leading and Yu Xi’s team following, the armored vehicles felt like floating villas. The cabins, though compact, were well-equipped with metal beds and shower facilities. Yu Xi retrieved six chilled beverages from the Star House storage, distributing them to the still-sweaty group.
Xing Min, now driving, received his drink personally from Yu Xi, along with a bowl of chilled fruit cuts, complete with a fruit fork. This special treatment caught the envious eye of Xi Yuan, who was helping navigate from the front passenger seat.
Still, he had grown accustomed to the dynamics within the enclosed space over the past few days. More importantly, Yu Xi wasn’t stingy—anyone willing to speak up received fair treatment.
“Yu Xi, I’m a little hungry. Can I have a sea salt bread?” Xi Yuan referred to the homemade bread they had prepared back at the villa. These were filled with lettuce, tomato slices, fragrant minced beef, and scrambled eggs, wrapped in cling film for an easy, nutritious snack.
Yu Xi nodded and handed him a slightly warm sea salt bread moments later. Xi Yuan, thrilled, accepted it, letting his fingers brush hers lightly. That brief contact sent a tingling sensation through him, making his heart race uncontrollably as he watched Yu Xi walk toward the rear cabin.
When his gaze returned to the front, he noticed Xing Min’s sidelong glance, a cold and knowing look. Xi Yuan, however, didn’t care. Whether through love, attention, or even pleading, anything from her was better than being ignored.
Hei Mu was meticulously counting supplies in the section of the vehicle reserved for storage boxes, a daily routine for him. His primary focus was the inventory of clean water. With rising temperatures, he believed water would soon become the scarcest resource on their journey.
He knew Yu Xi had an invisible storage space for supplies, but he wasn’t sure if she had water stored or how much. Being cautious by nature, Hei Mu prioritized water issues the moment the temperature started climbing, intending to calculate daily usage based on their remaining travel distance.
Before he could finish his planning, Yu Xi walked over and casually announced, “It’s too hot today, and after working all afternoon, everyone’s sweaty. The cabin smells a little off—I want everyone to take turns showering before dinner.”
Hei Mu: …
He lowered his head to sniff himself, then glanced at the four or five boxes of bottled water in front of him. “Master, if it really bothers you, we can use perfume.”
“…Perfume for what?” Yu Xi pinched her brow. “The vehicle’s modified water tank holds 100 liters. It’s enough for simple showers.”
She added reassuringly, “Don’t worry. As long as I’m here, the water tank won’t run dry. While daily showers aren’t feasible, everyone can at least clean up every few days.”
With that, she grabbed a set of workout clothes—a pair of track pants and a short-sleeve T-shirt—and placed similar outfits for the others nearby before heading into the shower herself.
That night, the vehicles didn’t stop. The group took turns driving, pressing on relentlessly. The cracked earth and ice blades had severely damaged the roads, forcing them to take a highly circuitous route back to headquarters.
The next day brought another clear, sunny sky. During their midday stop for rest and a meal, Cheng Fang sighed. “If it weren’t for the rebel incident, we could’ve stayed at the mountain shelter a few more days and used low-altitude hovercars to fly directly back to headquarters in weather like this. It would’ve only taken a day.”
Now, stuck in a frustrating middle ground, they had no choice but to continue traveling by land.
Yu Xi had a low-altitude hovercar in her transport space, but it could only carry seven people—not nearly enough. Besides, the two armored vehicles had been heavily modified with great effort and resources. Abandoning them in the wilderness wasn’t an option.
“There’s actually a way,” Yan Shang, usually the quiet one, spoke up slowly. “On our way to headquarters, we should pass by other military shelter zones. They’re bound to have hovercars. We could trade our armored vehicles for hovercars at one of those shelters. With the current weather, we’d reach headquarters in half a day.”
The group fell silent for a moment, especially Cheng Fang, who froze in thought. The idea wasn’t complicated, but everyone had been so focused on the immediate challenges that it hadn’t occurred to them.
Snapping out of it, Cheng Fang pulled up his phone’s expandable screen and logged into his military account to search for nearby known shelter zones. About 20 kilometers away at their 9 o’clock direction, there was a military shelter located on the outskirts of District 18.
The shelter was set in a large supermarket complex, fortunate to have survived the Red Lotus disaster. With abundant supplies and multiple levels of underground parking, it had become a small military refuge. However, after several waves of disasters, its current state was uncertain.
Using the vehicle’s communicator, Cheng Fang attempted to contact the shelter. At first, there was no response, and just as he was about to give up, a voice finally came through.
He briefly explained his identity—though he omitted their escort mission—and inquired if they could trade two modified armored vehicles for two low-altitude hovercars.
The other party seemed to deliberate before eventually confirming the trade.
“Thank you!” Cheng Fang said, genuinely delighted.
At 2 p.m., the group finished their break and returned to the vehicles, recalibrating their route toward the supermarket shelter 20 kilometers away.
At the same time, in the command room of the supermarket shelter, a man chuckled as he issued instructions to those around him.
“Go take down the ‘people’ hanging in the woods outside. Tell everyone to get ready. We’ve got visitors coming—we wouldn’t want to scare them off now, would we?”