Apocalypse Star House Hoarding-Chapter 271

During these seven days, even though Yu Xi and her teammates had daily video or voice calls, she never let Xi Yuan appear on camera.
She knew they had decided to come together because they were worried about her, and she also understood that Xi Yuan’s half-NPC status made them cautious. But since he was her chosen teammate, they wouldn’t force her to change her decision, even if they had concerns.
Rather than over-explaining, she preferred to let her actions speak for themselves. Her teammates were action-oriented and respected her choices, so she didn’t want to add unnecessary worries to their minds.
Xi Yuan’s wolf head was too intimidating—the kind that could make an adult cry with just one glare—so she hadn’t let him appear on camera. They were going to meet him soon anyway.
“Let me introduce him—this is Xi Yuan. Like you, he was born in a post-apocalyptic world controlled by the
System Tower
and is now in the
System Tower’s
world. Due to certain reasons, his identity in this world is a bit special. When at a station, he takes on a half-native identity.”
She didn’t mention that Xi Yuan wasn’t a missioner but a
Wanderer
. That was his biggest secret. Although he had joined the team, he wasn’t familiar with Lin Wu, Ya Tong, or Yu Zhenzhen yet. If he wanted to tell them in the future, that would be his choice.
“So, his native identity is someone from
Pet Planet
?” Lin Wu immediately understood. He had seen similar people before, in a few rather ‘special’ venues. Back then, he had entered them only to trigger mission hints, but he hadn’t expected the scenes inside to be so extreme. He barely lasted five minutes before fleeing…
However, on his planet, which was themed around
One Thousand and One Nights
, he had mostly seen performers with partial animal traits, like cat-eared dancers or rabbit-eared singers. It was rare to see someone with an entirely animalized head.
Because of this striking first impression, Lin Wu, Ya Tong, and the others assumed Xi Yuan had a dominant and imposing personality—perhaps someone who was taciturn, unsmiling, cold, and serious.
Lin Wu, in particular, was convinced of this when he shook hands with Xi Yuan outside the spaceship station. The wolf-headed man’s blue-green eyes were sharp, carrying a scrutinizing glint as he sized Lin Wu up in a single sweep. His grip was firm, and the moment they shook hands, Lin Wu could tell he had already assessed him.
Lin Wu didn’t mind the scrutiny. It was their first meeting, after all, and Xi Yuan was the only male teammate besides himself.
Besides, with a giant wolf head, there wasn’t much room for expressions other than solemnity and seriousness, right?
However, that cold and aloof image lasted for about ten minutes.
Then, they saw
this
version of Xi Yuan—
Outside the shuttle station, just after Yu Zhenzhen left for a dessert shop to grab some drinks, Xi Yuan immediately slipped into the empty spot beside Yu Xi. The massive wolf head rubbed against her face.
“Yu Xi, you’re mistreating me…”
“Use human words.”
“I want hugs too… awooo—”
That last sound was a yelp, caused by Yu Xi tugging his wolf ears.
On the shuttle, Yu Xi handed three documents to Lin Wu, Ya Tong, and Yu Zhenzhen, urging them to go through them quickly because they would be pulled into
Nightmare Amusement Park
again that night.
Each of them received a copy—detailed information about every
Nightmare Amusement Park
attraction in the
Frog Prince
zone, as explained by Xi Yuan. To make things easier, Yu Xi had also included some simple sketches for clarification.
They had already agreed before their arrival that for the first few days, they would stay in the
Frog Prince
zone.
For one, Yu Xi had the most complete information about this area’s
Nightmare Amusement Park
attractions. Secondly, according to Xi Yuan, playing
Nightmare Amusement Park
games repeatedly in the same zone could increase the chance of obtaining a ticket.
There were still more than ten days left before departure. Since the station had been confirmed, it would be beneficial to get extra train tickets here. Otherwise, at the next stop, they would
have
to find tickets, putting them in a more passive situation.
Ya Tong and the others hadn’t played a
Nightmare Amusement Park
game in seven days, so they were a bit rusty. They carefully studied the documents.
However, before they could finish reading, a suppressed whimper from the other seat caught their attention.
Was that… someone
whining
?
Of course, it was Xi Yuan. He had somehow moved from his previous seat to Yu Xi’s side, claiming that something was stuck in the fur on the back of his head and insisting she check for him.
Lin Wu: …
Ya Tong: …
Chatty, clingy, and a
whimpering
wolf head…
Their expressions cracked slightly.
What the hell were they witnessing?
“Enough, there’s nothing in your fur.” Yu Xi simply pushed the wolf head away.
Xi Yuan looked a bit dejected as he straightened up—only to lock eyes with Yu Zhenzhen across the aisle.
She narrowed her eyes at him, her brows furrowing in deep suspicion.
A moment later, something clicked in her mind. She shot him a meaningful look—
Wait… don’t tell me you’re after my mom? I may not interfere in my mom’s love life, but at the very least, shouldn’t it be with a human?!
Xi Yuan raised an eyebrow.
I’m very handsome, okay?
Yu Zhenzhen raised an eyebrow. “A very handsome wolf? Hahaha, still a wolf, isn’t it?”
Xi Yuan: …
The
Frog Prince
zone was set at a temperature of around five to ten degrees Celsius, simulating an early winter season. The area was filled with towering evergreen plants, and while it didn’t snow, there were occasional morning mists and light drizzles in the evening.
Beyond the main roads, the ground was paved with blue-gray stone slabs, their surfaces intentionally aged and weathered to enhance immersion.
The inn where Yu Xi and Xi Yuan stayed was located along one of these cobbled roads—a five-story, steep-roofed building.
Most of the inns in this district were styled as medieval buildings, typically five to six stories high, with only a limited number of rooms in each. However, a single inn usually consisted of four to five separate buildings.
The interior decor of the rooms was a mix of rough stone walls and natural wood, each room featuring a large, grid-paneled wooden window and a working fireplace for warmth.
Since accommodation was free but required a personal wristband scan to check in, reservations couldn’t be made in advance. When Lin Wu and the others arrived, Yu Xi led them back to the inn and secured three more rooms in the same building where she was staying.
The fifth floor, where Yu Xi and Xi Yuan were, was already fully booked, so the three of them were placed on the third floor in adjacent rooms.
By the time they had settled in, it was already 5 PM—three hours before sunset at 8 PM.
No one felt particularly tired, and with the upcoming
Nightmare Amusement Park
event that night, they decided to go out and “preview” all fifteen attractions in the district—well, everyone except Yu Zhenzhen, who was there purely to have fun.
If measured by age, Yu Zhenzhen was the youngest among them. She had left her fragment world at 28, spent another five or six years in a different world, then traveled through the space-time boundary to enter
Inner Tower
, where she lived for another three to four years.
The time flow in
Inner Tower
was similar to Yu Xi’s original world—almost frozen whenever Leng Mian was on a mission or took her along.
Because of this, Yu Zhenzhen had the freshest mindset, still retaining the interests of a young person. She loved the fairytale-themed amusement park, unlike the others—especially Ya Tong—who were only there to prepare.
“I haven’t gone to an amusement park with so many people in ages! I love
gjgw
star’s theme—so dreamy!” Yu Zhenzhen walked ahead, flipping through her wristband map and briefing them on their next attraction.
Yu Xi watched her and was reminded of the ten years they spent together in the
Storm Fragment World
.
During that time, thanks to Yu Xi and Ya Tong, Yu Zhenzhen had never lacked food or clothing and was always protected. But due to the natural constraints of that world, that was the best they could offer her.
Land was slowly disappearing. Forget visiting an amusement park—even shopping, watching a movie, or having afternoon tea with friends was an unattainable luxury.
She used to watch Yu Zhenzhen and think:
She’s still so young. If I die one day, she will be forever trapped in this tiny fragment world. If she has children, they too will be stuck here, repeating the cycle endlessly…
Just imagining such a hopeless life was suffocating.
But now, even though they were in a mission world, constantly dealing with unexpected dangers, at least they were moving forward together in a vast, boundless universe. No matter what the future held, at this moment, their world was rich and full of possibilities.
Especially this station—the sheer scale of it exceeded her wildest expectations.
A single amusement park spanning an entire star system, with humans freely exploring the universe—this was something completely beyond her original world.
From that perspective, she was immensely grateful for her fateful bond with
Star House
back then.
It was
Xing Ming
who opened the gateway to different worlds for her, allowing her to escape a confined, monotonous existence and meet so many friends and family members. Even though she had encountered countless dangers along the way, if given the chance to do it all over again, she wouldn’t hesitate to bind herself to
Star House
once more.
Yu Zhenzhen knew Ya Tong wasn’t a fan of amusement rides, so after every attraction, she’d immediately check her reaction.
Ya Tong, of course, saw right through her. Amused but exasperated, she wrapped an arm around Yu Zhenzhen’s neck and ruffled her hair into a complete mess, making Yu Zhenzhen cry out, “Mom, help me—!”
“Mom, my ass! I’m your dad!” Ya Tong grumbled, remembering all the times she had to deal with this brat over the years. Raising her had been a series of endless headaches.
Yu Zhenzhen, unable to escape Ya Tong’s grip, switched tactics and started praising her instead. “Ya Tong-jie is the best, the coolest—”
Lin Wu, walking in the middle of the group, chuckled at the sight of their antics.
The three of them had traveled together for five days, sharing the same spaceship transfer, so he had already gotten used to their dynamic.
Yu Xi trailed behind, her mind flashing back to an old inside joke—
the “stepdad” gag.
That girl still had no idea that the
Ya Tong-jie
in front of her was actually the same
Qu Yichen
she once saw as her “contract boyfriend stepdad.”
So many past events… Looking back on all the hardships they had endured together, the journey felt incredibly warm. Even the greatest disasters and challenges seemed insignificant in comparison.
Beside her, Xi Yuan stared blankly at Yu Xi’s profile.
He had never seen this expression on her face before.
His gaze was incredibly gentle, yet behind that gentleness lay an unwavering determination. It was as if, to protect this fleeting warmth and beauty, she could transform into a sharp blade at any moment, ready to cut down all enemies and shield those she held dear with everything she had.
Xi Yuan smiled as well. For the first time, he didn’t act clingy. Instead, like an older brother, he reached out and ruffled her hair. “I understand now. Your teammates are really important to you, aren’t they?”
Yu Xi turned to look at him, surprise flickering in her eyes.
“Your teammates—they’re your most important friends and family, right?” The large wolf head tilted slightly, leaning closer to her, eyes serious. “Don’t worry. Your friends and family are my friends and family. I’ll help you protect them.”
At 2 PM, midnight struck.
Yu Xi woke up to the sound of chimes and the familiar childlike voice announcing the
Nightmare Amusement Park
games. She checked her wristband and saw that the selected attraction was: Attack of the Golden Ball.
Her brows furrowed. This ride wasn’t on the list of fifteen daytime attractions in the
Frog Prince
district.
Congratulations, you have been selected for the hidden attraction in the “Frog Prince” district.
This blood-red message also appeared under the highlighted attraction for Lin Wu, Ya Tong, and Yu Zhenzhen. Upon seeing their wristbands light up with the same game, they immediately gathered in Yu Xi’s room.
“We’re all in the same game tonight?” Yu Zhenzhen was surprised. “Is that normal?”
“Definitely not.” Yu Xi glanced at the door. Normally, at this time, Xi Yuan would already be here. Although he didn’t participate in night games or act as an NPC, he always came by to check which attraction she had been assigned to and remind her to be careful.
Yu Xi told the others to wait, then walked next door to knock on Xi Yuan’s room. No response. He wasn’t there.
At this hour, where else could he have gone?
The wristband’s communication function was already disabled, so she could only send him a message via her phone.
But he didn’t reply. Even by the time the four of them arrived outside the
Attack of the Golden Ball
attraction, she had received no response.
Just as they reached the entrance, her phone vibrated.
It was a message from Xi Yuan. He seemed to have sent it in a hurry, without explaining much.
Xi Yuan:
Attack of the Golden Ball is a special field. It was likely triggered because the number of travelers in this district reached a certain threshold. Everyone participating tonight is a traveler. Aside from the game itself, be wary of conflicts with others. The rules haven’t been announced yet, but I suspect it’s linked to the dark version of “The Frog Prince.” Be careful!
Although Xi Yuan didn’t explain his own situation, Yu Xi guessed that because this was a special game, he had likely been pulled in as an NPC and hadn’t had time to tell her more.
But his warning was enough.
Yu Xi subtly scanned the people around them. Instead of speaking aloud, she forwarded Xi Yuan’s message to their team’s chat and reminded them to act like they didn’t know each other for now.
After all, most teams in this world were scattered and isolated. It was rare for an entire group to locate the hidden station within days and reunite. If they appeared too organized, they would immediately become targets for elimination.
So, instead of standing together, the four of them moved apart, each choosing a different spot. They also kept their movements discreet when checking their messages.
With the attraction’s doors still closed and participants still arriving, Yu Xi took the opportunity to explain the
dark version
of the Frog Prince.
There were actually two versions of the tale, with completely different plots and character portrayals.
The widely known version was the idealistic one: the frog helped the princess retrieve her golden ball, and the princess, staying true to her promise, kissed the frog, turning him into a prince. They lived happily ever after.
However, in another version, the frog never asked for a kiss. Instead, he wanted to be the princess’s companion—to eat with her, play with her, and sleep in her bed. He demanded to use the same luxurious dishes and bed as the princess. The princess agreed but broke her promise once she got her golden ball back.
The frog ran to the castle, shouting for justice. The king found out and ordered the princess to keep her word. She reluctantly allowed the frog inside, forced herself to endure his presence, and let him use her belongings. But when the frog insisted on sleeping in her bed, she lost all patience and smashed him against the wall in disgust.
Only then did the frog turn into a prince and take her back to his kingdom.
In this version, the princess was deceitful and short-tempered, while the frog repeatedly used the king’s authority to pressure her. Yet somehow, the story still ended in a happily-ever-after scenario, which Yu Xi found completely absurd.
In reality, many of the original Grimm fairy tales were dark, twisted stories meant for adults. Even
Snow White
had once been a tale of incest, where the evil stepmother was actually her birth mother who caught her in an affair with her own father.
The Grimm brothers rewrote and polished these sinister stories, turning them into the beautiful fairy tales that later became well-known.
So now, if the
fairy tale
façade was stripped away, leaving behind only the raw, sinister truth—what kind of game would this be?