Apocalypse Star House Hoarding-Chapter 79

At midnight, looking out from the window of the Star House, the city below felt somewhat unfamiliar to her. It took her a while to recall the current state of her original world. The intermittent rain had been falling for over ten days. Despite it being December, the climate had reverted to a summer-like warmth. Bridges along the same river had sustained various degrees of damage due to plant overgrowth. Across the planet, animals had undergone a range of strange transformations. Just that morning, the city had been invaded by migratory birds flying in reverse…
Yu Xi slowly sorted through the situation. Unable to sleep for a while, she began organizing her supplies. She moved perishable items that required refrigeration back into the Star House warehouse and took out non-perishable items to group similar types together. After finishing, she looked at the nearly full Star House warehouse and the Star House itself, now half-occupied by various items, and concluded that she didn’t need to stockpile anything else for the time being…
Yes, aluminum shelves with plenty of empty spaces could still be filled with small items, all selected based on their likelihood of becoming scarce post-apocalypse and their popularity with her family. Items like milk tea, braised dishes, and health supplements. Due to her military experience, she also realized that cigarettes could be useful for gathering information in certain situations.
She had considered fruit and vegetable seeds, but their cultivation required specific conditions, and her family knew nothing about farming. Moreover, seeds were not rare and were easy to carry. Anyone knowledgeable in planting would already have stockpiles. Additionally, the government would have larger reserves of essential items, so she didn’t need to worry about those. As her father said, never underestimate the power of the state. The government was aware of all the abnormalities she knew of, and many more she didn’t.
Her personal strength was far smaller than she had imagined. Her only task was to take care of her family during the apocalypse and help others within her capacity.
Afterward, Yu Xi opened the Star House mall, where her balance showed 436 star coins. This mission’s star coins were enough for a second upgrade to the Star House. However, this would leave her without enough star coins to buy two [Powerful Anti-Glycation Pills] for her parents, and they wouldn’t have improved their physical condition before the next apocalypse mission. She was uneasy about waiting another month. Weighing the pros and cons, she decided to prioritize her parents’ well-being.
She purchased three [Powerful Anti-Glycation Pills], took one immediately, and enhanced her physical fitness by another fifty percent. After enduring the meteor apocalypse, she estimated her physical fitness to be around 250 units. Taking one more [Powerful Anti-Glycation Pill] would boost it to around 375 units.
This was already an impressive number. It meant her speed and strength were approximately four times that of a normal person, and her hearing, vision, jumping ability, and even body toughness had seen a qualitative leap.
To verify her hypothesis, she took out a knife and controlled the force, slashing at the back of her hand with the strength of a normal person. The blade left a white mark without breaking the skin.
Yu Xi: …!!
Her feeling was correct! Ordinary blades, when used with normal human strength, could no longer harm her!
Having relied on her enhanced speed and strength, along with high-damage Star Items like [High-Temperature Perfume] and [Air Hair Dryer], Yu Xi was well aware that her biggest weakness was her lack of defense. However, the Star House mall had never refreshed with defensive Items, leaving her to daily physical training and learning various martial arts skills to increase her body’s resilience.
But now, this situation had finally changed.
Yu Xi felt a bit excited and increased the force, trying again to cut her hand with the knife. Finally, when she used her full strength, she felt pain, and the blade left a shallow cut on her skin. She put away the knife and used [Repair Foundation] to heal the wound.
She reopened the Star House mall, intending to buy four more [Powerful Anti-Glycation Pills] to raise her parents’ physical strength to over three times the norm. But the system intervened.
“It is not recommended for the host to enhance ordinary human physical fitness by more than three times at once. An excessive increase in strength and speed may cause discomfort and make it easy to harm others. It is advised to proceed gradually.”
“Understood, for now, they will take just one pill each.” Yu Xi closed the Star House mall, checking her balance one last time. She had 376 star coins remaining.
Her gaze briefly lingered on the prices of three skills: Ice Control, Werewolf Bloodline, and Plant Affinity. If her guesses were correct, these skills corresponded to dealing with water, animals, and plants, respectively, all of which seemed potentially useful in the impending apocalypse. However, without knowing exactly which aspect the apocalypse would emphasize, she decided not to buy any of them for the time being and would make her choice based on the actual situation.
This was the plight of the poor…
The next day, when Yu Feng and Fan Qi came downstairs, they found their daughter had already woken up and prepared breakfast.
Fan Qi had no idea that while only a night had passed for them, Yu Xi had experienced a long year and a half. Fan Qi was still engrossed in the recent event of the migratory birds flying backward, having spent the entire night watching videos and news. She also saw numerous summaries of recent unusual events online.
The apocalypse theory, which had been previously mentioned, resurfaced, with people listing various disasters and anomalies since the major earthquake that hit their country’s neighboring island in October.
One summary video, lasting over an hour, compiled numerous photos and video clips with a voiceover, featuring tornadoes, winter heat waves, bridge collapses, and the backward migration of birds. The video captivated Fan Qi, but at the end, the video’s creator, using a lighthearted tone, dismissed everything as mere speculation. He mentioned that every era has its share of natural and man-made disasters, and that the notion of an apocalypse was never reliable, urging viewers not to believe in or spread rumors but to focus on their work and lives.
Fan Qi: …
Having stayed up until dawn watching the video, Fan Qi was left speechless. She complained to her husband and daughter at the breakfast table, and Yu Feng chuckled, saying that if it were a genuinely serious apocalypse theory video, it would have been censored. Only clickbait videos like that one could exist.
Yu Xi listened quietly, placing two glasses of water in front of them and handing them each a few health supplements, including calcium tablets Yu Feng had previously bought, deep-sea fish oil she brought back from the A Peninsula in the meteor world, and one [Powerful Anti-Glycation Pill].
She explained that the health supplements at home would expire if not consumed, so she would supervise their daily intake from now on.
Fan Qi and Yu Feng were used to taking calcium tablets, fish oil, and vitamins, but often forgot over time. Today, reminded by their daughter, they naturally accepted and took the pills.
Yu Xi felt slightly relieved watching them swallow the [Powerful Anti-Glycation Pill].
The effects of the [Powerful Anti-Glycation Pill] soon became evident. Later that day, when the water dispenser’s jug was empty, Fan Qi went to the storage room to bring a new one to the dispenser, intending to wait for Yu Feng to change it. To her surprise, she found that what usually required considerable effort now moved with little exertion.
Fan Qi ended up dragging, lifting, and replacing the water jug all by herself. She waved her arms, feeling revitalized. Yu Xi, who had initially wanted to help, watched silently throughout. That afternoon, she encouraged Fan Qi to start some simple physical exercises.
Yu Feng noticed his changes a few days later.
One day, some workers came to install custom-made glass panels, spending the entire day adding an extra layer to all the windows in their house.
The workers were efficient, and before leaving, they even helped clean up the area around the windows and bagged all the trash to take with them. Fan Qi thanked them by ordering a lot of food from a nearby Sichuan restaurant. The workers were too embarrassed to eat at their house, so Fan Qi packed the food for them to take away.
Since they had ordered a lot of dishes, there was still plenty left after the workers took some. That night, Fan Qi didn’t cook, and when Yu Feng came home, the family of three dug in.
In the middle of their meal, an unexpected guest arrived.
It was Zhao Hua, the husband of Yu Feng’s younger sister, Yu Li. Zhao Hua had been caught by Yu Li cheating with another woman, which became a local scandal. Yu Feng was furious with Yu Li for taking out her anger on the whole family, but he was even more angry with Zhao Hua. He didn’t let Zhao Hua inside and asked what he wanted.
Zhao Hua said he was looking for Yu Li, claiming that she had also been seeing someone else and had taken several bank passbooks and cards before disappearing for days, with their daughter Zhao Xuefei also not coming home. He had already checked with Grandpa Yu and was now here because this was the only place left.
When Yu Feng refused to let him in, Zhao Hua insisted that Yu Feng not shield his sister and let him in to find her, saying the bank passbooks were joint property. Even if he was at fault, they were still married and the money couldn’t all be hers. Zhao Hua tried to force his way in, but Yu Feng grabbed him and, with a slight push, sent Zhao Hua flying across the hallway into the wall opposite.
Yu Feng was stunned, and so was Zhao Hua. Although Zhao Hua knew Yu Feng wasn’t someone to be messed with, Yu Feng’s slender frame and gentle demeanor made Zhao Hua underestimate him, assuming that he would easily win in a fight. He didn’t expect Yu Feng to have such strength.
“Think about what you’ve done to make your wife and child disappear. You tore your family apart and now you come here causing trouble! Even if she took the passbooks, it’s her right as your wife. Take all the money if she wants! They’re not here, so get lost!” Yu Feng was disgusted with Zhao Hua and didn’t want to engage any further.
The elevator door opened, and the security guard, whom Fan Qi had called, arrived and escorted Zhao Hua out. Fan Qi didn’t hold back either, instructing the guard to remember Zhao Hua’s face and to prevent him from entering the building in the future.
After Zhao Hua left, Yu Feng closed the door, looking hesitant. “Did you two see that just now?”
“See what?” Yu Xi feigned ignorance.
Yu Feng frowned, looking at his hand. “Never mind, it’s nothing…”
After dinner, Yu Feng called Yu Li, but she hung up immediately. Having nothing more to say to his willful sister, Yu Feng sent her a text about Zhao Hua’s visit.
Half an hour later, Yu Li replied, not with words but with a photo. In the picture, she and Zhao Xuefei were sitting on a beach at sunset, with a middle-aged man beside them. Since the man and Yu Li were sharing the same beach chair, looking quite close, there was no way for Yu Feng to explain it away as a random passerby.
The photo seemed to confirm Zhao Hua’s accusation that Yu Li was seeing someone else. Yu Feng was amused and annoyed. He could understand youthful recklessness, but for a middle-aged woman with a grown daughter, this was too much. If she wanted to find someone new, now was definitely not the time, and certainly not with her daughter involved.
The more Yu Feng looked at the photo, the more speechless he became. Eventually, he tossed his phone aside, deciding he wouldn’t deal with this mess any further.
After learning about the situation, Yu Xi thought for a moment and then sent a message to Zhao Xuefei.
Yu Xiaoxi: Are you on Nanhai Island?
Zhao Xuefei: Yes.
Yu Xiaoxi: When are you coming back?
Zhao Xuefei: Not sure, my mom asked me to take a week off at least.
Yu Xiaoxi: Is there a supermarket near where you’re staying?
Zhao Xuefei: ? Of course there are. We’re staying at a five-star hotel, and there are two supermarkets inside.
Yu Xiaoxi: When you’re away from home, always have extra food and water on hand. Don’t wait until you’re out to buy more. The supermarket might not always be open. Also, be alert for tsunamis near the coast. Keep an eye on the news.
Zhao Xuefei: Hahaha… Are you serious? Do you really believe those doomsday theories online? I never thought you’d fall for that, hahaha~
Yu Xiaoxi: …
Yu Xiaoxi: Better safe than sorry. There’s no harm in having extra food and water.
Zhao Xuefei: There’s plenty of food in our room… Anyway, we’re going to a seafood buffet tonight. Try convincing someone else about your doomsday theory, hahaha…
Yu Xiaoxi: …
The next evening, the three of them took out the trash and decided to go for a walk.
As soon as they stepped out of the elevator, they heard a commotion in the lobby.
Several security guards were running around. One was calling an ambulance, another was calling the residents, and two were blocking the path to the right of the building, redirecting residents who needed to go out.
“What’s going on?” Yu Feng asked as they reached the lobby, where many residents had gathered, craning their necks to see what was happening.
“Someone just passed by the small garden and found a bunch of people collapsed there. It’s pretty scary. That person called the police, and now the security guards are calling for ambulances,” a resident explained.
“Collapsed people?” Yu Xi frowned.
“Yeah, really. I saw it. About a dozen people, probably the ones who dance in the square after dinner. They all seemed to have fainted,” another resident chimed in.
Several ambulances arrived quickly. Medical personnel checked the unconscious people on the spot and, with the help of the property staff, moved them into the ambulances. The families of the unconscious people anxiously followed the ambulances to the hospital.
After a lot of commotion, the neighborhood finally quieted down.
Yu Xi insisted her parents not go for a walk outside, and they, having lost the mood for it, threw away the trash near the electric vehicle garage and went back home.
The evening news ed on the incident, revealing that similar mass fainting episodes had occurred in other areas around the same time. Many people had gone into shock but were promptly taken to hospitals and were mostly out of danger.
The cause of these events was still under investigation, but experts suggested it might be related to the recent abnormal weather and advised citizens to be cautious.
“They didn’t even specify what kind of caution we should take. How are we supposed to be careful?” Fan Qi sighed.
Checking online, Yu Xi noticed that all the mass fainting incidents occurred in areas dense with vegetation.
Hearing Fan Qi’s concern, Yu Xi promptly suggested, “Since they didn’t specify, maybe it’s best to avoid going out for now. Dad, you don’t have much to do at work, so why not take some time off? We have plenty of food and water at home. Mom, you don’t need to go out shopping for a few days. Let’s watch the news and online updates before deciding what to do next. Okay?”
“Sure.” Yu Feng nodded, frowning. He also felt uneasy, especially after the mass fainting incident. It wasn’t a typical health issue—people suddenly collapsing in a group, going into shock, and needing emergency treatment suggested something unsafe.
Their cooperation relieved Yu Xi.
That night, Yu Xi was woken up again by a strange noise. She got out of bed and walked to the window, pulling back the curtains. By the light of the moon, she saw an astonishing sight.
A giant gray moth was clinging to her window, slowly flapping its wings. The moth was so large it covered nearly a quarter of the window. She stared at it, unable to move or think for a long time.