Doomsday Grocery Store – CH119

Chapter 119

Tang Yu’an left Store #1 silently.

The water level around the store had risen to about a meter and was still slowly climbing. He wasn’t sure if the flood had already left the Desolate City and was spreading into the surrounding areas.

Tang Yu’an couldn’t help but worry about Old Xie.

Perhaps the healing potion from the night before had worked, as Old Xie was still alive. His position in the city center hadn’t shifted at all.

How was he managing to survive in such a perilous environment while injured? Tang Yu’an couldn’t fathom it.

Lightly tapping the water’s surface, he leaped high into the air.

Compared to the densely packed mutated creatures between the swimming center and the Peace Grocery Store, the area around Store #1 was far less crowded.

The red dots representing mutated creatures on the map were spaced farther apart.

Even so, he didn’t dare let his guard down. Zhou Qi had been spamming the admin channel with reminders:

“Be cautious. Avoid mutated creatures. Keep yourself hidden. Don’t provoke any danger. And don’t risk yourself trying to help others in trouble…”

Tang Yu’an could feel Zhou Qi’s anxiety, so he made sure to follow the advice closely.

Still, he couldn’t help but feel a bit proud.

Despite his worries, Zhou Qi was keeping his promise to trust him.

*

Lin Zhen’s house wasn’t far from Store #1. In about three minutes, Tang Yu’an arrived.

Her surroundings were just as bad as those near Store #1. Emerging from the water were countless reptiles, clinging to every surface. The sight made Tang Yu’an’s scalp tingle.

Lightly stepping on the water again, he leaped high into the air.

The Shadow Umbrella not only concealed him but also helped him adjust his direction midair, like a parachute. Tang Yu’an had already mastered the technique, performing it as naturally as breathing.

Finally, he landed outside Lin Zhen’s window.

As he stowed away the umbrella and prepared to call out, a sharp smell hit his nose.

Panicked, Tang Yu’an quickly retrieved a mutated blueberry from his warehouse and popped it into his mouth. Then, he climbed through the window as fast as he could.

In just that brief moment, his legs felt weak, and his head began to spin.

Tang Yu’an collapsed to the floor.

“An’an, what are you doing here?” Lin Zhen’s voice rang out.

She hurried over and stuffed a pill into his mouth. “Quick, take the antidote!”

After swallowing the pill, the dizziness subsided.

Tang Yu’an shook his head and looked at Lin Zhen, momentarily at a loss for words.

He had made it here cautiously, avoiding every danger, only to nearly succumb to Lin Zhen’s setup!

Lin Zhen was just as surprised.

“An’an, do you have some kind of natural resistance to poison?” she asked. “My powder usually knocks people out with just one breath.”

The poison she’d spread outside was meant for mutated creatures, so she had used an extra-strong dose. Not even ability users could withstand it without the antidote.

For Tang Yu’an to crawl into her house under its effects was nothing short of extraordinary.

Tang Yu’an wasn’t eager to explain.

If he hadn’t reacted quickly and swallowed a mutated blueberry in time, he probably would have passed out—outside the window, no less!

Just thinking about it made him break out in a cold sweat.

Thank goodness he was fast.

Zhou Qi’s worries weren’t unwarranted. He really did need to be even more careful in the future.

“Chirp-chirp! Chirp-chirp-chirp!”

A strange sound drew Tang Yu’an’s attention.

“Sister Lin, have the chicks hatched?”

Lin Zhen grinned. “Yes! They hatched last night. All three survived! Do you want to see them?”

Tang Yu’an nodded eagerly.

Now fully recovered, he followed Lin Zhen to the room they had previously rested in. There, he saw A’Mu with three fluffy yellow chicks, all happily eating.

Compared to a month ago, A’Mu’s feathers had lost some of their luster, and it looked visibly thinner.

It was clear that brooding eggs had taken a toll on the parrot.

Still, its spirits were high. When it saw Tang Yu’an, the large parrot flapped its wings and flew over, enthusiastically greeting him.

“An! An’an!”

Tang Yu’an pulled out a handful of millet, and A’Mu immediately perched on his shoulder, nibbling on the grains while affectionately nuzzling him.

“Love! A’Mu loves you so much!”

The parrot cawed happily, clearly in a great mood after successfully hatching the chicks.

“You’ve worked hard,” Tang Yu’an said, stroking the feathers on its head.

“A’Mu’s so tired!”

The big parrot whined and snuggled against him, making Lin Zhen roll her eyes.

Meanwhile, the three chicks huddled over, chirping and surrounding Tang Yu’an.

Only two days old, they were already full of energy. Covered in soft yellow down, they looked like tiny plush toys—adorable beyond words.

Tang Yu’an pulled out another handful of millet and scattered it on the ground.

“Chirp-chirp! Chirp-chirp-chirp!”

The chicks peeped excitedly, pecking at the millet without a trace of fear.

Lin Zhen watched the scene, her face softening with joy and relief.

As per their agreement, as long as two of the three chicks turned out to be hens, she could keep one of them.

Thinking about the prospect of having plenty of fresh eggs in the future, Lin Zhen could barely contain her excitement—she felt like laughing out loud.

Lin Zhen felt gratified that the time and effort she and A’Mu had put in were worth it.

Of course, now that the chicks had hatched, raising them properly was going to be a new challenge—especially with the ongoing flood.

“I didn’t expect the flood to arrive so quickly,” Lin Zhen sighed.

“Sister Lin, why don’t you move to the Desolate City General Store for now?” Tang Yu’an proposed at the perfect moment.

“Right now, Grandpa Li, Granny Guo, and her grandson are staying with us,” he added. “I’m also planning to visit Uncle Tie Jin’s family to invite them over.”

Lin Zhen looked at him in surprise.

Grandpa Li had mentioned this possibility before, but she thought he was just being polite. Now, seeing the determination in Tang Yu’an’s eyes, she realized he was serious.

Tang Yu’an continued, “Of course, this would only be temporary. After the flood is over, you can always move back here.”

“Why?” Lin Zhen asked, puzzled.

“Why what?” Tang Yu’an tilted his head, equally confused.

“Why invite so many people to your place? Aren’t you afraid some of us might overstay and refuse to leave?”

Lin Zhen had seen the sturdy, fortified building that housed the General Store. It was undoubtedly a safe haven. With the boys managing it, trading for salt there was incredibly convenient.

Such a good spot would attract many, and some might not just overstay—they could outright try to take it by force.

In the wasteland, such conflicts were all too common.

Tang Yu’an listened to Lin Zhen’s concerns and chuckled. “Sister Lin, the fact that you’re warning me about this shows you wouldn’t do such a thing, right?”

Lin Zhen frowned. “Of course, I wouldn’t. But I’m talking about others…”

“Well then, if you’re there, you can help us keep an eye on others,” Tang Yu’an said earnestly. “When facing disasters, it’s better if we all stick together. Unity makes us stronger.”

“If you stay here alone, who would be there to help you if something happened? And if there’s danger, we might not make it in time to rescue you.”

Tang Yu’an smiled warmly. “If everyone is together, we can face challenges as a team. Plus, we can look out for each other in daily life. Isn’t that a good thing?”

Lin Zhen stared at him, speechless for a moment.

“You’d actually come to rescue me if I were in danger?” she finally asked.

“Of course!” Tang Yu’an replied as if it were the most natural thing in the world. “When Granny Guo faced a mutated bear yesterday, Grandpa Li and I rushed over to save her.”

“She’s fine now. She and Kang Kang are living at the store.”

Lin Zhen’s jaw dropped.

“It was you who fought the bear yesterday?” she exclaimed.

She had heard the commotion from her home. Though she had hidden away in fear, she hadn’t known the specifics of what happened.

“Yes, the bear destroyed Granny Guo’s house,” Tang Yu’an said, still feeling a twinge of fear at the memory. “Thankfully, no one was hurt.”

Looking at Lin Zhen, he said seriously, “Sister Lin, trust me. Moving to our store is a decision you won’t regret.”

“As for the concern you raised…” Tang Yu’an grinned. “If you decide to stay permanently, you’re welcome to—as long as you pay a small fee.”

Hearing that it wouldn’t be free, Lin Zhen’s interest piqued.

She knew well enough that “free” often came with hidden costs. Paying rent changed the dynamic entirely, making it more like living in a place like Jufeng Town.

She wasn’t opposed to paying a fee, especially during a disaster like this when a safe haven was worth any price.

“Alright, what’s the rent?” Lin Zhen asked straightforwardly.

Tang Yu’an thought for a moment before answering, “Three wild vegetables per day. You can also pay with other goods, like insect repellent powder or the poison you used outside.”

He added, “We also allow credit.”

Lin Zhen nodded, finding the price quite reasonable.

“Deal!” she agreed cheerfully. “I’ll pack up my things and move over.”

She knew that once she left, her house would likely be overrun by the insects and creatures outside. She planned to take as much as she could carry.

For now, the water level wasn’t too high, and larger mutated creatures hadn’t emerged, so it was still possible to leave safely.

Having made her decision, Lin Zhen felt much more at ease and even began to look forward to the communal life Tang Yu’an had described.

Looking at Tang Yu’an, she mused, “I really wonder what kind of environment you grew up in. You think so differently from people in the wasteland.”

“Is this how people in fortresses are—united and friendly?” Lin Zhen asked, her tone tinged with longing.

Tang Yu’an gave an awkward laugh. Internally, his heart ached with nostalgia for the world he had left behind.

Would he ever have a chance to return?

The melancholic thought surfaced briefly before Tang Yu’an shook his head, steeling his resolve.

If he couldn’t return, he would find a way to bring his parents and sister here. That goal would never waver.

“Alright, I’m taking the chicks back now.”

Tang Yu’an carefully placed the three yellow chicks into his backpack, zipped it up, and slung it over his shoulders.

A’Mu watched nervously.

Even though the eggs weren’t originally its own, it had personally incubated them and clearly regarded the chicks as its children.

“A’Mu, do you want to come with me?” Tang Yu’an asked. “You haven’t seen Store #1 yet, have you?”

The parrot flapped its wings and perched on his shoulder, clearly eager to follow. However, it hesitated and glanced at Lin Zhen.

“Go on,” Lin Zhen said, waving her hand. “Pick out a good spot for yourself. I’ll pack up here and join you soon.”

Only then did the large parrot flap its wings happily and circle around Tang Yu’an.

“Let’s go!”

“Moving to a new home! Moving to a new home!”

A’Mu had no reservations about moving; instead, it was brimming with excitement.

It flew straight to a corner, rummaged through a bag, and deftly slipped through the rope loop to hang the bag on its chest.

It seemed to understand what moving meant and even knew to bring along its belongings.

Perhaps it was immune by now, or Lin Zhen had given it some antidote. The poison sprinkled by Lin Zhen around the window had no effect on it.

It darted in and out of the window, an unmistakable expression of joy on its face.

“Stay on my shoulder and don’t fly around,” Tang Yu’an admonished, watching its lively demeanor. “Otherwise, you might get lost.”

“A’Mu is smart!” The large parrot, feeling underestimated, expressed its dissatisfaction.

Tang Yu’an had to coax it, “There’s a flood outside; it’s very dangerous. Snakes are everywhere, and they especially love to eat small birds with colorful feathers like yours.”

The parrot shuddered at that and gave him a suspicious glance.

In the end, though, it obediently perched on Tang Yu’an’s shoulder, clutching his clothes tightly with its claws.

Tang Yu’an smiled, turned to say something to Lin Zhen, and then jumped out of Lin Zhen’s window with the chicks on his back. With the Shadow Umbrella in hand, he disappeared over the water.

Lin Zhen, following just a step behind, was about to say something, but in the blink of an eye, they had vanished.

“What the—how can they be that fast?!”

Her heart filled with a trace of worry.

Had she been too impulsive, lulled into trust by this child, and let her guard down?

The lizard eggs were one thing, but this time, it was the chicks she had painstakingly hatched, and her most treasured A’Mu, now taken away by this child?

Has their bond of trust really reached this level?

What if he tricked her and never came back? Dark thoughts crowded Lin Zhen’s mind.

But she quickly shook her head. You can run, but you can’t hide; that building isn’t going anywhere. And with the flooding, where could those two youths possibly escape to?

She comforted herself with this reasoning, yet her distraction was evident as she packed her belongings, frequently glancing outside.

*

On the other side.

Tang Yu’an swiftly returned to Store No. 1 with the chicks and A’Mu.

Considering Lin Zhen’s mass jars and bottles, her need to cultivate toxic mushrooms and prepare potions, it was obvious she’d require a larger space. Tang Yu’an decided to settle her in Unit 701.

After installing doors and windows in the upstairs rooms, he released the three chicks.

Worried that they’d scatter or make a mess, he fetched a cardboard box from the main store, placed the chicks inside, lined it with fabric, and provided small dishes of water and grains.

The box was tucked in a shaded corner.

Since the flooding, the daytime temperature had dropped noticeably but shifted from hot to stifling. Perhaps a good rain was needed to cool things down.

Fortunately, Store No. 1 had a gray-blue refrigerator and freezer, making the indoor temperature slightly cooler than outside. Though still warm, it was bearable.

The chicks seemed much happier.

“Chirp, chirp—chirp, chirp, chirp!”

A’Mu watched them with unmistakable affection in its eyes.

Tang Yu’an set up a wooden perch for A’Mu, ensuring it could roost comfortably, drink water, and millet grains. The parrot couldn’t have been happier.

“A’Mu, do you like this?” Tang Yu’an asked with a smile.

“Very much!”

The parrot flung the bag from its neck onto the perch, pulled out a beautiful blue feather, and then flew to Tang Yu’an’s shoulder to stick the feather onto his head.

“Beautiful! So beautiful!”

A’Mu appraised Tang Yu’an with satisfaction.

Tang Yu’an graciously accepted the gift.

“Stay here with them for a while. I’ll go bring Sister Lin over.”

“A’Mu follows!”

The large parrot didn’t want to stay behind and flapped its wings to follow Tang Yu’an.

Noticing more animals and even some mutated creatures along the way back, Tang Yu’an was reluctant to let A’Mu take the risk with him.

He coaxed it, “If you leave, what will happen to the chicks? You need to watch over them.”

A’Mu glanced at the chicks in the box and then looked back at Tang Yu’an with a pitiful, dejected expression, its eyes dull and lifeless.

“No purpose anymore! No purpose anymore!” It wailed unhappily but reluctantly flew back to its perch.

Seeing it so dejected, Tang Yu’an hesitated. Then, he said, “Would you like to meet new friends? Upstairs, I can take you to them.”

Kang Kang had always been well-behaved, and with Grandma Guo keeping an eye on him, he probably wouldn’t harm the chicks or A’Mu.

The parrot perked up instantly.

“New friends! New friends!” It shook its feathers and cackled joyfully.

Tang Yu’an smiled. “You’re called A’Mu, so Kang Kang is bound to like you.”

He carried the box of chicks, brought A’Mu upstairs, and knocked on the door of Unit 801.

Soon, the door opened a crack, and Kang Kang peeked out.

Seeing Tang Yu’an, his timid eyes lit up. “Brother!”

But when he spotted the parrot, he froze in fear and scurried back into the room, hiding behind a flowerpot to steal glances.

A’Mu, unfazed, pursued him. As the child peeked out, A’Mu folded its wings, stopped right in front of him, and tilted its head to observe him.

“New friend! Hello!”

Kang Kang jumped in surprise but didn’t cry. Instead, he stared curiously at the big parrot. Seeing that it didn’t mean him any harm, he finally relaxed.

“Y-you… hello,” he said softly.

“I’m A’Mu!” The parrot cheerfully introduced itself. “The smartest and most beautiful A’Mu in the world!”

“I… I’m Kang Kang! The… the most… most…” Kang Kang stammered, unable to think of a suitable adjective. Still, it was likely the longest sentence he had ever spoken.

Hearing the commotion, Grandma Guo appeared, surprised by what she saw.

Because Kang Kang hadn’t grown up in a conversational environment and she seldom had the time to talk with her grandson, his speech was often halting even though he was almost five.

Compared to before, his progress was evident.

By this time, Tang Yu’an had brought the chicks inside and was explaining the situation to Grandma Guo.

After listening, Grandma Guo nodded and said, “Go ahead and take care of what you need to. I’ll watch over them.”

“Thank you, Grandma! This is for you.” Tang Yu’an handed her a meat pancake made with lizard eggs, which would help with her recovery.

Grandma Guo tried to decline, but Tang Yu’an placed the pancake down and quickly dashed off before she could say anything.

She shook her head, carefully put the pancake away, and then looked at the small yellow chicks in the box. Her aged eyes softened with kindness and affection.

“Chirp, chirp—chirp, chirp, chirp!”

The chicks chirped energetically, their tender voices full of vitality.

*

At Lin Zhen’s house.

After Lin Zhen packed most of her jars and bottles into a plastic box, she heard a familiar voice outside.

“Sister Lin, have you finished packing your things?”

Lin Zhen felt warmth return to her cold hands as she turned to the window to see the boy leaping in from outside.

After confirming she wasn’t a hallucination born of her anxiety, she exhaled deeply.

Heavens, he had scared her to death. If An’an had been a second later, she might have rushed out to look for them…

“You’re back.”

Lin Zhen stepped forward to greet him. When she saw the blue feather on Tang Yu’an’s head, she froze for a moment, then broke into a smile.

“Yes, and I brought you a box. See if it’s useful.” Tang Yu’an handed her a plastic box and then picked up another box filled with medicine bottles. “I’ll take this one over for you first.”

“Can you manage it?”

“Of course!” Tang Yu’an assured her. “Don’t worry, it’s close to the grocery store. I’ll be there in no time.”

Watching the boy carry the box out, leaving her alone in the house, Lin Zhen couldn’t help but let some dark thoughts creep in. However, she quickly quashed them.

Someone recognized by Old Li and A’Mu should be trustworthy.

Tang Yu’an, oblivious to Lin Zhen’s internal struggle, stashed the box in his portable warehouse once he was out of sight and headed towards Uncle Tie Jin’s place.

It wasn’t that he didn’t want to help Lin Zhen pack, but his near-miss with her poisons upon entering her home had left him with some lingering trauma.

Better to let Sister Lin handle it herself…

As he hurried on, he wondered if Uncle Tie Jin had also set up defensive measures. How could he safely enter Tie Jin’s house later?

What Tang Yu’an didn’t expect was to spot something surprising before even reaching Tie Jin’s place.

A small boat was slowly making its way through the water, heading upstream toward Store No. 1. Onboard were Tie Jin and Auntie A’Lian, who was holding Jin Lili!

Even more astonishing was the group of piranhas swimming beneath the boat. They tore through anything in the water, yet left the boat untouched.