Doomsday Grocery Store – CH121

Chapter 121

Zhou Qi put away the Cat Teaser Stick, deftly dodging all the piranhas lunging at him. None managed to get close, and without making direct contact with the rod, the piranhas weren’t transformed into cats.

As the jingling bell sounds faded, the creatures lured by it snapped back to their senses.

Yin Bi took several steps back, unnerved by the piranhas’ gaping, jagged mouths. Wang Cai, however, stomped on a piranha and took a hearty bite out of it. Yuan Bao stood nearby, coldly observing the piranhas with a wary posture.

Just then, one of the piranhas leapt high, attempting to escape over the wall. Before it could succeed, a shadow loomed above it.

Slap! A giant paw sent it crashing back to the ground.

You came all this way; why leave now?

Meanwhile, Black Pearl circled Zhou Qi, seemingly searching for the Cat Teaser Stick. When it couldn’t find the toy, and Zhou Qi cast it a warning glance, it turned its attention back to the piranhas on the ground.

The large black cat tilted its head, and a thin metal rod appeared out of nowhere. With a few sharp swishes through the air, it skewered three piranhas in one go.

With elegant feline grace, Black Pearl padded over to Tang Yu’an, the metal rod following behind. Suspended in midair, it shook gently, dropping the three piranhas in front of the boy with a thud-thud-thud.

At that moment, Tie Jin, having helped A’Lian over the wall, landed on the ground.

Seeing the massive mutant cat approach, Tie Jin instinctively clutched his daughter tightly in fear. But when he witnessed the scene unfold, he froze in astonishment.

The boy, staring at the black cat, showed no fear. Instead, he smiled and asked, “Is this for me?”

“Meow—” Black Pearl replied with a soft call, as if affirming the gift.

Tang Yu’an reached out and stroked the fur on its chest—he would have liked to pet its head, but it was simply out of reach.

Nestled in her father’s arms, Jin Lili curiously watched Black Pearl. When the cat noticed her gaze and turned to look, she giggled and smiled brightly at it.

Black Pearl stared at the child for a moment, then, losing interest, looked away.

It licked Tang Yu’an’s face, leaving him covered in slobber, before turning gracefully and leaping onto the wall. From there, it began climbing toward the upper floors of the building.

For the three-meter-tall black cat, the towering structure of Store No. 1 was little more than a giant cat tree.

When it reached about the ninth floor, its body rapidly shrank before slipping into the building and vanishing.

It was only then that Tie Jin finally dared to speak.

“An’an, is… is that yours?”

Tang Yu’an nodded. “Yes, that’s Black Pearl. Over there are Yuan Bao, Wang Cai, and Yin Bi,” he said, pointing to the other pets. “Don’t worry, as long as you don’t provoke them and follow the store’s rules, they won’t harm you.”

Despite the boy’s reassuring smile, Tie Jin hesitated before nodding. After witnessing the interaction between Tang Yu’an and the massive cat, he decided it must be another of An’an’s peculiar abilities.

Emboldened, he ventured to ask, “You and Zhou Qi mentioned earlier that I, Lili, and her mother could live here. Is that offer still good?”

“Of course!” Tang Yu’an said. “The house is already prepared for you.”

Hearing this, Shu Gen, his son, and Jin Guang perked up, their eyes gleaming as they fixed their gaze on Tang Yu’an.

Right on cue, Old Li stepped forward.

“You can stay, but you’ll have to pay rent daily,” he stated sternly.

Tie Jin didn’t mind at all. Instead, he grinned cheerfully. “Sure, sure! Just let me know how much metal you need!”

He then turned to Tang Yu’an. “I’d also like to trade metal for supplies if that’s okay. I only brought a little food, and it might not be enough…”

His gaze shifted toward the still-twitching piranhas nearby, a hint of longing in his eyes.

“Of course!” Tang Yu’an agreed readily. Customers initiating trades with the grocery store were exactly what he wanted.

“The Desolate City Grocery Store is managed by Grandpa Li now. If you need anything, just let him know,” Tang Yu’an added, introducing Old Li’s new role to facilitate future interactions.

“Oh, that’s fine, that’s fine,” Tie Jin said, having already done business with Old Li before. He had no objections to this arrangement.

At that moment, A’Lian tugged on Tie Jin’s sleeve.

“Your arm… shouldn’t we take care of it?” she said softly.

Tang Yu’an noticed for the first time that Tie Jin’s arm had been bitten by a piranha. Blood was seeping through his sleeve.

“Come upstairs with me. I’ll treat your wound,” Tang Yu’an offered quickly.

Tie Jin initially tried to downplay it as a minor injury, but when he saw Jin Lili’s eyes welling up with tears upon noticing his wound, he immediately changed his tune.

“All right, sorry to trouble you.”

After securing the boat to the wall with a rope, Tie Jin grabbed the potatoes and jerky from the boat and followed Tang Yu’an into the building.

A’Lian, carefully cradling Jin Lili, trailed behind them.

The unfinished state of the building and the sparse occupancy made it feel especially empty, with even their voices echoing in the large space.

However, this sense of spaciousness and brightness was a stark contrast to the cramped mountain caves A’Lian was used to.

At the stairs, Tang Yu’an naturally took Jin Lili from A’Lian’s arms and carried her on his back.

“Your room is on the eighth floor, next to Grandma Guo’s.”

A’Lian had initially wanted to take her daughter back, but after climbing two flights of stairs, she abandoned the idea, focusing all her energy on ascending.

Fortunately, she was accustomed to climbing mountains. Though physically weak and exhausted, she persevered to the eighth floor.

“This is so high…”

When the boy led them into their new room, A’Lian gazed out the window, unable to contain her amazement.

“Did ordinary humans really build something like this with just their hands?”

Although Tie Jin’s five-story building was no small structure, each floor spanned only five or six square meters. In comparison, Store No. 1’s towering edifice felt colossal.

“Yes,” Tang Yu’an nodded. “This building is a relic from before the Great Apocalypse. It has stood tall for decades without faltering.”

A’Lian couldn’t hide her admiration and longing.

Tie Jin, placing the sack of potatoes down, shared a similar expression. “I’d love to see what that kind of world was like!”

Tang Yu’an felt a pang of nostalgia for that world as well. But life had to move forward, and for now, surviving the present was the priority.

“Uncle Tie Jin, wait here. I’ll get some supplies to treat your wound,” he said before leaving the room.

After a quick trip down the stairs, Tang Yu’an returned with disinfectant alcohol and bandages.

Tie Jin had already taken off his shirt, revealing a wound that had bled heavily and soaked through his sleeve.

Jin Lili stood beside him, her mouth quivering as her eyes turned red with tears.

“It’s okay, Lili. It’s just a small injury!” Tie Jin reassured her.

However, his pale lips betrayed the severity of the wound.

Tang Yu’an carefully disinfected the injury with alcohol. While the bite hadn’t turned black, he remained cautious. After bandaging the wound, he handed Tie Jin a mutated blueberry.

Mutated blueberries not only neutralized toxins but also boosted immunity, which should aid Tie Jin’s recovery.

“I didn’t bring much metal with me,” Tie Jin said. “I’ll make more tomorrow and deliver it to you and Old Li.”

Tang Yu’an nodded in acknowledgment. “Rest up for now. I have other things to take care of.”

Though he was tempted to play trading games with Jin Lili to farm points, he remembered Lin Zhen hadn’t arrived yet and decided to wait until later. Since they all lived in Store No. 1 now, finding people would be easy.

As Tang Yu’an led Tie Jin into the building, Jin Guang attempted to follow, but Old Li blocked him at the door.

Meanwhile, Zhou Qi stayed in the courtyard. To avoid revealing his portable warehouse, he used a simple basket to pick up the piranhas one by one.

“Brother, let me help!” Huo Qiu eagerly ran over to assist, showing no fear of Yuan Bao or the other pets.

Shu Gen opened his mouth to call Huo Qiu back but ultimately didn’t stop him. He stayed behind, listening intently to Old Li and Jin Guang’s conversation. Upon hearing that staying was an option, he began to consider it seriously.

The water level outside was dangerously high, and piranhas lurked everywhere. Who would want to leave and risk their lives if they could stay under protection?

The other two guests clearly shared the same idea.

Old Li cleared his throat and addressed the group. “You all heard earlier—staying here is possible, but rent must be paid.”

“How much rent are we talking about?” Jin Guang asked with a fawning smile.

“We originally planned to charge five wild vegetables per day,” Old Li said, squinting at him. “But Boss An is kind-hearted. Given the flood and everyone’s struggles, three wild vegetables a day will suffice.”

“But with the flood, we can’t exactly go out and gather wild vegetables…” Jin Guang began.

“I wasn’t finished,” Old Li interrupted. “You can also pay with other resources. For example, Tie Jin produces metal, so he uses that as payment and trades for other supplies.”

He glanced at the group, deliberately avoiding any mention of credit. Offering that option would be an open invitation to never see any payment at all.

“Don’t hold back. Anyone settled in Desolate City must have some skills to survive,” Old Li said. “This store isn’t some exploitative business. Boss An hopes everyone can work together to get through these tough times.”

The group exchanged wary glances, their suspicion evident. Years of living in a harsh world had fostered a deep mistrust that wouldn’t vanish with a few kind words.

At that moment, Zhou Qi finished collecting the piranhas and approached.

“In addition to paying rent, there are rules you must follow. Please consider them carefully before deciding to stay,” Zhou Qi said, his tone calm but firm.

The two giant mutated dogs flanking him added a layer of intimidation, making his words seem more like a decree. The group instinctively shrank back, taking two steps away from him.

Finally, one of the guests, a young man in his twenties, raised his hand tentatively. “What kind of rules?”

Zhou Qi gave him a curious look. Was he imagining things, or was this hand-raising behavior a relic of formal education? Did this man have a modern education background?

“What’s your name?” Zhou Qi asked.

“Me?” The young man hesitated before replying, “I’m Lang Ya.”

Zhou Qi nodded. “If you want to stay at the grocery store, aside from paying rent, cleanliness is mandatory.”

“Cleanliness?” Everyone except Old Li stared in disbelief.

“Yes,” Zhou Qi said sternly. “Filth breeds disease. Residents must clean their rooms daily and maintain a tidy living space.”

“There will be designated waste disposal areas, and residents on the same floor will take turns cleaning them.”

Zhou Qi’s expression grew even more serious as he spoke, likely recalling the unbearable stench of the swimming hall from earlier.

“There must be no foul odors in your living quarters. If you can’t meet this standard, you’ll have to leave.”

For people born and raised in the wasteland, this requirement was quite peculiar. Their reactions varied.

Shu Gen, his son, and Jin Guang seemed hesitant to speak. Lang Ya appeared thoughtful. The only woman among them, however, readily agreed.

“No problem! I can do that.”

Zhou Qi turned to her with a friendly expression. “What’s your name?”

“I’m Tie Muhua,” she replied.

“Plant-ability user?” Zhou Qi asked tentatively.

Tie Muhua nodded. “That’s correct.”

Zhou Qi couldn’t hide his delight. A plant-ability user! Grandma Guo and Kang Kang had already proven how valuable such abilities were for production, and he had high hopes for Tie Muhua.

“Welcome aboard,” he said warmly.

Zhou Qi smiled but quickly changed his tone as he continued, “Aside from those two rules, there’s one final one.”

One more?

The customers exchanged uneasy glances but obediently listened.

“In the grocery store, robbery, theft, and any acts of violence against others are strictly prohibited,” Zhou Qi declared. “Anyone caught violating these rules will be expelled from the store and blacklisted. The Desolate City Grocery Store will never do business with them again!”

His expression and tone became markedly stern as he delivered the warning.

Surprisingly, the customers seemed relieved rather than anxious. They were honest folk trying to get by, and rules like this provided a sense of security.

Seeing no objections, Zhou Qi nodded. “For now, these are the only three rules. We’ll add more if necessary in the future.”

Since these customers had initially come to trade for salt, it was understandable that they didn’t have many resources on hand. Each of them paid a day’s rent to secure access to the building.

Old Li then led them to select their rooms.

“You can choose any room between the fourth and sixth floors,” Old Li said. “One room per person.”

“I want to stay with my dad!” Huo Qiu piped up.

Old Li glanced at the child and nodded. “Alright, your rent will be halved.”

Though the old man appeared cold and stern, Huo Qiu instantly warmed to him upon hearing this.

“Wow, thanks!”

The boy beamed at Shu Gen, who rewarded him with an affectionate pat on the head.

Seeing this, Jin Guang looked toward Lang Ya, clearly hoping to share a room and reduce rent. However, Lang Ya flatly rejected him, and Tie Muhua didn’t entertain the idea either.

In the end, all five chose rooms on the fourth floor. With the floodwaters rising, the first two floors were already unusable, and the third floor felt risky. The fourth floor was the safest bet.

As for the upper levels…

While they might have preferred higher floors, it was clear those were reserved for people familiar with the store’s owner, like Tie Jin’s family. No one dared overstep.

Each floor had five apartments, totaling 15 rooms, plus shared spaces like the kitchen and living room. Accommodating five people was no issue.

Shu Gen and his son, along with Jin Guang, chose Apartment 401. The father and son took the master bedroom, while Jin Guang settled for a smaller secondary room. Lang Ya and Tie Muhua selected apartments 402 and 403, respectively.

Following Zhou Qi’s instructions, Old Li designated the bathroom in Apartment 405 as a communal restroom, equipping it with two wooden buckets. A cleaning schedule was established based on apartment numbers, ensuring everyone was accounted for.

Throughout the process, Wang Cai and Yin Bi, now in their smaller forms, stayed by Old Li’s side to assert their presence. Though with Old Li’s combat prowess, no one dared to underestimate him anyway.

*

As Old Li settled the tenants, Tang Yu’an returned to the roof.

“Brother Qi, shall we fetch Sister Lin now?”

“Alright.”

Zhou Qi handed Tang Yu’an the three dozen piranhas he had collected, which Tang Yu’an promptly stored in his portable warehouse. Then they leapt onto the wall together.

This time, Tang Yu’an didn’t use the Shadow Umbrella.

He wanted Zhou Qi to see what he was capable of now.

Under Zhou Qi’s watchful gaze, the boy moved as gracefully as a falling leaf, skimming across the water’s surface with incredible speed.

The aquatic creatures lurking below detected his presence and pursued him, but they couldn’t keep up.

After circling around, Tang Yu’an returned to the wall and landed lightly. He smiled at Zhou Qi. “How was that?”

“Impressive,” Zhou Qi said. “But you should still use the Shadow Umbrella.”

Having been to the reservoir many times to fetch water for Grandma Guo, Zhou Qi knew just how dangerous the creatures there were. Even with the umbrella, he never let his guard down.

Hearing Zhou Qi’s explanation, Tang Yu’an nodded solemnly. “Got it, Brother Qi.”

“Good.” Zhou Qi patted his head. Seeing Tang Yu’an’s growing abilities firsthand, Zhou Qi felt slightly more at ease.

“Let’s go find Sister Lin.”

“Okay!”

This time, Zhou Qi didn’t carry Tang Yu’an. Instead, they traveled separately, each using their own methods to traverse the water.

Tang Yu’an opened the Shadow Umbrella, while Zhou Qi, exposed but agile, leapt from one broken wall or tree to another, avoiding contact with the water.

One in the open, the other in stealth—they covered each other effectively and encountered no danger along the way.

However, before reaching Lin Zhen’s place, the sounds of combat reached their ears.

Boom! Boom!

The crashes were accompanied by splashing water.

What’s going on?

Tang Yu’an landed on a broken wall and used the Shadow Umbrella to peer toward the source of the commotion. What he saw made him pause.

In the distance, he spotted Lin Zhen—and standing beside her was…

He hesitated before glancing at the map and finally recalling the figure.

It was the ice-based mutant they had previously clashed with during their visit to Lin Zhen, the one labeled as Lan Lin on the map.

Why are they standing together on the water?

No, it wasn’t water—it was ice.

Upon closer inspection, Tang Yu’an noticed a thick layer of ice beneath their feet, forming a platform sturdy enough to stand on.

Behind them, in the distance, he could see Lin Zhen’s house. A narrow ice pathway about a meter wide extended from the platform all the way to her house. Under the sunlight, the ice glistened brilliantly.

The high temperatures were already causing the ice to melt rapidly.

“Damn it! What kind of bad luck is this, running into a mutated creature as soon as I step out!”

Lin Zhen’s frustrated voice echoed as she balanced a heavy burden. On her back was a large, fully packed basket, and in her arms, she carried a plastic box. It was the same one Tang Yu’an had previously brought her, now filled to the brim, leaving her unable to free her hands to fight.

“Stop complaining and get back to safety!”

Lan Lin barked as he crossed his hands, continuously firing icy blue orbs into the water, freezing the surrounding floodwaters.

Somewhere in the water ahead, a massive mutated creature lurked just below the surface. Its enormous shadow was visible through the ice as it swam back and forth, occasionally smashing against the frozen layer, causing cracks across the thinning ice.

Lan Lin relentlessly fired more ice energy through the cracks, gradually immobilizing the massive shadow’s movements.

“Move faster! I’ve got it under control!”

Damn it! Lin Zhen’s face turned pale with frustration.

The ice path back to safety was already melting. Unless she abandoned her belongings, the weight she carried would surely shatter the ice and send her plunging into the icy waters.

She felt utterly hopeless.

With a furious glare, she set down the plastic box. “Be honest. Did you provoke this thing? How else would it show up at this exact moment?!”

Lan Lin muttered a curse under his breath. “If you keep whining, I’m leaving you to fend for yourself!”

Suddenly, Lin Zhen let out a sharp scream.

The mutated creature, though partially immobilized by the ice, thrust its slimy tongue out from an unfrozen patch of water. The appendage coiled tightly around her ankle.

With a mighty pull, the creature yanked her off her feet, sending her crashing onto the ice.

“Crash!”

The crisp sound of glass shattering echoed.

“Lin Zhen!”

Lan Lin called out in alarm and started to move toward her, but froze in shock at what he saw next.

After a brief moment of stillness, Lin Zhen’s expression twisted into a menacing snarl. She reached down and grabbed the slimy tongue with both hands, gripping it tightly.

The tongue, originally a pale pinkish-red, began to turn a deep purple-black under her grasp. In mere seconds, the once plump flesh shriveled and withered.

The creature’s tongue loosened its grip on her ankle and tried to retract, but Lin Zhen refused to let go.

“Come on! Weren’t you trying to catch me?”

“Aren’t you tough? Huh?”

Lin Zhen sneered, her hands releasing a torrent of toxins into the creature. “You thought I’d be easy to bully, huh? Well, think again!”

Finally, with a vicious yank, she released the tongue. It snapped back into the water, dragging along the remnants of its now-wasted flesh.

Moments later, as Lan Lin stopped controlling the ice, a massive mutated frog with its belly turned upward floated to the surface, dead. The current soon swept its lifeless body away.

The icy blue orb Lan Lin had been about to release fizzled out of existence as Lin Zhen turned her fearsome gaze toward him. Her expression was downright demonic.

He gulped nervously, stealing a few glances at her before hastily looking away.

From their vantage point, Zhou Qi and Tang Yu’an couldn’t help but swallow hard as well.

Even without mutations, Sister Lin was terrifying when she got angry…

As expected, just as Grandpa Li had said, anyone who dared to settle in Desolate City must possess extraordinary skills. It was no wonder Sister Lin had the confidence to venture alone into a giant lizard’s nest!