Doomsday Grocery Store – CH130

Chapter 130

Tang Yu’an opened the map and saw the dot belonging to Lang Ya lingering in the stairwell between the 8th and 9th floors.

“What’s he doing trying to go to the 9th floor?” Tang Yu’an mused, rubbing his chin.

“Lang Ya?” Zhou Qi asked.

“Yeah,” Tang Yu’an nodded.

Zhou Qi frowned. “There’s something a little strange about him.”

“What do you mean?” Tang Yu’an asked curiously.

Zhou Qi explained his earlier observations. “Judging by his age, he can’t be someone who survived before the Great Apocalypse.”

Tang Yu’an thought back to his impression of Lang Ya.

The man looked to be at most twenty years old—tall, lean, and dark-skinned, typical traits of a wastelander.

Of course, he wasn’t skinny. His movements exuded strength, unlike the weary, gaunt figures of Shu Gen and Jin Guang. And yet…

“There’s something off about his gaze,” Tang Yu’an said.

Having met many people since coming to this world, Tang Yu’an had developed a sense for reading others.

Most of those he encountered, no matter how resilient or brave, had eyes clouded with hardship and sorrow. The immense pressures of survival were visible in everyone—even Hong Li, the administrator of Jufeng Mountain, was no exception.

Except for one person…

“Brother Chi Hao!” Tang Yu’an clapped his hands. “Sometimes his gaze looks a lot like Brother Chi Hao’s.”

Zhou Qi followed this train of thought, comparing the two mentally, and nodded. “You’re right. He does seem like someone from a fortress.”

“Could he be from Qingmu Fortress too?”

Tang Yu’an watched Lang Ya’s dot move away from the stairwell, likely realizing he couldn’t ascend further. He lingered briefly between the 7th and 8th floors before heading down to the courtyard.

Zhou Qi wasn’t sure but offered a thought.

“With the overnight stay rules in effect and the ongoing flood, even if he’s from a fortress, he won’t pose much of a threat to us.”

“True!” Tang Yu’an agreed.

Because of Chi Hao, Tang Yu’an had a favorable impression of fortress dwellers.

While Lang Ya was somewhat aloof and liked wandering around, there were no rules prohibiting tenants from exploring the building. As long as he paid his rent on time and the overnight rules remained active, there wouldn’t be any major issues.

However…

“It might be a different story after the flood ends.”

When faced with disasters, people banded together for survival, and troublemakers naturally kept a low profile. But after the crisis passed, would harmony remain?

Tang Yu’an still hoped the tenants could form strong relationships and turn Store No. 1 into a true sanctuary. However, he wasn’t naive, and Old Li’s teachings had tempered his idealism.

“For now, let’s just keep an eye on him,” Zhou Qi said, patting Tang Yu’an gently on the head.

“Mm-hmm,” Tang Yu’an agreed.

From an angle Tang Yu’an couldn’t see, Zhou Qi’s eyes narrowed slightly.

What he didn’t say was that if any tenant truly caused trouble, there were plenty of ways to make them disappear.

He could only hope everyone knew their place.

*

Lanhu Town, Lanhu Forest

Chi Hao had been running for half a day before realizing something was wrong.

Pausing beneath a Lanhu Tree, he marked the trunk and kept moving. When he passed by his own mark again, he stopped in his tracks.

Damn it! He cursed inwardly. I’ve been running in circles this whole time!

Feeling defeated, he set the person on his shoulder down and sat to rest.

Reflecting on everything that had happened, Chi Hao couldn’t help but feel incredibly unlucky. These Lanhu people were utterly unreasonable!

Sure, he understood it was all a misunderstanding. If he had surrendered without resistance, the misunderstanding might have been cleared up quickly.

But Chi Hao wasn’t the type to entrust his life to others.

Who knew what might go wrong in the process? Lanhu people were notoriously xenophobic and combative. If anything went awry and he lost his life, it wouldn’t be worth it.

Taking out a water bottle from his portable storage, Chi Hao drank as he brooded.

Having taken the lord of Lanhu Town hostage, trading with its people seemed impossible now.

Yet he couldn’t bring himself to leave empty-handed.

He had detoured and spent days reaching Lanhu Town—was he really going to leave without gaining anything?

Looking up at the sparse leaves of the Lanhu Tree above him, Chi Hao noticed it seemed far less lush than the last time he had seen it. The ground beneath the tree was almost bare of fallen leaves.

He’d heard that while Lanhu people subsisted on the tree’s leaves and fruit, they rarely plucked them. It was considered highly disrespectful, only done with the lord’s approval after communicating with the forest.

Instead, they relied on whatever leaves and fruits naturally fell, living at the mercy of the trees.

Chi Hao sighed, dismissing the thought of stealing leaves.

If the Lanhu Trees were healthy and flourishing, it might be different. But seeing them so frail now, taking leaves felt heartless.

As his gaze shifted back to Lan Yunqing, Chi Hao froze.

After being carried on his shoulder during the run, Lan Yunqing’s hair was a mess, and his posture, slumped against the tree, was disheveled.

But a beauty was a beauty. No matter the state, it didn’t diminish his allure.

Chi Hao stared blankly for a moment before quickly averting his gaze.

Damn it! he thought. How can a grown man be this beautiful? Where’s the justice in that?!

Sighing, Chi Hao took another swig of water. As he moved to return the bottle to his portable storage, he noticed a notebook that Zhou Qi must have recently placed inside.

Excited, he pulled it out and flipped through it.

*

[Brother Chi Hao, where are you now? No trouble along the way, I hope? Our Grocery Store in Jufeng Town has opened for business! – Tang Yu’an]

The warm greeting, coupled with the adorable spelling errors, was unmistakably from An’an.

Chi Hao felt a small surge of warmth in his heart.

Reading the last line of the note, he rubbed his chin thoughtfully. So, the house he’d found for them was now being used to open a store?

He initially planned a simple reply, but his gaze shifted to the sickly Lanhu Trees around him, and he paused.

Could An’an and Zhou Qi… possibly have a solution?

Truthfully, after being saved, Chi Hao had spent days pondering his miraculous recovery. As a fifth-tier ability user, he was fully aware of his own injuries—he’d been at death’s door. For these two kids to pull him back, they had to have access to some kind of medicine.

And not just any medicine—something akin to the mythical Basic Healing Potion.

However, Chi Hao had tactfully refrained from asking questions. If the two kids didn’t want to explain, he wouldn’t pry and would naturally keep their secret.

Still…

If they could save the Lanhu Forest, the people of Lanhu Town would owe them an enormous debt of gratitude.

Admittedly, this might seem like undermining Qingmu Fortress. But the fortress had already mishandled the situation, and…

The death of Xie Zhao Ri had shaken Chi Hao’s faith in the fortress deeply.

His sister had faced ostracism and exile from the fortress, but at least her story had ended on a positive note. That made it easier for him to convince himself to stay loyal. But now…

Xie Zhao Ri was dead.

He’d died in the heart of Desolate City.

Regardless of whether his death was the result of deliberate action or mere negligence, Chi Hao couldn’t shake his unease about the fortress.

With a sigh, Chi Hao picked up his pen and began writing a reply.

“Hey, Brother Chi Hao replied!” Tang Yu’an, who had been keeping an eye on the notebook, immediately noticed the new message and asked Zhou Qi to retrieve it.

[Chi Hao: I’ve reached Lanhu Town, but I’ve run into some trouble…]

After reading through Chi Hao’s account, Tang Yu’an and Zhou Qi exchanged a glance, finally understanding why Chi Hao hadn’t completed any trades despite being in Lanhu Town for so long.

“Brother Chi Hao… is really down on his luck,” Tang Yu’an muttered.

[Do you have any medicine that could cure the Lanhu Trees?]

At Chi Hao’s final question, Tang Yu’an hesitated. Thinking it over, he asked, “Would a healing potion work?”

“If the problem is disease, probably not,” Zhou Qi replied.

Healing potions were designed to mend injuries, not cure ailments. And even if the potion somehow worked on plants, the Lanhu Forest was massive—treating every tree would be impossible.

Tang Yu’an’s shoulders slumped at Zhou Qi’s reasoning.

Perhaps due to his upbringing in a more environmentally conscious world, Tang Yu’an felt a special connection to the trees, especially ones as valuable as the Lanhu Trees. Not only did they regulate temperature, but they also sustained countless lives in the wasteland. Seeing them wither away seemed like a tragic waste.

Seeing his disappointment, Zhou Qi pressed his lips together briefly before sighing.

“Let’s tell Brother Chi Hao about these limitations and let him decide. We still have four bottles of Basic Healing Potions and two bottles of the Intermediate-Grade ones. For now, that should be enough.”

“If that’s not enough, we can use the Seven-Day Special Refresh Cards to replenish our stock. Who knows, we might even get a potion specifically for treating plant diseases.”

Tang Yu’an’s eyes lit up at Zhou Qi’s suggestion.

“If he wants to give it a try, let’s just give him three drops!” Tang Yu’an said cheerfully.

After all, three drops were the maximum dosage per use. Anything more would be wasted. Besides, the cost of three drops was only 60 points, easily recoverable with just two Lanhu Tree leaves. Surely, they could spare two leaves?

Tang Yu’an jotted down his reply and had Zhou Qi place the notebook and a small vial into Portable Storage Slot 1.

*

On the other side, Chi Hao quickly noticed the movement in his storage, retrieved the notebook, and read the message.

[Tang Yu’an: Brother Chi Hao, we do have potions for treating injuries—rewards from missions—but we’ve never tested them on plants…]

Chi Hao’s eyes lit up as he read. So, An’an and Zhou Qi really did have miracle medicine!

Thinking back to how they had saved him despite being strangers, using such a precious potion without ever mentioning it, Chi Hao felt deeply touched.

Ah… even the house I got for them doesn’t feel like enough repayment now…

That ramshackle house couldn’t possibly match the value of such rare medicine. And then there was the added benefit of him gaining a portable storage system from the mission he’d completed.

Scratching his head, Chi Hao decided to focus on the current task first.

If An’an and Zhou Qi wanted Lanhu Tree leaves, he’d make sure to get more than enough for them! Two leaves weren’t enough—ten seemed more appropriate.

After all, Lanhu Town had given Qingmu Fortress 500 leaves. What were ten compared to that?

Glancing at the notification in his storage, Chi Hao confirmed the new addition:

[Slot 1: Employee “Handsome Zhou” has placed 1 vial of Basic Healing Potion (3-drop pack).]

An’an and Zhou Qi are really something! Chi Hao thought, sending a reply before putting the notebook back into storage.

He then turned his attention to the still-unconscious Lan Yunqing.

“Hey, wake up…”

Chi Hao shook his shoulder. When that didn’t work, he patted his cheeks and pinched his philtrum.

After a moment of this treatment, Lan Yunqing stirred, frowning as he slowly opened his eyes.

The instant he saw Chi Hao, his instincts kicked in.

With a rustling sound, massive roots erupted from the ground, wrapping around Chi Hao and lifting him into the air.

Both men froze as the scene settled.

Lan Yunqing quickly recalled the events leading up to his blackout. His expression turned icy as he looked at Chi Hao, a trace of frustration flickering in his eyes.

Chi Hao, suspended and bound, wasn’t particularly alarmed.

I knew it—there’s no way the lord of Lanhu Town would be this weak. Not that it matters much; he’s still no match for me.

“Alright,” Chi Hao said calmly. “I tied you up once, now you’ve tied me up. Let’s call it even, shall we?”

Despite being the one restrained, the red-haired young man exuded an aura of superiority, as if he were the one holding the upper hand.

Lan Yunqing glared at him coldly, his fists clenched at his sides, betraying his tension.

“You know I’m a fire-element ability user,” Chi Hao continued nonchalantly. “Are these roots really enough to keep me from burning them?”

“Lanhu Trees don’t fear fire,” Lan Yunqing shot back.

“Oh? Is that so?” Chi Hao’s eyes sparkled with interest. “Then let’s test that out, shall we?”

Lan Yunqing gritted his teeth.

While the mutated Lanhu Trees were indeed resistant to fire in their prime, their current weakened state meant that a single blaze could cause irreparable damage.

Chi Hao studied Lan Yunqing with a light click of his tongue.

How could someone look so stunning even when angry?

Of course, Chi Hao had no actual intention of burning the forest. Seeing Lan Yunqing glare at him as if he wanted to devour him alive, Chi Hao quickly softened his stance.

Having grown up under his sister’s “discipline,” Chi Hao understood the value of knowing when to yield.

“Alright, alright, I already said this is all a misunderstanding.” He grinned. “If keeping me like this makes you feel safer, then let’s talk like this.”

Lan Yunqing frowned, his expression cold but slightly less rigid.

“What is there to talk about?”

“Oh, plenty!” Chi Hao said with enthusiasm. “First, yes, I am from Qingmu Fortress. I was passing by on another mission and thought I’d stop to discuss a business opportunity.”

“Xie Zhao Ri was my comrade. You know him, right?”

Lan Yunqing sneered. “He did try to persuade me to join the Xie family. What now? You’re here to continue his pitch?”

Chi Hao paused, surprised to learn Xie Zhao Ri had come to Lanhu Town for such reasons. The man had bragged about being close to the lord of Lanhu Town.

Shaking his head, Chi Hao said, “I have nothing to do with the Xie family. Please don’t lump me in with them.”

Lan Yunqing remained silent, his skeptical expression showing he wasn’t convinced.

Chi Hao sighed. All he wanted was to make a deal—why did it have to be so complicated?

“Those five hundred Lanhu leaves you handed over to Qingmu Fortress? Probably wasted,” Chi Hao said bluntly. “The fortress is rife with factional strife, and from what I know, the faction your town aligned with likely doesn’t even have a plant master.”

Lan Yunqing stiffened.

“Besides, plant masters are incredibly valuable. Do you really think they’d risk the journey to Lanhu Town to treat your forest? The round trip alone would take over three months, and the dangers along the way… do you have any idea?”

As Chi Hao spoke, the color drained from Lan Yunqing’s already pale face.

“They might send a basic planting specialist at best,” Chi Hao continued. “You could find someone like that in Jufeng Town. There’s no need to rely on the fortress.”

If the faction didn’t have a plant master, then even a second-tier planting specialist would be a rarity. Only the lowest-ranking specialists would be sent on missions like these.

Lanhu Town’s request for a plant master was, quite frankly, wishful thinking.

Lan Yunqing listened in silence, unwilling to believe but knowing deep down that Chi Hao was likely right.

Seeking help from Qingmu Fortress had been a desperate measure born of hopelessness.

“So, Qingmu Fortress has abandoned us?” he muttered bitterly.

“Hey, I didn’t say that.”

Hearing the tremble in Lan Yunqing’s voice, Chi Hao hurriedly added, “Even if you can’t count on them, I might have a solution.”

“You?” Lan Yunqing looked at him doubtfully.

“That’s right.” Chi Hao nodded, wiggling his tightly bound hands. “But can you let me down first? It’s not very comfortable being tied up like this.”

Lan Yunqing scrutinized him before letting out a cold huff. He raised his hand, and the Lanhu Tree’s roots receded back into the ground.

He knew Chi Hao could have easily broken free if he’d wanted to. Given the current state of the forest, Lan Yunqing wasn’t strong enough to match Chi Hao, especially with his reservations about damaging the trees.

Once freed, Chi Hao landed lightly on the ground, stretched his limbs, and then looked at Lan Yunqing.

“By the way, I don’t think I caught your name,” he said.

Lan Yunqing’s eyes narrowed as he placed a hand on the Lanhu Tree beside him. While he might not be able to defeat Chi Hao, he could escape through the forest if necessary.

Chi Hao shook his head, finding it a bit dull. “You’re so good-looking. Why the perpetual scowl?”

Lan Yunqing ignored his comment and instead asked, “What’s the solution you mentioned?”

Chi Hao shrugged. “I’ve got a potion with strong restorative effects. It can heal injuries and restore vitality, though I’ve never tried it on plants. Want to give it a shot?”

Lan Yunqing frowned. The offer sounded dubious.

“The Lanhu Trees are sick, not injured,” Lan Yunqing pointed out.

“But their vitality is fading, isn’t it?” Chi Hao gestured toward the sparse, wilting foliage. “They look like they’re on their last legs.”

Lan Yunqing trembled, his fiery gaze locking onto Chi Hao as if he were ready to tear him apart.

“Hey, I’m just stating the obvious,” Chi Hao muttered, raising his hands in mock surrender. “Fine, fine! My bad, poor choice of words. I apologize.”

Lan Yunqing wanted to storm off, but he had no better solution.

The survival of the Lanhu Forest was critical to the livelihoods of thousands of people in Lanhu Town. If the trees truly withered, he would lose his powers, and his people would lose the protection they had relied on for so long.

The thought of such a bleak future filled Lan Yunqing with dread and sorrow.

“Will your potion really work?” he asked hesitantly. “It’s not harmful to plants? It’s not some kind of poison?”

“Hey now! Don’t insult my medicine,” Chi Hao said, exasperated. “This stuff is precious—it can save people on the brink of death! And I’m not giving it to you for free.”

Lan Yunqing’s suspicion deepened. “What’s the price?”

“I’ll give you three drops,” Chi Hao said after a moment’s thought. “Three Lanhu leaves per drop.”

Lan Yunqing pressed his lips together. The price wasn’t high, but its affordability made him wary.

“Of course, I know this potion is limited, and your forest has way too many trees for it to be a cure-all…” Chi Hao scratched his head, trying to think. “But if it can save two or three trees, that’s better than nothing, right?”

Lan Yunqing wasn’t particularly concerned about that.

Though the forest appeared vast, it was actually a single organism grown from a mother tree. If the mother tree were healed, the entire forest would recover.

But this was a secret he couldn’t share with an outsider like Chi Hao.

He stared at Chi Hao, weighing the pros and cons.

“Only three leaves per drop?” Lan Yunqing finally asked.

“Yes, but…” Chi Hao smirked. “If it works and you want to buy all three drops, there’s an additional condition.”

“What condition?” Lan Yunqing asked warily.

“I want a house,” Chi Hao replied, his tone serious.

“What?” Lan Yunqing felt like he hadn’t heard correctly.

“I want a house in Lanhu Town, and you must grant my companions the right to trade here,” Chi Hao elaborated clearly.

Although An’an and Zhou Qi hadn’t mentioned wanting to open a shop in Lanhu Town, Chi Hao figured it wouldn’t hurt to secure the deed and pave the way for them. Better to be prepared for the future.

To be honest, if the Lanhu Forest could be restored, Lanhu Town would indeed be more livable than Desolate City. Someone with An’an’s delicate constitution would thrive in a place like this.

Lan Yunqing studied Chi Hao curiously.

After a moment of thought, he asked, “Is that all?”

“That’s it!” Chi Hao replied cheerfully.

“Alright, let’s try one drop first and see.”

Lan Yunqing still had doubts about whether the potion would work, but as long as there was a chance, he had to take it. He couldn’t stand idly by while Lanhu Town withered away under his watch.

Chi Hao accepted three Lanhu leaves from Lan Yunqing and retrieved the vial of Primary Healing Potion.

Under Lan Yunqing’s guidance, he carefully applied a single drop to the roots of a Lanhu Tree.

[You completed a profitable transaction with a new customer. Employee EXP +1.]
[You completed the long-term task “Profitable Transactions.” Points +1.]

Finally! The first sale! Chi Hao thought triumphantly.

Meanwhile, Lan Yunqing’s eyes remained fixed on the Lanhu Tree, his tension palpable.

As soon as the potion hit the roots, Lan Yunqing sensed a surge of vitality. He immediately realized it wasn’t poison, which eased his nerves slightly and even sparked a glimmer of hope.

Over time, he could feel the dying offshoot slowly regaining life. Though the disease remained, the tree was no longer on the brink of death.

Most importantly, the mother tree had awakened.

It immediately severed Lan Yunqing’s control and reconnected with the treated offshoot, absorbing the potion into itself.

Lan Yunqing could perceive the entire process vividly.

Feeling the familiar pulse of the mother tree, even though it quickly returned to dormancy, Lan Yunqing’s despair turned to relief.

He couldn’t help but smile, his lips curving upwards as tears threatened to spill from his eyes.

But with Chi Hao present, he managed to hold them back.

Before he could even thank Chi Hao, the red-haired young man looked at him hesitantly and said, “I think you should probably stop smiling.”

Lan Yunqing: “…What?”

Translator’s Note:
The appearance of the side couple?