Chapter 140
Tang Yu’an opened the interface and promptly added A’Man to the overnight stay list, avoiding the kind of situation they had experienced when Lan Lin first arrived.
The list also kept track of rule violations among the existing residents.
Almost everyone had at least one recorded infraction, which was understandable. After all, Room 501 was a restricted area, and any attempts to enter were logged as violations. Since residents often needed to contact Old Li or exchange items, many violations stemmed from trying to reach that room.
Then there were those who had attempted theft.
Tang Yu’an had anticipated this. In a world ravaged by the apocalypse, theft, and even murder, were commonplace. It was unrealistic to expect every resident they took in to be a paragon of virtue.
Fortunately, no one had yet violated the rules against robbery or physical harm.
Tang Yu’an could tolerate theft for now. Human nature was inherently flawed, and these residents hadn’t been exposed to proper education. With time, he believed, they could be guided and reformed.
But robbery and violence were a different matter, especially physical harm. In the secure and stable environment of the Desolate City Grocery Store, where relationships remained harmonious, any instance of violence would likely indicate that the perpetrator was inherently malicious.
If such a case arose, Tang Yu’an would put the person under observation and consider expelling them.
Thankfully, no such difficult situations had occurred yet.
Closing the overnight stay list, Tang Yu’an suddenly had an idea. “Brother Qi, why don’t we give Store No. 1 a new name?”
“A new name?” Zhou Qi asked.
“Yeah! The shop can still be called Desolate City Grocery Store, but the lodging area could be named Wasteland Haven. What do you think?”
Wasteland Haven. Zhou Qi pondered the suggestion and nodded. “That could work. It might help the residents feel a stronger sense of belonging.”
Whether or not the wasteland survivors fully grasped the concept of a “haven” didn’t matter. Over time, as they integrated into this community, they would come to understand it.
Tang Yu’an noted the idea for later and then turned to Zhou Qi. “Brother Qi, since the weather’s nice, I’d like to go to the swimming pool.”
Zhou Qi studied him for a long moment before sighing.
Seeing this, Tang Yu’an scooted closer with a grin. “Don’t worry! I’ll be fine—I’ll definitely succeed this time!”
Zhou Qi reached out and touched his cheek.
“You’re still too young,” he said softly.
Tang Yu’an pouted but quickly broke into a smile. “I’m growing, I’m growing! I’ll be an adult soon!”
Zhou Qi chuckled and shook his head.
After a pause, his smile faded, and he said, “Fine, go ahead. But if you’re not back within an hour, I’ll come looking for you.”
In truth, Zhou Qi doubted he could wait more than 30 minutes. Still, he didn’t want Tang Yu’an to feel rushed and end up making mistakes.
“Heh, no need for an hour!” Tang Yu’an said, beaming.
The two used the teleportation array to return to the Desolate City Grocery Store and opened the front door.
As Tang Yu’an prepared to leave, Zhou Qi suddenly raised his hand, which glowed faintly red. He pressed his palm against Tang Yu’an’s chest, leaving a soft imprint on his shirt that quickly faded from view.
“What’s this?” Tang Yu’an asked curiously.
“Something I’ve been working on,” Zhou Qi replied. “It lets me sense your presence even if we’re apart—though the range is limited for now.”
Additionally, if Tang Yu’an were attacked, the imprint would activate a protective shield that could absorb one strike. However, the imprint would disappear afterward, severing the connection. Zhou Qi hoped it wouldn’t come to that.
“Wow! Brother Qi, you’re creating your own abilities now? That’s amazing!”
Zhou Qi gave him a pointed look.
You think I wanted to? If you weren’t always running off on adventures, I wouldn’t have spent every waking moment figuring out how to protect you.
But he said nothing, simply ushering Tang Yu’an on his way.
The water level around Desolate City Grocery Store had risen significantly, nearly submerging the entire structure. To avoid the floodwaters, Tang Yu’an had to leave via the roof.
Using the Shadow Umbrella and boosted by the Lightness Technique, he floated like a feather across the landscape.
The area was calmer now compared to the initial onset of the flood, as most animals had fled with the currents. The creatures still active were amphibious or massive mutants unaffected by the torrents.
Tang Yu’an carefully controlled his movements. Although he wasn’t using the Flight Skill he’d won from the lottery, his practice with it had honed his instincts and improved his mastery over wind power.
His body felt noticeably lighter, and when his toes skimmed the water’s surface, the ripples were almost imperceptible. To the massive creatures, he probably seemed no more significant than a speck of dust.
Aside from aquatic threats, the skies were patrolled by several enormous eagles, resembling prehistoric pterosaurs. Their distant silhouettes alone were enough to strike fear.
Navigating between these colossal creatures, Tang Yu’an felt acutely aware of his insignificance. If not for the exposed concrete and steel structures dotting the landscape, he might have believed he had traveled back to a primordial, untamed era.
After evading a mutant frog, a massive predatory leopard, and a chameleon nearly indistinguishable from its surroundings, Tang Yu’an encountered his greatest challenge yet:
A swarm of enormous mosquitoes, each the size of a palm.
The sight of the writhing swarm made Tang Yu’an’s breath stop.
Although the Shadow Umbrella concealed his presence, it wouldn’t stop the mosquitoes from physically entering its coverage. If they got under the umbrella, he would be exposed.
Facing such a swarm, could anyone survive?
Luckily, Tang Yu’an had the Map to guide him.
When he noticed dozens of red dots clustering ahead, he immediately realized something was wrong. Instead of pressing forward, he sought shelter in an exposed building.
The building already had occupants.
“Meow—”
Two leopard cubs, each as tall as his knee, were resting inside. Judging by their appearances, they were still very young.
Tang Yu’an recalled the large leopard he had seen earlier on his journey, a golden beast with black spots adorning its sleek coat. It was about the same size as Black Pearl’s true form.
It must have been a zoo animal, he thought. Otherwise, how could such a creature exist in the city?
Of course, the apocalypse had ravaged the world for decades. Tang Yu’an wasn’t certain about the lifespans of mutant creatures, so it could also be a descendant of the original zoo leopards.
Quietly, he activated the “All Cats” achievement, which granted him an aura that animals found non-threatening. Gripping his Shadow Umbrella tightly, he hid in a corner of the building.
—
The ominous “buzzing” of wings grew louder.
When Tang Yu’an heard the chilling sound, his face turned pale. Hastily, he pulled out Lin Zhu’s insect repellent and sprinkled it at the building’s entrance.
The buzzing sound approached, a symphony of horror that made him hold his breath.
Suddenly—
“Meow—”
One of the leopard cubs curiously wandered toward the gap in the wall, completely oblivious to the danger. Tang Yu’an’s heart skipped a beat. He rushed over and scooped it up before it could walk outside.
Caught under the umbrella’s protective canopy, the cub seemed startled by Tang Yu’an’s sudden presence. However, thanks to the Cat Lover aura, it didn’t attack. Instead, it affectionately rubbed against Tang Yu’an before trotting back to its nest.
The description of the Cat Lover achievement was oddly fitting: “Cats love you, but they prefer to keep their distance.”
Relieved to see the cub return safely to its den, Tang Yu’an turned his attention to the approaching swarm of mutant mosquitoes.
The buzzing outside grew deafening, a sound that could pierce through one’s very soul. Tang Yu’an gritted his teeth, gripping the umbrella tightly as he stood guard near the gap in the wall.
Fortunately, Lin Zhu’s insect repellent proved effective. The swarm lingered outside for a few moments before dispersing, leaving the building—and the cubs—untouched.
Tang Yu’an wiped the cold sweat from his forehead as he watched the retreating mosquito horde.
That was terrifying!
From his crouched position, he could clearly see the monstrous creatures. Each mosquito was the size of his palm, and their proboscises were thicker than standard hypodermic needles.
Thank goodness for Lin Sister’s repellent, he thought. I need to ask her to make more as soon as I get back.
After calming himself, Tang Yu’an bid farewell to the cubs and resumed his journey. He avoided areas with high concentrations of red dots, eventually reaching the swimming pool without further incident.
When he finally landed on the pool’s roof, the faint buzzing from earlier still echoed in his ears.
I hope I never encounter those mosquitoes again.
Inside the pool facility, the small green vine entwined in Tang Yu’an’s hair became noticeably more active. Its faint glow pulsed briefly, and the normally still main body seemed to awaken.
A tiny tendril extended and wrapped around Tang Yu’an’s finger.
Sensing the vine’s joy, Tang Yu’an smiled. “Hey there, Green Gem.”
He greeted the vine’s main body warmly, though he still didn’t fully understand the connection between its primary and secondary forms. Were they part of the same consciousness, or were they distinct?
Such complex questions might only be answered once Green Gem leveled up further.
Tang Yu’an reported his safe arrival to Zhou Qi through the Message Board, then entered the swimming pool through a window.
After only a few days away, the pool had developed an odd smell. To his surprise, the place was now bustling with life. Hurrying into the main hall, he saw the pool had become a refuge for animals.
There were yellow-furred rabbits, the same species Yuan Bao had hunted before. Small, normal-sized green frogs hopped around the floor. Birds chirped and built nests in the vines, while squirrels darted about.
And then—
“Baa—”
Tang Yu’an froze at the sound of a sheep’s bleat.
Sheep? Inside the pool?
The facility was supposed to be closed. How had these animals gotten in?
He quickly shared the scene with Zhou Qi, who responded:
[Perhaps the system doesn’t consider these animals dangerous?]
It made sense. The protective barrier wasn’t indiscriminate—it didn’t activate against harmless entities. When the floodwaters first arrived, it had only triggered after a certain volume of water entered.
These animals were likely deemed too weak to pose a threat. Even Green Gem seemed indifferent to their presence.
Regardless of the reason, Tang Yu’an was overjoyed.
This was worth the trip!
Hearing the sheep bleating, he was already dreaming of fresh, fragrant goat milk.
While the store’s marketplace offered milk for purchase, selling it as a product often raised questions about its source. Now, with the sheep, he had a perfectly reasonable explanation!
Tang Yu’an didn’t disturb the animals but instead opened the system interface to set up a teleportation array. Only he could activate an array in person, which was why Zhou Qi had reluctantly agreed to let him come.
With a grand gesture, Tang Yu’an spent 6,000 points to install a fully functioning teleportation array.
The moment he granted Zhou Qi access, the array’s glow activated, and Zhou Qi appeared.
“Brother Qi!” Tang Yu’an called out, waving excitedly.
“An’an, are you okay?” Zhou Qi asked, immediately inspecting him for injuries. After confirming he was unharmed, Zhou Qi let out a relieved sigh.
Due to the ongoing flood, Tang Yu’an had placed the array in a secure, elevated room on the swimming pool’s upper floor.
The swimming pool had more to offer than just the ground-level pool area. There were also two additional floors with functional spaces.
Tang Yu’an had set up the teleportation array in what seemed to be an old staff office. Though damaged, it still contained office furniture and equipment that hinted at its past use.
After spending days preoccupied with various tasks, they hadn’t had the chance to thoroughly explore the site.
Tang Yu’an looked up at the ceiling, noticing a few intact fluorescent light tubes. He wondered aloud, “I wonder if these still work?”
Zhou Qi rubbed his chin thoughtfully. “For a facility this large, there should be a generator somewhere, right?”
“I’ll check.”
Since making the swimming pool an official branch store, Tang Yu’an no longer had to search manually for specific items. A detailed inventory of everything in Store No. 3 was now available to him through the system.
“There’s a generator set on the second floor,” Tang Yu’an reported.
However, given the water levels outside, it was clear that the generator had been submerged multiple times. Its condition was bound to be poor.
“We’ll inspect it later when we have time,” Zhou Qi said. Electricity wasn’t an urgent need for them, especially since they had limited appliances—mostly the remnants from the original Grocery Store.
“There’s even a refrigerator here!” Tang Yu’an exclaimed.
But decades of disuse likely meant it wouldn’t function properly, even if it hadn’t entirely broken down.
Tang Yu’an combed through the inventory list, transferring usable items like wardrobes, tables, chairs, and shelves back to Store No. 1. These could be repaired and reused.
Other salvageable items included pipes, showerheads, electrical wiring, glassware, pen holders, pencils, and paper. He transported all of them to Store No. 1 as well.
He even found two intact desk lamps with functional bulbs, though the plastic casings had become brittle with age. He planned to test them later.
Among the more exciting finds were three sports watches and two mechanical watches. Though rusty, the mechanical watches still worked after some vigorous shaking. Tang Yu’an decided to gift one to Grandpa Li as a token of appreciation.
The sports watches, on the other hand, would need charging. Tang Yu’an wasn’t too optimistic, as their batteries were likely deteriorated beyond repair.
While Tang Yu’an busied himself with scavenging, Zhou Qi made his way to the pool area.
The animals that had sought refuge inside mostly stayed here. Since they were herbivores, and the giant vine of Green Gem was present, food wasn’t an issue.
Green Gem tolerated their presence, much like the Lan Hu Tree was indifferent to humans plucking its leaves. These animals nibbled at Green Gem’s leaves without issue.
However, Zhou Qi’s arrival caused most of them to scatter. The only exception was the group of goats.
Zhou Qi estimated there were about four or five of them, likely wild mountain goats. Unlike the smaller creatures, these goats didn’t fear him. One even lowered its head and charged at him, horns first.
Zhou Qi stood his ground, eyes flashing red for a moment.
Even Black Pearl, their proud feline companion, would shrink away at this display. The goat, unaccustomed to such a dominating aura, stumbled mid-charge, its knees buckling as it fell face-first into the ground.
The other goats hurried over to their fallen leader. One nimble goat even climbed the wall and leaped onto the second-floor viewing platform. Its agility explained how they’d likely evaded predators in the first place.
Zhou Qi bent down and picked up a yellow-furred rabbit.
He had only ever seen the prey Yuan Bao brought back—lifeless, skinned, and cooked. It was refreshing to see a lively, energetic rabbit in person.
Holding the rabbit, Zhou Qi couldn’t help but smile.
As one of the lowest creatures on the food chain, rabbits had still managed to thrive, thanks to their exceptional reproductive abilities.
He recalled something the owner of a Pet Store had once mentioned: rabbits could produce multiple litters a year, with each litter containing up to a dozen kits. A single pair of rabbits could result in 80 or 90 offspring annually if conditions were ideal.
The more Zhou Qi thought about it, the broader his smile grew.
While life for them and their store had stabilized, they still lacked a consistent supply of meat. Aside from Zhou Qi and Tang Yu’an, they also had four large carnivorous pets to feed.
The floodwaters had made hunting unsafe, leaving them with a significant protein deficit. Fortunately, their pets consumed less when in their smaller forms, or else the store might have struggled to sustain them.
With these considerations in mind, Zhou Qi saw rabbit farming as a viable solution.
Beyond the rabbits, there was also the matter of fresh goat milk.
As for the frogs and small birds, Zhou Qi decided to leave them be. They would help Green Gem by eating harmful insects.
He set the rabbit down gently and approached the swimming pool.
The floodwaters had seeped into the pool, leaving it murky. Days of stillness had allowed sediments to settle at the bottom. Zhou Qi noticed the faint green shoots of sprouting lotus seeds they had previously tossed into the water.
As he inspected the pool, fish darted around below, eyeing him warily. Zhou Qi reached into his bag, pulled out a handful of millet, and scattered it across the water’s surface.
The pool, once tranquil, erupted into chaos as the fish swarmed to devour the millet.
“Need help?” Tang Yu’an appeared beside him, holding his own bag of millet. He sprinkled some at the opposite end of the pool.
“How are the fish doing? Did we lose any?” Zhou Qi asked.
Tang Yu’an grinned. “Not only did we not lose any, but there are dozens more now!”
When Tang Yu’an first came to set up the branch store, the swimming pool had already been flooded, and many fish had swum in. After setting up the protective barrier, the water was expelled, leaving some fish stranded on the ground.
Tang Yu’an had picked up the stranded fish and thrown them into the pool, where they thrived.
“How about we set up a pool at Store No. 1 and transfer some fish over?” Tang Yu’an suggested.
Zhou Qi considered it and nodded in agreement.
They weren’t experts at fish farming, so they considered dividing the fish among the residents to see if anyone could develop some practical fish-farming experience.
Given the resilience of these fish—surviving in the previously filthy pool water and continuing to thrive in the now-clear water—they seemed hardy enough to be relatively easy to raise.
“Let’s build the pool first and then figure things out,” Zhou Qi suggested.
The 600 square meters of land they’d reclaimed wasn’t even a full acre yet. With plans to use it for farming and building a brick kiln, space was already tight. Adding a fish pond meant they’d need to expand their territory further.
“A fish pond…” Tang Yu’an’s eyes lit up as a new idea popped into his mind. He quickly scattered the remaining millet into the swimming pool, then hurried over to Zhou Qi to explain his plan.
Zhou Qi listened carefully, his eyes brightening. “That could work. Let’s try it.”
“Then let’s hurry back and get started!”
For now, they decided not to interfere with the animals living in the swimming pool. They seemed to be thriving, so it was better to let them grow and reproduce freely.
*
By the time they returned to Store No. 1, it was midday. The residents had finished their meals and retreated to their rooms for a break.
Although the flood had brought cooler temperatures, the midday sun was still scorchingly hot. Grandpa Li had instituted a mandatory midday rest period to prevent heatstroke.
While there had been some grumbling about this rule, everyone complied, leaving the courtyard completely empty—perfect for Tang Yu’an’s plan.
He climbed onto the building’s side wall and opened the External Landscape Interface. Spending 400 points, he claimed a 20×10-meter plot of land outside the existing wall.
When he confirmed the action, the floodwaters covering that area were immediately expelled.
Within the cleared zone, a small landscape pond emerged, one that Tang Yu’an had noticed before. It was cluttered with rocks and debris, limiting its usable space.
If they wanted to fully utilize this pond, they’d need the residents’ help to clean it up.
But Tang Yu’an had a better idea. Opening the Store No. 1 Inventory, he quickly located the miscellaneous rubble and discarded items that cluttered the property.
He then placed one of the cabinets they’d brought back from the swimming pool into the newly claimed area. Selecting all the debris and waste, he dumped it into the cabinet.
The overloaded cabinet groaned under the weight before collapsing into a heap.
However, the newly claimed land—previously so cluttered it was hard to step onto—was now entirely cleared in moments.
The landscape pond, too, was revealed in its full size.
The circular pond wasn’t as massive as the swimming pool at the other store, but it had a diameter of seven or eight meters—plenty for their needs.
Still, Tang Yu’an wasn’t done. He used the 3D Map interface to remove a section of the nearby picket fence, allowing floodwaters to rush back into the cleared area.
Moments later, he replaced the fence section, forcing the floodwaters to recede once again.
This time, however, the water inside the landscape pond stayed behind. Even better, so did the non-aggressive aquatic creatures that had been swimming in the area.
Fish flopped and wriggled on the banks, their silvery scales flashing in the sunlight.
Tang Yu’an grinned at the sight. “Jackpot!”
