Chapter 120 - 113: Safe House
[Number of Awakened Homes in the current Gated Community has exceeded the number of survivor households by 15%. A 3-day countdown will begin when this number exceeds 20%.]
[Next Stage Map: Gobi Desert]
[Next Stage Duration: 1 month]
[Next Stage Reinforcements: 1 building]
[Alert: Esteemed Level 2 Authority resident, you are currently on a beginner survival map. Please actively adapt to the wilderness environment and focus on gathering resources. The Hunting Celestial List will be enabled in the next stage.]
Qin Ziwen’s gaze fell on the last line of text. ’This is still just a beginner survival map?’
Come to think of it, although the Gated Community was located in a large forest, it was close to a river, the temperature was pleasant, and resources were relatively abundant.
It was much better than a disastrous start like a desert or a glacier.
In addition, after he obtained Level 2 Authority, his Home had provided some new information.
Previously, Level 1 Authority had only revealed that the next stage’s map would be the Gobi Desert.
Now, he not only knew the survival duration in the Gobi Desert would be one month, but also that the Gated Community’s reinforcements would be... ’One building?’
"One building" was a very flexible term. A small villa was one building, but so was a thirty-odd-story skyscraper with ten or twenty households per floor.
The former would be manageable, but the latter would likely bring in a population no smaller than the Gated Community’s current number of survivors.
After a moment of thought, Qin Ziwen turned his attention to the newly acquired Safe House feature.
After studying it for a bit, he figured out how the Safe House worked.
It was a mode that could be toggled on and off.
When the Safe House was activated, the Home would enter a lockdown mode, prohibiting anyone—including the Lord of the Homeland—from entering or exiting.
𝐟𝕣𝕖𝐞𝐰𝕖𝚋𝐧𝗼𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝗰𝐨𝐦
’It’s basically an impenetrable turtle shell. Once activated, I can’t get out, but no one can get in either.’ Qin Ziwen felt a little relieved. Although it wasn’t a long-term solution, it meant he wouldn’t have to worry about his base being raided while he was out.
Ever since he started receiving daily rewards, the number of buildings inside his Home had grown, and his stockpiled resources had become more and more abundant. With that came a faint, persistent sense of danger.
His apartment’s front door looked sturdy, but its actual Defense Power wasn’t as high as one might think.
It wouldn’t last long if someone took a sledgehammer to it.
However, the Safe House feature was something he gained from his authority upgrade. ’If there’s a shield, there must be a spear.’
He then opened his Home interface to check the panel.
[Home] Building 8, Unit 2, Apartment 502
[Authority] Level 2 Authority
[Area] 2298㎡
[Height] 3m
[Special Terrain] Desert 400㎡
[Buildings] Level 2 Cellar Grain Storage, Level 1 Beast Cage, Level 1 Restroom, Level 2 Blacksmith Shop, Level 2 Farmland, Level 1 Tavern, Level 1 Soup Kitchen, Level 1 Pharmacy, Salt Well, Level 1 Fish Pond, Level 1 Steel Door
[Advanced Building] Celestial Star Arrow Gallery
[Resources] Level 2 Spring Eye, Level 2 Iron Mine, Level 1 Coal Mine, Level 1 Stone Quarry
[Marvels] Level 1 Salt Essence Stone (Salt Well)
[Unused] Level 1 Stable x1, Level 1 Farmland x2, Recruitment Card - Tamed Mongolian Horse x1, Level 1 Tailor Shop x1, Level 1 Blacksmith Shop x1, (Advanced) Lava Fortress x1, Expansion Card: Small Underground Cave x1, Level 1 Coal Mine Card x1, Level 1 Water Wheel x1
It was a world of difference from when he first arrived.
He then went to the mining area and chose to use the Level 1 Coal Mine Card.
When the light faded,
the original Level 1 Coal Mine had upgraded into a Level 2 Coal Mine. The site had transformed, becoming a pure, open-pit mine.
The edges were a series of terraced slopes with exposed, dark-brown coal seams. Beside them were bamboo baskets containing long-handled iron picks and hoes.
As far as the eye could see, the entire area was filled with coal.
...
8th floor, Apartment 802.
Xiao Xuemei came out of the kitchen with a bowl of boiled plantain herb tea. "You’ve had an upset stomach lately. Drink some of this."
Deng Guang took it and gulped it down.
He wiped his lips.
Xiao Xuemei said, half exasperated and half amused, "You’re fiddling with those crabs of yours again."
A smile spread across Deng Guang’s face. He pointed at a few crabs moving around in the water channel and said, "Look, these stream crabs had a hard time adjusting when they first arrived, but now they’re already digging burrows. I’m thinking of adding some more rocks to make the environment a bit more complex for them."
Xiao Xuemei said, "We can’t rely on just crabs, you know."
Deng Guang nodded. "I know. I’m hoping we can get some swamp eels later. I’ve asked around the last couple of days, and nobody dares go near the river anymore."
As he spoke, a smile touched his lips. "Brother Qin said these Card buildings all have special effects. See? There’s obviously no generator, but this water is still flowing. How amazing is that?"
"It is amazing," she agreed. "But I remember it’s been a few days since you all set out the Earth Cages. When are you going to check them? Aren’t you worried someone will steal them?"
At her words, Deng Guang stood up. "I’ll go ask Brother Qin and see when he’s free."
"Take these with you." Xiao Xuemei turned and handed him a bag filled with fresh herbs.
"This is the plantain herb that Xiaowen and I picked. We washed it all when we got back. The herbal notice from Renhe Hall says that tea made from it can relieve diarrhea, restore stamina, and even soothe the itching from insect bites. Take it to Brother Qin."
Deng Guang took the bag. "Alright, got it. You two be careful when you’re out gathering things."
He went downstairs and arrived at Qin Ziwen’s door. After knocking, Deng Guang prepared to have a quick chat at the doorway like usual.
But to his surprise, Brother Qin invited him straight inside.
"Brother Deng, come on in and have a seat."
For some reason, Deng Guang felt a surge of nervousness. "Okay. Do you have any slippers?"
Qin Ziwen smiled. "What slippers? No need to change, just come right in."
As he walked into the living room, the most striking sight was the balcony to his right.
Normally, a balcony would extend out to a view of the Gated Community.
But what Deng Guang saw was a tall, classical-style building.
Deng Guang’s eyes went wide.
He stared at the plaque, which bore four large words: Celestial Star Arrow Gallery.
Deng Guang remembered. This was the Card that Qin Ziwu had brought back from the cave.
Brother Qin had said back then that the building was called the Celestial Star Arrow Gallery.
Deng Guang sat down stiffly on the sofa. Only then did he notice Li Yue was also in the living room. The two exchanged greetings. "When did you get here?" Deng Guang asked.
"I just got here myself," Li Yue said.
Li Yue said with envy, "Brother Qin, your Home is huge! The footprint of this Celestial Star Arrow Gallery alone is several times the size of my entire place."
Qin Ziwen poured Deng Guang a glass of warm water. "Have a seat. Li Yue came over today because his foot has healed. He’s planning to join us on our next outing."
Deng Guang congratulated Li Yue.
Li Yue said grimly, "They say it takes a hundred days to recover from injuries to muscle and bone. I’m just glad I didn’t damage any bones or tendons, otherwise I don’t know what I would’ve done."
"Mr. Qin, I’m here." Zhao Pu, who had been summoned, came up from the fourth floor and appeared at the door.
Qin Ziwen had his brother grab a stool for Zhao Pu. "Sit."
Zhao Pu didn’t look around after entering, but when he sat down, he was facing the balcony and immediately saw the Celestial Star Arrow Gallery.
His eyes lit up, and he couldn’t help but exclaim, "Mr. Qin, so this is the Celestial Star Arrow Gallery! It’s magnificent! I’ve seen the buildings in other people’s Homes, but they’re nothing compared to this Arrow Gallery."
"What are the other people’s buildings like?" Li Yue asked curiously.
Zhao Pu glanced at Qin Ziwen before answering thoughtfully, "They’re mostly classical-style buildings too, but they’re all dilapidated and small. They don’t look like they’re from the same era as this Arrow Gallery."
Qin Ziwen waved his hand dismissively. "It’s not that exaggerated. All these buildings have special effects. My Arrow Gallery just looks a bit bigger, but there’s not much of a real difference."
...
...