Apocalypse Chapter 91: Hidden Wealth

Chapter 91: Hidden Wealth

Translated by Addis of Exiled Rebels Scanlations

Editor: Karai

Gu Zefeng hadn’t been lying. The Sovereign Base occupied a special position; after the Great Crisis, many authoritative medical experts had gathered there. The base housed not only top-tier medical masters but also advanced laboratories and equipment. Its medical level far surpassed that of similar bases. Before Gu Zefeng sent the message to the Spark Base, the Sovereign Base’s hospital had never opened its doors to other bases.

Hearing this, Jiang Rong couldn’t sit still. If it was true, he had to take Xiaoheng to the Sovereign Base as soon as possible. Xiaoheng’s condition couldn’t be delayed any longer. If even the Sovereign Base couldn’t cure him, then other bases probably wouldn’t be able to either.

But the Sovereign Base wasn’t so easy to get to. Gu Zefeng and Guan Shao didn’t get along. The last time they met, Guan Shao had broken Gu Zefeng’s arm, so a confrontation was inevitable if they crossed paths again. Although the two bases hadn’t openly broken ties, Gu Zefeng might have set an ambush at the Sovereign Base, waiting for them.

After much thought, Jiang Rong decided to take Xiaoheng alone. If Gu Zefeng really had a trap, only he and his son would be caught; his teammates would be safe.

Jiang Rong didn’t tell anyone about his plan. He knew his comrades too well. If they found out he was going alone, they would insist on accompanying him no matter what. How could he risk their safety?  The Spark Base could function without him, but losing his teammates would be a huge blow.

*

The plum rain drizzled on without stopping well into the next evening. After spending over half a month in the intensive care ward, Jiang Xiaoheng simply couldn’t stand it anymore. He pleaded with the doctors and Jiang Rong: he wanted to go home, even if just for one night.

Considering the child’s feelings, the doctors agreed—but only after the healing espers prepared proper protections. With the doctors’ approval, Jiang Rong hurriedly completed Xiaoheng’s temporary discharge paperwork. By the time he carried the child, wrapped in a protective aura, back home, the sky had already darkened. Seeing Xiaoheng return, the household’s animals and mutant plants were overjoyed.

Little Fairy bloomed despite the heavy rain. Little Guaiguai wrapped his body around the courtyard wall, casting a layer of festive red over the yard. Junjun and Lele rubbed their bodies against Xiaoheng from time to time. Xiao Hao and Yuanyuan laughed as they greeted Xiaoheng’s return. Even the usually aloof Lazy Cat rarely lifted his tail around Xiaoheng.

Guan Shao eyed the layers of energy enveloping Xiaoheng with concern. “Should we keep Xiao Hao and the others away from him? Since they’re all espers, what if their energies clash with Xiaoheng’s?”

Jiang Rong smiled. “Let them play. Sister Chunlan said her energy can last for days. Plus, with Little Hu’s defensive ability, one night won’t hurt.”

It had been a long time since their home had felt this relaxed. The three kids laughed and played in the living room while Jiang Rong and Guan Shao prepared dinner in the kitchen.

Jiang Rong opened a cabinet and noticed their rice supply was nearly gone after his time away. Watching Guan Shao chopping vegetables, Jiang Rong’s gaze gradually hardened. “Guan Shao, help me carry some rice downstairs.”

Guan Shao looked surprised. “Downstairs?”

Behind the freezer in the kitchen was a hidden door. Pushing it open and walking down a few steps revealed Jiang Rong’s basement. Despite living here so long, this was Guan Shao’s first time seeing it.

The basement was neatly arranged with large shelves, all stocked with supplies. On the floor in the middle were tidy pallets stacked with huge boxes filled with countless items. Everything was vacuum-sealed, and an uninformed visitor might think they had entered a large supermarket warehouse.

Each box was clearly labeled. Guan Shao casually glanced at one and was visibly shocked. “Preparing all this must have taken a long time.”

Jiang Rong smiled faintly. “Yeah, it took a lot of time and effort.” Looking at the warehouse-like room, a deep sense of accomplishment swelled within him.

Without awakening his abilities or meeting Guan Shao, these supplies would be the foundation for him and Xiaoheng to survive. The stock here was enough for the two of them to live on for a lifetime. It took him three months of exhausting work to gather it all. He could still recall the tension of those days clearly.

Seeing so many supplies, Guan Shao wasn’t thrilled but rather solemn. Who would prepare so much stuff if not to run a supermarket? And their home was deep in the mountains—who would come shopping there?

Thinking about Jiang Rong’s foresight and preparations since they had met, Guan Shao’s suspicion grew. “Xiaorong, are you…?”

Jiang Rong spoke quietly, “Before the Great Crisis, I once browsed a forum and found a strange post. It accurately foretold the existence of the Great Crisis, so I kept an eye on it.”

Guan Shao frowned deeper. “Yeah, I saw that post too.”

That post went viral on every website the night the Great Crisis broke out. Unfortunately, most people dismissed it as nonsense when it was first posted and missed the best chance to stock up. Was Jiang Rong one of the few who believed the poster? No—based on Guan Shao’s observation, Jiang Rong was calm and rational; a baseless, fanciful post wouldn’t catch his attention.

Chu Qiang had said Jiang Rong even sold his house in City C to build this one. Most people read such posts for fun, but Jiang Rong’s behavior was unusually serious. Jiang Rong refused to say more, and Guan Shao didn’t press.

After surveying the supplies, Guan Shao praised, “You really prepared everything. Daily necessities, staples, snacks, medicines, clothes… Most supermarkets can’t match this scale.”

On their first trip downstairs together, Jiang Rong guided Guan Shao around each shelf so that if he ever had to manage things alone, he’d know where everything was. If Jiang Rong never returned, these supplies would be enough for Guan Shao to raise the two kids.

Jiang Rong explained, “Light stuff is on the basement floor, heavier things are down here. You… you should get familiar with it so you can help carry things later.” He held back from saying too much, not wanting Guan Shao to suspect anything.

Guan Shao nodded. “Got it.”

As they reached the bottom of the spiral staircase, Guan Shao pointed at a dozen white plastic barrels. “What’s in these? Gasoline?” Unlike the other items, these barrels had no labels at all.

Jiang Rong bent down and tapped a barrel gently. “That’s the black rain I collected the night I met you. I was curious—how could rain be so black? So I gathered some. If you hadn’t mentioned it, I’d almost forgotten it existed.”

Besides the black rain, everything else in the basement was prepared before the Great Crisis. Jiang Rong hadn’t found a good place to store the black rain, so he put it next to the gasoline.

At first, Jiang Rong planned to study whether the black rain could suppress espers’ abilities, but building the base kept him busy, and he eventually forgot about it.

Guan Shao and Jiang Rong both seemed to think of the same idea. “Looks like we’ll have to set up our own research lab to study this black rain and see what secrets it holds.”

When they reached the second basement level, Jiang Rong’s solar panel array and freezer came into view. Guan Shao gave a thumbs-up in admiration. “You actually built a freezer at home?”

Jiang Rong lifted his head proudly. “Yeah, there’s a lot of meat frozen inside.”

He had personally picked out livestock and poultry at the wholesale market, carefully overseeing the butchering, vacuum packing, and freezing. Although the freezer looked small, it held dozens of tons of meat and frozen goods.

Besides food, the basement held many appliances. Guan Shao was surprised to find enough solar panels stored there to power them for a hundred years.

He sighed softly. “You really worked hard, Xiaorong.” He pictured Jiang Rong driving a forklift like a little ant, hauling supplies to the basement trip after trip. Such a massive project, all shouldered by Xiao Jiang alone—how much pressure he must have borne.

Jiang Rong stiffened at Guan Shao’s words, bowing his head to hide tears. “Yeah…”

He remembered the despair he felt last life when mutated rats gnawed on him as he held Xiaoheng. After being reborn, he swore he would never let that happen again. He built this house and stocked supplies to secure a lifetime for himself and his son.

In this life, he had awakened abilities, met Guan Shao, gained a warm home, and a truly good base. Maybe it was because he wanted too much that Heaven punished him by making Xiaoheng suffer.

Today might be the last day he and his son spend at home. Tomorrow they will embark on an uncertain journey. His heart ached with reluctance, and he had so many things he wanted to say to Guan Shao—but couldn’t. Sensing Jiang Rong’s change, Guan Shao stepped forward. “Xiaorong? What’s wrong?”

Jiang Rong pulled him close and kissed him, his voice trembling. “Guan Shao, hold me. Hold me tight.” Let him indulge in this one last moment, this final warmth. Guan Shao’s esper energy surged fiercely. Raising his hand, he unfolded a vacuum-sealed down comforter from the shelf. He bent down to kiss his partner. “I’ll make you happy.”

Their bond wasn’t just spiritual—it was physical too. Tiny sparks of electricity burned through the comforter’s outer cover, sending feathers drifting like snowflakes over and around them, scattering on the shelves and floor. Jiang Rong held Guan Shao tightly, feeling his presence. He sobbed, “I love you.”

The greatest luck in this life was meeting Guan Shao. If there were a next life, or the one after, he would find Guan Shao first and be with him forever. Guan Shao kissed Jiang Rong’s brow and eyelids. “I love you.” From the moment he first saw Jiang Rong, he’d thought him perfect. Being with Guan Shao must have been a blessing earned in a past life.

*

At two in the morning, the rain still drizzled steadily. Jiang Rong held the hand of Jiang Xiaoheng, who was clad in protective gear, as they stepped out the door.

In the yard sat their SUV, towing a rack where Little Guaiguai and the potted Little Fairy had already secured themselves.

Xiaoheng held a small yellow duck umbrella, wore a small backpack, and hugged his favorite stuffed toy. As the door slowly closed behind them, his voice trembled with tears. “Daddy, I’m scared.”

Once they left today, he might never come back. He might never see Uncle Guan, Big Brother, or Yuanyuan again. Jiang Rong squeezed his son’s hand as they approached the SUV. “Don’t be afraid. Daddy’s with you.”

He would never give up as long as there was a chance. If the Sovereign Base had set a trap or failed to save Xiaoheng, Jiang Rong would walk the road with his son—even if it was the road to the underworld.

After the car door shut, Jiang Rong glanced toward the bedroom where his beloved and their children still slept. Fortunately, the house was well built, so no matter how much noise he made, those inside could sleep soundly.

He then looked toward the west side of the yard wall. Little Fairy’s main body leaned against it, with two small spheres growing on either side. It waved the spheres, calling out, “Master Jiang~ Hengheng~”

Jiang Rong rolled down the window and gently shushed, “Little Fairy, you and Little Guaiguai behave, okay? Take good care of the base.”

This trip he only took the small versions of Little Guaiguai and Little Fairy. The two mutant plants’ strongest fighting power should remain at the Spark Base.

Little Fairy twisted its body in agreement. “No problem!” After a year, Little Fairy finally learned to say “no problem.” A truly heartening progress. Jiang Rong grinned. “Good. Be good.”

He couldn’t linger any longer. If he looked again, he might really not want to leave. The SUV followed the mountain road, the home behind growing faint in the rearview mirror. After rounding two bends, Little Fairy disappeared from view. Jiang Rong pressed the accelerator, the tail lights fading into the night.

Xiaoheng sat in his child’s seat, clutching his toy, tilting his head to look out at the dark window. He remembered the first time he traveled at night with Daddy—the road on both sides was pitch black, lit only by the headlights.

But now, every so often, bright street lamps appeared in villages along the way. Since  the Spark Base had started using electricity from the Peace Base, the street lights shone much brighter than the old solar ones.

The base sleeping beneath the street lamps was beautiful. Xiaoheng’s eyes widened as he carefully memorized every blade of grass and tree in the Spark Base, wanting to keep it all in his heart. After driving north for over half an hour, Jiang Rong spotted a familiar figure by the roadside.

He rolled down the window in surprise. “Old Zhang, what are you doing here?”

The old camphor tree glowed faintly with a pale blue light. “On behalf of all the mutant plants at  the Spark Base, this old tree will see you off, sir. Wishing you and the child a swift and safe return.”

The Spark Base was a place where mutant plants and animals coexisted peacefully with humans. Since arriving, the old camphor tree and the other mutants had lived happily every day.

It was all thanks to Jiang Rong. Because of him, they had avoided fighting with humans and had found a safe haven in the apocalypse, living good lives. Now that Jiang Rong was about to embark on a journey, the camphor tree insisted on coming to bid them farewell.

Jiang Rong smiled and nodded. “Thank you, Old Zhang. Please, head back soon.” Being far from its main body drained a lot of energy. Planted in the southwestern corner of the base, the camphor tree must have used quite a bit to reach the northern edge. It was a precious tree, one that would teach the children someday—it must stay safe. Old Zhang raised his voice and bowed deeply. “Farewell, sir.”

After driving for a while, Jiang Rong and his son saw the camphor tree still standing in the rearview mirror. The night rain couldn’t hide the glow emanating from it. The tree bowed again toward the car until they turned out of sight, then finally faded from the mirror.

The vehicle turned west at the intersection and left the Spark Base area. The streetlights lining the road went dark. Jiang Xiaoheng reached out and hugged his stuffed toy tightly. Jiang Rong’s heart ached. “Xiaoheng, are you feeling stuffy? Daddy can turn on the air conditioning for a bit, okay?”

The protective suit was stifling, and the boy must have been uncomfortable. Jiang Rong hated seeing him suffer, but this was the best way he could think of to protect his son effectively.

Xiaoheng shook his head. “Daddy, I’m not stuffy. I just miss the older brothers. Today we tricked them—do you think they’ll be mad when they wake up tomorrow?”

Jiang Rong’s lips curled into a bittersweet smile. “Probably, but by then we’ll be far away. They won’t catch up to us.” It had taken a lot of effort to sneak away without raising suspicion from their family.

Xiaoheng muttered a quiet response. Jiang Rong spoke gently, “Xiaoheng, try to get some sleep, okay? We’ll be driving for days. You need to rest well.”

The boy sat upright. “No, I want to stay with Daddy.”

But soon enough, Xiaoheng’s little head slowly drooped against the back seat. His toy slipped down to the floor. After the child fell asleep, only the sounds of the engine and tires rolling on the road filled the car. Jiang Rong turned on the radio, and soft music played quietly.

Half an hour later, a gas station appeared ahead. Jiang Rong decided to stop so Xiaoheng could lie down and rest properly. The child was weak, and they had a long journey ahead.

The SUV pulled slowly into the station. Before the car even stopped, a heavy thud sounded on the roof. Xiaoheng startled awake, “Ah!”

Jiang Rong looked up to see the SUV’s roof dented inward. Apparently, some careless mutant animal had jumped onto the car. Normally, he would have summoned Little Guaiguai right away…

Before he could react, a large black-and-yellow paw reached in through the window. At the same time, a thick, furry tail dangled down behind the rear window. Jiang Rong raised an eyebrow. That fist the size of a sandbag looked oddly familiar. Xiaoheng exclaimed, “Daddy, it’s Junjun!”

The big tiger on the roof growled, a sound mixed with a mechanical rumble—no doubt about it, that was Junjun.

Junjun? How did Junjun get here? Although big cats roam far at night, this place was nearly seventy or eighty kilometers from home. Could a tiger really cover that distance?

Under the headlights, a flash of yellow and white appeared: the corgi Lele’s wagging tail. It planted its paws on the SUV’s front bumper, only its black nose visible.

Behind Lele, two small figures followed—Xiao Hao and Yuanyuan—grinning mischievously.

“Daddy, surprise! We’re faster than you!” they teased.

Jiang Rong’s gaze followed the car’s lights forward. Suddenly, the dark gas station lit up brilliantly. Espers from the Spark Base appeared, glowing in the lights on their backs.

Chu Qiang crossed his arms and chuckled. “Hey, I’m your childhood buddy. When you start acting suspicious, I know you’re up to something.” Jiang Rong had been silent during yesterday’s heated plan discussions—he was definitely hiding a big move.

Pan Pan grinned widely. “So, Boss Jiang, do you like our surprise?”

Ruan Hanyu blinked. “Captain Jiang, that’s not right. How could you just leave without telling anyone?”

Wang Chunlan smiled warmly. “Captain Jiang can handle himself, but you have to think about the kid too.”

Everyone talked at once, and Jiang Rong’s eyes moistened. His gaze landed on Guan Shao’s face. Guan Shao strode over and tapped on the car window. Jiang Rong rolled it down, feeling sheepish. “When… did you all get here?”

Guan Shao sighed, reaching in to ruffle Jiang Rong’s hair. “Just arrived. No more sneaking off next time.”

They understood his concerns—he feared that if they all went, the Sovereign Base might ambush them and none would return. But to everyone else, Jiang Rong and Xiaoheng were irreplaceable. They’d rather risk it all than lose them. The group laughed as they called out, “Boss Jiang, Xiaoheng, come have some food! Eat well, then we’ll set out together!”

 

 

This Title is available for faster chapter releases through paid Patreon membership. Any proceeds go to keeping the website running. Check it out HERE.