Chapter 2

Chapter 2: Snow Mountain Town 2 — Still Paying the Mortgage in the Apocalypse

Still Paying the Mortgage in the Apocalypse.

100 Points.

It didn’t sound like much, but as far as Jiang Qibai knew, the only way to earn Points was by killing monsters. A single Shadow Ghost was worth 2 Points, meaning she’d need to slay at least 50 of them.

Isn’t this Novice Quest too hard for a newcomer who just entered the dungeon?

Jiang Qibai pondered. A single Shadow Ghost wasn’t that difficult to deal with. Aside from their extreme speed and sharp claws, their strength and defense weren’t their strong suits. If she used the environment to her advantage, even a novice like her could successfully kill one.

If a Player had an attack-oriented Talent, killing monsters would be even easier. Besides, this Novice Quest had no time limit, which made it quite lenient in that regard.

Jiang Qibai remembered she had already killed two Shadow Ghosts, which should have given her 4 Points. Why was the quest progress still showing as 0?

Just then, her Attribute Panel automatically unfolded before her eyes. Original translation by Lhaozi, read at lhaozitranslation.com

She saw not only her Point balance but also her attributes. Aside from the 3 Defense points she’d gained from unlocking an achievement earlier—which made that stat barely passable—her other attributes were pitifully low.

But this also served as a reminder to Jiang Qibai not to underestimate her Talent. The three achievements she had earned upon entering the game alone provided a diverse range of bonuses—a skill, damage reduction, and attribute points—covering a wide spectrum of needs.

Seizing opportunities to unlock more achievements was currently her only path to a rapid power boost.

She had initially planned to turn in her meager four Points to complete the quest, but then she noticed a line of small text next to her balance: Can be used to purchase supplies in the Mall. Purchased items will be delivered to the Safehouse Mailbox.

Jiang Qibai’s gaze swept to the green mailbox beside the door before she tapped into the System Mall.

The virtual shelves were packed with a dazzling array of goods, ranging from everyday essentials to the most bizarre items imaginable.

[ Safehouse Optical Stealth Barrier: 5000 Points ]…

At this moment, in Jiang Qibai’s eyes, the prices of these items were automatically converted into one-third of a Safehouse, half a Safehouse, four Safehouses, ten Safehouses… They were simply too expensive.

She was especially covetous of the Spatial Bracelet Expansion Module, which could increase the bracelet’s storage space by one cubic meter, yet it cost a staggering 1,000 Points. The Optical Barrier, which could grant the Safehouse a stealth function, cost an even more exorbitant 5,000 Points.

Besides these, the Mall also sold water and electricity. These were the only two prices Jiang Qibai could accept: one Point could be exchanged for one ton of water or ten kilowatt-hours of electricity. However, there was a note following the price: This is the current instance’s price.

The information revealed by this sentence was obvious: the prices of water and electricity would fluctuate in different instances. Electricity was one thing, but water, as a basic life-sustaining resource, would have a massive impact on players. Jiang Qibai silently noted this information, reminding herself to prepare in advance when changing instances in the future.

While browsing the page, Jiang Qibai accidentally added several items to her cart that she had only intended to click on for more details.

The shopping cart in the bottom right corner now displayed: Current total: 2120 Points. Player’s current shopping level: Lv1. Discount applied: 10.0% off.

“Thanks for the 10% discount,” Jiang Qibai muttered, her expression deadpan. She cleared her shopping cart and instead spent two Points to redeem a ton of water and ten kilowatt-hours of electricity. Original translation by Lhaozi, read at lhaozitranslation.com

The incandescent bulb overhead flickered to life, illuminating the dim Safehouse.

When Jiang Qibai had first entered, the sun was already dipping below the horizon. The alleyway where the Safehouse was located was perpetually shrouded in the shadows of the towering buildings on either side. In just a few moments, the space had been plunged into a hazy darkness.

Only after the light came on did Jiang Qibai take the time to thoroughly examine every corner of her new abode.

Truthfully, there wasn’t much to see. The Safehouse was a square room, roughly 4 meters by 5 meters—a standard “matchbox” in any survival-building game. Aside from a single wooden bed, the place was completely bare. A tiny bathroom had been partitioned off, serving as the most luxurious area in the entire Safehouse, equipped with three major fixtures: a showerhead, a toilet, and a sink. The walls were thin; even though the weather wasn’t particularly cold, a draft still seeped in whenever she approached the corners or the window.

A System notification chimed.

[ You have unlocked the achievement: [This Little Box Is Your Forever Home]. Reward: Skill [Home Sweet Home]. ]

[ [Home Sweet Home]: Passive Skill. When the Player fights within the Safehouse, Attack Power +50%, Damage Taken -50%. (This skill’s effect also applies to the Safehouse’s Anti-Intrusion System.) ]

Another skill! Original translation by Lhaozi, read at lhaozitranslation.com

Though it did little to improve Jiang Qibai’s personal strength—since it would deactivate the moment she stepped out of the Safehouse—it significantly boosted the Safehouse’s defenses. According to the skill description, if she ever equipped an Anti-Intrusion System in the future, it would also benefit from this buff, helping to protect her home from intruders while she was away.

For the sake of the skill, Jiang Qibai decided not to hold a grudge against the System for giving her such an ominous achievement name.

After turning on the light, Jiang Qibai noticed the sounds around the Safehouse growing denser. She glanced at the curtainless window, where the warm glow of the lightbulb spilled onto the alley floor. She knew instantly that the light had drawn the nearby Shadow Ghosts.

While the daytime sun kept the monsters at bay, a faint glimmer like this at night served only as a provocation.

Click.

Jiang Qibai switched off the incandescent lamp.

The Safehouse was still within its Novice Protection Period, meaning monsters wouldn’t actively attack it. However, she planned to head out tomorrow and didn’t want a swarm of Shadow Ghosts gathering at her doorstep.

It was a terrible night’s sleep. Original translation by Lhaozi, read at lhaozitranslation.com

The Snow Mountain Town had been eerily quiet during the day, but the night was a different story. In the early hours, Jiang Qibai had heard fighting and explosions, sounding as if they were just two streets away.

Yet, soon after the noise subsided, the Shadow Ghosts began to stir. These monsters moved with barely a sound, but Jiang Qibai, a newcomer, was on edge. Every faint rustle, every tiny scuff, registered in her mind.

It felt like being trapped in a room with a swarm of cockroaches, separated from them only by a thin mosquito net. You knew they couldn’t reach you, but you still found yourself listening to their scuttling, imagining where they were crawling.

Around dawn, all sound abruptly ceased. Then, Jiang Qibai heard a series of crisp, rapid taps—like countless high-heeled feet stepping closer and closer to the Safehouse.

In the darkness, she held her breath, staring silently at the ceiling.

After a moment, the sound faded into the distance.

Just as Jiang Qibai was trying to drift back to sleep, a heavy, labored breath sounded right beside her ear.

A chill crept up from the soles of her feet, and the drafty Safehouse instantly felt like an ice cellar. Original translation by Lhaozi, read at lhaozitranslation.com

Her heart hammered like a war drum. Only after forcing herself to calm down did she realize the sound was coming from outside, separated from her by the Safehouse’s thin walls.

Those same walls, so flimsy they let the wind through, were now her only refuge.

She counted the breaths in silence. Finally, after a long moment, the ground trembled slightly. The click of high heels echoed again. Jiang Qibai felt “it” move away. This time, it was truly gone.

Hours later, daylight broke. Jiang Qibai, who had been startled awake countless times throughout the night, dragged herself out of bed. The wooden planks offered no mattress, which had one advantage: they left no room for the temptation to linger in bed.

After eating a piece of bread, drinking some bottled water, and a quick wash, Jiang Qibai grabbed her only equipment—a dagger and a wrench—and prepared to head out.

Staying in the Safehouse felt secure, but she would starve sooner or later. Her primary goal today was to collect warm items like a mattress, blankets, and clothes.

The thin sweater and trench coat she wore when she first arrived were far too light for the current weather in Snow Mountain Town. Without bedding to sleep in, she woke up with a stuffed nose. She was terrified of getting sick, which would only make her dire situation even worse.

Next on her list were food and water, followed by daily necessities. Grinding monsters for Points was a secondary concern; missing a mortgage payment wouldn’t result in immediate penalties, but starving for a few days would be fatal. Original translation by Lhaozi, read at lhaozitranslation.com

Jiang Qibai pushed open the Safehouse door. Nearby, a Shadow Ghost raised its head, staring fixedly at her.

She steadied her nerves and took a single step out. The Shadow Ghost immediately charged, but Jiang Qibai was faster. She retracted her leg and retreated back into the Safehouse.

The Shadow Ghost reached the doorway, but though the door remained open, it seemed to have lost its target. It wandered aimlessly, eventually halting in place.

Jiang Qibai seized the opportunity, snatched up her wrench, and hurled it.

The Shadow Ghost survived the blow, but the attack revealed her position. Even though she was still inside the Safehouse, it snarled and clawed its way forward.

The Novice Protection Period meant monsters wouldn’t actively attack a Safehouse. However, if a Player inside actively provoked a monster, that was a different story.

Jiang Qibai didn’t panic. Using the doorway for cover, she swung the wrench several more times until the Shadow Ghost collapsed.

Jiang Qibai rubbed her numb arm. Since she had been standing inside the Safehouse, her newly acquired [Home Sweet Home] skill had come into play. With its bonus, she had swung her wrench several fewer times than when she killed the first Shadow Ghost. Original translation by Lhaozi, read at lhaozitranslation.com

The door was now scarred with several claw marks, and the Safehouse’s health had dropped to (49/50).

How do I restore the Safehouse’s health? She recalled seeing relevant items in the Mall. However, restoring the health wasn’t an urgent priority, and Jiang Qibai was in a hurry to leave, so she set the matter aside for now.

Jiang Qibai left the alley and walked down the center of the road, facing the rising sun. Yesterday, in her rush to find a Safehouse, she hadn’t taken the time to observe the details of Snow Mountain Town.

The town’s buildings looked old. Although most were multi-story houses, almost none exceeded five floors. The number of shops seemed disproportionately high compared to the town’s overall size—every few steps, there was a cafe, a restaurant, or a convenience store.

Jiang Qibai also spotted several craft shops and outdoor gear stores. The hostels and hotels were situated in the most prominent positions along the main street.

Her gaze drifted further. The town was encircled by a range of snow-capped mountains, their pure white peaks piercing the azure sky and shimmering with a dazzling silver glow in the sunlight.

No matter which direction she looked, the towering snow-capped mountains formed a majestic backdrop. On a clear day like this, the scenery was absolutely picture-perfect.

A tourist town. Original translation by Lhaozi, read at lhaozitranslation.com

Jiang Qibai finally understood the nature of Snow Mountain Town. This was clearly a good thing—it meant the town would be better stocked with supplies than any ordinary settlement.

With this confirmed, she began searching the shops along the street one by one. Every store had already been ransacked multiple times, leaving the ground littered with shattered glass and overturned shelves.

The cafe was completely devoid of coffee beans. Jiang Qibai managed to salvage two coffee cups and a few plates. She then ventured into the chaotic mess of the kitchen, where she found a jar of expired hazelnut spread tucked away in a corner of a cupboard. High-sugar foods like this wouldn’t spoil even after their expiration date, so she decisively stowed it in her Spatial Bracelet.

The cupboard also held a few cartons of sweetened milk, which were long past their expiration date. The cartons were slightly bloated. Jiang Qibai skirted around them as if she’d spotted a biological weapon.

The cafe’s small tables and rattan chairs would be perfect for a compact safehouse. However, now wasn’t the time to be moving furniture. Once she’d finished scouting the area, she’d make a few more trips back to haul away the useful pieces.

Surprisingly, Jiang Qibai found very little of use in the restaurant and café she’d been pinning her hopes on. The entire shop had been swept clean time and time again by other Players, who had descended upon it like a swarm of locusts.

On the contrary, in a barbershop, Jiang Qibai found a stack of clean towels, several unopened toiletry kits, three large bottles of shampoo, a bottle of conditioner, and a hairdryer she wasn’t sure would even work. She even swiped a small four-tiered rolling cart from inside, which was just the right size to fit into her Spatial Bracelet and could be used to organize the miscellaneous items she’d just scavenged.

In the small nail salon within the barbershop, Jiang Qibai found some snacks: a bag of beef jerky, a pack of cookies, two cups of instant noodles, and four bottles of mineral water. Original translation by Lhaozi, read at lhaozitranslation.com

On the counter sat a tube of hand cream that was barely used, and in the drawer were two packs of sanitary pads and three packs of wet wipes. Jiang Qibai stowed them all into her Spatial Bracelet.

Walking out of the barbershop, Jiang Qibai stood at the entrance, gazing at the desolate street and the empty shops. A question that had been circling in her mind for a long time resurfaced:

Where did all the original residents of Snow Mountain Town go? Never mind living people—after walking through so many shops, she hadn’t found a single corpse. It was as if all the townspeople had vanished into thin air.