Ice Age Apocalypse: I Hoard Billions of Supplies
Chapter 189: Insatiable Greed

Chapter 189: Insatiable Greed

Xu Chunlei looked at Xu Dongsheng’s resolute expression and regretted his actions deeply. He hadn't expected his well-intentioned warning to lead to this outcome.

"Grandpa, that man has guns! And he has abilities, too. Rushing to confront him will get a lot of people killed," Xu Chunlei pleaded. "We have enough stored food to survive. Is this really worth it?"

Xu Dongsheng took a deep breath and scolded coldly, "What do you know? In this freezing cold, no crops can grow. We are just living off our past reserves. But what happens when the food runs out? How can our Xu family continue without food? We have to think about future generations. We must look out for our own in dire times like these."

Xu Chunlei tried to argue further, but Xu Dongsheng's glare silenced him. "Enough! Just follow my orders. As the best of the Xu family genes, I’ll arrange several women to bear your children. You can pick the best supplies for yourself."

Xu Chunlei's scalp tingled with fear. This was not the outcome he wanted. The thought of Zhang Yi's formidable abilities terrified him. Xu Chunlei feared death immensely. He was cowardly, but what was wrong with that? If he died, he could no longer reward himself with his hard drive full of anime idols like Airi Akizuki, Wakana Makoto, Yu Haruhi, Haruka Nogizaka, Rin Shirogane, Natsuki Aoi, Ha Katsuya, and Rika Momiya.

No, he couldn't allow such a world to exist. Xu Chunlei clenched his fists, his body trembling. Xu Dongsheng noticed his strange behavior and asked, "Are you holding in your urine? Go find a place to relieve yourself before you hurt your bladder."

"It's not that!" Xu Chunlei shouted suddenly. "I... I won't fight him! I can't beat him!" His last words came out almost as a sob, filled with fear.

Xu Dongsheng paused, then angrily said, "Xu Chunlei! Are you still part of the Xu family? How can you become a deserter now?"

Xu Chunlei bit his lip, trying to suppress his fear of the family elders. "I can't beat him. He countered my abilities, so it doesn't matter if I go. Grandpa, I don’t want to die."

Xu Dongsheng stared coldly at him for a long moment before scoffing, "Useless! We have many capable people in the Xu family. We don't need you. Get out of here!"

Feeling like a huge burden had been lifted, Xu Chunlei turned and ran, fearing that if he stayed, Xu Dongsheng might change his mind. Xu Dongsheng watched his retreating figure, exhaling a long breath of white steam. "The boy has potential but lacks courage. Well, it's better if he doesn't go. His genes might still pass on his abilities to the next generation."

Standing tall, Xu Dongsheng said, "The Xu family is large and prosperous! We don't need him to succeed." He immediately gathered the heads of the Xu family branches and shared the good news.

Upon hearing that there was such a large stash of supplies nearby, everyone’s faces lit up with excitement.

"So, that kid’s name is Zhang Yi!" a middle-aged man with a fierce expression said. "He killed my son, and I've wanted revenge for a long time! This time, we'll settle both old and new scores!"

Another tall, middle-aged man added, "If he really has so many supplies, they would be enough for our Xu family for decades!"

"Thank the heavens for blessing us with such a gift in these times!" someone said, hands clasped in gratitude.

Everyone was eager to return, gather the clan, and go "borrow" supplies from Zhang Yi. "Let Chunlei go first. His ice attack can easily break through ordinary doors and windows," someone suggested.

"Right, with Chunlei’s power, we’ll have a significant advantage!" Xu Dongsheng, however, frowned and said, "This time, Chunlei won't go."

The branch leaders were shocked and started murmuring in disbelief. "What? Chunlei’s not going? That’s not good, is it?"

"Exactly, he alone is worth a hundred men. Without him, Zhang Yi’s guns could kill many of us!"

"Grandpa, you’re the patriarch. You can't let him shirk his duty!"

Xu Dongsheng impatiently tapped his cane. "Enough! Chunlei was injured last time while fighting Zhang Yi. Don’t be fooled by his appearance; he’s seriously hurt. He needs time to recover. So, he won’t be joining us this time."

Though Xu Dongsheng despised Xu Chunlei’s cowardice, he was still a member of his bloodline and deserved some protection. The others, though grumbling, had to respect the patriarch's decision. Considering their large numbers, they believed defeating one man wouldn’t be a problem.

Xu Dongsheng’s expression turned stern. "Good. Now, everyone will return and gather your people! Just like in the past fights with neighboring villages, all males over 16 must take up arms. Bring any hidden hunting rifles and homemade explosives. The opponent is an ability user; we must not be careless! We must win with minimal casualties!"

Having experienced many battles since the apocalypse began over a month ago, Xu Dong Village had developed some discipline. After Xu Dongsheng’s instructions, the branch leaders returned to gather their men.

Hundreds of armed men assembled at the village square, their spirits high, ready for action.

That night, at Xu Dongsheng’s command, the villagers, divided into six teams led by branch heads, set out across the river towards Cloud Manor. They muzzled their dogs to avoid alerting Zhang Yi and used dog sleds to transport the villagers. After crossing the river, they left the dogs and sleds on the bank, as these precious dogs were too valuable to risk.

Meanwhile, at Villa 101 in the center of Cloud Manor, Zhang Yi, Zhou Ke'er, and Yang Siya were enjoying a lavish dinner. The table was set with a candelabra, a bottle of '83 Lafite, and a Michelin-ordered French meal. Despite the potential external dangers, life inside the villa was idyllic, free from survival pressures.

Even Yang Siya, who initially dreamed of leaving, was gradually seduced by this paradise. Suddenly, a distant, faint scream broke the serene atmosphere.

Author's Note