Ch 121: My Multiverse Supermarket

The disappearance of the Good Life Supermarket from Newborn Island wasn’t discovered by Xu Jiayi until the second day after the island went into lockdown.

On the first day, no one dared make any sudden moves.

It wasn’t until the second day that some people, unable to hold back, snuck ashore.

While patrol boats from LoneWind Island were circling nearby, they noticed something seemed to be missing on Newborn Island. Someone familiar with the small supermarket immediately realized that one of the self-built houses had vanished.

After the patrol team reported it, Xu Jiayi immediately checked the photos and videos—and confirmed the disappearance.

However, no one believed the supermarket had truly vanished into thin air.

Since Newborn Island was an artificial island, many speculated that there was some mechanism beneath the supermarket—perhaps it usually sat above ground, but during lockdowns it sank back underground.

And after all, it was just one small shop that disappeared. The island itself was still there.

Those most concerned were ordinary citizens who had planned to buy supplies.

Fortunately, LoneWind Island had stocked up heavily, so its own material shortage crisis was temporarily averted.

Xu Jiayi even issued an order forbidding the residents of LoneWind Island from sneaking across to Newborn Island during the lockdown. Anyone caught would be treated as a spy—because if the island already had enough supplies, anyone still defying orders must have ulterior motives.

Su Wujun had sent people several times to test the situation, but Xu Jiayi blocked them each time.

Yet, as Qi Jiayu had predicted, the Li family eventually took notice of Newborn Island.

Whether Su Wujun had a hand in this was unclear to both Qi Jiayu and Xu Jiayi.

But the Li family formally issued a warning, demanding that the island’s owner travel to the main island of the Dusa Archipelago to be punished—for the sinking of three of their escort ships.

Naturally, Qi Jiayu ignored the threat.

The Li family waited three days, watching Newborn Island closely. Then they made their move—sending a legion to surround both LoneWind Island and Newborn Island.

The Lis had long been used to blockading LoneWind Island, so they didn’t take it seriously. As long as they didn’t attack first, they assumed the islanders would not strike back.

This time, along with Li Zairen—eager to restore the family’s reputation after his earlier humiliation—came General De’an’s eldest son, Li Guangren, and his legion.

Li Guangren, though born out of wedlock, was heavily favored by General De’an and held great power.

That favoritism was the root of the “Nine Sons Struggle for Inheritance” within the Li family.

Though Li Guangren had influence, he was not a legitimate heir, and his half-brothers born of the general’s lawful marriages—like Li Zairen—despised him for it.

General De’an had been married several times; few of his children shared the same mother.

That meant none of the mothers would step in to mediate the rivalry.

Raised from birth to compete, the siblings grew up seeing each other only as rivals and threats.

For this operation, Li Guangren commanded, and Li Zairen served as his deputy.

Li Guangren personally led the fleet.

His arrival greatly increased the pressure on Xu Jiayi.

However, since the Su family still held power, Li Guangren did not immediately attack. After all, with declining industrial output, ammunition and weapons were limited—once used, they were gone. If they wasted their firepower on the islands and the Su family seized the opportunity to strike, they would be at a disadvantage.

During the encirclement, Li Guangren even took time to meet with Su Wujun.

Xu Jiayi didn’t know what they discussed, but she guessed Li Guangren was inviting Su Wujun to join forces.

Her suspicion grew when something unusual happened with the Su family: Su Oil Group’s tankers loaded with heavy fuel had already set sail.

From what Xu Jiayi knew, even if Su Qingyi had agreed to trade with Newborn Island, she wouldn’t have rushed to ship the goods so quickly.

Such haste could only mean Su Qingyi and Su Wujun had fallen out—most likely over the Newborn Island affair. Su Qingyi probably wanted to complete the deal quickly to minimize losses.

Xu Jiayi contacted Qi Jiayu, urging her to prepare Newborn Island mentally for war.

Qi Jiayu checked the calendar and realized the “Boss” might still need several days to return. She was anxious, but there was nothing she could do.

To buy time, Fang Qin proposed inviting Su Bochun to visit Newborn Island.

“Why Su Bochun?” Lin Xiaole asked, puzzled.

Su Bochun held no official position and no real power—she was merely a pampered heiress.

Even if they kidnapped her, she’d make a poor hostage.

Fang Qin said, “Don’t underestimate her. Her mother is a member of the Anhai Island League’s governing council. That alliance might be nominal now, but Councilor Su still has influence across Anhai’s territories. If she’s willing to speak on our behalf, we can hold out until the Boss returns.”

“You’re not actually planning to kidnap Su Bochun, are you?” Lin Xiaole was alarmed.

“Who said anything about kidnapping? We’re going to win her over.”

“And with what? She already has everything.”

Fang Qin said, “She’s been to the supermarket—and she knows the value of ambergris. But when Su Qingyi joined the membership program, the points she exchanged weren’t just with heavy fuel, but with gold, silver, and jewels. I don’t believe Su Bochun was just a decorative pawn put forward by the Su family.”

Qi Jiayu said, “You mean she might’ve kept the real value of ambergris a secret and started collecting it in private?”

Fang Qin asked, “If you were her, would you go around telling everyone?”

“Of course not. The rarer the ambergris, the more people would try to compete for it.”

“Exactly. She’s a Su, but hiding something that valuable from her family means she must need the Boss for something—and ambergris is her bargaining chip.”

“But will she actually come?”

Qi Jiayu made the decision. “Let’s invite her and find out.”

Under the guise of a “visitation day,” they sent invitations to Xu Jiayi, Su Qingyi, and Su Bochun alike.

Of the three invitees, only Su Bochun was their real target.

Xu Jiayi was too busy preparing for the Li family’s possible attack to visit, and Su Qingyi had already returned to the Anxi Archipelago, making her attendance impossible.

Only Su Bochun—still leisurely vacationing nearby—accepted with delight.

When Su Qingyi heard about it, she panicked. Worried that Su Bochun might be taken hostage by Newborn Island, she called to dissuade her.

Su Bochun said calmly, “If Newborn Island resorts to kidnapping me, that only proves their incompetence. Anyone that foolish will destroy themselves even if the Li family spares them. I don’t believe they’re that stupid.”

“But why you?” Su Qingyi asked.

Su Bochun smiled radiantly. “Maybe because we’re the same age—we’ll have things to talk about.”

Su Qingyi: …

Who would believe that excuse?

Unable to stop her, Su Qingyi could only watch as Su Bochun boarded a yacht bound for Newborn Island.

She didn’t bring many people—just one bodyguard and four attendants.

Upon landing, she was greeted by Fang Qin and asked curiously, “Where’s Acting Island Master Qi?”

Fang Qin replied, “She’s occupied with work. I’ll be hosting you today.”

“Hosting me as… a tourist?” Su Bochun mused with a playful smile. “Then where will you be taking me sightseeing?”

Fang Qin said, “To an area that has never been open to the public before.”

Su Bochun’s curiosity sparked. “I heard your island has a shelter—is it there?”

Fang Qin smiled and nodded. “Yes, the shelter is an internal zone. Normally off-limits, it’s only open on visitation days to certain guests.”

Su Bochun laughed. “Then I must be very lucky.”

Her bodyguard: …

Lucky? It was obvious this “visitation day” had been tailor-made for her.

Still, both sides pretended not to see through each other.

Fang Qin led Su Bochun and her guard inside the shelter, leaving the other Su family attendants outside.

Once inside, Su Bochun immediately realized that Newborn Island’s defense didn’t rely on manpower, but on high technology.

She couldn’t identify all their advanced weapons, but the fact that she’d been allowed in meant she was close to the island’s core secrets.

“Why… is there no one around?” Su Bochun asked.

Fang Qin said, “They all turned into zombies.”

Su Bochun froze.

Fang Qin chuckled. “Don’t worry, they’ve all been wiped out. It’s perfectly safe now.”

Before Su Bochun could ask further, Fang Qin launched into an introduction of the shelter’s design and purpose.

When she finished, Su Bochun asked, “You really invited me here just to show me this? No other intentions?”

Fang Qin said frankly, “Let’s speak plainly. We’d like to invite Miss Su to join us.”

Su Bochun blinked in surprise—then laughed lightly, as if hearing a joke. “Did I hear that right? You want me to join you? Why would I do that?”

Her bodyguard, too, couldn’t fathom where Newborn Island got the confidence to make such an offer.

A pampered heiress from the Su family, with luxury and security—why would she join an embattled island?

Fang Qin said, “We’re not asking you to abandon the Su family, only to become an ally. Surely you know—apart from weapons, there’s nothing Newborn Island can’t obtain. An alliance could bring Miss Su many benefits.”

Su Bochun’s expression grew thoughtful.

After a pause, she asked, “By the way, where’s the owner of the Good Life Supermarket?”

Fang Qin replied, “I’m afraid I can’t answer that.”

“She’s the real leader of your island, isn’t she?”

Fang Qin remained silent.

That silence was answer enough. Su Bochun guessed that whoever supplied Newborn Island’s materials—the mysterious “supermarket owner”—was their true pillar of strength.

“But what I don’t understand,” she said, “is why you’d need me as an ally.”

Fang Qin replied, “Even before the apocalypse, great powers like the Ansu Nation still sought alliances. Newborn Island doesn’t fear enemies—but we don’t want to be dragged into endless, pointless wars either.”

Su Bochun nodded in agreement.

Before the world fell, her mother’s work had been mediating disputes among the island federations. If peace could resolve conflicts, war should always be the last resort—war only bred hatred and escalation.

Fang Qin’s proposal intrigued her. She too could use more allies.

But right now, Newborn Island was under the Li family’s watch, and the Su family had already declared neutrality—planning to “watch the tigers fight” and possibly play the fisherman afterward.

An alliance now would bring more risk than benefit.

Fang Qin added, “We don’t need military aid from you. We only ask that the Su family not get involved.”

Su Bochun smiled faintly. “That’s easy enough.”

Before the Su Oil Group secured its photovoltaic system, Su Qingyi would definitely stop Su Wujun from interfering. If Bochun quietly persuaded her mother to nudge things further behind the scenes, she could earn Newborn Island’s gratitude—a profitable deal.

Fang Qin’s own hope was simple: if the Su family stayed neutral, the Li family would hesitate to act rashly—buying them enough time for the Boss to return.

…

Things unfolded just as they’d predicted. The Su family stayed silent, watching from afar.

Councilor Su, Bochun’s mother, even joined several members of the governing council to pressure the Li family, forcing Li Guangren’s fleet to stay docked at the nearest military port, awaiting orders.

Qi Jiayu and her team began to relax, believing they could hold out until Zhou Li returned.

Then sudden news from the Dusa Archipelago shattered the calm—General De’an was critically ill.

The situation, once stable, turned upside down.

Li Guangren and Li Zairen both wanted to secure their inheritance rights before De’an’s death—and Newborn Island was the perfect target to gain fame and military merit.

They rushed to send fleets to attack.

Xu Jiayi received the alert and immediately sounded the alarm, ordering civilians into the bunkers.

On Newborn Island, Fang Qin cried out in despair, “Just a few more days—we were so close!”

“Man proposes, heaven disposes,” Qi Jiayu sighed. Who could’ve predicted the general would fall ill now?

Time was running out for his “dutiful sons,” and they were desperate to prove themselves—of course they’d strike Newborn Island in haste.

Qi Jiayu told Du Xiaogan, “You should go back to Lonewind Island while you can. Without the Boss, we can’t protect you.”

Du Xiaogan shook her head. “I chose to stand with Newborn Island—I’m not leaving now.”

Her luck hadn’t been great, but she had no regrets.

On the day the Li family launched their assault, there wasn’t a single outsider left on Newborn Island. Qi Jiayu and the others retreated into the underground shelter, praying it could withstand the bombardment.

The shelter had been built to military bunker standards. As long as the surface wasn’t breached and the island’s vital systems remained intact, they still had a chance.

The thick walls muffled outside sounds—but not the shockwaves.

Each thunderous blast drained more color from their faces.

The explosions rocked the artificial island; even below ground, the shaking was unmistakable.

Gradually, Du Xiaogan sensed something was wrong.

The noise outside wasn’t dying down. She made a decision and stood up.

“Xiaogan, where are you going?” Grandma Du called after her.

“I’m going to check on Acting Master Qi,” she said.

“Don’t wander off.”

Du Xiaogan forced a smile. “This place isn’t big. No matter what happens, we’ll still be together.”

Grandma Du reluctantly let go of her hand.