Chapter 33: Do Not Be an Unsung Hero

Zi Hui was a celebrity, an idol, someone who carried her own aura and stood apart from the rest. Especially after becoming a hero, her strength far surpassed that of others, naturally drawing special attention to herself.

Yet no one knew that Zi Hui owed her rise to this point largely to Qin Hao—not because they joined forces during the first alien invasion, but because of Qin Hao's very first video. That video was the true beginning of Zi Hui’s ascent to the pinnacle.

What’s more, after working together, Zi Hui realized that Qin Hao knew far more than she did—so much more that it was staggering. Naturally, Zi Hui wanted to know Qin Hao’s opinion.

“We can set one up,” Qin Hao replied offhandedly.

“Will you stay?” Zi Hui pressed.

Qin Hao did not tell them that with each future alien invasion, heroes would become the source of disaster. Even now, heroes were like magnets, drawing aliens to them in droves. But wasn’t that for the best? This way, he would have even more aliens to hunt.

Thinking of this, Qin Hao nodded. “I’ll stay for now.”

He would remain temporarily, lure more aliens, strengthen himself, and thus gain an advantage in the countless catastrophes and opportunities to come.

Hearing his answer, Zi Hui finally let a trace of a smile show. She always felt Qin Hao was utterly different from everyone else. In the face of alien creatures and this terrifying apocalypse, he was far too calm, almost as if he knew all of this was destined to happen.

Moreover, Qin Hao was purposeful. He would not be sidetracked by anything; just like last time, when he disappeared suddenly and left Zi Hui alone to answer the military and police’s questions.

Now that Qin Hao was staying, Zi Hui felt much more at ease.

“Are we to build the base here?” Zi Hui asked.

“No,” Qin Hao shook his head.

Zi Hui agreed; the environment here was unbearable. That reeking toilet alone was enough to make her nauseous, more so than the sight of the corpses.

Li Xinlong spoke up, “There are over a thousand air-raid shelters beneath the city. I know some have been converted into hotels—maybe we can use them.”

At any time, air-raid shelters were the most secretive and safest places.

But Qin Hao countered, “What about ventilation?”

Li Xinlong’s brow furrowed, his face stiffening.

He’d taken too much for granted. After two days, he realized that not only was there no power, but most metal machinery was warped. Even lighters wouldn’t work; they had to use matches for fire, let alone operate professional ventilation equipment.

Clearly, that wouldn’t do.

Zi Hui noticed that Qin Hao seemed completely confident.

“Where do you think we should set up?” she asked.

“Office buildings,” Qin Hao replied without hesitation.

Zi Hui and Li Xinlong thought it over, but were puzzled.

“But aliens keep changing. What if flying beasts appear later?” Li Xinlong voiced his concern.

“That’s for the future. For now, do you think you can keep living like this?” Qin Hao asked.

As they were, they were no different from rats in a hole. How long could they last? Ordinary human bodies are fragile—unless everyone possessed star energy within, living here would eventually make them ill. And in these circumstances, without doctors or medicine, falling ill meant death.

“Furthermore, being a hero isn’t about being an unsung one. If no one knows what you’ve done, does that count as being a hero?” Qin Hao added meaningfully.

Zi Hui and Li Xinlong, both newly minted heroes, suddenly understood.

Indeed, killing a Fangtooth Demon or a Serpent Demon earned fewer hero points than when there were thirty-four onlookers. They needed to change their mindset. By protecting these people, they could earn hero points from them. If those people couldn’t contribute hero points, who would bother to find them food or protect their safety?

“Alright.”

“I agree.”

“Which building should we choose?”

“I’ll ask my fans—they’re all locals.” Zi Hui went to consult her fans. Meanwhile, An Ziheng brought his parents over. Hearing about Qin Hao’s plan, he naturally wanted them included.

An Ziheng didn’t care about his own living conditions, but he had his parents to consider.

“Qin Hao, can I buy hero points from you? Ten Star Energy Crystals for two Star Mark Tempering Techniques—what do you think?”

Hero points were precious; it took killing a hundred Fangtooth Demons to earn one—unless, of course, you were powerful and had many admirers, then earning hero points was easier.

But An Ziheng hadn’t earned enough to give his parents the Star Energy Tempering Technique.

“Alright,” Qin Hao agreed, and performed the technique for An Ziheng’s parents.

“That technique you just used—is that the Star Energy Tempering Technique? Does it require those diamonds too?” a fan of Zi Hui’s asked.

An Ziheng turned to the girl, only then realizing that there were more than a hundred people fighting alongside Zi Hui, each radiating star energy.

He remembered the brilliant starlight Zi Hui had displayed during her livestream. Back then, without the hero system, he hadn’t known what it was. Now he realized there had been a thousand Star Energy Tempering Techniques at work.

He hadn’t known about the marketplace discount at the time, and thought Zi Hui had used up ten million hero points. Instantly, he felt a profound respect for this woman.

In his eyes, what Zi Hui had done was nothing short of saintly—radiant with the light of humanity. Such a person was a true hero.

“You should thank Zi Hui. This is an incredibly rare opportunity,” he replied vaguely, unsure whether Zi Hui had told them about the hero system.

But the girl only smiled radiantly, then joined the other girls in an excited chatter, clearly proud to be one of Zi Hui’s fans.

An Ziheng touched his nose and said to Qin Hao, “Do you think being a celebrity gives someone a natural advantage in becoming a hero? It seems like Zi Hui gets hero points much more easily than we do.”

After all, even the smallest act would be magnified countless times by fans, who would bestow her with endless halos.

Qin Hao glanced at Zi Hui. Even if one didn’t know she was a star, her looks and aura were enough to capture anyone’s attention and inspire awe at her beauty.

People like her were simply different.

But how long would such adoration last? Qin Hao didn’t know.

He was curious to see what miracles this woman—whose fate he had changed with his own hands—would create.

While the two were discussing this, a quarrel broke out on the other side.

“We’re leaving? But aren’t there still monsters outside? I just heard one a moment ago.”

“Yes, it’s too dangerous out there. Why are we leaving?”

“What do you mean by this? The monsters have already found you. After all this commotion, you’re leaving now? Are you trying to get us killed?”

It was the survivors from before.