Chapter 58 - Friends

It was almost evening. After so much time had passed, Xin Feng had already healed more than a dozen cuts and stab wounds. The improvements were slower than before, but it was better than nothing. Because Xin Feng was in the midst of his training session, he couldn't come out of the basement when his close friend arrived late in the afternoon. It took a few hours for Xin Feng to feel that the gains were enough to stop for the day, hence, he only greeted his friend after the sun had set.

The guy's name was Von, who had the nickname PIreng in the groupchat. A chubby guy that didn't live too far from Xin Feng. The two came to know each other through a gaming convention, and became gaming buddies within a day.

It seemed that Von was ready to stay over at Xin Feng, since he brought lots of clothes and even a toothbrush. When Xin Feng asked, he told him that he wouldn't reject the offer of a free apartment that's not too far from his workplace. Of course, Xin Feng didn't mind it, and changed the subject of the conversation into one of more importance.

"You'll need to lose weight."

Xin Feng suddenly mentioned, which made Von's face darken.

"What? You need to get used to eating less as well with the apocalypse coming. Here, this is what you should do every day. Also, quit your job or ask for a long vacation in case you don't believe what I said before."

With a look of sympathy, Xin Feng patted Von's shoulder, before he left while telling him that he's free to explore the house to find the bathroom. Although Xin Feng wanted to spend some time with his friends, he knew he couldn't. He had his priorities, and if he didn't do them properly, he would regret it in the future when a friend or family dies in front of him. Xin Feng only came out to pay his regards to his friend since they were close, but other than that, he had no need to waste his time. For all he knows, the terrifying demons could be at his doorstep the next day, waiting to crush his frail body.

After two days, another friend made it through the gate thanks to Jessica opening it. All that while, Xin Feng hadn't come out of the basement, since there was a bathroom there if he needed to go. That and sleeping were the only way Xin Feng took a break. His plan was to improve his body as much as possible until five days had passed to check on his sister's progress. Finally, after five days had passed, Xin Feng decided that it was time show his handsome face again. It took him that long for his skin to be strong enough to not be cut easily by a sharp knife. Truly too slow in comparison to the gains he received from a system.

'At least there aren't any Nascent stage cultivators here that would make me feel insignificant.' Xin Feng thought, satisfied with the fact that he no longer has competitors who have the advantage of time.

The first thing Xin Feng did after coming out of the basement, was to search for his sister. Just as he guessed it, Jessica was in the backyard practicing her dagger while motivating the others at the same time. It wasn't a problem for the others to exercise as well, since a luxurious lodging was provided to them. They didn't need to worry about the internet, food, drinks, and any other things that made life difficult without. Unless they were too lazy or Xin Feng was known for many outrageous pranks, there was no reason for them to deny Xin Feng's simple request that's meant for their wellbeing.

A loud slap was given to Von's back, before Xin Feng asked how many pounds he had lost. It seemed that the diet and exercise routine Xin Feng gave him was helpful, since Von was able to drop from his previous weight of two hundred and fifty pounds to two hundred and thirty. With a bright smile, Xin Feng congratulated him, before going over to Brandon to grab him between his arm.

"Old G! How's your investment going? Did you get anything from investing on Lolicoins yet?" Xin Feng mocked, as he scratched the head of Brandon who was eight inches shorter than him. "My bad I couldn't see you earlier… Personal training!"

"Personal training my ass!"

"Ha! Alright that's enough joking around. Jessi, come!"

"What?" Jessica got confused by the fact that she was supposed to attack her brother. The what turned into one of surprised and reluctance though, as she had realized what Xin Feng was getting into again. She wanted to refuse, but her brother was already in the process of removing his shirt and his pants. Knowing his character, she had no choice but to do as he asked.

"Kyah!!" Sylvie suddenly yelled. It wasn't because she was surprised by Xin Feng's shameless outburst, but because she saw a betrayal often seen in revenge novels. Xin Feng chest was blooded, and at the moment, he was blocking the dagger of his sister with his bare arms.

'She… She was planning to stab his skull!' Sylvie was filled with anxiety and fear from the fact that she was experiencing an attempt to murder right in front of her.

"Not bad…." Xin Feng told Jessica, which brought Sylvie out of her dreadful thoughts at an instant. Even though she was a romance writer, she expected Xin Feng to have a look of doubt and shock.

'Instead, he decided to say not bad?! Does he think he's a demon lord fighting a hero or something?!'

Sylvie stood still, trying to ask what was going on, but she didn't know how. She stood in place with an open mouth and a look of defeat. After she had swallowed a chunk of cucumber, she had to swallow a chunk of eggplant. A deep sniff from a strange bottle was all it took for Xin Feng to revert back to state he was in before. It made her mind spin crazy, making her wonder if she overdid her coffee to end up in a crazy dream that had the weird elements told by other fellow authors. Of course, Xin Feng spotted her and the others their reaction, and was able to assume what was going on inside their mind.

"Do you finally believe me?" Xin Feng mentioned to the three of them.

"Yo! So, it's all real?! Demons?! We fighting them, and you've set equipment ready?!"

Brandon was the only one who seemed to be excited about the fact that demons would invade earth. In the living room, Xin Feng had told everyone the premise of what he told his sister, expecting them to tell the others when they arrive, since he would be going seclusion. Von and Sylvie were the ones who didn't seem to be optimistic about the invasion, since they didn't want to change due to the change of environment.

Von for example had a great job as a nurse and had many colleagues as friends. He didn't want to stop helping people as a nurse, and especially not lose his friends. On the other hand, Sylvie was someone who enjoyed a peaceful life, which she would have to leave behind if the invasion was bound to happen. Xin Feng wasn't sure why Brandon was so excited, but he assumed the reason to be because Brandon wanted to experience a live filled with excitement that had to do with live and death under great circumstances.

*Sigh* "I know it will be hard for some of you to process such information, but you should get over it soon and focus on how to survive instead. Call your friends and family. They're welcome here. But! they should be someone you truly trust and someone who is ready to adapt. Of course, I'll give them a week to stay when the invasion starts. The ones who don't want to help us out, will have to help themselves."

"Do you understand?" Xin Feng uttered his last words with a dominating aura that he had build up from living in the cultivation world. Since his task of warning them was finished, he waved his hands, before telling them that he would train in solitude until urgent news arrives.

At the same time Xin Feng was walking away, the three of them were staring at each other. Jessica wasn't included, since she was already asleep the moment that they had arrived in the living room. She was tired from swinging a dagger, and that was her only way to release stress. One minute, ten minutes. Perhaps it was when half an hour had passed when the three people stopped staring at each other without a clue what to do.

"I'm going to call my family."

"I'm going to cry in a corner."

"…"

In the end, Brandon was left alone.