Ch86 - Eternal Day

One hour later.

Jiang Fang stood in Nan Zhou’s kitchen, holding Nan Zhou’s kitchen knife and cutting the ingredients he had collected from Homeland Island and stored in his backpack. 

During the month when they were trapped in the game, they had lived on the food in their backpacks. Jiang Fang had a small collection addiction. Leaving a blank in his achievements was enough to make him feel twisted. Therefore, his collection of food, plants, tools, weapons, fishing objects and other collectibles were all complete.

Now he was holding a dark yellow, ripe mango in one hand and a bowl of white peaches that had been diced and soaked in cold water to keep fresh.

Nan Zhou crouched down beside the table. He curiously rolled the mangoes while asking seriously, “Is it delicious if you cook fruits?”

“Yes.” Jiang Fang wore an apron from Nan Zhou’s home and gently replied, “This is only when the oven at home can be used.” 

The two of them looked like friends who had known each other for a long time. Jiang Fang could quickly give anyone this illusion.

Jiang Fang smiled at Nan Zhou. “Can you pick two more apples? Apple pie is also delicious.”

Nan Zhou nodded. He grabbed Nanji Star who was holding the ends of his hair and shaking it and changed his slippers at the entrance. Then he slipped out the door. The moment Nan Zhou’s figure disappeared, the tense muscles of everyone in the house relaxed.

Some people hiding weapons had their hands soaked in sweat. They quickly took them out to wipe them down. Only Jiang Fang carefully peeled the mango skin and placed the ingredients for the fruit pie onto the plate one by one.

Song Haining was confused. “Boss, what are you…what are you doing?”

“What else is he doing? It is naturally killing the boss.”

Another male player with earrings lowered his voice and whispered, “I’ve seen a lot of clearance strategies for the Eternal Day instance on the forum. This boss is very powerful. We might not kill him even if we work together. Therefore, we must first find a way to get close to him and get along with him before killing him. Then we can pass the level.”

Then he turned eagerly to Jiang Fang. “Right, Boss?” 

Jiang Fang’s kitchen knife fell on the cutting board in a constant manner. The clock in the house showed that it should be 7 o’clock in the evening. The bright white light outside the window swallowed all colors. A colorful halo was painted on the glass and visibility was less than 10 meters.

Fortunately, the apple tree was in front of the kitchen window. The moment he raised his head, he could see Nan Zhou stepping on the branches and picking apples. Jiang Fang moved his gaze away from the arc of Nan Zhou’s slender legs and said, “Boss, you are right. Do you have any other instructions?”

Jiang Fang was always smiling as he spoke. Nevertheless, the others couldn’t help shrinking back at his smile.

The man with earrings quickly noticed the situation wasn’t right and said with a smile, “Boss, I was just speaking casually…” 

Song Haining only believed in Jiang Fang alone and she stared at him. “Boss, what are your plans?”

Jiang Fang lowered his eyes. “I’ve thought about it.”

The others held their breath. They planned to firmly remember every step of Jiang Fang’s plan and to strictly follow it. It was the same as what they had done countless times in the past month. However, Jiang Fang’s plan this time was surprisingly simple. He placed his mango-flavored fingers to his lips and applied the juice to his lips, trying to sweeten them. “I’ll take him away.”

“Take…” 

We’re sorry for MTLers or people who like using reading mode, but our translations keep getting stolen by aggregators so we’re going to bring back the copy protection. If you need to MTL please retype the gibberish parts.

Song Haining abruptly rose from her chair, her nervous voice changing. “Boss, you aren’t joking?”

Aljcu Mjcu uijcmfv ja tfg. Vbcu Ljlclcu lwwfvljafis rkjiibkfv vbkc atf raeqlv defralbc jcv rja vbkc. Lbkfnfg, tfg tjcvr jcv ifur rtbbx jr j rluc bo tfg lccfg ecfjrlcfrr.

Aljcu Mjcu delfais xcfjvfv atf kjafg, reujg jcv oibeg lcab j rwbbat vbeut. “P’w ublcu ab qijmf tlw lc atf kjgftberf jcv ajxf tlw jkjs.”

Warehouse? 

Song Haining reacted and followed his thoughts. “So he will be our teammate?”

“Tame it and let the boss work for us?” The earring man’s eyes lit up and he couldn’t hold back his words. “Boss, you are awesome.”

Jiang Fang’s eyebrows lowered in a noncommittal manner.

Song Haining still felt a bit uneasy. “Can you store living things in the warehouse? If something happens when he is put in…” 

Jiang Fang didn’t want to tell them about how he brought in Nanji Star or his special preference for Nan Zhou. To be honest, there were no benefits apart from affecting the stability of the team.

Jiang Fang told her, “I’m certain.”

He raised his eyes and looked at the group. “Even if he dies, isn’t it a way for us to pass? What is there to lose?”

Jiang Fang paused for a moment. “If he comes out alive, you should treat him better.” 

“Of course.”

The earring man made an exaggerated action of twisting his neck. “The little monster is fierce.”

Under the double comfort of Jiang Fang’s calm tone and the earring man’s witty words, the team members felt that the way forward was hopeful. Their expressions gradually relaxed. They were standing or sitting in the house. The man with the earrings was even bold enough to explore the house.

He entered Nan Zhou’s room, rummaged through it for a moment and took out Nan Zhou’s drawing diary. He turned two pages before standing on the stairs and raising his voice at Jiang Fang. “Boss, he is really like a person. You see, this—” 

Jiang Fang put down the pie fillings in his hand. The color of his eyes was pale so he gave people the illusion of ice when he looked at them without any emotions.

“Yes, he isn’t human.”

“So if he kills you for your stupidity of peeking at his diary, I won’t save you for the safety of the others.”

The earring man became quiet. He held the diary and fled back to Nan Zhou’s room, returning it obediently. 

Nan Zhou picked two good-looking apples and caught Nanji Star, who intended to steal his apples. Then he jumped down from the apple tree. He opened the sliding window of the kitchen and gave two bright red apples to Jiang Fang. Afterwards, he lay down by the window with folded arms as he carefully watched the movements of Jiang Fang’s pie making.

Jiang Fang stared at rays of light sieved through his medium length hair and his blinking gold-plated eyelashes. His heart surged up like the tide. This was the illusion that supported all his childhood fantasies about friends.

His sun, his Don Quixote who accompanied him to fight the windmill of life. A dream that held his sense of loneliness and belonging. Now Nan Zhou was right in front of his eyes, at a distance that he could touch the moment he stretched out a hand.

Jiang Fang felt his heartbeat accelerating. He was in a trance when he heard Nan Zhou curiously ask, “What are you smiling at?” 

Jiang Fang raised a hand to touch his face, only to realize that his eyes, mouth and eyebrows were all curved in a laugh. This loss of control made Jiang Fang very uncomfortable. He quickly suppressed his expression to within the controllable range and said gently, “I’m smiling at the pie. I don’t know how delicious it will be.”

To his surprise, Nan Zhou was coaxed by this. He stared at the pie and nodded. “…Yes.”

They did it one by one and watched the other.

Jiang Fang bit the inside of his lip and controlled his expression while adding the apple to the pot to make the filling. Still, he couldn’t help putting a bit more in. 

***

In order to avoid the attacks of the other light demons, the group of people slept at Nan Zhou’s house. In the comic world, the protagonist’s house was always a mysterious size. It was big enough for them to settle down in.

The others consciously dispersed and settled down in their own way. They handed over the ‘negotiations’ to their boss with confidence.

Jiang Fang sat politely at Nan Zhou’s desk. He pretended it was the first time he came there but his fingers fiddled with the jagged edges of the nearby painted pots and vases on the table. It was nearly midnight and the sky was still shining. He glanced out the window and wondered, “How do you sleep at night?” 

Nan Zhou was sitting opposite him while holding the diary. He glanced at Jiang Fang and drew a few more strokes on the paper. “I’m used to it.”

He asked, “Why do you care?”

“Shouldn’t I?”

Nan Zhou thought about it. “I don’t know. No one else cared.” 

After seeing the opportunity, Jiang Fang decisively and cautiously introduced the subject. “Then can we… become friends?”

Nan Zhou’s pen paused as he learned from the other person’s tone. “…Friends?”

“Do you know what a friend is?”

“Yes, I know. I read about it in books. Later, some people wanted to be ‘friends’ with me, but they all wanted to kill me.” 

Jiang Fang thought about the wounds on Nan Zhou’s shoulder and back that he had seen at the library and frowned for a moment. Then he quickly removed it. He told Nan Zhou, “Those aren’t friends. Let me give it a try.”

Nan Zhou continued to draw. “The people outside are your friends?”

Jiang Fang placed his arm on the back of the chair and answered in a relaxed manner. “That’s not a friend. That’s a teammate.”

Nan Zhou asked seriously, “What is the difference between friends and teammates?” 

Jiang Fang placed a finger to his lips. “Um… if you are a friend, I can take you away to other places.”

The pencil in Nan Zhou’s hand stopped. He looked up. “Is there a way you can take me away?”

“Yes.”

Nan Zhou wondered, “Where are we going?” 

Jiang Fang honestly told him, “We have tried many ways but we can’t get out of this game. So, we will take you out and into each instance… adventure. In short, it is a very dangerous thing.”

Nan Zhou’s expression didn’t change much. “…Um.”

Jiang Fang chuckled. “What does ‘um’ mean?”

Nan Zhou placed the drawing book on his knees and answered solemnly, “It means that I agree.” 

Jiang Fang hadn’t expected it to be so easy. His originally prepared manuscript was null and void, making him feel that he should say something immediately to welcome a new friend.

Nan Zhou transferred the drawing book to the bed and placed his pencil firmly on top. “Then as a friend, can I make a comment?”

“Of course.”

Nan Zhou stepped forward. He abruptly grabbed Jiang Fang’s left wrist and held Jiang Fang’s collar with his other hand. He raised Jiang Fang’s left hand and slammed it hard against the wall. Under the violent impact, the gleaming dagger blade poked its head out of Jiang Fang’s sleeve. Jiang Fang just had to shake his hand slightly and this dagger could be held firmly in his hand. 

Nan Zhou stared into Jiang Fang’s eyes and lowered his voice. “Don’t hold the knife. Don’t be afraid of me. I’m not that scary.”

Jiang Fang was pressed against the wall by the other person. He was unable to move and his breathing became quick. For a time, the room was silent. The movement of both men’s throats was intense and out of control. Then the next second, Jiang Fang shrugged and smiled gently. “I accept it with pleasure.”

Nan Zhou put down his hand and smoothed out the wrinkles in his clothing. Then he returned to the bed and picked up the drawing book again.

Jiang Fang took out the dagger, placed it in its sheath and returned it to the backpack. He asked casually, “What are you drawing?” 

“I’m drawing you.” Nan Zhou was unusually honest. He flipped over the drawing book and turned it toward Jiang Fang. In a plain voice, he declared sincerely, “Drawing my friend.”

***

Therefore, Jiang Fang stared at Nan Zhou who was distracted by the stale apple and really couldn’t figure out why Nan Zhou refused to admit he was a friend when Nan Zhou had originally agreed so easily.

Yet looking at Nan Zhou’s face, the sour Jiang Fang finally smiled gently. Fortunately, the bond between people was as long-lasting as the wind.