Chapter 36: Red Sea Shelter (1/2)

”I'm sorry?”

”Our party.” Liu Zhi repeated. ”You don't have a party, right? Every person outside the shelter more or less has a party. Did you lose your party or were they... you know... bitten? In any case, you look plenty strong and we would like to welcome you as our member.”

”Why would you straight up recruit a mysterious person in the middle of the forest? Like, isn't that kind of yabai?” I asked him. (Yabai means dangerous.)

”Um, Yong Rui, the thing is... half of our party members were eliminated on our way back to our shelter. We were tasked to procure a mysterious gem bu-” The girl started explaining but before she could say anything else, the other guy covered her mouth.

”Sshh, what are you talking about? Why are you telling him top secret information?”

”But, he'll be part of our party, right? Shouldn't he know why we're recruiting him? If someone approached you in the middle of nowhere and asks you to join them, wouldn't that be weird?”

”She's right.” Liu Zhi sighed before turning towards me. ”And that's about the gist of it. We were sent to scout a place where a mysterious gem was discovered and it was rumored to enhance cultivation and combat the virus of the infected. We don't know if it would work but orders are orders. In the end, we managed to retrieve it but yesterday, we were attacked by rabid humans fleeing from this forest and lost half of our men. They were on the same cultivation level as yours so they died pretty easily.”

”In any case, how did you survive by yourself alone?” The girl asked. ”By the looks of it, you didn't have a party for a few days by now, right?”

”I've never had a party, nor am I affiliated with other shelters,” I told them as simply as I could. ”I'm heading to Ziyou Shelter. If you're heading that way, then you're free to tag along.”

One reason why I offered them a hand was because I was probably the reason why half of their teammates died. After all, I was the one who fought with the low-leveled rabid humans in the forest and drove them out unintentionally. They were probably overwhelmed by their numbers that the others died before they could even react properly to the situation.

”So... for the past five years...” The girl trailed off as I gave him a nod.

Well, it's not like I was lying when I said I was flying solo for five years now.

Because of my response, all of them gasped as they gave me a good stare. In their minds, they were probably asking why someone like me could survive the past five years without anyone's help. As for me, I'm just surprised that they weren't doubting everything I said. I mean, was I really that believable?

”What a coincidence! We're heading to Ziyou Shelter too!” Liu Zhi pointed out as he extended his hand once again. ”If it's fine with you, can we travel together?”

”Not that I mind,” I responded. ”Just don't burden me too much.”

”What? A mere cultivator in the soul realm would dare say that?” The other man exclaimed as he charged at me.