Chapter 23: Slip of Tongue

<Stage-2 High-Leveled Zombie killed>

<You’ve earned 200/1080 exp>

<Congratulations! You received the title “Runner Survivor”>

System! Are you messing with me? Did you give me that title just because I ran from that rabid human in order to survive? How preposterous! This title knows no bounds in tarnishing my name!

For a few seconds, I wondered why I received experience points even though I didn’t fight the rabid human. Then I realized that my Stage-1 High-Leveled Rabid Human fought with it in a few seconds, and that’s probably how I obtained some shared experience points.

Swish! Shwip!

From a distance, I heard a sharp whipping sound as the swordsman flicked his sword to remove the bloodstains from it. After exhaling, the swordsman gently inserted his sword on the scabbard on his back. That’s when I noticed that he was carrying three swords instead of one, and all of them were carefully placed on his back.

For some reason, the swordsman looked familiar. He had reddish hair, well, it’s more of maroon in color and he had some sort of black markings on his nape. Although his hair was long, it was kept in place by some sort of white scarf tied around his forehead. And just like your typical Chinese swordsman, he was wearing a Hanfu. I won’t bother explaining what it looked like but it’s like a kimono for men, and a hundred times sophisticated in appearance.

On his feet, he was wearing some sort of black sandals, which paired really well with his Black Hanfu. And lastly, he balanced a rice hat, completing his samurai look.

But even without the garments, I could tell that the atmosphere he was emanating was that of a samurai. Sheer will, the power to slice everything, he was releasing that kind of aura as his bloodthirstiness was directed towards the other rabid humans.

A glint of red came out from his scarlet, fox-like eyes, as he accelerated towards me, eliminating every rabid human in his path like a tornado with full force. When he stopped in front of me, he flicked his sword once again to get rid of the stains and then proceeded to slide it on the scabbard behind him.

“Young sir, are you alright?” The red-haired man asked me as he grabbed both of my shoulders and looked me in the eyes.

That voice… it sounds so familiar…

Wait?!

When I looked up, I immediately recognized who the person was. That smile, that rugged face, and that muscle-headedness. I know this person!

Of all the people I’d have to meet, why did it have to be him? And why does he look older than me? Is it because I died five years ago? Does that mean I retained my appearance from five years ago? Of course, that’s a given.

But how? And why is he here?

“For some reason, you look kind of familiar? Have we met somewhere before? Which shelter are you from?” The samurai asked me.

“No, we never met before. I’ve never met you in my whole life! Not at all! Haha!” I nervously responded. “And I don’t have a shelter! I’m looking for a shelter named Tang Shelter. Do you happen to know where it is?”

The moment I said that the swordsman’s eyes lit up. “Of course I know where it is! I’m a part of that shelter! Not to brag but I’m one of the founders of that shelter! Ahaha!”

“Oh, is that so? How stupid of me to not recognize someone with great standing!” I complimented him, just to make sure that I won’t piss him off.

“Say, young man, are you heading towards our Shelter? Can you do it by yourself?” The swordsman asked. “It’s approximately two cities away so I don’t know if you can do it. How about you accompany me in my scouting and in return, we will go back to my shelter and formally welcome you as part of it? What do you say?”

“Um… “

“I will protect you, young man, don’t worry! Leave it to big brother over here!” He said, as he confidently put a fist on his chest. “I just need to do a little bit of scouting. If I didn’t have anything to do, I’d have accompanied you to the shelter right now. But unfortunately, I need to do this to ensure the safety of the surrounding shelters.”

“S-s-sure! I’ll be in your care!” I stammered.

“That’s the spirit! Well, then, let’s go!” The swordsman raised his left fist as he put his right arm on my shoulder, urging me to go forward.

…

Are you kidding me? Is this really happening? I couldn’t collect my thoughts properly when I looked at the swordsman’s face. But I couldn’t deny it because he’s right there, in front of me!

What do I do now? It won’t be long before he finds out about my identity? For now, let’s keep a low profile and leave him oblivious to it. That way it won’t complicate things.

I mean, how could I explain that I woke up after getting bitten? And as I mentioned before I looked at least three years younger than him? Technically, I’m still older than him but still… appearance-wise he is older.

“So, where are you from? I asked you this a moment ago but which shelter did you come from?” The swordsman asked me. “Don’t tell me, were you driven out of your shelter? Are you a criminal?!”

“No, no!” I vehemently denied it. No matter how much he talked to me, I still can’t believe that he’s addressing me so casually as if we were friends! His audacity knows no bounds! If I were just as powerful back in the days, then I’d have erased you from the face of the earth! “I’ve never had a shelter. I survived by hopping from one supermarket to the other in the past five years.”

“What?! You were able to survive outside, by yourself? Alone?!” He exclaimed. “How could you do that? Are you strong?!”

When he said that, I finally remembered something that slipped past my mind. “Luo Zhen, can you wait for me? I forgot something.”

The moment I called out his name, he stopped in his tracks and looked at me, perplexed. That’s when I realized I slipped and said his name. But I didn’t stop running from him. That and this is a different matter so I’ll just handle that other one later.

“Luo Zhen? How did he know my name?” The swordsman asked himself.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep