What should I say, I was definitely the MVP here.
Or so that's what I told myself as I grinned at everyone while I wore a sanguine expression. We were able to exit the forest with my perfect maneuvering skills. Every time a screecher gets too close for comfort, I would warn Liu Zhi and in turn, he would listen to me. Since my firsts prediction was right on the money, Liu Zhi easily believed me when I redirected their course. If I were someone manipulative, I could've easily used that opportunity to get them killed while I hoarded all their loots and items. But I wasn't that kind of person.
I mean, they're my party. If something were to happen to then, then my free-real-estate experience points would be all for naught. And even if they weren't part of my party, I would've protected them still. Let's just say, it's part of my responsibility in my subconscious. As a Sect Master, before I turned into a rabid human, the sense of overprotectiveness to those weaker than me was hard-wired into my mind. That's why I just can't help but look after anyone I set my eyes on.
"Thanks for that, you saved us... hah~" Liu Zhi panted as he rested his back against the walls of an abandoned building where we found ourselves in. "If it weren't for you, we would've found ourselves in a tight spot back there."
"We avoided countless injuries thanks to your perception skills, young man." Blade gruffly said. "Those screechers were hellishly annoying. The last thing we'd want to experience in this apocalypse is meeting a horde."
"Yeah, what on earth is up with you anyway, young man?" Wu Yan asked although she was just a year or two older than my body age. "I've been cultivating, solely focusing on my perception skills, and I'm nowhere near your level. What role do you play in a party?"
"Role?" I asked.
There was no way I could tell her that I honed my senses to the maximum in the past and although they reset when I woke up again, my senses kept getting better every time I leveled up. And now that I reached level 15, I could tell that I'm close to achieving the maximum level of my sense enhancement.
So I had no choice but to change the topic by asking what Roles every single person in the party has. I have absolutely no idea about what those are, after all.
"If you ever played a video game, then you should know what the roles are." Blade trailed off as he glanced towards me.
"Ah! Is this about Tank, Mage, Assassin, and the like?" I asked.
"Yes, that. So basically, us zombie hunters play a role according to the skills we cultivate in." Wu Yan brightened up as she began explaining. "I'm an Archer, Liu Zhi here is a Melee Fighter, and Blade is an Assassin. I'm also partly the Scout of the group but I'm not that good yet."
"By the looks of it, you're definitely a Scout." Liu Zhi continued Wu Yan's explanation. "I could clearly tell that your stamina is incomparably better than ours, and your perception skills are top-notch. We may be hunters in the Immortal Realm, but our fighting skills could only take us so far."
"Is that you indirectly telling me that you need a Scout in your party?" I asked.
All of them nodded.
I gulped. The more I thought about it, the more I realized that the pros outweigh the cons if I accept them. But, on the flip side, if they ever met any danger that I'm not confident in partaking in, then I'd be tied to saving them IF I joined their group. They're already in the shadows of my protection, I can't make them any closer than that. Otherwise, I might risk my life for them when the time comes.
Hold on, didn't I risk my life for them already? So there isn't that much of a difference whether I choose to join them or not.
"I will take my time to consider your gracious offer." I cupped my hands and slightly bowed towards Liu Zhi. "As someone in the Spirit Realm, being invited to the party of Immortal Realm Cultivators is something I wasn't expecting. But, there's a reason as to why I remained alone after all these five years and unfortunately, I can't divulge anything about it since it's rather personal. In any case, I'll be accompanying you towards Ziyou Shelter. After arriving there, I'll give my answer to your offer."
"No worries, just take your time. Even though you're just a cultivator in the Spirit Realm, we could tell that you have the potential to surpass any Scout that we've ever known. That's why we gave you the offer." Liu Zhi warmly smiled as he explained. "I'm more surprised that no one has recruited someone of your caliber."
"That's because I've been traveling all alone for the past five years. So far, I've only ever met five or so people in my travels." I spoke up, not bringing up the accident of the Si Shelter.
"That's why." Liu Zhi stared towards the abandoned building where we're in as if he was mulling over some things. "By any chance, do you hate shelters?"
"No, why do you ask?" I shrugged
"How about humans, do you hate humans?"
"Why would I?" I almost raised my voice in my response.
"I see, then that's good then. For a moment I thought you despise the thought of shelters or something of the sort. Sounds ridiculous, I know, but not entirely implausible."
"What do you mean?"
The moment I asked that question, I realized that I've gone too far in what I said. The looks their eyes gave me were the exact replica of the one that Yang Chen gave me when I found him in the underground basement in Si Shelter. It was the eyes that had seen death, and I could tell that something deep inside them resurfaced because of me.
"I didn't mean to pry, I'm sorry for asking that question." I continued. I didn't know why they were a bit traumatized by the question but their demeanor was more than enough for me to offer my apologies.
"No, it's fine. It happened so long ago anyway." Liu Zhi shook his head as he forced a smile on his face. "You don't have to beat yourself up."
"Just like how you got those secrets kid, we also have our own." Blade was a man of few words but every time he spoke, that certain rumbling of a sound always sends shivers down my spine. "It's not that we dislike your question, nor were you overstepping. We just remembered something that shouldn't be remembered, that's all."
"I see."
Although I was a bit curious about their backstory, I decided to stay quiet and get my well-deserved rest. I didn't want them to get angry and kick me out of the party so I didn't overstep my boundary. My free experience points hang in the balance after all.