It has been a few minutes since Ru Ning encountered the two barbarians, and the two have been trying to communicate with him despite the obvious language barrier between them since then.

“Who are you, and what are you doing here?”

“Stop it, Alaric. It’s clear that he doesn’t understand us. Ah, what a hassle this is,” said the female barbarian.

The man was named Alaric, and the female was named Dhea.

“But we can’t just leave him here. What if he’s a spy from the city? Look at his weird clothes, I have never seen anything like that before.”

The weird clothes that he was referring to were the white lab coat Ru Ning was wearing.

“It looks like a robe of some sorts. Perhaps he is a magician?”

“He’s definitely not from around here if he cannot even understand the common language.”

“$%#*@&@$!”

“What kind of language is that? It sounds like some weird chant for magic.”

“Forget it, we will bring him to our village for now.”

“Are you insane, Dhea!? What if he is really a spy?!”

Dhea turned silent for a moment.

“We will let the chief decide that,” she finally said.

Alaric grumbled, but he said nothing else to her.

He then looked at the fragile-looking Ru Ning with an unfriendly gaze and gestured him to follow them.

\\\\\\\\\\\

“He wants me to follow them?”

Ru Ning began pondering.

He didn’t know how the people of this world lived or how they interact with others. He could turn and walk away from them, but what if they attack him?

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

He also didn’t know what they wanted to do with him, so it was as risky to follow them.

However, he didn’t really have a choice. He is someone who knows nothing about this world and its people, so it would be better for him to follow them first and decide what he wants to do later.

If they intend to harm him after he arrives, then he’ll just fight them with his poison.

After thinking about it for a moment, he finally nodded and began following them.

The two then led Ru Ning to a rural area surrounded by wooden spikes that were only a few minutes away from where they were at originally. And it wasn’t that large of a place since there were only 8 wooden houses, all within sight.

Near the entrance where there was a gap with no wooden spikes stood 2 barbarians with nearly the same appearance as Alaric and Dhea.

They were obviously the guards.

“You’re back. Who is that weak-looking boy?” asked one of the guards.

To these barbarians with muscular frames and tanned skin, Ru Ning’s slim figure and pale skin was a symbol of the weak, someone who needs no respect from them.

“We found him around here, looking suspicious and all. We’re bringing him to the chief to make sure he’s not a spy from the city,” said Alaric.

“Ha! Even if he is really a spy, for the city to send someone so weak-looking, are they underestimating us?”

The guards stepped aside to make way for them.

Ru Ning then followed the duo inside to the wooden house that was in the middle.

This house was encircled by the other seven and is the largest amongst them; it was obviously meant for the one with the highest authority here.

~Knock ~Knock

Dhea respectfully knocked on the door.

“Enter,” said a hoarse voice from inside the house.

Dhea opened the door, but she did not allow Ru Ning inside and only allowed him to see the inside.

The first thing Ru Ning noticed was the old woman lying in her bed that was made of leather.

She looked sick, her expression weak. And around her loomed with a deathly feeling, making Ru Ning feel like he was looking at someone at her deathbed.

However, despite her frail appearance, her gaze was sharper than the spear in the two barbarian’s grasp.

“Chief, we found this suspicious person hanging around our home and we’d like your insight on what we should do with him.”

“He’s definitely a spy! Look at his expression; he’s too calm!”

"Hmm..."

The chief silently stared at Ru Ning straight in his eyes; her gaze seemingly able to pierce his skin and deep into his thoughts.

Ru Ning suddenly felt a shiver climb his spine, but he resisted showing it.

“A fearsome woman,” he thought to himself.

“%@$!%@#^”

The chief finally spoke after a moment later, but Ru Ning couldn’t understand what was being said.

However, he was able to tell from Alaric's expression that it was something enough to make him disgruntled.

What exactly did she say to them, he wondered.