"Oh? What action are you going to take?" the girl asked, glancing at Shen Yan, who still had his face turned away.
Mu Anxiao thought for a moment, then reluctantly unloaded her pack and handed it to her. "Do the dry rations in this pack suffice for you?"
"This is practically pig feed."
"Pig feed," Mu Anxiao repeated, then sneered, "From what you say, have you eaten pig feed before?"
"You..." The girl was once again angered by Mu Anxiao.
Shen Yan glanced back at Mu Anxiao, who was clueless as to what she had done wrong. He cleared his throat, nudged her shoulder with his elbow, and lowered his head to say mentally: This girl is not to be trifled with. You'd best be careful. If you can't manage, just go hungry for a couple of days, and we'll continue on our way.
No. Mu Anxiao replied mentally, then widened her eyes and looked at Shen Yan: I'm mentally conversing with you again. I'm so amazing.
Shen Yan rubbed the tip of his nose: Don't misunderstand. Only when I speak to you can you reply. You can't do it on your own.
The girl looked at both Mu Anxiao and Shen Yan, who wore expressions of thought, and asked impatiently: "Are you two communicating mentally?"
Instantly, Mu Anxiao and Shen Yan looked at the girl in unison with surprise. Mu Anxiao gave a dry laugh: "No, I just didn't know what else to say to you."
"Your talk is really asking for a beating. As an apology," the girl beckoned Mu Anxiao over: "Come here for a moment."
"What for?" Mu Anxiao had a bad feeling.
"Come here," the girl said impatiently.
Mu Anxiao sighed and glanced at Shen Yan, who was re-hanging the pack on his shoulder while muttering: "What for?" She then obediently walked up to the girl.
"Stand in front of me, with your back to me," the girl said, gesturing to the spot in front of herself.
Mu Anxiao furrowed her brow, obeyed the instruction, walked forward, stood with her back to the girl, and asked: "What are you doing?"
"Crouch down a bit," the girl said, walking towards Mu Anxiao's back.
Shen Yan watched the girl's actions and then looked at Mu Anxiao's small frame. He said: "She can't carry you."
Upon hearing this, Mu Anxiao froze and quickly straightened her bent legs.
The girl looked back at Shen Yan, half-turning, and said unhappily: "If that's the case, then you carry me."
When Shen Yan heard the girl ask him to carry her, his expression stiffened. He pointed at Mu Anxiao and said: "Don't let her small frame fool you, she's very strong."
Hearing Shen Yan's words, Mu Anxiao let out an "uh" and muttered: "I knew that Shen Yan guy wouldn't be kind."
The girl's lips curved into a smile: "Good for you for being sensible."
Shen Yan turned his face away expressionlessly.
The girl smiled, turned back behind Mu Anxiao, reached out, and patted Mu Anxiao's shoulder forcefully: "Crouch down, I'm getting on."
"Okay," Mu Anxiao agreed and bent slightly.
The girl placed her hands on Mu Anxiao's shoulders, pushed off the ground, and jumped onto Mu Anxiao's back.
Mu Anxiao stabilized her footing and said as she carried the girl: "You guide the way."
"I know," the girl said, tightly hugging Mu Anxiao's neck, and shouted: "Giddy up."
Mu Anxiao squinted sideways and started walking.
Shen Yan watched Mu Anxiao's retreating back and said mentally: Serves you right.
Mu Anxiao, not yet feeling tired, shouted: "Just say one less thing!"
Hearing this, Shen Yan, following behind, couldn't help but laugh at her.
The girl, completely misunderstanding, tightened her grip on Mu Anxiao's neck and said: "Are you looking for death?"
Mu Anxiao flinched her shoulders and quickly responded: "No, no, no, how dare I offend you?"