"Yes..." the second disciple thought for a moment, then pointed at Mu Anxiao, his eyes lighting up with recognition. "Oh, it's you."
Mu Anxiao grinned sheepishly.
"The steamed buns yesterday were really good. Come by later, and I'll let you try the meat sauce my mom made for me. It's especially delicious stuffed inside those buns," the second disciple said, giving a thumbs up.
Mu Anxiao's appetite was piqued by the second disciple's words. She licked her lips and smiled, "Just thinking about it makes my mouth water."
"Come by later."
"Sure thing," Mu Anxiao agreed blindly, swallowing her desire to eat. She gestured in the direction Shen Yan had gone. "Senior brother, I'm leaving now."
The second disciple nodded. Just as Mu Anxiao turned and took two steps, he suddenly called out, "Hold it."
Mu Anxiao froze, her heart pounding with fear of being discovered. She slowly turned back and smiled, "Senior brother, is there something else?"
"Why are you carrying a pack on your back?" the second disciple asked, pointing to the bundle in front of Mu Anxiao.
Mu Anxiao smiled. "Senior brother, this is food my mother prepared for me. We can eat it together later."
Instantly, the second disciple burst into laughter. "Good, let's go."
"Alright." Mu Anxiao forced a smile, turned, and ran, afraid of being called back again.
The second disciple watched Mu Anxiao's hasty departure, a smile on his face. "It feels so good to be doted on like this. Although," he glanced around, "he didn't bring me any steamed buns last night, I believe that kid must have remembered me."
Mu Anxiao stopped once she felt she had run far enough.
"You're quite the conversationalist," Shen Yan appeared in front of her.
Mu Anxiao bent over, hands on her knees, and looked up at Shen Yan, panting. "As expected, the spells of cultivators are all so unreliable."
"Who told you to touch him?" Shen Yan glanced sideways at Mu Anxiao.
Mu Anxiao raised her arm to wipe the sweat from her brow. "That guy is really something else. I told him I was the junior brother who brought him steamed buns yesterday, and he actually believed me." As she spoke, she glanced back cautiously to ensure no one was following. Relieved, she let out a sigh.
"Follow me," Shen Yan said, walking ahead once more.
This time, to avoid encountering any more disciples, Mu Anxiao hurried to catch up with Shen Yan.
"I never imagined things here would be so complicated," she said as they walked.
Shen Yan stared straight ahead. "Can you say fewer words?"
"No, ever since I started following you, I've been encountering all sorts of unexpected events."
"If it weren't for your ulterior motives, we wouldn't have to come here," Shen Yan replied without looking back.
Mu Anxiao said with a hint of grievance, "As the saying goes, one should marry someone of equal standing. Even if not, one should find someone with shared interests. In the six months I've been with you, I've met quite a few girls, but they were all ordinary immortal destiny girls, and you didn't fancy any of them. So, I wanted to find someone who cultivated like you, perhaps you would like them. Who knew," she continued, "they all died young, and those who didn't were scoundrels."
"I really have caused you a lot of worry," Shen Yan said helplessly.
Mu Anxiao sighed like an old mother. "Yes, I've certainly worried a lot about you, you brat," she said, stepping forward. "How about this, next time we change places, you can call me 'Old Dad'!"
At this, Shen Yan stopped walking.
Mu Anxiao, not paying attention, bumped into Shen Yan's back. Then, she let out a cry of pain, clutching her forehead, which had been bumped for the second time. "In the future, if you stop, can you say something?"