"Hey, Yanyi."

A small girl spoke out as she was staring hard in front.

"Hmm?"

A casual reply from behind.

"Do you have spare change?"

"You forgot to bring spare change again?"

"Umu...Xueer only brought her spirit stone pouch again."

"Fine fine, here take some coppers."

A common exchange between the two occurred as per usual, this has already happened several times that both were familiar with the routine.

"Umu! Thanks, Yanyi! Uncle, one stick of candied haws please!"

Xueer happily stretched out her hands as she placed the small copper coins down.

"Right, right here you go little missy."

The man passed over a large stick of skewered hawthorn berries dripping with glistening gold honey.

--

"Hmm~hmm~hmm."

The little girl happily hummed out as she chewed upon the sweet delicacy in her hands.

"So, how is the candied hawthorn?"

Yanyi asked as he followed behind her back.

"Ooom! Itch ish weary good!"

A muffled enthusiastic reply came back to him as the girl before him was still stuffing her cheeks with the delicacy akin to a squirrel.

"Hey, hey. Talk after you eat. Seriously, not bringing your money pouch out again and talking like that. Will you ever grow up?"

Yanyi said in a helpless voice.

Nom nom. Ko-hon.

"Hmph, Xueer is a grown-up. She is already twenty-two! She is pretty, mature, charming, and has thousands of admirers!"

The young girl swallowed the sweets in her mouth, let out a light cough, before rebutting the large man who was following behind her back.

"Pretty, I won't deny that..."

"Mature..."

Maybe in age, but not in physical features nor mentality.

"Charming..."

Really cute yes, no one would deny that.

"Thousands of admirers..."

Yes, tens of thousands of fans as the mascot of our sect.

"I guess you are right, Xueer is a real grown-up now."

Yanyi said as he scratched his cheek while thinking otherwise.

"Hmph, Xueer can tell that you don't mean it."

The black-haired girl in front pouted as she looked away from him.

"But even so, you will still be by my side and support me right."

She softly muttered as she smiled.

"What was that? I didn't quite hear it."

"Nothing! You are just a dumb, big oaf. That is what Xueer said. Anyways, let's go! We have to go and dive into that hidden ruins with the other senior brothers and sisters!"

The little girl said out hurriedly as she dashed forward.

"Hey, slow down a bit. You are amongst the fastest in our generation in our sect!"

The young man chased behind her back as she happily skipped forward.

--

"Hey..."

"Hey..."

"Hey Xueer, are you finally awake?"

The distant voice gets louder as the familiar voice rouses the girl up.

"Oh...uhh Yanyi? What happened?"

Xueer rubbed her eyes as she slowly got up to her feet.

"Sigh, Senior Brother Kai was too reckless. He activated that hidden trap formation and now all of us got separated."

The large young man sighed as he placed his hand on his forehead.

"I have already found Senior Sister Lian, but she is dead. She apparently was unfortunate enough to end up in a monster house and got devoured by insects beasts. Senior Brother Nuo and Senior Sister Mu that I met are still searching for the rest, so we have split up."

"Oooh...so you found me. Ehehe-ouch."

Xueer replied as she gave a silly laugh.

"Xueer, don't move too much. Your leg has been injured due to the spatial disruption."

Yanyi continued as he pointed to her left foot. A white bandage was covering her feet as dried blood was seen on the ground beneath it.

"Oh thanks, Yanyi."

Xueer could have easily guessed who managed to patch her up.

"No worries, anyways let me carry you until we can find more support."

The young man said as he lifted her into his arms.

"Uu-un...."

The brave and boisterous girl had suddenly gone quiet as she was cradled in the young man's large reliable arms.

"Don't worry, we will get out safely soon..."

Yanyi said as he dashed forward with caution but haste.

"Uuun..."

A soft reply was heard.

As expected, you will not leave me behind...