Shen Qiyue didn't completely believe Yan Xiao's words, but she breathed a sigh of relief when Yan Xiao untied the ropes binding her.

As soon as she gained her freedom, she instinctively took a small step back, but fearing that she might anger Yan Xiao, she forced herself to stop.

Then, after cautiously observing Yan Xiao for a moment and seeing that she didn't seem to be angry, he tentatively said:

"Sister-in-law, don't misunderstand. I didn't mean to run away. I just wanted to find something to eat for you."

Yan Xiao would never believe such nonsense, but she didn't bother to expose him. She simply nodded and said calmly:

"I don't care what you thought before, if you want to eat your fill and survive in the future, you have to listen to me."

He glanced at the man and woman not far away, who had been watching their movements, and continued:

"Those two have been eyeing us for a long time, following us around."

I think they originally intended to rob you outright, but after discovering my strength, they decided to trade their half-dead little daughter for me.

As she spoke, she didn't forget to continue to criticize Chen Qiyue:

"Do you believe me or not, if you dare to leave my sight, it won't be long before you become meat in their pot?"

Upon hearing this, Shen Qiyue felt a chill run down her spine, and her face, which had been somewhat better, immediately turned deathly pale.

She might not believe anything else Yan Xiao said, but she believed this one hundred percent.

After all, it was because those two men had been looking at her with wolf-like eyes these past few days that she felt so uneasy.

She only started thinking about running away after she realized that her sister-in-law seemed to be interested in it.

But now that I've calmed down and thought about it, where could a frail child like me possibly go in such a chaotic world?

If her sister-in-law didn't take care of her, she would really be doomed.

Thinking of all this, she tried her best to suppress her fear of Yan Xiao, slowly moved closer to Yan Xiao, and then whispered a suggestion:

"Sister-in-law, we'd better get away from them quickly, otherwise who knows what they might do when they get really hungry."

Yan Xiao nodded noncommittally, then picked up the original owner's meager belongings and told Shen Qiyue to come with him.

She was starving, but Shen Qiyue had already calmed her down for the time being. The most important thing right now was to get her something to eat.

As a result, she had only taken a few steps with Shen Qiyue when the couple who had been observing them caught up with them, carrying their daughter who was less than a year old.

Where are you headed?

Yan Xiao turned around at the sound and saw the couple staring intently at Shen Qiyue, who was hiding behind them, as if they were worried that she would run away.

Yan Xiao frowned slightly, carefully recalled the original owner's memories, and after confirming that the original owner had not clearly reached any agreement with them, she immediately turned cold and her tone became even more impolite.

"Do we need to report to you where we're going? We know each other very well?"

Upon hearing this, the couple's expressions visibly stiffened, but they perked up again when their gaze fell upon Shen Qiyue.

The woman holding the child gave Yan Xiao a few glances, signaling her to come aside and talk to her.

Yan Xiao naturally knew what she was up to and didn't want to waste time with them. Also, fearing Chen Qiyue might misunderstand, her tone held a hint of impatience.

"Get to the point. I'm busy and don't want to waste my time on irrelevant people."

Upon hearing this, the woman's face immediately showed displeasure. Just as she was about to hint at Yanxiao again, her husband lost his patience and stated their purpose directly in front of Shen Qiyue:

"Young lady, don't play dumb. Didn't we reach an agreement a few days ago? I'll trade my youngest daughter for your little brat. Are you trying to back out now that you want to leave?"

As soon as the man finished speaking, Shen Qiyue, who was hiding behind Yan Xiao, visibly took a step back, looking as if she was ready to run away at any moment.

Yan Xiao didn't even turn around to look at Chen Qiyue; she just glanced coldly at the child being held in the woman's arms.

The child was so thin he was skin and bones, barely breathing, clearly a result of long-term malnutrition.

The couple clearly thought they couldn't support their child, and since she was a girl, they wanted to make use of her one last time.

Yanxiao had witnessed such acts of exchanging children for food in the apocalypse. When people are in dire straits, humanity becomes something elusive and unattainable.

She scoffed and looked away, saying disdainfully:

"Are you two treating me like a fool? Don't say I haven't thought about doing such an inhumane thing, even if I really did."

What makes you think you can trade a dying toddler for my sister whom I've raised for years? Is she even as fleshy as one leg of my sister's?

The couple felt embarrassed upon hearing this, but they took it as a joke and realized they had been taken advantage of.

After exchanging a glance, the woman gave a fake smile and coaxed:

"Little girl, don't be angry. We can still discuss this, can't we? If you feel you've been taken advantage of, we can always give you another leg."

The woman's tone when she spoke made it sound like she was haggling over the price of meat at the market; she truly showed no respect for human life whatsoever.

Even Yan Xiao, who came from the apocalypse, felt somewhat uncomfortable, let alone Shen Qiyue, who was only nine years old.

The reason Yan Xiao stopped talking so much nonsense with the couple was mainly to make Shen Qiyue understand her attitude.

Now that she had made her stance clear, she no longer wanted to talk about disgusting things with disgusting people.

She turned around and grabbed Shen Qiyue's arm, leading him in the direction they originally intended to go, completely ignoring the couple.

How could the couple be willing to let them leave so easily? Such a bargain doesn't come around every time.

They hurriedly chased after him, and the man, even more fiercely, blocked Yan Xiao's path, glaring at her and threateningly saying:

"Little girl, don't be stubborn. If you don't appreciate my offer of a fair exchange, then I'll have to resort to force."

The man's actions frightened Shen Qiyue so much that she didn't dare to breathe, but instinctively she gripped Yan Xiao's sleeve tightly, as if she were grasping at the last straw.

Yan Xiao had long lost her patience. Seeing that the couple was so tactless, she stepped forward and kicked the man blocking her way.

The original owner was stronger than the average person, and even after going hungry for a few meals, she was not weak enough to kill a chicken.

With Yanxiao's skills honed over the years in the apocalypse, taking down one or two refugees shouldn't be a problem.

Moreover, the man in front of her was also hungry and weak, and couldn't gain any advantage in terms of physical strength.

So, in no time, the man was sprawled on the ground, clutching his bleeding nose and screaming incessantly.

After Yan Xiao finished beating the dog blocking the road, he glanced coldly at the woman who was too scared to move, and then lightly patted the dust off his hands.

Then he turned around and gestured for Shen Qiyue, who was looking at him with starry eyes, to come with him.

The commotion here is quite loud and might attract nearby refugees.

She was very weak and just wanted to find something to eat as soon as possible. She didn't want to cause any trouble, so she had to leave quickly.