Liu Shiling followed Custard Pie on a long walk up the mountain road. The little girl may have had short legs, but she undoubtedly possessed good stamina. Moreover, after the minor mishap earlier, she was brimming with energy and high spirits as she marched along the mountain trail, as if she were the conqueror of these mountains.
Leading the way, Custard Pie took mighty steps, resembling a "mountain tiger descending rapidly." Its chubby body and furry paws infused the surrounding air with an intimidating aura.
After an indeterminable period, after passing two villages situated at the mountainside and at the foot of the mountain, Liu Shiling decided to rest on a stone by the road.
She was tired, to begin with, after the long trek, and her feet were extremely sore.
Moreover, she could feel the subtle vibrations of the coin in her pocket—Alice's secret signal to her to rest in this spot.
