The man’s expression changed. He suddenly let go of her, stood up, and looked at the sky with a grave expression.
Sha Yi was puzzled.
It was just rain—why did this man act as if facing a formidable enemy?
Before she could think further, the man had already scooped her up and dashed toward the cave where they had slept earlier, even leaving behind the rabbit meat he had prepared.
Sha Yi found it strange but didn’t say anything. After all, he had lived here all his life and knew this world far better than she did. If he acted this way, there must be a reason.
By the time they returned to the cave, the rain outside had become relentless. In just a short while, it had turned into a dense curtain, the sound of it hitting the ground deafening.
Sha Yi was stunned. No wonder the man had rushed her into the cave—this rain was absurdly heavy, its force almost comparable to hail.
Before she could finish marveling, a massive flash of purple light cut through the thick rain curtain, followed by two thunderous booms. Sha Yi jumped in fright and instinctively clung to the man’s arm.
The man pulled her closer, murmuring something soothingly and patting her lightly.
Sha Yi, still shaken, looked up at him and saw deep worry and concern in his eyes.
Nestled in his arms, it didn’t take long for Sha Yi to fully understand the source of his anxiety.
—The rain showed no sign of stopping, its intensity making hunting impossible, and worse, it could lead to severe flooding. The storm also carried lightning—frequent and violent, like a barrage of cannon fire. At least two or three out of every ten strikes seemed to hit something. Even if their eardrums weren’t shattered by the thunder, venturing outside would be suicidal.
From what she had learned about this man over the past few days, he didn’t seem like someone who lived aimlessly. If there were predictable patterns in this world, she suspected he would have prepared for them.
He must have known about this kind of rain beforehand—hence his sudden reaction to the sky. But his urgency in bringing her back to the cave, combined with the extinguished fire, led her to conclude that the rain had arrived earlier than expected.
Now, with no idea when the storm would end, they needed to gather wild fruits at the very least. Hunger was one thing, but if the cave were struck by lightning, they wouldn’t even have the strength to flee.
Another concern was the inevitable drop in temperature if the rain persisted. Given their current situation, enduring the cold was unavoidable.
She couldn’t help but feel that things had taken a turn for the worse.
Noticing her stillness, the man pulled her closer in concern, his large hand gently touching her face.
She looked up to find him gazing at her, his eyes filled with apology.
Not wanting to add to his worries, Sha Yi forced a smile and playfully tugged at his short but thick beard before smoothing his damp hair away from his forehead.
The man smiled back, then seemed to think of something. Pointing at himself, he said softly, “Xi Yi.”
What did that mean?
His sudden words left Sha Yi bewildered.
Seeing her confusion, he pointed at himself again and repeated, “Xi Yi… Xi… Yi… Xi Yi.”
Sha Yi listened several times but still couldn’t grasp his meaning.
When she showed no clear reaction, the man paused before pointing at the cave entrance and murmuring something, then at the walls, then at a large rock inside the cave—each time speaking a phrase. Finally, his finger returned to himself, and he repeated the same two syllables.
“Xi Yi.”
Sha Yi suddenly understood—he was telling her his name. She immediately pointed at him and repeated, “Xi Yi.”
The man nodded, visibly pleased, then pointed at her and shook his head.
Sha Yi instantly realized he was asking for her name. She pointed at herself and said softly, “Sha Yi.”
After a long pause, the man struggled to mimic, “Sha… ai…”
Sha Yi was thunderstruck, staring at him in disbelief before finally snapping out of it with a mix of amusement and exasperation. “You’re the one who’s sha (silly)!”
Seeing her odd expression, Xi Yi seemed to realize his mispronunciation might have linked her name to something unfavorable. Determined to correct himself, he tried again, “Sha ai… Sha… Xia… Ye…”
Listening as he butchered her name over and over, Sha Yi was utterly speechless.
By the time Xi Yi finally got it somewhat right, a long while had passed, and the rain had gradually stopped.
Xi Yi stood at the cave entrance, gazing at the sky for a long moment before exhaling in relief.
The sky remained overcast, making it impossible for Sha Yi to guess the time. The rain had made it feel like hours had passed, and the air now carried a chill. She shivered, sneezed loudly, and her stomach growled.
Xi Yi immediately turned to her, his eyes flashing with guilt again, his expression pained.
Sha Yi clutched her stomach, slightly embarrassed. She had only eaten a few wild fruits since waking up, so of course she was hungry. But her stomach’s protest couldn’t have come at a worse time—she hated making him worry.
Because his care for her was almost excessively meticulous.
Xi Yi stroked her cheek, then seemed to remember something. Patting her hand, he said something before darting out of the cave.
Sha Yi hesitated for a moment before following him to the entrance. By then, Xi Yi had already vanished into the woods. After a brief thought, she stepped out as well.
There was still a long time before nightfall. If Xi Yi was gathering food, she ought to do what she could too—otherwise, if the rain returned, they’d be in trouble.
The rabbit meat left on the leaves had been battered and soaked by the rain, turning pale and misshapen. But since there was no industrial pollution here, it would be fine as long as it wasn’t spoiled. Sha Yi wrapped the meat back in the leaves and picked it up, then wandered to the other side of the embankment.
She was still wary of encountering giant mosquitoes, but the weather and time of day gave her courage. Returning to the banana-like tree, she broke off several rain-damaged leaves.
These leaves seemed to repel insects. When she had been bitten by the giant mosquito, Xi Yi had burned them to drive the pests away. No wonder, during her first night lost in the woods, she had faced so many dangers but never seen a single giant mosquito—she must have crushed these leaves in her stumbling, their juices coating her body.
The realization made Sha Yi appreciate the leaves even more. She gathered a few more until one plant was completely stripped bare.
At the base of the tree, she discovered a small burrow.
The entrance wasn’t large—about half the width of an arm. The tunnel sloped downward, its upper part partially covered by hardened, waterproof sand mixed with some unknown substance. Inside, she glimpsed a dry space.
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