It was a gloomy morning, with the entire cave and the surrounding forest shrouded in a misty, damp haze.
The rain had stopped—the first time in over ten days since the search for mineral salt—and the thunder had vanished as well. For her and the twenty-some people who had separated from the main group, this was a rare stretch of good weather. At the very least, they wouldn’t have to worry about being struck by lightning while searching for a new settlement.
Being carried by Xi Yi to find a place to change her menstrual cloth was an utterly mortifying experience. Thankfully, when it came time to change, he couldn’t withstand her insistence and turned his back, standing aside. But the end result was still embarrassing—just as she was cleaning up the mess she’d left behind, Xi Yi swiftly snatched up the soiled cloth she’d set aside and refused to return it no matter how much she demanded.
In the end, he led her to a secluded, unfamiliar stream and meticulously washed the small cloth for her. While scrubbing, he even gathered plenty of soap leaves to clean it thoroughly, promising it would be spotless.
True to his word, he washed the white cloth until it was pristine. From start to finish, he didn’t let her lift a finger, even warning her not to touch the cold river water.
Sha Yi didn’t know how to describe Xi Yi. He was so capable that he wanted to handle everything for her, seizing every opportunity to prevent her from lifting a finger. The extent of his pampering was beyond ordinary—if he kept this up, she might truly become spoiled beyond reason.
By the time they returned to their temporary dwelling, the group was already up, and food was being prepared. With everyone working together, each person fulfilled their role, and soon the cave was filled with the aroma of roasted meat.
At the same moment, Sha Yi’s stomach growled. For the first time in her life, she craved greasy food in the morning. Normally, her period should have killed her appetite, but now she not only wanted to eat but specifically craved meat—perhaps influenced by Xi Yi’s habits.
The cave was too dim, so everyone soon moved outside to eat their roasted meat. Sha Yi, finding the air too damp, chose a spot near the cave entrance, spreading out a large leaf to sit on. Xi Yi followed her lead.
But as she entered, she brushed past Ma Rui, who was yawning and looking exhausted. Sha Yi’s sharp eyes caught the dark bruise around one of his eyes—it looked like he’d been punched. When Xi Gu caught up, she shot him a questioning glance.
Unlike Ma Rui’s lethargy and silence, Xi Gu was quick to react. He immediately pointed at Xi Yi and angrily blurted out, “Don’t ask if it was me—how could I hit Ma Rui like that? This was Xi Yi’s doing! He tried sneaking over to your side in the middle of the night, got caught, and then resorted to violence. Shameless!”
Sha Yi’s eyes widened in shock, and she reflexively turned to Xi Yi. But he just hung his head in silence, stubbornly playing the role of a turtle retreating into its shell. No matter how much she shook him, he refused to say a word, focusing solely on eating his roasted meat.
Helpless, Sha Yi could only start on her own two pieces of meat.
Like the previous night, this morning’s meal consisted solely of roasted meat with no broth. Setting up a fire sturdy enough to hold a cooking vessel wasn’t easy—unlike their previous settlement cave, where they’d had time to arrange thick branches for stability. Now, not only was their dwelling temporary, but they also lacked the time to build such a fire. So everyone made do with roasted meat.
The night before, they’d been lucky—another small group had brought them broth. But today, there was no sign of them. Sha Yi didn’t know if they were even awake yet, but they couldn’t just keep relying on others for food and drink. Those who were thirsty had to collect rainwater from plant leaves themselves.
Sha Yi outright rejected the idea of drinking leftover rainwater. Xi Yi had initially considered fetching some, but seeing her reluctance, he stayed put—likely remembering her need for warm water in her current state, so he wisely didn’t press the issue.
However, her refusal didn’t mean she’d go thirsty. Just as she was finishing her second piece of meat, the four short men from the previous night arrived again, each carrying a bucket-like vessel covered with a small piece of animal hide. Their group wasn’t particularly well-off—after leaving behind four containers the night before, they no longer had better ones. Two of the newly brought containers were already slightly damaged, forcing them to walk carefully to avoid spilling the broth.
The broth was the same greenish hue as before, with even fewer floating plant leaves than the previous night. But they’d still brought it—whether out of kindness or other motives, it was a timely gift. Sha Yi’s impression of them remained favorable.
Too thirsty to refuse, the group quickly divided and drank the four buckets of unappetizing broth.
This time, the men didn’t quietly linger on the sidelines. They seemed to have something to say but hesitated, as if afraid of rejection.
Xi Gu noticed their unease and bluntly asked what they wanted. The four men immediately launched into an earnest explanation, their words tumbling out in a mix of excitement and nervousness.
They wanted to join their group.
Staying in the settlement cave or leaving—according to the men, it didn’t matter. But after yesterday’s events, they no longer wanted to live with the others. Their words subtly hinted at support for Sha Yi and Xi Yi’s faction. The second issue was their limited food supply—if they joined, they’d consume resources from the group. So, if rejected, they’d remain in the settlement cave but continue delivering broth daily until the group relocated.
Their sincerity was evident, and the men looked genuinely earnest. It would’ve been hard to outright refuse them. Unable to decide, Xi Gu glanced between Sha Yi, Xi Yi, and Sai Na, who sat by the fire adding fuel, his expression indecipherable.
Finally, Sai Na spoke first: “Joining now would technically be a burden, but it’s worth considering since everyone can contribute to group activities. So, I’ll leave it to you two—Xi Yi, Sha Yi.”
His words were harsh, whether intentionally or not. After an unwilling analysis, he dumped the decision onto Sha Yi and Xi Yi at the last moment—especially with that ambiguous smile he shot their way.
Hearing Sai Na’s words, the short men—about her height—looked crestfallen. Sha Yi couldn’t bear it and nudged the tall man beside her. “Xi Yi, let them join?”
“It’s up to you.” He smiled down at her, showing no reluctance, though he added, “But we haven’t found a new settlement yet. This cave can’t fit everyone. Their group isn’t just four people—there are two women as well. If they come now, they’ll have nowhere to stay.”
“So you mean…?”
“Let’s wait until we find a new cave, then invite them.”
As if sensing Xi Yi’s tentative acceptance, the previously dejected men instantly brightened, gesturing excitedly that they didn’t mind crowding—they could even help search for a new cave.
Sha Yi’s heart softened again, but just as she was about to speak, a memory surfaced. Tugging Xi Yi’s arm, she whispered, “Xi Yi, remember that cave we passed on our way here? The one your brother Xi Mang used to live in? It’s not as good as the settlement cave, but it’s still spacious—enough for all of them. The only question is… whether you’re willing to share it…”
She cautiously studied his expression, but instead of hesitation, he smacked his own forehead in frustration. “How could I forget about that place? It’s perfect for us right now—couldn’t be better. Of course I wouldn’t mind everyone living there together. Why don’t we take advantage of the clear weather today and move?”
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