But overall, the placement of the reddish-brown thick vines this time was highly effective.
They avoided lightning strikes while also harnessing the power of the storm to obtain the wood needed for rafts. Although the cuts on the wood were uneven and some sections were even charred, this only affected aesthetics at most. As for the rest, there was no need to dwell on it further.
However, the quantity was indeed insufficient. If it were just the original dozen or so people from the Xi Yi tribe, a single raft would have been enough. But now, with around thirty people, one raft could never accommodate everyone, not to mention the issue of buoyancy.
During a torrential downpour and flood, even staying within capacity was dangerous, let alone with so many people. They couldn’t afford to take that risk.
This batch of lightning-struck Pasa wood could at most make two rafts—they still needed more.
Having made up her mind, Sha Yi shared her thoughts with Xi Yi and the others. Though they didn’t fully understand, given that her previous suggestions had always been innovative and practical, no one objected. In fact, they didn’t even question her and simply agreed.
This group was different from the old settlement, which put Sha Yi somewhat at ease.
Anticipating that more problems might arise—including concerns about the harsh environment around their new dwelling—she didn’t elaborate further. She simply gestured for everyone to take the reddish-brown vines and find another suitable spot to hang them among the Pasa trees.
Compared to the lightning diversion, what worried her more now was the handling of the broken Pasa wood.
Honestly, if they moved the broken logs to the front of their cave dwelling, there would be some security, but the risk of lightning strikes remained. On the other hand, processing them in their original location would be much more convenient, as the adhesive material was readily available on the nearby bamboo trees.
But the current weather conditions were far from ideal. The trouble of dealing with thunderstorms was minor compared to the real danger—being near trees during lightning strikes. Even if the reddish-brown vines were placed on other Pasa trees, it was still a double-edged sword. It might divert the lightning, or it might put the entire area at risk.
Moreover, in just one morning, everyone had come to realize the omnipresent dangers of this isolated land. Especially during continuous heavy rain in the wild, no matter how many people there were, without proper weapons, they were no match for the snakes and beasts.
And if the rain ever caused the tributaries to breach their banks, there was a real possibility these logs could be swept away. Then all their efforts would be for nothing.
So, the sooner they resolved this, the better. The longer they delayed, the worse the situation would become. Unfortunately, none of the conditions were favorable, leaving them feeling utterly powerless.
In the end, with no other options, Sha Yi could only suggest to Xi Yi that they find some thick vines to tie the broken logs to other intact trees as a precaution.
Xi Yi immediately agreed with her idea.
Still, she couldn’t shake her frustration.
It wasn’t just this pile of problems—there were also metal ores, charcoal, smelting, crude oil, and a whole host of other issues, each weighing heavily on her. And to make matters worse, they were stuck in the rainy season, a time when everything was a struggle. It was downright depressing.
If only she had time-traveled a bit earlier or later—anything but this excruciatingly tight spot. The current situation made her feel like she was failing at every turn.
After stewing for a while, she snapped out of her thoughts to find that the group had already swiftly gathered vines and tied up the broken logs as she had instructed—impressively efficient.
As Sha Yi marveled at their speed, her gaze fell once more on the bloody scene, and she couldn’t help but feel resentful.
That snake and beast had only added to their troubles.
With the sky darkening again and another storm approaching, leaving the two carcasses unburied or unthrown into the river would only attract more carnivorous predators—possibly even giant snakes—which would be disastrous for them.
Xi Yi, standing nearby, clearly had the same thought. Without waiting for her to speak, he gathered a few others and set about disposing of the two bodies.
Their plan was straightforward: toss them into the river.
Sha Yi didn’t stop them.
Burying the carcasses would have been too difficult and time-consuming. Unlike the horse carcass, which was relatively small and manageable, these were too large—dumping them in the river was the only option.
Though not ideal, it shouldn’t pose much of a problem during the rainy season.
Sha Yi lingered for a while longer. By the time Xi Yi and the others returned, the rain had started again, accompanied by thunder and strong winds. The group hurriedly called out to each other to retreat.
Xi Yi, likely worried about her, didn’t say a word—he simply rushed over mid-journey, scooped her up, and sprinted back.
Sha Yi was speechless.
By the time they returned to the cave, the horse carcass had already been dealt with by the remaining people. As for the few from the Saina tribe, they had gone out to search for coconut-like fruits and hadn’t returned yet.
So, only a handful of women remained in the cave, and Sha Yi didn’t send Xi Yi back out.
With nothing else to do, she sat back down by the bathtub, lost in thought. Xi Yi joined her, seemingly sensing her unease. He wrapped an arm around her and, in an attempt to comfort her, emphasized that this location was higher in elevation than their old settlement.
He wasn’t wrong, and she understood his point—but that didn’t mean the threats were gone.
True, this place was higher, but it was also in the middle of the river. When it came to flooding, it was just as precarious as the old settlement.
Who knew? They might end up staying in this cave for an even shorter time than before!
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