It was a rather sleepless and difficult night.
Everyone was worried that the group might come to cause trouble in the middle of the night, so they decided to assign a few people to take turns keeping watch and monitoring the situation.
Since the team working on the rafts during the day had mostly been spared from any incidents, this group was chosen for night watch. Xi Yi was assigned to the first shift in the latter half of the night.
The rafts were too cumbersome to bring inside, so Sha Yi simply had everyone carry them in to use as makeshift beds. Lined up horizontally, each raft could accommodate six or seven men. With five rafts, everyone managed to secure a decent spot to sleep.
As for their corner, it was too small to fit such a large raft, so sleeping in the bathtub remained the more practical option.
Originally, Sha Yi had planned to gather some logs to make a bed that day, but the rafts took priority. Then, the conflict with the savages over food had made things even more frustrating.
Now, the four logs—each as thick as a thigh—were being used as boat poles. They weren’t wide enough, nor had they been secured with bamboo resin, so she had no choice but to stick with the bathtub.
After Xi Yi finished eating, Sha Yi quickly rearranged the animal hides in the bathtub and cleared away the items that had been placed along its edges. She intended to squeeze in with Xi Gu, leaving the entire bathtub for Xi Yi to rest more comfortably, but he refused.
She tried to explain, but he grew agitated and, without another word, scooped her up, pushed aside the hanging hides, and carried her into the partitioned private space beneath the overhang.
Sha Yi instinctively struggled a few times, but he only held her tighter. Helpless, she gave up.
Xi Gu, who had been silently watching the whole scene, suddenly winked at her suggestively, making Sha Yi both embarrassed and annoyed.
Xi Yi pressed her down onto the hides.
He seemed a little upset, though he didn’t say anything—just glared at her with a wounded expression.
Sha Yi felt her heart soften again.
Even though his weight—likely twice hers—was pressing uncomfortably on her, especially with her waist half-propped against the edge of the bathtub, she couldn’t ignore the hurt in his eyes.
Finally, she reached up and wrapped her arms around his neck. Only then did his wounded expression gradually shift into happiness.
Ever since he had saved her from the tiger, he had clung to her relentlessly. Unless it was for essential tasks like hunting, she doubted he would ever leave her side—short of literally tying her to his waist.
If this was due to his loveless childhood, she still didn’t understand why he never clung to Xi Gu the same way. In fact, sometimes he actively avoided Xi Gu—only she was the exception.
Xi Yi adored being close to her, no matter the circumstances.
Even now, when a bloody conflict might erupt at any moment, he was no exception.
He had always obeyed her words almost unconditionally, and often considered the bigger picture. But when it came to matters involving her, he became reckless, even downright stubborn at times.
Like now—she believed it was crucial for him to rest properly, yet he had gotten upset and hurt, then pounced on her like a bandit. If not for the rainy season’s constraints, he probably would’ve tried to have his way with her!
Still, it was understandable. Setting aside the fact that he was a prehistoric man, his straightforward and unrestrained nature was simply part of who he was. Though his actions often left her flustered, they were undeniably sincere.
Now that she had softened and yielded, Xi Yi seemed satisfied. He rolled off her and lay down beside her instead.
In the face of uncertainty and unexpected events, they lay in silence—wordless, yet intimately close.
Xi Yi didn’t try anything further. He simply lay quietly beside her and soon closed his eyes.
Sha Yi didn’t dare disturb him, but her position was uncomfortable. After enduring it for a while, she slowly and carefully turned onto her side.
That night, to prepare for any sudden emergencies, most people in the cave had gone to sleep early. Unable to sleep, and afraid of provoking Xi Yi, she chose to turn onto her right side, facing away from him.
But Xi Yi wasn’t asleep at all. The moment she moved, he pressed against her, sliding a strong arm around her waist and pulling her tightly against him from behind.
His chest was warm, radiating heat against her back, and Sha Yi found it comforting.
The rainy season had already brought cooler temperatures. Even on days with intense sun, the warmth was limited to daylight hours. At night, it dropped back to the chilly, stormy levels. By modern standards, it was akin to spring or autumn—around ten degrees Celsius. But since the ground hadn’t fully cooled, it was just cool enough to be pleasant without being uncomfortably cold.
His body heat was just right for her needs. Lost in thought, she reached down and placed her hand over his rough one, which rested on her abdomen.
Almost instantly, he brushed aside her disheveled hair and buried his face against her neck, inhaling deeply.
This seemed to be another one of his quirks—he loved nuzzling her neck, always making her shiver with goosebumps, yet he never tired of it.
Sha Yi couldn’t handle his teasing and instinctively tried to pull away, but he held her firmly in place. Only when she pleaded did he finally relent.
But he wasn’t ready to let her off completely. Not until he turned her to face him did he release his grip.
She wanted to speak, but he was faster—covering her mouth and whispering, “If anything happens in the latter half of the night, stay with Xi Gu. She can protect you.”
She already understood the potential dangers and their inevitable consequences, but his words still sent a jolt of fear through her. Summoning all her strength, she pushed his hand away. “What about you? If things get really bad, just give them what they want. Staying alive is more important than anything. I don’t want anything to happen to you. Promise me you won’t fight recklessly?”
Seemingly affected by her emotions, he pulled her closer and fell silent for a moment before speaking slowly. “This food wasn’t easy to come by, and the salt crystals are even harder to obtain. Without them, we’d struggle to survive. There are so many of us…”
He didn’t finish, but she knew he was right. The situation was dire. Based on what she’d learned about prehistoric people, both sides would likely fight to the death over food. If a few casualties could secure a large supply, neither side would hesitate.
But she couldn’t accept that. To her, survival was what mattered most.
A violent confrontation might be unavoidable, but that didn’t mean they had to throw their lives away. If it truly came down to a life-or-death moment, there was no point in sacrificing themselves. After all, food could always be replenished—but lives, once lost, were gone forever.
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