Chapter 217: Cassan’s Intention

“Hidden meaning in your words.” Yelai frowned. “What exactly are you trying to say?”

Turning back to glance at the sullen, gaunt man once more, Sha Yi remained silent.

The conversation had reached this point, and she no longer intended to waste effort on him. Further words would be futile.

With that thought, she slowly exited the earthen kiln.

Yelai didn’t call after her.

Two men from Jialuo’s side, who had been waiting outside, immediately pushed a large boulder to block the entrance.

The moon was nearly full, casting an exceptionally bright and soft glow over the night, illuminating the kiln once used for firing pottery, yet rendering it a ghastly pale hue.

Such a scene wouldn’t normally stand out, but at this moment, recalling her earlier exchange with Yelai, Sha Yi felt an indescribable weight pressing on her.

It wasn’t due to a foul mood, nor a shift in her mindset, nor even anxiety about the unknown. Rather, she inexplicably felt a twinge of pity for the cold and aloof Yelai.

Perhaps this was the last chance they could offer him.

Before, she had always considered Yelai ruthless and cold-blooded, but now, it seemed he wasn’t the mastermind—Manlun and Yeli were the true culprits.

She held grudges, but she could still distinguish right from wrong and primary from secondary causes.

Reflecting on this, Sha Yi couldn’t help but sigh inwardly, her brows slightly furrowed. She no longer had any intention to persuade him further.

Instead, it was Tuge, who had been following her, who spoke up: “Tonight, everyone is digging trenches. What about here? What if Yeli tries something again?”

“Yeli likely won’t make a move tonight. He’ll need time and effort to fully assess our situation. Manlun’s defection might unsettle those he left behind, but for you, it’s irrelevant—you’re no longer in the same position as before.”

Glancing up at the moon, Sha Yi murmured, “What Yeli doesn’t understand is us. Now that you’re aligned with us, given his nature, he’ll surely take his time. Of course, he’s probably already gathered some intel before engaging with us.”

“You mean…” Tuge pondered. “He’s likely already figured out our situation?”

“Possibly, but it’s hard to say. Either way, tonight’s efforts are partly for ourselves and partly to confuse Yeli and his men, buying us some time.” Sha Yi smiled faintly. “And also, to give Jialuo some breathing room.”

“Jialuo? He’s been missing for ages!” Tuge exclaimed in shock. “Have you seen him?”

“No, I haven’t. Just a guess.” The lie slipped out effortlessly, without so much as a blink.

Whether it was due to spending too much time with Jialuo and Tuge or simply adapting to constant upheavals, she now spun falsehoods without batting an eye. Though it was for the greater good and a necessary compromise, it didn’t change the fact that it was a lie.

Perhaps, in this world, the only one she’d ever be completely honest with was Xiyi.

Survival of the fittest—the law of evolution. Unconsciously, she had changed so much.

Tuge, however, didn’t doubt her words. He merely grumbled irritably, cursing Jialuo under his breath: “That guy abandoned his own people, vanished without a trace, and even got captured by Yeli! Utterly useless. Who knows if he’s even alive now!”

Sha Yi found it amusing but didn’t laugh. She didn’t engage further with Tuge either, quickly calculating her next steps before turning to leave.

Tuge swiftly grabbed her arm. “You haven’t said whether we should assign more people to guard Yelai!”

Glancing at the earthen kiln, Sha Yi nodded. “Add more guards. And make sure they stay vigilant—no slack. Remember, don’t pick any of Manlun’s former followers, and don’t explain too much.”

“Of course I know that,” Tuge agreed. “But the rest are all digging trenches… What about—”

“Go talk to Xiyi and Xigu. They won’t refuse.” Pointing at the kiln, she added, “Also, though the kiln is sturdy, with someone like Yelai, we need extra precautions. Check the ropes binding him frequently. Ideally, the guards shouldn’t participate in trench-digging.”

“Now I get it!” Tuge nodded knowingly, then smirked mischievously. “Honestly, why not just knock Yelai out for a few days? Saves us the trouble of guarding him!”

“True, I hadn’t thought of that.” After a brief pause, Sha Yi quickly agreed. “Doable. But still assign extra guards—we need to watch for threats from both outside and within.”

“Got it, got it.” Tuge grinned, his gap-toothed mouth stretching wide. “What about the rest? Like the trenches and all…”

Sha Yi felt a surge of irritation at his endless chatter. She had been somewhat drowsy, ready to retreat, only to be bombarded with his rambling. She cut him off bluntly: “You should know more about these things than I do!”

“Hey…” Tuge whined reluctantly, his face scrunching up. “Even if you’re not as experienced, you always come up with the most effective ideas. I just wanted your input…”

Mentally cursing Tuge as a sly old fox, Sha Yi suddenly wanted to put as much distance between them as possible. “The trench plan is set. If anything else comes up, ask Xiyi or the others.”

Without waiting for his response, she turned and walked away, ignoring the stunned and crestfallen look on the older man’s face.

It wasn’t entirely her fault.

First, she was genuinely tired. If Xiyi and the others worked until dawn, she’d need to take care of herself without adding to their burdens. Second, Tuge had mentioned drugging Yelai, and she had no idea what plants he’d use. Regardless, it wasn’t safe for her as a pregnant woman, so she had to get away.

Masa had followed her back. In the short time she’d been gone, the trenches had expanded significantly.

Sha Yi couldn’t help but admire the physical endurance of these ancient humans.

Along the way, she even overheard some of the men who had migrated with them from the old cave settlement praising the crude, ugly metal weapons.

Having never used advanced tools or witnessed the superiority of metal implements, they were utterly enthralled by them compared to bone knives, spears, or wooden tools. Their excitement was boundless.

Satisfied, Sha Yi returned to the brick house and slept through the night. Masa stayed with her, concerned about potential morning sickness, so he made a simple bed on the floor with animal hides, just as he had in the stone cave.

Though the weather was colder, Masa, having grown up in harsh conditions, didn’t mind. In fact, with the extra hides she provided, his current setup was even more comfortable.

Miraculously, she slept soundly, free from nausea or discomfort. Around midnight, she even got up to check outside.

The group seemed divided into shifts. One team was still digging one side of the trench at an impressive pace, while the other side was quiet, showing little progress.

Not wanting to disturb anyone, Sha Yi quietly retreated inside.

She admired this arrangement. Though slightly less efficient, it ensured everyone’s safety.

Rotating shifts minimized external threats. With Yeli already restless, this strategy effectively stifled any schemes he might hatch.

At ease, she slept soundly until dawn.

Sha Yi woke early, but Masa was already up, tending to a small fire outside the brick house.

He was reheating the leftover shrimp soup in her stainless steel pot, while beside him sat a large, leaf-covered container emitting faint steam.

Sha Yi sat on the wooden platform for a while, watching the rising steam before finally standing.

Despite the savory aroma of the shrimp soup, she detected another faint, sweet fragrance—something new and freshly cooked.

Her curiosity piqued, she approached for a closer look.

Masa noticed her immediately and, without a word, lifted the leaf cover and pushed the steaming container toward her.

Sha Yi’s eyes widened—it was a mass of soft, white, grain-like clumps!

Heart pounding, she reached in, ignoring the heat, and popped a handful into her mouth.

It tasted remarkably like modern rice!

For a moment, she was too stunned to speak. Masa, confused by her reaction, quickly sampled it himself, then stared at her in bewilderment.

Sha Yi, however, was ecstatic. Gripping his shoulders, she demanded, “Masa, where did you get this?”