Chapter 241: Plotting for Success

It took Kapa quite some effort to tie Yele up again, and in the end, Masa secured the bindings. Yele couldn’t speak, so that was considered done.

However, Sha Yi quickly realized that if Kapa was also tied up, it would be quite difficult to force Yele toward the trench, as he was completely uncooperative. Masa’s strength was no match for his, just like hers.

Left with no choice, she had to ask Masa to fetch Tuge.

As it turned out, even with Tuge’s help, the three of them still couldn’t push Yele an inch forward.

Yele was already filled with hatred and now stubbornly refused to move, mustering all his strength to oppose her. She felt that if she wanted to drag him away, she’d have to knock him out with a blow.

But doing so might give Yeli an opportunity to cause trouble. If it affected the bigger picture, all their efforts could go to waste.

While she was struggling with this dilemma, Tuge swiftly slapped Yele across the face. Taking advantage of Yele’s momentary disorientation, Tuge shoved an unknown red spherical fruit into his mouth.

In that instant, before Yele could react, his throat moved reflexively, swallowing whatever Tuge had forced into him.

The next second, Yele’s expression changed—even more drastically than when she had Kapa feed him the black fruit that temporarily robbed him of his voice.

Being fed one inexplicable thing after another, Yele probably felt like dying by now. But bound as he was, he couldn’t do a thing. In the end, all he could do was glare at her and Tuge, speechless.

Still, this was Yele’s own doing. If he hadn’t tried to kill her in the first place, he wouldn’t be suffering like this. What goes around comes around.

Feeling a malicious satisfaction, Sha Yi couldn’t help but pull Tuge aside. “What kind of fruit did you just feed him?”

“Don’t worry, it won’t hurt him,” Tuge waved his hand, grinning. “It just causes full-body numbness. If he can’t move, he can’t resist. We can drag him over there in a bit.”

Sha Yi was speechless.

Tuge’s move was ruthless, especially since he said it right in front of Yele. In just a short time, Yele had lost his voice and now his mobility. If Yele weren’t helpless, Tuge would probably have been torn to pieces.

But this approach had its advantages.

Earlier, she had only thought of silencing Yele but forgot that even in ancient times, communication through gestures was possible. Back when she and Xiyi couldn’t understand each other’s language, they still managed to communicate through actions—let alone brothers like Yele and Yeli.

Now, rendering Yele completely numb was quite fitting. At the very least, she wouldn’t have to worry about him causing trouble for them in the short term.

After all, Yele had witnessed firsthand the situation between Kapa and them. To prevent any mishaps, this was necessary. Tuge’s move had inadvertently served two purposes.

Still, she was curious about how long the effects of Tuge’s fruit would last. They needed some time to regroup.

With that in mind, she gestured toward Yele and asked, “Tuge, how long will the effects of that fruit last?”

“When I accidentally ate it, I couldn’t move for over three days. If Garo hadn’t come looking for me and carried me back, I probably would’ve died,” Tuge mused, rubbing his chin. “This guy looks lean but seems sturdy. If nothing goes wrong, I’d guess the effects will last a full day.”

“Why a guess?” Sha Yi was exasperated. “Can’t you give a definite answer?”

“I’m the only one who’s ever eaten this fruit. How would I know how it affects others?” Tuge retorted, looking aggrieved. “After what happened to me, who’d be foolish enough to try it?”

“Fair point. It’d be better if the effects lasted longer.” Sighing, Sha Yi shook her head, resigned.

Tuge stretched out his bony hand and patted her shoulder. “Sha Yi, sometimes you really are as dense as Garo.”

Raising an eyebrow, Sha Yi sighed. “Got any better ideas? Let’s hear them.”

“Feed him more! I refuse to believe he’ll bounce back in a day if we stuff him full of them!” Tuge triumphantly pulled out a handful of the small red fruits from the pouch at his waist. “Good idea, right?”

Watching Tuge’s almost manic grin, Sha Yi felt her lips twitch, suddenly thinking of two words—”poison doctor.”

Objectively, Tuge’s medical skills might have been top-notch in ancient times, but compared to modern standards, they were unreliable. His knowledge of plants, while extensive, wasn’t thorough. His reckless use of wild anesthetic fruits was baffling.

From Tuge’s perspective, if one fruit wasn’t enough, just keep adding more. He believed it only extended the duration.

But from a modern standpoint, many substances like this had strict dosage limits. Overdosing could turn them toxic, and excessive intake could disrupt bodily functions.

Right now, she didn’t want Yele dead—at least not before the trade was complete. As for afterward, she didn’t care. Yele wasn’t irredeemably evil, but he was no saint either.

She was only worried that feeding him too much might kill him instantly.

No one knew the exact composition of those red fruits.

Thinking this, Sha Yi quickly shook her head and stopped Tuge. “Don’t force them all down at once. Two or three more should be enough.”

“But you were worried the effects wouldn’t last long enough?” Tuge was confused. “Why not feed him more?”

“You don’t even understand this fruit, yet you’d risk killing him?” Sha Yi snatched the remaining fruits from Tuge’s hand. “Just do as I say.”

“Fine.” With no other choice, Tuge reluctantly obeyed.

Selecting three more fruits, they waited until the first one took effect—Yele went limp. Then Tuge shoved the bright red fruits into Yele’s mouth one by one. Furious but powerless, Yele could only glare with smoldering dark-gray eyes as Tuge did as he pleased.

Finally, Tuge gagged him for good measure.

Yele was dragged to the trench by Tuge and Masa using a tattered animal hide. This infuriated Yeli, but Kasan cooperated fully, assuring him that Yele would only be weak for a few days, resolving the issue.

The trade went smoothly, and they obtained the antidote herbs for Saina as desired.

Two bundles—ample in quantity—and verified by Tuge to be genuine.

With that, both sides stood down.

Originally, Sha Yi had worried that if Yele attacked immediately after the trade, even with preparations, they might suffer losses.

But something odd happened. After taking Yele back, Yeli made no move—not even a word. He simply had Yele carried behind a giant tree across the trench.

With both sides still on guard, no one dared let their guard down, maintaining their initial stance.

Sha Yi returned to the brick house with Tuge, accompanied by Xiyi.

Garo took Xiyi’s place alongside Xigu. Though both were hot-tempered, their disagreements made them unlikely to succumb to provocation.

Privately, she pondered why Yeli hadn’t attacked.

Perhaps Yeli was worried about Yele’s condition. Given his extreme paranoia, this was plausible. Even if he feared Yele was poisoned and the antidote was in their hands, it wasn’t unreasonable. Moreover, the “shared fate” bond remained an insurmountable obstacle for him.

In truth, he was only concerned that Yele’s condition might affect him. Otherwise, why would he care so much?

Another possibility was that he saw Yele’s injuries—deliberately inflicted by Garo, though Yeli didn’t know that. Yeli himself had also been wounded in the clash with Saina.

During their earlier negotiations, she had noticed his injuries—subtle but present. He must have been afraid, needing time to decide his next move.

Alternatively, Yeli might have realized that a direct confrontation no longer favored them.

A surprise attack wasn’t impossible either—Saina’s situation was a precedent. Minimal cost for maximum gain—a bargain by any measure.

Regardless of Yeli’s calculations, as long as they could buy one more day, they’d have an opportunity.

When instructing Kapa, she had emphasized acting quickly. Barring unforeseen circumstances, Kapa would likely strike tonight—or risk missing the best chance.

Delaying was dangerous. The longer they waited, the higher the chance of exposure.

She had even considered burning the same sedative herbs they’d used before, but Tuge and Garo might not have enough antidote plants. Plus, environmental factors played a role.

It was already winter, and the wind outside could spread the scent effectively—but if it blew back toward them, it’d be useless. Better to let Kapa try. Since those men were a tight-knit group, proximity increased the odds of success.

Thinking this, she felt somewhat at ease.

Xiyi didn’t know what she was thinking, but he was still deeply concerned for her. As they entered the brick house, he even worried she might not withstand the lingering scent of blood.

But after a night of chaos, she was too preoccupied to care. Initially, she had struggled, but forcing herself to endure had helped. Now, her nausea had lessened considerably.

A good sign.

People really do grow more delicate the more they’re pampered!