Xigu was utterly astonished by her statistical, recording, and distribution skills. While marveling at her abilities, he also followed her instructions without question, as did everyone else. Their gazes at her were on the verge of outright worship.
Sha Yi completely ignored their expressions and looks, continuing to issue her own orders without hesitation.
Fortunately, communication was no longer an issue, and their efficiency was impressive. In no time, everything was settled. She then instructed them to place the sorted animals into a small branching cave behind their current location.
It had to be said that Xiyi and the others had chosen an excellent spot. Just behind their usual dwelling, there was a small, winding cave—perfect for storing food. She hadn’t noticed it before, nor had she seen Xigu and the others using it, but now it was just right.
Regardless, finding mineral salt remained the top priority. If they had been near the coast, the search wouldn’t have been so difficult. Unfortunately, there was no trace of the sea here, leaving them reliant on mineral salt. Thankfully, nature hadn’t been unkind—the distribution of resources among species was remarkably balanced.
Sha Yi began to hope that the next day would bring another scorching, sunny day.
By evening, Xiyi finally returned.
He brought back a great many things—aside from a few small animals, most were edible plants, along with a pile of pre-processed chunks of meat from large game. These were likely his personal gains after parting ways with the others.
When Sha Yi helped him remove the vine basket, she noticed a large, thin piece of white fur tucked inside. Curiosity piqued, but with everyone around, she refrained from pulling it out for a closer look. Instead, she simply invited Xiyi to join them for dinner.
Dinner was the same as usual—grilled meat as the main course, accompanied by a pot of delicious mushroom soup. Everyone ate heartily, thoroughly satisfied. Xigu even went out of his way to praise her statistical and organizational skills, which earned her an even more adoring and pleasantly surprised look from Xiyi.
After dinner, the group gathered around the fire to chat, but Xiyi seemed unwilling to linger. He pulled her outside the cave without delay.
This time, Sha Yi was more cautious. Even though Xiyi repeatedly assured her they were just going to the river to bathe, she stubbornly grabbed a lighter, a bone knife, her precious shampoo and soap, and—remembering the nighttime chill—her freshly washed and dried bathrobe before reluctantly following him out.
Xiyi stared at her in disbelief, but she paid no mind.
The weather and environment of this era were bizarrely unpredictable. After so many unexpected incidents, she couldn’t afford to be careless. As the saying went, “Better safe than sorry.” Prevention was always better than cure.
Xiyi had no choice but to humor her.
Night had already fallen. Unlike the previous stormy evenings, the nearly full moon provided ample light, though the temperature had dropped significantly—a stark contrast to the blazing heat of the day. Fortunately, water’s high specific heat capacity meant the river retained much of the warmth absorbed during the day. Sha Yi was immensely grateful she’d brought the bathrobe.
This time, Xiyi didn’t tease her during their bath. Perhaps too exhausted, he even dozed off against a large rock by the shore while she washed his hair. She lathered his head with shampoo, but he barely stirred. In the end, she gently rinsed it off for him.
Leaving him to sleep, she washed the items she’d brought and set them on a rock to dry. Then she looked up at the sky—a night dense with stars and a bright moon. Tomorrow’s weather would likely be just as good. Even if it differed from modern times, it wouldn’t bring relentless storms. As long as there was no thunder or heavy rain, her plans stood a fair chance of success.
With that in mind, she began carefully planning the next day’s schedule.
Given their current situation, two main tasks stood out: lightning protection and salt acquisition.
The lightning issue was relatively simpler—just gathering some reddish-brown vines would temporarily solve the problem. However, venturing into that terrifying forest wasn’t easy; they’d need experienced guides, possibly even survivors from the dense jungle tribes.
As for salt, they’d have to conduct a thorough search across the slopes, and she needed to be directly involved. This would require significant manpower, meaning Xiyi and Xigu would have to coordinate with others.
There was also the matter of fuel. If they could gather a large amount of resin, they could ensure a steady fire supply. Fire had countless uses—cooking, warmth, light, and even survival in emergencies. Most flammable materials would be ruined by rain, but resin wouldn’t, and it burned efficiently.
One last thing had been weighing on her mind, though she hadn’t voiced it yet because it wasn’t strictly necessary.
Before arriving here, she’d worried about floods. While their cave dwelling showed no signs of waterlogging, the low-lying terror forest was clearly prone to rising water levels. She couldn’t shake the feeling that building a boat—or at least a large raft—was a wise precaution.
If time allowed, crafting one on short notice wasn’t impossible. But with so many pressing tasks tomorrow, she’d have to hope for the following days.
Come morning, they’d likely set out early to search for the mineral salt deposit. Ideally, they’d finish by midday, as refining salt required additional time and steps. Their schedule was tight.
By the time she’d finished organizing her thoughts, the night wind had picked up. Sha Yi stood and shook Xiyi awake—he’d been soaking in the water long enough to risk catching a chill.
Xiyi was a light sleeper. The moment she moved, he stirred and swiftly climbed out of the river. She quickly wrapped him in the bathrobe she’d brought.
Xiyi obeyed without protest, letting her dress him. Once she’d tied the robe’s sash, he leaned down and gently kissed her forehead. His damp hair, tousled by the wind, brushed against her ear, tickling her and sending shivers down her spine.
She tried to push him away, but he refused to let go. Only when she gave up did he finally gather their bathing supplies, scoop her up in his arms, and stride briskly back toward the cave.
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