The wait was unbearably long. It wasn’t until the moon had set and the sun began to rise that Sha Yi finally noticed a group of moving black dots slowly approaching from the end of the trench where Xi Yi and a few others were stationed.
By then, the sky had brightened considerably. Though the weather seemed gloomy, there was still enough light to see.
Through the haze, the figures at the edge of her vision emerged from the dark forest, moving so swiftly that it left her stunned.
Despite the considerable distance, she was certain—the man leading them was indeed Saina. There was no mistaking it.
Just like when he had left before, he was still accompanied by those dozen or so men. At this moment, she couldn’t see his face clearly or discern his expression, but he remained unchanged.
However, the people she saw were only from Saina’s side—there was no sign of those pursuing them from Yeli’s group.
Xi Yi quickly stood up and began conversing with Saina.
In truth, the trench they had dug was strategically positioned, ensuring both distance and control. It maintained a significant gap from Yeli’s front while securing the trench’s entrance.
As it stood now, Xi Yi and the others had already placed a raft at the trench entrance leading to Saina’s side. If they managed to retrieve Saina, they could cross via the waterway.
As for the front where Kasan was stationed, the distance was much greater. With so many people gathered there, it was impossible to hear or see anything clearly.
Even in the brick house where she was now, which was much closer to Kasan’s position, she couldn’t catch a single word exchanged between Xi Yi and Saina. At most, she could only observe their movements.
Yet, when the raft carrying over a dozen people finally docked within their area, Sha Yi suddenly noticed that there seemed to be a woman among them—and she was being forcibly restrained by two men.
She still couldn’t make out the woman’s face or recognize her. Most likely, this woman was from Yeli’s side, and Sha Yi had never met her before, so she couldn’t identify her as easily as she had recognized Saina.
Once they disembarked from the raft, everyone except Saina joined Xi Yi’s group. Only he remained apart, along with the woman, whose arms were still bound behind her.
It looked strange.
But at this moment, she had no time to dwell on it. Her gaze was fixed solely on the two figures slowly making their way toward the brick house where she stood.
Before long, the two were right in front of her.
Even though they were still separated by a flimsy window, the shortened distance finally allowed her to see his face clearly.
No wonder he had seemed odd—every time she saw him, he was covered in wounds!
The last time they met, his waist and abdomen had been severely injured. Now, though she didn’t know how well those wounds had healed, his chest bore fresh injuries.
At this moment, the most horrifying sight was the torn animal hide skirt around his chest, stained with blood that had soaked halfway through. The gaping wound where a broken bone spear was lodged was particularly gruesome.
Just looking at it was enough to leave her speechless.
For a few seconds, she wondered if Saina had some kind of self-destructive tendency.
No matter the time or place, he always ended up battered and bruised. He seemed indifferent to his own life and utterly unconcerned about his physical condition.
Even when Yelei had appeared before, he hadn’t cared whether his previous injuries had healed. It was as if, once he set his mind on something, he would throw everything into it. Despite his cunning and scheming nature, that didn’t mean he lacked redeeming qualities.
Even though she didn’t approve of his reckless behavior, she still admired his courage.
Especially since he knew full well that she didn’t like him, didn’t care for him, and could even turn against him for Xi Yi’s sake. Yet, he never seemed to hold a grudge—except when it came to Xi Yi.
But that made sense. After all, Xi Yi wasn’t her, and he couldn’t extend his affection by association.
Of course, he had never let love turn to hatred either. He hadn’t tried to kill her after her rejections.
This outcome was beyond her expectations. Back at the volcanic crater, she had been certain that a man like him would seek brutal revenge.
But he hadn’t. Instead, he had risked everything multiple times to save her.
If it had been her, she probably wouldn’t have been capable of such selflessness.
For someone whose heart belonged to another, she might never have confessed her feelings at all. And if she had, only to be repeatedly rejected, she would have been heartbroken—choosing to forget, to bless, and to move on.
But no matter what, she couldn’t imagine humiliating herself by paying such a price for unrequited love.
She had to admit that while she was often willful and impulsive, there were times when she could be terrifyingly rational.
Like now.
This time, she had no idea how he had gotten injured.
Based on what she knew of him, his combat skills shouldn’t be much worse than Xi Yi or Luo’s. If Yeli had sent an overwhelming number of men, she couldn’t fully believe that either—after all, considering the number of people Kasan had brought, the enemies Saina faced couldn’t have been that numerous.
Puzzled, she instinctively looked at his face.
Just like last time, he was still pale, his expression unreadable.
But the moment he noticed her gaze, he forced a faint smile and murmured, “Sha Yi, long time no see.”
It was a casual, almost indifferent greeting, as if they were old friends reuniting—except his smile was clearly strained.
Gone was his usual arrogance, the deliberate slyness. It was completely unlike the impression he had left on her.
But at least he could still speak.
Her eyes fell back to the gruesome wound on his chest. Sha Yi felt a surge of relief—thankfully, the bone spear had struck his right chest. Otherwise, he might not have survived long enough to greet her.
Just as the thought crossed her mind, the man who was constantly injured and never fully healed suddenly broke into a coughing fit.
In mere moments, his earlier composure vanished. His brows furrowed in pain as the relentless coughing wracked his body, causing his chest to heave violently. Blood gushed from his wound.
Sha Yi was startled but couldn’t do anything through the window.
However, the bound woman who had arrived with Saina suddenly cried out, “Sha Yi… hurry, save him!”
Sha Yi froze.
Only then did she realize—the person with bound hands was a woman… and it was Kapa, whom she had met just the day before.
Originally, Kapa had been standing aside, but the moment she saw Saina’s wound bleeding uncontrollably, she struggled fiercely. Within moments, she snapped the thick vines binding her, bent down, and lifted the unsteady man into her arms.
Sha Yi snapped out of her daze and turned to unbar the door.
She needed to find Tuge!
The door gave way quickly. Just as Kapa rounded the back of the house, Sha Yi hastily arranged the animal hides on the raft.
Once Kapa had laid Saina down, Sha Yi wasted no time. After hurriedly instructing Kapa, she rushed toward the earthen kiln.
The three men were indeed keeping watch over Yelei inside the kiln, but Luo had a violent temper. The moment she arrived, she saw him mercilessly beating Yelei.
But she had no energy to deal with Luo now—she didn’t even have time to explain. She simply grabbed Tuge and pulled him away.
Tuge understood immediately and followed without a word.
Meanwhile, Masa wisely remained silent. Only Luo, thoroughly enjoying his violent outburst, remained oblivious to the urgency.
Once outside the kiln, Sha Yi moved swiftly but still managed to briefly explain the situation. Tuge hesitated only slightly before agreeing, though he insisted on fetching supplies to treat the wound.
Sha Yi didn’t refuse and let him go.
Given the urgency and the fact that it involved Saina, Tuge’s hesitation was understandable. After all, he had suffered at Saina’s hands before.
But Saina had never truly harmed him, and this time, he was effectively allied with them. She believed Tuge was far more magnanimous than Luo—his rationality outweighed his emotions. Surely, he wouldn’t take this chance to finish Saina off?
Otherwise, he’d face consequences himself.
Watching Tuge’s hurried departure, Sha Yi couldn’t help but reflect—since obtaining the salt crystals, his vision had improved significantly. He was much more efficient now, far better than when he had treated Xi Yi’s wounds back at Uhoshankou.
Suppressing her inner turmoil, Sha Yi shook her head and strode back to her brick house.
Inside, Kapa was carefully peeling away the blood-soaked animal hide from Saina’s chest. She seemed to know some basic first aid, as she pressed firmly against his wound while removing the hide.
She didn’t dare touch the broken bone spear lodged in his flesh, but she kept steady pressure on the injury.
His condition was dire. The blood loss alone was alarming.
Though the injury resembled Xi Yi’s from before, Xi Yi had drifted downstream, and the bone spear hadn’t been subjected to further external force.
Saina’s wound, however, clearly indicated that after being stabbed, he had either struggled with someone or broken the spear himself. His injury was undoubtedly more severe than Xi Yi’s had been—and it was in his chest cavity. No matter how strong his physique, if his internal organs were damaged without proper treatment, his chances of survival were slim.
He might stop breathing at any moment.
For the first time, Sha Yi felt her hands and feet turn icy.
Earlier, she had only seen him through the window, and when she went to fetch Tuge, their encounter had been brief. But now, standing there, she was overwhelmed by the thick scent of blood.
Her stomach churned. The nausea returned.
This was the second smell, after roasted meat, that made her feel sick. Normally, she could tolerate it, but in early pregnancy, her sensitivity was heightened.
Even averting her gaze didn’t help. Soon, she couldn’t hold back—she dry-heaved.
At that exact moment, the pale man lying on the animal hide suddenly struggled to prop himself up slightly, looking at her.
She wanted to tell him not to move, but the moment she opened her mouth, another wave of nausea hit. She couldn’t utter a single word before dry-heaving again.
Simultaneously, the pale man collapsed back, his coughing worsening.
Already feeling wretched, Sha Yi found the coughing unbearable. Deciding it was best to hurry Tuge along and escape the stifling metallic scent, she turned to leave.
Just as she stepped out, Tuge arrived at the door.
She sidestepped to let him pass. Tuge, likely having heard the coughing inside, moved swiftly without hesitation.
Sha Yi didn’t dare re-enter the brick house. Weakly, she leaned against the outer wall, trying to calm her stomach.
Just now, Saina must have realized she was pregnant.
Otherwise, why would he have exerted so much effort to look at her?
But in her distressed state, she hadn’t been able to read his emotions.
He was far more perceptive than Luo and adept at concealing his thoughts. If he didn’t want her to see something, she never would.
Perhaps, back at the volcanic crater, when she had torn into him mercilessly, he had already grown accustomed to being cruel to himself.
With a sigh, Sha Yi resigned herself to the situation.
Back at the trench, Kasan and the women still held their position—neither attacking nor retreating.
Their own people filled the front lines, and at this distance, even Kasan might not have noticed her presence.
Which meant she probably had no idea what had happened with Kapa.
Standing there blankly, Sha Yi couldn’t piece together what had transpired between Saina and Kapa.
For now, Kapa was inside with Tuge, and she couldn’t bear the smell. All she could do was wait.
Yet, without any prompting, Kapa soon emerged on her own.
Surprised, Sha Yi listened as Kapa spoke first: “Sha Yi, his wound was inflicted by Yeli. Yeli brought all the men from our side to ambush and surround them.”
“Then why are you here?” Sha Yi asked, puzzled.
“Yeli demanded that I accompany him. I think it was a veiled threat to my mother,” Kapa said angrily. “So when I saw this man, I decided—I wouldn’t let myself be used as leverage against my mother or as a bargaining chip for Yeli. That’s why I volunteered to be his captive. Yeli doesn’t know!”
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