“Do you think so too?” The dark-skinned woman suddenly brightened up, but only for a moment before her face fell again. “But that man doesn’t think so. He says he prefers fairer women, soft to the touch, and slender! What a bizarre set of preferences. Based on these criteria, ancient humans would hardly ever meet them, and even if they did, it’s unlikely all conditions would be satisfied at once.”
What troubled her even more was that the conditions the dark-skinned woman mentioned sounded oddly familiar—as if they were entirely based on her!
The more she thought about it, the more frustrated Sha Yi became. Eventually, the dark-skinned woman forcefully turned her around, the strength behind the action making Sha Yi’s heart race.
The woman scrutinized her from head to toe, her probing, envious gaze sending shivers down Sha Yi’s spine once again.
Sha Yi struggled for the second time but was still no match for the dark-skinned woman’s strength. In the end, weighed down by numerous concerns, she had no choice but to give up.
After all, they were both women—there was nothing to be ashamed of.
However, the woman seemed surprised, likely taken aback by Sha Yi’s sudden compliance and lack of resistance.
But it was clear that, compared to Sha Yi’s behavior, the dark-skinned woman was far more preoccupied with her own earlier remarks. After a brief hesitation, she began touching Sha Yi’s body again.
Sha Yi was on the verge of breaking down.
This dark-skinned woman completely disregarded whether Sha Yi was willing or not, indulging in her own exploration and admiration without a care for Sha Yi’s feelings.
Sha Yi’s previously good mood plummeted.
Especially when she caught sight of the woman’s hand reaching toward her chest—Sha Yi let out a startled scream.
The effect was immediate. The dark-skinned woman was so startled she instantly withdrew her hand. But the reprieve didn’t last long. The woman quickly regained her composure and stubbornly extended her dark hand again, this time with clear intent.
Panicked, Sha Yi reflexively kicked out, striking the woman’s knee. The woman, caught off guard in her forward-leaning position, staggered back a few steps.
Truthfully, the kick wasn’t particularly strong. On one hand, Sha Yi’s strength was no match for that of an ancient human. On the other, she had to be mindful of her pregnancy. Moreover, the water resistance weakened the force of her kick, so the impact on the woman’s knee was minimal.
Unfortunately, the dark-skinned woman still ended up falling.
Yet, even as she stumbled, she instinctively reached out to steady herself by grabbing Sha Yi, who deftly dodged.
This nimble movement was a first for her—not for any other reason than her fear that the woman might harm the tiny life in her womb.
Even though the baby was still too small to be noticeable, she couldn’t afford to take any risks. So she didn’t care what happened to the woman.
Unprepared, the woman slipped on the wet surface, her balance already compromised. With Sha Yi’s unyielding evasion, she fell hard, letting out a pained cry.
Given the circumstances, such an outcome was inevitable. Fortunately, the buoyancy of the hot spring water cushioned her fall, leaving her more disheveled than injured. The splash of water, however, drenched Sha Yi all over again.
Heart pounding, Sha Yi seized the moment while the woman was still down and quickly stood up, scrambling toward the edge of the pool. But the dark-skinned woman wouldn’t let her escape—even half-submerged, she managed to grab Sha Yi’s ankle.
Exasperated, Sha Yi kicked at the woman while clinging to the pool’s edge. The woman, however, mumbled incoherently, “You… don’t go… I have so much to tell you…”
Sha Yi was beyond annoyed but still had no intention of engaging. She continued kicking at the woman’s grip on her ankle.
Honestly, she didn’t know this woman. Saina’s group currently had no women, and even if she didn’t recognize the women from Garlo’s side, they wouldn’t treat her like this. The way this woman was harassing her made Sha Yi suspect she was from Yeli’s group.
At this point, Sha Yi stopped holding back.
But for the tall, robust woman, Sha Yi’s efforts were nothing more than a tickle—utterly ineffective.
After a few feeble attempts, the dark-skinned woman finally emerged from the hot spring. The moment her face broke the surface, she shouted, “Stop kicking me, Sha… Sha Yi!”
If she heard correctly, the woman had just called her by name?
But she didn’t know this woman. Could she really be from Garlo’s side?
Sha Yi was momentarily stunned. In her daze, the woman yanked her back into the water.
Startled and terrified, Sha Yi nearly cursed aloud. Thankfully, the woman caught her before she could panic further—just a false alarm.
But Sha Yi couldn’t suppress her anger any longer. She pointed at the dark-skinned woman’s nose, ready to unleash a tirade, but quickly regained her composure.
She couldn’t afford to provoke this woman.
Because she couldn’t win a fight against her.
With Xi Yi absent, she had no leverage to vent her anger. Pregnant, she couldn’t run either. Caution was paramount.
With that thought, she reluctantly lowered her hand.
The woman seemed puzzled by her actions, as if unsure what Sha Yi intended. Eventually, she simply wiped the water from Sha Yi’s face.
Sha Yi was speechless again. Muffled, she asked, “Who are you? How do you know my name?”
“I…” The dark-skinned woman hesitated, then lifted her chin proudly. “I’m Kapa!”
Sha Yi’s eyes widened.
Could this be… the one infatuated with Garlo?
Kapa’s daughter?
Heart racing, Sha Yi couldn’t help but ask, “Are you Kasan’s daughter?”
The dark-skinned woman nodded vigorously. “Yes, exactly!”
“But you’ve never met me. How do you recognize me?” Even knowing she was Kasan’s daughter, Kapa, Sha Yi was still baffled. “Who told you?”
Kapa had been smiling, but at this question, her expression soured. “Garlo did! It’s all his fault!”
“What happened between you two?”
“He said he likes someone like you. Even though he promised to be with me, I think his words are full of lies!”
“Why?”
“Look at me—I’m the opposite of everything he described. He likes you, and I don’t know what to do!” Kapa sighed, her face full of despair. “He once said he loved a woman named ‘Sha Yi’ and went on and on about her. I’d never seen a woman like the one he described, so I thought he was just making excuses. But today, when I saw you, I realized—you’re exactly the woman he talked about. He only likes you!”
Sha Yi felt a pang of guilt listening to this.
Though she wasn’t sure about the sincerity or origin of Garlo’s feelings for her, she had seen his affection firsthand.
Right now, she believed Kapa.
From their brief interaction, Kapa struck her as straightforward and easygoing, albeit occasionally inconsiderate and disrespectful—traits common among most ancient humans. It wasn’t malicious, just brutally honest.
Her desire to avoid Kapa wasn’t because Kapa was awful, but because her rough, unrestrained behavior might accidentally harm her unborn child—the last thing Sha Yi wanted.
But if a woman as stubborn and relentless as Garlo could tie him down, perhaps her and Xi Yi’s future would be more peaceful. Otherwise, given Garlo’s penchant for trouble and tantrums, who knew what chaos he’d stir up next?
The thought lifted her spirits.
No matter what, encouraging these two would do no harm.
Suppressing a smile, she explained to Kapa, “Actually, I’m from a group very far from yours. The traits you mentioned are just differences between our races and living environments. There’s no point comparing—don’t take it to heart.”
“Really?” Kapa perked up, reaching for Sha Yi’s shoulders again.
Heart pounding, Sha Yi quickly pushed her hands away and nodded emphatically. “Didn’t you say you’ve never met a woman like me before? Out of all the women you’ve seen, I’m probably the first to surprise you, right? So there’s no need to compare innate traits. Look at Garlo—isn’t he just like the rest of you?”
“Does that mean I still have a chance?” Easily swayed, Kapa’s dark eyes sparkled with hope. “He won’t keep comparing me to you?”
“Ahem…” Sha Yi coughed awkwardly. “Whether he compares us is his business. Your job is to try. If you want something, work for it. If you’re determined, even Garlo’s opinion shouldn’t matter!”
Alright, she admitted—she was encouraging Kapa to be unreasonable. But desperate times called for desperate measures. Garlo was just as illogical.
Back then, driven by his feelings for her, he’d picked a fight with the severely injured Xi Yi without a second thought. Later, after returning to his own territory, he regretted it and went through great lengths to track them down again, causing trouble along the way—eavesdropping, stirring up drama—it was exhausting.
—
(Note: The translation has been adjusted for natural flow and readability while preserving the original context and nuances. Some cultural references and idiomatic expressions have been adapted to suit English conventions.)
Tai Sui Yellow Amulet Paper FuLu Taoist Love Talisman Traditional Chinese Spiritual Charm Attracting Love Protecting Marriage