“No one is born wanting to die, and no one is born unafraid of death. Given the current situation, do I really have any other choice?”
“Choices always exist. It’s just that you refuse to make one. If you truly held the attitude you claim, you wouldn’t even be here anymore.”
“Are you asking me to betray my people?” With a cold laugh, Yelai’s face remained dark with defiance. “I can’t betray my people, nor can I let everyone suffer just for my own sake.”
“Such lofty words. Don’t use your usual ideology and behavior to judge us.” Sha Yi calmly regarded the thin, uncooperative man lying on the ground, refusing food and water. “In truth, both of us know very well that the only reason you don’t want to betray them is because of Yeli alone. Perhaps, to put it nicely, it’s brotherly loyalty—but in reality, it’s more likely the so-called ‘live and die together’ bond. Either of you could decide the other’s fate, and that’s a terrible bargain. So, you have to protect yourself. It’s entirely possible you’re gambling recklessly, betting that if you hold out long enough, you’ll prove your worth and increase your chances of survival.”
The moment she finished speaking, Yelai swiftly lifted his head to glance at her, but he remained silent, his expression unreadable.
Yet, she still caught a flicker of fear in his eyes.
At this point, Sha Yi understood—Yelai wasn’t without worry. He was simply trying to use his perceived value to deter them from acting harshly against him.
Before, he had indeed exploited this loophole. Without knowing the enemy’s full intentions, they had hesitated to take drastic action against him. But after Garlo shared crucial information with them the night before, she and Xiyi had fully grasped Yeli and Yelai’s true motives.
“Live and die together” was a lie, but “brothers of one heart” was not. Even after being confined for over a month, Yeli had never wavered. He ate and drank without complaint, avoided pointless arguments, and simply waited—biding his time to ensure his own survival until Yelai arrived and took action.
It was, in a way, a well-thought-out plan.
Yelai wasn’t stupid, but neither was he particularly clever. He, too, feared Kasan’s prophecy—a double-edged sword he had no choice but to conceal.
Had Kasan not existed, Yelai might have gladly stretched his neck out for the bone knife and ended it all.
When Yeli had sent him to kill her, he must have believed that the life-and-death bond between them would hold firm. Even if Yelai failed, their blood ties would remain unbroken. No matter what, Yelai would never turn against him. Moreover, their relationship was likely harmonious enough that Yeli dared to make such a bold decision.
Additionally, while Yelai lacked cunning, he had courage in abundance. His instincts were sharper than most—at least on par with Garlo’s.
Sha Yi’s gaze unconsciously swept over the gaunt man on the ground, who happened to look back at her. Seeing her silence, he grew irritated. “Who told you this?”
His words were as good as an admission. Garlo’s information had been spot-on. Coldly, she replied, “Do you really think I’d tell you?”
Yelai glared at her. “I don’t need you to say it. It must be Kasan. She’s always—”
He cut himself off, unwilling to expose internal conflicts in front of them.
Sha Yi understood his hesitation and had no intention of pressing further. But Tuge, who had been standing behind Masa, suddenly interjected, “It was Kasan. Yesterday, during negotiations, she openly argued with Yeli. Who else could it be? Besides, if Manlun could betray us, Kasan could betray you too, right?”
Sha Yi sighed inwardly.
Tuge was trying to bait Yelai, but he didn’t know the full truth—that Kasan had already allied with them. His well-meaning but misguided accusation could cause unnecessary trouble for Kasan and disrupt their plans.
But there was no turning back now. The only solution was to ensure Yelai remained under tight watch, with no chance of escape. Otherwise, anyone hearing such news in a desperate state might act recklessly. And Yelai’s ruthlessness was beyond question—given the opportunity, he could turn everything upside down.
As expected, Yelai’s expression darkened at Tuge’s words.
Tuge, oblivious, chuckled before clearing his throat in an attempt to appear serious.
Masa, utterly confused, glanced between Tuge and Sha Yi, baffled.
Sha Yi offered no explanation, unwilling to let Yelai catch any hint of deception. She could only smile wryly at Tuge and signal for him to be quiet.
Ironically, her small gesture of exasperation drew a cold snort from Yelai. He lifted his head, his earlier shock gone. “Don’t bother trying to sow discord. I won’t believe it. Besides, there’s always friction between the ‘Witch’ and the leader. Many decisions require debate, and disagreements are natural. You don’t have a ‘Witch,’ so you wouldn’t understand.”
“True, we don’t understand. Believe what you want.” Sha Yi arched a brow, her tone indifferent. “Your thoughts don’t matter. You’re not escaping anyway.”
Secretly, she was pleased.
This was an unexpected advantage. She hadn’t expected Yelai to doubt them—after all, even they could see the tension between Kasan and Yeli. How could Yelai, who had been part of it for so long, not know?
The real surprise was Tuge’s laughter, which had planted a seed of doubt in Yelai’s mind.
Did Yelai distrust Kasan? Absolutely. But compared to them, he would still lean toward trusting her. No matter their conflicts, Kasan was still one of them, and their bond ran deep.
Still, she suspected Yelai would harbor some suspicion—though it hardly mattered now.
Yeli and Yelai had never fully trusted Kasan to begin with. A little extra doubt wouldn’t change the bigger picture.
Sha Yi relaxed.
Her purpose here had been to confirm Yelai’s presence. Now that it was settled, she saw no reason to linger. She turned to leave—only for Yelai to call out again.
This time, his words were brief and sharp: “Stop!”
Slowly turning back, Sha Yi feigned indifference. “What else do you want?”
“If you already know about the ‘live and die together’ prophecy between me and Yeli, why haven’t you killed me?”
A fair question—but she wasn’t foolish enough to reveal that the prophecy was false. Tuge, however, widened his eyes at her in confusion.
Sha Yi allowed herself a faint smile. “I told you before—don’t judge us by your usual standards. We don’t start fights recklessly, nor do we attack at the slightest provocation. Keeping you alive isn’t about digging up your secrets. You might be a bargaining chip, but so far, no one has forced you to speak or act.”
Her words left Yelai puzzled. He stared at her for a long moment before speaking again. “If that’s the case, why not just give up your territory? Then Yeli wouldn’t have to fight you.”
“Do you even believe that yourself?” Sha Yi couldn’t help but retort. “And why should we surrender our home? What gives you the right to make such demands? Why should we suffer for your arrogance? Have you ever heard of such logic? Then why must you take our land?”
Her rapid-fire questions stunned Yelai into silence. Finally, he muttered, “We have no choice but to take your land. But I can’t tell you why. Just know that if you refuse, you’ll suffer. We outnumber you, and that old man said Manlun is on our side now. With him, you have no advantage.”
“What a joke.” Sha Yi crouched down, amused by his stubbornness. “Whatever your reasons, remember—they’re your problem, not ours. And numbers only matter against fools like you. So what if Manlun is with you? Everything he knows about us is already common knowledge. What harm could it do?”
“You’re just saying this to avoid conflict!” The man on the ground grew agitated, his voice thick with frustration. “Back in that underground pit, I saw how you deceive people. I don’t know how you conjured fire out of nowhere, but I won’t fall for it again. I’ve warned you—your time is running out. You’d better think carefully.”
“Numbers do bring strength, so your confidence isn’t surprising.” Sha Yi sighed, standing up. “But only if those numbers are truly loyal to you.”
“What do you mean?”
“You and Yeli must have killed many to consolidate your power. But have you ever wondered if those left in your group truly submit to you?” Sha Yi smiled. “Like you said—I’ve warned you too. Let’s all think carefully.”
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