Thinking this, she nodded and nudged him, urging, “Alright then, it’s already noon, and you must be hungry. Go get something to eat.”
This time, Xi Yi didn’t say anything more. He tidied up the leftover shrimp porridge she had drunk and obediently followed her suggestion. However, he kept turning back every few steps, his gaze filled with deep affection.
Sha Yi was puzzled by his expression.
It was just a short time for a meal, yet he seemed so uneasy about leaving her alone. It was somewhat exasperating, but she knew it was because he cared too much. So, she gave him a faint smile in return.
That smile seemed to have an astonishingly soothing effect on him. Instantly, he returned her smile, his deep, beautiful brown eyes warming with affection. At that moment, he finally relaxed completely.
Sha Yi watched him walk away before tightening the fluffy animal-skin coat around her.
The weather was still quite cold, and extra layers were necessary. Therefore, she still needed to gather the cotton-like plants she had found earlier. However, since they weren’t ripe at the time, she had planned to return later. Unexpectedly, a sudden incident occurred—a new, aggressive group appeared just as the time approached, severely disrupting their lives.
As she had pondered the night before, even if they had the upper hand, a direct confrontation would be unwise. Strategy was the key to victory.
Now, the two groups were positioned close to each other, with open terrain offering no cover. Thus, they had to build their own defensive structures.
For the time being, aside from traps similar to those used in hunting, she couldn’t think of any particularly advanced or effective defensive measures. At this point, they would likely have to dig a trench around their living area to deter potential attacks from Yeli’s group.
This was a feasible solution, especially since, apart from their group and Saina’s, no one else seemed to use weapons like bows and arrows.
What surprised her was that the small hunting tools they had initially used as auxiliary weapons had now become their greatest advantage in conflicts—an unexpected but pleasant surprise.
Currently, they had already stockpiled a considerable amount of food for winter. Moreover, winter wasn’t as harsh as the rainy season. Aside from the lower temperatures and some animals hibernating, hunting wasn’t much of an issue. The only real challenge was the potential threat posed by other humans. If this problem wasn’t resolved, even if they survived, their lives would remain difficult come summer.
Sha Yi decided that once everyone had finished lunch, she would discuss the trench-digging plan with them.
To improve efficiency, she would also suggest that Garlo’s group join in. However, she remained somewhat wary of the few people left behind by Manlun. Still, she didn’t intend to hide the plan from them.
Perhaps some among them might betray them, but she refused to be the catalyst for their betrayal. She would rather face betrayal first than let her suspicions become the reason for their disloyalty.
After all, even though they originally belonged to Manlun’s group, people had emotions. Garlo, despite his recklessness, had never intentionally harmed his own people. On the contrary, he always sought the greatest benefits for his group. For this reason, she believed there was hope for reconciliation, especially during the early stages of potential betrayal. A gentle approach always felt better than a harsh one.
Moreover, once the trench was dug, even if someone from Garlo’s group betrayed them, as long as they were closely monitored and prevented from leaving their living area, any attempt to contact Yeli’s group would be futile.
Sha Yi sat and waited for a while but eventually dozed off.
Perhaps due to poor rest the previous night and the fatigue of pregnancy, she fell into a deep sleep. However, her mind was still preoccupied with the trench-digging plan, so her nap didn’t last long.
The purpose and function of this defensive structure were straightforward, with no room for misunderstanding. Thus, the group quickly got to work.
As she had hoped, Garlo’s people joined in, marking the first time the two groups worked together as one.
The location of the trench was determined by Xi Yi, Xigu, and Tuge, taking into account potential scenarios and ensuring their own escape routes.
Sha Yi approved of this.
Even though their weapons gave them an advantage, the enemy had their own strengths. Therefore, they couldn’t afford to be careless. It was better to be safe than sorry—this decision was the most foolproof.
Adapting to their environment, the workload for digging the trench was significantly reduced. Proximity to water saved them nearly half the labor, and with their combined numbers, the progress made in just one afternoon was astonishing.
Staring at the trench, which was nearly twice Xi Yi’s height in both width and depth, Sha Yi couldn’t help but marvel at the power of teamwork.
With the strong support of metal tools, they worked with even greater enthusiasm. Garlo’s people, still using bone and wooden tools, were mixed into the workforce. She didn’t dare lend them metal tools or reveal the smelting method, but by splitting them into different teams, the progress remained balanced.
By evening, everyone gathered for roasted meat as usual. As for her, Xi Yi reheated the leftover porridge from lunch, which she ate heartily without any nausea.
At night, sensing the urgency of staying vigilant, the group unanimously decided to continue digging the trench. It was a rational decision, and Sha Yi didn’t object. She stayed with them for a while but retreated to the brick house when the night wind grew too chilly.
Xigu accompanied her briefly before rejoining the men. Sha Yi had intended to sleep but suddenly remembered Yelai, who had been captured by Garlo and kept under strict watch.
With everyone busy digging the trench, surveillance on Yelai might have weakened. Given the circumstances, Yelai absolutely couldn’t be allowed to escape or be released.
Considering the stakes, Sha Yi quickly got up and called for Tuge and Masa, who were sitting under the bright moonlight watching the others work. Together, they headed to where Yelai was being held.
The place was an old kiln previously used for firing bricks and smelting metal tools. Since it was no longer in use, they had repurposed it by digging hollows along the edges to store items or serve as living quarters.
Especially in winter, the kiln’s interior was dry and warm, far more comfortable than caves or stone dwellings.
Yelai was confined in one of these kilns.
His limbs were bound, and he was tied to a thick wooden pole.
Having witnessed Yelai’s ruthlessness and recklessness, Garlo had shown no mercy. For over a month, Yelai had been trussed up like a dumpling and left there. Yet, his resilience and adaptability were remarkable.
When Sha Yi saw him again, he was no longer the half-dead figure dragged back but appeared energetic—not quite as fierce as when he had attacked her, but close. Despite being confined, Garlo’s group ensured he had food, water, and warmth. Even as temperatures dropped, the kiln remained comfortable, and Tuge had even provided him with animal skins.
Free from labor or movement, his days were idle—boring but comfortable.
However, the malice in Yelai’s eyes hadn’t diminished. When he saw her, he showed no surprise, only hostility.
He still wanted to kill her.
Sha Yi sighed inwardly but smirked mockingly.
What could he do now? He no longer had the chance. Of course, she wouldn’t give him one either. She didn’t even want to speak to him.
She had only come to check if he was still securely held.
Having confirmed it, she turned to leave. But the thin, vicious man suddenly spoke, his words as sharp and cold as ever: “You came to see if I’ve escaped, didn’t you?”
Sha Yi was surprised he initiated conversation, but her reaction was swift: “Whether you have or not doesn’t matter. We won’t give you the chance to escape. You’d better abandon that hope—the greater the expectation, the greater the disappointment.”
Yelai snorted, his tone icy. “If you’re not worried about me escaping, why come at all? You’ve been feeding and housing me well. Do you think you can extract something from me?”
“You’re not stupid, but…” Sha Yi smiled. “Compared to Yeli, you’re not particularly clever. As for ‘extracting’ something from you, I already figured out your character the first time we met. Why would I waste effort? Aside from when you were beaten, has anyone interrogated or forced you to talk?”
Yelai frowned and fell silent, his expression darkening. He stared at her for a long moment before muttering, “Are you planning to use me as a bargaining chip? If so, think again. I’ve been here for over a month. Clearly, my group doesn’t care about me. Besides, I no longer care about living or dying. So, I suggest you drop that idea.”
“That’s not for you to decide. And deep down, you don’t want to die—you’re afraid of it.”
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