Chapter 204: Calculations

Yeli didn’t respond, only fixing her with his dark gray eyes, slightly surprised.

He was probably quite taken aback that she knew all this, yet he didn’t fully show it. The reflexive expressions quickly smoothed over, returning to calm.

She knew what he was thinking.

She had accurately pinpointed all the issues on their side, but he refused to be at a disadvantage, so he feigned composure.

But it didn’t matter either way.

Because she knew that the so-called “shamans” were merely the spiritual beliefs of these people. Perhaps some “shamans” in later eras would be inexplicable, but in this primitive age, she had no respect for them and didn’t believe they could achieve anything significant.

Take Yeli’s group, for example—few men, many women. Though she didn’t fully understand why most of their children were girls, she had some insight into why the recent newborns were all problematic and short-lived.

According to the so-called “shamans,” occupying a suitable living area would completely solve these problems—nothing short of a fantasy.

The only redeeming point was that the “shamans” in Yeli’s group weren’t fools. They might not understand the root causes of these severe issues, but they were adept at skirting the truth. Unable to pinpoint the problem, they gambled on altering their living environment on a large scale. Casting a wide net like this, even if luck was against them, they’d still stumble upon some results by sheer chance.

But for now, since Yeli remained silent, she did the same.

He didn’t want to be at a disadvantage, and she wasn’t kind enough to give him any hints.

For a cunning and scheming opponent like him, the best leverage was knowing exactly what he needed—but not telling him. Only by maintaining enough value could she keep him in check!

If he preferred to wait, then she’d let him wait. After all, she wanted to see who would end up begging whom—or whether the words of the “shamans” could truly bring them any help.

Apart from Yeli, on her side, after she completely shut her mouth, even Xi Yixi Gu and Tuge were left baffled.

They seemed unsure of how much she actually knew, nor what game she was playing.

Fortunately, they trusted her completely. So, despite their doubts, they said nothing, silently following her lead.

But Yeli was different. Initially, his silence was just a negotiation tactic—he was genuinely interested in what the eloquent woman had to say. He had hoped she’d crack and spill everything, but the opposite happened.

He felt this woman was deliberately opposing him. Whatever he wanted, she obstructed; whatever he avoided, she forced him into. She spoke without mercy, analyzing situations without sparing his pride. If they were alone, he might have simply strangled her.

In his eyes, women were merely tools for reproduction and labor. The only exception he tolerated was the existence of the “shamans”—yet even they often interfered with his decisions. He longed to eliminate this threat but couldn’t, because sometimes their insights proved useful.

He had the resolve to kill them but lacked the courage to act.

Truthfully, he simply couldn’t stand overly intelligent women—especially this one before him.

She looked nothing like ordinary women. Even compared to the “shamans,” she stood out as far more peculiar. From the moment he first saw her, he sensed something off. Now, it was clear—she was a massive obstacle to him.

From the start, her initial gentleness had only been a setup for later rebuttals, systematically dismantling his arguments. Now, she was even exposing their deepest secrets!

If she were one of them, he might have tolerated her—because she seemed to know far more than their “shamans.”

In fact, from her words, he had gleaned that she had a firm grasp on many things. Unlike their “shamans,” who had deliberated for ages on migration, only to give him vague answers just as they were about to set out. It was at that moment that he began questioning their “shamans,” even harboring the thought that if they hindered his plans of conquest and rule again, he wouldn’t hesitate—he’d kill them outright!

But that wasn’t rational. In their group, there was only one “shaman.” Beyond her, he hadn’t found anyone else with such abilities.

Though many of her suggestions and prophecies had been inaccurate, there were times when her words came true. For the sake of his greater ambitions, he had to keep her around—provided she didn’t clash with him.

Now, this foreign woman had become their greatest threat. Perhaps not just to him, but even to the “shaman” who had come with him.

Earlier, he had planned to use their “shaman” to suppress the opposition if they proved stubborn. But now, it seemed all his schemes were futile.

This extraordinary woman wouldn’t fall into his trap—nor could she be suppressed by the “shaman”!

From the beginning until now, he had been furious—repeatedly. He had even nearly fallen for her tricks. Yet he couldn’t find a way to retaliate. He seethed, baffled, but none of that mattered most.

Right now, he just wanted her to spill everything she knew.

He had always wondered why most of their newborns were girls, why so many were sickly, why they died so young.

For years, their population had barely grown. Instead, deaths outnumbered births. Their numbers dwindled year after year. In just a few years, excluding infants, dozens of women had died—some from old age, others from illness or injury.

If this continued, his entire group would collapse.

This was unacceptable. He couldn’t allow it!

So, when the “shaman” proposed migration, though he hated abandoning their vast fields of edible plants, he had no choice. Compared to food, the survival of the group was paramount. Without it, they had no future.

Thus, he had the group carry seeds and plantable crops, enduring a grueling journey to reach this place.

But the current situation infuriated him. He couldn’t stand it!

Just seeing the woman’s leisurely demeanor made his blood boil. He wished he could kill her on the spot.

Back then, he had underestimated her. Despite Manlun’s warnings, he had only sent Yelai to deal with her. Now, not only had he lost his brother, but he himself had been humiliated. The woman was obstinate, yes, but worse—she toyed with him effortlessly. He had never suffered such humiliation.

In this situation, even the calmest person would be driven mad. She probably counted on that, hence her audacity.

And she was right. If not for Yelai being held by them, he would have already attacked. No amount of self-control could endure such blatant disrespect!

But this damned woman seemed to enjoy provoking him. The more impatient he grew, the tighter she held her tongue. All his schemes failed before her. In all his years, he had never been bested like this. He couldn’t tell if he was truly this incompetent or if he had finally met his match.

After glaring at her for a long while, Yeli suddenly calmed down.

From negotiation to confrontation, every time he thought his plans flawless, she dismantled them effortlessly. He raged, while she remained smiling—likely trying to push him into losing his cool.

If he could learn about them from Manlun, why couldn’t she gather intel on them?

In the end, they might be cut from the same cloth. It was a battle of patience. In negotiations, whoever cracked first lost.

Besides, it wasn’t him who needed to solve these problems—it was their “shaman.” Why should he rush?

Better to sit back and watch the showdown between the “shaman” and this woman. Let’s see who came out on top.

Once he reasoned it out, his impatience faded. Regaining his usual composure wasn’t hard. With that, he silently glanced back at the woman behind him.

From afar, Sha Yi had long noticed the cunning man wouldn’t be easy to handle. Now, it was just as she expected.

At first, he had seemed on the verge of losing his temper, but after a moment, he had regained his calm.

Being able to talk himself down was impressive—but this wasn’t just cunning. It was calculated strategy.

Just now, she had seen him glance back at a woman behind him. The brief exchange of looks told her everything: that unremarkable woman was undoubtedly their “shaman.”

Now, if he refused to acknowledge her words yet wouldn’t back down, it was no longer his place to speak. Handing it over to the “shaman” was the smarter move.

At this point, she didn’t know how capable this so-called “shaman” was. But in this ancient era, for such a role to exist, this person’s ability to “fearmonger” and “fabricate” must be formidable. Otherwise, how could they have climbed to such a position?