When they left the shallow shoal, the sun had already begun to rise, casting its light on a large cluster of dewy grass blades across the bend of the shoal, giving off a distinct summer morning vibe.
Something in that thick patch of grass seemed to move abruptly, rustling loudly.
Separated by the water, Sha Yi didn’t pay it much mind and simply followed Xi Yi back to the settlement.
By the stone cave, many of their people were already up, while Jialuo’s group showed no signs of activity, most still fast asleep.
Xigu and the other women had cooked a large pot of broth, and once it was ready, the group gathered to eat and drink.
Since she had already discussed things with Xi Yi on the way back, and the men who had participated in the previous day’s hunt were all aware of the situation in the woodland she had visited that morning, Xi Yi had little trouble arranging the day’s tasks.
After filling their stomachs, the men split into two groups—one went to the woods to gather bamboo tubes, while the other stayed behind to move the fired bricks to an adjacent plot of land.
As for the women, they spent the morning gathering.
Sha Yi planned to organize the women to visit the woodland again in the afternoon to collect salt crystals from the lake.
Jialuo’s group remained inactive.
After explaining in detail to the men how to use bamboo resin for wall construction, Sha Yi retreated into the stone cave to nap.
Lately, she had been feeling mentally drained. Between Xi Yi’s antics and the endless trivial matters, drowsiness had become routine. Now, with Jialuo stirring up more trouble, she found herself increasingly exhausted as problems piled up.
She dozed lazily for a long while and only woke up close to noon.
Outside the cave, Tuge and Masa were squatting together, looking listless.
Masa was tending to the squint-eyed man and the three foals, while Tuge watched with wide eyes. Spotting Sha Yi, he perked up and called out from afar, “Sha Yi, Jialuo is missing.”
Before she could respond, he rushed over, looking both anxious and mysterious. “Do you know who was eavesdropping last night?”
Initially uninterested, Sha Yi found his sudden claim odd. “Wasn’t it Jialuo? Don’t you remember the fight last night?”
Shaking his head, Tuge corrected her, “Not just Jialuo. There was someone else. Jialuo only eavesdropped once and got caught. The previous times weren’t him!”
Startled, Sha Yi wasn’t sure whether to believe him. “Did Jialuo tell you that?”
“No.” Tuge shook his head again and pointed at himself. “I knew when Jialuo went. He really only went once and got caught. I heard Xi Yi say he’d been chased off several times, so I figured there might be someone else you didn’t know about.”
“Are you sure?” Raising an eyebrow, Sha Yi remained skeptical. “This isn’t some scheme between you and Jialuo?”
“What scheme?” Waving his hand dismissively, Tuge pouted his chrysanthemum-like lips in disdain. “Would that hothead even conspire with me? Think about it—if he didn’t feel wronged, why would he fight Xi Yi like that yesterday? After I told him my suspicions before bed, he vanished. When I woke up, he was still gone. I think he might’ve gone after the person who framed him!”
Half-convinced, Sha Yi couldn’t help but ask, “Then who do you think framed him?”
“Well…” Hesitating briefly, Tuge gave her a meaningful look. “I think you might know them better. After all, the people here are ones you’ve known before.”
“You mean…”
Nodding slightly, Tuge lowered his gaze. “Sainah.”
Sha Yi’s surprise returned, but she found the possibility unlikely. “I don’t think so.”
“Why not?” Tuge looked up abruptly, his eyes full of doubt. “How is it impossible?”
“Sainah hasn’t shown himself once since we arrived here.”
“Not showing up doesn’t mean he wouldn’t do something like this. He’s schemed against us plenty before!” At the mention of Sainah, Tuge’s face twisted with anger. “He even tied me up in a cave once!”
“That was Jialuo’s doing first.” Sha Yi shot Tuge an exasperated look but didn’t elaborate.
She wasn’t entirely sure whether Sainah was behind this, but given his prolonged absence, she found it highly unlikely.
Though she didn’t understand why he hadn’t appeared, it was a fact. If he truly wanted to act, he wouldn’t target Jialuo—even if he wanted to use him to undermine Xi Yi, the current situation clearly favored Xi Yi. Judging by the previous night’s events, Jialuo was the scapegoat.
Could it be…
Sha Yi suddenly thought of the burly man Manlun, who had always been at odds with Jialuo. Despite his outwardly submissive demeanor, she suspected he harbored resentment.
But he had already been captured by the female-dominated group Tuge mentioned, and that group hadn’t arrived here yet. It was all too puzzling.
Frustrated, Sha Yi couldn’t piece together an answer and gave up.
Tuge, silenced by her words, remained dazed and squatting in place.
Seizing the opportunity, Sha Yi wandered off to inspect the brick houses under construction nearby.
The men’s building skills were impressive. They had driven wooden stakes into the firm ground as foundations, reinforced with thick wooden planks for flooring. The outer walls were built with large fired red bricks, secured with the highly adhesive bamboo resin. In just half a day, over a dozen brick houses had risen to knee height. From a distance, the progress was uniform and remarkably neat, a pleasing sight.
By evening, the basic frameworks of the houses might be complete. The only challenge was the wooden roofs, which would take longer since they required raft-like construction. Without pre-cut logs, they had to rely on bronze-tin tools for felling, a time-consuming task.
Doors, windows, and interior furnishings would require further work and couldn’t be rushed. Moving in would likely take several more days.
Still, gazing at the orderly rows of brick-red structures, Sha Yi couldn’t help but marvel.
In this ancient era, blending elements from another time truly gave her a sense of time travel.
But aside from her, no one else would likely find it odd—at most, they’d be amazed.
Jialuo’s group was proof.
Despite differing habits and advancements, they lived in the same era. The sight of fired bricks the previous night must have already baffled them. Now, watching those strange objects stacked into sturdy, cave-like dwellings, they were utterly stunned.
But Sha Yi’s group had no time to entertain them.
Though hostilities had ceased, full friendship was still distant, and merger plans remained undiscussed. There was no need—or obligation—to make further arrangements for them.
At noon, lunch proceeded as usual. With everyone still busy, Sha Yi and Marui took charge of cooking.
Sha Yi had a sudden craving for stir-fried dishes and asked Masa to fetch two pheasants from the pen.
Masa worked quickly, from catching the birds to plucking and cleaning them in no time.
Sha Yi rendered oil from the pheasants’ skin and fat, chopped the meat, and with Masa’s help, stir-fried it with edible greens.
Even seasoned only with salt crystals, the dish was delicious, enhanced by the variety of herbs. After so long without stir-fried food, Sha Yi found it exceptionally tasty.
Masa crouched nearby, sniffing eagerly with a greedy expression.
Unable to resist, Sha Yi gave him a few pieces, which he devoured instantly.
Watching Masa, Sha Yi thought of Xi Yi.
Back when she’d given him potato chips, he’d eaten them just as quickly. A voracious eater, after a busy morning, he’d likely be unable to resist unfamiliar delicacies.
Deciding to cook more, Sha Yi instructed Masa to catch a few more pheasants for another batch.
She began to miss the taste of rice.
With rice to accompany stir-fries, meals would be healthier and cooking simpler—no more flipping meat over flames, worrying about burning, or spending excessive time hunting.
Freeing up time for other developments might lead to more life-improving discoveries.
This lunch was even more satisfying than their first boiled meat and mushroom soup.
But the stir-fried pheasant was pitifully scarce for over twenty people, leaving everyone wanting more. Sha Yi could only sigh helplessly.
In the afternoon, the men resumed their tasks.
Sha Yi led the women, carrying containers, back to the morning’s woodland.
The midday woodland differed greatly from dawn.
Beyond the sunlight, the salt lake’s condition was more apparent.
The pale-white sediment from the morning had diminished, but the remaining deposits were now clearly visible. Near the lakebed, she spotted a large natural salt crystal block.
Similar, smaller deposits were scattered around.
Considering the blocks’ higher salt content—though possibly less pure than liquid brine—they opted to collect the crystalline chunks.
Since processing was inevitable, it made sense to carry denser material in fewer trips.
On the way back, Sha Yi rediscovered the non-toxic dark brown mushrooms they’d eaten before.
Instead of joining the women in fruit gathering, she stayed behind to pick mushrooms.
But she hadn’t collected much when the long-absent man appeared.
Since leaving the volcanic crater, she hadn’t seen him in over two months.
Now, he stood before her, holding a bow they’d made during their cohabitation, still clad in his signature black hide loincloth—though wider now, as if concealing something.
Tall, lean, and muscular, his complexion unchanged but paler, he stood alone. Meeting her gaze, he remained silent and still.
Recalling past encounters and his earlier advances, Sha Yi tensed.
Even after their volcanic crater conversation, she instinctively avoided him—especially given his cunning nature.
After a pause, she turned to leave.
Unexpectedly, he called out, “Sha Yi.”
Halting, she glanced back warily.
Instead of approaching or repeating past transgressions, he hesitated before saying cryptically, “I’m glad you’re safe.”
Confused, she studied him. He offered a faint smile but nothing more.
Remembering Tuge’s words and unknown circumstances, Sha Yi sensed missed opportunities for understanding. Resolved, she asked, “Why say that?”
Seemingly surprised, he took a moment to reply, “No reason.”
His evasive answer, coming from Sainah, was startling.
Staring at him, Sha Yi couldn’t decipher his meaning. Frustrated, she snapped, “If you have something to say, say it! Don’t tease curiosity and then claim it’s nothing!”
He laughed—not his usual bright, carefree chuckle, but a strained, almost bittersweet sound.
So unnatural, she barely recognized him, though his face was unchanged.
Just as she thought he’d remain silent, he spoke again: “Didn’t you tease my heart and walk away without leaving even a sliver of space for me?”
The words matched her impression of him, yet now they felt off—as if he’d abandoned all hope.
Perplexed, Sha Yi scrutinized him.
He didn’t press for an answer, nor did he step closer, his expression calm.
Silence stretched between them until Sha Yi broke it: “What do you really want to say?”
“You must know about the incoming female group. Be cautious.” Dropping pretenses, his tone was even. “Last night, their scouts arrived. I don’t know their location or plans, but it’s not just about merging settlements.”
“You know about this too?”
“In your eyes, shouldn’t it be normal for me to know?”
“Last night, you…” Sha Yi hesitated, unsure how to ask about the eavesdropping, and fell silent.
Sainah seemed to read her mind, shaking his head slightly with a smile. “Today is the closest I’ve been to you since arriving here. I only crossed the shoal today.”
His implication was clear.
From his words, it was likely he’d encountered Jialuo—and Jialuo’s disappearance might be linked to him!
Sha Yi probed further: “Then why come today?”
“You’ve already guessed.” His tone remained steady. “That man who once kidnapped you was skulking around last night. He ran into us, started trouble, and had the bad luck to fall into a pit. I had him tied up.”
Finishing, he studied her face intently.
Sha Yi understood his meaning instantly.
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