A series of events took nearly half a month to complete.
From transporting the copper-tin mixed ore to producing charcoal, crafting molds for weapons and bricks, and finally smelting and firing—each step was laborious. The weapon molds were revised multiple times, while the brick molds required little effort. Overall, the preparatory work was passable.
Finally, the group used stone tools to dig two large mud pits into a high slope. The crushed ore and dried clay dug from the riverbank were packed into stone molds and placed inside the pits.
After a full day of smoldering with charcoal and resin, the group retrieved the contents of the two pits. The results were mixed, just as she had expected.
Due to poor sealing, insufficient heat, and lack of experience in timing control, one pit of bricks turned out disastrous—blackened, many unformed, and a significant portion too fragile to withstand handling.
In contrast, the pit for smelting weapons fared much better. Thanks to the low melting point of the copper-tin ore, the process was relatively smooth. Several large stones were pulled out, and the molten metal had solidified in the grooves. The final step of cooling and casting was successfully completed.
This outcome finally gave Sha Yi some comfort. Seeing those large, blunt weapons with a dull yellow metallic sheen, she was nearly jumping with excitement.
However, these weapons still needed polishing, and the brick production had to continue.
Over the next few days, the group worked with excitement and tension, refining their firing and smelting techniques based on her guidance. After improving the sealing, each batch of bricks underwent two full days of high-temperature smoldering. After several days, the results were quite satisfactory.
Originally, the bricks should have been blackened by the charcoal, but due to prolonged firing, the heat caused the blackened parts to turn red under high temperatures. Thus, the final product resembled the red bricks from her modern era, cooling naturally to a decent quality.
Sha Yi no longer hoped for blue bricks. Though sturdier, blue bricks required a more complex and troublesome firing process. Given their current conditions, red bricks were already a significant achievement.
Though the quantity of bricks was still insufficient, they had mastered the method, and the brick shortage would soon be resolved.
However, wall construction posed another challenge.
Without modern cement or concrete, they had previously used the resin of a tree called “bamboo vine” to build rafts. It was an excellent natural adhesive—strong, quick-setting, and even more adhesive when wet. Sha Yi wondered if they could find more of these trees to bond the bricks.
She planned to use bricks for the walls and large logs for the roof, minimizing unnecessary complications.
The previously built raft could be stored for future use—either for storing food in the house or cave, or for fishing and traveling to distant places.
Still, the construction site needed reconsideration. Their current location was too close to the water. Though no immediate danger was apparent, for safety and foundation stability, Sha Yi decided to discuss relocation with the group once all the bricks were ready.
The entire process lasted over a month. Though exhausted, the group remained excited and hopeful about these novel endeavors, finding joy in their hard work.
Amidst the busyness, Xi Yi, despite his fatigue, still found time to “press” her several times. Though she wasn’t entirely accustomed to it, the awkwardness of their first encounter had faded.
Sha Yi suspected Xi Yi might have successfully “planted a seed.” By winter, they might welcome a new life.
Eventually, the group unanimously chose a new settlement site—a flat, open area near their current cave, bordered by a clear, shallow stream with a sandy bottom, reminiscent of the lake where she and Xi Yi had once stayed.
Surrounded by water on two sides, open on one, and facing dense woods on another, this location was far superior to any previous settlement.
However, construction couldn’t begin immediately. They still needed to find bamboo vine trees and produce more bricks.
Due to the focus on weapon and brick production, hunting had been neglected, and food supplies were nearly depleted after a month.
The men resumed hunting while also searching for bamboo vine trees.
Familiar with the plant, they faced no major threats in the forest, especially now that they were armed with bows, arrows, and copper-tin weapons—ugly but far superior to stone and bone tools.
The only concern was Saina’s group.
Strangely, they had fled upon seeing Xi Yi the first time and again when encountering Sha Yi and Xi Yi in the woods.
Sha Yi couldn’t understand why but simply warned the group to stay cautious. Oddly, the two groups never crossed paths again.
Now, deep into winter, Sha Yi didn’t feel the cold. She even considered planting seeds seized from Pan Kuo’s cave. If winter remained mild, as Xi Yi had described, they might attempt cultivation.
Combining farming with animal husbandry would be ideal, though she wasn’t yet sure what seeds she had.
One afternoon, Sha Yi sat at the cave entrance, cradling the wolf pup, lost in thought as Xi Gu and the strong women took over brick production.
Winter and domestication might ease food storage concerns, but salt was essential. Though they had brought plenty, it wouldn’t last forever.
She had never seen salt-rich rodents here and refused to rely on drinking animal blood like Garo’s group.
With the original salt deposits destroyed by the volcanic eruption, she needed an alternative.
Surrounded by freshwater, sea salt was impossible. Lake salt was her only hope.
As evening fell, instead of the hunting party, a massive flock of golden-black giant-toothed eagles darkened the sky.
Sha Yi, Xi Gu, and the women were stunned.
After a moment of shock, Sha Yi recognized Garo riding the lead eagle.
He had returned.
She couldn’t fathom why. After his furious departure, why had he come back—and with his entire group in tow?
Spotting her, the dark, burly man shouted from above, “You lying cheat, I’m back!”
Sha Yi felt her organs ache.
Just when she thought she was rid of this disaster, he had returned within a month.
How dare he, after his past actions? His audacity rivaled that of an eagle’s backside.
Before she could react, the smug man suddenly yelped as his eagle collided with another mid-air, sending him tumbling down.
Chaos ensued as the flock spiraled into disarray, more birds crashing in the confusion.
In mere moments, the sky was a mess of flapping wings and falling bodies.
Garo’s head peeked out from beneath a wing—just as the entire flock, unable to spread their wings, plummeted to the ground.
A series of thuds later, the once-boastful man lay buried under a heap of giant birds.
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