Chapter 157: Jialuo’s Revenge

Sha Yi didn’t continue speaking, and the others remained silent as well.

She didn’t know whether they had considered what she had thought, but she was certain of one thing—they had to be on full guard against Saina.

The entire afternoon, the atmosphere in the cave was unbearably oppressive, much like the relentless storm outside, showing no signs of stopping.

At the end of the rainy season, just before the floodwaters surged, everything was fraught with uncertainty and danger.

Saina had not returned.

Neither had the group he belonged to, nor the two smaller groups he had brought with him.

As for the man, woman, and little girl from the jungle tribe who had later joined them, they were not among the missing.

Compared to their side, far more people were unaware of Saina’s actions. And according to Xi Yi’s stance, he also supported keeping the matter under wraps.

Sha Yi agreed with this approach.

Because if this fragile web of relationships were completely shattered, they might face outright confrontation.

Now was already a time of being caught between enemies; they couldn’t afford to create another adversary.

It was better to maintain a superficial relationship while secretly guarding against Saina than to push him into a corner.

Otherwise, Saina’s next move might not be mere observation—instead, he would likely take advantage of their vulnerability.

The ferocity of the storm persisted well into the evening, and even as darkness fully descended, there was no sign of it letting up.

Sha Yi was in no mood for anything. After eating some roasted meat, she lay down to sleep.

Because of the recent ordeal of being captured, Xi Yi didn’t insist she eat more. Instead, after she lay down, he brought her some wild fruits before joining Xi Gu in packing their belongings.

Sha Yi guessed that the danger of the approaching flood was imminent. Earlier that afternoon, she had heard Xi Gu mention that the rainy season wouldn’t last much longer. To prepare for sudden emergencies, they had to stay ready at all times.

After some thought, Sha Yi decided she should also pack her things, just in case. Above all, the lighter and matches were top priorities. She could live without clothes, a bathtub, a fruit knife, or even food, but she had to ensure the survival of these modern fire-starting tools.

After all, they were their lifeline.

Moreover, encountering a flood during the rainy season was disastrous. Trying to start a fire by rubbing sticks together would be hopeless, but the lighter and matches could at least guarantee basic survival. And in a crisis, the lighter could even serve as a powerful weapon for self-defense.

However, the prehistoric era had no plastic bags. The lighter was manageable, but the matches were another story. If the entire pack got soaked, they’d be ruined. This wasn’t the modern world—matches and lighters were priceless treasures here, and she couldn’t afford to lose them.

In the end, she found several animal hides, kept one lighter, and wrapped the rest along with the matches in multiple layers of hide. She tied them tightly with polyethylene rope, coiled them several times around the thick wire on the bathtub, and then tucked them into a corner. Next, she went through her other belongings one by one, folding them neatly and bundling them with more hides.

By the time she was nearly done, Xi Yi had also finished his tasks. She lay down beside him to rest.

After everything that had happened, returning to the safety of Xi Yi’s embrace made Sha Yi feel an overwhelming sense of security. Even the deafening thunder and the relentless storm outside didn’t unsettle her. Instead, she fell asleep almost immediately.

……

Sha Yi was awakened by Xi Yi.

When she opened her eyes, she realized the cave was already in chaos.

Though dawn hadn’t fully broken, the torches lit inside the cave made everything clearly visible.

Sha Yi quickly noticed that everyone was standing in water. At some point, the cave had flooded—the smaller cooking area, which had been much lower than their sleeping spot, was completely submerged. The water had risen to Xi Yi’s knees. Fortunately, thanks to the bathtub, the spot where she had slept remained unaffected.

But if she had kept sleeping, it would only have been a matter of time before she was soaked.

The massive stone blocking the cave entrance had already been pushed aside, and water continued to pour in from outside. Everyone inside was standing in the water, tying bundles of food wrapped in hides to rafts with thick vines.

Sha Yi scrambled up, but Xi Yi immediately handed her two wild fruits and urged, “Eat these first, or you won’t have the strength later.”

Without argument, she quickly devoured the fruits. When she turned back, he handed her two fruit knives. “Everything’s mostly packed. Keep these safe. Later, you’ll be on a raft with me and Ma Rui.”

“What about the others?” she asked.

“Saina hasn’t returned, so we’re short about a dozen people. The five rafts have been assigned. The others have more people, but ours carries extra food—and this.” He pointed at her bathtub, then tucked a bone knife into the vine pouch at his waist, slung his bow and arrows across his back, and handed her a bundle of black arrows. “Take these. We’ll also have torches. I need to hurry and tie our supplies to the raft.”

Xi Yi didn’t have time to say more. He turned and lifted the bathtub onto the raft, which was already floating on the rising water.

Sha Yi didn’t distract him further. Instead, she helped by holding one end of a thick vine as he swiftly secured their belongings.

Outside the cave, the scene was much the same—several people were frantically tying supplies to rafts. But the floodwaters outside were much deeper, already reaching the thighs of the taller men. Inside, the water level was rising rapidly as more poured in. If not for a raised stone threshold at the cave entrance, the water inside might have been just as deep as outside.

The only slight relief was that the storm had lessened somewhat. The rain was lighter, improving visibility, and the thunder had stopped. Both factors would aid their escape.

Xi Yi finished securing everything quickly and pushed the raft out. Sha Yi didn’t hesitate to follow.

However, while the water only reached the men’s thighs, it nearly rose to her waist. Carrying arrows and a torch, she stumbled after just a few steps and nearly fell. Luckily, Xi Yi reacted swiftly, catching her and lifting her onto the raft before she could plunge into the water.

During this time, the others had also pushed their rafts out.

According to the plan from the night before, they were to follow the river’s current toward the grasslands. Though there was a rocky cliff nearby, its height made descending directly impossible, so they had to detour along the main river.

Moreover, if they didn’t move against the current now while the water was still rising, the increasing flood levels would make escape far more difficult—or even impossible.

No one spoke further. They simply boarded their assigned rafts, with two men steering each one while one or two others guarded the food supplies.

And so, the group set off through the heavy rain toward the main river.

Since Xi Yi knew the way, their raft took the lead. But instead of steering into the river’s center, he guided them along the bank—perhaps for safety, or perhaps to use the poles against the ground for speed.

Seated on the raft, Sha Yi stared uneasily at the murky, churning water.

She had imagined flood scenarios countless times, but none matched the reality before her. Just looking at it filled her with dread. She couldn’t fathom how they had ever dared to swim across without rafts.

The rain still fell heavily, and the water continued to rise. The river had overflowed, submerging the low shrubs along the bank. Since they were near the shore, there weren’t many large trees—only thick hanging vines helped them navigate. Beyond that, everything was a vast, gray expanse. The pounding rain drowned out nearly all sound, making even voices hard to hear.

The dim light of dawn barely pierced the storm. Even the resin-soaked torch she held as a guide couldn’t withstand the downpour and had gone out.

She tried relighting it with the lighter, but it refused to catch.

Xi Yi glanced back from the front of the raft and motioned for her to discard the torch. She complied, wrapping herself in hides and huddling against the bathtub.

Beside her, Ma Rui grew increasingly excited, poling the raft faster and faster, as if amazed that such a cumbersome thing could move so swiftly.

It made sense—since they’d built the rafts, they’d only used them for sleeping and carrying food. They’d never had the chance to test them on the water before. No wonder Ma Rui was so thrilled.

In a way, it was all Jialuo and the people from the old cave’s fault.

Jialuo’s escape wasn’t an issue, but the others from the old cave wouldn’t be so lucky. After driving Sha Yi and the others away, they’d have no access to the rafts—those were the new cave’s creations. Given Jialuo’s temperament, he wouldn’t share a single one with them. He might not even return the two women he’d captured.

To make matters worse, Xi Gu had burned their supplies the day before, and now the flood had struck at dawn. They’d be left scrambling, with only the high ground as an option.

Just as she was thinking this, the water suddenly trembled violently. Waves surged where there had only been splashes before. Startled, Sha Yi instinctively grabbed the bathtub and looked toward the front of the raft.

Ma Rui fared no better—when she glanced over, he nearly toppled off the raft, only steadying himself at the last moment with the pole.

Xi Yi, however, remained composed. Standing with slightly bent knees, he continued poling calmly, his balance far superior to Ma Rui’s. When she looked at him, he met her gaze. Though he didn’t speak, she saw the concern in his eyes.

Sha Yi forced a small smile.

Even if she was afraid, she couldn’t let him worry about her to the point of distraction.

But the smile did little to reassure him, because the next second, another massive wave rocked the raft. This time, Ma Rui wasn’t so lucky—he tumbled straight into the water.

His fall nearly capsized the raft from the sudden shift in weight, but Xi Yi reacted instantly, moving to the center the moment Ma Rui fell.

However, Ma Rui’s splash was so loud that Xi Gu, on the nearest raft behind them, jumped up in alarm—and promptly fell in as well. In the chaos, the second raft lost balance, and soon everyone aboard had plunged into the water.

By the time the second raft’s occupants were in the river, one end of the raft had tilted upward.

Xi Yi shouted to those behind, “Don’t move! Ignore the other rafts—stay where you are! Shifting will flip the raft!”

Sha Yi was speechless.

Xi Gu’s raft had been packed poorly. To make space for people, they’d piled all the heavy supplies in one spot, making it unstable at the slightest movement.

Xi Yi had no time to lecture them. He stopped poling and slowly extended the long pole to help pull people out.

Luckily, everyone was a strong swimmer. By the time Ma Rui was hauled back up, the others had already clambered onto their raft.

Sha Yi guessed that since the entire raft’s crew had fallen in, no one was left aboard to care—they just grabbed whatever they could and climbed back without a second thought.

Miraculously, the raft didn’t tip further.

But no sooner had everyone steadied themselves than another violent tremor shook the water, sending a massive wave crashing over them. Ma Rui finally snapped, “What the hell is going on? Why does this keep happening?”

“Could there be a giant snake underwater?” Xi Gu called from a distance.

The suggestion sent a chill down Sha Yi’s spine.

But Xi Yi immediately dismissed it. “We’ve traveled far already. We’re close to the grasslands—there’s never been snakes there, let alone giant ones. And when the waves hit, I looked. There’s nothing beneath us. This is coming from underground. It happened last rainy season too, but not this strong or this often.”

Xi Gu fell silent, and Sha Yi relaxed slightly—but only for a moment. Then she remembered the underground rumblings she’d heard in Jialuo’s cave, as well as the hot springs where she’d first met him. She’d suspected the island might sit atop a volcano. At the time, there’d been no signs of activity, but now it seemed the volcano was stirring.

Xi Yi had said last year’s tremors were faint compared to now. That could only mean an eruption was nearing.

Sha Yi didn’t know much about volcanoes, but she understood enough to realize they needed to flee—fast. Even if she was overreacting, it was better than being caught unaware.

Anxious, she called out, “Xi Yi, we need to leave. Now. The sooner, the better.”

The burly man at the front of the raft turned to look at her. He seemed about to ask something but hesitated, then remained silent, poling harder instead.

The raft surged forward—but just as it picked up speed, another tremor struck. A fourth wave erupted, crashing over them.

Caught off guard, Sha Yi lost her grip during the sudden acceleration. The wave swept her straight off the raft. In the chaos, she heard Xi Yi’s shout before she was submerged.

But things weren’t as bad as she feared. Strong hands hauled her back up almost instantly.

Sha Yi realized Xi Yi had pulled her out without even getting wet himself. She had no idea how he’d crossed the raft so fast, but her gratitude was immeasurable.

Just as she steadied herself against his arm, a piercing eagle cry cut through the rain.

She turned and saw several Terror Birds swooping low overhead. Her heart pounded, and she instinctively struggled. “Xi Yi, let go! Those birds probably carry Jialuo—Saina must have sent him to kill you!”

Xi Yi stiffened and looked up.

At that moment, one of the birds descended sharply, wings spread wide as it glided toward them—revealing a rider on its back.

Even through the rain, Sha Yi saw him with terrifying clarity.

His hair was pulled back, his skin dark, his brows thick, and his eyes burning with hatred—it was Jialuo.

He gripped a bone spear in one hand, using the bird’s momentum to launch himself at Xi Yi.

Both Sha Yi and Xi Yi saw him at the same time.

But Xi Yi didn’t dodge. Instead, he stubbornly held onto her arm, refusing to let go no matter how she struggled.

In that split second, she heard the sickening sound of piercing flesh—and a grunt of pain.

Then the man gripping her swayed unsteadily.

Sha Yi looked up in horror to see blood trickling from his lips. Before she could react, he gave her a faint smile—and then, with a sudden burst of strength, hurled her back onto the raft.

The impact knocked the breath from her lungs. As she crashed onto the wood, she heard a splash and a chorus of shouts.

Ignoring the pain, she scrambled up—but the tall figure at the raft’s edge was gone.