Chapter 152: Captured

Sha Yi slept restlessly, drifting in and out of sleep, tossing and turning multiple times despite the short duration.

In the middle of the night, because her sleeping spot was close to the wall, the faint sound of chaotic footsteps easily startled her awake.

The moment she woke up, the men guarding the cave entrance also began whispering warnings to each other.

In the darkness, the lightly sleeping group all stirred, but Sha Yi remained seated on the bathtub, not daring to move.

It wasn’t true that she wasn’t afraid.

First, she had never experienced such a situation before. Second, she couldn’t help but feel nervous and worried. Third, she didn’t want to hold the others back.

At this moment, she believed that no matter what was happening outside the cave, she should stay put and not run out due to anxiety. Since she couldn’t be of help, she shouldn’t add to the chaos.

Xi Yi probably wouldn’t want her to rush out recklessly either.

With that thought, she forced herself to calm down. But by the time she turned around again, the slightly noisy footsteps outside the cave had already disappeared.

She found it strange. The people guarding inside the cave exchanged a few hushed words before falling silent.

They were likely puzzled too.

But they didn’t let their guard down because of it. Due to the oddity, they whispered a few more words among themselves, seemingly heightening their vigilance.

In the pitch darkness, Sha Yi couldn’t see anything and had no choice but to lie back down on the bathtub.

The nighttime silence didn’t last long. After just a short while, the chaotic footsteps that had vanished outside the cave reappeared. The only difference was that earlier, those footsteps had come from the side—the rear of the cave—but now they were at the cave entrance.

Sha Yi’s heart tightened again.

The people inside the cave all held their breath in unison, preparing to face the threat outside.

But things took an unexpected turn.

Contrary to the several scenarios they had imagined, the group outside didn’t try to smash open the boulder blocking the entrance with stones or sticks. Instead, they used a “knocking” method.

Everyone was baffled, hesitating and full of suspicion. The knocking outside, initially rhythmic, soon became hurried and erratic.

Yet the hesitation persisted until the people outside grew anxious and began shouting.

It wasn’t just a simple request to enter—they called out the names of several men inside the cave, including Xi Gu and even her own name.

Suspicion still lingered. Sha Yi also found it strange, but the man they had rescued earlier suddenly jumped up, exclaiming that they were people from the old settlement cave while scrambling toward the entrance, seemingly intent on pushing aside the boulder.

In the darkness, Sha Yi couldn’t see anything, but the ancient people in the cave had excellent night vision. By the time she deduced from the man’s moving voice that he had reached the entrance, a dull *thud* reached her ears—likely from the area closest to the cave entrance.

Before she could figure out what was happening, the man let out a pained whimper: “Sai Na, why did you hit me with a bone spear?”

The next second, she heard Sai Na’s cold and disdainful voice: “Saving you was just an act of kindness. You have no say in matters of this settlement cave. Go back where you came from.”

“But… those are people from the old settlement cave. They must be in trouble,” the man protested weakly.

“Just because they’re in trouble, we have to help?” This time, it was Xi Gu, leaning against the inner cave wall, who retorted sharply. “Saving you was already generous. Those ungrateful bastards—we’re not even fighting them, and you dare to shout? Want me to throw you out?”

Whether it was because Xi Gu and Sai Na rarely stood on the same side or because the man was intimidated by their blunt rejection, he fell completely silent. It was unclear whether he had another plan or was genuinely afraid of being thrown out.

But given that he could spout such thoughtless words at such a tense and critical moment, Sha Yi concluded he was just a simple-minded man and didn’t bother analyzing him further.

Instead, she found Sai Na’s tone unusually harsh. Not only had he become far more unpredictable than he had been in the old settlement cave, but his entire demeanor had grown increasingly inscrutable.

Before, at least he had maintained a smile—even if it didn’t reach his eyes—making him seem normal on the surface. She had always known there was something off about him, but she hadn’t expected him to reveal such hostility one day.

Back when he was part of their small group, she had always felt he held a position and ability that overshadowed others. Of course, her assumption might not have been entirely accurate. But judging by his words today—though brief—they revealed hidden ambition and an inexplicable ruthlessness.

As she was lost in thought, the people outside spoke again.

This time, their words carried a new message.

From what they said, the general idea was that they wanted to ally with the new settlement cave to deal with the invading savages. Their goals were twofold: first, to reclaim the two women who had been taken, and second, to protect their food and drive the invaders away.

The outsiders spoke earnestly, without any trace of the hostility they had shown when expelling them before. To an uninformed listener, it might have sounded tempting, but Sha Yi sensed something amiss.

Under the guise of mutual benefit, they were merely seeking strength in numbers. They had considered this before, and the basic idea was the same—but this time, the nature of their request was different.

Having already suffered losses in a sudden attack, they had come here in the middle of the night, risking a dangerous swim to seek support. The whole thing felt off to her.

If they had truly been caught off guard but still had the capability to reclaim what was lost, would they really come here seeking cooperation?

Their previous parting had been anything but amicable—it had nearly come to blows.

If they lacked the ability to recover their losses and their efforts were futile, what was the point of coming here? Would they even stay?

They’d probably have run away long ago!

It wasn’t that she wanted to think poorly of ancient people. After all, they were products of evolution. Even without the cunning and scheming of modern humans, survival of the fittest dictated that if their intelligence hadn’t surpassed other animals, they wouldn’t have risen to the top of the natural hierarchy.

Even without the influence of civilization, they weren’t as pure and naive as newborn babies. Animals could be cunning, and humans were even more intelligent.

Take the group that stayed behind in the old settlement cave—they lacked basic decency. Even if they weren’t scheming now, their motives were undoubtedly selfish.

The initiative of the old settlement cave and the new one were fundamentally different.

Now, with tensions already high, she was deeply worried. If this so-called alliance wasn’t genuine, agreeing to it would be like inviting wolves into the house.

Lost in thought, Sai Na spoke again at the cave entrance: “Should we let them in?”

It was a question, but it wasn’t clear who he was asking. No one answered for a long time.

“Refuse?” Sai Na pressed.

This time, someone responded quickly: “Both choices are difficult.”

It was Xi Yi’s voice, and he did sound conflicted.

Sha Yi figured Xi Yi must have reached the same conclusion as her.

Though he usually appeared honest and cheerful—often even clingy toward her—she knew he was actually the most perceptive. He took care of her so meticulously that she couldn’t find a single fault. Even when faced with unfamiliar situations, he quickly adapted and developed good habits.

So she wasn’t surprised that he had considered these possibilities. However, he was used to dealing with things straightforwardly, rarely resorting to cunning or tricks. Combined with his strong sense of responsibility, others rarely associated him with shrewdness.

Sai Na, on the other hand, gave her that impression constantly. But in reality, if it came to a battle of wits, Xi Yi might not lose.

Right now, however, Sai Na clearly held the upper hand.

“Do you think hesitation will solve anything?” Sai Na retorted mockingly, his tone sharp. “Or are you planning to leave them outside? There are all sorts of dangers out there!”

“So, you’re suggesting we let them in to discuss,” Xi Yi mused, unfazed by Sai Na’s words. “I can’t make this decision alone. Let’s discuss it as a group.”

“If you discuss everything, when will you ever unite?” Sai Na shot back. “Why is making a decision so hard for you?”

“I don’t make decisions for everyone. If you have an idea, go ahead—as long as no one objects,” Xi Yi replied calmly, still unbothered by the challenge. “But one condition: don’t harm the others.”

Sai Na scoffed.

Sha Yi wanted to keep listening, but the two at the entrance didn’t continue their exchange. After a few light footsteps, someone sat beside the bathtub, and the faint scent of modern shampoo drifted into her nose with the slight movement of air.

It was Xi Yi.

Aside from him, she couldn’t think of anyone else who would treat her so gently.

He seemed to think she was asleep. After sitting down, he simply took her hand lightly and did nothing else.

Sha Yi couldn’t help but squeeze his hand back.

Xi Yi was startled but quickly realized she was awake. Leaning down, he kissed her forehead, adjusted the fur covering her, and said nothing.

In the darkness, she couldn’t see his face, but from his reaction, it seemed he hadn’t taken Sai Na’s provocation to heart.

Sha Yi relaxed a little.

Just as their silent exchange ended, the boulder blocking the entrance was pushed aside, then quickly put back in place.

In an instant, the entire cave was bathed in a dim, hazy light.

Sai Na had let the people from the old settlement cave inside.

With no moonlight, the darkness inside and outside the cave was the same. The outsiders were numerous, carrying several torches fueled by resin. From a distance, Sha Yi felt a pang of discomfort.

She was immediately reminded of the unpleasant past.

They had refused to take any risks for her, yet now they shamelessly used the resin she and Xi Yi had provided, employing their method to light torches. The irony was almost too much.

Sensing her anger, Xi Yi patted her shoulder and smiled reassuringly.

Sha Yi knew getting upset was pointless and soon calmed down. In a low voice, she asked, “Xi Yi, aren’t you going to discuss things with them?”

“Like I said earlier, I’m conflicted,” Xi Yi replied softly, his voice grave. “Something about their arrival feels off to me.”

“I feel the same way,” Sha Yi agreed, watching as the newcomers settled in a circle. “But if we don’t discuss it, shouldn’t we at least listen to what they have to say?”

“We can hear them from here,” Xi Yi said, brushing his fingers lightly over her smooth cheek. “Listening with you might help me think of something.”

After a pause, he lowered his voice slightly and added seriously, “But we still need to stay cautious.”

Sha Yi nodded.

As for how long the discussion between the outsiders and Sai Na’s group lasted, she had no idea. She didn’t even know when she fell asleep.

When she woke again, everything had changed.

Xi Yi wasn’t by her side. She wasn’t lying on her bathtub, and the surroundings were no longer the familiar cave.

Not only that, but her head throbbed painfully. Though she was awake, her eyelids felt heavy, and the side of her face pressed against the ground burned. Her limbs were numb, making movement impossible.

What on earth had happened?

With great effort, Sha Yi managed to lift her head slightly off the ground. It took her eyes a while to adjust to the dim light.

She seemed to be in an unfamiliar, narrow cave. Visibility was poor, and she couldn’t make out the cave’s layout clearly. Based on intuition, she guessed it might be a long, tunnel-like passage. The stone beneath her radiated faint warmth.

This wasn’t a dream—she could feel pain when she bit her tongue lightly. Nor was it a natural awakening. Given her headache, she had likely been unconscious. As she adjusted her position, her limbs gradually regained sensation, and she quickly realized something alarming.

—She was tied up!

The realization made her heart pound.

She was supposed to be in the cave with Xi Yi and the others. How had she ended up in this unfamiliar place?

Why weren’t Xi Yi and the others with her?

As far as she could tell, she was alone in this cave—at least within her limited field of vision.

From where she lay, the cave entrance wasn’t far. She could vaguely see the shadowy outlines of trees outside.

Judging by the light, it wasn’t the same time as when she had fallen asleep. But she couldn’t tell whether it was nearing dawn or approaching nightfall. If it was the latter, that would be terrifying!

Is this… a kidnapping?

Before she could think further, several figures squeezed into the cave entrance, silhouetted against the dim flickering light. She couldn’t even make out their faces.

At that moment, to her surprise, a burly man emerged from the depths of the cave—a place she had assumed was empty.

What troubled her was that none of these people were familiar to her!

But whether she knew them or not made no difference—it was a kidnapping either way.

Sha Yi was momentarily stunned but quickly forced herself to calm down.

At the same time, the group muttered among themselves, their voices too low for her to catch from her position and angle.

Finally, the burly man who had just appeared from inside the cave approached, dragging two people by their arms. Seeing her glance over, he shoved the two bound captives toward her with rough force.

Sha Yi barely managed to dodge as the two fell beside her. Upon closer inspection, she realized they were women from another group in the old settlement’s cave.

She remembered them—they had once joined the search for mineral salt. When the tree had fallen, they had been among the loudest in protest. Recalling the account of the severely injured man from the old settlement, she now understood who these kidnappers were.

Her luck couldn’t have been worse—she had fallen into the hands of these savages. Though she hadn’t yet seen the wild man named “Jialuo,” she knew their paths would cross.

She didn’t know how they had captured her so easily, nor why they had singled her out. She refused to believe the people of the new settlement were foolish enough to let this happen!

As she pondered, the burly man who had shoved the two women spoke abruptly, addressing them: “Take a good look. Is it her?”

The women hastily leaned in to inspect her. After a few glances, they nodded meekly. “Yes, it’s her. No mistake.”

“Better not be lying, or we’ll feed you to the giant snakes!” Despite their confirmation, the man remained unimpressed. He turned to the other watching men. “Take this woman deeper into the cave. We’re counting on her to trade for a lot of food. Tie her up properly!”

Trade her for food?

Sha Yi was baffled.

These men were invaders—why would they resort to kidnapping her for food?

Her gaze fell back on the two women sprawled on the ground, and realization dawned, sparking anger.

The man had used them to identify her, meaning they were involved. They might have already revealed everything about their group—not just the new settlement, but likely their old one as well.

Moreover, the old settlement had already suffered raids. The current situation might be their doing—self-preservation at the cost of others. Worse, the rest of the old settlement might have tacitly agreed to this.

If true, this was terrifying news.

Recalling the scene before she fell asleep—when the men from the old settlement had entered the cave—a bad premonition struck her.

Had the old settlement’s people colluded with these savages for their own gain?

She didn’t know how she had been captured, but she was certain the old settlement was involved.

Across from her, two men approached to haul her up. Without hesitation, they grabbed her bound arms and lifted her like a chicken.

With her arms twisted behind her and being carried upside down, the pain nearly made her cry out. But considering her predicament and these men’s brutality, she gritted her teeth and endured.

She didn’t want to draw more attention to herself. Even if it was hard, she had to try. If she stayed quiet, she might find an opening.

After all, as they said, they planned to trade her for food. At least until negotiations were done, she was safe.

The commanding man seemed dissatisfied with the two men’s rough handling and was about to speak when a deep, raspy voice cut in:

“Manlun, I’m in charge here. I don’t want you causing trouble when I’m not around. Stay put.”

The voice was familiar—Sha Yi instantly recognized it as belonging to Jialuo. She reflexively turned to look.

Just as she guessed.

He had just entered the cave, followed by over a dozen tall, muscular men.

“I know her value—that’s why I wanted her secured inside. What if she escapes?” Manlun protested. “When have I ever caused trouble?”

“You’ve never done anything right. How dare you claim otherwise?” Jialuo sneered, unyielding. “You know she’s valuable, but have you considered how long she’s been unconscious since capture? Do you plan to starve her to death?”

“I was going to feed her once she was inside!” Manlun muttered, his earlier confidence gone. “Why are you making such a fuss?”

“A fuss?” Jialuo crossed his arms. “Should I clean up after your stupidity? You’re useless in a fight but never shy about eating. Did you even save any of the meat from earlier?”

“That was hard-earned food! Why should we share it with them?” Manlun grumbled. “Besides, these women have already eaten so much—they’re draining our supplies!”

“Idiot!” Jialuo stormed over and kicked the burly man, furious. “Can’t you tell what’s more important? Who’s more valuable? I didn’t bring you along to sabotage things!”

Manlun, seething from the kick, lunged to retaliate but was held back by his companions. After some persuasion, he reluctantly sat down, sulking.

Jialuo, unfazed, took his place by the fire and began roasting meat without another word.

Sha Yi now understood the strange dynamic.

These raiders weren’t a unified group. Like the old settlement’s factions, they were clearly divided—one led by Jialuo, the other by Manlun.

But Jialuo clearly held the upper hand. Manlun, as he’d demonstrated, was more foolish than clever. From Jialuo’s words, she gleaned more—though she wasn’t sure if she should trust him.

Still, Sha Yi believed that even if Jialuo was cunning, being in his hands was better than Manlun’s. At least he wouldn’t torment her as before.

From their argument, she suspected she’d been captive for over a day. Her stomach growled loudly—she was starving.

As if hearing it, Jialuo, who had been about to pass by, suddenly turned back. He crouched, studying her with a probing gaze.

Sha Yi tensed but forced herself to stay calm, meeting his eyes briefly before looking away in silence.

Jialuo frowned slightly but said nothing. He gripped her chin, tilting her face left and right, then released her and stood.

Still silent, he seemed disinclined to harass her further.

Sha Yi exhaled quietly, only to hear Jialuo order the men by the fire: “Give her a piece of meat when it’s done. No need to untie her—just feed her a little.”

She didn’t understand his motives, but his arrangement suited her.

Even if she couldn’t escape, conserving energy was crucial. She had to stay strong for the right moment—because she knew Xi Yi would come for her.

After the men acknowledged the order, Jialuo left the cave again.

No one questioned his departure—whether out of habit or fear, it underscored the clear hierarchy among these savages.

Though they weren’t yet a formal tribe, Jialuo’s authority was undeniable. Unlike her own group, where decisions were collective, here, his word was law.

These men, though violent, were far from ignorant.

She regretted not telling Xi Yi about her encounter with Jialuo. Had she done so, he might have been wary, possibly preventing this.

She also worried about the new settlement.

They had all been in the same cave—capturing anyone else would’ve been easier. Why her?

Would Xi Yi just stand by?

She began to doubt the old settlement’s true intentions.

But without proof, speculation was futile.

The roasted meat the savages offered was bland—no salt or spice, the texture coarse. Sha Yi ate little before growing queasy, thirst taking over.

The men didn’t harass her. Using a rough, shell-like tool, they scooped water from a large container and let her drink.

Parched, she drained it without hesitation.

The two women, however, gorged themselves, their gluttony drawing disdain even from Manlun’s men—though they suppressed it.

Women were essential for a group’s survival, especially for raiders like them. But she’d heard this group had very few women.

Such imbalance doomed them—without enough women, their numbers would dwindle.

Her own group faced similar struggles, though their food stores were better thanks to the mineral salt.

In past rainy seasons, they might’ve faced the same fate.

Manlun’s faction’s attitude still puzzled her.

Jialuo’s followers, however, followed his lead—providing food and water without complaint.

They clearly understood priorities.

Jialuo’s second departure was brief.

She’d assumed he was scouting, but he returned with three people: an elderly man, frail and slow, supported by two tall, dark-skinned women.

Sha Yi was stunned.

In her experience, primitive people reliant on hunting rarely lived to such old age. Surviving decades in harsh conditions was rare—this man’s advanced years seemed almost unreal.

The newcomers ignored everyone, heading straight for the fire.

The men there immediately made space, letting Jialuo and the others sit.

Sha Yi watched as Jialuo respectfully offered the elder a tender piece of meat. The old man accepted it wordlessly, his toothless mouth chewing slowly.

He ate rather slowly, and Sha Yi watched in stunned silence as it took him nearly half an hour to barely finish the meat. Meanwhile, Jialuo, the two women, and many others waited until the old man had finished before each taking a piece of roasted meat to eat.

This hierarchy was starkly clear. Sha Yi couldn’t quite put her finger on what it meant or how it made her feel, but she was filled with an inexplicable aversion toward the old man.

Once everyone had finished eating and the old man had rested enough, he turned his face and, supported by the two women, came over to inspect them.

Since she had been moved slightly inward by Manlun’s people, the two women were positioned closer to the cave entrance. Thus, the old man first examined them thoroughly before nodding at Jialuo. Then, trembling slightly, he shuffled over to inspect her.

The old man brought his face uncomfortably close, as if his eyesight was particularly poor.

After scrutinizing her for a while, he turned to Jialuo and muttered something under his breath. She couldn’t make out the words, but the way he kept shaking his head while pointing at her gave her a faint glimmer of hope.

Though she knew full well they wouldn’t simply let her go, she didn’t want to become their greatest bargaining chip—Xi Yi’s weakness.

The old man muttered several more things, and Jialuo glanced at her repeatedly before finally breaking into a smile. He pointed at the two women beside her and shook his head, then pointed at her and nodded at the old man.

The old man immediately let out an “Ah!” of surprise, squinting as he leaned in to examine her again. After a long moment, he withdrew, still shaking his head as if unconvinced.

Jialuo chuckled again but said nothing this time.

Meanwhile, the old man bent down and began clawing at the air in front of her in a bizarre, unsettling motion.

After watching for a few seconds, Sha Yi concluded he was either having a seizure or possessed by a ghost.

But then, after much fumbling, he finally managed to grab the half-eaten piece of roasted meat she had left on the leaf and slowly brought it to his mouth to eat.

Sha Yi was dumbfounded.

She could overlook the old man’s bad habits, but the fact that it took him so long to grab a large piece of meat—missing repeatedly before finally getting it—what did that imply?

His eyesight… was there something wrong with him?

Of course, the old man had no idea what she was thinking. He just kept shaking his head as he ate before eventually retreating back to the fire.

Jialuo, however, seemed entirely unfazed. Still, he retrieved another piece of roasted meat from the fire and handed it to her, gesturing for her to open her mouth.

Sha Yi wasn’t particularly hungry.

The sight of the meat reminded her of its bland taste earlier, and combined with her current predicament, her appetite had waned. She shook her head to decline.

But he refused to relent, gripping her neck and whispering, “You lied to me.”

Thinking back to the quiet refuge of the stone crevice, Sha Yi was confused. “What did I lie about?”

“We’ve met before—at the stone cliff. But it wasn’t until yesterday by the river that I saw your true face.” Though Jialuo didn’t seem overtly angry, there was an undercurrent of irritation in his voice. “You’re a bit thin, but fattening you up won’t be hard.”

Yesterday? By the river?

So the rustling in the bushes by the river the night before had been Jialuo?

Though she had suspected as much, hearing it confirmed still left her stunned for a long moment.

When she didn’t respond, he raised an eyebrow. “Cat got your tongue?”

“Have you never gotten soap leaf juice on your face while washing your hair?” Sha Yi was exasperated by his baseless accusations. “And why do you want to fatten me up? To roast and eat me?”

“I’ve never smeared my whole face green,” he chuckled, his mood suddenly lifting. “If I just wanted to roast you, fattening you up would be too much effort. I could just grab a few men—they’ve got way more meat on them. Besides, don’t you know why we take women? You really don’t understand your own value?”

Sha Yi wisely chose to stay silent.

Jialuo wasn’t just barbaric—he was downright crude. The way he was circling around the topic was clearly meant to coax her into revealing what she was capable of.

She wasn’t that foolish, and she wasn’t about to fall for it.

For now, she was certain they wouldn’t harm her. As long as they hadn’t secured the food, they wouldn’t resort to drastic measures. Survival came first; only then could they think about the next step.

Compared to food, women were secondary to their goals.

She ignored him, and he didn’t press further.

But just as he stood up, a fierce gust of wind suddenly swept through the cave entrance, accompanied by a strange crashing sound. Loose dirt and rocks from the ceiling rained down.

Bound and lying on the ground, Sha Yi had no way to shield her face. She gritted her teeth in frustration but could do nothing.

Even Jialuo, who had just regained his good mood, was caught off guard, ending up covered in dust. He cursed under his breath.

Finally, a screech resembling that of an eagle marked the end of the chaos.

Sha Yi realized then that standing outside the cave was the giant-toothed eagle Xi Yi had mentioned.

Likely due to another clumsy landing, it had tumbled down, misjudged the distance, and crashed straight into the cave entrance—resulting in the mess inside.

Having only heard about it before, seeing it in person now made Sha Yi realize this was no laughing matter. On the contrary, it was terrifying. The eagle’s massive size didn’t just bring absurdity—it could easily turn joy into tragedy.

Outside, the giant-toothed eagle didn’t leave immediately. Instead, it shoved a medium-sized snake it had been carrying into the cave.

Jialuo swiftly pounced, grabbing the still-living snake before pulling out a bone knife and decapitating it in one stroke.

Sha Yi flinched, thinking it an accident—until Jialuo lifted the writhing snake’s body upside down, letting the blood pour into his mouth. After a moment, he lowered it and asked her, “Want some?”

Sha Yi nearly vomited on the spot and immediately turned her head away.