While Xi Yi was helping wash her skirt, Sha Yi quickly took off her underwear and washed it with soap leaves.
To prevent any more unexpected incidents, she swiftly washed her body and then put her clothes back on before starting to wash her hair slowly.
Unfortunately, she hadn’t brought any shampoo, which bothered her quite a bit. Fortunately, her hair had always been in good condition—even after transmigrating and neglecting it, it remained smooth and straight. The only issue was that she had often tied it up in a bun recently, so now it was full of stubborn waves. Without a comb, managing it was a bit of a challenge.
After running her fingers through it for a while, her hair finally looked somewhat smoother, though the waves remained. The fluffy mess was driving her crazy, but there was nothing she could do—hair that had been tied up never looked as sleek as loose hair. She had no choice but to be patient.
Still, washing her hair with soap leaves in cold water made her feel like it wouldn’t get clean.
After a while, she suddenly noticed the water beneath her seemed warmer. Sha Yi perked up but wasn’t entirely sure, so she waited a little longer.
Soon, wisps of steam rose from the water’s surface, and the temperature became noticeably warmer.
An unexpected delight.
Perhaps the scorching sun was heating it up, or maybe the dormant volcano’s magma was stirring underground. Whatever the reason, there was no immediate danger.
Reassured, Sha Yi shifted from sitting to lying down, comfortably stretching out in the large depression.
The perfect water level and temperature made it incredibly relaxing. However, wearing nothing but her modern undergarments felt rather indecent.
After some thought, she grabbed two large leaves Xi Yi had left behind to cover herself and squeezed some soap leaf juice to massage into her hair.
Sha Yi decided then and there that she would never tie her hair up again. Even if she had to, she’d avoid anything that caused tangles—dealing with them was just too much effort.
The water temperature continued to rise until it reached a warmth akin to modern bathing, then stabilized. With her hands full of lather, Sha Yi drifted off to sleep.
This long-awaited bath was the first truly satisfying one since her transmigration—even the small lake she’d encountered earlier hadn’t felt this good. She was utterly content.
However, she didn’t get to sleep for long before rustling noises startled her awake.
Blinking groggily, she sat up slightly but saw nothing amiss.
Remembering Xi Yi’s words and the general warmth of the area, she relaxed. Seeing no immediate threat, she rinsed the soap suds from her hair and lay back down to sleep.
This time, it was even more annoying. The moment she closed her eyes, she felt tiny bits of grass and leaves falling onto her face, tickling unbearably.
Assuming it was Xi Yi—ever since they’d grown closer, he liked teasing her at random times, often when she least expected it—she was tempted to kick him away in frustration.
Annoyed, she swatted at her face a few times but couldn’t shake the sensation. Finally, she snapped her eyes open, ready to scold him—only to freeze in shock.
The person facing her wasn’t Xi Yi.
It was a stranger.
Unlike Xi Yi and his people, this man wore a short skirt made of bird feathers and a chest covering crafted from plants, resembling armor.
He was as tall and muscular as Xi Yi, with dark skin and slightly longer hair tied back with grass stems. His features, however, were entirely different—thick brows, large eyes, a high nose, full lips, and a faint stubble, all suggesting a completely different lineage. Most unsettling of all… his gaze held unmistakable disdain.
Disdain…
Sha Yi was baffled, but the man gave her no time to think. In the brief moment she hesitated, he suddenly yanked her up, his iron-like grip nearly crushing her waist.
A brutally unfriendly first encounter!
Gasping in pain, Sha Yi struggled uselessly, silently cursing his ancestors in her mind.
Ignoring her glare, he finally spat out four words: “Too thin. Too ugly.”
Too thin and ugly? Too thin and ugly?!
In her over twenty years of life, this was the first time anyone had insulted her like that—and of all people, it had to be some primitive, dark-skinned wild man!
For a moment, Sha Yi was so furious she nearly choked, but there was nothing she could do. After glaring at him for a while, she finally remembered she should probably scream for help. But just as she opened her mouth, the man suddenly reached out.
Then, completely unprepared, she was assaulted by his rough hands.
Not only that—he even yanked hard on the elastic strap of her undergarment, stretching it to its limit before it snapped back painfully against her shoulder. Whether intentional or not, it stung like hell.
Stung by pain and fury, Sha Yi let out a sharp cry. The man, however, clicked his tongue in fascination, staring at her before swiftly running a hand over her bare arm and sighing in what seemed like admiration for its softness.
This time, Sha Yi was nearly in tears from rage. The stranger, somewhat satisfied, nodded—but the moment he looked back at her face, his expression twisted back into disgust, his brows furrowing.
Furious, Sha Yi abruptly bent down and bit his arm as hard as she could.
The man hissed sharply and shoved her away violently.
Caught off guard, Sha Yi tumbled back into the warm water.
Though the water provided some buoyancy and resistance, it was nothing compared to the brute’s strength. Her lower back slammed against the edge of the stone basin, the sharp, dull pain nearly knocking the breath out of her.
The man shook his arm a few times, inspecting the bite. Once satisfied it wasn’t serious, he turned his attention back to her.
But now, his eyes held a strange, predatory excitement—as if she were his prey.
Sha Yi’s heart pounded in fear as he slowly approached, her terror reaching its peak.
This wild man was definitely not from these lands. Not only had she never seen him before, but his crude behavior made it clear he wasn’t someone who could be reasoned with.
Recalling her first encounters with Xi Yi and Saina, neither had been anywhere near this hostile. This man was different—aggressive, domineering, and utterly ruthless. If she stayed here any longer, he might just kill her!
Tai Sui Yellow Amulet Paper FuLu Taoist Love Talisman Traditional Chinese Spiritual Charm Attracting Love Protecting Marriage