But soon she began to fret. Her only set of undergarments was now completely soaked. As the sky grew increasingly ominous, she realized that even if she washed the dirty clothes in the bathtub, they wouldn’t dry by the next day. That guy Xi Yi really knew how to create trouble—while he was happily splashing around underwater, she was left to deal with the mess!
Lost in thought, she absentmindedly picked up a small pebble and tossed it into the water. As it hit the surface, Sha Yi noticed the ripples weren’t just a single ring. Before she could process it, more ripples appeared, growing denser and denser.
It was raining!
The spot where she sat was sheltered beneath the broad leaves of a massive tree, which had delayed her realization. If she hadn’t thrown the pebble and observed the river, she might not have noticed at all.
The raindrops fell heavily, and the sky had darkened to an extreme. As she stood up and peered through the gaps in the tree’s foliage, she saw ominous black clouds churning in the distance. In an instant, a blinding blue-white flash streaked across the gray expanse, followed by an ear-splitting thunderclap.
Sha Yi jumped in fright, instantly recalling the first storm she’d encountered days ago. That rain had been torrential, accompanied by relentless thunder. She had even heard the sound of lightning striking something.
With so much water and trees by the river, staying here during a thunderstorm was out of the question. Given the unpredictable and bizarre nature of this season, she needed to hurry back to shelter. Thinking this, she called out loudly to Xi Yi, who was still underwater. Unfortunately, after several shouts, there was no response.
Growing anxious, Sha Yi grabbed a few more pebbles and threw them into the river. But aside from the ripples caused by the raindrops, there was no other movement on the water’s surface.
Losing someone while they were bathing—Sha Yi didn’t know how to describe her emotions. She was both annoyed and worried—annoyed at Xi Yi’s lack of focus and worried he might be cramping or in trouble underwater.
But she herself couldn’t swim. If she recklessly went in, she might end up drowning. The booming thunder only added to her hesitation. After a brief internal struggle, she decided she had to go in and look for him.
Stepping down from the riverbank and avoiding the massive tree, Sha Yi found a gentler slope and cautiously dipped one leg into the water. She inched forward until the water reached her chest, her heart pounding with unease. She called Xi Yi’s name again at the top of her lungs.
After a few shouts, Sha Yi felt something grab her calf. Terrified, she tried shaking it off but failed. She then used her other foot to probe—only to kick something hard and spiky. Panic surged through her, and in her trembling, she nearly slipped and fell into the water. Fortunately, the culprit—Xi Yi—burst out of the water just in time and caught her in his arms.
Staring at the tall, dripping man before her, Sha Yi was speechless. Especially when she noticed the handful of large shrimp he was holding. So that’s what she had kicked…
Bathing had turned into shrimp-catching, and he hadn’t responded to her calls despite the thunderstorm. Once again, she was exasperated by his skewed priorities.
Xi Yi, oblivious to her foul mood, tilted his head and reached out to pull her in. Just then, a blinding flash of lightning split the sky, followed by a deafening thunderclap right nearby. The sheer force of it made both of them flinch.
But that wasn’t the worst of it. The real shock came when the lightning bolt struck the massive tree they had been under moments ago, splitting it in half. The charred remains of the tree swayed precariously, held up only by a few strips of unbroken bark, creaking ominously as they teetered toward the river.
And the rain was only getting heavier.
Finally grasping the danger, Xi Yi immediately dropped the shrimp, pulled her ashore, and without hesitation, bent down to hoist her onto his back. Then he sprinted toward the safety of their cave settlement.
The journey back was a harrowing gauntlet of lightning and thunder. Thankfully, the settlement’s main cave was situated in a relatively open area. Though their hearts pounded the entire way, they arrived unharmed.
Inside the cave, Ma Rui, Ma Sa, and the four other men had already returned, along with several other groups huddled together. Only Xi Yi and Sha Yi had waited until the storm was in full force before rushing back. Xi Gu, who had been anxiously pacing at the cave entrance, visibly relaxed when he saw them and quickly ushered them inside.
As they made their way through the path cleared by the others, Sha Yi noticed Sai Na—the man who had harassed her upon their first meeting—surrounded by a group. His eyes were closed, his face pale. It seemed his wounds had worsened.
Sha Yi suspected Sai Na’s injuries would leave lasting damage. His condition had already been severe, but instead of resting, he had recklessly pushed himself. Now, with the rainy season setting in, even the strongest constitution couldn’t withstand the damp and cold. Moreover, the rainy season brought too many unknowns. Though she didn’t fully understand it, she could sense the tension in Xi Yi’s attitude toward this time of year.
She resolved to warn Xi Yi—no matter the reason, nothing was worth sacrificing his health in this ancient era. Severe injuries were never worth the cost!
At the far end of the cave, where Xi Yi’s group usually gathered, the usual dining setup had been replaced with piles of unfamiliar dried grass. As they approached, Ma Sa was carefully laying out animal hides over them, while Ma Rui and the four men cautiously adjusted the fire pit, likely trying to preserve the embers.
Truthfully, with lighters and matches, keeping a fire going through the rainy season would be effortless. But modern supplies were finite, and preserving fire was also a matter of habit. So Sha Yi didn’t interfere.
The fire, however, made her keenly aware of the dropping temperature. Remembering she was still in damp undergarments, she grabbed the fur Xi Yi had given her and wrapped it around herself, then draped her robe over it. Just then, she spotted the tiny rong mo that had followed them all this way.
It hovered between sleep and wakefulness, its energy clearly low. Unsure what to do, Sha Yi tugged at Xi Yi’s arm and pointed. He smiled, then picked out a small piece of hide, placed the little creature on it, and set it atop a large rock.
After their past experiences, Sha Yi knew the rong mo was a natural enemy of snakes. Xi Yi’s actions were likely precautionary, as before. She decided it was best to trust his judgment.
However, she disagreed with their sleeping arrangements. Normally, sleeping on the ground was fine, but tonight’s relentless storm meant the floor would be damp and cold. With Xi Yi still recovering from injuries, the bathtub would be a better option—spacious enough and far gentler on his body.
She gestured to Xi Yi that they could sleep in the bathtub. He understood instantly and nodded, then turned to explain to the others.
Sha Yi assumed he was informing his tribesmen, because she saw Ma Sa retrieve one of the hides she’d just laid out and hand it to him. Xi Gu also nodded, though her eyes widened briefly at the mention of the bathtub before she busied herself with other tasks.
Sha Yi began tidying up the bathtub. By the time she finished, Xi Gu handed her two more hides—likely for bedding. Without hesitation, Sha Yi accepted them with a grateful nod.
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