Sha Yi released her, used a large leaf to thoroughly extinguish the embers of the fire, swiftly dragged the bathtub back down the slope, then quickly gathered the animal hides and other items before decisively pulling her into his arms and climbing up the thick vines entwined around the giant tree.
In just a few seconds, the two of them had landed inside the tree hollow.
The entrance to the hollow wasn’t particularly large—just wide enough for someone of Sha Yi’s size to crawl through. But once inside, Sha Yi discovered that the interior was surprisingly spacious, as if deliberately carved out. A large section of the trunk had been hollowed out, and the floor was slightly lower than the entrance. A thick wooden plug, resembling a cork, was placed near the opening. Sha Yi guessed it was meant to seal the entrance, much like the makeshift barrier they had used in the cave before.
Sure enough, as soon as the thought crossed her mind, Sha Yi pushed the wooden plug into place. Though the fit wasn’t perfect, it undeniably provided a sense of security.
Suddenly, she remembered the tiny creature called Rong Mo perched on the tree branch earlier. She hurriedly gestured to Sha Yi, but when he didn’t understand, she reached out to push the wooden plug aside herself. Surprisingly, he didn’t stop her and even helped her move it.
Finally getting her way, Sha Yi retrieved the dazed, hamster-like creature.
The entrance was sealed again.
Thanks to Rong Mo’s glowing eyes, the pitch-black hollow was faintly illuminated.
Knowing that the saber-toothed tiger might pass by, Sha Yi didn’t dare use the lighter. Instead, she half-reclined, idly playing with Rong Mo. Before long, its fur prickled uncomfortably against her fingers, so she reluctantly set it aside.
Meanwhile, Sha Yi casually hung Rong Mo on a protruding knot inside the hollow. The little creature remained in a daze, its bright eyes blinking rapidly, its fluffy tail now stiff and bristling as if ready to explode.
Sha Yi didn’t fully understand, but she could tell from Sha Yi’s conflicted expression that he had grasped something.
Just as she was about to ask, he turned to her and whispered, “Nei Er Se Lu,” while pointing at Rong Mo and making a slithering motion with his hand. (【Nei Er Se Lu】: The bane of snakes.)
Sha Yi pondered for a long time but couldn’t make sense of it. His gesture resembled a snake’s movement, but she couldn’t connect it to the tiny creature hanging there. In the end, she remained clueless.
Sha Yi, however, seemed to understand her confusion perfectly. After a brief silence, he pulled Rong Mo from the hollow and pushed it out through a gap between the tree and the wooden plug.
Sha Yi panicked, sitting up abruptly, but before she could speak, his hand clamped over her mouth. Bewildered, she froze as he gently pressed her down and shushed her.
She stopped struggling.
Moments later, a slow, rustling sound crept up from outside the hollow, growing louder as it descended. The entire tree trembled slightly.
Then, a high-pitched chirp, like that of a fledgling bird, pierced the air—and the eerie rustling abruptly ceased.
Sha Yi’s heart skipped a beat. The rustling was unmistakably from a giant snake, but the bird-like sound… she suspected it came from Rong Mo.
She turned her head, trying to read Sha Yi’s expression, but the hollow was too dark. Instead, she nudged him with her body, but he ignored her, only removing his hand from her mouth to clasp hers.
In that fleeting moment, the small holes in the wooden plug began flickering rhythmically. The rustling resumed, now circling just outside the hollow.
The snake was parallel to them, separated only by the tree’s bark. Thanks to Rong Mo’s interference, it hadn’t yet detected them.
But Sha Yi knew snakes sensed heat through infrared. As long as they had body heat, the serpent would eventually find them. She shuddered, too terrified to think further.
Sensing her distress, Sha Yi nuzzled her reassuringly, resting his stubbled chin against her neck. His touch calmed her slightly, but it wasn’t until his strong arm wrapped around her waist that she finally relaxed.
They remained silent for what felt like an eternity. Then, the bird-like chirps turned sharp and lively. The giant tree shook violently, followed by rapid footsteps and leaps, intensifying the tremors.
Soon after, the shrill cries returned, and the tree groaned under immense pressure. But the strain didn’t last—the creaking was soon replaced by thunderous impacts against the trunk. Unlike the earlier unsettling noises, these strikes nearly deafened Sha Yi.
Fortunately, the chaos didn’t persist. Before long, the nightmare outside the hollow faded into silence.
Sha Yi exhaled deeply but still didn’t dare move. After a long pause, she hesitantly poked the man half-lying atop her.
The small gesture amused Sha Yi. He chuckled softly and poked her waist in return.
Sha Yi was speechless.
He thought she was teasing him—but how could she be in the mood under such circumstances? Worse, his brute strength was unchecked in the darkness. A little more force, and her back might snap.
Sighing, she tried shifting her uncomfortably pinned body, but the friction against her back and the weight on her chest made it impossible. Frustrated, she pushed against his broad chest.
The moment she did, Sha Yi’s entire body sank onto her. Anger flared—until she realized he was playing along. If a poke warranted retaliation, what would a push provoke?
Her heart lurched, but it was too late. In an instant, his warm hand landed on her chest.
At first, it was playful, but the moment his palm cupped her softness, all pretense vanished.
Sha Yi froze. Sha Yi’s breathing grew heavy. Not only did he not remove his roving hand, but his other hand also slipped beneath her animal-hide skirt, intent on exploring further.
A tingling sensation jolted her awake. She thrashed wildly, kicking at him—she didn’t know how many times or how hard—until, with a low grunt, he finally released her.
She had a sinking feeling one of those kicks had landed somewhere unfortunate.
By the time she fumbled for the lighter and sparked a flame, Sha Yi was kneeling beside her, drenched in sweat, his face contorted. One hand braced against the ground, the other pressed against his groin—his posture was utterly bizarre.
Sha Yi felt mortified.
The language barrier was the root of the problem, but their differing behavioral cues didn’t help. Ultimately, she had provoked him first. His reaction was primal and instinctive, and he hadn’t even crossed the line—yet she had…
She couldn’t bring herself to look at him. Her hand hovered uncertainly until he took it gently. Only then did she dare meet his eyes.
He looked confused, as if unable to comprehend why she resisted his touch. Beyond his pained expression, there was no trace of resentment.
After a long silence, he finally exhaled deeply, squeezed her hand, and murmured, “Gu Na Ma.”
It meant *sleep*.
Sha Yi’s tension dissolved. After a pause, she lay back down.
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