Chapter 109: Spider
Huai Yu was squatting in the bamboo forest, watching the spider in front of her.
Thanks to Keta Rō, she woke up this morning feeling refreshed and unusually light. She had started cleaning the house, tidying up, doing laundry, and changing the bed linens.
She even went to the bái tree to fetch water and purify it… buzzing about like a worker bee.
It wasn’t until nearly noon that she finally had a break.
Just as she was about to make lunch, Kuang Biao started yelling about a mutated spider in the bamboo forest.
To be honest, Huai Yu had already grabbed her multi-tool shovel, but when she arrived, she found the spider was only the size of a quail egg.
And…
It hadn’t mutated much at all.
…
It was a newly arrived spider, delicate and harmless. Its coloring wasn’t vivid, and only when up close could you see its fuzzy legs and body. Its eight legs tapped the web delicately — rather unique.
Kuang Biao babbled beside her, “Luckily it was me who found it, warm-hearted and welcoming as always… otherwise, this tiny, weakly venomous spider might’ve been left to struggle under some random leaf.”
But Huai Yu didn’t pay him any mind.
How self-centered. As if the spider couldn’t survive without the bamboo forest?
This bamboo grove was newly relocated. It didn’t even have bugs before. A spider showing up meant a slowly establishing biological cycle. Why else would she be squatting here watching?
Not only did she watch for a while, but she also listened as Kuang Biao animatedly described how the spider descended from the bamboo leaves, spinning silk and swinging its way down to weave its first web.
At first glance, the size was rather stunning. Starting from the dense center, the web’s diameter exceeded one square meter.
Kuang Biao said this was normal. After the Cataclysm, many creatures had enhanced abilities — nothing surprising.
Huai Yu, still inexperienced, swallowed her surprise in silence.
She looked around. The shady, moist bamboo forest provided a habitat for many small creatures. Even though it had been poked and prodded by Big Cub and Second Cub, life was beginning to thrive again.
Just then, a moth flew in and crashed into the web — about a meter in diameter — immediately stuck and trembled helplessly.
That plain-colored, unimpressive spider swiftly crawled across the web and, under Huai Yu’s watchful eyes, bit into the moth’s soft belly.
Weak venom and digestive enzymes were injected. Soon the moth stopped moving, its body oddly swelling, clearly being liquefied inside by the enzymes and neurotoxins.
The little spider patiently waited a while longer before biting down and sucking out its delicious lunch.
“So cruel…”
“But I guess this is how enemies should be dealt with too — clean and quick…”
She remembered the death-row inmate whose skull was crushed by water pressure on that rainy night. She was surprisingly accustomed to this jungle ecosystem now.
Still…
Huai Yu squatted and patted Keta Rō’s shell. “You’re so big — it can’t catch you, right? And you too, Little Tian. We haven’t seen rats around lately, but with all these new ‘residents’ in the house, you’d better stay alert.”
Little Tian squeaked twice, clearly indifferent.
Keta Rō, however, flapped his wings. As Huai Yu wondered whether this spider would grow bigger, he suddenly dropped to the ground on six legs and scurried away.
“Keta Rō?”
Huai Yu watched curiously. “Are you scared of the spider?”
She turned to Kuang Biao again. “If something goes wrong, you can handle it, right?”
Kuang Biao shook his leaves smugly. “Are you kidding? I am the bamboo forest! You think I’d let a single spider climb on my head? I can flick it off with a leaf!”
He then shook a leaf, and a sharp, knife-like green bamboo leaf struck the ground right in front of the spider.
But his pride only lasted three seconds. Big Cub and Second Cub spread their sea urchin-like wings, let out a sharp “ah ah ah!” and shook the whole bamboo stalk. Kuang Biao instantly fell silent.
Huai Yu: …
If only she had raised Big Cub and Second Cub earlier, she wouldn’t have been scared half to death by Kuang Biao in the mountains. Thinking back, it was so embarrassing.
While she was still regretting that, Keta Rō returned upright, carrying a colorful ball in his front claws.
Was that… a rolled ball of Celery-leaved buttercup?
Just as she was about to ask, Keta Rō dropped the bright ball beneath the spider web.
The spider, calmly feeding, suddenly froze. Then without a glance back, it frantically scurried along the furthest strand of web and disappeared.
Huai Yu: …???
She looked at Keta Rō, then at the dropped ball. Her mouth opened, but she couldn’t find any words.
Still…
She understood what Keta Rō meant. Picking up the ball with care, she tapped his antennae.
“Alright, alright, I get it — this ball drives away bugs, huh?”
When Keta Rō didn’t respond, she thought about Celery-leaved buttercup’s medicinal properties and added, “It’s an antidote too, right? Especially for snake venom?”
Keta Rō flapped his wings in approval, then satisfied, sprawled on the ground, dug up two tender bamboo leaves, and started chewing.
Huai Yu sighed. “Your jaws and cheeks are something else.”
She turned to go back inside, dragging two more bamboo stalks. On the way, she was pondering—
Did Gao Ming know about Keta Rō’s abilities?
Boss Tang definitely didn’t.
With two days until the Labor Day market break, she had to go explain everything.
Also… when would Zhou Qian come back? Should she bring some sophora blossoms over and ask?
Still fretting, Huai Yu checked on the garden. The new sprouts weren’t ready to eat, and the sweet potato vines were tender and lovely.
The only thing she could eat was lard dregs with sophora flower pancakes.
—Even eggs were out of stock now.
Though today, for the first time, the four baby chicks ventured out and began pecking the grass near the door on their own, chirping energetically.
Which was a good sign.
In the water puddle, the fish seemed to have recovered overnight. It flapped and leapt from the shallow pool into the air, before falling back with a splash!
Despite the flailing, it looked tough — and delicious.
If sold, it’d fetch a good price.
But Huai Yu only hesitated for a moment. With some points saved up and fresh fish this rare, she decided to keep it for herself!
Even if she couldn’t finish it, she could fry and dry it into fish jerky. She really wanted to eat something else for a change.
…
She had just poured the sophora batter into the pan when the sound of a car horn came from outside—Zhou Qian was back!
Only he would drive here!
Huai Yu lit up with joy, grabbed the bag of dried sophora flowers, and rushed out — not even thinking about how full that bag was.
The car had parked farther than usual, maybe wary of the Rose Corridor. She had to run for a while to reach it.
Breathing heavily, she smiled brightly, “Brother Zhou Qian—”
Her voice stopped abruptly. She stepped back, her expression wary.
But soon her guard dropped. The people in front of her were also wearing Defense Force uniforms.
Her heart pounded like a drum.
She didn’t know if it was from running, or from a heavy feeling in her chest…
Her face turned pale instantly.
The two people in the car looked at her solemnly. After a long pause, one asked, “You’re Huai Yu?”
Huai Yu pressed her lips together, then nodded. “Yes, I am.”
Someone immediately got out, opened the back door. “Please get in. Zhou Qian is waiting for you.”
This was Huai Yu’s first time in a car.
She had imagined it many times — how convenient life would be with a car.
But once inside, the cold, suffocating atmosphere — filled with terrible imaginations — made her want to flee.
Even the bumpy ride and the barren landscape outside didn’t stir her.
She only felt stifled, clutching the bag of sophora flowers tighter and tighter, until it was squished flat. Finally, she broke the heavy silence, “Where’s Zhou Qian?”
The two Defense Force members were silent. Then, one spoke softly, “He’s at Flower City Hospital, waiting for you.”
At that moment, Huai Yu suddenly thought of Lin Xuefeng.
He and Zhou Qian were completely different. Their time with her had also been very different. What they knew of her was different too.
But now, one thing was the same—They both had to go far away.
So far, just thinking about it made her voice tremble.
“If he’s fine, or if there’s still hope of recovery… why would he be waiting in a hospital?”
She liked Zhou Qian, and he treated her well. But they weren’t that close. If he were only recovering, why would he specifically ask for her?
Unless…
The driver looked at her through the rearview mirror. The one in the passenger seat also turned to glance at her.
The frail girl had loose hair, was wearing simple home clothes and strawberry-embroidered slippers.
Now, she clutched a plastic bag with white-as-snow skin.
No one spoke.
But in that silence, Huai Yu understood everything. Her eyes welled up, and tears began to fall.
When Lin Xuefeng left, she hadn’t understood much — a little reluctant, but not heartbroken.
But with Zhou Qian, she understood death now.
Her heart felt hollow. It was like reliving the destruction of her home — only a hundred times worse.
Eventually, she asked through choked breaths, “Is… he going to die?”
The soldiers in front didn’t answer for a while. Then one finally said, “Yeah.”
“The squad was ambushed by a mutated banyan tree in cooperation with a mutated widow spider. The banyan used aerial roots to capture intruders. The spider wove webs to trap prey…”
The Defense Force soldier’s voice trembled. His hands gripped the steering wheel so tightly that veins bulged.
“Captain Zhou stayed behind to cover the retreat. He was caught by the banyan’s roots, which failed to strangle him. But the mutated spider bit his arm, injecting neurotoxins and digestive enzymes…”
Huai Yu felt her world spin. The image of the spider draining its prey grew larger and larger in her mind, making her dizzy.
She and Zhou Qian weren’t that close.
He didn’t even know her secret.
But he was one of the few who had been kind to her since her awakening, and he had become a huge part of her life…
She knew she shouldn’t be so sad, but her heart ached unbearably.
The car gradually left the bumpy road and entered the city. Huai Yu, after several labored breaths, finally stopped crying.
Her eyes were red, but she didn’t shed more tears. She asked, “Then… why are you taking me there? Is he still alive?”
The soldier in the front answered, “He’s awake. He’s in a lot of pain. But he has no other family left. His last wish was to leave his points and personal belongings to you.”
“We thought you’d want to see him…”
More accurately, they hoped someone — even a wild girl he once mentioned — could accompany Zhou Qian at the end.
Huai Yu froze.
Zhou Qian… had no other family?
He always seemed cheerful. Though his words carried weight due to his duty, deep down, he was still the one who would ruffle her hair with a laugh and tease her sweetly.
Huai Yu hugged her bag tighter and nodded heavily. “I want to see him.”
After a moment, she asked again, “What about the spider and the banyan?”
“A reserve unit responded. A wood-type mutant with bewitchment powers lured them into killing each other.”
“The mission was completed.”
Huai Yu nodded and fell silent.
The car stopped at a hospital she had never seen before. As she got out, her legs trembled. She still held the bag of dried flowers, long forgotten.
Turning around, she saw a young woman in a white uniform pass by.
She had a deep scratch on her face, messy hair as if chunks were cut off, and red-black scarring on her cheek. One arm was in a sling as she spoke on the phone, “…Mom, I’m fine, really! I’m your daughter — Bai Yu! Don’t you know how strong I am?”
Huai Yu turned away, took a deep breath, and followed the Defense Force into the hospital.
