Chapter 131 Spider 18
Lin Yue said, "Me too."
Xu Zhao's hand, about to withdraw, stiffened slightly upon hearing this. She allowed Lin Yue to pinch her wrist and half her cheek against her palm. She wasn't used to such close contact with others. Since it was Lin Yue's words, she wasn't repulsed.
I'd thought Lin Yue's story was tragic and pitiful enough, but I never expected the truth to be even more cruel. She was an outsider, with no ties to the townspeople. She was furious and saddened upon learning she was destined for a sack to be fed to spiders. How much more so for Lin Yue? These were the people he'd lived with for over a decade.
Xu Zhao judged others by her own standards. If this had happened to her, she might initially feel sadness, but more often anger, an urgency for revenge. Where was Lin Yue? She lowered her eyes in deep thought, occasionally feeling a slight coolness on her palms.
He was like a small animal wagging its tail, clinging to the warmth of her palm and unwilling to leave. Although his hand gripping her wrist wasn't exerting force, Xu Zhao had a feeling that if she wanted to withdraw her hand, it might not be so easy.
She thought of Lian Jinguang. Perhaps talking about him would make Lin Yue happy.
"Do you remember Lian Jinguang?" Xu Zhao lowered his upper body, leaning closer to Lin Yue. Tears were clearly visible in his eyes, and a subtle smile appeared against his palm. The faint smile suddenly penetrated the tears, making the round tears appear dazzling. His other hand expertly wiped away the falling tears. A thin spider silk blew by the wind and clung to her fingertips, but she didn't notice.
He said to himself:
"...Last night, spiders broke into town and even captured Lian Jinguang."
Lin Yue paused slightly, a blurry face forming in his mind... Lian Jinguang? It was him. His drooping eyelashes obscured those dark, bright pupils, and hidden emotions brewed in the darkness as he recalled Lian Jinguang's appearance.
He was a strong male, with well-developed muscles, tanned skin, and in the prime of his life... Why did Xu Zhao suddenly mention him?
Lin Yue gripped Xu Zhao's wrist tighter, and he didn't realize how hard his fingers were exerting.
He pursed his lips twice, a hint of sadness welling up in his brows. "Lian Jinguang, I remember him. He was a very strong man in the town. Whenever we needed to slaughter livestock during the New Year, we would ask him for help. He went out to work a few years ago, but later came back... He got married, but then, for some reason, his wife left here. Lian Jinguang..."
"He was the townspeople's hope. When the spiders arrived, everyone hoped he would lead the townspeople in killing them. He was emotionally unstable at the time, perhaps frightened by the spiders. After all, no one stipulates that when faced with danger, the strong must step forward."
Xu Zhao saw tears glistening in his eyes. "If only Lian Jinguang could have helped him back then, he would have been hiding in the cellar like so many others. He only left when Spider found his hiding place."
Why is it different from what I imagined?
Her focus was on Lian Jinguang's fate, but Lin Yue was discussing his past with her? Thinking carefully about what Lin Yue had said, his annoyance towards Lian Jinguang intensified. This kind of person, outwardly strong but inwardly weak, is nothing more than a coward.
Lin Yue blinked, his cheek pressed tightly against her palm: "...Why did you suddenly mention him?"
Xu Zhao didn't see any resentment or pain on his face, as if Lian Jinguang was a stranger worth mentioning. Lin Yue was truly a kind person. Even after being betrayed by the very person who saved his life, he showed no signs of hatred. She suddenly felt no need to emphasize the point and simply said, "He was captured by a spider last night. You later killed that spider."
Lin Yue's heart suddenly relaxed at the mention of this. Even he himself didn't know why. Jin Guang's life or death had nothing to do with him. He could barely remember what he looked like. If Xu Zhao hadn't mentioned it, he wouldn't have thought he existed in the town.
Everyone in this town, including his father and brother, who were once his blood relatives, now seemed like a shore washed by the tide. All the past had long since vanished with the tide. Newer, deeper memories were now covering his entire memory landscape.
Lin Yue tried his best to hide his indifferent emotions: "How pitiful."
Xu Zhao: "..." Fortunately, she didn't tell the truth. If Lin Yue knew the real process of Lian Jinguang feeding the spider, wouldn't he call her vicious?
Xu Zhao pulled her hand back, having indeed used some force, but she didn't take it seriously. She casually grabbed her backpack, took out the food inside, and shared it with Lin Yue to fill their stomachs. During this time, Lin Yue asked her why she suddenly came here last night.
Xu Zhao said vaguely, "The people in this town are very hostile to outsiders. The hotel I stayed in was destroyed by spiders. It's not safe to stay there anymore. Lin Yue..."
Before she finished speaking, Lin Yue's eyes suddenly lit up.
Lin Yue: "Okay."
Xu Zhao: "Do you know what I'm going to say? Why did you agree so suddenly?"
Lin Yue pursed his lips: "All good."
Xu Zhao became interested: "...If I ask something that might harm you, would you agree?"
Lin Yue just nodded: "If it's Xu Zhao's words, then it's all good."
Xu Zhao had said those words playfully. Lin Yue's serious gaze left her slightly stunned, but after that, a tender emotion filled her chest. How could there be someone as gentle and kind as Lin Yue in the world?
He did not seek revenge or pursue those who hurt him, but hid in the thatched hut to fend for himself. As for Xu Zhao, his sincere, pure and passionate feelings touched Xu Zhao a little.
But no matter how touching it is, Blackwater Town is not the familiar peaceful environment, but a place with spider monsters where you can die at any time.
Although Lin Yue's body does not need to be afraid of spiders at the moment, he is too kind. In addition to the terrifying spiders, there are also unpredictable townspeople in Blackwater Town. The bright red hearts wrapped in the chest cavity are not known to be dirty or clean until they are cut open.
Xu Zhao supported himself on the bed with one hand and moved to the edge of the bed. His ankle had improved after a night of rest, but it still hurt a little from the vigorous movement.
She bent down and moved closer to Lin Yue. Her bright eyes were filled with seriousness, catching Lin Yue's slightly flustered gaze at her approach.
"We are friends. Honestly, I'm very happy that you treat me this way. But Lin Yue, many people are not what they appear to be. Whether they are kind or honest, sometimes, the more harmless they appear, the more deadly they are in secret. Kindness is a good virtue, but the premise is that you must protect yourself and not be hurt by your own kindness."
The distance was so close that Lin Yue could feel Xu Zhao's breath, and his eyes inevitably swept across her opening and closing lips. He forced himself to look away, but his eyes unconsciously fell on the shoulder where he had sucked blood.
That smell...
Sweet. Very sweet. Lin Yue pinched his fingers and leaned back slightly, exposing his slender neck, also a vulnerable part, to Xu Zhao.
"I don't understand. Are you saying that I shouldn't treat you this way? Or that you'll change. Become distant from me, or even harm my life?"
Lin Yue couldn't imagine it.
He pinched his fingertips hard with his fingernails, and while it did hurt, it was nothing compared to what he'd experienced before. From the passage at the bottom, a steady stream of spider silk emerged. In the sunlight, the silk was as white and lustrous as mutton-fat jade, floating in the wind, all around Xu Zhao.
A spider silk thread drifted down Xu Zhao's palm, sticking to her sweaty one. She realized Lin Yue's mood had suddenly dropped, and hurriedly explained, "...I do mean what you understand, but, oh, I want to tell you that even though you've been with many people in this town for a long time, sometimes you can't be soft-hearted. What if they hurt you? You have to learn to be a little more ruthless..."
Lin Yue stepped forward, a smile on his face again. "I understand what you mean. If someone in this town wants to hurt me, and I..." He lowered his eyes, remained silent for a few seconds, then raised his face and asked inquiringly, "...if I hurt them, would you be afraid of me?"
Xu Zhao: "No."
Lin Yue laughed: "I'm not as naive as you think. I don't care about them anymore... I only trust you, Xu Zhao."
What did the people of this town matter? The moment they abandoned him, he had severed his connection with them. Over a decade of emotional connection was like a blade of grass snapped by a gust of wind, leaving only a mess on the ground.
It was Xu Zhao who approached. He scooped up the shattered pieces of his flesh and pieced them together to form a whole heart. Through the hole in the thatched roof, Xu Zhao and the sunlight fell into his eyes. From then on, the scorching sun that caused him pain, even when it constantly ripped open his flesh and blistered his body, carried a sweet, tingling sensation.
…
Xu Zhao had been on the run the previous night, and the night before, entangled in spider webs. His body was now stained with blood and mucus, a mixed, unpleasant smell. Lin Yue was familiar with Blackwater Town, so Xu Zhao asked him to lead him to the stream.
The stream was hidden deep in the forest. The trees were tall and sturdy, their broad leaves blocking out the sun. The deeper we went, the road became littered with animal carcasses. They had been gnawed by spiders. One could imagine the cruelty these animals endured before their deaths.
Lin Yue led the way, while Xu Zhao followed behind. Although she tried her best to remain calm, she was still shocked by the clear sight of the spider's belly before her. She had never seen Lin Yue's belly so closely before!
It resembled a blown-up balloon. It was pure black, with occasional flashes of bright blue in the dim light. It was covered in black fuzz, giving it the appearance of a stuffed animal. Its legs, or perhaps legs would be a better term, were powerful and robust, also covered in thick, black bristles.
So strange. So strange. So strange.
Xu Zhao looked again and again.
Lin Yue stopped, ripped the spider silk in front of him, and pressed his mouth, his nose twitching as he sniffed the scent of other male spiders. His brows and eyes were like dark clouds. But when he turned to face Xu Zhao, his gentle smile, like the clouds had dissipated and the rain had cleared, returned.
"Xu Zhao. This is the cleanest place."
It was indeed clean. Along the way, the road was strewn with spiderwebs and animal carcasses. There were even some horrifying skeletons. Xu Zhao clenched his fists, not daring to dwell on it. This location was sparsely wooded, the sun was setting, and the environment was warm. It wasn't a place spiders would like.
She took a few steps forward and dipped her head into the water to test the temperature. Glancing back, she saw Lin Yue still standing there, basking in the sun. Knowing he couldn't stay in the sun for long, she said kindly, "Thank you for bringing me here. It might take me some time, so you can go back."
The girl was bathing, and since he was of the opposite sex, he certainly couldn't stay there. But when asked to leave, he refused, not to mention that the area wasn't safe. He said, "This is deep in the forest. There might be a lot of spiders around. If I leave, you'll be in danger."
Xu Zhao twisted his body: "But there is sunshine here, why don't you go inside and wait for me in the shade? I'll wash quickly."
There was a rustling sound. Thinking Lin Yue had left, Xu Zhao took off her clothes. The water was clean and clear, and she could see the colorful stones glittering in the sun. She entered the water wearing only her underwear.
Suddenly, there was another rustling sound behind her. She turned sharply, shielding her chest. It was Lin Yue, back again. He held up a blade of grass just enough to obscure his form, covering his head. The shadow enveloped him, and his eyes widened. There was silence for a few seconds, and then Lin Yue turned abruptly.
"Sorry, I, I didn't see anything..." Lin Yue pinched the base of the leaf and stammered, "I, I'd better stay here. It's okay with the leaves blocking it."
His mind was a mess. Like the chaotic, snowy signals from an old television, it was gradually coalescing into a clear image, suppressed by his reason.
She continued, "...Don't worry, you, take your time washing."
Xu Zhao blushed. But it was only for a moment. She was still wearing clothes that covered her body, not naked. She quickly regained her composure, sank into the water, and washed away the dried blood. The water splashed, making a gurgling sound, but she tried to keep the noise to a minimum. After all—
Lin Yue was only a few steps away from her. He looked like a small mushroom growing beside a tree, or a small green blade of grass. No, he looked like a giant blade of grass.
He crouched in a spot where the shadows of the trees were sparse. He held a blade of grass high above his head. He hid in the narrow shadow, motionless and steady as a mountain. His four pairs of ferocious legs rested slightly on the ground, his furry belly facing Xu Zhao.
There, spider silk continued to spit out, drifting to the surface of the stream on the wind. Xu Zhao picked up a strand, and in the sunlight, the silk shone golden.
Beneath the grass, Lin Yue trembled violently, uttering a low, kitten-like moan.
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