Chapter 10: Threads of Fate

Although Zhou Jun had yet to awaken extraordinary powers, his knowledge of the kitchen proved invaluable in their swift quest for potential sustenance. Given their current diminutive stature, scouring the cabinets one by one in the kitchen was hardly practical. As for the inclusion of Wang Lingling...

It was the result of Wang Mang's relentless persuasion upon Ji Chang.

In truth, Ji Chang's participation in the squad leader's organized interest group at this rural homestead was forcibly orchestrated by Huang Mang. The ultimate purpose was to bolster Huang Mang's courage!

Huang Mang and Wang Lingling harbored mutual affections, yet that delicate barrier between them remained unbroken.

Huang Mang had originally intended to confess his feelings to Wang Lingling during this interest group gathering. Little did he anticipate the occurrence of their miniaturization event.

In light of this, Huang Mang cherished the time spent with Wang Lingling even more dearly. According to Huang Mang, under their current circumstances, who could say when... he didn't want any regrets.

Previously, during the water-fetching expedition, Ji Chang had declined Wang Lingling's company out of consideration for Huang Mang's feelings. However, now, within the confines of the house, though still accompanied by uncertainties, the level of danger was naturally lower compared to the courtyard.

Furthermore, their control over extraordinary powers had become stronger. Even in the presence of small insects like ants, as long as they didn't encounter a collective threat, they could easily handle the situation.

Therefore, Ji Chang agreed to Huang Mang's request to bring Wang Lingling along.

...

To save time, Ji Chang led the trio straight through the living room and dining area toward the kitchen.

This approach also conserved energy.

Mounted atop an ant, Ji Chang forged ahead, while Zhou Jun, trailing behind, constantly assessed their location, guiding their way forward.

With a piece of cement in his left hand and iron shavings in his right, Huang Mang guarded their rear.

Wang Lingling flew between them, wings shimmering, maintaining a half-person's height above the ground. Her role was to alert them to any airborne threats.

After nearly an hour and a half's journey, they finally reached the kitchen unscathed.

"I remember my grandfather used to fetch rice from that cupboard!" Upon entering, Zhou Jun quickly scanned a few cabinets before pointing to one not far away.

"That cabinet, the big one with two doors—did it store food like rice and flour?" Huang Mang stood on tiptoes, gazing, and raised an eyebrow inquiringly.

"Ah? Well, I'm not entirely sure about that, but I do recall my grandfather fetching rice from there!" Zhou Jun admitted with a hint of embarrassment.

Observing this, Ji Chang turned his ant around and looked in the direction Zhou Jun indicated.

Amidst the vague contours, Ji Chang recognized the antiquated cabinet. It was the type with a single side for utensils and dishes, while the center held spices, and beneath that lay a small double-door compartment. This kind of old-fashioned furniture was familiar to him, often found in temples.

Usually, staples like rice and flour were stored in the bottom double-door compartment. Just as Zhou Jun's response was about to prompt Huang Mang's comment, Ji Chang's voice intervened.

"In the double-door compartment," Ji Chang said, tapping Huang Mang, who seemed a bit impatient. He then directed the ant to lead the way.

His control over the ant had become remarkably refined. No explicit orders were necessary—his thoughts alone sufficed. The ant would understand and execute his intentions immediately.

Quickly, the ant reached the cabinet, examined it without incident, and Ji Chang led the group forward.

Approaching the cabinet, Ji Chang looked up at its two-person height from the ground. He instructed Huang Mang to find something to stand on, and then dispatched the ant to explore inside.

As for Wang Lingling, upon Ji Chang's approval, she disregarded her wings and followed the ant into the cabinet.

Before long, after Huang Mang and Zhou Jun had brought over a few larger stones, Wang Lingling's voice emerged from inside the cabinet.

"This is wonderful! I found many overlooked grains of rice in the cabinet!"

"Really? That's fantastic!" Huang Mang exclaimed in excitement.

Zhou Jun grinned.

They had been hungry for quite a while. From yesterday until now, they had scarcely consumed anything but water. Now that they had finally found food, their joy nearly made them jump for joy.

Upon learning that there were indeed forgotten grains of rice in the cabinet, Ji Chang's face also lit up with happiness.

However, before their smiles could fade, Wang Lingling let out a cry of astonishment.

"Ah~!"

"Wang Lingling, what's wrong? What happened?" Huang Mang's anxiety surged, and he shouted.

"What is this sticky thing? It's entangling me! It's like... like a spider's web!"

Just as Huang Mang's words settled, Wang Lingling's voice resounded once more.

"What! A spider's web!"

Upon hearing this, Huang Mang's anxiety escalated further.

At the mention of the spider's web by Wang Lingling, Ji Chang's expression also underwent a sudden change.

However, in his connection with the ant, he didn't sense any alertness from it. Just as the three of them were climbing the stones onto the cabinet, Huang Mang transformed instantly and rushed into the cabinet.

"Zhou Jun, follow me from behind!" Ji Chang instructed Zhou Jun who was beside him. He then slipped through the gap in the cabinet door.

"Ji Ge, what should we do? Wang Lingling is entangled!" Upon entering, Ji Chang heard Huang Mang's voice.

Without delay, Ji Chang looked up. Not far above, about two people's heights away, Wang Lingling was ensnared by several strands of pale, arm-thick threads.

The situation was undoubtedly spider silk.

"There shouldn't be any immediate danger. The spider that left this silk probably isn't nearby. Or perhaps it's long gone," Ji Chang reassured the anxious Huang Mang. He continued, "Otherwise, during this period, a spider as skilled in hunting as this one would have shown itself!"

"Oh? That makes sense!" Hearing Ji Chang's explanation, Huang Mang suddenly realized. He then looked at Wang Lingling and said in a soft voice, "Wang Lingling, don't be afraid. Ji Ge said the spider isn't here or might have left already. We'll figure out how to rescue you!"

While Huang Mang was comforting Wang Lingling, Ji Chang examined the spider silk spanning the interior of the cabinet.

Although the spider silk was white, due to the dim environment within the cabinet, one could easily be ensnared by it if they weren't careful.

After Ji Chang's inspection, he discovered that not only were there strands of silk in the air, but also many threads close to the cabinet walls.

As Ji Chang was observing the spider silk, the ant returned to his side.

Under Ji Chang's earlier orders, the ant had circled inside the cabinet and didn't encounter any danger.

This was the main reason Ji Chang deduced that the spider wasn't present or had long since left.