Quick Transmigration Cannon Fodder's Record of Counterattacks

Chapter 3554: Medusa (20)

The only thing Ning Shu had that was worth any money was the divine blood—Poseidon’s blood—but she didn’t know if the girl would recognize its value.

“What is your heart’s desire? I can make it come true for you,” Ning Shu asked. She made a mental note that the next time she went on a task, she absolutely had to exchange for some spare clothes.

Otherwise, she would end up like this again: streaking!

The girl shook her head, but then she thought of something and paused. “It hasn’t rained for two months now, and the well is almost dry.”

Even when there was water, it was just a bit of muddy sludge. They had been praying to the gods for a long time, but no rain had come.

The girl was just speaking offhandedly. She didn’t actually expect Ning Shu to be able to make it rain.

Ning Shu said, “If I can make it rain, will you give me the clothes?”

The girl didn’t believe her at all. “If you can make it rain, I’ll give you the cloth and even make you a beautiful dress.”

Only the gods could control the seasons, the rain, and the wind. This woman who had suddenly appeared had singed hair that stood on end, and though she was very beautiful, that didn’t mean she could summon rain.

“It will rain tonight. Get the clothes ready,” Ning Shu said.

With a flick of her finger, Ning Shu lowered the temperature of the cloud layer. When water vapor in the air got cold enough, it would turn into water. This was the basic principle of cloud seeding.

The girl was skeptical and didn’t believe Ning Shu in the slightest. Ning Shu didn’t mind. She found a place to sit, rested her chin in her hand, and asked the weaving girl, “What’s your name?”

The girl didn’t even look up as she replied, “Arachne. Aren’t you leaving?”

” I have nowhere to go right now, and I’m still waiting for my clothes,” Ning Shu said nonchalantly. “But I feel like your name sounds a bit familiar.”

Arachne, a skilled weaver…

Ning Shu asked, “Is this Lydia?”

“Yes,” Arachne replied.

Ning Shu: …

She looked at the dark-skinned woman and clicked her tongue. She had run so far, yet she had still run into someone connected to Athena.

The young girl from Lydia named Arachne possessed weaving skills that were second to none.

The shawls she wove were as thin as a cicada’s wing yet as warm as fur. The patterns embroidered onto the fabric were so lifelike that birds would even fly through the window to peck at the cherries on her embroidery.

Because she was young and everyone praised her, she became arrogant and lost her head. She bragged, “I am the best weaver in the world, and I weave even better than Athena.”

Athena found out, and of course, the other gods heard it too.

Athena immediately set off for the small village in Lydia where Arachne lived. Arachne was inside spinning and weaving when she suddenly heard a knock and opened the door.

Standing at the entrance was a tall, golden-haired beauty, poised and solemn. Arachne likely guessed who this beauty was and knelt at her feet.

A soft voice came from above Arachne’s head. “Well, lost girl, I am the Athena you ridiculed. Can you give me a reason not to kill you?”

Arachne shook her head desperately, sobbing so hard she couldn’t speak, as she begged for Athena’s forgiveness.

“Poor child, you are blinded by your own talent. Your gift has destroyed you like a scorpion’s sting.”

Athena gave her a chance: the two of them would have a weaving contest. Whoever could weave the most beautiful cloth would win, and the loser would never be allowed to touch a spindle again.

In the end, Arachne lost. Overwhelmed by absolute terror, she took a hemp rope and hanged herself.

Athena watched as Arachne’s face turned purple, her eyes bulged, and her hair stood on end.

Then, Athena touched Arachne’s shoulder. Arachne’s face turned from purple to black, her eyes bulged even further, her body shrank, and her limbs grew longer.

Athena touched the hanging rope again. The rope shook and became thinner and thinner until it was a slender thread. Hanging from one end of the thread was a tiny, furry, multi-legged insect.

Since the loser of the bet could no longer touch a spindle or weave, ‘kind’ Athena transformed Arachne into a spider so she could continue to spin silk and weave in the bushes.

Ning Shu: …

If someone wants to die, just let them die. Why turn them into a hideous spider?

She turned Medusa into a hideous snake-monster and a young girl into a spider.

They were all so damn ugly.

Arachne’s downfall was her pride in her weaving skills. Athena had even disguised herself as an old woman to warn Arachne to respect the gods.

Arachne hadn’t cared, which naturally infuriated Athena. Did she really think the gods were magnanimous?

Ning Shu said, “You’re quite amazing. This cloth is very beautiful.”

“Actually, I can weave even more beautiful cloth than this,” Arachne said.

“Humility is very important. Staying low-profile while you prosper is the way to go.”

Arachne was a human woman. Although she was gifted, she was physically defenseless. Such an outcome was inevitable.

As the progenitor who taught humanity the art of weaving, would Athena tolerate a human claiming that someone wove better than her?

“I don’t understand what you’re saying. Everyone says my weaving is beautiful,” Arachne said.

Ning Shu rested her chin on her hand and looked out the window. Dark clouds were gathering on the horizon, blocking the sun, and the land grew dim.

“You can start making my clothes now. The sky is covered in dark clouds. It will definitely rain by tonight,” Ning Shu said.

“Once it actually rains, I can have the clothes ready for you very quickly,” Arachne replied.

Ning Shu sat cross-legged on the floor and began to cultivate, making the most of every moment.

With a loud boom, thunder echoed across the horizon. Arachne was startled and walked out of the house to look at the sky.

Besides Arachne, many other people came out of their homes to wait for the rain.

The thunder grew more frequent. Ning Shu stopped her cultivation, ran out of the house, and flew toward the source of the lightning.

Ning Shu stood atop a tree, watching the lightning approach. She decided to draw the lightning to herself to absorb its power.

While taking a deep breath, she provoked the lightning. A bolt struck Ning Shu ruthlessly.

Her hair stood straight up, and smoke billowed off her. Ning Shu opened her mouth and exhaled a puff of white smoke.

The lightning power surged through her body. Perhaps because she had already been ‘baptized’ by Zeus’s lightning earlier, she felt that this natural lightning wasn’t nearly as painful.

As she absorbed the energy, the crackling of lightning filled her internal core. It was a successful harvest.

Ning Shu continued to provoke the lightning as the thunder roared. Bolt after bolt struck her body.

Ning Shu exhaled more smoke. Her flesh felt like it was being grilled.

After the lightning, a heavy rain began to pour. Everyone brought out clay jars and held them over their heads to catch the water. Some people ran through the rain, while others danced.

Ning Shu returned to the house. The thatched roof leaked, and water dripped down inside.

Arachne had put away her cloth and was preparing to make Ning Shu’s clothes. She looked at Ning Shu cautiously and asked, “I will make your clothes. Are you a goddess?”

“No.”

Ning Shu sat down and began to cultivate. She needed to tame the riotous lightning energy in her internal core.