46. The Seven Spiders of Ban's Private Hall
Demon Directory
Name: Seven Spiders
Type: Spider Demon
Martial Strength: Equivalent to a Captain among Heavenly Soldiers
Demonic Power: Intermediate Demon Level
Cause of Death: Attempted to seduce Tripitaka and Zhu Bajie, even tried to ensnare Sun Wukong, but failed and was beaten to death by the Ruyi Jingu Bang.
* * *
"Wait, Brother Sun, are you saying you spared all the demons in the hot springs?"
Zhu Bajie bounced in agitation as Sun Wukong replied offhandedly.
"That hot spring was originally where the Heavenly Realm's maidens used to bathe. The demons drove them out and took over, so they're not to be underestimated. There's no need to pick a fight for no reason. What matters is Tripitaka. All we have to do is find him while the demons are busy bathing."
He gave a reason, but honestly, it was just because he couldn't be bothered.
Demons or not, to Sun Wukong, King of Demons, they're nothing but a handful.
"Now that we know where Tripitaka is being held, let's just go get him."
"Hold on, Brother! That's not right. How can you just leave after sparing those demons?"
Sun Wukong gave Zhu Bajie a flat look.
"What are you talking about?"
"If they're strong enough to capture Tripitaka, imagine how many more humans they'll devour in the future! Don't you agree?"
"Well, that's true, but…"
Sun Wukong trailed off. Honestly, why should he care? Demon hunting wasn't his concern. The only thing that mattered was getting Tripitaka to Tianzhu as quickly as possible.
'Tripitaka, that fool, getting kidnapped again as usual.'
As long as he could find Tripitaka, what did it matter how many humans the demons ate?
But Zhu Bajie was having none of it, hopping mad.
"In my opinion, we should finish off those demons with a Single Strike, then rescue Master."
Sun Wukong waved his hand dismissively.
"Do as you please. I'm going to find Tripitaka."
"Ah, understood, Brother Sun. I'll go take care of those demon women myself!"
Zhu Bajie, as if he'd been waiting for this, grabbed his rake and strutted off toward the hot spring with a spring in his step.
Sun Wukong clicked his tongue and gripped the Ruyi Jingu Bang.
"Sha Wujing, let's go find Tripitaka."
"Big Brother, are you sure it's okay to let Second Brother go off on his own?"
"Your Second Brother may look like a foolish, gluttonous pig—"
"Well, he is a pig."
"Ahem. But he was once Marshal Tianpeng of the heavens. A few lowly demons bathing by the water? He'll take care of them in no time. Don't worry."
"That's not what I meant, Brother."
Sha Wujing looked genuinely worried.
"They're female demons, right?"
"That's right."
"And they're bathing, naked, right now."
"That… is also true."
A cold sweat broke out down Sun Wukong's back.
"And they're beautiful?"
"Well… yes? Enough to be mistaken for celestial maidens."
"And Second Brother just ran straight in there."
"…"
"Second Brother, who can't control himself around a pretty face, male or female, and starts undoing his pants at the first sign of beauty."
"Ah."
Sun Wukong squeezed his eyes shut without realizing it.
He shook his head. This wasn't the early days of their journey, before they'd received Tripitaka's teachings. By now, they'd all learned enough to control themselves.
Sha Wujing asked slyly,
"Do you really believe that, Brother? Do you trust Second Brother?"
"…Surely Bajie wouldn't. He's cultivated quite a bit, after all."
"Brother, wasn't it that very scent that bewitched Master and got him captured?"
"I just thought it smelled foul."
"That's because you're a monkey demon who doesn't know the first thing about lust."
Sun Wukong sighed. Right. Now that he thought about it, weren't these the same wily creatures who'd even ensnared Tripitaka?
"Damn it, let's go."
Just in case, he headed back toward the hot spring, but Sun Wukong still trusted Zhu Bajie. Surely, by now, he'd learned to control his lust.
Zhu Bajie, demon of gluttony and lust.
But he wasn't so far gone he couldn't tell right from wrong. Tripitaka had taught him so well!
…Damn it.
"Ha ha ha! Come on, where are you? Try and catch me!"
"Oh my, my lord, you're too quick in the water!"
"My, my, where are you touching!"
"Ha ha ha ha! I was once Marshal Tianpeng, commander of the Milky Way's armies! Try and catch me if you can!"
Zhu Bajie, swimming in the water, teasing the demons.
"Look at that. He doesn't even realize he's completely bewitched, not even noticing the spider silk binding him up."
Sun Wukong let out a deep sigh.
Zhu Bajie, face flushed, was utterly enthralled, completely unaware that his whole body was being wrapped in spider webs.
"Honestly. Tripitaka and Zhu Bajie, both of them…"
Sun Wukong slammed the Ruyi Jingu Bang into the ground and roared,
"You damned spider demons! If you don't want to die, kneel right now!"
* * *
"If you don't want to die, kneel. Right now."
At Sun Wukong's low, resolute command, the bodies of the Shandong Seven Shadows froze.
A faint look of confusion appeared on the courtesans' faces.
Sun Wukong smirked, as if he knew exactly what they were feeling.
"Did you really think a little incense could bewitch the Great Sage Equal to Heaven? Even in your past lives, that was impossible."
"How did you break the Heart-Seizing Technique…?"
The courtesan in the center murmured in a trembling voice.
Sun Wukong chuckled and sat down comfortably across from them.
"Let's start with some questions. Are you the ones manipulating the Hwangbo Clan from behind the scenes?"
"…"
No answer. Sun Wukong clicked his tongue.
"If your mouths are useless, I might as well tear them off, right?"
"…!"
His tone was strange—not particularly threatening, not even laced with Killing Intent. It was casual, as if commenting on the weather.
That made the Shandong Seven Shadows shudder. Tearing off their mouths felt like the most natural thing in the world.
Sun Wukong pointed to the one on the far left.
"Fine. Let's go one by one. What's your name?"
"…"
The courtesan on the far left hesitated, then answered.
"Yung."
"Evening Primrose, huh? Pretty name. Good. Now, the rest of you, in order."
Sun Wukong gestured. The courtesan next to Yung turned pale, sensing the red energy gathering at his fingertip—a formidable aura.
"Lan."
They continued in order: Mei, Chrysanthemum, Neung, Lotus, Sunflower.
Sun Wukong nodded in satisfaction.
Nothing works quite like a good threat.
He turned his gaze to the central courtesan, Neung.
She seemed to be the eldest, and the other six were all watching her for cues.
A red String of Karma connected them.
He couldn't see their souls completely, but he wasn't particularly curious.
'The seven spiders of Ban's Private Hall.'
Born with natural beauty, skilled in the Heart-Seizing Technique, and wielding incorruptible incense that could bewitch any man.
They'd wrap their victims in spider silk, drain their vital energy through intercourse, then boil them alive and eat them. Even Tripitaka, of all people, had been briefly ensnared and kidnapped.
'Tripitaka, you hopeless fool.'
Even Zhu Bajie, whose martial strength Sun Wukong trusted, had fallen for them.
'Or maybe… he just wanted to.'
That would be just like him.
Either way, their skills were extraordinary.
Even in this new life, their beauty was breathtaking, and the subtle fragrance in the air was clearly laced with incorruptible incense. The only difference was that their technique had changed from a spell to a martial art—the Heart-Seizing Technique.
Sun Wukong addressed Neung.
"Why did you use the Hwangbo Clan to get into the Namgung Clan?"
"…Don't you already have a guess?"
A faint smile played at Sun Wukong's lips.
She didn't give a concrete answer, but she didn't dodge completely either. She knew full well that if she refused, the demonic energy at his fingertip would tear her apart.
Even a vague answer was enough for Sun Wukong.
There was only one reason to answer like this.
To stay alive.
'She's under a Sealing Technique.'
Just like the Blood-Iron Fiend.
'She's trying to avoid the Sealing Technique by giving vague answers.'
Sun Wukong was quietly impressed. She wasn't stupid. If she were, she wouldn't have been able to manipulate the Hwangbo Clan like this, even if she was just following someone else's orders. After all, it's always the hands-on people who get things done.
"So, are you working with Honam Island?"
"I don't know what you mean, so I can't answer."
Sun Wukong's eyes sparkled.
Sometimes, gestures, expressions, and glances speak louder than words.
Even as she dodged the question, Neung was doing her best to survive.
Sun Wukong looked a bit puzzled.
'She really doesn't seem to know anything about it.'
Was she lying?
Could she really be such a good actress that she could fool the Great Sage Equal to Heaven himself?
Unlike Tripitaka, who fell for every trick, Sun Wukong was adept at seeing through deception.
The world revealed through his Flaming Golden Eyes never lied.
'Are they really not connected to Honam Island or the Azure Hero Society?'
Sun Wukong was a little thrown off.
He'd been sure they were connected.
Or perhaps…
'Is this a bigger organization than I thought, with separate cells operating independently?'
That would make sense.
The Blood-Iron Fiend, Honam Island, and the one hiding in the shadows.
They were all after the Seven Star Sword.
The Seven Spiders, or Shandong Seven Shadows, were tasked with taking over the Hwangbo Clan and driving a wedge between the Five Great Families.
That was one way to look at it.
Sun Wukong stroked his chin.
'Come to think of it, she's cooperating more than I expected.'
Is it just because she doesn't want to die?
'But the Blood-Iron Fiend and Honam Island weren't like that.'
They acted as if they had some kind of conviction.
Both of them spoke reverently of their leader and seemed to take pride in working for him.
But Neung was different.
No excessive loyalty, no blind devotion—none of that.
'Maybe she's not working for that organization out of genuine loyalty.'
A faint smile appeared on Sun Wukong's lips.
If she's only doing this to survive, because of the Sealing Technique around her neck…
Sun Wukong stroked his chin and looked at Neung.
Surprisingly clear eyes.
'Even if the ties of a previous life were soaked in blood, that doesn't mean the same applies in this one.'
The cycle of reincarnation isn't an endless abyss.
With each life, you pay for your past karma and wash away your sins.
Just because you were enemies in a past life doesn't mean you'll be the same in this one.
Of course, every enemy he's met so far has ended up clashing with him…
But Sun Wukong felt there was reason to keep an eye on her.
'If she's only moving for the sake of survival…'
He kept questioning her, thoughts swirling in his chest.
Neung continued to answer vaguely. I don't know, aren't you already aware, this is the first I've heard… All answers that bought her a little time to think.
Who knows how many questions and answers passed between them.
The atmosphere gradually relaxed.
A sudden thought crossed the minds of the Shandong Seven Shadows: if they answered honestly, maybe Sun Wukong would spare them.
Sun Wukong smiled slyly, as if such hopes were a luxury.
"Well, I've given you plenty of time, haven't I?"
"…!"
Neung's face stiffened. A heavy silence fell. No one spoke. Sun Wukong smiled, and the Seven Shadows stared at him with trembling eyes. The only ones feeling the pressure of the silence were the Seven Shadows. Finally, Neung spoke up, cautiously.
"I don't know what you mean."
This wasn't a vague answer to dodge the Sealing Technique. Sun Wukong chuckled. Her face was genuinely flustered—how amusing.
"You think I didn't notice the rat in the ceiling? It's had plenty of time to get away by now, hasn't it?"
Neung and the rest of the Seven Shadows turned deathly pale.
'He knew?'
Then why had he let it go?
Neung looked at Sun Wukong with trembling eyes. He was still grinning, but above that smiling mouth, his eyes were cold as ice.