Chapter 13: A Riot of Demons, Part 6

The other party was only about fourteen or fifteen, with clear and youthful features—a half-grown child, yet with a composed and mature demeanor. It was evident that the other villagers looked to him for guidance.

Shen Xiao regarded the youth from head to toe, nodding slightly. “I am a wandering Daoist known as Guanhai the Hermit. If demons bring chaos, I will not stand idly by.”

Upon hearing these words, hope lit up the villagers’ faces. The youth's eyes brightened, and he said eagerly, “To speak the truth, since last year’s rainy season, a great demon appeared here! Nearly a hundred innocent villagers have been taken! Please, Master Daoist, you must stay. We are willing to put forth the strength of the whole village, as long as this demon can be vanquished!”

The other villagers echoed in a clamor:

“As long as you can rid us of the monster, we’ll do anything!”

“We can pay you, Master. If you don’t need silver, we’ll offer food!”

“That’s right, Master. Whatever you ask for, we’ll do, as long as the demon is gone!”

“Master, you’re a living immortal! Please, save us! My son was taken by that monster—we don’t even know if he’s alive…”

“My uncle too—he was taken half a month ago. There’s likely little hope left for him…”

...

As the crowd grew restless, the youth raised his arm and called out in a loud voice, “Everyone, quiet! Let’s hear what the Daoist has to say!”

Despite his young age, he clearly held remarkable authority; at his words, the villagers fell silent.

Shen Xiao glanced at his two companions, then fixed his eyes once more on the youth. “This great demon you speak of—is it a black spider that spits white silk?”

The youth nodded at once. “That’s it! Master, did you encounter it in the forest? Is it dead?”

“It escaped,” Shen Xiao replied. “In fact, we came here to warn you. The spider demon fears bright light; it won’t come out in the daytime, but at night you must keep your doors tightly shut and be vigilant.”

“For you to emerge from the forest unharmed, you must be no ordinary man! Please, honored Daoists, lend us your aid!” The youth bowed deeply. “I am willing to offer all my family’s property, as long as this demon is slain and our people can know peace again!”

The villagers behind the youth also bowed, whether young children or old men, all bending low in unison—only a step away from kneeling to the three.

Shen Xiao reached out to raise the youth, replying earnestly, “There is no need for such ceremony. Since I have come, I will not turn a blind eye.”

The youth’s face lit up with joy, and he bowed again. “Thank you, Master Daoist!”

...

At the villagers’ warm invitation, Shen Xiao, Lin Yuan, and Shi Xianyu stayed at the village chief’s home.

The leading youth was the chief’s only son, named Wan Ji.

Since the chief had taken to his sickbed, Wan Ji had managed village affairs in his stead. As an educated youth with scholarly honors, he handled matters with order and care, gradually earning the villagers’ respect. Though young and without official title, in truth, he was the chief in all but name.

Wan Ji led the three guests into a spacious courtyard built of blue brick. As soon as they entered, a servant came to lead Shi Xianyu’s goat to the stable, thoughtfully providing fresh fodder.

Every house in the village was made of brick and tile, but the chief’s home was especially grand, suggesting a well-off family. If not for the demon, the villagers would surely have led comfortable lives here.

Wan Ji stepped over the threshold, unable to hide his excitement, and shouted into the inner rooms, “Mother, come out and see! I’ve invited the Daoists who can subdue demons!”

Shi Xianyu followed behind Shen Xiao and Lin Yuan. The three did not enter the inner rooms, instead waiting in the courtyard for their hosts’ arrangements. Outside the gate, villagers crowded to catch a glimpse, and several spirited youngsters sat astride the courtyard wall, pointing and whispering about Lin Yuan.

Lin Yuan furrowed his brow in annoyance, occasionally casting a cold glance at the villagers, which elicited exclamations of awe, as if they had seen some rare curiosity.

His irritation only grew.

If not for escorting Shen Xiao to Mount Ling, he would never have come to such a place or wanted anything to do with humans.

Suddenly, his sleeve was tugged. Looking down, he saw Shi Xianyu clutching it, her expression odd, as though she had just seen something frightening.

Following her gaze, Lin Yuan saw Wan Ji and a young woman emerge, both smiling in welcome.

“My apologies for not greeting you sooner. Please, Masters, come in for tea,” the woman said respectfully, treating the three with the utmost reverence.

Lin Yuan was puzzled. She was just an ordinary village woman—what was there to fear?

The three followed mother and son inside and took their seats. A servant brought tea and simple local pastries. The woman left her son to entertain the guests and went to arrange their accommodation.

Lin Yuan surreptitiously studied the woman, but found nothing amiss. When he looked at Shi Xianyu again, she was sipping tea with one hand, nibbling plum blossom cake with the other, perfectly at ease, as though nothing had happened.

Lin Yuan: ...

Eating again already?

Meanwhile, Wan Ji said, “Please, Masters, make yourselves at home. There’s no need to worry about food or clothing. If you have any dietary restrictions, let us know—I want to be a good host.”

“Cultivators on the road do not fuss over such things,” Shen Xiao replied, his mind on the spider demon. “Tell me about this demon. When did it first appear? How many has it harmed? Besides the spider, are there any other monsters nearby?”

Wan Ji answered, “It was around last year’s rainy season. The village hunters went into the forest and didn’t return for days. Their families went to search and disappeared too. At first, we thought wild animals had taken them, but then the spider demon came at night—capturing anyone it saw! Old or young, man or woman, anyone touched by its silk would be wrapped up and dragged into the forest!”

He sighed heavily. “We used to gather firewood and fruit in the forest, but now no one dares take a single step near it.”

Shen Xiao asked, “Those who were dragged away—were they still alive at the time?”

Wan Ji nodded. “The demon’s silk is poisonous; if a little gets on you, you might break free, but if there’s too much, you’re paralyzed and dragged away alive.”

He managed a bitter smile. “But those taken by the demon seldom have a good end. I fear they’re lost by now…”

Shen Xiao frowned in thought. “That’s peculiar. Most demons kill their prey on the spot to feed on their essence—I’ve never heard of one dragging its victims away alive. If this one stores living food, there must be a very large lair somewhere in the forest.”

“It’s in the southwest—the cliff in that direction!” Wan Ji replied quickly. “A villager who escaped said the spider climbed down the cliff; its nest is likely below. Master, are you going to the lair?”

Shen Xiao raised his brows in surprise. “Someone escaped? Where are they?”

“The butcher in the village—he cut through the silk and got away.”

“I’d like to speak with him myself. Would that be possible?”

Wan Ji stood at once. “Please wait, Master. I’ll fetch him right away.”

With that, he hurried out.

Shen Xiao, too, seemed restless. Pacing the room, he muttered, “Strange… very strange…”

The other two watched him in silent confusion.

Shen Xiao turned to them. “It really is odd. Spider demons are supposed to spin webs in their lairs. Why would one come to the village to attack people? And why would it leave any survivors? What do you think?”

Lin Yuan shook his head; he had nothing to add.

Shi Xianyu carefully wiped crumbs from her lips and shook her head as well.

Shen Xiao: …

It was baffling—how had he ended up with these two as his companions to Mount Ling?

He sighed, then looked at Shi Xianyu. “Xiaoyu, did you notice anything amiss when we entered?”

Lin Yuan’s furry leopard ears twitched. So Shen Xiao had noticed Shi Xianyu’s odd behavior earlier.

Shi Xianyu hesitated, glanced outside, and lowered her voice. “It’s nothing… It’s just, when I saw Wan Ji’s mother, I thought she looked a little like the spider demon.”

Shen Xiao paused. “She does?”

One face was deathly and ferocious, the other healthy and rosy; one was wild-haired, the other dignified and gentle. No matter how he compared them, he couldn’t see the resemblance.

Shi Xianyu thought for a moment, then nodded. “Their features are quite similar.”

Shen Xiao: …

Their features? The white, bulging eyes, the split nose, the bluish lips…

But seeing Shi Xianyu’s earnest face, Shen Xiao began to doubt himself. “I didn’t sense any demonic aura. Could her cultivation be so high she’s suppressing it?”

He turned to Lin Yuan. “Did you sense anything?”

Lin Yuan shook his head. After a moment, as if to clarify, he added, “An ordinary person.”

Shen Xiao relaxed. The senses of a beast demon were exceptionally keen—if Lin Yuan believed she was human, that should be the case.

“Never mind. Demons can imitate human speech and appearance. Perhaps the spider demon saw Wan Ji’s mother somewhere and happened to resemble her.”

Outside, hurried footsteps approached. The three looked up to see Wan Ji leading a burly, dark-skinned man into the courtyard.

“Master Daoist!” Wan Ji called out before even stepping over the threshold. “This is the butcher I mentioned. He was caught by the demon half a month ago, but managed to escape!”

The butcher was broad-shouldered and imposing, nearly blocking the light from the doorway, though his face was honest and simple. He bowed to Shen Xiao at once. “Greetings, Master Daoist…”

“No need for formality.” Shen Xiao raised his hand in a courteous gesture. “Can you tell us in detail how you escaped and what you saw of the demon’s lair?”