Chapter 111: The Human-Faced Spider Causes Trouble-4
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 111: The Human-Faced Spider Causes Trouble-4
After emerging from Madam Un Ga-ryeo’s quarters, the Human-Faced Spider began to move with haste.
Patter, patter, patter.
She darted toward the outer wall with nimble movements. If she left through the main gate, she risked drawing the attention of the guards. If Madam Un Ga-ryeo found out she had snuck out, she would be furious.
She opted for the perfect crime.
The Human-Faced Spider leaped over the wall at the speed of a lightning bolt and vanished from the estate. Guards were stationed around the Great Matriarch’s residence, but they were first-class martial artists at best; catching the movements of the Human-Faced Spider was far beyond their capabilities.
Once she was certain she had completely cleared the residence, she slowed her pace to a leisurely stroll. She figured there was no point in wasting energy when there was no longer any risk of being caught.
She moved slowly, following a powerful and pure aura.
After some time had passed, she eventually came across a man who was radiating an incredibly clear energy.
Whoosh. Whoosh. Whoosh.
The man was swinging his sword with considerable speed, and with every stroke, pure Nature Qi scattered into the air. She wore an ecstatic expression as she inhaled the Nature Qi he emitted.
"Haah..."
It was an exceptionally clear energy. The scent of this Qi, which was far more refined and concentrated than ordinary Nature Qi, left her entranced.
She slowly began to absorb the clear energy drifting through the air. Soon, a refreshingly cool sensation began to circulate through her entire body.
‘This isn’t bad at all.’
It was an unexpected stroke of luck—to be able to absorb Nature Qi refined to such a degree.
Sun-woo’s Yin-Yang Harmony Divine Art didn't scatter energy; instead, it sucked in all the surrounding Nature Qi. Furthermore, Tang Seo-yoon and Madam Un Ga-ryeo never practiced their martial arts in front of her. Consequently, she rarely had the chance to be exposed to such refined Nature Qi.
With a bright smile, she continued to absorb the drifting energy. The refined Nature Qi raced through her body before being absorbed into her Inner Core. She could feel her cracked Inner Core slowly being restored.
"Huh?"
It was then. The drifting energy suddenly vanished. Sensing the abrupt disappearance of the aura, she was taken aback.
‘What happened?’
With a puzzled look, she stared at the man who had been swinging his sword. Looking ahead, she saw the man standing with his sword hanging low, tears streaming down his face.
Drip.
Seeing him like that, she projected her own experiences of being beaten by Sun-woo and crying onto him.
‘Did he get hit by someone too?’
Tilting her head, she slowly walked toward him. Once she reached the man, she spoke.
"Why are you crying?"
Hearing her voice, the man hurriedly wiped his eyes and looked around. His gaze landed on the Human-Faced Spider standing nearby, and he stared at her with a dazed expression.
Seeing this, the Human-Faced Spider gave a bright smile. He must be embarrassed that he was caught crying.
"It’s okay to cry when you want to. I cry all the time when Sun-woo beats me to a pulp."
She spoke to the man, drawing from her own experiences. How many tears had she shed while being bullied by Sun-woo? Yet, after a good cry, she always felt refreshed and could smile again. Thus, she believed that laughter was more precious because of the existence of tears.
Despite her comfort, the man simply stared at her blankly without responding. She smiled brightly. Judging by his reaction, he seemed to be moved by her consolation. The man’s face flushed red, but she didn't mind.
"Hey," she said in a suggestive tone.
"......Please, speak."
The man hesitated for a moment before answering.
"I have a favor."
At his reply, the Human-Faced Spider got straight to the point.
"A really nice energy comes from your sword. Show it to me one more time."
No matter how much she thought about it, she couldn't let go of that clear energy the man had been scattering. That refined Nature Qi was helping her recover her divinity far more than she had expected.
At her request, the man performed his sword dance countless times, scattering clear energy, and she absorbed every bit of it.
"Hehehehe, this feels so good."
She couldn't eat humans or spirit herbs, but she realized that this indirect absorption wasn't a bad alternative.
After some time had passed...
"Huff... huff... How was it?" the man asked, gasping for breath.
"It was wonderful!" she replied with a pure smile.
"Young lady, are you... of the Tang Clan?" the man asked in a trembling voice.
"No?" she answered.
She was staying with the Tang Clan, but she wasn't a human to begin with. At her words, the man’s smile deepened.
"In that case, perhaps..."
It was then. The Human-Faced Spider suddenly turned her head, cutting the man off. She had sensed an incredibly profound and powerful aura nearby. In terms of sheer magnitude, it was no less than the man standing before her.
Without a second thought, she immediately began to walk away.
"Wait! Young lady! Stop! Young lady!"
The man’s urgent shouts followed her, but the Human-Faced Spider did not stop. The man in front of her was exhausted and could no longer scatter or provide any more energy. There was no reason to stay.
"Dammit!" the man screamed.
*
Not far away, the Human-Faced Spider found a woman radiating a profound aura. Unlike other humans, her head was completely shaved, which was quite striking.
Whoosh. Whoosh. Whoosh.
Furthermore, the profound energy that burst forth every time she swung her staff made the spider feel wonderful. She began to absorb the energy once again.
Between the man from earlier and this woman, both were scattering such pleasant energy that she couldn't help but be in a good mood. They were worlds apart from Sun-woo, who never shared a single drop of energy with her.
It was then. The woman swinging the staff suddenly stopped. The Human-Faced Spider, who had been stealing the energy, was flustered when the flow was cut off again.
‘I haven't even absorbed that much yet...’
Her lips pouted in disappointment. Although she had absorbed a good amount of clear energy from the man earlier, she was still far from satisfied. She couldn't stop now. She had come out even at the risk of being scolded by Madam Un Ga-ryeo. Shouldn't there be a reward proportional to the risk?
The Human-Faced Spider approached the woman holding the staff.
"Hello!"
She waved her hand with a bright smile. Startled by the voice, the woman looked around. She soon spotted the Human-Faced Spider and began to approach with a frown.
Realizing the woman’s expression was unusual, the Human-Faced Spider grew flustered. Why was she angry when someone had just greeted her?
‘Should I run away?’
Just as she was worrying about whether to flee...
"A... lotus."
The woman’s frown vanished, replaced by a dazed expression as she stared at the Human-Faced Spider.
"May I... hold your hand... just once?" she asked, reaching out.
"Sure!"
The Human-Faced Spider readily agreed. She didn't know what the woman was thinking, but given the profound internal energy she possessed, she didn't seem like a bad person.
Grip.
As soon as the woman took her hand, she began to flow internal energy into her.
Vrooooom.
The Human-Faced Spider felt the woman’s internal energy surging through her acupoints with her entire body.
‘Wow.’
She marveled inwardly. The internal energy, which was incredibly pure, swept through her entire being. Thinking this was a total windfall, the Human-Faced Spider began to greedily absorb the energy the woman was providing. She was absorbing far more internal energy than she ever could by just taking in what was scattered in the air.
After some time...
The woman with the smooth head let go of her hand.
"Ah!"
The Human-Faced Spider let out a sigh of regret. The sudden disappearance of the energy she had been feasting on felt like having a mooncake snatched away mid-bite.
Drip, drip.
Suddenly, the woman in front of her began to shed tears.
"Why... why are you crying!?"
The Human-Faced Spider quickly asked, wondering if she had done something wrong. She had only done as she was told, so why the tears? She hadn't hit her, scratched her, or even cursed at her.
"Because I am happy... I am just so happy."
Oof.
After speaking, the weeping woman suddenly pulled the Human-Faced Spider into a tight hug. The spider was bewildered by the sudden action. Why was she crying and hugging her all of a sudden?
Though confused, she could tell that the woman in front of her felt a great deal of goodwill toward her.
Grin.
A smile spread across the Human-Faced Spider’s face. It seemed like this woman, just like the man from before, would scatter energy if she asked.
"I have a favor!"
Once the thought occurred to her, she acted quickly. She spoke to the woman who was still hugging her.
"What favor do you have?" the woman asked curiously.
"That thing—keep swinging it like you were before."
The Human-Faced Spider pointed to the staff the woman was holding.
"I feel a really nice energy when you swing that."
At her answer, the woman gave a gratified smile and began to wield her staff.
Whoosh. Whoosh. Whoosh.
Pure energy erupted every time she swung the staff, and the Human-Faced Spider absorbed it all to restore her divinity. A smile played on her lips. She began to think that perhaps all humans, except for Sun-woo, were kind.
Madam Un Ga-ryeo and the Third Madam gave her mooncakes and western confectionery, and Tang Seo-yoon played with her. Moreover, the humans she met for the first time today didn't refuse her requests. She felt her fondness for humans growing rapidly.
It was then.
Patter, patter, patter.
The sound of someone running urgently toward them echoed from a distance.
"Huh?"
The Human-Faced Spider turned her head at the familiar aura. Wasn't this the same human who had been showing off his "claws" in front of her earlier?
The man soon spotted the Human-Faced Spider and arrived before her in short order.
"Huff... huff... Young lady..."
"Yeah?" the Human-Faced Spider replied inquisitively.
"What is your name?"
"My name?"
"Yes, your name."
At his question, the Human-Faced Spider fell into thought. She didn't have a name. Even the term "Human-Faced Spider" was a name created by humans.
"Hmm... Hmm..."
"If you do not wish to reveal it, you do not have to. I do not wish to trouble you," the man said hurriedly, seeing her grip her chin in thought. "That aside, I would very much like to share a cup of tea and converse with you. Do you perhaps have the time?"
The man spoke with utter sincerity as he looked at the Human-Faced Spider.
It was then.
"Un-jeok-ja! What do you think you are doing?!"
The sharp cry of Bulheo Satae, the woman holding the staff, pierced Un-jeok-ja’s ears.
"Bulheo Satae! Why are you here?!"
Un-jeok-ja looked at Bulheo Satae in confusion. Why on earth was she here?
*
Bulheo Satae glared at Un-jeok-ja with a sharp gaze. She had just met a child with whom she felt a fated connection and was in the middle of demonstrating Emei’s martial arts to her. But then Un-jeok-ja had suddenly barged in and was trying to lure her away.
This was undoubtedly a ploy to take the child as his own disciple.
"I asked what you think you are doing."
"I have no business with you, Satae. My business is with this young lady."
Un-jeok-ja pointed at the Human-Faced Spider as he spoke.
"If it concerns that child, then I cannot simply stand by."
"What!?"
Un-jeok-ja asked back in shock. Could it be that this incredibly beautiful woman was a member of the Emei Sect?
"Is this young lady a disciple of Emei?"
"Not yet, but she soon will be."
"No! Why would you treat a perfectly fine woman like a nun!"
Hearing this, Un-jeok-ja became enraged and snapped at her. How could she turn a perfectly normal woman, who hadn't even joined Emei yet, into a nun? Un-jeok-ja condemned Bulheo Satae’s arbitrary behavior.
"Are you insulting Emei right now?"
"That is not what I meant!"
Un-jeok-ja pounded his chest in frustration. He figured it would be better to ask the person in question directly.
"Young lady, do you have any intention of joining the Emei Sect?"
"No?"
The Human-Faced Spider answered instantly. She was currently enjoying the greatest life of luxury imaginable; why would she go anywhere? She had a safe, cozy bed, Madam Un Ga-ryeo who adored and waited on her, and plenty of food to eat to her heart's content. Why would she leave such a perfect habitat?
"See! This young lady has absolutely no intention of joining Emei! Why are you speaking so boldly on your own!"
Un-jeok-ja rejoiced at her answer and raised his voice.
"It is because you are intimidating her! She only answered that way because she is scared!"
"Do not be absurd! How can someone of your age act so childishly!"
"What? Are you finished speaking?"
"I am not! This young lady is coming with me, so know that!"
Un-jeok-ja spoke firmly, as if setting it in stone. Since she wasn't a member of Emei, he saw no reason to be deferential.
"Don't make me laugh. Do you think I don't know your dark ulterior motives?"
Flinch.
Un-jeok-ja flinched inwardly at the mention of "dark motives." Of course, he had motives, but it was incredibly unpleasant to have the feelings he was experiencing for the first time in his forty years of life described as "dark."
"It is only natural for a man to feel attraction toward a beautiful woman! To belittle that as a 'dark motive'!"
"What!?"
Bulheo Satae stared at him as if he were absurd. She had raised her voice thinking he was trying to snatch away a once-in-a-century genius, but it seemed Un-jeok-ja’s heart was elsewhere. Was he really harboring feelings for a woman who looked young enough to be his daughter?
Bulheo Satae looked at him with visible disgust.
"Act your age! How old do you think this child is!"
"I believe that in love, things like age, borders, wealth, and status do not matter."
Despite her harsh criticism, Un-jeok-ja simply continued calmly. These were feelings he was experiencing for the first time in his life. He felt no desire to hide them.
"Regardless, you cannot take that child. She will enter the gates of Emei."
Bulheo Satae quickly stepped in front of the Human-Faced Spider. It was a move to prevent Un-jeok-ja from taking her.
"Why do you get to decide that, Bulheo Satae! Every person has their own freedom."
Un-jeok-ja tried to push past her to get to the Human-Faced Spider. By what right was she interfering with his love?
A heated physical struggle began between the two.
It was then.
Thump!
Bulheo Satae, having pushed Un-jeok-ja back, drew her staff and slammed it into the ground. A vibration rippled through the earth, likely due to a significant amount of internal energy being infused into the strike.
"What do you think you are doing?"
The pushed-back Un-jeok-ja asked in surprise. No matter how much they had been scuffling, the two had implicitly avoided using internal energy. But now she had suddenly drawn a weapon?
"I am expressing my firm resolve. Unless you walk over my dead body, you are not taking her."
The Guanyin Nine-Yin Qi began to flow around her body, exerting pressure on Un-jeok-ja.
Shring.
"It seems I shall have to grant your wish today!"
Un-jeok-ja drew his sword, refusing to back down. He began to circulate the Ten Thousand Manifestations Return to One Divine Art, the secret technique of the Qingcheng Sect.
He had realized that this was a woman who couldn't be reasoned with through words.
The Guanyin Nine-Yin Qi and the Ten Thousand Manifestations Return to One Qi collided, and a massive shockwave began to spread.