Tang Monk and His Disciples Fight Spider Demons (II)

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"Spider Web Cave?" Tang Monk looked around and saw no hut, only a cave filled with spider webs and trapped insects. Terrified, he shouted, "Wukong!" The seven girls laughed, revealing their navels. Tang Monk quickly closed his eyes.

The seven female demons cast a spell, spraying webs from their navels to bind Tang Monk tightly. The girl in red laughed, "Sisters, they say eating Tang Monk's flesh grants immortality!" The others were both shocked and delighted. The girl in red said, "Let's bathe in the river first, then feast on Tang Monk!"

Meanwhile, Wukong, Bajie, and Sha Monk waited for Tang Monk to return. Sha Monk asked, "Elder brother, could Master have encountered demons?" Wukong, thinking, struck his staff on the ground and called, "Earth God, come see me!" Instantly, a puff of green smoke appeared, and the Earth God arrived, leaning on his cane, "What does the Great Sage require?"

Wukong asked, "What place is this? Are there demons?" The Earth God replied, "This is Pan Si Ridge, with a Spider Web Cave ahead, home to seven female demons." Wukong nodded, "So there are demons! What are their powers?" The Earth God said, "This small god doesn't know. But three li south is the Zhuo Gou Spring, originally the bathing pool of the Seven Fairies, now occupied by demons."

Wukong asked, "Why do they occupy the Zhuo Gou Spring?" The Earth God said, "They bathe there three times a day. It's noon now, so they should be heading there." Wukong said, "Bajie, Sha Monk, stay here and guard our belongings. I'll go investigate."

With that, he leaped onto his cloud. Wukong transformed into a dragonfly and flew to the Spider Web Cave. Soon, he saw the seven demons, dressed in bright colors, leaving the cave and heading south. Once they were gone, Wukong flew into the cave, where he saw Tang Monk struggling in a large web.

Wukong landed on his shoulder and whispered, "Master, it's me, Wukong!" Tang Monk opened his eyes, delighted, "Wukong, save me!" Wukong looked around, saw no one, and reverted to his true form. He grabbed the sticky web but couldn't tear it. Not wanting to alert the demons, he said, "Master, endure a bit longer, I'll defeat the demons and return for you!"

He flew to Zhuo Gou Spring, where the seven demons were joyfully bathing. Wukong turned his head away, waiting until they were all in the water before opening his eyes. He thought, "I could easily kill them now, but that would be dishonorable. Better to trap them in the water first."

Wukong had an idea and shouted, "Transform!" He became an eagle, swooped down, and snatched the demons' clothes. The demons in the water panicked, "The eagle has taken our clothes!" The girl in red said, "That cursed eagle! No matter, we'll get out after dark."

Wukong flew back with the clothes, dropped them, and reverted to his form. Bajie picked up the silk clothes, sniffed them, and asked, "Brother Monkey, where did you get these women's clothes?" Sha Monk asked, "Elder brother, did you find the demons?" Wukong said, "I found them but let them go."

Sha Monk asked, "Why didn't you kill them?" Wukong laughed, "Sha brother, you don't understand. I found them bathing. Killing them then would ruin my reputation!" Sha Monk nodded. Bajie said, "But we must save Master! I'll handle those demons." He grabbed his rake and left.

Sha Monk stopped him, "Second brother, aren't you afraid of ruining your reputation?" Bajie turned, "I'm saving Master!" With that, he hurried away. Wukong chuckled, "Go ahead, go."

Bajie reached the spring, hid behind a tree, and saw the seven demons, naked, playing in the water. Feeling tempted, Bajie said, "Ladies, let me join you." He began to undress. The demons shouted, "What shameless monk wants to bathe with women?"

Bajie laughed, "It's too hot to care!" He stripped to his shorts and entered the water. The demons splashed him, and Bajie transformed into a catfish, swimming among their legs. The demons screamed and tried to catch the fish.

Bajie escaped to the shore, raised his rake, and shouted, "I, the Great Marshal of the Heavenly Canopy, won't be mocked!" He swung his rake at the demons, who panicked and ran. The girl in red said, "Sisters, cast a spell!" The demons quickly revealed their navels, spraying webs to bind Bajie and hang him in a pavilion.

The seven demons laughed, covered themselves with leaves, and fled back to the cave. The girl in red said, "Sisters, let's invite our senior brother to deal with Sun Wukong." The others agreed. The girl in red called, "Children!" Several little demons appeared, "Yes, Mother?"

The girl in red instructed, "We'll invite your senior uncle. Guard Tang Monk well." The little demons replied, "Yes!"

The seven demons exited through the back and flew west on a gust of wind.

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