Tang Monk and His Disciples Fight Spider Demons (III)

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Bajie rubbed his sore bottom, groaning as he limped back. Wukong and Sha Monk laughed, "Bajie, what happened?" Bajie grimaced, "Brother Monkey, don't ask! The demons escaped, save Master quickly." Wukong immediately drew his staff, flew to the Spider Web Cave, and found only little demons guarding Tang Monk.

Wukong shouted, "Little demons, release my Master!" The little demons replied, "No way, our mother told us to guard him." Wukong sneered, "So you're the children of those female demons!" He swung his staff, knocking them down one by one, revealing their true forms as beetles.

Unable to tear the web, Wukong spat fire to burn it away, freeing Tang Monk. He carried Tang Monk out and set the Spider Web Cave ablaze.

Wukong carried Tang Monk to Bajie and Sha Monk, helped him onto the white horse, and they continued west. After traveling seven or eight li, they saw a magnificent building ahead. Tang Monk said, "Wukong, see what lies ahead." Wukong leaped into the air, looked, and said, "Master, it appears to be a Taoist temple."

Tang Monk said, "After a day's journey, let's seek a meal there." Bajie agreed, and they hurried up the steps. Wukong saw a plaque reading "Huanghua Temple."

A Taoist boy asked, "Where are you monks from?" Tang Monk replied, "We come from the Great Tang." The boy said, "Our master loves meeting guests. Please come in." Tang Monk thanked him, and Wukong led the horse inside, followed by Bajie and Sha Monk.

Inside the hall, the boy said, "Please wait, I'll inform my master." He went to the back. Soon, an old Taoist in a red robe with a dark face appeared, smiling and bowing, "Welcome, esteemed monks from the Great Tang! Please sit!" Tang Monk and his disciples sat and chatted with the old Taoist.

Unbeknownst to them, the Huanghua Temple master was the elder brother of the seven female demons. The demons entered through the back, recognized the voices, and lifted the curtain to see. "Our enemies are here! Boy, fetch your master, we have something to say."

The boy went to the old Taoist and whispered. The Taoist smiled, stood, and said, "Please excuse me for a moment." Tang Monk clasped his hands, "Please, Taoist." Bajie muttered, "This Taoist doesn't even offer tea, let alone a meal!"

The old Taoist met the seven demons, "Sisters, why are you here?" The girl in red said, "Brother, those monks are our enemies. The fat one is Tang Monk, the monkey-faced one is Sun Wukong, the long-eared one is Pig Bajie, and the bearded one is Sha Monk!" The Taoist was surprised, "Oh? They say eating Tang Monk grants immortality!" The demons said, "Indeed."

The Taoist laughed, "Fear not, sisters. I can kill them without lifting a finger!" The girl in red asked, "What is your plan, brother?" The Taoist smiled, taking out a wooden box. The girl in red opened it to find a foot-long centipede.

The Taoist squeezed the centipede's tail, dripping poison into four cups of tea, stirring each with his finger, and adding red dates. He took another cup, placed a black date inside, and instructed the boy, "When I say 'serve tea,' bring these cups." The boy nodded.

The Taoist returned, smiling, "Sorry for the wait! Boy, serve tea." The boy brought a tray with five cups, placing it before the Taoist. The Taoist handed a cup with a red date to Tang Monk, "Please, venerable monk." Unaware of the trap, Tang Monk drank. The Taoist took the cup with a black date, while the boy served the remaining cups to Wukong, Bajie, and Sha Monk. Wukong noticed and asked, "Why do you have a black date, Taoist?" The Taoist laughed, "You don't know, my black date isn't as sweet as your red dates!"

Tang Monk said, "Wukong, the host is being kind. Drink up!" Bajie agreed, "Right, black or red, let's fill our stomachs!" He gulped his tea. Sha Monk drank too. Wukong shouted, "Don't drink! Spit it out!" But it was too late. Tang Monk clutched his stomach and collapsed, while Bajie and Sha Monk groaned in pain.

The Taoist laughed, "Once drunk, it can't be spat out!" Wukong, enraged, drew his staff, "Demon, return my master's life!" He swung at the Taoist, who dodged, sneering, "Sun Wukong, you think you can leave today?" As he spoke, the seven demons lined up, revealing their navels, and sprayed webs at Wukong.

Wukong swung his staff but was entangled. Thinking quickly, he breathed fire on his hands, burning the webs away. He then spat fire at the demons. This was the True Samadhi Fire, which the demons couldn't withstand. They screamed and fell, revealing their true forms as two-foot-long spiders.

Seeing his sisters dead, the Taoist shrieked, brandishing his sword at Wukong. Wukong met him with his staff. They fought for forty or fifty rounds, but the Taoist was no match and began to tire. Wukong laughed, ready to pursue, when the Taoist suddenly dropped his sword and opened his robe.

Wukong laughed, "My child, undressing won't help!" But the Taoist revealed a thousand eyes on his ribs, emitting blinding golden light. Wukong was dazzled, his skin pricked like needles, and he fell, shouting. The Taoist laughed, "Sun Wukong, taste my golden light! Ha ha..."

Wukong struggled up, thinking of a way to defeat the Taoist. Suddenly, he saw Lady Li Shan approaching and hurried to greet her, "Old Mother, why are you here?" Lady Li Shan smiled, "I was passing by for a ceremony and knew your master was in trouble, so I came to guide you."

Wukong said, "That demon has a thousand eyes, emitting blinding golden light. It's formidable!" Lady Li Shan laughed, "That demon is the Hundred-Eye Demon King, also known as the Multi-Eyed Monster. Go to Purple Cloud Mountain's Thousand Flower Cave and invite Pilan Po; she can subdue him." Wukong asked, "Where is Purple Cloud Mountain?" Lady Li Shan said, "Due south, a thousand li away."

Wukong said, "Thank you for the guidance!" and somersaulted to Purple Cloud Mountain. He met an old woman and bowed, "Are you Pilan Po?" The old woman said, "I am. Who are you?" Wukong said, "I am Sun Wukong, Tang Monk's disciple. Passing Huanghua Temple, the Multi-Eyed Monster poisoned my master. I seek your help!"

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