Seeing that the Master had not returned for a long time, Sun Wukong jumped to the top of a tree to look far ahead.
The Master’s Disappearance
When he turned toward the direction the master had taken, he saw a very bright light. Falling to the ground and shouting in deep concern:
“I don’t like this at all! The master truly has terrible luck. Have you seen what has happened to that village?”
Bajie and Sha Wujing turned their heads toward the direction and also worriedly saw the light, white as snow and bright as silver.
Bajie repeated anxiously:
“What bad luck! The master must have fallen into the hands of terrible monsters. Let’s go free him right away!”
Wukong scolded him:
“What’s all this shouting for? We don’t yet know for certain what it is. I’ll go to take a look first.”
“Be careful,” advised Sha Wujing.
The Web of Illusion
He arrived at the place they had mistaken for a cluster of houses. There, he discovered an enormous tangle of ropes, thick and woven like a spiderweb. They felt soft and sticky, but he couldn’t figure out what they might be.
Without delay, he made a magical gesture and recited a spell to summon the local deity.
Trembling from head to toe and shouting while kneeling by the road:
“Great Sage, I respectfully offer my greetings!”
The Monkey King urged him:
“Stand up and don’t be so afraid. For now, I won’t hit you. Consider it a great favor. Now, if you don’t mind, I’d like to know the name of this place.”
The deity asked in turn:
“Where do you come from, Great Sage?”
The pilgrim answered:
“From the Eastern Lands, and I’m heading toward the West.”
The deity asked again:
“Have you passed the great mountain range?”
The Monkey King explained:
“No. We’re still up there. Can’t you see the luggage and the horse?”
The deity clarified:
“This is the Spiderweb Mountains. Within it lies the Spiderweb Cave, home to seven demons.”
“The monsters you speak of—are they male or female?” inquired the Monkey King.
“Females,” replied the deity.
“Do you know what kind of magical powers they possess?” insisted the Monkey King.
The deity explained:
“To be honest, my strength is small, and my authority too weak to determine it with certainty.”
“Alright. You may return to your abode. I’ll handle them myself,” replied the Monkey King upon hearing this.
The Spider Sisters
Hardly had time passed before he heard a sound like animals breathing. In less time than it normally takes to drink a cup of tea, the tangle of threads vanished completely, and the village’s silhouette reappeared.
The creaking sound of an opening door was heard, and seven young women emerged, chatting and laughing merrily.
All held hands as they walked, never ceasing to joke and laugh, crossing the bridge. Their beauty was indeed extraordinary.
Thus, they soon reached the hot spring, the reserved bathing spot, protected from curious eyes by a splendid wall.
Without delay, they took off their clothes and carelessly threw them onto the racks before simultaneously entering the pool.
The Monkey King thought to himself:
“Killing them would be easy, but it would tarnish my reputation. Better let Bajie handle this.”
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