Gan Tang

Walking through the lively streets of Huai Nan City, Ning Lang felt an unusual sense of freedom. The perpetual solitude on the mountain had taken its toll, and a brief descent to the city brought a breath of life.

Merchants, previously confined indoors, resumed their businesses on the streets due to the presence of numerous cultivators. Dressed in white, Ning Lang attracted attention, especially from unmarried girls who subtly cast flirtatious glances. Though flattered, Ning Lang maintained a composed demeanor.

Meanwhile, at a tavern's enclosure, a veiled woman observed Ning Lang in the crowd. Though only his back was visible, her gaze remained fixed on him until he disappeared around a street corner.

Regaining composure, the woman, Gan Tang, questioned herself, "What's wrong with me?" She couldn't shake the image of the man from her mind.

Later, after indulging in tunes at the tavern until sunset, Ning Lang left quietly when the entertainer approached for payment.

As the crowd thinned, he murmured, "According to the script, we should have met on the first day. How come I haven't encountered..."

Realizing he lacked sufficient money for an inn, Ning Lang reluctantly entered a dilapidated temple for the night. Though hesitant, he decided to make do and contemplated other plans for the following day.

Seated in meditation, Ning Lang focused on cultivating his spiritual energy. At midnight, a sudden message interrupted his practice:

[Mission Alert: Bond Relationship in Danger, Prompt Rescue Needed.]

The message repeated thrice, urging Ning Lang to action. Without hesitation, he rose and left the temple.

In the southern part of the city, under an old hackberry tree, Gan Tang anxiously surveyed her surroundings. She had just glimpsed at the shadow of the monster that had abducted children, a humanoid spider with eight legs, likely a fourth-tier monster.

During a recent encounter, she had hit it with a needle, but it hadn't suffered significant damage. Despite her anxiety, she now realized the monster was likely observing her from the shadows.

Terrified, she wanted to cry for help but feared antagonizing the creature. Unsure of what to do, Gan Tang lamented her decision to come to this place.

As she teetered on the brink of collapse, a figure approached in the moonlight. It was Ning Lang, the man she had observed at the tavern.

Though initially scared, Gan Tang found comfort in his presence. She barely managed to whisper, "It's a Fourth-Order Spider Monster."

Sensing danger, Ning Lang held her close, retreating to a safe distance. As the monster approached, a faint white light emanated from a nearby alley.

Realizing the peril, Ning Lang shielded Gan Tang. As the monster neared, he exclaimed, "It's poisonous!" and swiftly moved away.

Moonlight revealed a spider silk thread, emitting a green glow, wrapped around the roots of a century-old hackberry tree. The monster's presence grew stronger.

With Gan Tang safely in his arms, Ning Lang observed the monster. A humanoid spider, it had a human face, eight black legs, and made no sound.

Quietly, Ning Lang inquired, "Where are the missing children?"

In a voice resembling human laughter, the monster responded. The first two legs scratched its belly, seemingly saying, "They are all in my belly."

Gan Tang, initially paralyzed with fear, now felt strangely secure in Ning Lang's embrace. The monster extended its legs menacingly, exhibiting an evil demeanor.

Ning Lang remained calm, drawing his sword, sheathing it, and, in the next moment, cleaving the monster into two halves.

It died instantly.

...