She Can.

Tuk.
The arm fell to the floor along with the sword.
Moyong Min’s body, however, stopped in midair.

“Young Master!”

The investigation team drew their weapons and prepared to charge.

“Stop!”
“Stand down.”

Jeon Pung’s and Moyong Hwi’s shouts brought the group to a halt.
Although the arm had been severed right beside her, not a single drop of blood stained the woman.
Transparent threads had blocked the blood.
The same threads were wrapped around Moyong Min’s body.
Only then did the woman slowly turn her head.

“Where did you learn the habit of attacking in the middle of a conversation?”

Her tone was like that of someone scolding a child.
However, no one present could take the woman lightly.
Moyong Min’s face was turning blue.
It was not from fear.
Kkirik, kkirik.
The spiderwebs were slowly tightening around his throat.
His mouth was also covered by spiderwebs, preventing him from even screaming.
Ttuk, ttuk.
As drops of blood fell to the floor, the faces of those watching steadily hardened.
The woman’s red lips parted as she watched Moyong Min.
“Hmm, how troublesome. If it were up to me, I would kill all of you, but that would become bothersome, wouldn’t it?”

The woman directed the question toward Gyo-ha.
Gyo-ha considered it briefly before nodding.

“They all come from important households, so people will definitely come looking for them.”

The Five Great Clans and the Nine Sects, One Union.
The Nine Sects, One Union were sects rather than families, but his wording was not entirely wrong.

“You must like this place.”
“I do. Even if a few people disappear, no one pays any attention.”

Her smile was enchanting, but its meaning was anything but.
The prey came to her of its own accord.

“I wouldn’t care no matter how many mere humans came, but my children might get hurt.”
“And your home would get dirty.”

The woman nodded at Gyo-ha’s words.
She then spoke playfully.

“Honestly, that’s the bigger concern.”
“Keueeeee.”

The group trembled at the monstrous cry that rang out once again.

“Oh my. That doesn’t mean I don’t love you.”

The cries subsided at the woman’s reassurance.
Gyo-ha also looked beyond the darkness before speaking.

“If you’re still deciding what to do, how about letting him go? He looks like he’s about to die. If he dies, it’ll be difficult for us to simply withdraw.”

He was referring to Moyong Min.
His face was now turning black. After considering it briefly, the woman waved her hand.
The spiderwebs covering his throat and mouth then slipped away.

“Hueo!”

Moyong Min sucked in a sharp breath.
Jegal Yeon and Peng Seon-ho sighed in relief.
Unlike the two of them, Moyong Min’s brother kept his eyes fixed solely on the woman.

“…Senior, is there something you want from us?”

It was Jegal Yeon.
She had realized something from the exchange between Gyo-ha and the woman.

“What a clever child.”

The woman did not deny it.

“I told you. I like this place. I have moved several times since you ruined our home, but nowhere has been as pleasant as this.”

At the woman’s words, the group’s gazes turned toward Gyo-ha.
What in the world had he done?
Under their gazes, Gyo-ha scratched the back of his head.

“However, some irritating pests have appeared recently.”
“They must be the ones we’re looking for.”

Gyo-ha responded.
The group was puzzled. With so many people passing through the area, there were also many martial artists.
How could he be certain she meant the people they were searching for?
However, Jeon Pyeong and Namgung Hyeok could guess the reason.
Yokai Qi.
That was what had displeased her.

“Yes. I know where they are. I’ll tell you their locations, so finish what you came to do and go home.”

It was an exceedingly merciful offer.

“…How can you trust us?”

It was Peng Seon-ho. Those around him stared at him as though he had gone mad.

“What if we leave and come back?”

They would not return alone. Jegal Yeon tugged on Peng Seon-ho’s sleeve.

‘Are you insane?’

The meaning was clear from her eyes alone.
It would be disastrous if the woman changed her mind.
Gyo-ha, however, looked at Peng Seon-ho in surprise.

‘I was going to ask that.’

He had been one step too late.
At Peng Seon-ho’s question, the corners of the woman’s mouth curved gently.

“It doesn’t matter. It would be slightly bothersome, but nothing would change.”

It didn’t matter how many people they brought.
It wasn’t mere confidence.

“I would, however, become extremely angry.”

The air froze.
At the same time, the darkness rippled.

“Kkieeeeeeeeeeeeeee!”
“Kkieeeeeee!”

Countless shadows began thrashing about as they sensed her emotions.
That allowed the group to make out the shadows’ forms.
Spiders.
Enormous spiders clung to the walls and ceiling.
The group held their breath at the horrific sight barely visible within the darkness.
Chiik.
“As the creatures grew agitated, venom dripped from them and splattered across the floor.”

‘When did they get this close?’

Gyo-ha clicked his tongue.
Her scent had made it difficult to distinguish the scents of the other creatures.
The woman slowly spoke as she looked at the group.

“If I become angry, I won’t remain inside my home either.”

The group swallowed dryly.
Everyone understood what she meant.

“What will you do?”
“…I apologize for our discourtesy. If you will forgive us, we will withdraw.”

It was Moyong Hwi.
He had quickly assessed the situation.
The group was surprised by his words.
Moyong Hwi was prouder than anyone present.

“Hmm.”

The woman looked at Moyong Hwi before turning her head.

“You appear to think differently.”

She meant Gyo-ha.
Gyo-ha gave an awkward smile at her words.

“You noticed?”
“Of course. How could I fail to notice when you are staring at me so intensely?”

The group stared at Gyo-ha in horror.

“It’s a reflex. It happens regardless of what I want.”

Gyo-ha spoke such absurdities with ease.
However, the woman was right. Had Gyo-ha been alone, he would’ve attacked her.
But Gyo-ha understood the situation as well.
The moment he attacked, the lives of everyone present would also be decided.
Gyo-ha clenched and unclenched his fist.
Her words had bothered him.
She might be even stronger the next time they met.

‘She almost certainly will be.’

Would he be able to fight her then?

‘…No, it would be difficult even now.’

It would be over in an instant.
Once he acknowledged that fact, the strength left his hand.
The woman’s gaze swept over Gyo-ha from head to toe.
She soon noticed something, and displeasure appeared on her face.

“You met that sword.”

Her voice was cold.
The air froze once again.
This time, not only the group but even the spiders fell silent.

“Yes. I nearly died because of him. He was desperately searching for you, Sis.”

The woman clicked her tongue at Gyo-ha’s casual reply.

“Persistent men are never popular. Judging by the state you’re in, it seems you failed to kill him.”

Gyo-ha blinked.
His expression asked how she had known.
The woman raised the corners of her mouth.

“Yokai power carries a great deal of information.”

As she spoke, a breeze swept through the cave.

[I mean the yokai you devoured.]

Gyo-ha’s eyes widened. The voice had entered his mind directly rather than reaching his ears.
Gyo-ha started to speak, then closed his mouth.
He had many questions, but too many ears were listening.

‘…Besides, she probably wouldn’t tell me even if I asked.’

It was merely a feeling.
She acted according to her emotions. If he annoyed her, her attitude might change.
Gyo-ha’s intuition proved correct.

“That is enough idle chatter. I am beginning to reach my limit. I dislike having anyone other than my children inside my home.”

Weariness and irritation entered her eyes, making it clear that she meant it.
She snapped her fingers.
Spiderwebs began weaving themselves tightly together in midair.
When she lowered her finger, the web woven like cloth floated toward Jegal Yeon.
When Jegal Yeon cautiously accepted it, the connecting strands snapped.
What the woman had given her was a map.
A map woven from spiderwebs.
Several locations had been marked upon it.

“Those marked there are the ones you’re searching for.”

The group glanced at the map.
However, Jegal Yeon’s eyes widened when she examined it.

“…Are these their current locations?”

Jegal Yeon spoke in disbelief.

“How in the world…?”
“This cave is my home, but that doesn’t mean my territory is limited to this cave.”

With that, she turned around.
Her snow-white back was fully exposed.
She had exposed an opening, but no one dared to attack.
Just as she was about to walk away, she stopped.

“After all I have done for you, do not let them escape. I am telling you this for your own sake.”

It was a warning.
If they proved useless, she would no longer have any reason to show them mercy.
Instead, they would have to pay the price for wasting her time.

“I will remember that.”

Moyong Hwi nodded.
The woman then vanished into the darkness.
Once she was gone, Moyong Min, who had been suspended in midair, fell to the floor.

“Keuheuk!”

He began to scream but hurriedly covered his mouth.
Even he knew better than to make a sound.
However, the group couldn’t spare any attention for him.
The moment Moyong Min fell, they saw the threads surrounding them begin to move.

“…These…”
“When did they…?”

The spiders weren’t the only things that had approached them.
Spiderwebs had also surrounded them.
Had her mood soured, the webs would have tightened around their bodies in an instant.

‘…They wouldn’t have merely tightened.’

The group looked at Moyong Min’s severed arm.
Peng Seon-ho unconsciously rubbed his neck.

“Let’s hurry and leave before her mood worsens.”

Jeon Pung spoke.
The group nodded.
They were equally desperate to leave the place as quickly as possible.
The group swiftly made their way out of the cave.
Peng Seon-ho supported Moyong Min.
Unlike when they had entered, not even their footsteps could be heard.
Afraid of making too much noise, they even walked with their heels raised.

Only after leaving the cave and crossing the hill could the group finally relax.

“What in the world was that monster…?”
“Watch what you say. She may be listening.”

Jegal Yeon replied coldly.

“Sister Yeon, even so, we are already this far from the cave.”

In his agitation, Peng Seon-ho had slipped back into an old form of address.
Jegal Yeon sighed as she looked at him.

“Brother, can Patriarch Peng sense the presence of martial artists in Tianjin from here?”
“Even my father couldn’t do that. It would be difficult even for Grandfather.”
“She can.”

Jegal Yeon raised the map and shook it.
Peng Seon-ho fell silent. The others did the same.
They realized just how far beyond reason the situation was.

“Even if she can hear us, she probably won’t care much.”

Gyo-ha spoke while smacking his lips.
He seemed disappointed that they had simply left.

“Though I don’t know whether she actually can.”

She was closer to a spider than a human.
Some spiders actively hunted, but most built traps and waited for their prey.
They rarely left their homes except when relocating.
The woman was the same.
Despite Gyo-ha’s words, the group still found it difficult to speak.

“…Shouldn’t we inform the Alliance?”

Although Hongjiang lay at the edge of Hunan Province, it was still within the Murim Alliance’s territory.

“If the entire Murim Alliance mobilized, even she…”
“She isn’t alone.”

Peng Seon-ho nodded at Jegal Yeon’s words.

“I don’t know exactly what was in there, but those things were not to be taken lightly.”

Although they had been overshadowed by the woman’s presence, they were by no means ordinary beings.
However, someone knew the answer.

“What was it…? Ah, they’re probably Human-Faced Spiders.”

The group held their breath. Human-Faced Spiders. They had all heard the name.
They were creatures found only in legends.
When everyone looked toward him, Gyo-ha spoke awkwardly.

“I’ve fought them before.”

They were not merely the same species.
Gyo-ha recalled the gazes he had felt within the cave.
Some of them had been familiar.

‘They’re the ones I fought before.’

Back then, they had still been young and unable to fight properly.
They would be different now.
But Gyo-ha had grown stronger as well.
Gyo-ha ran his tongue over his lips without realizing it.

“Enough idle chatter.”

It was Moyong Hwi.
He snapped coldly, his emotions showing unlike before.
The group understood why.
He had been forced to beg abjectly for mercy.
His pride had been wounded.

“As the person in charge, I will make that decision myself. Our mission takes priority for now.”

Moyong Hwi’s eyes gleamed.
His gaze was as sharp as a snake’s.
Gyo-ha saw Moyong Cheon’s shadow in him.

“Min, withdraw from the mission.”
“Brother!”
“I will not tolerate insubordination.”

Moyong Hwi turned sharply.
The group looked at one another before nodding.
As Moyong Hwi had said, the mission came first.
However.

“Why is he taking his anger out on the wrong people?”

Gyo-ha’s mutter reached everyone’s ears.
Naturally, everyone pretended not to hear and continued walking.