Chapter 9: Stickin’ With It

Chapter 9: Stickin’ With It

As we continue on, I get a similar feeling for our group, when I was being led around by Lin in the street. Gong seems to warding off anyone who is coming to investigate.

What gets me in these situations is the tiny non-verbal signals being sent. Its a totally different culture and Im not sure Im picking up even half of things not being said. The little I pick up is just based on stereotypes from wuxia novels. And the plot is ever thickening.

Looking back at me, Gong stops the group briefly.

After a quick glance around, she whispers, Maybe you should hold off on your taming ability until we get to my place. Since it sounds like, you may not fully understand it yet. There are some things around that may not take such actions kindly.

With that said, she continues on.

A quick look at Ai and Lin makes me believe they werent able to hear what she said.

Lost in my thoughts, our little group keeps moving for even longer.

In fact, even though weve been walking at a decent pace for well over half the night, we apparently arent there yet Specifically, we were moving at a fast pace in the Alleys, but as we got further, Gong slowed us down more.

With lanterns of sorts, each of them lit up the surrounding area clearly. The deeper we get in, the more abandoned everything appears until it just looked as if these were ruins. Within the shadows of the buildings we passed, I could see the peering forms of some demi-humans, as the light illuminated their eyes.

Catching me doing so, Gong whispers, Dont look around too much. You wont like what you see and they wont want you to either. Following her advice, I continue, no longer looking around.

Lin leans in, Ive never been this deep. All Ive ever been told is that there are supposedly dangerous creatures out here. Maybe even spirit beasts.

Ai shakes her head, having heard her Thats silly thinking, Lin. If there were any spirit beasts, theyd be hidden underground. Otherwise, they would be hunted down and killed by experts looking for ingredients. She looks around briefly, Though with how everything looks, I wouldnt doubt there are dangerous creatures out here.

What I end glimpsing, are that there are actually some forms of plant and wildlife out here. Vines climb some buildings, as trees grow within the crumbled remains of stores and homes. This area hasnt been overtaken by forests or wildlife.

In the corner of my eye, I can even see some demi-human children playing with what appears to be rocks.

As we go past yet another alleyway, Gong stops us all. She immediately stretches herself out, large and threatening. HIIISSSSSSS!

Raising her body up, three of her back legs become a blur, as they fling some long hairs I noticed earlier on her abdomen out towards a nearly crumbled pillar in front of us. Like a gust of needles, it lands on the pillar, coating it like a blanket. As soon as the hairs land on the pillar, it shoots up in the air.

Immediately, I step forward and say I will. looking straight at her with an unsteady smile.

It would scare even me going into this. And I expected this! Heck, back on Earth I refused to go into even childrens haunted houses. Nonetheless, I think its important to send the right message.

A little surprised, she smiles and goes in first, welcoming me in. As I go towards the entryway, the webs arent that sticky. Though, if I look closely, it appears there is a second layer beneath the one Im walking on, that appears to be a different texture

Could it be that the walking path is elevated and the sticky part is underneath? Dropped, if enemies approach Sheesh, I can see why shes survived so long.

Ai and Lin remain outside of the hole, but quickly follow inside after I go through the entryway. The entryway is actually wider after you enter the initial hole. There seems to be wider straight section, before opening to cavern-like room. Inside, it is spacious and there are fewer webs than the entryway.

She seems to have hollowed out several rooms/tunnels in the ground, supporting it with pillars of dirt/rock. It even looks like shes dug even deeper into the ground, with pathways to other areas. Paths from this room seem to have webs around the entryway, in distinct patterns.

The entire area is lit with small magical stones that are quite thematic. Essentially, she has her own dungeon down here.

Very fantasy like.

I can feel my heart rate increasing from excitement.

This. This is what I was hoping for, if I went into a dungeon. Well, obviously with a party and safely. Though honestly, I may not have ever entered one, even then. If this was an actual spider lair, there are so many ways I could imagine dying unexpectedly in a place like this. However, while I am still anxious in this situation, for some reason I feel I dont have to worry about Gong as much.

In contrast, Ai and Lin look pale. It is clear they never knew this side of Gong. As I think of it, this probably makes her seem like more of a monster.

From what I can tell, their only interactions with Gong must have been in those alleyways, as an informant and potentially guard.

For me, due to reading and seeing monster girls in books, this just seems to be par for the course.

I mean, if you consider it from her perspective, shes just trying to make things more comfortable for herself. It cant be easy living with her large size and such.

Not only that, as an intimidating type of demi-human, she probably cant sleep as safely as other demi-humans (who already have it tough). Its pretty clear these defenses are meant to protect her home. When I look closely at the floor, I can see that there are holes dug, potentially as a pitfall for encroaching enemies.

This really is a dungeon