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. It’s a totally different culture and I’m not sure I’m 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 weren’t able to hear what she said.

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

In fact, even though we’ve been walking at a decent pace for well over half the night, we apparently aren’t 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, “Don’t look around too much. You won’t like what you see and they won’t want you to either.” Following her advice, I continue, no longer looking around.

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

Ai shakes her head, having heard her “That’s silly thinking, Lin. If there were any spirit beasts, they’d 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 wouldn’t 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 hasn’t 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.

Clearly, it is not a pillar.

What it appears to be, is a camouflaged lizard of some sort, that instantly began running away after the first coating of hairs.

Gong continues her hissing until the potential threat has left. Ai and Lin were ready to flee when they saw how she had gotten into attack mode, even when she was faced away from them.

Granted, that was a bit of a scary display. I wouldn’t want to face her when she is in that mode.

However, once they saw what she was doing it for, they quickly relaxed. Gong turns around, clearly apologetic about the way she responded. Ai and Lin quickly exclaim their appreciation, especially considering if it would have been able to successfully ambush them.

I can’t help but say, “Wow, that was pretty imposing. It’s comforting to have you on our side. Thanks Gong, for protecting us.” With our two companions giving similar comments of gratefulness, Gong blushes slightly from our appreciation.

She seems to be really weak to genuine compliments.

This happens a few times more, to where I wonder if it is actually safer to live elsewhere instead.

I suspect Gong is searching out encounters in order to get more compliments. Which I will gladly supply, because why not? Though this shows me one thing. Do not. Mess. With Gong.

As if proving my point, two of the offending creatures she searched out, wolf-like creatures, suddenly attack her. A web shoots out of one of her pedipalps and she shoots forward, puncturing it with what appeared to be hidden giant fangs. It throws the other into a wall by one of her legs, snapping out and hitting it at high speeds.

Both seem to instantly die or go unconscious.

Damn, that’s some power.

She quickly wraps them up in a web, attaching them to her back and moves on.

After a few more turns and twists, we arrive at her home/lair. It is appropriate, a hole into an abandoned workshop that dives below ground. Covered in giant cobwebs, it is clearly frightening. I can just barely see, now that I’m looking, nearly transparent lines of web going from this hole out back into the alleyways. I personally am intimidated by this.

Lin and Ai look frightened out of their minds. A quick look at Gong shows a slightly dissatisfied look, as she saw Ai and Lin’s expressions.

Quickly, she says, “So, who wants to enter my evil lair?”

Oh no, she didn’t. Now I have to at least give it a shot.

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 children’s haunted houses. Nonetheless, I think it’s 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 aren’t that sticky. Though, if I look closely, it appears there is a second layer beneath the one I’m 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 she’s 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 she’s 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 don’t 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, she’s just trying to make things more comfortable for herself. It can’t be easy living with her large size and such.

Not only that, as an intimidating type of demi-human, she probably can’t sleep as safely as other demi-humans (who already have it tough). It’s 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…