Mo Dao Zu Shi: Astray

Forest of Webs, Part One

Chapter warnings: Animal death, arachnophobia, mention of giant spiders preying on humans

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What exactly was Pan Wukun doing in a dark scary forest again?

As a rogue cultivator, she was investigating yet another strange occurrence.

The villagers pointed her to a nearby dense forest covered in a strange white sticky threadlike substance. Other cultivators had entered to investigate before but they never returned.

The villagers' desperate pleas for help kept Pan Wukun from turning away and running for the hills.

But that didn't mean she enjoyed investigating this forest alone. Sure, there were other cultivators in here. But they were either still alive or dead.

Pan Wukun held a light talisman and sliced through the strange white threads with Yuyun to continue walking. These damn things were everywhere! She still couldn't figure out what they were.

"Pan Wukun? Is that you?" a voice called out.

Up ahead of her, Pan Wukun saw someone holding a light talisman as well. Her hand hovered near her sword just in case it was a threat.

Once the other person got close enough, Pan Wukun's light talisman shone on a familiar face. "Kang Xieren!"

Pan Wukun was surprised to run into her fellow rogue cultivator and rival again. She hadn't seen him since the time before meeting Meng Shi and Meng Xingyao in Yunping City.

Kang Xieren smiled in relief. "You're quite the sight for sore eyes!"

Pan Wukun was glad not to be alone in this creepy forest. "It's good to see you again, Kang Xieren. But I wish it was under better circumstances."

Kang Xieren nodded. "So you're investigating the strange happenings in this forest too, I see."

"Yes, unfortunately."

Kang Xieren shook his head and sighed. "At least we have each other's company."

Pan Wukun chuckled. "True."

Pan Wukun and Kang Xieren walked together, watching each other's backs.

"So Kang Xieren, when did you first enter this forest?"

"An hour ago."

"Ah. You got here before me then. What have you found out?"

"Nothing yet."

"I heard other cultivators entered this forest before we did. Did you see anyone other than me?"

"I'm afraid not."

Pan Wukun and Kang Xieren went silent. It was likely those other cultivators were dead.

Kang Xieren tensed. "Did you hear something?"

Crack!

Pan Wukun and Kang Xieren gripped their swords tightly, whirling around in the direction of the noise.

Several crooked spindly spikes shot at them from the bushes!

Pan Wukun and Kang Xieren blocked the spikes with their swords.

Then more spikes shot at them from everywhere!

Whatever was attacking the cultivators lay beyond the reach of their light talismans.

Deflect! Deflect! Deflect! - was all Pan Wukun could think.

The ground shook beneath Pan Wukun and Kang Xieren. Something was coming.