Late at night, inside the bamboo house of the Black Tooth Village Chief.
A single oil lamp cast a dim glow, its flame no bigger than a bean.
Village Chief Wu Shen sat opposite Sangjila, his coarse, wrinkled old hand gently stroking hers.
"Granny Sang, Thousand Spider Ridge is nothing like our little village. That place is the domain of the Poisonous Spiders."
Wu Shen's voice was low. He sighed and said, "I know you want to go see him, but there are three Elders on the ridge, all of whom are at the peak of Foundation Establishment. You have to be careful."
Granny Sang's murky eyes flickered away, and she gave a soft hum of acknowledgment.
A look of relief appeared on Wu Shen's face as he continued.
"Then there are the spiritual Poisonous Spiders. The web of the Second-Turned Black Widow Spider is tough and laced with deadly poison, and it loves to eat brains. The First-Turned Jumping Spider is as fast as lightning and excels at surprise attacks."
