Chapter 50: The Spider Mountain Grand Theatre

Shi Hanfeng stopped at the foot of Natagumo Mountain, his foot grinding over the scattered stones on the ground, producing a faint friction sound.

He wasn’t afraid of what lurked in the mountain; it was just that the disguise needed to be perfect at this moment.

After all, Qianbian’s illusion had to be set up in advance. He couldn’t wait until meeting Rui to disguise himself on the spot.

That wouldn’t be luring the enemy—it would be deceiving himself.

“Qianbian.”

He called softly.

“Ready to work?”

The next second, a girl’s lazy and drawn-out complaint echoed from the blade, perfectly replicating a certain white-haired girl’s classic slacker line.

“Ah, the sun is so strong. I don’t want to go to work.”

The disdain and perfunctory tone made it seem as if the task at hand wasn’t slaying demons, but working overtime on a pile of reports.

Shi Hanfeng smiled helplessly, tapping his fingertip lightly on the hilt, as if knocking on the forehead of a lazy person refusing to get up.

“Don’t mess around, it’s nighttime now. Besides, this is for your materials. If we settle this one, maybe you’ll unlock a new ability, and I’ll get you a fancy car.”

“Yeah, yeah, I’m really good at being ordered around, Mugen Tsuyoi.”

Finally, some motivation returned to Qianbian’s voice.

“Hurry up, hurry up, the sooner we finish, the sooner we rest.”

Shi Hanfeng took a deep breath, the power of the Path of Abundance flowing silently within him, entwining with the Zanpakuto.

“Illusive Dream Weaving, all as one thought. Manifest, Qianbian!”

As the release phrase fell, a cool force surged from the Zanpakuto hilt into his body, spreading rapidly along his meridians to his limbs and bones.

A ripple, nearly imperceptible to the naked eye, spread outward from him, like an invisible stone thrown into a calm lake, covering several meters around.

The air twisted slightly, like glass melted by heat, but in the next second, it returned to normal, as if the anomaly had been an illusion.

He looked down at his hand. In his own vision, they remained long and powerful, with well-defined joints.

But when he walked over to a small nearby pool and looked into the water, the reflection had completely changed.

Now, his own presence had vanished entirely, replaced by a tall figure over two meters, muscles knotted, draped in a tattered monk’s robe, carrying a strange weapon on his back, with lifeless, gray-white eyes—a common monk.

“How’s my transformation? Not bad, right?”

Qianbian’s voice carried obvious pride.

“Even the holes on the robe are replicated perfectly—full points for detail!”

“I have no complaints. But using this guy as a template to defeat Yan Meng, and now as a skin, are you sure you don’t have a grudge against the Stone Hashira?”

To provoke Yan Meng once, then use this image to slay Muzan’s favorite demon—Muzan’s anger toward the Stone Hashira might reach the sky.

“Hehe, no need to trouble two people for the same job. Besides, aren’t you planning to have a Hashira and a Lower Fifth exit together this time? Gathering more hatred doesn’t matter.”

Qianbian laughed like a cat that had stolen a fish, the schadenfreude in her tone unhidden.

“Anyway, Muzan is going into the pot at the end. The more hatred now, the easier our plan will move forward.”

“You…”

Shi Hanfeng had no way to deal with her.

To ensure the disguise was flawless, he didn’t head up the mountain directly but turned and walked toward the nearest village at the foot.

At the village’s edge, an old farmer carrying firewood hurried home, his hunched back bent further under the weight, staggering steps and sweat beading on his forehead.

“Amitabha.”

Shi Hanfeng imitated Gyomei Himejima’s deep, resonant voice, pressing his palms together with the steadiness of stone.

“Good sir, is the mountain forest ahead Natagumo Mountain?”

The sudden appearance of a towering monk startled the old farmer.

But when he saw the determined features and compassionate gaze, he replied with awe,

“Yes, master! That’s Spider Mountain ahead. They say there are man-eating demons inside—very evil. Please be careful.”

“Thank you for informing me.”

Shi Hanfeng nodded slightly, exuding a steady calm.

The visual deception ability of Jinghua Shuiyue worked exceptionally well on ordinary people; the old farmer sensed nothing amiss.

“Sir, hurry home and bolt your doors and windows. Don’t go near this mountain these days.”

“Yes! Yes! Thank you for the warning, master! I’ll head home right away!”

The old farmer hoisted the firewood, steps quickening, and couldn’t help but glance back at Shi Hanfeng before leaving.

Watching the old farmer’s distant figure, Shi Hanfeng withdrew his gaze and turned once again toward Natagumo Mountain.

This time, he didn’t hesitate. He strode steadily into the forest, shrouded in thick, eerie aura.

Upon entering the area, a faint, rancid smell mixed with decaying leaves invaded his nose.

He hadn’t gone far when a sticky sensation pressed beneath his feet, as if stepping on melted resin.

Shi Hanfeng looked down. In the dim light, nearly transparent threads crisscrossed the ground and trees.

“The alarm’s been triggered, Mugen Tsuyoi.”

Qianbian’s voice rang in his mind, her tone playful.

“That guy probably already knows someone’s here.”

“No problem. I did it on purpose.”

Shi Hanfeng kept walking, not slowing at all. He even deliberately hooked a strand with his toe, making it tremble.

“Better to bring him out early than go searching inside.”

He had expected, as in the original story, for one or two of Rui’s family to appear first for a test.

But to his surprise, multiple figures materialized quickly nearby.

The spider-headed Father, the alluring Mother, the gloomy, backstabbing Sister, and the human-headed, spider-bodied Brother…

Behind these four “family” members, a small, white-haired boy stood silently, dressed in an ill-fitting dark kimono embroidered with spiderweb patterns at the collar and sleeves.

He toyed with a web woven from silk threads, flicking it between his fingers, his face expressionless.

The Lower Fifth, Rui—the smallest on the surface of Spider Mountain, yet the true final boss.

Well, a whole family right from the start.

Shi Hanfeng glanced around.

In the original, Tanjiro only met Mother and Sister.

Here, he had barely stepped into the forest before being greeted by a full family bucket.

Clearly, the death of Yan Meng had affected the other Lower Ranks, making even Rui, usually obsessed with his make-believe family games, more cautious.

He remained silent, maintaining the habit of the Stone Hashira—palms pressed together, eyes downcast, his gray-white gaze untroubled.

Rui’s fingers paused.

He looked up, his purple eyes fixed on Shi Hanfeng, as if examining an object.

“You’re the Hashira who killed Yan Meng?”

His voice was flat—no anger, no fear, only a numb calm.

“Lord Muzan commands: If you encounter a Hashira, kill without mercy.”

He raised his hand slightly, the thread at his fingertip trembling.

The four family members before him tensed instantly, like puppets receiving orders.

“Father, Mother, Brother, Sister,”

Rui’s tone remained flat.

“There’s an intruder at home. Tear him apart.”

“Father” stepped forward first, massive arms tensed, veins bulging as he spoke like distant thunder.

“How dare you trespass on our territory and disturb our family’s peace? Unforgivable!”

His eight spider eyes flashed with menace as he clenched his fists, joints cracking.

He clearly intended to use brute force to deal with Shi Hanfeng.

“Mother” giggled, threads at her fingertips glittering coldly in the mist, swaying her waist like a water snake.

“What a rude guest. Let us welcome you properly.”

Malice overflowed from her smile, but deep in her eyes was a trembling fear.

She feared this Hashira who looked hard to handle, and even more feared the consequences if she failed Rui’s orders.

“Amitabha.”

Shi Hanfeng finally spoke.

He had no patience for these puppets under Rui’s control.

He knew little about the Stone Hashira’s behavior; the more he spoke, the more likely he’d give himself away.

Better to settle things with battle.

As his words ended, his palms slapped together.

A surge of power burst from within him like a sudden storm, sweeping over Rui and his family.

The surrounding mist was pushed back, fallen leaves on the ground whirling into the air.

“Extermination of Evil Demons!”

A low shout.

Shi Hanfeng adopted a battle stance.

Left hand loosely grasped as if holding a meteor hammer’s chain, right hand slightly lowered as if gripping a giant axe.

The pose was identical to the real Stone Hashira.

Qianbian’s illusion reached its peak—within the eyes of Rui and his family, the Zanpakuto in Shi Hanfeng’s hand had become the signature meteor hammer and giant axe of the Stone Hashira.

Rui’s fingers tightened, crushing the thread toy.

“Father” attacked immediately, legs pounding the ground to create shallow craters.

His massive fist shot toward Shi Hanfeng’s chest with a sound like rending air.

The speed wasn’t overwhelming, but the force was immense.

The air screamed from the force.

It was clear he was using all his strength.

Then his fist collided with Shi Hanfeng’s palm.

Shi Hanfeng held back his own strength just enough, barely managing not to send the other flying, simulating a balanced contest of power.

The impact echoed dully, stirring fallen leaves across the ground.

Shi Hanfeng’s body swayed slightly, while “Father” staggered back two steps before regaining balance.

“How…?”

“Mother” gasped, her false smile freezing, shock filling her eyes.

Among the four family members, “Father” was the strongest.

As the one most often abused, she knew best.

Because of Rui’s will, “Father’s” strength was even greater than Rui’s own.

Yet this Hashira had taken “Father’s” full force with the meteor hammer and only wobbled?

“Sister” also widened her eyes, hands clenching in fear.

She’d thought the Hashira was merely intimidating, but now she realized his power truly crushed them.

“What are you doing?”

Rui’s voice remained calm, but his deep red eyes showed displeasure.

“Father is already fighting, and you’re hesitating. Do you intend to betray us?”

“No! We’ll protect Rui! We’ll get rid of the intruder right away!”

“Sister” answered in panic, fear clear in her voice.

She knew Rui’s temper—being marked as a traitor would bring a fate worse than death.

Pressed by Rui’s threat, “Mother” and “Sister” moved.

“Mother’s” threads lashed out, like vipers aiming for Shi Hanfeng’s limbs.

“Sister” spat out countless threads, trying to ensnare him.

Shi Hanfeng pretended not to notice the attack from behind, still engaged with “Father”.

He deliberately slowed his movements, always barely dodging “Father’s” punches to create the illusion of a close contest.

As he tangled with “Father,” the threads of “Mother” and “Sister” successfully wrapped around him.

“Success!”

Excitement flickered on “Mother’s” face as she yanked the threads, attempting to control Shi Hanfeng.

Feeling the feeble resistance, Shi Hanfeng wondered—

Did these two really want to reincarnate early?

With a flick of his wrist, he exerted force.

He pushed back “Father” with a punch, grabbed the threads, and pulled hard.

“Mother” and “Sister,” who were about to control the monk, suddenly felt a tremendous force dragging them forward, beyond their control.

They stared in terror, and before they could react, they were pulled in front of the monk.

Waiting for them were the giant axe and meteor hammer.

In the illusion, the giant axe severed “Mother’s” neck, while the meteor hammer shattered “Sister’s” body.

“Mother’s” head rolled to the ground, stopping after a few turns.

In reality, the Zanpakuto had cut through her neck.

In her final moments, her eyes were wide open, but not in fear—instead, a hint of relief smiled across her face, as if finally freed from a horrible torment.

“At last… it’s over…”

A faint voice slipped from her lips, and a second later, her body began dissolving into black ash, swept away by the wind.

The one acting as “Mother” was actually the smallest demon—forced into the “family” by Rui, she had long wished for death.

Rui’s control was endless torture.

At that moment, a whoosh sounded from behind.

“Brother” had found his chance.

As Shi Hanfeng killed “Mother,” “Brother” lunged, spewing a ball of dark green poison toward Shi Hanfeng’s back.

The venom reeked, melting fallen leaves to black mush upon contact with the ground.

“Hahaha, poison injected! I killed the Hashira!”

“Brother” shouted, triumphant.

He believed he’d succeeded—once the poison entered the enemy’s body, it would turn him into an unconscious spider puppet, surely earning Rui’s praise.

“Yes, but too bad you won’t see what comes next.”

Shi Hanfeng’s voice sounded calm.

He had sensed “Brother’s” movement long ago but deliberately didn’t dodge.

He needed the fight to look authentic.

With the strength he displayed, not getting injured would be suspicious.

The venom landed on his back, dissolving the cloth and sinking into his skin.

But the Xianzhou Tianren’s physique far surpassed ordinary humans—such poison couldn’t harm him, not even break the skin.

Still, for authenticity, he furrowed his brow as if enduring pain.

Then, he spun.

His right-hand “giant axe” swung with a whistle toward “Brother’s” neck.

Pride still on his face, “Brother” saw the “giant axe” coming at him.

He tried to dodge, but his body couldn’t respond in time.

He’d spent all his strength on the poison attack.

There was no escape.

“Pshhh!”

The blade slicing his neck was clear as day.

“Brother’s” head hit the ground, eyes wide in shock and disbelief.

He died not understanding why his poison failed, or how the Hashira moved so quickly after being poisoned.

Moments later, “Brother’s” body, too, dissolved into ash.

Now, only two demons remained.

Rui, and the trembling “Father”.

“Father” stared at the ash, then at Shi Hanfeng, all eight eyes filled with terror, legs shaking uncontrollably.

He wanted to flee, but couldn’t.

Rui was still behind him—escaping would mean a worse fate.

Rui stood still, the web at his fingertips crushed to powder.

For the first time, emotion other than calm—anger—shone in his eyes.

He had believed, with the cooperation of his family, that even if they couldn’t kill the Hashira, they could at least buy time.

But in just minutes, three of his family were dead, leaving only “Father” clinging to life.

“Father” panted, watching Shi Hanfeng warily.

Shi Hanfeng could feel it—the rage simmering beneath Rui’s placid exterior.

Most of the actors in this family drama had been wiped out.

The director’s own end was close.