Chapter 65: The Blade Above the Word for Desire

“I, Su Daji, pay my respects to the King.”

Stepping down from the carriage, Su Daji bowed gracefully before the stunned King Zhou. “Your Majesty, I beg you not to blame my father. He had no other choice; he was forced by circumstances...”

“Ah! My lady, please, do rise quickly.”

King Zhou, barely able to contain his excitement, strode forward and personally helped Su Daji to her feet. His gaze, as if entranced, could not tear itself from her.

Su Daji appeared bashful, her delicate shyness only adding to her allure.

“Your Majesty, you are hurting my hands.”

Her words, soft and hesitant, were as sweet and melodious as an oriole singing in the valley, instantly captivating all who heard her.

Desire is a double-edged sword!

King Zhou felt a thunderous shock in his mind, ringing in his ears.

Lust clouds judgment, leading to debauchery and cruelty... The infamous wine pools and meat forests, the torture of burning pillars, women usurping the role of men!

He trembled, stumbling back a few steps. The admonitions of his mentor echoed vividly in his mind—how could he dare forget them?

No! Beneath Su Daji’s breathtaking beauty lurked the truth: she was possessed by a fox spirit that had cultivated for a thousand years.

No wonder he had so easily lost his senses just now—surely it was the fox spirit casting illusions upon him.

With a sudden revelation, King Zhou remembered he was on the verge of losing his kingdom. Instantly, he felt not the slightest trace of desire for Su Daji, this woman whose beauty could topple cities and nations.

He issued a command: “Huang Feihu, please escort Su Hu and his daughter to the palace. They are to await my further orders.”

Su Hu did not resist; he simply instructed his daughter to return to the carriage.

Huang Feihu was tasked with their custody, and so they entered the royal city.

King Zhou did not actually consign Su Hu to the dungeons, but arranged for him to be kept in a secluded side hall.

When the two met, the atmosphere was tinged with awkwardness.

“Su Hu, I have only one question for you,” King Zhou said solemnly. “Why did you risk beheading to defy my orders so brazenly?”

Su Hu saw no reason to conceal the truth. “Your Majesty, this matter began some sixteen years ago, when my daughter was just born and strange omens appeared in the sky. Later, a wandering Taoist divined her fate.”

“He said: ‘Your daughter is destined for ill-fated romance, born under the star of solitude, strikingly beautiful, but the reincarnation of a demon, fated to bring disaster to the nation.’ So I kept her hidden away, never letting her step beyond our gates. Sixteen years have passed in this way. Now... alas!”

He sighed deeply, looking at King Zhou. “Your Majesty, I have said so much because I do not wish my daughter to enter the palace. I hope you will allow her to—”

“Haha! Su Hu, you fool! Let me tell you, if my mentor had not named you specifically, if he had not told me that you, Su Hu, had a daughter named Su Daji with beauty to rival all the world, how would I have ever known you had such a daughter?”

Su Hu was bewildered. “Your Majesty, this mentor you mention—who is he? He sounds formidable.”

“Indeed, he is. My return this time is thanks entirely to his guidance, and that includes everything regarding you, Su Hu. Haven’t you wondered how I knew to wait for you outside the city gates? That too was my mentor’s doing.”

“Is it truly possible for someone to foresee events before they happen?” Su Hu was astonished.

“Of course it is. Talents like my mentor are rare in all the world. And let me tell you, he is no ordinary mortal, but a celestial being—an immortal from the heavens.”

Speaking of this “Master Chu Xiaoyu,” King Zhou could have gone on for days without exhausting his praise.

“In fact, it was not I who wished to see your daughter, but my master. Su Hu, let me tell you another secret.”

“Your daughter Su Daji is no longer your daughter. She is actually—”

“Your Majesty, why do you say such things? She is clearly my child. How could she not be? She—”

“Enough, be silent and let me finish,” King Zhou interrupted, gesturing for Su Hu to hold his tongue. “My mentor told me your daughter Su Daji has already been possessed by a thousand-year-old fox spirit. She is and is not your daughter.”

“What? Possessed by a thousand-year-old fox spirit? How... how could that be?”

Su Hu felt as if he had been struck by a crushing blow, nearly brought to his knees.

King Zhou continued, “In any case, my mentor said so, and I believe him. Whether you do or not is irrelevant. He has instructed me to deliver your daughter Su Daji to him. What he intends to do, I do not know.”

“Your Majesty, wait!” Su Hu pleaded anxiously. “This mentor you speak of—who is he? Where does he live? Might I see him?”

“Well... in truth, I do not know where he resides. I merely passed through a golden, radiant gate and found myself in a strange manor shrouded in violet mist, like a fairyland.”

“As for who he is, I believe he must be an immortal of the highest order.”

Suddenly, Su Hu knelt before King Zhou with a thud. “Your Majesty, I beg you to take me there so I may meet this master. I have many questions I long to ask him.”

King Zhou frowned in thought. “Your request is reasonable, but I do not know if you can pass through that mystical golden gate as I did. My mentor said only those with special fate may freely traverse it.”

“Your Majesty, whatever the risk, I must try.”

“Very well. When the celestial gate reappears, I will bring you along. Whether you can pass through depends entirely on your own fortune.”

Thus the matter was settled.

Su Daji was housed alone in a palace chamber, guarded by sentries at the main gate.

Since entering the palace, King Zhou had not visited her once.

The plan to enter the palace had gone smoothly, though Su Hu had spoiled several opportunities along the way, but in the end, she succeeded.

Yet why did King Zhou not appear? Was her beauty not enough to ensnare him? She, Su Daji, possessed a beauty that could topple kingdoms and dazzle the world—had any man ever resisted her allure?

And yet, King Zhou did not come.

What was going on?

Alone in her chamber, Su Daji grew ever more restless and uneasy.

The teachings and warnings of the Lady Nuwa had never been forgotten by the three demonesses, always held firmly in their hearts: they must fulfill Lady Nuwa’s plan.

To bewitch King Zhou and sow chaos in the Yin Shang dynasty’s court—this was the secret mission entrusted to them by Lady Nuwa.