Chapter 67: Su Daji in Despair

Peerless in beauty, with an allure that could topple kingdoms, and an air of decadence that soared to the heavens—who else could this be but Su Daji herself?

“So, you are Su Daji?”

Having heard countless tales, it was nothing like finally witnessing the legendary enchantress of the ages in person. Chu Xiaoyu, however, maintained a demeanor befitting a gentleman.

He did not lose himself in a haze of infatuation, as King Zhou had upon first meeting her, but responded as any ordinary man might.

“Who are you?” Su Daji’s heart quaked with fear.

For the first time, she felt utterly exposed, as if she had been stripped bare, even her fox’s skin peeled away, leaving her unable to hide her true form.

Wearing an expression of panic and anxiety, Su Daji drew Chu Xiaoyu’s gaze. He took it all in. “My name is Chu Xiaoyu, also known as ‘The Way of Nature.’ I am the master of this estate. Su Daji, it has been a long time.”

His greeting was strange—as if they had met before. But hadn’t this been their first encounter?

Su Hu was thoroughly perplexed and quickly asked, “Mr. Chu, you seem to know my daughter quite well. How is that possible?”

Chu Xiaoyu turned his attention to Su Hu. “You are Su Hu? Marquis of Yizhou? It is a pleasure to meet you.”

“Er… the pleasure is mine, Mr. Chu. But from your words, it seems you know much about our Su family. Why is that?” Su Hu was truly confused.

The young man before him seemed youthful, yet carried an unfathomable depth, impossible to read.

“Su Hu, mind your manners!” King Zhou quickly interjected, “This gentleman is a sage—he can foresee all that is to come with but a glance. Your family’s affairs are but an open book to him.”

Chu Xiaoyu invited them into the main hall for a reception.

The hall was spacious and filled with things they had never seen before. Sun Wukong, the chubby Bull, and Iron Fan all left King Zhou, Su Hu, and Su Daji in utter astonishment.

A monkey that could speak, and seemed to possess great powers. Another, a plump lad, bore a pair of horns on his forehead—a bizarre sight indeed. As for Iron Fan, though she appeared young, her beauty was extraordinary.

Who were these people? None of them seemed ordinary.

“Wukong, take a look at Miss Su and see if you can discern anything,” Chu Xiaoyu suddenly posed a riddle to Sun Wukong.

Sun Wukong scrutinized Su Daji from left to right, studying her for a long while, then shook his head. “Immortal Master, your disciple cannot see through her nor make sense of it. I beg your guidance.”

“No rush,” Chu Xiaoyu replied, then turned to Bull and Iron Fan. “You two, have a look as well.”

Su Daji immediately protested, “You… you’re all being too much! I am, after all, a maiden—how can I endure such rudeness? Father, see how you’ve wronged me. Had I known, I wouldn’t have come with you.”

“Heh, my place is not somewhere one comes and goes at will,” Chu Xiaoyu said with a smile and a shake of his head.

After a while, both Bull and Iron Fan admitted they could see nothing strange about Su Daji.

Everyone looked at Chu Xiaoyu in confusion, awaiting his words.

When Sun Wukong had stirred up chaos in Heaven, he was never thrown into the alchemical furnace by the Supreme Lord, and thus never gained the famed Fiery Eyes. Why such a crucial episode was missing, Chu Xiaoyu still could not fathom. The only explanation was that his own butterfly wings had set off a storm, thoroughly altering the script of the Journey to the West.

Thus, without the refining of the furnace, Sun Wukong lacked the Fiery Eyes and could not see through Su Daji’s true nature.

“Hey, sister, since you arrived, your eyes keep fluttering non-stop. Do you have some eye ailment?” Iron Fan finally voiced the strange phenomenon she had noticed.

Su Daji flushed crimson, lowered her head, and said nothing.

Her strange behavior left everyone puzzled.

Chu Xiaoyu simply smiled.

Su Daji, with all her exaggerated gestures, was clearly trying to use her demon magic in secret. But unfortunately for her, this farm was itself a supernatural barrier—anyone versed in sorcery would find their powers stripped upon entering, unable to use them at all.

But Su Daji was unaware of the farm’s mysteries. Just now, she had secretly tried to cast an illusion to bewitch them all, but no matter how hard she tried, her thousand years of cultivated magic simply would not work.

How could this be?

Su Daji was shaken to her core.

Chu Xiaoyu remained inscrutable, prompting King Zhou to inquire cautiously, “Sir, I recall you once said that this Su Daji, daughter of Su Hu, had been possessed by a thousand-year-old fox spirit. Is that true?”

“What, do you doubt my words?” Chu Xiaoyu lifted his teacup, swirling the liquid.

Seeing Chu Xiaoyu’s demeanor, King Zhou quickly apologized. “Your humble servant would never dare doubt you, sir. My curiosity simply got the better of me.”

Su Hu, now flustered, turned to Chu Xiaoyu. “Chu—no, sir, are you saying my daughter has been possessed by a fox spirit? Is it true? Is she still my daughter?”

“Possessed by a fox spirit? Immortal Master, your disciple finds this most amusing,” Sun Wukong could not help but laugh.

Bull and Iron Fan finally understood. So that was why their master had asked them to closely observe this otherworldly beauty.

She had indeed been possessed by a fox spirit. Unbelievable.

Everyone’s gaze turned in unison to Su Daji.

“What… what are you all staring at me for? You’ll make me blush,” Su Daji said, her heart wracked with terror.

Never had she imagined that her true form would be seen through by a mere youth.

Yet he appeared so ordinary, indistinguishable from any common person.

How could he be so formidable, able to pierce through everything with a single glance?

She wanted to run, to hide, but there was nowhere to go.

Despair overtook her heart.