Chapter 84: Waiting in Vain—The Monkey King's Joy Turns to Disappointment

After rambling on for so long, Su Daji suddenly remembered an important question and couldn’t help but ask, “Sir, I’ve been harboring a doubt for quite some time. May I ask, have you laid a powerful magical formation within this manor? Otherwise, why am I unable to step outside even a single pace? Even my spells, my—well, my magic, cannot be used.”

“Why is this?”

Heavens, is she truly to be imprisoned here for a lifetime? To be trapped, unable to go anywhere—the thought alone was terrifying.

“You truly wish to know? Haha, very well, I’ll tell you.”

The farm itself is a natural array, ancient and formidable.

Chu Xiaoyu had no reason to hide it: “My farm is a natural formation. It doesn’t matter if you’re immortal, demon, or any other being—once you enter this manor, all your magic, divine arts, demonic powers, will utterly lose their effect. You won’t be able to use them.”

Upon hearing this, Su Daji was understandably shocked. “Sir, why is this?”

“No particular reason—just because your host is very powerful.”

Chu Xiaoyu rose from the rocking chair. “I bind you here out of necessity. As for the reason, you just said it yourself: you’re here under the orders of Nuwa, sent with your sisters to disrupt the Shang dynasty. And it just so happens that King Zhou found his way to this farm. Call it fate.”

People of the same kind always find their way to the same door.

Since little Zhou managed to cross that mysterious portal of time and space, it meant his fate was intertwined with Chu Xiaoyu’s.

With such a unique connection, Chu Xiaoyu naturally wouldn’t stand idly by and watch Nuwa plot against the Shang dynasty from the shadows.

Since they’ve met, it’s time to confront things head-on.

Heh!

As for the so-called Investiture of the Gods? Nuwa thought she’d orchestrated a grand scheme, but in the end, all her efforts simply paved the way for the Three Pure Ones.

“Um…sir, may I ask, how long do you intend to keep me confined here?” Su Daji asked timidly.

Chu Xiaoyu glanced back and gave a deep, mysterious smile. “Haha, you’re so eager to return? Are you dissatisfied with your current life? What’s so appealing about going back to that closed-off Chaoge? There’s nothing there. Do you truly wish to go back?”

“I…I…” Su Daji faltered, unable to answer.

Having lived in this strange manor for nearly a year, Su Daji had fully adapted to the modern life of this alternate timeline, seamlessly integrating without the slightest sense of alienation.

If she were truly to return, she knew she would need a long time to readjust to that stifling world from the past.

Yet—

She could never forget Nuwa’s command to her and her two sisters: seduce King Zhou, disrupt the Shang dynasty’s court, aid the rise of Xiqi.

Chu Xiaoyu, noticing how Su Daji’s face had twisted in a knot of anxiety, continued, “Little Su, let me give you some advice. I know what you’re thinking, but it’s pointless—give up on it.”

“I have already promised little Zhou that I’ll reform the Shang dynasty into a strong nation, so I cannot let you go back and help your sisters wreak havoc. Absolutely impossible.”

Hearing this, Su Daji’s face went pale, drained of all color.

“Forget it—forget the task Nuwa gave you. Accept what cannot be changed, or else you’ll live every day in anxiety and helplessness.”

“You know, I’m not one to bully women, especially beautiful fox spirits like you.”

Women are meant to be cherished.

Su Daji understood Chu Xiaoyu’s power and dared not provoke him.

This man only needed to snap his fingers, and all creation would freeze.

Such a dominant, formidable man could only be clung to, worshipped, survived under his breath—this was the proper way for a lone, vulnerable woman.

Especially as a fox who had cultivated for thousands of years, she knew precisely what kind of life to choose.

Beautiful and beguiling, she was always clever.

...

Meanwhile, Monkey Sun, bearing Chu Xiaoyu’s instructions, soared on his cloud to the old site of Five Finger Mountain, waiting quietly for the monk from the Eastern Tang.

But the Five Finger Mountain was gone; only a sunken pit remained, strange and eerie from above.

Sun Wukong arrived early, picked a bare stone to lie upon, limbs splayed, eyes closed, resting.

As for when the monk would arrive, it all depended on the time.

He waited and waited, until the sun set, but not only did the monk from Tang not show up, not even a shadow appeared.

Hmm…what’s going on?

Why isn’t the Tang monk arriving?

Damn! Where did that monk die off to?

Could it be that the immortal miscalculated the date?

Absolutely impossible.

Sun Wukong, perplexed, leaped ahead on his cloud.

Only to find the road ahead endless, still with no sign of a soul.

Alas!

A whole day wasted, and not a single hair to show for it.

“Haha…oh immortal, even you can get the date wrong? You’re killing me with laughter.”

Having wasted the day, Sun Wukong felt his stomach rumbling with hunger.

He’d left in a rush, forgetting to bring any food.

He reached into his Universe Bag, only to find it completely empty.

Damn it!

What a blunder!

He thought to return directly to the farm, but when he leaped back on his cloud, he discovered the portal to the immortal’s realm had not opened.

He had no choice but to retrace his steps.

After hesitating and agonizing for a while, Sun Wukong decided to find an inn nearby for a hot meal.

He walked east for about five miles and found a populated area.

It seemed to be a village or town—quite bustling.

The sun had just dipped below the horizon, and the place quickly came alive, street vendors shouting their wares.

From a nearby restaurant came the rich aroma of food.

“Huh…where is this place? I’ve never seen it before. Since when did such a village exist?”

Watching the lively crowd milling about the streets, Sun Wukong was full of questions.