The newly transformed Fox Demon was very young, but every frown and smile exuded charm, leaving countless Demons enchanted.

Some people from outside the Huaguo Mountain came upon hearing the news, and every day there would be trouble because of her.

"Great King, Xi Mei has caused trouble again!"

"Great King, someone has come to snatch Xi Mei again!"

Every day, Daji received countless reports and was worried sick for the young Fox Demon.

She was already irritated and, as time wore on, her patience exhausted, she summoned Xi Mei and reprimanded her.

"Can't you stop causing me trouble?"

Daji said.

Xi Mei was scolded and with her ears drooped, her tail also drooped: "Sister, I didn't mean to cause trouble."

She didn't cause trouble; it's just that no matter what she did, the surrounding Demons would overreact.

On the surface, Huaguo Mountain seemed peaceful, but both Demons and humans harbored desires to possess Xi Mei for themselves, and incidents involving her were countless.

Daji was naturally aware of this, but she still had to restrain Xi Mei.

"You are different from other Fox Demons, promise sister, from now on, don't leave Beiling anymore."

Daji said.

Xi Mei hung her head, pursed her lips: "I understand."

"It's for your own good, don't blame me."

Seeing Xi Mei's expression, Daji's heart softened and said, "Previously, the Great King also confined me, and I only later understood that he was protecting my safety."

"I understand, sister."

Xi Mei replied softly.

Daji stroked her head, "You need to pay more attention to the thoughts of those around you, and you need to be more mature."

Xi Mei nodded, then bowed and left.

Daji watched her retreating figure, always feeling that Xi Mei was very much like her past self, but that version of herself was not adequate.

People must grow, after all.

And so, peace ensued for several months.

"Great King."

One day, Daji was discussing matters with Ao Luan in Shuilian Cave when the Fox Demons found her: "Xi Mei has run out and caused trouble again!"

"Bring her back."

Daji ordered people to capture Xi Mei and asked the little Fox, "What did you go out for?"

The little Fox swished her tail, her ears fluttering back and forth: "Great King, your birthday is coming up, I went out to buy you a gift."

She took out a hairpin, proudly saying, "This was made by Lord Lao Zi of the Great Monad."

"You've been deceived."

Daji glanced at the hairpin, which was just an ordinary one.

"This hairpin wasn't made by Lord Lao Zi, definitely someone tricked you into going out. If I hadn't had you brought back, who knows where you would have been taken to by now!"

Daji was somewhat impatient, "I don't want anything, your staying in Beiling and quietly Cultivating is the best gift."

Daji sent Xi Mei away.

Ao Luan watched as Xi Mei left Shuilian Cave with a dejected look and couldn't help asking, "Why not let her do what she wants to do?"

"She has just transformed, she should learn the rules first."

Daji answered, "Like you, not causing trouble for others."

Ao Luan frowned slightly, "What about me?"

"You do everything well."

Daji said.

Ao Luan was one of the few people she genuinely admired from the bottom of her heart.

No one was more hurt by Sun Wukong's departure than Ao Luan.

But she took over Sun Wukong's work, beautiful and composed, never showing vulnerability in front of others, always standing at the forefront of the crowd, leading the Three Realms forward.

Daji was very clear in her heart, Ao Luan was very fragile, after Sun Wukong left, she no longer had anyone to act coquettishly with.

But as a Human King, one must bear loneliness and fear alone, stay firm on the path so that people will believe in her and follow her.

"If I were as strong as you, my Cultivation would not have stagnated."

Daji said.

"You and I are different."

Ao Luan shook her head, "I am not as strong as you think."

"The reason I am who I am, is just out of selfishness."

Ao Luan said.

Back in that dream world, she knew that Sun Wukong was destined to be a rebel, someone who kept running forward, burning himself out.

And she, just wanted to keep up with him, that was her desire, not real greatness.

But now, Daji had lost her own way.

"I have to help her."

Ao Luan had an idea in her heart.

Months later, Xi Mei suddenly disappeared, and the Fox Demons couldn't find her no matter how they searched.

Daji was frantic, and it was not until evening that she sensed her Qi.

"She's at Huaguo Mountain."

Daji hurriedly followed the Qi and flew over, finding Xi Mei sitting alone on a mountain peak.

The mountain peak faced the vast sea, surrounded by rolling clouds, as if entering the Immortal Realm.

"This is the Great King's spot for watching the sea."

Daji landed on the peak, she had been here, not just once.

Xi Mei was sitting with her back to her, her arm wrapped in white cloth.

A strong sense of déjà vu emerged in Daji's mind, as if she remembered something.

She approached, "What are you doing?"

"I am nurturing my Kirin Arm."

Xi Mei answered.

Daji was stunned for a moment, "Stop being ridiculous, come back with me."

Xi Mei stood up.

The next second, Daji was taken aback.

She saw Xi Mei's long hair fall down, turning into short hair.

"You..."

Daji's eyes widened.

Xi Mei seemed a bit scared, took a step back, but then stood firm again.

She mustered her courage and asked, "Great King, other demons think I'm not normal, am I normal?"

That scene, all of a sudden, Daji remembered.

She recalled that phrase.

It was many, many years ago,

Late at night, Daji found Sun Wukong here.

At that time, because of her many strange behaviors and short hair, she was questioned by many demons and started to doubt herself.

"Great King, other demons think I'm not normal, am I normal?"

She consulted Sun Wukong.

Daji still remembered the look in Sun Wukong's eyes—it was one of astonishment and skepticism.

"Do you think so too?"

Following that, Sun Wukong smiled.

"Normal, what is normal?"

He retorted Daji's question.

Daji, puzzled, shook her head.

"Don't overthink it."

Sun Wukong patted her head: "If I were normal, I would be on the mountain plucking peaches."

"Just be yourself."

That night, Sun Wukong's words dissolved her doubts.

Daji felt a tremor in her heart.

"How did you know this phrase?"

She asked Xi Mei.

"The Heavenly Empress said that if I did as she instructed, the Great King would be happy."

The little Fox Demon replied, "She said that the Heavenly Emperor didn't actually stop the Great King from doing what he wanted to do."

Daji felt a tremor in her heart, as though something had struck her.

Go do what you want to do!

That night, she had long forgotten Sun Wukong's reply.

She remembered that Sun Wukong had restricted her movements and forbidden her from going out, but she never realized that he had allowed her to find what she wanted to do.

Hasn't Sun Wukong always been like this?

Daji came to the realization, and before she knew it, tears were welling up in her eyes.

It turned out that she had the answer long ago.

It turned out that over the years, she had gradually forgotten some things.

What she pursued was never about performance, never about others' recognition.

What she pursued was just her own path.

"Great King, why are you crying?"

Xi Mei became flustered: "Did I do something wrong?"

"No."

Daji wiped the corner of her eyes: "The Great King just remembered some things from the past."

Suddenly, the confusion at the bottom of her heart seemed to clear like clouds dispersing, revealing the bright moonlight.

"You did the right thing; I was too foolish."

Daji touched Xi Mei's head and said, "The Heavenly Emperor... your Great King's Great King, has never stopped me from doing what I want to do."

Just be yourself.

Being carefree is a right everyone should possess.

This is something Sun Wukong had taught her long ago.

Daji understood that she wasn't being pushed forward by others, she chose to move forward herself.

"Great King, you're glowing."

Xi Mei's eyes widened with amazement.

"Uh-huh."

Daji nodded, revealing a smile: "I've found my way again."

Enlightenment, it just takes a moment.

What she needed to do was to be herself.

Back and forth, in the end, it's still oneself.

Daji declared, "The Great King will not perform anymore."

She was tired; performing over and over had inadvertently become her shackles.

Daji, from now on, will no longer be bound by anything.

"The Great King will continue moving forward."

Daji picked up Xi Mei, smiling: "I'm going to find the Heavenly Emperor and pursue higher realms."

This might be a significant loss for the Three Realms.

Down the mountain, the Long Armed Ape Monkey witnessed this scene and couldn't help but sigh.

"Second Great King."

He inquired Ao Luan beside him, "Is this alright?"

"What's wrong with it?"

Ao Luan countered.

The Long Armed Ape Monkey, seeing the smile on her face, found himself at a loss for words.

"But Second Great King."

The Long Armed Ape Monkey asked again, "How did you know about this?"

Ao Luan curved her lips into a slight smile.

"I peeked."

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