T/N:
Heikou (Black Dragon Mouth)
Heicheng (Black Dragon City)
...
Not long after returning to the palace, good news arrived: the blacksmiths had crafted hunting weapons and requested Yin Jixue to inspect them.
Yin Jixue wasn't very familiar with hunting weapons, so she assigned Gou Chen to handle the matter. If the weapons were usable, they would form at least one hunting squad, ensuring that both city and outskirt demons were taken care of.
It was winter, and most large demonic beasts were hibernating. With some luck, they could catch smaller beasts, which were also less dangerous.
Gou Chen went to the blacksmith's shop to inspect the results. It turned out that Heisha's grandfather had a family heirloom hunting weapon, and the new weapons were modeled after it. Aside from being a bit heavy, they had no flaws—though strength was something the Black Dragon Clan had in abundance.
The weapons required demon crystals to be embedded. Without them, the weapons were just lumps of iron.
After confirming the weapons were functional, Gou Chen applied to the palace for twenty demon crystals.
The palace currently had a stockpile of several thousand demon crystals, all mined and transported back.
Demon crystals had a wide range of uses. Although they were a form of currency, they were also an important energy source. As fewer demon crystals circulated on the market, no one would casually use them as currency unless necessary.
It was only during Black Dragon City's most severe food shortage that the first batch of demon crystals was used to purchase grain, temporarily solving the crisis.
Soon, Gou Chen selected a hunting squad based on voluntary sign-ups and physical conditions.
One team consisted of five city demons and five soldiers, while the other had five outskirt demons and five soldiers.
The soldiers were temporary one-on-one coaches. They wouldn't intervene unless necessary, only ensuring basic safety.
Initially, the hunting wouldn't go deep into the forest, only exploring the outskirts. The soldiers had undergone professional training and were qualified to act as instructors.
The good thing was that the Black Dragon City residents were tough. Those selected had decent physical fitness, and mining had given them strong muscles. Even if they couldn't win a fight, they could still escape.
With everyone in good physical condition, the chances of returning safely were high.
Gou Fugui wasn't selected. His slim build put him at a disadvantage compared to the more robust demons.
But he wasn't discouraged. Gou Chen had comforted him, saying that demon crystals would shine wherever they were, and there was no need to excel at everything. He was already the coal mine supervisor, which was an impressive achievement.
Yin Jixue wasn't skilled in hunting, so she left it to Gou Chen. However, that didn't mean she would ignore it entirely.
"For this first outing, the priority is to get used to the environment. It's fine if they don't catch anything—safety comes first. Are their clothes too thin?" Yin Jixue, having survived the apocalypse, knew the importance of being prepared. Her first time killing a zombie was a desperate struggle, but later it became as routine as cutting watermelons.
Even though physical activity would generate heat, they still had to survive the journey to the forest.
The edge of the forest was even farther than the mines. Walking there would be freezing.
It wasn't an exaggeration to say that Yin Jixue was probably the best-dressed person in all of Black Dragon City.
Gou Chen sighed. "There's no other way. I hope they can endure the cold. I'll personally lead the team."
As someone who feared the cold, Yin Jixue knew how terrifying the winter air could be. She had even decided to stay indoors for the time being.
"Today, those foreign merchants traded some supplies with us, and a lot of it was demon beast fur. Give each of them a piece."
The Black Tortoise and Azure Phoenix Clans were particularly sensitive to the cold, so fur trading was always profitable. No matter when they brought it back, it would never be a loss.
Gou Chen was surprised. "Why are you being so kind to them?"
It wasn't that big of a deal—just her sense of humanity. If the hunting squad got frostbite or fell ill, it would be a loss.
Yin Jixue waved her hand. "Consider it an advance payment. Once they bring back prey, they'll need to repay the favor before receiving any rewards."
"That's fair," Gou Chen agreed.
He left with the hunting squad, and soon Ruoshui brought over several well-preserved demon beast pelts.
"Your Majesty, these are the pelts we've selected as the most suitable for you."
Yin Jixue instinctively wanted to refuse. In her previous life, she would feed stray cats and dogs and have never considered wearing fur!
Her rabbit fur cape and fox fur cloak were made from fox and rabbit fur collected from the imperial palace. The quantity alone suggested they came from professionally raised animals—not skinned pelts!
It wasn't that she was overly sentimental; she just wasn't used to wearing animal fur.
But then Ruoshui added, "The fur of the Angqiu beast generates heat when wrapped around the body. It's perfect for making blankets."
Huh? Self-heating?
Like an electric blanket?
Well, if the fur side was up and the skin side down, maybe she could give it a try.
After her nap, Yin Jixue stretched lazily. For years, her blankets had been as cold as iron, but today they were finally warm—even cozier than a heated brick bed.
This "Angqiu" beast was truly a treasure. She wasn't sure how to pronounce its name, but that didn't matter. The skin side had an elastic texture, while the fur side was softer and more comfortable than coral fleece.
Especially after Ruoshui mentioned that these beasts preyed on demon children, Yin Jixue's sympathy vanished entirely.
It was perfect as an electric blanket, but she wouldn't use it as pajamas—she was worried about bacteria.
Her quilt cover was also lined with demon beast fur. The fur was thick, weighing about five pounds, like a heavy cotton quilt. Though it felt a bit suffocating, the heat retention was excellent.
After experiencing it herself, Yin Jixue no longer felt any reservations. "Do we have these kinds of demon beasts in our forest?"
Good things shouldn't be enjoyed by her alone. Until cotton became available, every household needed to have such bedding.
Ruoshui shook her head. "No, these beasts come from the south, where the climate is hot. Their fur is loose and thick, and only after being dried and processed does it become so warm."
What a shame. They'd have to wait for cotton seeds or find furry demon beasts to raise, using their fur as a substitute for wool in textiles.
The last time she'd seen sheep was at the border, where she encountered a nomadic tribe's flock. Since coming to Black Dragon City, she hadn't seen any animals or demon beasts.
This trade deal was quite profitable. They had exchanged paper for a pile of demon beast pelts, and the merchants likely hadn't kept many for themselves.
The glass trade was still under negotiation, as neither side had reached a satisfactory agreement. But since glass was such a valuable commodity, they would have to keep bargaining.
The hunting squad, eager to test their new weapons, wanted to head to the forest immediately. Gou Chen didn't dampen their enthusiasm. Instead, he sat aside, polishing his weapon.
Everyone wanted to ask when they would set out but didn't dare approach him—until someone from the palace arrived.
Gou Chen stood up. "Her Majesty the Queen has sent demon beast pelts. Choose one for yourselves and wear it before heading out."
Everyone was stunned. They had prepared to brave the cold outside the city.
Beyond the city walls, the wind was stronger, and the snow was deeper. Yet, even that couldn't dampen their enthusiasm. Most of them had never ventured to the forest's edge in their lives.
But now, the queen had sent them warm pelts. Overwhelmed with gratitude, they swore oaths of eternal loyalty to the queen, vowing never to betray her.