T/N:
Heikou (Black Dragon Mouth)
Heicheng (Black Dragon City)
...
The hunting team had returned, and all the demons in the city flocked to the city gates to join in the excitement.
The black dot in the distance grew larger and larger as the members of the hunting team gradually came into view.
A child stretched out his hand and began counting: "One, two, three... forty! They all came back! All of them!"
At this, many family members finally let out a sigh of relief. It was good that they had returned, it was good that they had returned.
Yin Jixue was also thrilled upon receiving the news. This was the hunting team's first expedition, and there would be many more to come in the future.
Feng Xiu helped her fasten her cloak: "Your Majesty, you can watch from the city tower."
She was worried that the crowd might be too overwhelming for the Queen. The citizens of the city held the Queen in almost as high regard as the King himself. She wasn't afraid they would harm the Queen, but rather that their enthusiasm might startle her.
"It's alright, I want to meet them in person."
After all, they were brave warriors deserving of rewards.
As soon as she stepped outside, a biting cold wind hit her, and Yin Jixue shivered. So cold... T_T
Seeing that this wouldn't do, Feng Xiu came up with a slightly bold solution.
"Your Majesty, lean on me as we walk."
She gently supported Yin Jixue's shoulder, shielding her from half of the cold air.
Yin Jixue sniffled. Feng Xiu was so thoughtful, truly her little warm companion.
As the hunting team passed by the inn with their prey, Wang Xiaohu was incredulous.
"I underestimated them! They're carrying a Boar-goat Beast!"
The Boar-goat Beast was being carried by four team members, and even then, they had to switch carriers along the way.
The beast weighed about three hundred kilograms, roughly the size of a mature wild boar.
Its death, however, was quite gruesome, with its body riddled with bloody holes.
Wang Xiaohu closed the window, not giving the matter much thought. Had he observed more closely, he would have noticed that the hunting team's weapons were not ordinary—they were all embedded with magic crystals.
Among their merchant group, only Feiyu of the Qingluan Clan and Xuanchen of the Xuanwu Clan possessed magic crystal weapons, which they would never reveal unless necessary.
Currently, no one in the demon realm could afford to be so extravagant as to embed magic crystals into such crude weapons. The circulation of magic crystals in the market was dwindling because certain forces were secretly monopolizing them.
Moreover, he didn't stop to consider that ordinary weapons couldn't possibly inflict such severe injuries on a Boar-goat Beast.
Meanwhile, Xuanhuang, who should have noticed something amiss, was fast asleep, completely unaware of the commotion outside.
As Yin Jixue arrived, Gou Chen was the first to see her. He signaled the soldiers to protect the Queen, ensuring that no citizen could get too close.
Yin Jixue herself didn't notice much, only that the path cleared wherever she walked until she finally stood before the hunting team.
"Y-Your Majesty," Lie Tu stammered, his hands trembling with excitement. He quickly wiped his hands, which were already stained with dried blood.
The rest of the hunting team also began wiping their faces, unaware that the blood had frozen on their skin and wouldn't come off without hot water.
"No need to wipe it off. The blood symbolizes your achievements. You are all brave warriors of Black Dragon City."
Yin Jixue's gaze fell on the long-haired rabbit, and she couldn't help but hold her breath.
Feng Xiu, thinking she was frightened, was about to ask the soldiers to dispose of the rabbit.
But Yin Jixue raised her hand: "What a pity. The fur of this rabbit would have made excellent brushes."
It would have saved her from ruining her rabbit fur cloak.
The long-haired rabbit had died a gruesome death. Its blood and fur had frozen together in the blizzard, and the fur was severely damaged, making it unsuitable for brushes.
Moreover, if the rabbit had been captured alive, it could have been raised, providing an endless supply of fur. If they could establish a breeding program, every citizen might one day wear rabbit fur vests.
A single long-haired rabbit didn't have much fur. To provide each citizen with a rabbit fur cloak would require stripping countless rabbits bare.
The brothers Da Fu and Da Gui, who had initially killed the rabbit, felt ashamed. They had intended to offer the rabbit to the Queen, not realizing that its true value lay in its fur.
Gou Chen "casually" stepped in front of them, and Yin Jixue had already shifted her attention.
She pointed at the Boar-goat Beast: "What's this?"
Feng Xiu replied: "This is a Boar-goat Beast, a level three demon beast."
Ah, so it's a goat that eats as much as a boar.
Yin Jixue turned to her: "What can the Boar-goat Beast be used for?"
"The Boar-goat Beast has delicious meat and a thick layer of fat. The royal kitchen uses its fat for cooking."
So it's like mutton with the fat of a pig?
Is that how it works?
Yin Jixue nodded: "Then let's distribute it as per the usual practice for the King's hunted beasts."
She hadn't intended to keep it all for herself. In such a backward place, with so few seasonings available, the meat probably wouldn't taste very good.
Although she wasn't picky, she wasn't about to willingly eat something that might turn out to be a culinary disaster.
The others had hoped the Queen would accept the Boar-goat Beast as a gift from the hunting team. But since the Queen had decided to distribute it in the King's name, they could only bow their heads in silence.
Yin Jixue: What's going on?
After praising them, Yin Jixue headed back to the palace.
Gou Chen followed her.
"Your Majesty, why are you so eager to have a hunting team?"
Yin Jixue hesitated: "I'm not in a hurry, am I?"
Gou Chen was blunt: "The hunting team's foundation is too weak. They need professional training before they can venture into the forest."
"Is that alright? Won't it be too much trouble?" She had thought that demons were naturally skilled hunters, like eagle families, pushing their young to the brink to force them to grow.
"It's no trouble. Sending them into the forest without experience would only cause problems."
Yin Jixue agreed: "If you think it's for their good, then let's do it your way. Black Dragon City already has a small population. I don't want anyone to lose their lives due to recklessness."
Black Dragon City had only a few thousand households, most of which were single demons. Including the lower demons outside the city, the total population was around thirty thousand.
During this period of development, they were truly short on manpower. Every life saved meant an additional productive force.
Gou Chen understood the Queen's concern for the demon populace and silently resolved to train the hunting team with the strictest methods, ensuring they would return safely from the forest.
Back at the palace, Yin Jixue removed her snow-covered cloak and fur boots, while Feng Xiu hung up the cloak for her.
Yin Jixue was about to call Feng Xiu over to warm herself by the fire when a soldier arrived at the door.
"Your Majesty, there is a reply from Black Dragon Mouth."
It had been seven days. Given the severity of the blizzard, the messengers from Black Dragon Mouth must have rushed to deliver the letter.
"Has their messenger arrived? Offer them some hot water to warm up first."
The soldier replied: "They arrived when the hunting team returned. They've changed into clean clothes and are waiting for you in the study."
Yin Jixue had no choice but to get up again: "Feng Xiu, fetch my fox fur cape."
As Feng Xiu helped Yin Jixue change, she felt a pang of sadness. The Queen only had two thick outer garments, and both had been exposed to the snow today.
The guards, as long as they weren't exposed for too long in such weather, wouldn't feel the cold. But the Queen was different.
If only the Queen could have her constitution.
Yin Jixue, unaware of Feng Xiu's concern, was preoccupied with the reply from Black Dragon City. She wondered if they would agree to send workers or if they would be furious.
After all, she wasn't the Demon King. If they didn't recognize her authority, they might see her actions as a provocation.