Heilong-kou (Black Dragon-Mouth/Pass)
Heilong-cheng (Black Dragon-City)
Censorate (Supervisory Court)
Yuling City (Jade City)
Jingui Town (Golden Turtle Town)
Xuanwu City (Black tortoise City)
…
Under Qiuju's introduction, the merchant group secretly met with a worker from the Glass Factory.
"How much do you want to buy?"
Team leader Xuan Yi and his brothers looked at each other. Judging from this, it seemed Black Dragon City had plenty of glass.
"We want it all!"
Tu Yang was stunned. "All of it?"
Gua Pi Mao stepped forward. "Yes! As much as you've got, we'll take it!"
"That's too much. I'll need to ask our factory director."
Before Xuan Yi and the others could stop him, Tu Yang had already left.
"Big bro, what do we do?"
Xuan Yi thought for a moment. "The fact that he even said that means the glass is definitely for sale. Let's just wait for them to come back to us."
Back at the inn, Qiuju had already prepared dinner.
As she wiped the table, she asked, "Do the honored guests have any flavor preferences? I can take note in advance."
She'd just cooked something simple while they were out.
The vegetables were freshly delivered from outside the city. The meal was mashed sweet taro — soft and fluffy.
The recipe was provided by Her Majesty. It was said that in the human realm, food wasn't limited to steaming, boiling, or roasting — there was also stir-frying, deep-frying, pan-searing, stewing, and braising.
Hua Ma Gua clicked his tongue. "Grain must be pretty rare in Black Dragon City, huh?"
Qiuju replied with quiet pride, "The honored guests are visitors — you will be treated accordingly."
Her composure pleased Hua Ma Gua. He casually rewarded her with an ornate shell.
In the Xuanwu Tribe, shells could be used as currency.
They had assumed food in Black Dragon City would be average at best, but to their surprise, this mashed goo was sweet.
Even the wealthy Xuanwu Tribe had to trade with the Winged Tiger and Azure Luan Tribes for honey — and the price was so high they rarely indulged.
They didn't expect Black Dragon City to discover a source of sweetness in just half a year.
If the sweet-toothed Winged Tiger Tribe found out, they'd come rushing over.
Xuan Yi tried probing, "Boss lady, is this sweet mash for sale?"
Qiuju paused, then realized he meant the mashed taro. "Not for sale. All of Black Dragon City won't sell it — it's very rare."
That last part was added intentionally, to kill their interest.
Xuan Yi shook his head at Gua Pi Mao and Hua Ma Gua, and they had no choice but to give up.
After all, they were here for glass — the rest was optional.
Just then, a demonfolk on a bicycle passed in front of the inn. Xuan Yi and the others, facing the entrance, all saw it.
Gua Pi Mao rubbed his eyes. "What just passed by?"
Hua Ma Gua and Scarface hadn't seen either.
They turned to Qiuju.
"That's our city's unique vehicle — the bicycle. Just head out the door, turn right, and follow the road. There's a bike station at the intersection."
The group exchanged glances.
"We're going to check it out."
Before the inn's entrance, there hadn't been many cyclists, but once they turned the corner, Gua Pi Mao saw demonfolk all carrying strange contraptions in their arms.
Hua Ma Gua noticed a sign at the bike station: "No charge. Parking at designated stations only. Do not ride outside city limits."
"Big bro, should we try it?"
Gua Pi Mao had already snatched up a freshly returned bike.
Only problem? None of them knew how to ride.
Scarface took the bike. "How does this thing work?"
Just then, a kid zipped past using one foot to scoot the bike forward. Scarface mimicked him, plopping down on the seat.
"Whoa whoa WHOA—"
Thud! Man and bike hit the ground.
Gua Pi Mao, grinning gleefully, snatched the bike back. "Clumsy. Watch me."
He didn't sit on the saddle but rode the way the kid did — one foot on the pedal, one foot pushing along the ground.
"See? This is faster than walking!"
Hua Ma Gua glanced at Xuan Yi. "I don't think that's how it's supposed to be used. What's the seat for, then?"
Just as he finished speaking, a demon folk who did know how to ride cruised past smoothly, pedaling with ease.
Hua Ma Gua gasped in delight. "Look! You can ride while sitting!"
Xuan Yi was full of disbelief. He'd never seen anything like this before.
—
Meanwhile, at the Mechanical Factory, Yin Jixue was in shock.
Tiesheng had failed to make a bus — but instead, he had built a sports car.
Yes, a modern sports car. It just ran on magic crystals.
Old Mo muttered from the side, "This kid's creation works... just doesn't look much like a bus."
Yin Jixue looked up. "It's perfect. I love it."
Tiesheng's face lit up with pride and excitement. He had made something that pleased Her Majesty! Her recognition meant the world to him!
Yin Jixue, who had no personal vehicle until now, was thrilled. She never planned to drive again — back in the apocalypse, the system had forced her to learn for survival.
She had briefly considered making herself a personal car when they were building the buses, but in the end decided to save materials.
Yet here was Tiesheng, using only spare parts — not even the materials she provided — to build a functioning sports car!
Tiesheng scratched his head bashfully. "I figured the more wheels it had, the faster it'd go. Turns out, three and four wheels are different!"
Yin Jixue scribbled Tiesheng's name in her little notebook. He was officially one of Black Dragon City's top talents.
"Do you want a reward?"
Because of the materials, the car was completely black — with a shimmering silver gleam, thanks to whatever Tiesheng had added to it.
Yin Jixue was overjoyed.
"I—I don't want a reward. I want to be praised by Your Majesty... like Doctor Paji."
Doctor Paji?
Like what?
After thinking for a while, she realized he meant a public commendation — like being recognized in a ceremony.
Yin Jixue chuckled. "That's easy. You'll get that. But if you think of something you want in the meantime, come find me and cash it in."
"Thank you, Your Majesty!"
After Tiesheng left, Yin Jixue couldn't wait to get in the driver's seat. Out of habit, she reached for a seatbelt — only to remember there wasn't one.
Should she drive it?
Just a short test… should be fine.
She inserted a magic crystal into the dashboard and stepped on the gas.
WHOOSH!
The car blasted forward a thousand meters in an instant.
Yin Jixue turned white as a sheet.
She slammed the brakes — thankfully, the deceleration wasn't too abrupt, and she didn't throw up her lunch.
"Your Majesty, are you alright?" Fengxiu rushed over.
Yin Jixue waved her hand weakly. "I'm fine… just wasn't mentally prepared."
She had expected something like a normal car — not a light-speed launch. Tiesheng had maxed out the acceleration.
A thousand meters in a second? Even teleportation didn't go that far. Even a celestial steed would be ashamed.
"Shall I drive instead?" Fengxiu asked, deeply worried by Her Majesty's pale face.
Yin Jixue shook her head. "I'm fine. I just underestimated its speed. Want to come with me?"
Fengxiu didn't hesitate — she got in the back seat, ready to act as a cushion in case Her Majesty was thrown out.
This time, Yin Jixue took a different route — out through the North Gate highway.
The car shot forward like a bullet. Fengxiu's eyes widened — she could already see Black Dragon Mouth ahead.
She couldn't help but ask, "Your Majesty, why is a four-wheeled vehicle faster than one with six?"
Yin Jixue wasn't quite sure how to explain. "Maybe because it's smaller? And it carries fewer people?"
To avoid attracting attention, she made a quiet U-turn and headed back to the city.