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)
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Yin Jixue quietly slipped back into Black Dragon City. In her heart, she officially declared the sports car as her favorite item of the year.
Gouchen suddenly poked his head out from the eaves. "What is that thing?"
Fengxiu happily recounted her joyride in the car with the Queen, and Gouchen's curiosity was instantly piqued.
Could it be faster than the King himself?
—
"Big bro," Hua Ma Gua said seriously, "I think this car is even more valuable than the glass. Are we spending everything on glass?"
Ever since discovering the bicycles, Hua Ma Gua couldn't stop thinking about them. Every time he left the inn, he had to ride one.
Xuan Yi hesitated too. Neither Xuanwu City nor Azure Luan City had anything like these. If they brought them back, they'd fetch a fortune.
He turned to Scarface. "How much did you bring this time?"
"I brought all the Flamefeathers from the Azure Luan Tribe — and half a piece of magic crystal."
Gua Pi Mao looked discouraged. "I didn't expect Black Dragon City to have so many good things. I only brought grain and ordinary beast pelts. No rare furs — just some Four-Horned Beast jerky." He had originally planned to keep the jerky for himself.
Hua Ma Gua checked his storage pouch. "I brought a bunch of seeds… too bad nothing grows in Black Dragon City. Oh, and I brought some immortal brew from the Winged Tiger Tribe." That had been meant for auction in Azure Luan City — guess it would go cheap here instead.
Xuan Yi made a quick decision. "Old Fourth, trade everything you brought for glass. Second and Third, hold onto yours — don't move anything."
They had to buy glass and a lot of it. Magic crystals were running scarce; using them now was a loss, but Xuan Yi didn't believe Black Dragon City would bite. Surely, half a crystal could trade for five thousand panes of glass.
But Tu Yang bellowed, "Five thousand?! Out of respect for your past dealings with Black Dragon City, I'll give you a number — one thousand. Final offer. No haggling."
Gua Pi Mao nearly jumped up to argue, but Scarface quickly held him back.
"This is half a magic crystal. You've probably heard — several major magic crystal mines in the Demon Realm have dried up. Unless a new source is discovered, magic crystals will only become rarer. Black Dragon City probably doesn't have much left, right?"
He thought he was being subtle. How could a place like Black Dragon City have any crystals? Even if they seemed like they were developing, without energy like magic crystals, there was no way they could keep up with the other three tribes.
Tu Yang sighed. "Times have changed. We don't need magic crystals anymore. What we need are useful things. If you can bring something that pleases Her Majesty the Queen, then we can talk about five thousand panes."
Black Dragon City isn't short on magic crystals. If he told them the truth, they'd be scared out of their minds — the crystals pulled out of the mine could bury their entire merchant group alive.
—
The first trade negotiation ended in a mess. Tu Yang hadn't made it difficult for them — he was simply delivering the Queen's instructions.
Gua Pi Mao, anxious and flustered, said, "Big bro, what's wrong with them? Even magic crystals aren't good enough. No wonder they're the poorest of all the demon tribes."
Hua Ma Gua snorted, "He said it was the Queen's idea. Looks like that human princess doesn't understand the value of a magic crystal — all she wants are little trinkets."
Scarface added, "We didn't bring any trinkets! If we'd known Black Dragon City was following that princess's orders, we would've brought the fancy stuff the human world gifted us."
Xuan Yi remained silent, deep in thought.
Black Dragon City had once been on the verge of collapse, but now it had come back from the dead — and it was probably because of this diplomatic princess.
She shouldn't be underestimated.
He finally stopped them. "Enough. Let's go back and sort through everything. Pick out the most useful things first."
Reluctantly, Scarface and Hua Ma Gua returned to the inn, clutching their precious Flamefeathers and immortal brew.
—
Honk honk.
A strange noise came from outside the window. Gua Pi Mao peeked out and shouted, "Big bro, look outside! What is that?!"
There was a bus station right across from the inn. The city bus only ran from Friday to Sunday, and today it had just returned from Black Dragon Pass.
Hua Ma Gua's jaw dropped. "What is that thing?"
They exchanged glances and immediately rushed out.
The driver saw the unfamiliar faces lingering at the platform and barked impatiently, "You getting on or not? I'm leaving!"
Xuan Yi boarded first.
Inside were a few dozing young demon folk — low-class citizens.
Scarface pointed toward them, but Xuan Yi gave him a look and motioned for silence.
"Next stop, school! Don't oversleep!"
The bus rolled through the city. Pedestrians stepped aside when they heard it coming.
The visiting demons looked like bumpkins who had just arrived in a big city, poking and prodding curiously at everything.
Gua Pi Mao reluctantly withdrew his hand. "Big bro, how did Black Dragon City suddenly get so many amazing things?"
Xuan Yi gave his theory: "I suspect that a princess who married into the clan isn't ordinary."
Gua Pi Mao frowned. "But she's just a mortal. She won't even live long enough to match our pinky toe."
Xuan Yi gave him a sharp look. "You're still underestimating humans? Half the stuff we Xuanwu people use comes from their world."
Gua Pi Mao shut up obediently — though in his heart, he still didn't quite believe it. If that Queen was so capable, then why would the Demon King leave the city?
The bus came to a sudden stop.
"School's here! Wake up, little brats!"
The driver's voice was like a thunderclap. The drowsy young demons jolted awake, grabbed their beast-skin schoolbags, and hopped off — not forgetting to wave back.
"Thank you, Uncle Driver!"
The driver turned the wheel. "Next stop: Central Plaza. Get your stuff ready."
Gua Pi Mao had just stood up when the bus took off again.
Hua Ma Gua patted the seat under him. "If only we had one of these in Xuanwu City…"
—
At the final stop, the plaza was bustling with life — demonfolk chatting in groups, children playing games.
As they got off the bus, Hua Ma Gua remarked, "So this is where all of Black Dragon City's people hang out."
Scarface pointed ahead. "Looks like there's a crowd over there."
Gua Pi Mao's eyes lit up. "Let's go check it out!"
—
They arrived just in time for the start of a movie. The heroine had just appeared on the screen.
"What is this thing?!" Gua Pi Mao blurted out.
Nearby demonfolk turned and glared. He quickly clamped a hand over his mouth.
Suppressing their curiosity, the group watched the entire film to the end — utterly stunned.
Are they broadcasting content from a Memory Stone?
But how were they managing to display it all day long?
Hua Ma Gua couldn't hold back. "I just heard them say — these are Black Dragon City's two Guardians. I didn't think they had this kind of... love-hate drama going on."
Scarface was doubtful. "That can't be right. Fighting to the death over a low-class demon folk?"
Hua Ma Gua was adamant. "I heard it myself! Two Guardians — the Demon King's right-hand men!"
Even Xuan Yi was taken aback. That left no doubt as to who released the film.
Could the Queen be trying to undermine the Demon King's authority?
No... Black Dragon Clan was the most unified of the four tribes. There was no way a human could cause civil strife so easily.
Just then, two young demon women passed by, clearly discussing the film.
"Her Majesty the Queen said it's all acted. Movies are just for entertainment — like a human opera troupe."
The other girl sniffled, eyes red. "I know it's fake, but I still feel awful. Every time Xiao Lian gets taken away, my heart breaks for Lord Gouchen."
"Her Majesty said there's no romance between Xiao Lian and Lord Gouchen. They've never even met."
"I don't care! I'm still sad!"
The two women's voices faded into the distance, leaving the visiting merchants dumbfounded.
Fake?
Acted out?
How did they do that?!