Chapter 68 - The Happy Big Fool

Heikou (Black Dragon Mouth)

Heicheng (Black Dragon City)

Censorate (Supervisory Court)

Yuling City (Jade City)

Jingui Town (Golden Turtle Town)

... 

When Old Demon sent over the second bicycle, Yin Jixue was busy planning how to handle the demon beasts brought back by the hunting team. 

This batch of beasts was all edible—according to the Demon King, some even granted temporary superhuman strength when consumed. 

With daily temperatures averaging between -10°C and -20°C, the beasts had been left piled up, barely alive but immobilized, waiting to be butchered. 

Yin Jixue's little vegetable garden—or rather, Lou Zhao's garden—had already yielded green onions, ginger, and garlic, perfect for marinating meat and masking gamy flavors. 

Since this was the hunting team's first successful haul, it held symbolic significance. Why not host a celebratory feast in the city and roast all the beasts for everyone to enjoy? 

Some alcohol would've been ideal, but they lacked the ingredients for brewing. 

Then Yin Jixue remembered the sweet taro. If peaches could be fermented into wine, shouldn't peach-flavored sweet taro work too? She'd have Ruoshui experiment later. 

The bonfire party was scheduled for Friday evening at the city's grand plaza, with out-of-town demons invited to join. 

Yin Jixue contributed to the palace's head chef, assisted by cooks from both inner-city and outside-the-city canteens. 

These canteen cooks weren't exactly skilled—their job was simply to make food edible using the most basic methods. This time, their main tasks were processing beast carcasses and learning some proper cooking techniques. 

The severely injured hunting captain, Litu, had regained consciousness a few times but still couldn't leave the clinic, barely able to get out of bed. Physician Paji tended to him diligently. 

After cleaning Litu up, Paji said, "Tomorrow night, there's a bonfire party in the city. Her Majesty ordered a wheelchair for you—it should arrive today." 

Litu's voice was hoarse: "Thank you. Once I recover, I'll repay you personally." 

Paji waved his hands: "Her Majesty has already thanked me on your behalf. See this bright room? The glass was sent by her. Even the hide covering you is a gift from the Queen." 

As for the precious medical supplies, he'd already stored them safely. 

Litu nodded, though privately, he hadn't abandoned the idea of repaying Paji—but only after his body healed. 

Soon, patrolling guards delivered the wheelchair. Entirely wooden, including the wheels, its seat was padded with a layer of hide. 

Fortunately, the path from the clinic to the city was flat, sparing the patient any jostling. 

The wheelchair required someone to push it from behind, and Paji, as his physician, naturally took on the role. 

After test-sitting on it, Paji couldn't help but marvel: "This wheelchair is incredible—moving without legs! Her Majesty truly is the new generation's Prophet." 

"Prophet" was the highest title alongside the Demon King, akin to an ancient dynasty's all-powerful royal advisor. 

Lately, Black Dragon City's demons had been whispering that the Queen might be the demon realm's next Prophet. 

The previous Prophet, Old Demon, had vanished after the last Demon King's death. Back then, many assumed he'd perished alongside the King. 

Most of today's Black Dragon City residents didn't recognize Old Demon, but their heritage taught them that demonkind was governed by the dual pillars of Demon King and Prophet. 

The King represented strength; the Prophet, wisdom. 

Initially, Black Dragon City had only a King, but after the Queen's arrival, life improved dramatically—hence their collective belief that she must be the Prophet. 

Palace

"So this is the bicycle you like?" Lou Zhao didn't see how this differed from the scrap metal version from days ago. 

She rarely went out, so her interest wasn't personal: "It's not that 'I' like it—I don't need one. It's mainly for the people." 

This model was closer to a proper bicycle, complete with rotating cranks and rubber-lined iron rims (though the wheels were still wooden). 

Old Demon had tested it himself—training wheels were attached on both sides. 

Yin Jixue coaxed the Demon King to take it for a spin: "Just test it for me? My skirts would get tangled in the wheels." 

"Making me trial something meant for commoners," he grumbled, yet swung his leg over the seat without hesitation. 

Yin Jixue discreetly wiped her drool. So envious of those long legs. 

Purely envy, nothing else. 

Though sized for adult demons, the bike still cramped Lou Zhao's style—his legs couldn't stretch fully. 

Yin Jixue muffled a laugh behind her hand. Watching the mighty Demon King awkwardly pedal a kid's bike was priceless. 

Lou Zhao returned after one lap: "That old slacker made it too small. Can't even extend my legs properly." 

Yin Jixue: "You're just too tall. Wait here—I'll change clothes." 

Impatient, Lou Zhao scooped her up and flew her to her chambers. 

"Go change." 

She emerged in form-fitting athletic wear, all hair ornaments removed. 

Lou Zhao stared—this was his first time seeing her dressed so plainly. 

Finally, he blurted: "...Aren't you cold?" 

His Queen usually layered dresses under heavy cloaks, topping it off with fur-lined hoods—the most cold-sensitive woman he'd ever met. 

Now, dressed so lightly—would she freeze? 

"It's fine." Her upper body was warm enough with wool sweaters and a vest, but her legs felt the chill. 

The Yin Dynasty had no cotton or trousers. The pants she wore underneath were her shoddy handiwork—hardly insulating, but better than bare skin. Thankfully, the outer robe's thick drapes blocked the wind decently. 

Lou Zhao eyed her skeptically, but Yin Jixue ignored him, asking him to remove the training wheels instead. 

"Why won't you use these?" 

She grinned: "Because two extra wheels are for children. I'm not a child." 

Lou Zhao: "..." 

'Shouldn't have helped her!' 

Mounting the bike, Yin Jixue found the height perfect—her feet could touch the ground. 

After a test ride, she deemed it serviceable aside from slightly sluggish steering. 

"This'll do. Mass-produce this model." 

Suddenly, Lou Zhao spoke up: "Let me try again." 

She handed him the handlebars. 

To her surprise, the Demon King found his balance after two pushes, soon speeding around like a pro. 

Watching him, Yin Jixue hesitated to send the bike for replication. Her Demon King looked like an overjoyed big fool right now. 

Old Demon gaped at the news: "It passed inspection, so why wasn't it returned?!" 

Feng Xiu hesitated: "Her Majesty noticed the King enjoyed it and let him keep it. She also requested future bicycles in different colors—the King dislikes sharing..." 

Shaking his head, Old Demon lamented: "That niece-in-law's lost her mind! Even human-world tyrants weren't this spoiled!" 

Feng Xiu clarified: "It was the Queen's order, not the King's demand." 

Old Demon glared: "What's the difference?! They're a team—we're the outsiders here!"