Chapter 73: Demon Love Story

Heikou (Black Dragon Mouth)

Heicheng (Black Dragon City)

Censorate (Supervisory Court)

Yuling City (Jade City)

Jingui Town (Golden Turtle Town)

Xuanwu City (Black tortoise City)

...

Now, not only did the school have playground equipment for children, but both the city square and the outskirts square were also equipped with exercise facilities—the kind elderly folks in modern parks loved.

With these additions, the demon citizens no longer stayed cooped up at home after work. They either rode bicycles or exercised in the squares, making Black Dragon City livelier than ever.

When Yin Ji Xue met Tie Sheng again, he presented his latest creation.

Her jaw dropped. Without any guidance from her, Tie Sheng had built a tricycle.

This kid is seriously talented!

Yin Ji Xue had a deep appreciation for gifted individuals.

She called Old Demon over to inspect the tricycle. Though Tie Sheng hadn't managed to build a car yet, it was only a matter of time—his potential was limitless.

Old Demon was equally impressed. His casually taken apprentice had created both scooters and tricycles without rigidly following blueprints, proving his ingenuity.

"From now on, you'll work under me. I won't stop you from tinkering, but you must focus on what I teach you."

Tie Sheng was overjoyed. "Thank you, Master! Thank you, Your Majesty!"

He's officially been accepted as a disciple.

Yin Ji Xue was genuinely pleased. She hoped Black Dragon City would nurture more talents like him.

While blueprints provided guidance, they could also limit creativity. Innovators like Tie Sheng, who thought outside the box, were invaluable.

The tricycle was left in the palace, where Teng She eyed it eagerly.

Yin Ji Xue rubbed her temples. She didn't want to see Teng She—with his handsome face—seriously pedaling a tricycle.

"Go ahead and play with it. Just return it to the empty palace by evening—it'll rust if it gets damp."

After she left, Gou Chen emerged from the shadows. "I want a turn too."

Teng She: "We'll take shifts. You can ride in the back."

"Deal."

Yin Ji Xue, who glanced back curiously: ...

I'd pay a fortune to unsee this.

Watching hot guys pedal a tricycle was ridiculous. All their cool, aloof aura vanished instantly. She'd never look at them the same way again.

Yin Ji Xue was planning the next road construction project when Ruo Shui entered.

"Your Majesty, a demon citizen at the palace gates wishes to see you."

"Who is it, and what's the matter?"

Usually, only urgent matters warranted her attention. But lately, the city had been peaceful, and everyone was busy enjoying their new pastimes.

"It's a female demon from the outskirts named Li Na. She says she's created something strange."

The name sounded vaguely familiar, but Yin Ji Xue couldn't place it.

"Let her in."

Li Na clutched a wooden barrel tightly, refusing even Ruo Shui's offer to help carry it.

When Yin Ji Xue saw her, she remembered—Li Na was the stunning dark-skinned beauty with elfin ears and striking orange slit pupils, the most beautiful outskirt demon she'd ever seen.

Li Na set the barrel down and bowed. "Your Majesty, I've made something... odd."

A faint, familiar scent hit Yin Ji Xue's nose, and she had a hunch.

Lifting the lid, she found a murky liquid emitting a pungent odor.

Ruo Shui wrinkled her nose—her sharp senses made the smell assault her skull.

It's alcohol.

Made from fermented sweet potatoes.

As it turned out, Li Na had a habit of storing food. Snow had accidentally fallen into the barrel, and she hadn't thought much of it—until the barrel started smelling strange.

After tasting it and confirming it wasn't poisonous, she brought it to the palace for Yin Ji Xue's opinion. To her, the Queen was omniscient.

"This is fermented sweet potato. It's safe to consume, but it might make you drunk."

"Drunk?" Li Na had never heard of alcohol.

Ruo Shui, however, knew.

Yin Ji Xue explained the fermentation process. Realizing she'd accidentally created something rare, Li Na looked at her eagerly.

"I'd like to offer this to you." Since it was the first batch, she wanted the Queen to have it.

After some thought, Yin Ji Xue accepted.

"Since you've managed to make this, I'll give you a few brewing recipes. You're literate, right?"

Li Na's eyes widened. "Yes! I graduated from the literacy class."

The literacy program had two outcomes: graduates and repeaters (those who failed the final exam and had to retake it).

Pleased with Li Na's learning aptitude, Yin Ji Xue encouraged her: "I think you have a talent for brewing. I hope you succeed."

Li Na left in a daze, clutching the recipes. Ruo Shui chased after her to return the barrel.

Li Na bowed nervously. "Thank you, my lady."

"Don't mention it." Ruo Shui vanished.

Yin Ji Xue instructed Ruo Shui to store the alcohol properly. "The longer it ages, the richer the flavor."

Ruo Shui was skeptical. Could this taste good?

That smell nearly blew my head off.

The second literacy class was now specialized, with courses tailored to different industries—steel, farming, textiles, machinery. Every factory would eventually get its turn, with workers undergoing a month of training each.

This batch had an advantage: industry-specific curricula based on Yin Ji Xue's materials and open access to blueprints.

Post-graduation, workers churned out all sorts of quirky inventions.

Meanwhile, Yin Ji Xue summoned Li Na again.

Li Na was puzzled. "You want me to... act in a movie?"

"Exactly. A movie is like performing a storybook."

Li Na's looks perfectly fit the female lead. For the male lead, Yin Ji Xue cast Gou Chen—his scholarly vibe suited the role.

To enrich the citizens' cultural diet, she planned books and films. But with the library still in planning (and construction crews busy), current book supplies couldn't meet demand.

Movies were the perfect solution—visual, accessible, and universally understandable.

Her first film, Demon Love Story, was a mishmash of melodramatic tropes. The plot? A low-ranking demon and a high-ranking demon overcoming societal barriers to be together.

The goal wasn't just to challenge classism but also to celebrate love.

After a brief hesitation, Li Na agreed.

"But my job at the outskirt canteen..."

Yin Ji Xue had done her research. "Someone will cover for you. From now on, your role is Black Dragon City's First Brewer."

Honored, Li Na bowed deeply.

Yin Ji Xue handed her the script. "Just follow this when the time comes."

Gou Chen sought Yin Ji Xue later, visibly uncomfortable. "Your Majesty, do I have to say these lines?"

She feigned nonchalance. "You're sacrificing for art. The entire city—maybe even the entire Black Dragon tribe—will remember your contribution."

With a resigned sigh, Gou Chen relented. "Fine."

As he left, Teng She suddenly appeared, snatching the script and reciting lines while dangling upside-down from the eaves:

"You are my life... I'd betray the world before betraying you... Lian'er, my heart is yours..."

After gleefully tormenting Gou Chen, Teng She returned the script. If not for his current serpent form, he'd have laughed outright.

"Good luck. Do your best."

Gou Chen deadpanned, "You know what? You'd be perfect for another role."

Teng She's instincts screamed danger, but before he could flee, Gou Chen seized him by the neck.

Gou Chen smiled thinly. "What are brothers for, if not to suffer together?"

Defeated, Teng She slumped. "Fine, fine. I'll stop mocking you."

But the damage was done. Gou Chen dragged him back to Yin Ji Xue and insisted Teng She play the villain.

Upon hearing "villain," Teng She perked up.

Yin Ji Xue got her first proper look at Teng She's true form—a winged serpent, unlike any mythological creature she knew.

Teng She rose on his coils. "A villain? I can do that. Love being the bad guy."

Oh god, I can see down his throat. It's bigger than my head.

She handed him the script. Teng She took it with his wings, revealing tiny claws underneath—weirdly cute.

With the trio cast, filming awaited only an auspicious date.

Outside, Teng She gloated, "I checked the script. I'm the villain who tears you two apart. You're still the embarrassing one."

Gou Chen ignored him.

Teng She tucked the script away and resumed his perch as a rooftop ornament.

Filming began on a clear day. Yin Ji Xue directed while using memory stones as cameras.

Only then did Teng She read the script properly.

Page by page, his back stiffened.

Wait. Why does the villain say things like:

"Lowly wench, you're playing with fire."

"Woman, I grant you the honor of bearing my offspring."

"Has my favor not been enough? How am I inferior to him?"

"You say forced fruit is bitter? Then I'll taste it myself today."

Gou Chen strolled past, smirking. "'Wench, you're playing with fire.'"

Teng She panicked.

Filming wrapped in a week. Li Na, as the lead, felt immense pressure—every time the male leads exchanged lines, she feared they'd brawl.

Miraculously, they didn't.

Post-production, all three sighed in relief.

Li Na had been overshadowed—the male leads stole every scene.

After reviewing the footage, Yin Ji Xue decided to release it anyway. Li Na's presence might be faint, but she was the heroine, and the message of love came through.

Though I hope Gou Chen and Teng She don't hold a grudge. They looked ready to murder each other during filming.

When she asked Feng Xiu, the latter laughed.

"Don't worry. They've always been like this. Probably just spring fever—everyone's restless lately."

It took Yin Ji Xue a moment to grasp the implication.

Right. They're demons. Spring's here—even the cats are yowling.

No wonder Feng Xiu and Ruo Shui had been scarce. Everyone's feeling the heat.

Yin Ji Xue had no solution. She didn't even know if the Demon King experienced this... phase.

The thought made her face burn.

Get your mind out of the gutter!

Old Demon shrugged when she asked. "The palace crew? They'll fight it out. Spring'll pass soon enough."

Since there were no lasting effects, Yin Ji Xue dropped the matter.

The film premiered as scheduled, with posters plastered across announcement boards.

A citizen exclaimed, "I get it! Like those documentaries, but with acting!"

The crowd was prepared—though clueless about Demon Love Story's plot.

Yin Ji Xue had overlooked one detail: while past screenings were documentaries, this was fiction. She'd forgotten to label it "This story is purely fictional."