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)
...
The day of the movie premiere arrived swiftly.
Though the demon citizens didn't understand terms like "lead actor," the fact that the film featured two high-ranking officials and an unknown female demon had everyone buzzing with anticipation.
Memory stones couldn't edit footage, but the LED projector's control panel allowed basic cuts, background music, and subtitles.
Yin Ji Xue was proficient in the arts—she hastily recorded a few guqin pieces and spliced them into the film.
If not for the costumes, sets, and the actors' striking looks, the crude editing would've made her feel like she'd produced a cringe-worthy micro-movie.
By the time she finished tinkering, it was already midnight.
The next day, the screening was scheduled for noon on Saturday.
The square was packed, especially with children. Adults figured they'd catch the afternoon rerun.
The projector flickered like a power outage before suddenly lighting up.
The opening scene shows the female demon's first encounter with the two male leads.
Spectators gasped and called friends over. They were stunned from the start.
So Lord Gou Chen is gentle and caring in private?
And Lord Teng She is... tyrannical?!
As the plot unfolded, hearts clenched. The poor low-ranking female demon suffered so much—forbidden from being with Gou Chen and relentlessly torn apart by Teng She.
Many tenderhearted demons discreetly wiped tears.
Mindful of the audience, Yin Ji Xue had avoided intimate scenes beyond the melodramatic dialogue. The confession scene, paired with music, served as the climax.
The 30-minute film ended with Xiao Lian and Gou Chen living under assumed names.
Finally, someone burst out: "Why didn't they beg Her Majesty for help?!"
"Yeah! If they'd told the Queen, Lord Teng She wouldn't dare separate them!"
"Let's petition Her Majesty to reunite them!"
"No wonder we haven't seen Lords Teng She or Gou Chen lately—they fell out!"
The crowd clamored to plead for the star-crossed lovers.
Since the Supervision Bureau was closer, they headed there first.
Staff: "You're sure? Lords Teng She and Gou Chen fought over a female demon?"
Concerned citizens: "We saw it! We're all witnesses!"
Deeming this too bizarre, the staff escalated the matter.
Lin Zhong promptly intervened. With two high-ranking officials involved, he couldn't afford negligence.
"Where did you see this?"
Chaos erupted as everyone spoke at once.
Lin Zhong raised a hand. "Take me there."
He couldn't fathom Lords Teng She and Gou Chen acting so outrageously.
The second screening had just started. Citizens pointed at the screen: "There! It's about to happen!"
They meant to explain but got sucked into the story again.
Lin Zhong frowned. The footage felt off. Neither lord would say such things, and the female demon showed no genuine affection.
After the 30-minute rerun, he remained baffled. Since the palace controlled the projector, he decided to verify with the Queen.
Meanwhile, a fresh wave of viewers arrived. By the end, tearful demons stormed the Bureau, demanding justice.
"We all support Lord Gou Chen and Xiao Lian!"
"Lord Teng She is evil!"
Lin Zhong pacified them before heading to the palace alone.
Instead of feedback, Yin Ji Xue got Lin Zhong's visit. Remembering Lou Zhao's jealousy, she wondered where he was now.
After bowing, Lin Zhong reported, "Your Majesty, something strange happened today."
He detailed the citizens' fervent support for the fictional couple, begging her to intervene.
Yin Ji Xue was stunned. "They... thought it was real?"
Lin Zhong caught her implication. "Memory stones don't lie. I doubted it too—neither lord would act that way."
Was it an illusion? But he'd never heard of illusions this vivid.
Yin Ji Xue awkwardly explained movies—fictional stories with staged names to distinguish them from reality.
Lin Zhong's eyes widened. "I understand now."
He rushed back to clarify for the lingering crowd.
Yin Ji Xue never expected such a misunderstanding.
In the square, citizens were distraught. Even though Teng Zhe was tricked in the end, unable to find the hidden lovers, they feared he might someday succeed.
Meanwhile, merchants waited at Black Dragon City's new gate for identity checks.
The leaders whispered:
"Are you sure about the glass? It's here?"
One merchant had zero confidence. Last year, staying in the west district left him reeking for days—even his breath stank.
Though they visited annually, this was their first time heading straight for Black Dragon City.
A melon-cap-wearing merchant nodded. "Positive. My uncle works in Jade Spirit City's administration. Their extra glass and paper all came from trading with Black Dragon City."
Their combined caravan had 200 members—a mid-sized group. With wide connections, they were the first spring arrivals.
Currently, glass and paper are priceless in the demon realm. The small team that initially brought them back now outshone larger caravans in wealth.
But those merchants kept their sources secret, forcing others to dig through contacts. Black Dragon City was the prime suspect.
Major caravans dismissed the idea of Black Dragon City producing glass or paper. They planned summer visits—to escape the heat, even if trade failed.
A.k.a. vacationing.
Though skeptical, profit lured this group to investigate.
Their papers cleared quickly. The guard returned them with a reminder:
"Accommodations are available in the city—Chrysanthemum Inn and Wanderer's Inn. Both provide meals."
The merchants thanked him halfheartedly but humored the gesture.
Melon Cap chuckled. "Did that guard say meals included? What a joke."
Another shook his head. "Delusional. Everyone knows the Black Dragon tribe is poor. Their capital can't compare to our border towns—not even your Golden Turtle Village. And those narrow, bumpy streets? Glass would shatter during transport."
Silence fell. Could Black Dragon City have glass?