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)
Qinglong (Azure Dragron)
…
The Qingluan Empress and the Sixth Princess had originally planned to just take a short rest at the inn. But after a hot bath and sinking into the cloud-like bed, they ended up falling sound asleep.
The sheets and duvet were made from a material neither of them had seen before—soft, smooth, and elegantly colored. The Sixth Princess had underestimated it at first glance.
And that bedding… light as air, like sleeping on a cloud.
"This is made from our Qingluan Clan's low-grade feathers. The aura is faint—it's no surprise you didn't recognize it," the Empress said calmly.
The Sixth Princess gawked. "Wait… how did the Black Dragon Clan turn our feathers into such fine bedding?"
Feathers of that grade were usually used by lower demons to make clothing. Who would've thought Black Dragon City could process them into something so luxurious?
The Empress shook her head. "I don't know either. Perhaps this is just another one of Black Dragon City's mysteries."
Her curiosity about the city was growing stronger by the minute.
This Lucky Inn even used the Xuanwu Clan's pearl currency as wall decorations—both in the rooms and the baths.
Of course, she didn't lack such treasures. What intrigued her more was how Black Dragon City had changed so drastically, so rapidly.
With her sharp eyes and ears, she could tell—that Black Dragon City was likely even more prosperous than Xuanwu City now.
No Demon King would not want their city to flourish. Perhaps… it was time she met this Queen of theirs in person.
Meanwhile, the Sixth Princess was still marveling over how the Qingluan Clan's basic feathers had been turned into such upscale materials. If her sister hadn't pointed it out, she'd have remained clueless.
Was it their clan that failed to see the value? Or was Black Dragon City just that good?
…
Elsewhere, Qing Yuan was hopping along in a crowd, still traumatized by being bullied by a pack of little kids.
But then he spotted a pair of pretty children who looked sweet and well-behaved. Unable to resist, he followed them.
"Prove that Y = |sinx| + |cosx| has a period of 2π… Have you solved it?"
An elderly demon with a white beard stood at the lectern, speaking a language Qing Yuan couldn't understand, while the two pretty children nodded.
One of them, a girl, stood up and answered:
"f(x + 2π) = |sin(x + 2π)| + |cos(x + 2π)| = |sinx| + |cosx| = f(x), therefore 2π is a period."
Qing Yuan was completely lost, head spinning. He squatted in a corner so long his legs went numb.
Is this the secret behind Black Dragon City's sudden rise in power? He wondered.
Suddenly, the classroom fell silent.
He peeked in—and was met with three faces staring at him through the window.
"Ghost!!" Qing Yuan shrieked, falling flat on his back.
The old demon snorted, "You Qingluan brat are funny. Sneaking around eavesdropping on my lesson, then screaming like that. You're the ghost."
Qing Yuan patted his chest to calm down. "Grandpa, you… you know who I am?"
He'd changed into local clothes and even sprayed perfume—by all appearances, he looked like a native Black Dragon demon.
But the old demon snorted again. "You reek of bird. Think you can fool me?"
Qing Yuan blinked innocently. "You can still smell that? I even put on perfume!"
He couldn't even smell anything himself. He'd thought he could trick his mom—but not.
Lian Rui chimed in, "This teacher is the Black Dragon Clan's prophet. Of course, he knows everything."
"A prophet?!" Qing Yuan's eyes lit up with awe.
He dropped to his knees, clutching the old man's sleeve.
"Great Prophet! Can you help me escape my mother's evil clutches? I love it here in Black Dragon City—everything is amazing! I don't want to go back!"
The old demon's eyes twinkled as he took Qing Yuan's wrist and felt his pulse.
Qing Yuan blinked, not sure what was happening.
"Hmm… seems like fate has brought us together. How about I take you in as my third disciple? Then you can stay here and study."
Qing Yuan jumped to his feet. "Really? I can go to school here?!"
He'd been curious about the schools for a long time, but Black Dragon City only enrolled students under fifteen. The vocational schools were for locals only—he'd never had a shot.
The old man scoffed. "With me speaking on your behalf, even the Empress herself would have to give way. My elder brother was the previous Demon King—you've heard of him, haven't you?"
Qing Yuan nodded fervently. "Yes! I saw his portrait at my auntie's tower—he was so handsome!" Just as handsome as the current Demon King, honestly.
Black Dragon City might've been poor before, but their Demon Kings were all outrageously good-looking. Maybe it was the gods' way of compensating them.
Now that the city was thriving, the clan's golden age surely wasn't far behind. And this city was so much fun—he wanted to stay.
"Master, please accept my bow!" Qing Yuan dropped to his knees.
The old man quickly pulled him up with a laugh. "We don't kneel in the Black Dragon Clan—unless you're ready to hand over your life to someone. Just serve me a cup of tea. That'll count as your initiation."
"Okay, Master!" Qing Yuan engraved the tea offering in his memory. At last, he had an excuse to stay here. He didn't even mind if his fellow disciples were younger than him.
"Senior Brother, Senior Sister!" he greeted them with a formal scholar's bow—something he'd learned from his aunt, who loved human literature.
Lian Rui smiled. She already liked this new junior. "Junior Brother, how old are you? Have you studied before? Can you read?"
Qing Yuan scratched the feathers on his head. "I'm over a hundred years old, but I've never gone to school. I only know our clan's language."
Gousheng threw an arm around him. "No worries, little bro. I'm the eldest disciple and I only know a few words. Master doesn't mind slow learners. He says what matters is potential. If we're dumb now, we'll just get smarter later."
He actually sounded kind of serious for once—a rarity. Probably because following the old prophet had taught him about the demons' tragic history from a thousand years ago.
Qing Yuan wasn't bothered in the least. He was an optimist through and through. "So how do I start learning?"
The old man stroked his chin. "I'll give you one month. Learn the basics—reading and arithmetic—in kindergarten, then you can join my class."
Qing Yuan's eyes sparkled. "I can go to school?!"
"I'll put in a word. You'll be fine."
Qing Yuan bounced on his heels. "Thank you, Master!"
He'd wanted to experience school for so long.
—
A thousand meters away from the private classroom…
The Sixth Princess looked worried. "Sister, still no sign of Qing Yuan?"
The Empress slowly opened her eyes. "No need to search anymore. His fate has found him. Let him stay in Black Dragon City."
Since it was the Black Dragon Clan's prophet—a man of high status and influence—who had taken Qing Yuan as a disciple, it could only be a good thing.
Of course, she'd never admit that she also wanted Qing Yuan to stay… as a way of maintaining a connection to his brother—the former Demon King. A lingering thought in her heart.
The ones you can't have… are always the ones you long for the most, aren't they?
The Sixth Princess didn't get it. "But didn't we come here to find Qing Yuan? Why just give up all of a sudden?"
One look at the Empress's solemn face, though, and she dared not ask again.
"Qing Yuan has been accepted as the prophet's third disciple. Let him stay and study in Black Dragon City."
The Sixth Princess stammered, "H-He got accepted?! But Qing Yuan doesn't know anything… won't he cause trouble?"
The Empress replied with the last of her patience, "He'll be taught to read and write here. He'll only grow stronger."
The Sixth Princess nodded. "True… back home, he spent all his time trying to escape. Maybe he should stay and study here."