Heilong-kou (Black Dragon-Mouth/Pass)
Heilong-cheng (Black Dragon-City)
Heilong-yuan(Black Dragon Wall)
Heilong Bay (Black Dragon Bay)
Heilong Ridge (Black Dragon Ridge)
Censorate (Supervisory Court)
Yuling City (Jade City)
Jingui Town (Golden Turtle Town)
Xuanwu City (Black tortoise City)
Qinglong (Azure Dragron)
——
Summer blazed on. Even though Black Dragon City wasn't as hot as other cities, the temperature still reached a sweltering 28 to 29 degrees Celsius.
Yin Jixue had changed into a light, breezy dress, and Lou Zhao was also dressed in newly made, breathable clothes.
Bai Baobao, however, was still swaddled in thick, fluffy fur. Yin Jixue couldn't shave it off, as it was supposedly part of his humanoid transformation.
Bai Baobao was so hot he kept tossing and turning, lying on the ground with all four limbs splayed out, exposing his belly. Bai Buer wasn't faring much better.
Yin Jixue set down her pen, frowning. "This isn't going to work. Why don't we take them to the swimming center?"
Lou Zhao picked up the panting Bai Baobao. Normally, the little guy would at least struggle a bit, but now he just looked at him with aggrieved eyes. Even Lou Zhao couldn't bring himself to tease him anymore.
Lou Zhao muttered, "You're spoiling Bai Baobao too much. How's he going to manage school on his own in the future?"
Yin Jixue stood up. "Baobao is still just a baby. He can't even walk properly in his human form, let alone hold a pen."
Upon hearing this, Bai Buer's movements stiffened. He was already old enough to start school but had avoided it by staying curled up in the Demon Palace.
Several of his cousins had already joined the summer camp at the Black Dragon Mouth School. Word was, they had to wake up very early every day, which made Bai Buer even more reluctant to attend.
Plus, he wanted to stay close to his little brother and didn't want to be apart.
But just as he feared, Yin Jixue brought it up next.
"Bai Buer is of age. Let's send him to school at the end of this week."
Both Yeyan and Lian Ze had already been enrolled. Bai Buer had remained in his tiger cub form for so long that Yin Jixue had nearly overlooked him.
Bai Buer drooped his ears. Not even a trip to the swimming center could lift his spirits.
The botanical garden and parks in Black Dragon City had been completed, allowing local demons a free and refreshing escape from the heat.
The swimming center had just finished construction and wasn't open to the public yet—ticket pricing was still under discussion.
Besides pools, the facility also included a water amusement park.
Being felines, Bai Baobao and Bai Buer naturally didn't like swimming. But the water park was another story—they'd probably enjoy it.
Sure enough, the previously sulking Bai Buer perked up after seeing his brother having fun. He cautiously took small steps to join in.
Meanwhile, Yin Jixue and Lou Zhao headed for the pool.
Since the facility wasn't open yet, they were the first to visit.
Yin Jixue wore a conservative one-piece swimsuit styled like a dress. Even so, baring her arms and calves was rather bold by ancient standards. Since it was just the two of them, Lou Zhao wasn't feeling jealous.
But the idea of being in a pool wearing only a pair of shorts made Lou Zhao uncomfortably self-conscious.
Yin Jixue chuckled softly, "No one's going to see you. We have the whole place to ourselves today."
Lou Zhao tugged at the waistband of his swim trunks. "What is this thing? Feels like it's biting me."
Yin Jixue explained, "That's an elastic band—it keeps your shorts in place. You can't expect to swim while wearing a belt, can you?"
Lou Zhao was unaccustomed to it. Yin Jixue, on the other hand, kept sneaking glances at her boyfriend's abs.
She wanted to touch them, but held back—this was supposed to be a relaxing outing, after all.
Lou Zhao didn't know how to swim, which gave Yin Jixue the perfect excuse to get close.
Smiling sweetly, she offered, "Let me teach you. Swimming's easy."
Lou Zhao eyed her suspiciously, sensing something off in her expression.
But how could this innocent man know that his little wife had been eyeing his abs for a long time?
Though Lou Zhao restrained himself since they were outside, his little wife "accidentally" kept brushing against him, her soft hands gliding over him like slippery fish.
Lou Zhao began to think that learning to swim was pure torture—so close, yet so far.
Fortunately, he had a natural talent for swimming. After just two lessons, he got the hang of it. Once he was comfortable, the two swam a few laps before resting poolside.
Yin Jixue rested her chin in her hands and asked, "When are we going to Black Dragon Bay for vacation? The demon citizens there have already moved into their new homes, and they've built a wall to fend off sea monsters. Could you take me with you when you go to set the barrier?"
She had even commissioned a sea-view villa for herself—not for selfish reasons, of course. It was part of a broader tourism development plan for the area.
The villa was set back from the shore and inside the protected zone behind the sea wall. It was also separated from the main residential district, offering an unobstructed view of the ocean through its windows.
The seaside villas were all three-story detached homes, available for both short- and long-term rental. If marketed properly, it could develop into a uniquely local tourist industry.
Lou Zhao promised to bring her along, and Yin Jixue happily threw her arms around him, wrapping them around his neck.
In broad daylight, Lou Zhao's ears flushed red.
The Xuanwu Clan had long moved from sea to land, and while they were aquatic by nature, they didn't really have a concept of "seaside villas." Their houses resembled half-shells—domed structures common under the sea.
To such water-loving demons, the idea of a seaside villa—with a private pool in the backyard, a view of the ocean, and complete safety—was irresistible.
Just writing the proposal had convinced Yin Jixue to reserve one for herself. Not only did her villa boast the best location, but it also had the largest floor space.
That way, if her mother or father ever came to the Demon Realm for a vacation, they'd have a nice place to stay and enjoy the sea.
Though the Yin Dynasty had coastal cities, local fishermen lived in poverty and had no concept of "seaside villas." Living by the sea was out of necessity, not luxury.
Speaking of marketing, one couldn't ignore the Black Dragon Amusement Park.
Even though the park had once given Yin Jixue a harrowing experience and turned several shadow guards into the park's new poster boys…
The fact remained—humans had played through every attraction with deadpan expressions. How could demons be any less brave?
At first, the park only gained modest popularity in limited circles. But as word spread, traveling merchants passing through Black Dragon Mouth grew increasingly curious—what was it about the park that had everyone talking?
After trying it out, the merchants were… traumatized, to say the least. But once they got home, they couldn't stop thinking about it. If they had a second chance, they surely wouldn't scream like terrified children again.
Especially because, during their first ride on the roller coaster, they'd been joined by small children—kids who showed not a trace of fear. That stung their pride.
And so, the Black Dragon Mouth Amusement Park gained fame throughout the Demon Realm with its bizarre charm.
The real catalyst, however, was the drunken slip of the Qingluan Clan's Sixth Princess, who accidentally revealed a secret—that even the Empress herself had been terrified by the roller coaster.
That tidbit brought floods of demons to Black Dragon Mouth, all eager to challenge the park's attractions.
Sure, the Empress had a reputation for snatching up handsome men—but she also had a large, devoted fanbase, often referred to as her "looks-obsessed fans."
These demons were numerous, mostly from the Winged Tiger and Qingluan clans. Though the Empress didn't think much of their appearances, they adored her beauty. If she merely looked at them kindly, they'd consider their lives fulfilled.
Their arrival caused Yin Jixue's psychic power bar to skyrocket, so much so that she was smiling in her sleep. More than once, she was woken up by Lou Zhao's jealous kisses.
Naturally, the amusement park task was now officially complete.
The only thing left was waiting for the system to finish its upgrade. Hopefully, it wouldn't come back lagging or stuttering like last time.