Heikou (Black Dragon Mouth)
Heicheng (Black Dragon City)
Censorate (Supervisory Court)
Yuling City (Jade City)
Jingui Town (Golden Turtle Town)
…
Yin Jixue deeply regretted her decision.
When she had heard that Black Dragon Mouth was plagued by sandstorms, she hadn't thought much of it—mainly because she assumed that since winter wasn't over yet, the thick snow would prevent the yellow sand from flying everywhere.
But she had forgotten about something called smog.
If she covered her mouth, the citizens of Black Dragon Mouth might think she was looking down on their poor living conditions—which, admittedly, was true.
But if she didn't cover her mouth, it felt like she was breathing in sand.
Talk about being stuck between a rock and a hard place.
Just then, her ever-thoughtful maid tied a veil around her face.
Feng Xiu added, "The wind and sand here are harsh. We wouldn't want your delicate skin to get scratched."
Yes, yes, my delicate skin!
Yin Jixue nodded furiously in her heart. What kind of angelic being is Feng Xiu?!
I'm making face masks as soon as we get back.
She had already distributed medical masks to the clinics—those were for blocking viruses—but what she needed now were simple anti-smog masks.
Speaking of which, with sandstorms this severe, wouldn't the citizens here suffer from lung diseases?
But the Black Dragon Mouth citizens she had seen in Black Dragon City had been lively and energetic, and the system hadn't given any warnings, so they were probably fine.
Besides, they're demons. The idea of demons getting lung diseases just sounds weird.
As they walked, the ruins of snow-crushed houses lined their path. The good news was that these buildings didn't look recently abandoned.
Oh right, the Black Dragon Mouth city lord mentioned that all the citizens had been relocated and were being fed one meal a day.
But the further they went, the more shocking the sight became. Almost none of the houses were livable—no wonder they had come to Black Dragon City for help last winter.
If I hadn't married into Black Dragon City, what would have happened to these people?
She tried to look on the bright side. Even if Black Dragon City had no food, at least the houses were sturdy. Without me, they might not have frozen to death.
The city lord's mansion stood out starkly amidst the dilapidated surroundings.
It was nowhere near as grand as the newly built Surveillance Bureau—not even as impressive as the prince's mansion she had visited in the human realm.
So this city lord is a good demon, suffering alongside his people.
The citizens of Black Dragon Mouth had been relocated around the city lord's mansion. At the sound of unfamiliar footsteps, they cautiously peeked out.
Honestly… it was a little jarring.
They were so emaciated they could be described as skin and bones, their gaunt faces making them look like bobblehead dolls.
Yin Jixue suppressed her discomfort—not because she was scared, but because, for the first time, she felt powerless. My abilities are still too limited.
To these demon citizens, the young woman at the center of attention was pristine in her dust-free attire, a soft yellow hood draped over her head, her face veiled. Just a glimpse of her beautiful eyes was enough to make them imagine her peerless beauty.
Her gaze seemed to speak—just one glance from her silenced their restless murmurs.
Yin Jixue's unease lasted only a moment before being replaced by surprise.
These demons are so adorable! They gave me dozens of Faith Points right off the bat!
Ah… I'm almost embarrassed!
The city lord's attendants quickly came out to greet her. They hadn't expected the Queen's sudden visit—it was only because the city lord sensed Lord Tengshe's aura.
"Your Highness! Why have you come?"
The city lord's booming voice ensured that every nearby demon heard the identity of this stunning young woman.
She was the Queen!
Everyone in Black Dragon Mouth knew of the Queen!
Instantly, the surge of Faith Points pushed Yin Jixue's system straight to Level 3.
No way! They're this enthusiastic?!
Tears welled up in Yin Jixue's heart. Wuwuwu, anyone who can level up my system is my precious baby! I swear I'll make sure every one of you is well-fed!
"Her Highness came to see us!"
"Thank you, Your Highness!"
"Thank you for taking in my wife and children!"
Gratitude poured in from all directions, Faith Points continued to rise. The system's experience bar flickered wildly, rising and falling.
The fluctuations were because the counter reset after reaching a full level. Reaching Level 4 would require a million Faith Points, but at least Yin Jixue now had hope. Isn't this way easier than killing high-level zombies?
After the system reached Level 2, Faith Points were no longer just +1 per citizen—the cap increased to 100 per person, with higher values indicating greater loyalty.
The Demon King's Four Guardians all provided over 85 Faith Points for Yin Jixue, with Feng Xiu even reaching 90.
Unfortunately, the Demon King isn't counted in the Faith Points system, but helping him does come with generous rewards.
The biggest perks of reaching Level 3 were the search engine and item identification functions.
Overjoyed, Yin Jixue announced some good news.
Black Dragon City and Black Dragon Mouth would now be officially connected by bus. Due to the limited number of buses, there would only be one trip per week—departing Friday afternoon and returning Sunday evening.
This was earth-shattering news. Many of the remaining citizens hugged each other in excitement, and even the city lord wiped away tears.
Yin Jixue smiled faintly. "No more crying. This trip was just to scout the route. In seven days, you'll be reunited with your loved ones. Since I've never been to Black Dragon Mouth before, why don't you give me a tour? It'll help me plan for its future development."
The city lord nodded eagerly, a burly man dabbing at his eyes with a small, worn-out handkerchief. The fur on the animal-skin cloth had rubbed off, and its faded color suggested it had seen better days.
Because of Yin Jixue's sudden arrival, the city lord was dressed in shabby animal hides. Too embarrassed to keep the Queen waiting, he hadn't changed.
Black Dragon Mouth wasn't small—it was just that most of its buildings were in ruins. Some of these structures were probably older than the entire Yin Dynasty.
Just by looking at the architecture, one could imagine how prosperous the Black Dragon Clan had once been.
The city walls were made of packed earth, now partially collapsed and hastily patched up—more for psychological comfort than actual defense.
Black Dragon Mouth had a pitiful twenty soldiers on guard, barely better off than the skeletal civilians. Their weapons didn't look particularly sturdy either.
The state of Black Dragon Mouth could be summed up in four words: falling apart from neglect.
Between the smog-filled skies, crumbling walls, dilapidated houses, and worn-out streets, the entire place needed a complete overhaul.
Fortunately, today's massive influx of Faith Points meant she could at least rebuild properly. She might not have enough materials to give every family a villa, but constructing residential communities was feasible.
The city walls were the top priority. Rumor had it that demonic beasts often emerged in spring, though the Black Dragon Clan had never encountered such issues.
Probably because they're too poor. At this point, any beasts that show up might not be attacking—they'd just end up as food for the starving citizens.
Yin Jixue had a rough plan now.
"I've got a general idea. I'll send people to help repair the city walls. As for housing, you'll need to take a census—preferably grouping families—so we can plan accordingly."
The moment he heard that they would get new walls and houses, the city lord nearly dropped to his knees in gratitude.