Heishi City’s night market was extremely prosperous.
The mountain ranges of Heishi Mountain were pitch black, and the climate was always gloomy, so the demon clan greatly loved using colorful colors and glowing gems to decorate their caves. Once night fell, countless vendors emerged from all directions. The people of Heishi City either pushed small wooden carts or set up long tables and benches on the ground, hanging green and red lanterns nearby, decorating Heishi City until it was bright and brilliant.
The streets were also bustling. Strangely dressed demon men and women walked through the crowds arm in arm, carrying quite the flavor of worldly life.
Mu Cengxiao felt somewhat uncomfortable: “Junior Sister, are all the people here so bold?”
The demon clan was naturally daring in their actions. Not to mention their strange clothing, they didn’t hesitate to display their passion. Walking down the street and embracing for kisses was commonplace, and there were even beautiful demon women who boldly reached out to hook Mu Cengxiao’s arm, their long nails leaving bright red scratches on his arm.
Mu Cengxiao’s face turned red with embarrassment, feeling like he had thorns in his back, and he squeezed desperately toward Tian Fangfang’s side.
Although Meng Ying was also born beautiful and attracted countless gazes from demon men, the Yuebo sword at her waist was truly frightening. Moreover, she kept a cold face from beginning to end, looking as if anyone who dared tease her would immediately have their claws chopped off. Therefore, those men only dared to admire from afar and didn’t dare approach.
Gu Baiying’s face was even more eye-catching – young and handsome young men had always been most popular with demon women. However, when those women saw Zanxing beside Gu Baiying, they immediately retreated. No matter how blind they were, they couldn’t compete with the next Demon Lord for a man. Tian Fangfang was quite disgruntled, muttering quietly: “Even Mendong has people approaching him, how come no one pays attention to me?”
Zanxing: “…Senior Brother, maybe you should put away that axe on your shoulder first.”
Everywhere was the sound of singing and dancing. Ahead, people had gathered in a crowd watching a shadow puppet show. Zanxing and the others also squeezed forward, only to see the shadow puppets performing intimate, passionate scenes between a man and woman, done so vividly that the voice actor behind the screen was so realistic it was amazing. All around were jeering demons, with some shouting: “Good! Be even bolder!”
Zanxing was still in shock when Gu Baiying, beside her, had already pulled her out of the crowd with a red face.
“Yang Zanxing.” His brow contained suppressed displeasure. After thinking, he didn’t know what to say and only stared at her accusingly without speaking.
The two stared at each other for a moment. Zanxing sighed and said, “Fine, I’ll talk to Mother tomorrow. In the future, such overly explicit shadow puppet shows can’t be performed on the main streets of Heishi City.”
Gu Baiying coughed lightly: “Alright.” As if feeling his behavior was making a mountain out of a molehill, he looked ahead: “Do you want to buy anything?”
“Ah?”
He glanced at Tian Fangfang and the others still in the crowd behind them: “Don’t worry about them. Do you want to stroll around here? If there’s anything you like, I’ll buy it for you.”
Zanxing wanted to remind the person in front of her that this was Heishi City, and she was the future lord of Heishi City. At any stall, whatever she fancied, she wouldn’t need to pay for it, not to mention that Heishi City used magic pearls. However, Gu Baiying had good intentions, and if she refused, it would seem somewhat ungrateful. Thinking of this, Zanxing said: “Alright. It’s been a long time since I went shopping anyway.”
In the two years Zanxing had been in Heishi City, she had spent most of her time in seclusion. Never mind Qixi Festival – she had barely seen the night market. Today happened to be perfect timing, and even heaven was cooperating. Although it was a gloomy night without stars or moon, at least it wasn’t raining like the previous days.
The brilliant lights were like a winding giant dragon, illuminating the pitch-black mountain ranges. This place instantly became like an enchanting, ghostly realm where spirits dwelt. Strange and wonderful, yet filled with human warmth.
Gu Baiying walked beside Zanxing. With the crowd flowing like water beside them, he walked on the outside, letting Zanxing walk on the inside. Zanxing looked sideways and saw his blurred profile in the lamplight.
Noticing Zanxing’s gaze, Gu Baiying lowered his head and asked curiously: “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing.” Zanxing looked away and casually took his hand.
Gu Baiying was stunned for a moment, then suddenly chuckled softly.
“What are you laughing at?” Zanxing immediately asked.
He imitated Zanxing by looking away, the corners of his lips curved up, his expression somewhat pleased, yet he said: “Nothing.”
Zanxing stared at him for a while, thinking that he was indeed her type. She had always thought Gu Baiying was handsome, and now, among all the exaggeratedly dressed demons in the city, Gu Baiying was like a clear stream, someone you couldn’t forget even if you tried.
A demon woman passed by carrying a large bunch of brilliant blue flowers. Giving flowers to one’s beloved was something both humans and demons would do. However, while these flowers appeared fragrant and attractive to demon eyes, to human eyes, they looked like skulls one after another, quite terrifying.
“Ghost Head Flowers are very popular here?” Gu Baiying asked with some hesitation.
“I suppose so.”
“Then do you want…” He looked at Zanxing inquiringly.
“No need!” Zanxing immediately refused. Although these flowers were indeed flowers in her eyes, just thinking that in others’ eyes she would be holding skulls and sniffing them made her scalp tingle. She noticed many people gathered around a stall not far ahead, so she pulled Gu Baiying forward, saying: “There are many people over there, let’s go take a look.”
When they got closer, they saw that this small stall was unique. The vendor was a young red-haired woman, with a huge flower pot at her feet containing a glowing tree about one person’s height.
Zanxing took two more steps forward and looked carefully, only to realize it wasn’t that the tree glowed, but rather that this tree with only branches and no leaves or fruit had many small silver locks hanging on it. These silver locks were made small and exquisite, with glowing stones embedded in the lock clasps, polished to be especially smooth.
“This is…” Zanxing picked up one.
“These are Acacia Unity Locks.” The vendor didn’t recognize Zanxing and enthusiastically introduced: “Just write two people’s names on them with a brush, hang them on the tree, then use the key to lock them, and the two people will never be separated for life!”
Zanxing was thinking these silver locks looked somewhat familiar when she heard the vendor continue: “Our Heishi City’s Demon Empress loves using these silver locks most. You see, it’s because Her Highness has these locks that she’s locked up countless excellent men in the world. Miss, would you like to buy some to take back? We sell them ten at a time, buy ten get one free, buy fifty get ten free, only one hundred magic pearls each, very reasonable!”
Gu Baiying’s brow furrowed: “Ten at a time?”
“Of course!” The vendor put her hands on her hips, answering righteously: “How could one be enough? A proper demon woman of Heishi City can get any man she wants – why would she hang herself on one tree? Of course, she’d start with ten!”
Gu Baiying snorted coldly.