In the end, Yao Zuizui still went to a small town near the Panlong Mountain Range to buy little dresses.
Since the black dragon couldn’t easily show himself, she entered the town alone with just one silver coin and managed to buy three little dresses.
All three dresses were Yao Zuizui’s favorite styles and patterns. She hugged the three tiny crescent-shaped bundles tightly.
“Daddy, it cost three silver coins!” Her fair, delicate little hand held up three fingers.
The black dragon blinked, surprised that the dresses were so cheap. Instantly, he became extravagantly generous, flapping his wings grandly.
Waving his claws, the black dragon handed Yao Zuizui a pouch full of coins: “Come on, let’s buy out all the clothes from the small towns around the Panlong Mountain Range! You’ll wear a different dress every day—my daughter is the most beautiful in the world!”
“Oh, and since you’re growing so fast, let’s buy hundreds of dresses in every size!” The black dragon, now feeling rich and powerful, spoke with newfound confidence.
“……” Yao Zuizui really didn’t want to dress up too flashily to attract his attention, lest he develop any inappropriate thoughts.
She quickly changed the subject: “Daddy, have you noticed my special ability?”
“What special ability?” The black dragon, being rather simple-minded, was immediately intrigued.
“I can sense treasures!” Yao Zuizui blinked proudly.
The black dragon’s eyes lit up instantly: “Really?!”
He thought back carefully—when they went to the snowy mountains and the bone piles, she had indeed helped him find treasures.
The black dragon’s gaze grew even more fervent as he looked at Yao Zuizui.
He exhaled a puff of dragon breath, panting excitedly: “From now on, Daddy will take you out to play every day!”
“……” *Sounds nice, but really, you just want me to help you find treasures, don’t you?*
Sure enough, the next day, the black dragon took Yao Zuizui to the seaside.
Fierce waves crashed against the rocks, and even the howling sea wind carried the oppressive weight of the overcast sky.
In the distance, white spray erupted from the sea as a tornado surged toward them, wreaking havoc along the way.
Yao Zuizui burrowed into the black dragon’s embrace: “Daddy, I’m so scared!”
“Don’t be afraid! Daddy will blow it away!” The black dragon shielded Yao Zuizui’s small body with his wings, then opened his maw wide and inhaled deeply.
The surrounding air swirled into a vortex before being sucked into his gaping mouth, only to be forcefully expelled back out.
“ROAR—!” A violent gust of wind erupted from his mouth, colliding with the approaching tornado.
From afar, Yao Zuizui could only see the turbulent clash of air currents, stirring up monstrous waves. Even at a distance, she could feel the terrifying force of the storm.
Finally, the tornado dissipated. Yao Zuizui patted her chest in relief: “Daddy, you’re amazing!”
“Of course!” The black dragon flicked his tail, then eagerly looked at Yao Zuizui. “Sweetheart, tell me where the treasure is?”
……
In the end, guided by Yao Zuizui, the black dragon found a piece of deep-sea mystic ice, howling with joy.
His gaze toward Yao Zuizui grew even more intense.
As a mighty black dragon, he suddenly felt that he would do anything for his daughter—even if it meant serving her like an ox or a horse.
Daughters were truly, truly magical creatures!
No—*his* daughter was the magical one. He had to keep her safe, never letting anyone take his precious treasure away!
===
And so, Yao Zuizui happily stayed by the black dragon’s side, growing up in joy.
Thanks to her special ability, the black dragon doted on her like she was the most precious thing in the world.
If she wanted something, the black dragon would immediately go get it—even if it meant fighting for it.
The two of them lived a simple yet warm life in the Panlong Mountain Range.
Every day, the black dragon would bring back all sorts of delicacies for Yao Zuizui, having noticed how much she loved food.
Once she was full and satisfied, Yao Zuizui would casually point out a treasure location, and the black dragon would scamper off to dig it up, his eyes narrowing into happy slits.
As time passed, their bond grew deeper and deeper.
But Yao Zuizui’s growth rate was like a rocket—she changed every single day.
By the time she was nearly sixteen…
One day, the black dragon returned looking utterly dejected.
“Didn’t find any treasure?” Yao Zuizui glanced at his expression, thinking that was the only possible reason.
The black dragon shook his head: “No, I found some.”
“……Then what’s wrong, Daddy?” Yao Zuizui was puzzled. Was there something else that could make the black dragon unhappy besides not finding treasure?
“The Ragebear got his daughter married today,” the black dragon said gloomily.
Yao Zuizui didn’t understand why this would upset him. It wasn’t like the black dragon had a secret crush on the Ragebear’s daughter, right?
“That’s a good thing,” Yao Zuizui, now fifteen, said in her bright, melodious voice.
“……” The black dragon shook his head. “No, it’s not. The Ragebear said his daughter married someone from the Kunlai Snow Mountains and will only visit him once a year!”
“……” Yao Zuizui didn’t know what to say. This was between the Ragebear and his daughter—why was *he* so upset?
Suddenly, the black dragon wrapped his wings around Yao Zuizui and asked cautiously: “Daughter… will you get married someday too?”
“Of course,” Yao Zuizui admitted without hesitation, though her heart inexplicably skipped a beat.
“Then… will you marry a magical beast?” he probed carefully.
“No,” Yao Zuizui replied firmly, determined to nip any inappropriate thoughts in the bud. She couldn’t let him fall in love with her—otherwise, he’d have to leave this plane of existence.
The black dragon’s face fell. If his daughter wouldn’t marry a magical beast, then once she married a human, she’d have to leave the Panlong Mountain Range.
He couldn’t bear the thought of losing her…
And his treasures…
She still had his precious crystal inside her, but lately, he’d been thinking less and less about it. His daughter was a hundred times more important.
He made up his mind—if anyone ever wanted to marry his daughter, he would…
*Marry into the family too!*
That way, he could keep protecting her and make sure no one ever bullied her.
The black dragon thought this was a brilliant idea, feeling clever for the first time in ages.
Having resolved his worries, his gloomy expression brightened: “Sweetheart, what do you want to eat today? Daddy will go get it for you!”
In this region, the black dragon reigned supreme. He often stole things without a second thought, seeing nothing wrong with it.
Yao Zuizui silently mourned for the suffering magical beasts in the area before naming what she wanted to eat…
===
At sixteen, Yao Zuizui radiated the purity of a maiden and the brilliance of youth.
Her dazzling golden curls cascaded down her back like satin, smooth and soft. Her sapphire-blue eyes, clear as the ocean, held a mysterious allure that captivated anyone who gazed into them.
Wherever she went, she could effortlessly topple kingdoms with her beauty.
Even in the Panlong Mountain Range, where only magical beasts dwelled, none could resist bowing before her. Even the fiercest creatures would soften in her presence, gently plucking flowers to offer her.
The black dragon, too, thought his daughter grew more beautiful by the day.
When she smiled, it felt as if the whole world trembled gently, bathed in warmth and beauty.
He and his subordinate beasts threw her a grand coming-of-age ceremony, even inviting the dragon clan’s patriarch to bestow blessings.
But after the ceremony… everything changed.
===
“Beautiful princess! Please grace me with a glimpse of your heavenly visage! I would wager all of the Gadun Empire to marry you and grant you a lifetime of happiness!” This was already the third suitor of the day.
Beside the Gadun Empire’s prince stood an elven prince and the chieftain of a giant tribe.
They had all come for the same purpose—to win Yao Zuizui’s hand in marriage.
No one knew how they had gotten the news, but they had braved the dangers of the Panlong Mountain Range, trekking through mountains and rivers to reach the black dragon’s lair.
Inside the cave, the black dragon paced anxiously, unsure what to do.
Yao Zuizui, however, remained perfectly calm, lounging on a fur rug while eating a banana: “Daddy, you’re making me dizzy.”
“Sweetheart, what’s going on? Why do they all want to marry you?” The black dragon patted his thick skull with a claw, as if trying to knock some sense into himself.
“Beautiful princess, I am King Jonah of the Dwarf Kingdom! We dwarves are hardworking and strong—we can definitely make you happy!” Another suitor had arrived.
The black dragon couldn’t take it anymore. He stormed outside.
“My daughter isn’t ready to marry yet! All of you, go home!” he roared thunderously.
Just then, a goblin arrived, carrying a large chest: “This is my gift for the princess! She’ll surely like it and agree to marry me!”
The other races shot him disdainful looks, scoffing.
The black dragon flapped his wings: “I said it once—go home! My daughter isn’t marrying anyone! She’s staying with me for a few more years!”
In truth, Yao Zuizui hadn’t said a word yet—the black dragon had instinctively rejected all proposals on her behalf.
He’d completely forgotten his earlier plan to “marry into the family” alongside her.
Looking at the motley crew of suitors before him, all he could think was—
*What kind of ugly, worthless bunch is this?!*
*No way am I letting my daughter marry any of them!*
Just the thought made him feel like his carefully nurtured cabbage was being devoured by pigs.
And worse—his daughter wasn’t just any cabbage.
She was his most precious treasure, cradled day and night in his palms, protected from even the slightest scratch.
At the very least, she should marry someone who loved her more than he did.
But the black dragon was certain—no one in the world could love her more than he did!
*A father’s love is as mighty as a mountain!*
That was a phrase Yao Zuizui often whispered in his ear, filling him with pride at his own greatness.
(He conveniently ignored her follow-up: “Any father who harbors improper thoughts is despicable and doesn’t deserve to live!”)
The suitors, all nobles and leaders of their races, had brought large entourages of guards and servants.
The crowd below was massive, and the black dragon hesitated to act—there were simply too many of them.
He instantly regretted not building his lair deeper in the Panlong Mountain Range. If he had, the high-level magical beasts along the way would’ve thinned out the crowd.
Despite his dismissal, none of the suitors left. Instead, they glared at him scornfully.
“The princess was born from the Supreme Crystal—how could she possibly be your daughter?”
“Hah, he’s just hoarding the princess for himself, reaping all the benefits!”
“Oh, why must my beautiful princess suffer so? I must rescue my beloved from this wicked dragon’s clutches!”
“Wicked dragon, hand over the princess! We’ll spare your life!”
The princes below raised their greatswords, and the kings brandished their weapons.
All pointed at the black dragon, their expressions hostile, eyes burning with hatred.
Seeing the black dragon in danger, Yao Zuizui had no choice but to lift her skirt and step outside.
The moment she appeared, all eyes locked onto her.
“Oh, such a beautiful princess—she’s mine!”
“Her gaze pierces my heart.”
“What a pure and lovely princess! I must take her home as my bride!”
Tai Sui Yellow Amulet Paper FuLu Taoist Love Talisman Traditional Chinese Spiritual Charm Attracting Love Protecting Marriage