When Jinjiao descended from the mountain, all the beasts wailed, and auspicious clouds filled the sky.
She had a tranquil, icy face, with the corners of her eyes tilting up ever so slightly. Her air of indifference was like snow that never melts atop a mountain peak. Mortals who saw her always assumed she was some aloof young lady who had no dealings with the mundane world. They were afraid even a heavy breath might disturb her.
Only the mountain demons knew that their great king could shatter a mountain with one punch and flatten the sea with one kick. She was an unparalleled bandit with heaven-defying strength and a mind that worked in mysterious ways.
Jinjiao had no interest in "going into the city." She was just hungry.
Then, at the most exclusive financial gala in the capital, she caught the scent of an irresistibly enticing spiritual aura.
Its owner was Yi Jiaming.
The most inscrutable powerbroker in the capital's financial world, he wore gold-rimmed glasses and was as gentle as jade. His smile was as compassionate as a Buddha's, yet he could bankrupt people in the middle of a pleasant conversation.
Jinjiao walked over and pinned him into a deserted corner of the terrace, her face expressionless.
Her movements were rough, but as she leaned in, she gently sniffed the side of his neck. Her cool voice carried the unquestionable authority of a tyrant:
"You smell delicious. Come with me."
She thought she had taken a docile, obedient mortal by force and charmed him.
She didn't understand the complicated twists and turns of mortal romance. She only knew how to guard her food. With her icy face, she spoke like a bandit and claimed him as her own. She saw him blush at the ears without meaning to when she was around, and watched him push up his glasses to hide his fluster. She thought: Mortals are so weak. They blush at the slightest touch. I'd better keep a close eye on him.
Until one day, when Jinjiao was ambushed by cultivators, and casually prepared to punch her enemies' souls to pieces.
The man behind her, who had never so much as spoken harshly to anyone, suddenly reached out and pulled her behind him.
Black mist surged into existence all around them.
Yi Jiaming stood before her, his suit immaculate, dark flames surging in his eyes beneath his gold-rimmed glasses. With one hand, he crushed his enemy's head as easily as crushing an ant.
He turned around and met Jinjiao's calm, dazzled gaze. Yi Jiaming let out a low laugh.
He pinched her pointed chin, holding the little divine beast who thought herself the hunter firmly against his chest. His scorching breath brushed her ear as he murmured:
"Great King, now that you've seen all my cards, you'll have to take responsibility for me..."
[Bonus Scene]
At first, the beasts were disdainful of the mortal their great king had brought home.
"Great King, he can't lift or carry anything. Besides looking good, he's completely useless!"
"Exactly! He wears glass over his eyes and pretends to be blind every day. We might as well eat him for a tonic!"
Later, in the middle of the night, at the top-floor apartment of the Yi family.
The beasts crouched outside the floor-to-ceiling windows, all covering their eyes and trembling.
Inside, the usually gentle and courteous Mr. Yi had his shirt half-unbuttoned. His tie was wrapped around the great king's hand, the one that was always wandering, and bound it to the headboard.
He lowered his head and kissed her little golden horn with almost reverent devotion. His voice was so husky it sounded as if he were about to devour her whole.
"Who did you go pick a fight with today? Hmm?"
"Great King, you aren't allowed to look at anyone but me."
Jinjiao tilted her head. Her face remained as cool and ethereal as a fairy's, but she obediently arched her slender neck, revealing the tip of a little tiger tooth. "Okay."
She thought she was a tyrant who had come down the mountain to abduct a beauty, unaware that, in the eyes of the most accomplished hunter, the best bait is the hunter himself.
Theme: Protect nature and revere heaven and earth
