Ming Chunwei and a friend run a sachet shop together, living a peaceful and lovely life. Then a Hundred Demons Shop opens in the long-vacant storefront next door, and Ming Chunwei's peaceful life is gone for good.
Before entering the Hundred Demons Shop, Ming Chunwei thought all the demons inside were people in disguise. After all, two hundred years had passed without a demon in the human world since the demon lord Yan Jishi died.
Once inside, Ming Chunwei, who had awakened her spiritual sight, spotted a real demon among the ninety-nine fakes at a glance: a nine-tailed fox. That fox demon seemed to be Yan Jishi, the demon lord who had supposedly died two hundred years ago.
Yan Jishi had died horribly, but his death had also been cause for celebration.
He had murdered his father and mother and tried to massacre the human world. In the end, the entire fox clan joined forces to uphold justice and eliminate one of their own. They cut off six of his tails and killed him by the Flowing Fire River.
But after that, demons vanished from the human world as well.
Still, some people die in body but live on in infamy.
After Yan Jishi died, the people of the Demon Realm cursed him day after day, while the people of the human world tore him to pieces in their words thousands upon thousands of times.
Ming Chunwei only wanted to find out whether the nine-tailed fox demon was Yan Jishi. By a twist of fate, she ended up releasing the seal on him. This infamous, wicked demon came to value her and forced her into becoming his trusted right-hand woman, otherwise known as the dog everyone loved to hate.
From then on, wherever people cursed Yan Jishi, they cursed her too. On the list of villains who enabled evil, the name "Ming Chunwei" was miles ahead of everyone else.
When the people cursed Yan Jishi as brutal, merciless, and guilty of every evil, Yan Jishi looked at Ming Chunwei. "As my trusted right-hand woman, you must defend my reputation at all times. If you don't, I'll kill you."
Ming Chunwei braced herself and shouted at the crowd, "Whoever dares curse the demon lord had better watch out. He'll tear the roof off your house tonight!"
Yan Jishi's face darkened. "Say something nice about me."
Ming Chunwei burst into tears. "The demon lord is diligent and devoted to his duties, cares for the people, and is deeply loved by the citizens of the Demon Realm. Please don't curse him!"
Rotten vegetables and stinking eggs immediately pelted her from head to toe.
The next day, it was the turn of Ming Chunwei, the "dog," to be cursed.
Ming Chunwei, who had to wear a veil to go outside, tugged at Yan Jishi's sleeve. "Demon Lord, why don't you say something nice about me too? Tell everyone about my wonderful virtues: how I hate evil and love goodness, and how I enjoy helping people."
Yan Jishi nodded, then struck the ground with his palm, blasting a huge crater into it. Pointing at her, he said, "Anyone who dares insult Ming Chunwei again will end up like this crater."
Ming Chunwei was so furious that she covered her face and fled on the spot. When she got home, she put a rope around her neck. "Don't try to stop me. Let me die."
Yan Jishi smiled. "Even if you die ten thousand times, I can bring you back."
One day, not long afterward, Ming Chunwei suddenly heard the people saying she was about to become the Demon Realm's queen.
Her heart pounding, she said, "...Which rotten scoundrel is spreading rumors about me and the demon lord?"
Yan Jishi's gaze deepened. "I am."
Theme: Even when trapped in adversity, have the courage to fight against fate
