The Substitute Female Supporting Character Sees the Bullet Screen

The thick fog enveloped the surroundings, and the first light of dawn had yet to appear. The outline of the palace, shrouded in mist, resembled a colossal beast crouching on the ground.

At this hour, both inside and outside the palace were still slumbering. A faint glimmer of light seeped from a window in one of the tower buildings, its faint orange glow flickering intermittently amidst the towering stone structures, before finally appearing at the city gates.

Wrapped in a cloak, Nie Yinzhi held a kerosene lamp in one hand and led her beloved horse out through a side gate. She had disguised herself and bribed the guards, successfully slipping out of the city gate and heading towards the forest shrouded in twilight.

A raven cawed sharply, flapping its wings as it took off from a branch, hurriedly flying in the same direction as the woman and her horse. Its wings stirred the dense fog hovering above the forest, passing over Nie Yinzhi's head before it soared away.

Nie Yinzhi looked up, squinting as she smiled.

The sun gradually climbed the sky, and the fog in the forest began to dissipate. The raven landed at the entrance of a massive cave at the edge of the dense woods. The cave was as large as a castle, with craggy stalactites hanging from its ceiling, glittering brilliantly under the golden morning sunlight.

The raven let out a shrill, wailing cry, its voice echoing through the cavern, growing into a thunderous rumble by the time it reached the depths of the cave.

All the birds and beasts around the cave were startled, poking their heads out to see who dared to make such a loud noise at the entrance of the dragon's lair.

The cave fell silent for a while, before a roar reverberated from within, shaking off countless stalactites from the ceiling. The raven, flustered, dodged left and right, then cawed once more.

The raven's cry, carried by the golden sunlight, reached the depths of the cavern. The massive cave was labyrinthine, with no daylight entering, yet it wasn't dark. The crystalline stalactites refracted the sunlight in beams, creating a dazzling galaxy-like shimmer on the cave's ceiling, illuminating everything clearly.

In the largest chamber of the cave, a massive creature flapped its wings, turning over in the dappled starlight cast by the ceiling.

Gu Jiang lay sprawled in his den, stretching out his closed wings to reveal his round, plump belly. Finally, at the raven's second cry, he fully woke up, understanding the message it had brought.

The princess from the neighboring castle was riding her white horse towards him.

She was a troublesome human female.

The dragon scratched his belly with some irritation, turning his head to glance at the pile of letters stacked like a small mountain beside him. The princess had written him numerous letters, starting from when she was eight years old and could hold a pen. She had sent a letter to the forest every month without fail.

The raven had picked up these letters from the forest and delivered them to the dragon's lair.

Each time her court tutor told her a story, she would write it down and send it to him, even though he had never replied.

Gu Jiang had learned human writing along with her letters.

The gist of the princess's letters was that, as a dragon and she as a noble princess of the kingdom, they had to follow the storybook narrative: on the night of her eighteenth birthday, the evil dragon would kidnap her, and only a brave knight who slayed the dragon and rescued the princess would be worthy of marrying her.@@novelbin@@

Last night had been the princess's coming-of-age ceremony.

But Gu Jiang had overslept; even if he hadn't, he had no interest in participating in the human's made-up tale.

Nie Yinzhi had waited in the castle all night, but the dragon never came. So now, the princess was marching towards his lair, determined to be kidnapped by the dragon.

The raven said that there was indeed such a tradition in the human kingdom, where female humans tested males, much like how birds chose mates by looking at the males' plumage and nest-building skills.

Gu Jiang understood this, as when dragons chose mates, female dragons also judged the size and brilliance of the cavern and the wealth of treasures it contained. But what he couldn't understand was why humans didn't ask the dragon's opinion before setting such tests for males.

Regardless of his understanding, the princess was now close to the entrance of the dragon's lair.

Grudgingly, Gu Jiang climbed out of his den, slowly flying to the cave's entrance. As he emerged, the dappled starlight from the ceiling faded, revealing his true appearance.

His lustrous dragon scales gleamed like black gems, refracting light to create a myriad of colors within the darkness. He had sharp draconic horns, a robust and sturdy back, wings that spanned like sails, and sharp fangs and claws. His eyes were a fiery, golden-red, the eyes of a mature, powerful dragon.

Yet his expression was listless, his red eyes glistening with sleepiness.

Gu Jiang inhaled, quickly catching the scent of the princess as she rode her horse through the forest, closing in fast.

He flapped his wings, and the mist in the forest began to gather again. In the blink of an eye, the fog thickened like milk, swallowing the entire forest, blocking even the sunlight. A rustling sound filled the forest as countless vines and plants seemed to come alive, writhing.

Under the dragon's control, the entire forest appeared to awaken, swallowing the path to the dragon's lair and setting up a maze of obstacles. Gu Jiang heard the whinny of the white horse as Nie Yinzhi was trapped in the forest.

Perfect.

Gu Jiang swished his tail in satisfaction, turning back into the cave. "Watch her, and report to me if anything happens."

"Yes, Your Highness," the raven spread its wings, bowing, then dived into the fog.

-

Nie Yinzhi sat on her horse, one hand holding a compass, the other spreading out a map on the horse's back. After studying it for a while, she realized that the recent tremors had changed the terrain of the forest, rendering her map useless.

Good.

This meant the dragon at the end of the forest should be awake.

Nie Yinzhi discarded the map. She could find the dragon's lair even without a map. Kicking her horse's flanks, she headed into the fog, guided by instinct. The canopy covered the sky, and the forest was as dark as dusk.

She heard the sound of flapping wings above the forest and smiled slightly, reaching into her saddlebag to pull out a bag of jerky. Each time she had sent a letter into the forest, she always included a bag of jerky.

Nie Yinzhi ate some herself, accidentally spilling a little on the ground. Her horse trotted forward, disappearing into the fog.

After a while, a raven landed on the ground, picking up the jerky and noisily chewing it. Still unsatisfied, it hopped forward, but gradually its movements became slower and more awkward. Flapping weakly in the air for a while, it finally drooped its head and fell to the ground.

A long time later, Nie Yinzhi led her horse back through the fog. The horse, with its nose to the ground, sniffed as it walked, finally stopping by the raven and stamping its hooves.

Nie Yinzhi waved away the mist, crouched down, and searched through the grass for a while before pulling out the black raven.

From her bag, she fetched a sturdy rope, tying one end to her saddle and the other tightly around the raven's leg, sealing its beak with tape. She slowly ate some pastries, fed the horse some grass, and finally waited for the drugged raven to wake up.

The large black raven fluttered drunkenly on the horse's back, finally coming fully to its senses and letting out a cry, flapping its wings to take off—only to be yanked back by the rope.

Nie Yinzhi smiled sweetly at it. "Lead me to the dragon, or else I'll pluck all your feathers and cook you into a nice pot of raven soup."

The raven shivered, its cries stifled.

After the threat, she offered a bribe. "If you lead me to the dragon, you can have as many jerky treats as you want."

The raven circled in the air a few times, then decisively sold out the black dragon, flapping its wings and flying forward. Nie Yinzhi patted her horse's neck, and the horse trotted after the raven.

After about two hours, she successfully navigated the maze-like forest. Nie Yinzhi looked at the massive cavern in front of her. The last time she had been here was ten years ago, when she got lost in the forest. Back then, she had somehow ended up at this place, draped over a foal.

No matter how much she had grown, the cavern still seemed as immense as ever.

Nie Yinzhi tied her white horse at the entrance. The majestic steed flicked its tail, and the small pentagram mark on its hindquarters glowed with a faint light.

A black crow flapped its wings, indicating for her to untie the rope and get moving. Nie Yinzhi patted its head, "Wait for me, I'm going to see my dragon."

She lifted her skirt without hesitation and walked into the cave. Nie Yinzhi could no longer remember the way, as she was too young at the time. All she recalled was being dazzled by the glittering light and following the Milky Way above her deep into the cave.

But she still remembered the scene when she reached the innermost cavern. A magnificent black dragon lay on the ground, its nest heaped with glittering gold and gems. The echoing sound of its breathing filled the air as its massive body rose and fell with each breath. Its shimmering scales seemed to flow like living light.

It was even more beautiful than the stars above.

The chubby little princess's eyes were filled with the slumbering beast. Mesmerized, she climbed down into the cave and hopped into the dragon's lair. She circled the sleeping dragon, touching it from its eyes and nose to its teeth and tail tip. Then, from her bag, she pulled out a small seal and pressed it onto the dragon's wing membrane.

The seal was a gift from a beautiful witch when she was born. The pentagram emitted a magical glow as it was imprinted on the dragon.

Nie Yinzhi whispered something into the dragon's ear, rubbed her eyes, and then climbed onto its round belly, falling asleep.

When she woke up, she found herself back in her castle bed. Her maids told her that after her disappearance, her father had sent all the guards to search for her. Many villagers also ventured into the feared forest to look for her, but the living forest had driven them all out.

Finally, at dusk, the black dragon emerged from the forest. Its massive body nearly blocked the setting sun, casting a giant shadow over the land. It flew overhead and dropped her in the castle square.

From that day on, Nie Yinzhi frequently dreamed of the rainbow-hued dragon and the caverns. But because of her disappearance, her father had kept a strict watch over her, forbidding her from entering the forest before she came of age.

Nie Yinzhi often wrote letters to her dragon, trying to foster their bond.

The guards who delivered the letters said that a crow always carried them away. The forest's plants and animals were all under the dragon's command, so Nie Yinzhi was sure it had received the letters.

The damn dragon never replied—not even with a single blade of grass.

Fuming, she climbed through the cave, looking up at the dim Milky Way above. The heavy mist outside blocked the light, making the cave even darker. But the remaining light still guided her way.

Nie Yinzhi walked for a long time before finding the cave. The warm, humid breeze flowing out signaled the dragon's breathing.

She followed the warm wind into the cave, reaching the end where she finally saw the giant cavern again. Everything seemed unchanged, from the sparkling crystals on the ceiling to the glittering gold on the ground, and all the other miscellaneous shiny objects.

The dragon lay on the ground, sleeping.

Nie Yinzhi carefully climbed into its nest, finding the pentagram she had imprinted on its wing membrane. Satisfied, she patted her dragon and rested on its belly, closing her eyes.

After such a journey, she was indeed tired.

The dragon's breath turned into a circulating wind inside the cave, lifting Nie Yinzhi's hair. The strands brushed against the dragon's nose, making it itch. Gu Jiang sneezed several times in his drowsiness before waking up.

The moment he opened his eyes, he saw the person curled up on his belly. The dragon was momentarily bewildered before springing up.

Nie Yinzhi slid onto the pile of gold and jewels, her back and legs aching. When she looked up, the black dragon had retreated to the edge of the cavern, its golden-eyed gaze fixed on her.

Nie Yinzhi waved her hand with the friendly patience of someone greeting a cat, "Hi, my dear dragon, I've come to see you."

Gu Jiang quickly decided he would scare her away.

The black dragon sat up, spreading his massive wings, his sharp claws pointed at the small figure in his nest. He bared his fangs and let out a thunderous roar.

The dragon's roar shook the entire cave, causing it to tremble.

Nie Yinzhi hastily covered her ears, but she was still pushed back by the soundwave. She felt something sharp on her leg, and blood immediately seeped out.

Gu Jiang, scenting the blood, was shocked and closed his mouth.

The echo of the roar lingered in the cave. Nie Yinzhi sat on the ground, tears welling up from her aching ears and wounded leg.

The black dragon retracted its neck, its eyes wide with shock, and backed away several steps before turning and flying out in a panic. Nie Yinzhi looked at its fleeing figure and called out exasperatedly, "Gu Jiang, come back!"

The black dragon stumbled sharply, knocking into the cave ceiling. Large chunks of stalactites fell, filling the cavern with dust. The black dragon's giant body turned in the haze, its head poking back into its nest, asking the little figure, "How do you know my name?"

"Because I gave it to you." Stamping the seal came with the right to name the beast, just like her white horse outside the cave, which also had a name. "You were asleep then, but I whispered it into your ear."

Nie Yinzhi held her injured thigh, her voice tinged with grievance, "It hurts."

Gu Jiang hesitated, then leaned over and pushed aside her skirt with his mouth, licking her wound. His head was nearly half her size, and with one lick, her entire leg was covered in dragon saliva.

The pain in her wound miraculously disappeared under his licking. The bleeding stopped, and the wound began to heal.

From that day on, Nie Yinzhi stayed in the dragon's lair, and the leisurely, hibernating life of the black dragon came to an end.

---

Early the next morning, the sharp cawing of a black crow echoed from outside the forest. Its hoarse cries, carried by the wind through the dense and vast woods, reached the dragon's lair.

Nie Yinzhi rolled over on the dragon's belly, sitting up drowsily. She had stamped the crow's wing, allowing her to understand its cries. That crow was now squawking, reporting that another brave warrior had entered the forest to rescue the princess.

She patted Gu Jiang. "Time to get up, we have work to do."

The black dragon let out a long snort, disinclined to move. In just three months, he had been forced to drive away over a dozen males coming to rescue the princess. These human males were so weak that he had tried every trick to let them through, but few could break through the forest's defenses to take Nie Yinzhi away.

He had secretly commanded the forest's animals to guide the males around the thorns and traps, almost laying out a floral path for them. Finally, three or four made it to the dragon's lair.

Two of them turned tail and ran at the sight of the dragon. Another was defeated by a puff of his breath, and the last one left Gu Jiang too intimidated to even breathe.

But Nie Yinzhi wasn't interested. She dismissed him, saying his hair was too short, his nose too low, his eyes too small, his stature too short, and he entered the lair with his left foot first. Her reasons piled up, driving the man away.

Gu Jiang sighed, "What kind of mate are you looking for?"

Nie Yinzhi stepped on his neck with her pale foot, rubbing the sole against his scales, her white dress draping over her foot. After a long thought, she said, "Someone I fall for at first sight."

Gu Jiang: "..." What kind of standard was that? Couldn't she just specify with a number of glittering caves? Humans truly baffled dragons.

Another squawk came from outside the cave.

Nie Yinzhi tilted her head to listen. The crow reported that the man had golden hair, a tall and strong build, wore gleaming armor, wielded a bright sword, and rode a horse more handsome than her white steed.

Hearing about the golden hair, the black dragon immediately lifted its neck, tossing Nie Yinzhi onto its back. He flapped his wings, flying out of the cave. "This one should be handsome, you'll like him."

“Are you the one who'll like him?” Nie Yinzhi clung to a snowy white scarf around the dragon's neck. His scales were too smooth, making it hard for her to stay seated. So she had repurposed one of her dresses to create a strap around his neck as reins.

Black Dragon's massive body was agile despite its size, darting out of the cave like a bolt of lightning. It flew into the sky amidst the morning glow and mist, its wings whipping up a gust of wind that effortlessly dispersed the fog lingering over the forest. Sunlight streamed through the canopy, casting its rays over the earth.

A blinding reflection shot out from the forest. Black Dragon soared gracefully to the top of a hill, peering through the dense foliage to find the source of the glare.

The man was incredibly radiant, from head to toe, even his horse was adorned in gleaming golden armor.

Black Dragon's claws clenched, and its tail swished restlessly through the treetops. Such a grand display was bound to attract attention, and indeed, the man quickly mounted his steed, sword in hand, charging towards them like a moving sun.

"He's coming," Gu Jiang said with delight.

Nie Yinzhi sensed his excitement. She knew exactly what this foolish dragon was infatuated with. After a moment's thought, she said, "If you defeat him, you can take his armor."

Gu Jiang's swishing tail suddenly froze. He stared at the gleaming figure for a while before reluctantly giving up, "It would be too exhausting."

Nie Yinzhi: "…Put me on the forest path, in his direct path."

This was the first time in a long while that Nie Yinzhi had willingly asked to meet a male approaching them. Black Dragon tilted its head, puzzled, "Is this the man you fell for at first sight?"

Nie Yinzhi casually replied, "Maybe."

After a brief silence, Gu Jiang lowered his tail. Nie Yinzhi slid down its back, carried by the wind to the dense forest below. Black Dragon watched as the two drew closer, anxiously pacing in place. As the dragon that had kidnapped the princess, it felt it necessary to always stay by her side.

But its current form was far too massive, leaving no room for concealment.

Gu Jiang's golden eyes shimmered, and its body suddenly began to shrink. The dragon transformed into a swirling mass of black fog, eventually coalescing into a slender human figure.

Unbeknownst to it, as it transformed, it unconsciously shaped itself in the exact opposite of what Nie Yinzhi had previously said she disliked.

He had beautiful, pure black hair, slanted phoenix eyes, a straight nose, and long, straight legs. The final wisps of black fog condensed into a black outfit that hugged his body, shimmering with hues like its scales under the sun.

Gu Jiang casually tied up his hair and descended into the treetops, following Nie Yinzhi.

When he arrived, the human was in the process of undressing, removing his golden armor piece by piece, as well as from his horse. With the dazzling armor gone, Gu Jiang thought the man was merely ordinary.

Having stripped down completely, the man placed the gleaming armor on a nearby boulder and gestured politely. "Princess, as you wished."

Nie Yinzhi approached, picking up a shiny bracer. She could easily commission countless sets of such armor, mocking Gu Jiang as an unsophisticated rural dragon.

A cool breeze brushed past her temple, and as she moved, Nie Yinzhi caught sight of the man raising his hand, a swift chop aimed at her neck. She ducked quickly, using the bracer to block, then retreated several steps, keeping a wary eye on him. "What are you doing?"

The man was surprised by her capable reaction, realizing his attempt to knock her out had failed. He said, "Princess, may I take you with me now?"

"We agreed, I am buying your armor," Nie Yinzhi said, tense, glancing towards Gu Jiang's hiding spot. The massive form among the treetops was now gone; a sudden heaviness filled her stomach knowing the dragon was eager for her to leave.

Nie Yinzhi bit her lip, "Take my letter and you'll get your gold."

"I can't do that. I was entrusted by your father to rescue you." He glanced off into the distance. "Now that the dragon is gone, this is the perfect time to leave."

"I have no intention of going with you," Nie Yinzhi said coldly.

"You leave me no choice, Princess." He lunged towards her swiftly.

Nie Yinzhi had picked up a few moves from her guards but was no match for a seasoned warrior.

His move was fast, but another quicker. Right before his hand made contact, a black shadow interjected, shielding Nie Yinzhi completely. The man was sent flying by a powerful force.

Flowing hair cooly brushed her cheek.

Nie Yinzhi heard a low growl from the figure before her. The ground trembled as vines snaked out from the forest, wrapping around the helpless man and his horse, then tossed them like garbage out of the forest.

Her eyes widened; through the figure's clothes, a five-pointed star caught her attention, marking his left scapula.

She reached out to touch the symbol, "Gu Jiang?"

Gu Jiang turned, checking on her, "You alright?"

Nie Yinzhi gazed up in a daze, touching his face, her expression the same infatuation from a decade prior, the first time she'd seen the sleeping dragon in its cavern.

Gu Jiang studied her eyes, sensing something, and chuckled, "I was the one you fell for at first sight..." He paused briefly then added, "...my dragon."

He reveled in the celestial glow her eyes held just for him.

[The End]