A cloth-covered monster exploded from the storehouse.
The servants screamed, someone dropping a lantern.
Guiding the guests into her abode, the First Elder blinked in surprise.
"What is that?" One of her cloaked guests asked.
"Is the storehouse haunted, First Elder Xiao Lingxi? I know someone who handles things like that." Said another.
The 'creature' barreled across the courtyard, heading for the exit.
Servants gave chase and guards were instantly alerted.
The entire residence erupted into chaos.
"Catch it!"
"It stole food from the First Elder's storehouse!"
"What even is it?!"
"I don't know, just catch it!"
The cloth-monster reached the wall, then made to leap over it. However, it didn't clear the wall, and so it tumbled and rolled before disappearing over the other side.
Moments later, as the servants and guards reached the other side, two separate figures emerged from different directions.
The cloth had vanished completely, any sign of residual food gone.
Jin Huang staggered forward dramatically, then he crashed to the ground. "Ow! My head!"
Fatty Bao collapsed nearby, still deciding what part of him was hurting. "What the hell just happened?!"
"Some kind of monster!" Jin Huang clutched his head, "it attacked us!"
"It was huge," Fatty Bao added, settling on his stomach. "Hit me right in the gut!"
"It smelled delicious, though!"
The pursuing guards barely spared them a glance after that. The mysterious intruder was obviously still ahead.
The chase continued into the darkness, and soon everyone was gone.
Silence returned to the night, and Jin Huang slowly sat up.
Fatty Bao did the same.
The two looked at one another, then burst out in restrained laughter.
"Hahahaha!" Fatty Bao slapped his stomach.
"You should've seen your face, Fatty!"
"You looked even worse! Terrible acting!"
Still laughing, and carrying enough food to host a large banquet, the two made their way back toward the servant quarters.
That night, confusion spread through the Xiao Clan's manor.
Everyone and their grandmother was left wondering just what had happened.
Mentions and whispers of a deformed creature wrapped up in cloth, food stolen from the First Elder's storehouse, and two unlucky servants being trampled eventually grew into outrageous rumors.
Stories of a shapeshifting demon from the Eastern Mountains coming down to trick and steal from the Xiao Clan, sowing discord and poisoning the minds of the weak, leaving them disoriented and in pain.
And so, the Legend of the Cloth Demon was born inside the walls of the Xiao Clan.
As for the true culprits, they parted ways after Jin Huang gave a small share to Fatty Bao that was slightly larger than what they had agreed upon.
Jin Huang returned to find Han Jianyu sitting on his bed with a knife, eyes closed and breathing steady.
Not wanting to disturb him a second time, Jin Huang placed a few fruits near him, then filled his own stomach for the night.
So, days passed in the Xiao Clan.
Jin Huang ate like a king while Han Jianyu continued reforging his sword intent, both of them slowly changing for the better.
The more Jin Huang ate, the more he felt like himself. As for Han Jianyu, his sword intent had returned to a level where he could utilize it at will.
However, it had clearly regressed to a more foundational level due to the mental changes he had been forced to go through.
He tried his best not to think of that chamber.
On the surface, however, nothing was different about them both.
They carried out their duties as servants, learning more about the Xiao Clan and about Greenwind Province.
Greenwind Province was part of the Scarlet Dominion, a large nation that was divided into multiple Provinces.
Greenwind was one such province, split up amongst four major clans.
The Easternmost Region that bordered the mountains was known for being a place that invading demons appeared in more frequently, and the Xiao Clan was revered for their consistency in keeping the demons at bay.
However, due to Xiao Yun's blunder, a demon masquerading as a human was able to bypass the Xiao Clan and wreak havoc in Greenwind.
It turned out that the demon was an injured Sea Expansion Realm cultivator, a powerhouse that not many could match up to.
Xiao Tian, the Patriarch, had been willing to step up and risk his life but, instead, Xiao Yun's father sacrificed himself to stop the demon.
It was the greatest shame of the Xiao Clan.
Due to that, the other clans had started viewing them differently, and no longer respected them as they once did.
The Mo Clan, Bai Clan and Zi Clan, also part of Greenwind Province, had taken open stances against the Xiao Clan, reprimanding them for their actions.
There was even a rumor that the Scarlet Dominion was asked to have the Xiao Clan demoted and replaced.
However, the Xiao Clan Patriarch instead started planning a tournament that would showcase the talents of his clan, and remind the other clans where they stood.
__________
"Servant, more wine!" A long-haired young woman waved to Han Jianyu.
She was seated at a square table with a few friends, in the privacy of her own courtyard. Han Jianyu was asked to fill in for her usual servant, who was sick.
Brows twitching, Han Jianyu walked over with the jar in hand and started pouring for the young woman and all her friends.
"Xiao Qi, how's your cultivation progressing?" One of the young woman's friends asked while holding up his cup for Han Jianyu to refill.
"Hmph!" Xiao Qi seemed pleased with herself as she smirked, "I raced through the Body Tempering Realm with ease as a child, and only recently reached the final stage of the Energy Gathering Realm."
"Now? I'm a half-step into the Spirit Spring Realm!"
Applause immediately followed.
"With cultivation speed like that, you'll surpass the others in no time!"
"Xiao Qi has already surpassed them, I think. She's only eighteen and already has a foot in the Spirit Spring Realm."
"Let's not forget that the Elders are all at the latter stages of the Spirit Spring Realm. For her to achieve this, at her age, is truly remarkable."
Han Jianyu listened and rolled his eyes. He couldn't want to be finished. He tired of hearing these conversations regarding the minor geniuses of the clan.
Xiao Ran, Xiao- this, Xiao- that-- he truly couldn't care even if he tried.
"Hmph, that bastard Xiao Yun has probably regressed in his cultivation. Anything to disappoint his grandfather."
Xiao Qi's voice reminded Han Jianyu that they were still talking; he was not paying attention.
"Xiao Qi is right. As a kid, he was truly worthy of being called a genius. Now? He's just a disappointment."
"I wouldn't be surprised either." Another of her friends said.
Bored out of his mind, Han Jianyu divided his mind and started to feel for his sword intent.
While this was happening, Jin Huang was standing in the kitchens amidst other working servants.
He held a few raw ingredients in his hands, staring at them as though he were trying to solve one of life's greatest mysteries.
Fatty Bao noticed him, and strode over. "What's the matter, Jin Huang?"
Jin Huang looked pained as he said, "I've already eaten all the food items that I could enjoy raw. Now all I'm left with are ingredients that need to be cooked."
Fatty Bao nodded, "I understand. Luckily, you have a wide array of ingredients. The First Elder only received the best of the best."
Jin Huang sighed, "Yeah."
"Hm?" Fatty Bao frowned.
"It's just that... I don't know how to cook." Jin Huang admitted.
Fatty Bao nodded slowly, "I expected as much. You leave the complex stuff like cooking to others, and just focus on consuming thoughtlessly."
Smiling, Jin Huang agreed. "Exactly."
Fatty Bao looked around at the servants hard at work on the kitchen, and leaned over a bit, voice becoming soft.
"Truth is, though I oversee the kitchens, I don't know how to cook either. I just boss them around and they figure out the rest."
Jin Huang was taken aback. "How the hell did you get to be in charge, then?"
Smacking his belly and watching it jiggle, Fatty Bao grinned. "Just look at me? Who wouldn't think I know all about food? Haha!"
Jin Huang shook his head, "Anyway, what do I do about my situation. I need someone to cook for me."
Fatty Bao shook his head, "Can't do it here. If the other servants see you cooking for yourself, and tell one of the Elders, you'll be in serious trouble."
"So where do you cook your food?" Hopeful, Jin Huang stared pleadingly into Fatty Bao's eyes.
"No can do," Fatty Bao violently shook his head. "Some secrets cannot be shared. I'm afraid you'll have to find your own way."
Sighing, Jin Huang nodded. "Got it."
Walking out of the kitchens with a suicidal expression, Jin Huang gazed up at the midday sky and sighed again.
"How lonely it is, being hungry. Perhaps this is the beginning of the end for Jin Huang."