Having delivered his grim proclamation to the heavens above, Jin Huang wandered through the Xiao Clan Manor like a man whose spirit had already left his body.
The afternoon sun shone brightly, some romantic birds chirped to nearby candidates for the mating ritual.
Servants hurried about their duties with practiced ease and efficiency.
Yet, none of it mattered to Jin Huang. He was hungry.
Not starving- not yet. Not even particularly deprived of sustenace. His feelings of satiety had not yet departed his stomach.
What truly bothered him were the ingredients hidden inside his spatial ring that called to him constantly.
They whispered of untapped potential and of meals that could be- of flavors forever trapped within raw ingredients.
They cried out to him, demanding release from their cruel fate. It was a tragedy.
A terrible tragedy.
As he wandered aimlessly, he found himself near a courtyard where several older women sat together beneath a pavilion, sorting herbs and chatting.
One of them noticed him immediately.
"Aiyo, isn't that one of the new servants?"
Another looked over, eying his physique. "Oh, and quite the sturdy one he is. Very nice definition."
Jin Huang stopped, spirits slightly lifted. "You think so?"
The women nodded approvingly.
"Good shoulders."
"Healthy complexion."
"Strong arms."
"Looks like he can carry a lot of rice."
Jin Huang wasn't entirely sure whether he had just been complimented or not, but he struck a pose nonetheless.
The women laughed sweetly and gave him a short applause.
One of the aunties beckoned him closer after a while, gesturing to her face as she drew attention to his expression. "You look troubled, strong man."
"I am."
"What happened?"
Jin Huang sighed deeply.
"I worked my butt off as a servant, slaving away day in and day out. I received numerous ingredients for cooking as my reward, but sadly, I lack the talent for cooking."
The women exchanged glances.
Then one laughed, another covering her mouth as she did the same. A third shook her head.
"Why not ask another servant to do it for you, and in return you just share some food with them?"
"You don't understand," Jin Huang said solemnly. "The ingredients are exceptional. I cannot possibly share even their heavenly aroma."
That only made them laugh harder.
Unfortunately, when he asked whether any of them could help him, they all shook their heads.
"We don't have servants, and we've not prepared a meal a day in our lives."
"We rely on the kitchens."
"However, if you need a relaxing massage, or to get some clothes washed, come see us."
One woman patted his arm sympathetically.
Jin Huang left feeling even more hopeless than before.
His next destination was obvious:
Xiao Yun.
If anyone understood suffering, surely it was someone confined to their own house, trapped to wallow in sadness and boredom.
The young master was lounging beneath a tree in his abode when Jin Huang arrived.
"You look terrible," Xiao Yun frowned.
"I'm facing a crisis."
Xiao Yun immediately sat up, expecting horrible news. "What kind?"
Jin Huang explained. The ingredients, the cooking, the despair.
The tragedy.
He even mentioned Fatty Bao's secret method of getting illegally sourced ingredients cooked.
By the end of it, Xiao Yun was struggling not to laugh.
"This is actually an easy solve."
Jin Huang's eyes widened. "It is?"
"Of course."
Xiao Yun stood proudly.
"You can just use my kitchen."
Silence followed.
Jin Huang stared at Xiao Yun, expending great effort to maintain a flat expression, then shook his head. "No."
"...No?"
"No."
Xiao Yun frowned. "Why not?"
"What if I fail? What if those godly food items go to waste due to my ineptitude!"
Xiao Yun scoffed, "Then try again... also I'm surprised you know what that word means..."
Jin Huang looked horrified. "You would dare suggest experimenting with these godly ingredients?!"
"...yes?"
Jin Huang clutched his chest as though his heart were failing him. "Are you mad, man? No. I was wrong about you. Someone like you cannot be a friend of mine."
Xiao Yun blinked, then rolled his eyes, "Oh, brother..."
"These ingredients are precious. I'll not expend them in an effort to become a better cook."
"Jin Huang, that's how learning works."
"Then I never want to learn!"
"You have to, or else you'll never be able to cook your own meals."
"I refuse."
"It's okay to make mistakes."
"With anything else but foodstuff, I would agree."
"Don't you want to improve?"
"No."
Xiao Yun rubbed his temples. "Then what exactly were you hoping for when you came to me?"
Jin Huang put a finger to his lips, then raised it in a grand gesture. "A guaranteed success!"
The young master stared at him.
Then pointed toward the exit.
"Leave. Good luck to you."
________
Jin Huang's next victim was Han Jianyu.
He found him during a break.
A narrow stream flowed through part of the manor grounds, fed by water diverted from the nearby mountains.
The gentle sound of running water filled the air.
Han Jianyu sat beside it on a sizable rock.
His eyes were closed, and his breathing was both calm and peaceful.
Which was precisely why Jin Huang decided to disturb him.
"Han Jianyu."
No response.
"Han Jianyu."
Nothing.
"Han Jianyu."
A vein appeared on Han Jianyu's forehead.
Jin Huang sat beside him.
"I have a problem."
"I know."
"You don't even know what it is."
"It involves food."
Jin Huang brightened.
"You do know!"
Han Jianyu regretted speaking.
Jin Huang launched into a detailed explanation of his predicament.
Han Jianyu listened for approximately thirty breaths, then he slowly opened his eyes as he exhaled depression.
His right hand rose, index and middle finger together, then a faint shimmered appeared that something sharp emerged from.
Distorting the air, an illusory sword took shape, simple but elegant, yet also terrifying. Born of pure will and intent.
The translucent blade hovered before Han Jianyu, pointing directly at Jin Huang.
"...leave."
Jin Huang immediately got up. "Understood."
Then he ran- and quite quickly. Behind him, the illusory sword dissolved into nothingness.
Han Jianyu closed his eyes once more as the stream continued flowing peacefully.
Soon, he was at peace once more.
Neither young man noticed the distant figure partially concealed behind a stand of trees.
The servant watched silently, then quietly departed.
____________
Jin Huang wandered the manor once more before eventually coming to sit atop the low stone wall of a humble abode.
It lay on the outskirts of the manor, closer to one of the gates that led out into the world.
Now, his spirit was wounded, and his hopes shattered. His dreams had been denied.
The sun's descent was underway, evening approaching.
Life was beginning to suffer.
It was then that someone came up to his side from the other side of the wall and spoke.
"You look hungry for more than food, friend."
Jin Huang looked, a young but bearded man stood nearby, wearing simple clan robes and small amounts of gold jewelry.
His skin was slightly darker than most members of the Xiao Clan, his build lean rather than muscular.
Black hair framed features that clearly carried traces of the Xiao Clan bloodline while remaining somewhat distinct from those around him.
Most importantly, he was holding a plate of steaming hot buns, obviously freshly made.
Jin Huang's eyes locked onto them, and the young man followed his gaze. A small smile appeared.
"I was right in more ways than one, eh?"
Jin Huang pointed.
"Can I have them all?"
"Are you psychotic?" He snapped, then placed a single bun in Jin Huang's ready hands.
He took the time to admire it. Warm, fresh and all too beautiful.
"You can have one. If you want more, I'm afraid you'll have to procure it yourself. The Clan doesn't give me goods anymore."
Jin Huang inhaled the bun, frowning afterward. "Well why not?"
"No real reason beyond envy."
"Sounds boring."
The young man sighed, "You have no idea."
"Anyway, I have ingredients. So... can you cook for me?"
For a brief moment, the world regained its color as hope returned to Jin Huang's eyes.
The heavens sang and the earth rejoiced; Jin Huang nearly cried. "This is incredible."
The young man simply watched.
Jin Huang immediately straightened, "However, I need to sample more of your cooking and see whether you are worthy."
"Worthy? Aren't you a servant. What kind of goods could you possibly have gotten your hands on?"
Jin Huang smirked, indicating everything but saying nothing.
The young man laughed, "A servant with means? I like you."
"Name's Xiao Chen. What's yours?"
_________
Within the residence of the First Elder, several servants stood respectfully before the elderly woman.
Xiao Lingxi sat calmly while sipping tea, her eyes clear ane sharp.
One servant stepped forward.
"The matter I wished to report concerns one of the new servants."
Xiao Lingxi set down her teacup. "Continue."
The servant described what he had witnessed near the stream.
Han Jianyu, the strange sword and the fleeting sensation it produced.
When he finished, silence settled across the room. Xiao Lingxi tapped a finger lightly against her chair.
A servant with no measurable magic talent that was somehow capable of conjuring such a sight.
Such things did not simply happen- not ordinarily.
Finally, she nodded.
"Keep an eye on him."
The servant bowed. "As you command, First Elder."
Xiao Lingxi leaned back slightly.
Outside, the evening sky darkened.