Jin Huang was still sitting by the lake when Xiao Chen found him.
Three-eyed ducks continued to squabble over crumbs while Jin Huang stared blankly at the half-eaten loaf in his hands.
"You're back," he said without looking.
"I am."
Xiao Chen stood beside him for a moment before noticing the expression on Jin Huang's face.
"I take it your exploration wasn't fruitful?"
Jin Huang slowly shook his head. "I have learned something important."
"Oh?" Xiao Chen stepped closer.
"Money is the key to having good food."
"Yes. Money is generally considered important," Xiao Chen nodded, amused.
"I also learned that stale bread tastes like regret."
Xiao Chen glanced at the loaf. "It can't have been that bad."
Jin Huang tore off another piece and gave it to him. Xiao Chen chewed and his face twisted.
Then he silently tossed the piece toward the ducks. This time, even they hesitated before eating it.
"I stand corrected," Xiao Chen said as he spat continuously.
Jin Huang laughed.
"Come on," Xiao Chen waved his hand.
The air shimmered as golden lines spread across the ground. The familiar flying carriage gradually materialized, as though painted into existence by invisible hands.
Jin Huang immediately forgot his sorrow.
"That was incredible!"
The two boarded, and moments later the carriage rose into the skies once more.
---
Not even an hour had passed before Jin Huang gave in to his lingering hunger.
"I haven't eaten properly all day."
"Haven't you? Even a stomach full of regret is still a full stomach.
"I refuse to acknowledge that bread."
Xiao Chen reached into the embroidered pouch at his waist with a chuckle, and out came numerous wrapped parcels and bowls.
There was soup, buns, roasted meat and fresh fruit.
Jin Huang stared. "Just how much food do you have in there?"
Xiao Chen laughed as he passed the foodstuffs over.
"You aren't the only one that learned something in recent times. I learned that, when providing food for Jin Huang, one can never have enough."
Jin Huang accepted everything with both hands, no matter how small. "You're amazing, Boss!"
"You've only just realized?"
While eating, Jin Huang glanced sideways.
"So... how'd your visit to town go?"
Xiao Chen leaned back comfortably. "It went very well."
Jin Huang rolled his eyes as he ate. "I'm glad one of us enjoyed our time there. I take it you got something good?"
Xiao Chen smiled, "I'll say this much."
He looked out toward the endless horizon.
"Things are shaping up to be quite extraordinary this time."
Jin Huang swallowed another bun. "For you?"
"For everyone involved."
Jin Huang grimaced. "That sounds like it's gonna be troublesome- a real bother."
Laughing, Xiao Chen admitted, "It usually is."
The days resumed their quiet rhythm. The carriage glided endlessly through the skies.
Jin Huang alternated between eating, observing the scenery, bothering Xiao Chen, and sleeping despite insisting he wasn't tired.
Meanwhile, enchanted correspondence continued arriving almost daily.
Sheets of parchment appeared, vanished and appeared again. Some required only a signature while others had Xiao Chen reading and massaging his head for quite some time.
Occasionally, he would frown, but him smiling was the more common sight to see.
Jin Huang concluded that being a- whatever Xiao Chen was- was far too exhausting.
Before long... half a month quietly slipped away.
---
One morning, Xiao Chen closed the latest letter and looked outside, taking a brief stretch. "We're here."
Jin Huang nearly threw himself through the window.
Below them stretched a city unlike anything he had ever imagined.
Roads radiated outward with uncanny precision. Broad avenues intersected at sharp angles, dividing districts into long triangular sections.
From above, the city resembled the tip of an enormous spear thrust toward the western horizon.
Countless magical lights flowed along its streets, with tunic towers standing at major intersections.
Carriages both airborne and ground-bound moved with practiced efficiency.
Even from this distance, one could tell this city embraced magical innovation unlike anywhere Jin Huang had yet seen.
"Spearhead City..." Jin Huang whispered.
"...It really does look like a spear."
"The city was designed that way centuries ago," Xiao Chen explained.
"And what are all those shiny things?" Jin Huang pointed, curious.
"Magic-tech. Spearhead City is one of the most advanced cities in the Scarlet Dominion- perhaps even the entire continent."
"What's magic-tech?"
Xiao Chen gave him a weird look, ultimately shaking his head. "You'll see."
The carriage descended.
Almost immediately, one building distinguished itself from every other structure nearby.
Dark stone walls reflected the afternoon sun with an almost metallic sheen. Tall obsidian pillars framed a grand entrance.
Elegant silver runes shimmered faintly across its exterior. This building towered over the surrounding district.
Jin Huang whistled. "That's a big one. They must make a lotta money."
"We do well enough," Xiao Chen smiled as his eyes found the structure.
When Jin Huang realized what Xiao Chen said, he stared at him with wide eyes. "We? Is that building-"
Xiao Chen simply stated, "Yes. It is."
As they landed before its entrance, Jin Huang blinked. "That's a lot of people."
Hundreds of people- maybe more- stretched in orderly lines across the plaza.
Some carried ornate boxes, others wheeled carts laden with goods and a few clutched ancient-looking bundles wrapped carefully in cloth.
Jin Huang's curiosity got the better of him. "What are they all waiting for?"
A number of people glanced toward the arriving carriage before quickly returning to their conversations.
"They say today's the day!"
"I heard the owner himself is going to make his first public appearance ever!"
"If my item gets personally appraised and accepted by him... It would change my life forever!"
"Imagine something of mine going straight to the main branch in the Imperial City!"
"I don't even care if it sells! Just being displayed would make my family famous!"
"I heard even His Majesty the Scarlet Emperor will be attending the Grand Auction."
"Are you serious?! Who told you that?!"
"My cousin's uncle's sister's pet dog's previous owner's husband's grandfather works in the Imperial Palace! He gave us a lot of insider info. Apparently, the Emperor even put something up for auction!"
"Even the Emperor? The owner of the Obsidian Treasury is even more amazing than I imagined!"
"I heard rumors that he's a Fiendgod from another world."
"So have I."
Jin Huang slowly looked at Xiao Chen.
"The Obsidian Treasury... They're talking about this place?"
"This is just a branch, but yes."
"And the owner? You know him?"
"I know of him," Xiao Chen said as he gazed around with a frown. "His appearance just means extra work for all of us."
Xiao Chen's expression became oddly complicated as he looked at the bustling crowd.
There was satisfaction and pride, but also a hint of melancholy.
Without explanation, another enchanted parchment appeared before him. He caught it before it fully unfurled and perused its contents.
Quickly writing several lines upon a fresh sheet from his pouch, he folded it and the letter vanished instantly.
Only then did he continue walking.
"Come," he made a gesture for Jin Huang to follow.
Rather than joining the crowd, Xiao Chen led Jin Huang around the side of the enormous building.
The noise of the plaza gradually faded.
Here, several individuals stood waiting, dressed in immaculate black robes with silver embroidery decorating their sleeves.
Each wore a polished obsidian badge upon the chest.
The moment they noticed Xiao Chen, every one of them gave respectful bows of the head.
"Manager Xiao."
"Welcome back."
"We've prepared everything."
Xiao Chen nodded with a playful smirk. "You've all worked hard. Showing off for the owner, aren't you?"
They all gave varying degrees of sheepish and nervous laughs. Eventually their eyes shifted toward Jin Huang.
One of them blinked. "And this is?"
"My new attendant."
Jin Huang proudly folded his arms. "That's me."
The employees exchanged polite smiles.
One stepped forward. "Manager, the reception hall is ready."
"Excellent," Xiao Chen started walking, led by the employees, toward a large door at the side of the building.
Jin Huang followed, and together, they crossed the threshold as attendants respectfully opened the doors.
Inside, countless treasures already waited to be catalogued.
"Right then," Xiao Chen gave Jin Huang a solemn look. "My responsibility is to ensure all of these are properly recorded, labelled and placed to await the owner's appraisal."
"You will aid me in that endeavor."
Jin Huang looked at the enormous cache of items waiting and took a deep breath.
"Any chance I can have my lunch break now?"
Some of the black-clothed employees heard this and laughed. They soon all got to work, following Xiao Chen's directions.
Even as they worked, more and more items poured into the Obsidian Treasury's hall.
Like ants, every employee was busily moving about.
Some were at the front, taking names and brief item descriptions.
The others were busy bringing items in and returning with special cards that denoted an individual had brought a treasure to be appraised.
Others guided those same individuals to the waiting rooms, where no sound could escape or enter.
Like a well-oiled machine, every part functioned ideally. Jin Huang noticed their efficiency, and soon fell into a similar order himself.
He worked with those same black-clothed employees, laughing, chatting- but working non-stop.
All needed to be made ready before the owner's arrival.