The office remained deathly silent.
Jin Huang stood proudly with one hand on his stomach as Xiao Chen and Meng Lan stared at him.
Even the masked stand-in behind the desk stared.
None of them knew what to make of the answer.
" You eat better," Xiao Chen repeated quietly.
"Exactly." Jin Huang nodded as though he had just enlightened the room. "I chew thoroughly."
Meng Lan slowly looked toward Xiao Chen. "Is he serious?"
"I don't know anymore." Xiao Chen pinched the bridge of his nose before looking toward the small metal box.
The Divine Opening Pill was no simple thing. It could be considered a legendary pill, refined by the most amazing alchemist the world over.
The greatest alchemists across the Scarlet Dominion would fight one another over a single one.
And Jin Huang had eaten it like a peanut.
There no explosion of mana, no sign of breakthrough in his cultivation, no miraculous transformation nor any terrifying backlash.
Just...
Xiao Chen felt a headache coming on.
Not long afterward, Xiao Chen had Meng Lan escort Jin Huang out of the office. His footsteps gradually faded as silence reclaimed the room.
Meng Lan folded her arms. "Well that didn't go according to plan."
"No." Xiao Chen walked over to the body double, removed the shadow-demon mask and placed it carefully upon the desk.
His tired sigh filled the office as he stared at a mindless clone of himself.
"He couldn't ascertain anything about the pill. He just ate it. The name 'Glutton' suits him." Meng Lan shook her head.
"That couldn't have gone worse. Now we lost the only Divine Opening Pill we had, and our only chance of possibly learning more about it."
"Actually," Xiao Chen palmed his face, slowing passing his hand along. "It couldn't have gone any better."
Meng Lan raised an eyebrow.
"Think about it." He reached for the empty metal box.
"Yuan Zhi personally claimed this pill was beyond compare. He's so confident in it, that he plans to unveil it at the next Alchemist Gathering."
"He practically worships the thing as the pinnacle of his expertise. He said himself that he cannot ever create a better kind of pill."
Meng Lan nodded. "Which is why he's refused every offer you've made. He values this pill formula too much to ever sell, or even allow you to auction them off."
"It was a miracle that you even managed to get your hands on one, even if it was under false pretenses."
Xiao Chen sat on the chair behind the desk and leaned back. "I've gone so far as to offer spirit mines, ancient grimoires and rare beast cores."
"The man won't even entertain negotiations."
Meng Lan understood immediately. "He believes his pill is priceless."
"Exactly." Xiao Chen smiled.
"Yet today..." He tapped the empty box. "...one of those priceless pills became lunch."
Meng Lan's eyes widened; Xiao Chen's smile slowly grew.
"I've been approaching Yuan Zhi incorrectly. I tried buying his cooperation, but I should've threatened his pride instead."
Meng Lan realized in that moment what Xiao Chen was proposing, and a smile came over her face as well.
Moments later...
As Jin Huang was happily wandering the corridors, he took a sniff of the air. "I wonder if anyone's making dinner in the lounge today."
"Jin Huang," someone called from behind him.
"Hm?" He turned.
Xiao Chen had put the Owner's robes on, the shadow-demon mask concealing every trace of his expression.
Meng Lan stood beside him as always.
"Oh, you again." Jin Huang stared at them both with a bored look.
The masked figure's disguised voice drifted through the corridor. "I have another request."
"Does it involve food?" He perked up.
"Potentially," Xiao Chen coughed.
Jin Huang immediately straightened, suddenly becoming serious. "I'm listening."
"The Pill Tower is hosting a gathering tomorrow," Xiao Chen started.
"Lots of famous alchemists will be there- even Yuan Zhi himself."
"They'll be serving food?" Jin Huang licked his lips.
"They will."
Jin Huang slapped his chest, looking every bit the devout servant. "I shall accompany you, Boss!"
Xiao Chen almost laughed. That had been easier than expected.
The very next day...
The Obsidian Carriage once more made an appearance, its skeletal horses pawing impatiently at empty air. Green flames danced across their manes.
Jin Huang admired them openly as Meng Lan stood off to the side, eying him as if he were the strangest thing she had ever seen.
"I still can't decide," he said. "Are they creepy... or are they magnificent?'
Meng Lan stood aside as the owner climbed aboard, then she followed. Jin Huang was the last to eagerly hop inside.
The carriage then lurched upward, high into the air as they departed from one area of Spearhead City, heading towards another.
Inside the carriage, Jin Huang looked between the masked owner and Meng Lan.
"So. Where did you say we were going?"
"The Pill Tower," Meng Lan answered.
"Is that like some kind of pharmacy?" Jin Huang pondered.
Meng Lan took a breath. "The Pill Tower is the leading alchemical authority. They monopolize the market when it comes to pills and elixirs, and for good reason."
"It's comprised of the greatest alchemists in the entire world."
"Oh. What's an alchemist? Is it like a doctor?"
Silence followed.
Even Xiao Chen's disguised voice faltered as he said, "You don't know?"
"I've heard the word used, I just never asked about it."
Meng Lan looked toward Xiao Chen. "Sir, I think he's serious."
"I know." Xiao Chen cleared his throat.
"Alchemists refine medicinal pills. They transform precious herbs into medicines capable of impossible feats."
"They don't just heal, they strengthen, prolong life, and can even aid in cultivation."
Jin Huang listened carefully. "I get it."
Meng Lan closed her eyes; Xiao Chen awaited his deduction.
Jin Huang nodded thoughtfully. "So they make super snacks- super food! I respect them already."
Xiao Chen leaned back with a smirk as Meng Lan covered her face and gazed out the window.
In Xiao Chen's mind, he was already laughing triumphantly.
The less Jin Huang understood... the better.
He merely needed Jin Huang to do exactly what he always did: Be himself.
If everything unfolded as planned, the greatest alchemist in the Scarlet Dominion would soon be forced into a corner.
Yuan Zhi treasured his reputation above all else.
If word were to spread that one ordinary-looking young man had casually eaten one of his legendary pills and declared it nothing special...
The gathering at the Pill Tower would erupt. Every alchemist present would question Yuan Zhi's claims.
His prestige would suffer, and once his pride had been shaken, negotiations would become far easier.
Behind the shadow-demon mask, Xiao Chen smiled even wider.
Across from him, Jin Huang happily accepted another steamed bun from the carriage's enchanted food stores.
"What a lovely ride."
He had absolutely no idea that he was being taken to become the center of one of the greatest disputes the alchemical world had ever seen.
Outside the carriage, a giant flying tortoise with the 'Slow 'N Steady' logo, dressed like a mailmain, made a peculiar sound as it travelled.
"Euhh!"