A moment later.
Chongzheng Ward, prime real estate where every inch of Chang'an was worth its weight in gold.
Standing before the vermilion-lacquered gates, Xuanzang finally realized that Zhang Qi was the legendary Zhang known as the Sage.
The gates creaked open.
Old Li, the gatekeeper, poked his head out. Seeing Zhang Qi, he hurriedly pulled the gates wider.
"Master, you're finally back~
And this young master is?"
"This is Master Xuanzang~
Go prepare a few vegetarian dishes."
Zhang Qi stepped over the threshold and gave the order.
"Right away~"
Old Li nodded and headed for the kitchen.
Xuanzang shook his head and followed Zhang Qi into the courtyard.
He had expected to see winding streams and little bridges, ornamental rocks, or at least a few pots of precious peonies.
Instead, he saw a scrapyard.
In the center of the courtyard stood a mountain of metal lumps.
Brass pipes of varying thickness coiled around a massive black iron boiler like pythons. The joints had been hammered tight with cast-iron rivets and were covered in black engine oil and coal ash.
Several connecting rods as tall as a man lay scattered across the ground, along with huge gears that meshed only halfway.
A thick smell of rust and coke hit him in the face.
This was no residence of a high official or nobleman. It was more like the wreckage of a blacksmith shop after a tornado had torn through it.
"Don't mind the mess. It's a little cluttered."
Zhang Qi kicked a wrench aside and cleared a path for Xuanzang.
Xuanzang stared at the enormous black iron boiler for a long time.
"Lord Zhang, what is this?"
"A prototype steam engine."
Zhang Qi walked over to the boiler and patted its thick iron casing, producing a dull thump.
"Put simply,