A heretical cultivator in Bureau 749, I'm the fiercest at pulling out tendons and skinning peop

The canteen, converted from the backyard warehouse, finally served some meat today.

Good heavens, it was quite a scene!

The once empty warehouse, big enough for a horse to run through, is now filled with nearly twenty large round tables, all of which are packed full.

Before all the dishes were even served, the aroma was already so enticing that it made your soul almost float away.

The Ten-Ingredient Tonic Feast at Baicaotang truly lives up to its reputation.

The eight small appetizers alone were dazzling:

Crystal hoof jelly, cold dragon beard salad, vinegar and pepper bamboo shoot slices, braised tofu skin beans...

Each item is imbued with brilliance, and its appearance is refreshing and appetizing.

The hot dishes were increasingly harder than the last.

Braised pork hock, glistening with oil and a deep reddish-brown color, sits in a large, trembling bowl. When it's served, the skin is still bubbling and throbbing. The rich aroma of the meat, mixed with the mellow medicinal fragrance of dozens of nourishing herbs, fills the air.

Steamed sturgeon, about three feet long, lies on a blue-and-white porcelain plate larger than a washbasin. The fish is silvery-white, drizzled with amber-colored secret soy sauce, and sprinkled with emerald green scallion and ginger shreds. As soon as the steam rises, the fresh aroma can be smelled from two miles away.

There's also charcoal-grilled lamb chops, stir-fried pangolin, lingzhi-stewed old chicken, and ginseng and deer antler stewed turtle...

One dish after another was served up like a flowing stream.

Plates were stacked on top of plates, bowls upon bowls, and main dishes were laid out in a chaotic mess, their aromas mingling together, making the warehouse smell like a banquet was being held at a traditional medicine shop.

The wine was no ordinary wine either; it was a herbal brew that Ji Zuodao had specially obtained from Granny Su.

Fermented with dozens of kinds of spiritual fruits and grains, and infused with countless fine medicinal herbs, the wine is amber in color, clings to the glass when poured into a bowl, and has a refreshing medicinal aroma. Yet, it is mellow and lingering on the palate, with a powerful aftertaste.

"Come on, everyone! Don't just stand there! Start eating! Eat as much as you want!"

Ji Zuodao stood in front of the main table, picked up a large bowl, the wine inside sloshing around, and called out loudly, his smile brighter than the sun outside today.

"Today's meal is twofold: first, to welcome our new brothers and sisters in the Demon Management Section! Second, it's also a chance for them to get to know the other departments in the bureau. From now on, we're all brothers in arms, so don't be shy!"

"You're too kind! No way!"

The burly investigator leading the group, surnamed Lei, whose given name was Mang, lived up to his name. He was already downing his drink with gusto, and upon hearing this, he picked up his wine bowl and roared in a deep voice:

"Section Chief Ji is really generous! This feast can't even compare to the bureau's annual party! Brothers, let's all raise our bowls and have a drink!"

Let's have a drink!

"Section Chief Kei-hime!"

"Respect to my new colleague!"

The hall was immediately filled with the clatter of bowls and chopsticks and shouts. The tense and awkward atmosphere from before was completely swept away by the enticing aroma and rich smell of wine.

Whether human or demon, after a few hearty dishes and a few bowls of strong liquor, the initial awkwardness and wariness melted away quickly, like thin ice under the sun.

"Bro, that's a really badass role for you! Come on, give us a shout-out!"

"Dude, those scales of yours are so shiny in the sunlight! Have a piece of pork hock to nourish yourself!"

"Girl, your tail...it's so soft! I'll take it, you can do whatever you want!"

At first they were a bit reserved, but after a few rounds of drinks, it got really lively.

The rough-and-tumble men of the Action Section and the demon princes from Ailao Mountain quickly found common ground—

They're all straightforward, they all love drinking from large bowls and eating large chunks of meat, and they all believe in the simple truth of "if you can take action, don't talk."

In no time, everyone put their arms around each other's shoulders, addressed each other as brothers, and flattered one another.

Demonic energy and spiritual power, stance and faction—all were thrown to the back of their minds.

Liquor emboldens cowards, food is the glue that holds them together; after a few bowls of wine, brothers are found everywhere.

Qiqi held a spirit fruit that was almost bigger than her face, taking small bites as she looked around at the monsters and humans in the room with a mixture of curiosity and shyness.

Dog was quite at ease, squatting on a specially raised chair with a special little plate in front of him.

Inside, there was a pile of various kinds of deboned and boneless essence of flesh and spirit, which was being slowly and leisurely enjoyed.

Occasionally, it would glance up at the noisy scene, its tail tip wagging idly.

Ji Zuodao carried the bowl, offering toasts at one table and then another, feeling much more at ease.

Alright, this welcome banquet wasn't a waste of time.

These social skills and drinking culture are effective everywhere.

He was just about to find a place to catch his breath and grab a couple of bites to fill his stomach when he was enveloped by a fragrant breeze.

"Hey little devil! Don't run away! Come on, try this, I specially saved the chicken wing tips for you!"

"You little rascal! Have a bowl of soup, it's the best for your health!"

"Section Chief~~ Sit here, it's nice and cozy here!"

"Hu Bugui, get out of my way! I clearly saw the section chief first!"

Fifty fox spirits swarmed around again, some offering food, others wine, and still others soup.

The women, with their sweet fragrance and soft, coquettish words, completely surrounded Ji Zuodao.

The rough men around them, including the princes who were already a little tipsy, all looked over with complicated expressions.

Envious? Yes.

Jealousy? More than that.

Hate? Not really, it's more like I hate that I'm not destined for it.

Damn it, some are dying of drought while others are dying of floods. Is there any justice in this world?

Ji Zuodao's head was throbbing from the noise, especially since the little foxes were glaring at each other over who should sit next to him, their fox tails subtly standing up, their demonic aura surging.

It looked like a full-blown brawl was about to break out at this table.

"Shut up, all of you!"

Ji Zuodao slammed the bowl down on the table, the sound not loud, but with a hint of impatience.

The fox spirits instantly fell silent, each blinking their big, watery eyes and looking at him with pitiful expressions.

Ji Zuodao glanced around, then suddenly grinned, reaching out to gently tap the noses of the nearest few fox spirits, his tone a mixture of helplessness and indulgence:

"Look at you all, it's such a small thing, is it really worth making a fuss about?"

"In my heart, every single one of you is the best of the best. What does it matter who came first or last?"

"Su Xiaoxiao, you're so skillful, the tea you brew is just what I like; Hu Bugui, you're so thoughtful, you're so efficient; Ajiu, you're so lively, I'm never bored with you around..."

He spoke slowly and softly, but every word was like honey, precisely hitting the fox spirits where they were most pleased.

"You are all the helpers I, Ji Zuodao, have invited. You are my right-hand men and the face of my Demon Management Department."

"From now on, we'll have to rely on you for everything, big and small, inside and outside our department."

"To me, you are all equally important. If any one of you is missing, there will be a void in my heart, and I will be heartbroken."

"So, everything's fine, stop making a scene, okay?"

"If you keep making a fuss, I'll really get angry."

His words were a mix of soft and hard, sweet but with a hidden barb.

It affirmed the value of each individual, subtly emphasized the importance of "unity," and even included a small threat at the end.

The key was his eyes, his tone of voice, and his affectionate little gesture of tapping each person's nose—it was all incredibly sincere.

The vixen who was singled out instantly felt her slight jealousy and scramble for attention completely soothed and comforted.

Even those who weren't called on listened intently, wondering what their place was in the section chief's heart—whether it was their skill or their competence.

In an instant, the tension and jealousy from before vanished.

The fox spirits beamed with joy again, one serving food and another pouring wine. Although they were still surrounding Ji Zuodao, they no longer competed with each other. Instead, there was a strange sense of harmony, as if they were all "the most precious people in the section chief's heart."

The crisis is over.

Ji Zuodao wiped the sweat from his brow, but still maintained a gentle smile on his face. He seized the opportunity to slip out of the encirclement and headed straight for the braised pork hock on the main table, which hadn't been touched much.

Tsk, coaxing a fox is much more tiring than fighting.

After several rounds of drinks and several dishes, the atmosphere became increasingly lively.

Someone started it, and the demon princes and their offspring from Ailao Mountain began to sway and stroll toward Dog Master's table, wine cups in hand.

Leading the group was Xiong Meng, the simpleton whose face was flushed from drinking. He carried a large bowl, walked up to Dog Master, bowed respectfully, and his voice made the rafters hum.

"Master Dog! Xiong Meng offers you a bowl! I'll drink it all, you can have as much as you like!"

After saying that, he tilted his head back and gulped down the whole bowl of strong liquor.

Dog Master lifted his eyelids, looked at the bear cub in front of him who had grown bigger than a mountain, snorted, and without saying much, picked up the edge of the small wine jar in front of him, tilted his head back, and chugged down half of the jar.

Xiong Meng didn't seem to mind, chuckled twice, and moved aside.

Next was Ni Yu, daughter of the Azure Phoenix Demon King. She was aloof and cold, but now her cheeks were slightly flushed. Holding a small wine cup, her voice was clear and melodious:

"Dog Master, Ni Yu respects you. When I was little... thank you for taking care of me."

After saying that, he drank it all in one gulp.

Then there's Ao Yan, Yuan Xiaotong, Gui Wannian...

One after another, these unruly and arrogant princes and their offspring, who were lawless and unruly outside, became as obedient as quails in front of Master Dog, respectfully offering him wine and their words revealing an undisguised affection for him.

Dog didn't say anything, but he accepted all the drinks offered and downed his cup in one gulp.

This, on the contrary, made these descendants of great demons feel even closer to them.

They all remember that when they were kids in the Ailao Mountains, their parents and grandparents were busy cultivating, fighting, and dominating, and it was common for them not to see each other for ten days or half a month.

On the contrary, this dog-like old man who was watching over Ji Zuodao was always indifferent and often dozed off.

But if anyone is really hungry, bullied, or has gone astray in their cultivation, it can always somehow find some food, or slap them with its paw. Although it hurts, it also helps to calm them down.

Although everyone knows that Doggy was just doing it as a side job, his main focus was on that troublemaker Ji Zuodao.

But those feelings, these demons remember them in their hearts.

Ji Zuodao also came over with a cup, grinning as he approached Dog Master: "Hey, Dog Master, you're quite popular."

Dog glared at him, ignored him, and continued to eat the meat on his plate.

Yuan Xiaotong, slurring his words, said, "Ji, you have no idea! When I was little, I stole my dad's monkey wine and almost exploded. It was Dog Master who knocked me out with one paw, and I was fine after that!"

Gui Wannian nodded slowly: "Hmm... Once I got stuck in a crevice in the rocks, and it was Dog Master who pulled me out."

Ao Yan said in a muffled voice, "The first time I lost control of my fire, I burned down my own cave. I was afraid my father would beat me, so I hid behind Dog Lord. My father didn't dare to come over."

They chatted back and forth, reminiscing about embarrassing old stories, yet their tone was warm.

As Ji Zuodao listened, looking at Dog Master who was still calmly gnawing on meat beside him, a certain part of his heart softened.

He raised his glass, addressing Dog Master and the group of childhood friends around him, and said loudly:

"Alright, let's not dwell on old grievances. From now on, in Jinghai, we're all family! As long as I, Ji Zuodao, have food to eat, the brothers won't go hungry! And Dog Master will still be our Dog Master!"

"Come on, let's have one for the future!"

"Dry!"

The demons roared in agreement, their wine cups clattering together, spilling wine everywhere.