The Black Sheep Spirit, Sheep Horn, was very pleased with the mood of the assembled demons.
He then announced magnanimously,
"A pot of Hundred Flowers Spirit Wine for every table. It’s on me."
"Fellow Daoist Sheep Horn, you’re being too generous! We couldn’t possibly."
"This is a small gathering for us from Pear Blossom Lane. How could we let Fellow Daoist Sheep Horn foot the bill?"
A demon spoke up.
"Don’t worry about it. Butterfly is my Dao Companion. Since she’s here in Pear Blossom Lane, I hope all you fellow Daoists will look out for her."
The Black Sheep Spirit, Sheep Horn, said with a wide smile.
Hearing this, the Butterfly Spirit at his side gazed at Sheep Horn with deep affection.
"Hahaha! With a Dao Companion like Fellow Daoist Sheep Horn, Fellow Daoist Butterfly is truly blessed!"
"You’re making the rest of us jealous!"
The demons all chimed in with praise.
One demon, however, seemed to recall something, his gaze flicking back and forth between Xu Chang’an and the Butterfly Spirit.
"Hundred Flowers Spirit Wine! A pot for every table... that’s over a hundred Demon Stones! This Sheep Horn is loaded!"
The Wart Hog Spirit beside Xu Chang’an muttered under his breath.
"Yeah, that’s almost enough Demon Stones for a Middle-grade Magical Artifact. And he just offered it up without a second thought!"
The Cyan Bull Demon exclaimed in admiration as well.
As the Hundred Flowers Spirit Wine was served, the atmosphere grew even more lively.
But the conversation mostly revolved around the Black Sheep Spirit, Sheep Horn, and the Butterfly Spirit.
"By the way, which one of you is Fellow Daoist Grey Rat? I should offer him a toast. Before she met me, Butterfly was fortunate to have him looking after her."
The Black Sheep Spirit, Sheep Horn, said this out of the blue.
At his words, the demons all turned to look.
In an instant, Xu Chang’an went from being a demon on the periphery to the focus of everyone’s gaze, the center of attention.
But it wasn’t a comfortable spotlight to be under.
The demons who were in the know glanced over, looking like they were ready for a good show.
Other demons, who didn’t know what was going on, began whispering amongst themselves.
The Butterfly Spirit had visited Xu Chang’an’s home many times before, her intentions of getting close to him as clear as day.
Now, as the topic turned to this, the Butterfly Spirit’s expression remained composed.
’I’m just relieved I reported this to Sheep Horn in advance,’ she thought. ’If he had found out from someone else, it would have been incredibly awkward for me.’
She and Sheep Horn presented themselves as Dao Companions to the public, a picture of mutual respect and unity. But only she knew the true nature of their relationship.
’Dao Companions in name, but I’m merely his accessory in reality!’
’Still, it doesn’t matter anymore.’
’I have received tangible benefits, after all.’
’The Hundred Treasures Pavilion here on Pear Blossom Lane is proof of that!’
With these thoughts, the Butterfly Spirit also turned her gaze to Xu Chang’an.
’I want to see how this Gray Rat Demon—who has always been so indifferent to me, so seemingly unflappable—will handle this.’
Xu Chang’an had yet to show much of a reaction, but the Wart Hog Spirit’s face fell. He cursed inwardly,
’It’s over! Fellow Daoist Grey Rat, you’re on your own.’
"I am, Fellow Daoist Sheep Horn."
Xu Chang’an gave a slight nod.
’I didn’t expect the Black Sheep Spirit to single me out.’
Seeing the Gray Rat Demon before him fail to even stand, a flash of displeasure crossed Sheep Horn’s face.
However, with so many other demons present, he couldn’t very well lash out.
"Fellow Daoist Grey Rat, thank you for taking such good care of Butterfly before. I raise this glass to you!"
With that, without waiting to see if Xu Chang’an would accept, he drained the Spirit Wine in his hand in one gulp.
"There’s no need for such courtesy, Fellow Daoist Sheep Horn. Fellow Daoist Butterfly and I were merely casual acquaintances. I didn’t help her with anything."
Xu Chang’an said flatly, but he did not raise his cup to drink.
Seeing Xu Chang’an show him such disrespect, Sheep Horn’s expression darkened further.
He no longer felt any need to show Xu Chang’an any courtesy.
"So, Fellow Daoist Grey Rat, where is it you hold such a prestigious position!?"
Xu Chang’an remained seated, calm and composed, showing no intention of answering.
But though he didn’t answer, another demon answered for him.
"Fellow Daoist Sheep Horn, you might not know this, but our Fellow Daoist Grey Rat here is also in the elixir business. He runs an Elixir Shop. Lately, though, I hear he’s preparing to close down. He’s planning to go develop his career in the Inner City."
The speaker was a Dog Demon.
Xu Chang’an shot him a deep look.
"Develop his career in the Inner City!?"
Sheep Horn was a little surprised. ’Could it be I misjudged him?’
’A demon who can open a shop in the Inner City is no ordinary figure!’
Seeing Sheep Horn’s reaction, the Dog Demon realized his words could be misleading and quickly added,
"Fellow Daoist Sheep Horn, when I say ’develop in the Inner City,’ I really just mean he’s going there to find some work at an Elixir Workshop to make a living."
"I see."
’So his shop failed and he couldn’t make ends meet,’ Sheep Horn thought. ’Now he has to go find a job.’
"I wonder which Elixir Workshop in the Inner City Fellow Daoist Grey Rat is heading to? I have a few connections there myself. I could help put in a word for you, it might be of some assistance."
Sheep Horn’s expression returned to normal as he spoke with feigned goodwill.
"There’s no need. But thank you, Fellow Daoist Sheep Horn."
Xu Chang’an had already lost interest and was thinking of leaving.
But the Wart Hog Spirit at his side chimed in, trying to help.
"The Elixir Workshop Fellow Daoist Grey Rat is going to is quite famous! It’s no ordinary place!"
"Oh? A famous one, you say? Is it the Thunderbolt Elixir Workshop? Or the Rainfall Pill Workshop?"
The examples Sheep Horn listed were all established Elixir Workshops in the Inner City. Each had a Tier Two Alchemist in residence and was quite well-known.
Xu Chang’an just smiled.
’Whether it was the Thunderbolt Elixir Workshop or the Rainfall Pill Workshop, both had Tier Two Alchemists. But in terms of fame and prestige, they were a far cry from the Flame Leaf Elixir Workshop.’
’Its Chief Alchemist, Pill Master Ye, possessed Pill Art that approached the realm of a Quasi-Third Tier Alchemist.’
’Even within the Inner City of Peacock Demon City, he was a renowned figure.’
Not wanting to disappoint the Wart Hog Spirit’s good intentions, Xu Chang’an offered a vague reply.
"The courtyard at the Elixir Workshop is quite beautiful!"
Xu Chang’an was telling the truth. The courtyard behind the Flame Leaf Elixir Workshop was indeed quite nice.
’Pill Master Ye must have put a lot of thought into it.’
However, there was a well-known saying among the city’s Pill Workshops: Flame Leaf had the prestige, Rainfall had the courtyard, Thunderbolt had the variety, and Spirit Grass had the quantity.