Chapter 68

Chapter 68: Boiling Eggs in the Hot Spring

"If only Ajin could enjoy such a wonderful hot spring too," Ji Huan murmured while soaking with his uncle and Hei Dan in one pool.

Unaware that Ajin now possessed a grand hot spring basin a hundred times larger than their humble family tub, Ji Huan simply wished to share the best he had with Ajin.

At the mention of "Ajin" in his uncle's words, a surge of warmth flowed from Ji Huan's palms.

This...

Hei Dan instinctively let out a tinkle.

=-=

"Peculiar, Ajin is such a gentle person. Why are you scared of him, Hei Dan?" Soaking in the urine-infused hot spring, Ji Huan stroked Hei Dan's head, shifting his attention from Ajin to the little creature.

Perceiving Hei Dan's unease, Ji Huan fetched an egg from the edge of the pool.

"Hei Dan, let's make a hot spring boiled egg."

Upon seeing the egg, Hei Dan became excited, much like when he had held back his urine for Wang Xiaochuan. With great effort, Hei Dan clenched his tiny paws tightly and squeezed his big eyes shut. Under his endeavor, the water temperature rose again, and soon enough, the hot spring boiled egg was cooked!

Gazing at Hei Dan, who was floating effortlessly on the water's surface after exerting himself as if he had just accomplished a great feat, Ji Huan chuckled and stroked his black belly.

Both Ji Huan and Grandpa calmly accepted Hei Dan's sudden acquisition of new skills.

During their baths, Grandpa began to frequently tease Hei Dan with this newfound ability, occasionally remarking, "Hey, Hei Dan! The water temperature has dropped. Help Grandpa adjust it higher."

Or, "Hei Dan, that's enough! Grandpa's tail tip is getting burned!"

After rigorous training by Grandpa, during which Hei Dan made numerous mistakes and even scalded Grandpa's bottom, he eventually became a proficient hot spring water temperature controller.

=-=

Boiling eggs in the hot spring was an unintended consequence of this small skill.

Perhaps it was due to the nourishing exotic worms that Ji Huan fed Hei Dan, but the five chickens at home started laying eggs. There was one rooster and four hens. It was good to have a rooster since it meant that the family could continue to welcome baby chicks. Ji Huan had initially been reluctant to eat the first eggs they laid; both were fertilized, so he hid them under his blanket, preparing to incubate them. However, somehow, the two eggs ended up in Hei Dan's possession, and he took them to soak in the hot spring that day. By the time Ji Huan discovered them, they had...

transformed into hot spring eggs. (-_-)

Children should be praised more often. Ji Huan grew up receiving such treatment from Grandpa, so it came naturally for him to treat Hei Dan similarly. Seeing Hei Dan happily hand the two eggs over to Grandpa and Uncle to eat, Ji Huan sincerely praised him. However, he also explained that not all the eggs at home could be turned into hot spring eggs; only those given by Uncle could be used. If Hei Dan found any chickens laying eggs in inappropriate places (such as in the blankets), he needed to collect the eggs and give them to Uncle.

With his white-ringed eyes wide open, Hei Dan listened attentively and understood.

Indeed, from that day on, Ji Huan never had to worry about collecting eggs again. Despite Hei Dan's limited mobility, he could miraculously find every egg laid by the chickens each day, not missing a single one. Ji Huan had searched and confirmed that there were no eggs left behind outside.

As for how Hei Dan managed this feat without being able to walk and rarely taken to the yard, Ji Huan was utterly perplexed. How did Hei Dan collect all these eggs?

One day, Ji Huan witnessed a chicken struggling to lay an egg under Hei Dan's watchful white-ringed gaze.

Then it happened with the second, third... Eventually, the chickens formed a habit of laying their eggs at the spot where Hei Dan was every day.

Hmm...

After much contemplation, Ji Huan came to a conclusion.

These chickens probably laid eggs upon seeing Hei Dan in the same way that Hei Dan urinated when he saw Ajin.

With this thought in mind, Ji Huan picked up the hot spring boiled egg that Hei Dan had handed him. Peeling the shell, he tore off a small piece of egg white, revealing the rich red yolk inside. Gently bringing the liquid yolk to Hei Dan's tiny mouth, the little one happily sucked it up.

However, he didn't finish it, stopping after two sucks and indicating that he wanted Grandpa and Uncle Ajin to have some too.

It was a commendable gesture, and Ji Huan did not refuse. The two of them took a symbolic sip before the entire hot spring egg eventually found its way into Hei Dan's stomach.

Living together as a family, even without great wealth, they were all in good health and capable of supporting themselves. Though they had lost a few pigs, they had started raising chickens, and there was still the hot spring to enjoy...

Their life was not much different from those in Badu Town!

***

While Ji Huan's family luxuriated in the small hot spring pool in Ajin's backyard, basking in the "Hei Dan" brand of thermal water, Ajin himself was also soaking in a hot spring.

Alone in an enormous, opulent tub, he gazed down at the panoramic view of Koroda City at night.

Now, he was the owner of the Koroda Star Hotel, which had previously belonged to Mr. Kohler. With the transfer of ownership, it had become Ajin's personal property. He didn't change the name of the hotel or the staff; he merely moved into Mr. Kohler's luxurious penthouse suite on the top floor.

Built into the side of a mountain, the hotel's most remarkable feature was its access to the mountain's hot springs, with the source located right on the rooftop. Originally, the first beneficiary of this spring water was Mr. Kohler's private hot spring pool.

Of course, now, it was the private hot spring of Mr. Zen Murphy Felzahar.

With a detached gaze, the dark-haired man looked out at the twinkling night scenery, lost in thought.

At that moment, a woman silently appeared in the room.

There stood a woman in a secretary's uniform, her well-proportioned figure barely concealed by the formal attire. Upon her appearance beside the hot spring, the atmosphere in the room instantly turned sultry.

"Boss, I'm here," she cooed, her voice naturally alluring, melting the bones of anyone who heard it.

"Mm," the man in the pool replied nonchalantly.

"Oh my! Boss, you're still in such great shape, not a hint of middle-aged spread," her gaze lingered suggestively on his bare back, her lips parting slightly.

"Mm," he responded similarly.

"Remember, remember when I was young, I dreamed of marrying you!" With the click-clack of her high heels, she drew closer to the tub. Her scarlet-painted nails gently brushed against a button on her chest, deftly unfastening it. The release of tension caused a sudden bounce in her ample bosom, as if ready to burst forth.

"I remember, your childhood dream was to defeat me and then devour me, ha ha," this time, the man's reply was more than just a casual "mm."

"Haha~" The woman could only laugh along.

"Yet, Boss, you haven't changed a bit, you still exude such allure~" She offered her flattery.

"Mm, same for you. In my heart, you haven't changed either, just as you were when I first met you..." His voice remained measured and unhurried.

The woman pouted coquettishly. "Tsk! Boss, when you first met me, I was just a snotty-nosed kid in a split-bottomed romper!"

"Mm, I have no interest in little kids."

As the man turned to face her, his lifeless black eyes meeting hers, the woman's heart jolted, and she straightened up instantly, becoming serious.

In her mind, she shouted, Lies! You clearly brought an incredibly handsome guy from the lower realm, lived with him for a while, gifted him a house and gold bars. How is that not being interested? !

Curiosity brewing, she watched as the man prepared to exit the pool. Swiftly turning her back, she listened to the sound of clothing rustling behind her and pulled out a notebook, reading aloud:

"...At 7:43 PM on the 18th, the target woke up and left. He spent ten bone coins on a kibi (a staple food similar to bread) from a roadside vendor, then went straight to the gambling den... At 11:31 PM, he won 80 gold combs (a larger currency unit than gold bars). Logically, that amount should sustain him for a while, but he returned to the gambling den on the 19th..."

"Where is he now?" Fastening the top button of his shirt, Ajin asked slowly.

"He was beaten up by the gambling den's enforcers and locked away." The woman flipped to the next page of her notebook. "Do you want to see the photos?"

"No need." Ajin began putting on his vest.

"Should we bail him out? If he keeps getting beaten up three times a day like this, his body might become irreparably damaged."

"No need, it's fine as long as my mind is intact, even if my body is ruined." Fastening the last button on his coat, Ajin adjusted the cuffs one final time.

"Alright." Flipping to the next page in her notebook, the woman moved on to the following item: "Your upcoming schedule is..."

"The Luyerdia Auction, scheduled for midnight tonight."

"Mm-hmm."

"Then what are we waiting for?" The woman suddenly closed her planner and, under the man's gaze, she offered a subtle smile. With her lacquered nails, she unfastened the buttons of her coat, and with lips as crimson as vermilion, she tempted, "Boss, come at me directly."

The woman blinked, and in the next instant—she transformed into a colossal monster!

Her mane was ablaze with fiery hues, and her dual eyes mirrored the same color, making her seem like a burning entity of magic!

She was so enormous that there was no room to even set foot on her as a mount!

However, facing the indifferent gaze of the black-haired, dark-eyed man beneath her, the towering monster suddenly lowered its head. The man then raised his elegantly crafted leather shoe and stepped "directly" onto the creature's claws and head before truly "mounting" it.

Emitting a thunderous roar, the crimson monster stood up, pushing off with all four of its powerful limbs. Its fiery body dashed towards the glass wall. Yet, no shattering sounds were heard. The red monster reached its top speed instantly, seemingly turning into air as it leaped gently, passing right through the glass wall!