Big Eater

The freshly fried steak on Bao'er's plate gave off an enticing aroma.

Seared on the outside, tender within, and brimming with juice, it had been topped with seasoning sauce and cut into strips for her age.

Together with the macaroni and fried egg beside it, it made for a delicious lunch.

The little girl had long since grown hungry, yet faced with the fragrant steak meal before her, she hesitated and did not lift her fork.

She swallowed and could not help turning to look down at the floor.

A-Tai was squatting beside the dining table, gazing up at her eagerly. His large watery eyes looked pitiful, as if saying, "Little Master, I want to eat. I really, really want to eat. Please give me some more!"

Seeing Bao'er look at him, he immediately bared his teeth in an exceedingly ingratiating grin. His little tail, which had been drooping on the floor, began wagging like an electric fan, while he made coaxing whimpers in his throat.

The little girl was defeated in an instant.

After hesitating for a moment, she picked up the plate with both hands and placed it in front of A-Tai. "Eat."

She said it very quietly, afraid that Dad in the kitchen might hear.

It felt like she was doing something bad, but A-Tai looked so pitiful. How could she bear to eat by herself and ignore him?

At that moment, Bao'er had completely forgotten that A-Tai had already stolen a huge piece of steak earlier.

Wagging his tail, A-Tai immediately buried his head in the plate. "Awoo, mm, ah..."

Though he was less than a foot long, he ate like a whirlwind. In the blink of an eye, he devoured the steak, macaroni, and fried egg without leaving so much as a scrap. He did not even spare the broccoli or sauce!

Bao'er stared in amazement, then asked worriedly, "Y-you won't get a stomachache, will you?"

A-Tai lifted his head from the spotless plate. Quite a bit of sauce still clung to his mouth as he grinned fawningly at Bao'er.

What he really wanted to say was: I can still eat! I can keep eating and eating and eating!

Feeling guilty, Bao'er patted his head, quickly took a napkin to wipe his mouth clean, then retrieved the empty plate.

Just like a thief.

At that moment, Zuo Yi came out of the kitchen carrying a bowl of soup. Seeing the plate in front of the little girl polished clean enough to reflect light, he asked in surprise, "Sweetheart, you finished that so quickly?"

Grrr~

Before Bao'er could answer, her little belly answered first.

The little girl immediately covered her face with both hands—it was far too embarrassing!

A-Tai barked at Zuo Yi, looking every bit like a loyal lackey protecting his master.

Zuo Yi understood and said with a mixture of laughter and helplessness, "You gave your steak to A-Tai too?"

Bao'er lowered her hands, her cheeks flushed as she stammered, "A-Tai, he looked like he was still very hungry. I-I..."

"It's fine."

Zuo Yi set down the soup bowl and ruffled her hair with a smile. "Dad will make you another serving, but you have to finish this one yourself. You can't give it to A-Tai again."

Bao'er nodded like a pecking chick. "Mm, mm, mm."

Then she could not help asking, "Dad, A-Tai ate so much. He won't get a stomachache, right?"

"He won't."

Zuo Yi reassured her. "A-Tai isn't an ordinary dog. He can eat a lot, and he won't get a stomachache."

The Abyssal Cerberus possessed the talent of Devouring and had an incredibly powerful digestive system. Its stomach was like a black hole; anything swallowed could be digested until not even dregs remained. So although A-Tai was tiny, his appetite was equally astonishing. There was absolutely no chance of him overeating.

With Zuo Yi's assurance, Bao'er finally relaxed. "Then... then could you make another serving for him too?"

A-Tai clearly did not look full at all.

Beside her, A-Tai's eyes welled with tears of gratitude. He leaned over and rubbed his head against Bao'er's foot—Little Master was just too kind!

In the end, Zuo Yi ate one steak for lunch, Bao'er ate one steak as well, and A-Tai polished off another five.

It was not that he could only eat five servings. There simply were not any more ingredients in the refrigerator!

After summoning Agu to clear the table, Zuo Yi poured himself a cup of black tea and sat weakly in the chair by the door, unable to help complaining inwardly.

He had originally unsealed the Abyssal Cerberus pup to keep Bao'er company. Now he realized that he had dug his own grave.

A-Tai was a born big eater. With how much Bao'er spoiled him, how much food would Zuo Yi have to buy in the future to satisfy his appetite? He had truly tied himself in knots!

Over the past few days since returning, his already meager savings, including the money from selling the Law Coin, had nearly been spent. With another mouth to feed at home, he was really going bankrupt.

He had to find a way to make more money!

Zuo Yi stroked his chin and looked toward the front yard.

In the yard, Bao'er was chasing after A-Tai.

After wiping out five steaks, A-Tai was bursting with energy. His short little legs carried him at lightning speed, and in the blink of an eye, he reached a corner of the yard, lifted a hind leg, and watered the wall.

Bao'er was stunned. "A-Tai, how can you pee wherever you want?"

She wanted to stop A-Tai's uncivilized behavior, but he ran off the moment he finished watering that spot and continued at another corner.

Unable to catch up, Bao'er stomped her foot. "A-Tai!"

"Sweetheart, leave him alone."

Zuo Yi could not help laughing. "And don't run around either. You shouldn't run about right after eating."

Bao'er obediently returned to the living room and complained to her father with some grievance, "Look, A-Tai won't behave. He's peeing everywhere!"

"It's fine."

Zuo Yi comforted her. "It's his habit. He won't do this every day in the future."

A-Tai was actually marking his territory. It was an instinct shared by magical beasts.

If his mother had been by his side, he definitely would not have done this, but he was all alone here.

Marking territory was also an instinctive form of self-protection for magical beasts.

Woof! Woof!

After making a round, A-Tai finally stopped beneath the camphor tree.

Rather than leaving his scent by urinating as before, he raised his head and barked at the canopy above. Woof, woof, woof!

Aguai, the Gargoyle crouching in the canopy, opened his eyes, which were entirely blood-red.

Screech!

He slightly raised his wings, lowered his head at the A-Tai provoking him from the ground, and let out a piercing cry.

I'm warning you—don't court death!

A-Tai instantly cowered.

One look was enough. That was a monster he could not afford to provoke. Time to run!

He immediately spun around and raced back into the living room, throwing himself into Bao'er's arms and whining cutely for affection.

Bao'er felt sorry for him. While comforting him, she complained to her father again, "Dad, Aguai scared A-Tai."

(Aguai fainted from tears in the tree canopy once again.)

Zuo Yi was speechless.

He was extremely glad that he did not believe in the virtue of "fairness." Otherwise, what was he supposed to do in a situation like this?

Ring, ring, ring~

The sudden ringtone of his phone helped Zuo Yi out of the awkward situation. He hurriedly said to Bao'er, "Take A-Tai and go play. Dad needs to answer a call."

"Okay."

Bao'er carried A-Tai upstairs. "I'll take him to my room."

Zuo Yi waved his hand, then answered the phone. "Hello?"

"Hello, may I ask if this is Mr. Zuo Yi?"

The number was unfamiliar, but the caller's voice sounded somewhat familiar. Zuo Yi asked, "Yes. May I ask who this is?"

The other party smiled. "Hello, Mr. Zuo. Do you remember selling a gold coin at our Gold Jade Fortune Jewelry store a few days ago? I'm the manager of that branch. My name is Guan Zhishang."

Of course Zuo Yi remembered. The man's appearance immediately surfaced in his mind.

He frowned and asked in a deep voice, "How did you get my number?"

After selling the Law Coin, Zuo Yi had left without providing any identity information or contact details.

It had been a one-time transaction from the start. If he had not needed money urgently, he never would have sold a Law Coin.

Yet somehow, the other party had managed to track him down!

"About that..."

Guan Zhishang was exceedingly smooth. Rather than answering Zuo Yi's question directly, he said, "Mr. Zuo, do you happen to have any more coins like that? We are willing to purchase them at a high price!"

"A high price?"

Zuo Yi replied calmly, "How high?"

Thinking he had successfully changed the subject, Guan Zhishang hurriedly answered, "Three times! We'll pay three times the price!"

"Not for sale!"

Zuo Yi answered decisively.

Not for sale?

Guan Zhishang considered that price highly sincere, yet he had not expected Zuo Yi to refuse so readily.

After hesitating for a moment, he tested the waters. "Then how about you name your price?"

Zuo Yi smiled. "You want me to name it? Fine. One price: five hundred thousand!"