Following the aroma, Akuna soon found Ma Jun grilling pork chops.
The moment she laid eyes on him, she cried out in surprise.
"It's you!"
"You little bastard—so you were hiding here all along!"
Ma Jun lifted his head, glanced at her calmly, then lowered it again.
"Madam, let me clarify something. I wasn't hiding."
"I'm making dinner for you."
"And about what happened last night—you should know I was saving you."
"If you really mind it that much, I can take responsibility."
Akuna's brows shot up. For a split second, she was so angry she almost laughed.
What did he mean by taking responsibility?
That kind of thing… was she really supposed to let a teenage boy take responsibility for it?
Yet strangely, his words stirred something unfamiliar in her heart.
For over a hundred years, no one had ever spoken to her like this.
All her days had been consumed by one thing alone—
how to suppress her blood disease and the violent agitation of the Grace fungal silk.
The blood disease had tormented her for more than a century.
She had needed to drink human blood just to ease the symptoms temporarily.
And while the Grace fungal silk gave her power and longevity, it also brought endless suffering and the threat of mutation.
She knew very well that last night she had been on the verge of losing control.
If Ma Jun hadn't intervened, she might already have gone mad and slaughtered everyone.
What puzzled her was this—
After last night, the Grace fungal silk inside her body felt… subdued.
Quiet. Obedient.
Completely unlike its previous violent state.
As if it had been conquered.
As that thought surfaced, Akuna's face flushed again.
Could it be… it actually worked?
That strange sensation from last night returned, lingering over her body.
"Madam, eat this."
Ma Jun handed her the pork chop.
"It's very good for your body."
"Didn't you want to know how Beilei and the others became stronger?"
"It's all because of this."
Akuna felt as though her thoughts had been read. She hurriedly asked,
"Really?"
"Of course."
Ma Jun passed her the pork chop. Long before it reached her hands, the smell had already shaken her to the core.
She devoured it in just a few bites—almost chewing on the bones as well.
"…Mm."
A satisfied sigh escaped her lips.
"Not bad. Really not bad."
Soon, a familiar warm current surged through her body again.
It rushed through her limbs and bones, pouring power into her whole being.
It felt exactly like last night—
like [Praise] being injected directly into her body.
"Ah…"
She parted her lips unconsciously, a soft sound slipping from her throat.
Only then did she realize—
Her skin felt different.
Smoother. More supple.
Even her whole body felt lighter.
She waved her hand, confirming the increase in strength, her face filling with astonishment.
"So miraculous!"
The boost wasn't as obvious as what Daniela and the others experienced—
their base stats were far lower than hers to begin with.
But improvement was improvement.
And for Akuna, whose power had stagnated for decades, this was priceless.
Without realizing it, her attitude toward Ma Jun changed.
Earlier, she'd been furious, itching to grab him and teach him a harsh lesson.
Now… different thoughts crept in.
"These methods of yours," she asked, "where did you learn them?"
"That's my secret, Madam," Ma Jun replied calmly.
"Everyone has secrets."
"Just like the birthmark on the inner side of your thigh."
"Others don't know about it, do they?"
Akuna's face instantly turned scarlet.
"You—shut up! What nonsense are you talking about?!"
"Just stating facts."
Ma Jun shrugged.
"Oh, right. I forgot to tell you—
I've studied this before. As long as you eat this kind of pork chop or grilled fish every day, it can ease your blood disease."
"In the future, you won't need to drink human blood anymore."
Akuna froze.
Her anger drained away, replaced by shock and disbelief.
"You… you're telling the truth?"
"You've already eaten it. Can't you feel it?"
Her mind went blank.
Could it be… the suffering that had plagued her family for centuries… was solved just like that?
Not having to drink human blood anymore—
to her kind, that was liberation beyond measure.
If there was a choice, who would want to drink that metallic, suffocating blood?
Juice or wine wouldn't be better?
In that instant, Akuna nearly lost control and burst into tears.
She struggled hard before finally steadying her emotions.
Her legs—wrapped tightly in black silk, overly full and round—were still tense, betraying her inner turmoil.
"If what you say is true," she said slowly, "then you are the benefactor of the Akuna family."
"Tell me. What reward do you want?"
A flicker of delight flashed through Ma Jun's eyes.
"Really? Anything I ask for?"
Akuna didn't hesitate, nodding firmly.
"Say it. As long as I can do it."
Solving the blood disease was an immeasurable favor.
She was willing to pay a heavy price.
"Good."
Ma Jun smiled.
"Madam, you really are straightforward."
"Then I'll be blunt."
"I want you… to cooperate with me again."
"Just like last night."
Akuna's face flushed violently.
"You—how dare you!"
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