Chapter 40 - 40, The Health Bar Flickered

Zhu Haomiao poked the campfire with a stick, making it burn more vigorously. "Imperial City, Zhu Haomiao." Upon hearing the boy's lazy response, Liu Heng's tense nerves slowly relaxed, secretly letting out a sigh of relief. Through close observation, he had roughly confirmed that the child across from him was not a demon in disguise. Just then, a few strong men filed in from behind Liu Heng, and upon seeing the bodies on the ground, they collectively let out a gasp. "Boss?!" "Help this young master tidy up and throw it far away." Waving his hand to signal his brothers not to ask too much, Liu Heng bravely approached Zhu Haomiao a few steps, bowing respectfully. "May I ask, young master..." Sitting on the steps, Zhu Haomiao looked up at Liu Heng's tall and sturdy figure, glanced over the unsightly pigtail braid on his head, and instinctively frowned slightly, a trace of impatient purple-gold light flashing through his eyes. "Sit." The indisputable command made Liu Heng's heart tremble, and he quickly sat not far from him, as if he had committed some monstrous crime, his heart filled with inexplicable fear and unease. It wasn't until a few seconds later that Liu Heng suppressed the fear in his chest, glanced at the little boy with awe, and secretly wiped a handful of cold sweat. What kind of family can cultivate such an imposing presence? Without showing anything, just a word made my hair stand on end! Damn, he's still a child! Quietly rubbing the goosebumps on his arm, Liu Heng cautiously observed while continuing. "May I ask, young master, those two bodies are?" "I don't really understand either. They suddenly came sliding in at the door, probably attracted by the firelight just like you..." The noise outside made it hard to sleep, and Zhu Haomiao idly prodded at the campfire pile, briefly recounting what had happened earlier. "They are wrapped skin corpse ghosts! They specialize in eating lone travelers and then use the victim's skin to ambush others..." Liu Heng blurted out confidently, but remembering the two remaining bodies, his voice abruptly stopped. One of them seemed to be twisted into a pretzel by an invisible force, but traces of a corpse ghost's appearance were still vaguely discernible. However, the other was purely a monstrous snake? Although it was just a fleeting glimpse, that monstrous snake swallowing its own tail left a very deep impression on Liu Heng. He subconsciously glanced at Zhu Haomiao, seeing that he had no desire to explain, Liu Heng could only suppress his doubts deep in his heart. "Boss, it's done." After a while, Lao Liu quietly reported back, simultaneously glancing nervously at Zhu Haomiao. "Feed the livestock some essence food, let's rest well tonight. It'll be easier once we board the ship tomorrow." "Mm." Lao Liu nodded, and a few brothers started a fire to cook in the temple, tacitly leaving the boss to stand guard in the same place. At the same time, through close observation, Liu Heng's worried heart completely relaxed, able to basically confirm that the child across was a direct descendant from an elite noble family undergoing world-training. Though there was some disguise, overall it was full of the nobility's assumptions about the lower class. They probably think wearing patched clothes is already the worst case? Little do they know that true [Hundred-knot Quail Clothes] are pieces of torn and tattered cloth picked from gutters, garbage heaps, or even dung pits and mass graves. Moreover, they don't dare wash it—in washing, the fabric would unravel and fall apart, so it emitted a nauseating rotten stench from afar! How could it be as clean and tidy as what he's wearing, though appearing faded and patched? Moreover, a closer look would reveal that the fabric used for his clothes was quite elaborate and intricate, the fine woven warp and weft lines seamlessly integrated, fine as hair yet decidedly substantial. Such high-quality fabric, even a small landlord's family couldn't afford! Sighing softly, Liu Heng gazed from the boy's clothes to his soft and unmarred white hands, and fair skin, criticising inwardly. Ten fingers that have never touched spring water, he barely seems to have been exposed to the sun! Even normal wealthy families would struggle to raise such a tender young lord; only those imperial relatives, attended by groups of servants wherever they go, could... But he hasn't shaved his head; he must be a noble from overseas. Named Zhu, could he be a descendant of the former dynasty's royal family? Thinking this, Liu Heng subtly sniffed, catching a faint and barely perceptible fragrance from the boy, his eyes growing more cautious. Though he knew little about perfumes and cosmetics, he could detect an indescribable noble elegance in this scent. Embedded in it is a fragrance that seems exceedingly costly, perhaps worth its weight in gold. Liu Heng dared not imagine how this boy grew up surrounded by countless maidservants and enchanting women! Searᴄh the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. How unfair! Why are some people born into immense wealth, raised in luxury, while I can only wallow in the mud, struggling to earn a meager livelihood all my life?! "Hmm?" As if sensing something, the boy glanced over in surprise, his shadowy gaze waking Liu Heng up, making him bow his head in shock, the absurd jealousy in his mind vanishing without a trace. On the other side, Zhu Haomiao looked at him strangely, slightly frowning. Did that guy just show a health bar? But why did it flash once and then disappear? Could it be a misperception? Falling silent, Zhu Haomiao subconsciously flicked his fingers, and a lavishly appealing gold coin began deftly spinning between his fingers, helping him sort through his thoughts. Seeing the coin in the boy's hand, Liu Heng's pupils contracted slightly, his gaze becoming vacant and lost. This time, Zhu Haomiao clearly noticed the imperceptible shadowy black light spreading deeply from within Liu Heng's eyes. That was the Original Sin—[Greed]! Swish~ As the five fingers clenched, the coin seemed to vanish like magic, and Zhu Haomiao clearly sensed Liu Heng's initial twitch, about to explode, but suddenly catching himself, his entire body tensing and freezing in place. Only after several seconds did he let out a long breath, gradually relaxing. Profoundly observing his state, Zhu Haomiao nodded with understanding. Not a misperception; this guy's health bar did flash once... But maybe his rationality, or rather, his [Dao Heart] was robust, immediately dispelling any harmful thoughts towards himself. Therefore... does the [Book of Black] invoke the Original Sin within others? No wonder that "victimized youth" was so furious earlier. Turns out I amplified the [anger] within his Spirit... But... why don't I have this keen sense in reality? Could it be that the regulations of reality are stricter? Just as the boy pondered with his hand covering his mouth, Liu Heng let out a long exhalation of foul air, apprehensively cupping his fists. "Young master, you're out here alone, best to keep a low profile..." "Oh, thanks for the reminder." Zhu Haomiao gave Liu Heng a kindly smile. From the previous probing, it was clear he was a rational person, capable of restraining his desires.