He raised his eyes again to look at Elara, holding the Pendant of Absolute Truth toward her once more. "This pendant has basically lost its meaning for the sect. My junior and I have mastered the art of disguise and exposure so well that very few in the world can see through us. Keeping it with us is of no use anymore, so it's better if it stays with you. It might help you somehow."
Elara met his gaze, raising an eyebrow slightly. "Are you sure?"
The Pendant of Absolute Truth was indeed useful to her. But even if what Mo Shengfeng said was true, this was still a medium-grade divine blessing.
In this world, even a low-grade divine blessing was something people would risk their lives to hold onto.
And he was just giving it to her like that?
Mo Shengfeng smiled again. "I'm very sure. Even if we don't talk about the great favor you've done for me and my junior, just being able to exchange something useless to us for a peaceful place to recover is already more than we could ask for."
"Besides, if this stays in the hands of 'remnants' of Thousand Faces Sect like us, it's not necessarily a good thing. Only if someone outside the sect holds it can it be considered harmless and neutral."
"So please accept it. Otherwise, my junior and I will probably feel uneasy living here under your care."
After confirming that Haochen was the real Haochen, Elara accepted [Face Illusion] and [Eye of Absolute Truth], then brought Haochen back to the Imperial Palace.
[Face Illusion] and [Eye of Absolute Truth] were indeed useful to her. What Emory and Morin needed most at the moment was simply a place where no one would care about their identity so they could rest and recover in peace. Elara just happened to be able to provide that.
So this barely-qualifying deal was completed. Oswyn continued his duties at the Medical Department. Elara, holding Haochen with one arm, returned to the palace with Uno.
Inside the palace
Elara tossed the still-restrained Haochen to the palace attendants and told them to wash him clean before bringing him back.
Half an hour later, the renewed Haochen was returned by the attendants and stood in front of her.
Now cleaned up, Haochen's features were completely visible. They were exactly the same as how Sindri had initially impersonated him.
Although he had lived outside for many years and survived among beasts, perhaps due to his unusual physical condition, he had few visible scars. After being cleaned, his skin was white and smooth like jade. His features were still childlike due to his young age but already delicate, hinting at how strikingly handsome he would become when grown.
However, despite looking like an adorable little boy, Haochen's expression was the complete opposite of his appearance.
His finely shaped eyes and brows were filled with intense hostility. Anyone timid might have been frightened just by looking at him.
Was this really a human child?
He looked like a little beast cub.
Elara lifted the little beast cub in front of her. While examining his clean body and restrained limbs, she quietly sensed the condition of the Puppet Soldiers parasite inside him and looked into his eyes.
I'll undo your restraint if you behave and eat.
Strangely, although the parasite in his body was indeed more concentrated than the ones in other Puppet Soldiers, it didn't seem to have a strong hold on him. It was like it had gone into a dormant state.
His strange physical condition could even suppress the parasite?
No wonder he managed to wander outside for half a year without her. When he saw her yesterday, he didn't rush at her but stayed alert instead.
After figuring out the parasite's condition in the child's body, Elara pointed toward a big bowl of food already laid out in front of her.
The food was rich with stewed meat, fresh vegetables, meat broth and rice. Just looking at it made one feel hungry.
The child had been glaring at Elara fiercely, but now his gaze followed her finger and fell on the food.
He hadn't eaten in a long time. That was why he took the risk to sneak into the city and snatch bread from those older kids.
But no matter how hungry or thirsty he was, the child forcefully suppressed his desire. After one glance at the food, he fixed his glare back on Elara.
This woman was dangerous. His instincts were warning him. There was something faint on her that kept drawing him closer, and that made him even more alert.
Back in the wild, that feeling always meant injury or a trap was coming.
Haochen had lived rough since young. He always relied on instinct to survive, and it had saved him many times.
So when that man threw him into the dark river and he later woke up floating downstream, he had sensed something in Belladonna calling him, yet he chose to stay far away instead.
But now, by some invisible force, he somehow felt that same pull from this woman.
He bared his teeth at her in full alert, wanting badly to turn and run away right now.