[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-why-do-all-these-monsters-have-health-bars":3,"chapter-why-do-all-these-monsters-have-health-bars-why-do-all-these-monsters-have-health-bars-chapter-25":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","Why Do All These Monsters Have Health Bars?",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},1557472,2023,"Chapter 25: Trade","why-do-all-these-monsters-have-health-bars-chapter-25",25,"\u003Cp>The ragdoll cat was adept at concealing its abnormality, which hardly lasted a moment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unfortunately, Li Jing caught every detail.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, he was extremely focused at the moment, his gaze firmly locked on the creature before him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Facing a creature with at least a mid-level cultivation in the Three Realm, Li Jing couldn’t afford to be careless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Especially as its utterances earlier had practically revealed its identity as a monster, even if it hadn’t spelled it out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was something the human-shaped monsters, who mingled in human society, highly avoided.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A slip could mean not only losing the opportunity to exist in human society but also risking their lives.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Noting the brief anomaly of the ragdoll cat, Li Jing instantly determined that he had identified the right creature.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The ragdoll in front of him was indeed the hotpot restaurant owner!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing it didn’t immediately become violent and try to eliminate him, but instead chose to play innocent and acted like a harmless ragdoll, Li Jing hesitated a beat, then half-crouched down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"To be honest with you, I have a special ability that allows me to see through a monster’s disguise. However, you can rest assured, I have no malice towards you. I had lunch at your restaurant today, and recognized then that you are a human-shaped monster. If I had meant harm, I would have reported you to the patrol already.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he spoke, Li Jing pointed at his earphone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Furthermore, now, all it takes is a shout from me into the communication device, and at least a hundred patrol officers would come running. A hundred or so is more than you can handle...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before he could finish, a clear female voice resonated by his ear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What do you want?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing the woman’s voice directly in his ear, Li Jing raised an eyebrow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Is this...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A form of telepathy?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Glancing at the ragdoll cat, which now exhibited a cautious attitude, Li Jing said,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I don’t want anything. I’m just curious why you’re here alone in such a dangerous place so late at night. Currently, the Eastern Coast is crawling with patrols and support patrols, it’s unlikely a monster like you would stroll here without a reason.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without waiting for the ragdoll to respond, Li Jing posed his formal question.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Did you come for the Demon Miasma?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes and no.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The female voice resounded by his ear again, saying,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I had discovered the existence of the Demon Miasma some time ago. But as a monster, it’s inconvenient for me to interact with people, let alone having any association with the patrol office. Lately, the Demon Miasma has been intensifying. Occasionally, sea monsters come ashore to terrorize the coastline, and I’ve been the one driving them back.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Jing was taken aback.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sea monsters started coming ashore a few days ago?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And they were chased away by the hot pot restaurant owner?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Looking at the ragdoll cat sitting before him, Li Jing wore a strange expression.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Why are you, a monster, so eager to help? If you let the sea monsters be, the patrol office would surely discover them at some point. Then wouldn’t they inevitably discover the Demon Miasma?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Heh.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The female voice scoffed and said,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You’re a human, how would you understand the hardships of us monsters living amongst humans? Even if the patrol office noticed and located the source of the Demon Miasma in the Outer Sea, dealing with it would take at least ten days to half a month.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After saying these words, she gave a cold laugh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Once the existence of Demon Miasma got confirmed, North City would certainly be under martial law. At that time, won’t monsters like me live in constant dread? If the situation deteriorates to a breaking point, and the patrol office decides to conduct a thorough investigation of the city, I might not be able to escape.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Jing pondered her words and found them reasonable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If the patrol office decided to conduct a thorough search, even human-shaped monsters, who appeared no different from ordinary people, would be in peril.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Demonic Qi could be concealed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The appearance could be changed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the biological characteristics could not be altered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A monster is a monster.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if it takes on a human form, it remains a monster.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Under modern detection methods, monsters have nowhere to hide.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even a single hair sent to the patrol office’s lab would have its DNA analyzed in minutes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Species identification becomes a simple task, revealing whether it’s a human or a monster.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even the type of beast that had transformed into a monster could be determined.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"So, you came alone tonight because...?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I was originally here to patrol the coastline, but as soon as I arrived, I found that the Demon Miasma had broken out and attracted the patrol’s attention.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The woman’s voice chimed by his ear, slightly annoyed but composed,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Strictly speaking, I did anticipate this. When I discovered the existence of the Demon Miasma, it had already grown quite large, corrupting numerous marine life into monsters. It was only a matter of time before it caused an incident. Yesterday, after several monster transformation incidents in North City in succession, I knew it was time to consider whether or not to flee. I had intended to check the situation on the way but did not expect to run into you.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The hotpot restaurant owner was very straightforward in her speech.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her words were filled with a boldness and frankness that weren’t typical in regular women.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Having heard her account, Li Jing pondered it for a moment, then looked up and proposed,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"How about we make a deal?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"A deal?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The woman’s voice sounded cautious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I believe you are a good monster, and hope you can live up to my trust.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Jing spoke up, saying.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"According to you, the Demon Miasma exists in the Outer Sea and is quite large in scale, making it troublesome to handle. Currently, the patrol bureau has been alerted and is preparing to venture out to sea in search of the Demon Miasma. Without any clue about the exact location, I fear that it would take them quite a while to locate the source, after which another ten days or half a month would be needed to address it. This will inevitably put North City on edge for an extended period, which won’t be favorable for you and other human-shaped demons residing in North City.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he spoke, Li Jing smiled lightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"How about this: you tell me the exact location of the Demon Miasma, and I’ll find a way to alert the patrol bureau, saving them a lot of time. In exchange, I can offer you shelter for a while, and guarantee your safety.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You, guarantee my safety?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A female voice erupted in laughter, saying.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You are but a low-ranking deputy inspector, still wearing the new uniform. On what grounds can you guarantee my safety?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I live with a second level inspector, there’s no way they would look for you at my home.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Jing shrugged, laying his cards on the table.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The woman went silent, then raised her voice a few notches.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You want me to live with a second level inspector! Are you sure you want to protect me, and not turn me from a walking pile of coin into a walking Merit?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The most dangerous place is often the safest.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Jing interjected.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"As long as you keep quiet, and behave like a pet cat without exposing your true identity, who could detect you’re a monster without any thorough examination?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The woman fell silent again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing her motionless, Li Jing started his persuasion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You just recently opened a hotpot restaurant in North City. You must have invested a lot in it, and you’re not even close to breaking even. Leaving North City and abandoning your restaurant would be a significant blow, wouldn’t it?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The owner of the hotpot restaurant, a Monster herself, was deeply affected by these mundane words.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As a monster, living in human society was no easy feat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, she couldn’t manifest her cultivation level publicly and land herself a high-paying job like ordinary people.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Saving money was exceedingly difficult.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a glance at Li Jing squatting before her, she hesitantly extended a fluffy little paw.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I don’t like cat food. It’s not safe.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No problem, I can organize whatever you want to eat.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Jing responded promptly, extending his hand formally and shook her paw.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sight was rather comical.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet, the feel of the hotpot restaurant owner’s paw pad was truly comfortable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once an initial agreement was reached, the owner of the hotpot restaurant didn’t dawdle longer and jumped onto Li Jing’s shoulder with a light leap.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Take out your phone, turn on the satellite map, I’ll point out the location of the Demon Miasma.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Okay.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Jing did as instructed, taking out his phone and opening the satellite map.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing this, the owner of the hotpot restaurant extended a claw, sharpening one of its tips, and maneuvered the satellite map to the Outer Sea off the Eastern Coast and marked a location.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Noticing the location being pointed out, Li Jing frowned slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The location of the Demon Miasma was near a small uninhabited island.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Looking at it on the map, it did not seem too far.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, if the patrol bureau were to set sail and methodically search for it, it might take them a long while.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sea area was vast, and the direction was vague. Looking for it would not be easy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Noting down the location, Li Jing brought up the Immortal Message, found the contact Chen Yuran, and typed a message.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Where are you? I need to speak with you.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Jing wasn’t sure if Chen Yuran was around the Eastern Coast at this time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, she wasn’t part of a particular team and could be anywhere.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What was certain though was she was busy moving around.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sent the message and got a reply back from Chen Yuran soon after.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What’s up?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Important matter. I’ll explain it in person.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Jing replied and sent her his location.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Come to me. If it’s inconvenient for you, I can come to you.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He sent two messages one after the other.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was no response from Chen Yuran.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But soon, a flash of sword light streaked across the sky, landing close by.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the sword light fell,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>the brilliance faded, revealing Chen Yuran with a furrowed brow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What the hell are you...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She halted in mid-sentence, her eyes lighting up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Where did you get this doll? It’s so pretty!\"\u003C\u002Fp>",1770,"2026-06-06T07:41:34.971Z",1,"novelbin.me","177de65d22258eea24a17eeb834b83426568091ba34411e9b69f8a39f16609c5","why-do-all-these-monsters-have-health-bars-chapter-26","why-do-all-these-monsters-have-health-bars-chapter-24",719,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fwhy-do-all-these-monsters-have-health-bars-cover.jpg"]