In the alleyway, the sounds of shouting and the footsteps of slave laborers seemed to merge into a single force, yet at that moment, the crisp sound of a bell shattered this once-solid "momentum," prompting everyone to turn their heads subconsciously to look.
The taskmaster's whip halted in mid-air, and the movement of the slave laborers paused ever so slightly.
Within Qibin Hel's body, his inner strength also faltered, no longer flowing at its original pace.
This anomaly lasted but a moment before the slaves continued to carry their burdens onward. The long whip struck Qibin Hel's back, yet with less force than before—three to five parts weaker—but the taskmaster himself did not notice. The inner strength that was meant to retaliate automatically was disrupted by this interference and, instead of fighting back, was scattered, lingering around his back.