This time I chose Paladin.

Chapter 321 Someone's shrewd, but I won't say who.
Nie Weiyang silently gazed into the boy's pure yet empty blue eyes.

He took something out of his backpack and handed it to the other person—it was a chicken roll with vegetables inside.

"Are you hungry?" he asked.

The aroma of the sauce lingered in his nostrils, and the boy's eyes widened, his gaze immediately fixed on the burrito; he didn't even have time to feel fear.

But he hesitated for a moment, looked up at Nie Weiyang, then glanced at the crepe, his eyes filled with pity.

Nie Weiyang put the wrap in his hand and watched him happily take a bite.

“I know you understand,” he said slowly.

The boy's chewing slowed down noticeably.

Nie Weiyang gently stroked the boy's hair, comforting the child: "Tell me your name."

The boy paused for a moment, opened his mouth, but could only make "ah" sounds. His vocal cords were not damaged, but he couldn't speak.

aphasia.

...Tsk.

"Can you write?" Nie Weiyang asked.

The boy nodded, took out a sharp broken bone, and carved a word into the bark. His technique was skillful, a clear sculpting style rather than simple carving.

“August Chamberlain?” Nie Weiyang raised an eyebrow. “Your parents are very cultured and have high expectations for you.”

August silently lowered his head, took a bite of the burrito, and chewed it quickly as if afraid someone would steal his food.

“Next, I will place you somewhere. I will come back to pick you up after a while,” Nie Weiyang said. “In the meantime, I will try my best to ensure your safety, and you must be obedient, not to attack people who have no ill intentions towards you, and not to kill or harm animals that do not attack you and that you do not need to eat. Understand?”

August nodded. As he ate the normal food, his rationality returned, and he seemed to realize something, a glimmer of hope appearing in his eyes.

Nie Weiyang glanced at Bai Yu, and sure enough, Bai Yu was looking at him with a look of knowing disbelief in his eyes.

“You are special, and you are dangerous. So you must learn to fight this danger and balance the positive and negative effects of this specialness,” he told August. “I will not abandon you, but if you cross my boundaries, I will personally execute you.”

He could sense the ferocity hidden within the child… It was the malice towards the world that had sprouted in his heart when he had just lost Langcheng in the previous game.

“Everyone has a dark side, and I will teach you how not to be conquered by it,” he said. “August Chamberlain, I am Nie Weiyang. Remember your name, I will take you out of here and then take responsibility for the disastrous consequences of your actions.”

Bai Yu silently covered his face, subconsciously clenching his teeth, but he didn't want to laugh.

“Don’t let me down,” Nie Weiyang said. He pulled a blanket from his backpack—then his hand paused. He changed into a coat, an adult jacket.

August stared wide-eyed as the human garment fell onto his naked body. He seemed to want to approach Nie Weiyang, but Nie Weiyang had already stood up, looking at the cliff above, quickly calculating the best path in his mind.

Regardless of the possible secrets related to the child's transgressed bloodline and crystal erosion, just asking him to abandon a seven or eight-year-old child to death? That's not his morality.

Taking him to Mount Sumeru? Absolutely not. Letting him fend for himself here, or recklessly sending him into the crowd? That would be equally irresponsible towards life and others.

Admittedly, if he had to choose between two bigger options, he might give up the child... but the situation is far from that point now.

People can be educated.

No, rather, people are the result of education.

Being educated by nature, society, and history, and through mutual education with others—this is how human beings are shaped into their being.

The world tolerated him, so he became what he is today. So, could he, a dignified paladin, a super night heron… no, the number one in the world, the second-in-command of the human heart, possibly fear the potential trouble caused by a child?

Nie Weiyang scooped August up, leaped into the air, and carried Bai Yu to the cliff.

“Let’s go.” He hopped on the Lucky Sign and let Bai Yu sit in the back. “We’ll go back to find Russell.” August looked down at the three inscriptions next to the dashboard: [Lucky Sign].

The seven- or eight-year-old child clung tightly to Nie Weiyang's arm, quietly closed his eyes, and didn't look to see where the road ahead led.

……

The three of them walked through the deepening night and returned to the baobab forest where they had originally set up camp.

The campfire was still flickering, and Russell was idly stirring the bubbling broth in the pot. He had added water countless times, until the meat had completely disintegrated, leaving only a few bones floating in the broth.

Jin Huang lay to one side, its huge head resting on its paws, its tail sweeping the ground idly, and its shaved belly pressed against the grass.

Upon hearing the engine sound, Russell looked up and saw Nie Weiyang, Bai Yu, and the unfamiliar boy wrapped in an ill-fitting coat in Nie Weiyang's arms. He was clearly stunned for a moment, and then suddenly... his face lit up with excitement!
"Hey, who gave birth to your child? It looks a lot like you." Russell bounced over, "Look at that little face, tsk tsk tsk, so pretty—"

Nie Weiyang: “…”

Nie Weiyang put August down expressionlessly and explained simply, "I found him. His name is August."

He did not mention further details, such as cannibalism or unusual bloodlines, as some things are better left unsaid.

Seeing how serious he was, Russell lost interest. He clicked his tongue, went back to the pot, picked up a bowl, and served soup to the three of them.

August seemed somewhat frightened, mainly by the enormous size of Jin Huang and the seemingly overly... rugged and unrestrained Russell, to the point that he subconsciously shrank behind Nie Weiyang.

"Alright, let's eat something first." Russell gestured for everyone to sit around the fire.

He served August a bowl of hot soup and handed him a piece of warm toast. The boy took it carefully, his eyes lighting up at the aroma of the food. He ate it in small bites, much more leisurely than before.

Looking at August's obviously ill-fitting coat, Russell scratched his head, rummaged through his bag for a sewing kit, and asked Nie Weiyang for two new, soft-textured garments. "Come here, little guy, turn around, Uncle will alter a coat for you to fit properly."

August looked at Nie Weiyang with some hesitation, and only turned around slowly after seeing Nie Weiyang nod.

Although Russell had a rough appearance and didn't like to wear clothes, he was very skillful with his hands, which was probably a common trait among Druids.

He gestured to August's figure, cutting the fabric with a dagger and threading the needle with swift and skillful movements. Before long, a simple but perfectly fitting set of clothes was finished.

August silently changed into his new clothes, but still draped Nie Weiyang's coat over his shoulders, carefully buttoning it up as if it were not a garment, but a talisman.

Russell lay down on the ground again, gazing listlessly at the starry sky. Bai Yu sat silently beside him, lost in thought.

Nie Weiyang saw all of this, but he didn't say anything. As usual, he rode his bicycle away from the camp for the time being—he wanted to go back to the cave and see what the damage to the cave would bring.

As he left, Russell, standing by the fire, spat out the straw from his mouth and glanced at the boy who was already asleep in the tent.

"Speak," he said softly, "Why are you in such a bad mood?"

Bai Yu paused for a moment, then slowly turned his head to look at Russell.

“…It’s not bad,” he said softly, “I’m just realizing some things.”

"What is it?" Russell raised his eyebrows.

"When I asked for your help, I seemed strange, didn't I?" Bai Yu stared at the fire and said softly, "I was a tool, a knife, my heart filled with anger and hatred..."

"...but he was prepared long ago."

Russell gave a knowing smile. He listened to the message carried on the wind, the song of the earth echoing in his ears, but he asked, "What preparations?"

“He helps me solve problems, and I serve him,” Bai Yu said softly. “Does he really need it? Maybe he’s just managing me… taking responsibility for me. Taking responsibility for the negative impact I might cause. And he doesn’t care about you, simply because you don’t need him to be in this role…”

"...the role of a father."

(End of this chapter)