Chapter 21: You Are My Faith (II)

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Chapter 21: You Are My Faith (II)

Shang Ke knew that although they had allowed him to travel with them, they didn’t completely trust him. Along the way, they asked him quite a few detailed questions about the attacker. Shang Ke casually invented a person to fit the story and muddled his way through. It wasn’t as though they had any way to verify it.

Toward evening, Gwyn and the others set up camp near a water source and began building a fire to cook. Shang Ke and Pupu sat quietly off to the side and watched.

At that moment, Youri walked over and handed Shang Ke a set of clothes. “You’re covered in blood. Go wash up by the river and change into something clean.” He then looked at Pupu, appearing somewhat troubled. “We don’t have any children’s clothes, so I’m afraid she’ll have to make do with an adult’s clothes for now.”

“Thank you.” Shang Ke accepted the clothes from Youri and led Pupu to the river.

He first placed the clean clothes on a dry stone, then removed his black robe. A cascade of long black hair spilled down like a waterfall, reaching all the way to his ankles.

Pupu followed his example and stripped off her own ragged clothes.

Shang Ke looked down at Pupu, who was now wearing nothing but a tiny pair of underwear.

Pupu looked up at the long-haired Shang Ke in return.

They stared at one another for a moment before Shang Ke asked, “Are you afraid of the cold?”

Pupu shook her little head from side to side.

“Then come here.” Shang Ke gathered up his hair, loosely braided it, and drew it over his chest. Then he crouched by the river and beckoned Pupu over, dipped his discarded black robe into the water, and carefully began wiping the dirt and blood from her face and body.

Ravel had cared for him like this in the first world. After experiencing it so often himself, Shang Ke had naturally learned how it was done.

Pupu tilted her face upward, peeking at Shang Ke through half-lidded eyes.

When Shang Ke noticed, he suddenly pulled a silly face at her.

Pupu froze, then burst into giggles, her soft hair bouncing with every laugh. Her clear, tinkling laughter sounded like the song of a little oriole, breathing a touch of life into the silent mountain forest.

Hearing her laughter, the group who had been quietly discussing Shang Ke fell silent and turned toward the river.

Beneath the setting sun, the river resembled a golden ribbon, its surface shimmering beautifully. A long-haired man crouched beside the water, gently holding the little girl’s hand. His falling hair concealed most of his face, but the graceful lines of his exposed neck and upper body alone were enough for everyone to conclude that his appearance could hardly be ordinary.

Then the little girl reached out and carefully brushed aside some of Shang Ke’s fallen hair.

Shang Ke raised his head, revealing a handsome profile that seemed almost sculpted by an artist, nearly flawless. His pitch-black eyes reflected the evening light like the glittering river itself, shimmering with a gentle warmth.

The same thought appeared in everyone’s mind at once: No wonder human traffickers targeted him. Looking like that is practically inviting people to commit crimes!

After passing through two worlds, Shang Ke’s appearance had already improved considerably. Combined with the enhancement from the Perfect Expression Pack, his beauty had reached an entirely new level.

Once Pupu was clean, Shang Ke dressed her in a white shirt. It was far too large for her, with the hem almost dragging along the ground. For now, he could only have Pupu hold it up herself. Later, he would borrow a pair of scissors or a dagger from someone and shorten it.

After taking care of Pupu, Shang Ke quickly washed himself and changed into the clean clothes. It was a long, one-piece robe patterned in muted blue-gray and edged with silver. The design was simple and old-fashioned, secured at the waist with a handwoven cord.

Shang Ke’s hair was still wet. It hung damply down his back, soaking the fabric behind him.

Pupu’s hair, on the other hand, had been carefully towel-dried by Shang Ke and was already half dry, resting softly around her face.

Once the dirt and blood were washed away, Pupu’s little face was revealed to be somewhat thin but delicately featured, with bright eyes and slightly curly reddish-brown hair falling over both shoulders. She solemnly held up the oversized shirt with both hands, looking utterly adorable.

Standing together, the pair effortlessly captured everyone’s admiring gazes.

Shang Ke brought Pupu back to the campsite and politely thanked Youri again. Youri hurriedly waved his hands, a strangely bashful look flashing across his face.

If everyone had still been somewhat wary of Shang Ke before, seeing his face in full somehow made it much harder for them to remain suspicious.

Apparently, this was yet another world where looks mattered…

Shang Ke successfully borrowed a dagger and cut away most of the shirt’s hem, leaving it just past Pupu’s knees.

The shirt was still loose and shapeless, so after a moment’s thought, Shang Ke untied his own waist cord and carefully unraveled it into four thinner strands. He used two of them as belts, tying one around Pupu’s waist and the other around his own.

Then he picked up another strand and began weaving it, his fingers moving deftly.

Everyone had originally been busy cooking, but their attention was unconsciously drawn toward his movements. More accurately, toward his hands. Beneath the wide blue-gray sleeves, ten long, pale fingers intertwined and danced with the rhythmic grace of someone playing an instrument.

His expression was focused and his gaze gentle, carrying the quiet steadiness of pine and stone and giving off a serene, peaceful air.

In only a few moments, the thin cord had transformed in his hands into a beautiful diamond-shaped knot.

Shang Ke fastened the knot at Pupu’s waist, adding a small decorative touch to her otherwise rather shabby outfit.

Then he made another one for himself and hung it at his own waist.

Pupu touched the knot at her waist, then looked at the matching one on Shang Ke’s. Suddenly, she broke into a huge smile, threw herself into his arms, and happily called out, “Daddy!”

Shang Ke: “…”

One little knot was enough to win you over? Child, people are sinister. You can’t be this trusting!

“So you really are father and daughter?” The red-haired Vidora looked back and forth between them in surprise.

Shang Ke merely smiled without denying it. According to the information provided by the System, Pupu no longer had any family. In the original plot, Kaiser had saved her, causing her to become deeply attached to him. Later, she would even become one of his greatest sources of support.

Does this count as poaching someone from the protagonist? Shang Ke glanced at Kaiser, who was sitting not far away. Kaiser happened to look over at the same moment, and their gazes met.

Kaiser curved his lips into a smile and gave Shang Ke a boyish wink with his left eye.

Shang Ke: “…”

I was wondering whether he might be the same person as Ravel and Jian Chenfeng, but judging by this personality, they’re nothing alike!

Kaiser was probably not yet twenty. Young and handsome, with slightly upturned brows and eyes, he resembled a mischievous, flirtatious fox.

“Shang Ke, these are for you.” Youri handed him two roasted, cone-shaped buns.

“Thank you.” Shang Ke accepted them while privately thinking that he should compensate Youri later. After all, he was wearing the man’s clothes and eating his food.

While washing up earlier, Shang Ke had discovered a money pouch on his body containing several dozen gold coins. That should be more than enough.

As a major villain, Osari had accumulated quite a fortune through his usual cycle of smashing, robbing, and killing. Unfortunately, most of it was hidden away in his lair and temporarily inaccessible.

Shang Ke broke apart one of the otherworldly buns and blew on it until it cooled before handing some to Pupu.

Pupu held the bun in both hands and imitated Shang Ke by blowing on it twice before taking a huge bite. Her cheeks immediately puffed up like little steamed buns.

Then she noticed how slowly and elegantly Shang Ke was eating and immediately decided that her own method must be wrong. She slowed down at once and began chewing in tiny bites.

The two sat side by side, taking several bites of food, then a sip of water. Their movements gradually became perfectly synchronized.

“Pfft.” Youri and the others couldn’t hold back their laughter. This father-and-daughter pair was simply too amusing.

Even Kaiser’s foxlike smile gained a touch of warmth and fondness.

They couldn’t help secretly rejoicing that the human traffickers had failed. If this father and daughter had been sold as playthings to corrupt nobles, who knew what kinds of torment and humiliation they might have suffered?

The two of them were like a uniquely beautiful scene; even glancing their way was enough to lift one’s mood.

That night, Gwyn gave them a tent of their own and told them to rest well. After everything that had happened during the day, he assumed they must both be exhausted.

Shang Ke lay on his back atop the ground covering while Pupu sprawled partly across his chest, her head tilted as her dark, round eyes stared at him without blinking.

“What are you looking at? Close your eyes and go to sleep.” Shang Ke lightly tapped her forehead with one finger.

Pupu immediately shut her eyes. A moment later, however, she secretly opened them again. Seeing that Shang Ke’s eyes were already closed, she wriggled upward until she found the most comfortable position in the crook of his arm. Only then did she finally fall asleep in peace…

Kaiser quietly lowered the corner of the tent and withdrew his spying gaze. The sight of the father and daughter sleeping in each other’s arms was like a beautiful painting, imprinting itself deeply in his mind.

He was an orphan who had spent his childhood moving through one temporary foster home after another. He had never known a father’s love.

He thought that if his biological father were still alive, perhaps he too would have been someone as gentle as Shang Ke.

“Teacher, are we just going to take this father and daughter to Watchkeep and leave them there?” Youri asked quietly.

Gwyn replied, “Watchkeep will arrange temporary accommodation for them. You don’t need to worry.”

“They’re so vulnerable. What if they get abducted and sold again?”

“Then what do you suggest?” Gwyn gave him a sidelong glance.

Youri grinned. “Teacher, why don’t we take them back to the imperial capital with us?”

“And you’re going to support them if we do?” Gwyn replied irritably.

“Absolutely!” Youri came from a reasonably well-off family of minor nobles in the Holy Empire. Although their status was far below that of the truly great houses, they had no shortage of money for food or clothing. Supporting two more people would hardly be a problem.

Gwyn snorted. “Forget it. If some other noble takes an interest in them, would your family actually be able to protect them?”

Youri’s expression stiffened. He lowered his head and fell silent.

“Let them live with me,” Kaiser suddenly said.

Everyone else turned toward him in surprise.

Although Kaiser was normally courteous and easygoing with others, he rarely took the initiative to become close to anyone. None of them had expected him to voluntarily invite the father and daughter into his own home.

Kaiser lived alone on the outskirts of the imperial capital. The area was quiet and secluded, making it a genuinely suitable place for the pair to settle.

Gwyn thought for a moment before nodding. “We’ll ask Shang Ke tomorrow and see if he’s willing.”

Kaiser’s expression immediately brightened, and he walked lightly away to take his turn on night watch.

Youri gave an indignant little snort.

A hint of displeasure appeared in Vidora’s eyes.

As for Doru, Amy, and Fred, none of them were especially talkative, so they offered no opinion on the matter.

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