Taking Retreat to Advance

"We are all God's sheepdogs!"

"I was lost. I crossed through the darkness and arrived here. The unfamiliar surroundings terrified me. The lambs around me hated me, and the sheepdogs rejected me, which frightened me even more."

"Oh, I understand now. It turns out I look different from them because I have a pair of terrifying black eyes."

Ning Xiuyuan's calm voice echoed through the Ashborn Grand Hall.

When he reached this point, the furious priests' expressions grew slightly unnatural. They asked themselves: how much of their suspicion toward Mr. Arthur was based on the truth, and how much stemmed from his foreign identity?

At that thought, the anger in everyone's hearts unknowingly faded by a third.

"But the shepherds here did not dislike me. They took me in, gave me work and food, and provided me with shelter amid the wind and rain."

"I was deeply grateful. Every day, I worked hard to learn the language and writing of this place. Come rain or shine, I patrolled the tents, guarded the bonfires, and listened to their teachings."

"I gradually came to understand that the night had given me black eyes, but I could use them to search for the light."

As his voice fell, it was like divine revelation—deafening and enlightening. Countless priests trembled, their hearts surging with indescribable emotion!

Bishop Byron was especially astonished as he looked at Ning Xiuyuan, a tremor stirring within him.

Black eyes, searching for the light?

What a wonderful metaphor. It was practically the truest portrayal of divine grace.

This sentence ought to be written into the holy scriptures for enlightening heretics!

"One day, I entered a tent and suddenly discovered a terrifying venomous snake biting the ear of a baby in swaddling clothes. I was furious, and I was terrified!"

"I had never experienced anything like it!"

The priests in the hall fell silent.

Indeed, Mr. Arthur had never received professional training as a priest. When he had wandered here, he could not even understand the local language.

When facing a terrifying out-of-control entity, fear was simply human instinct. Had they been too demanding of him?

In truth, even among them, how many could guarantee absolute composure when facing an out-of-control entity?

"I instinctively wanted to run, but I held myself back. I roared and shouted, trying to drive it away and attract my companions."

"But it did not budge, and no sheepdog came to help me."

"The baby's cries reached my ears, and my heart felt as if it were being torn apart!"

"I remembered the shepherd's teachings, summoned my courage, and pounced on it. I bit the venomous snake to death, tore it apart, and swallowed it."

"The baby was still crying. Oh, its ear had been bitten apart, and blood was pouring out. My heart ached, so I went over and licked its ear, hoping to ease its pain."

"Just then, a group of adults rushed in. They seized sticks, surrounded me, and beat me mercilessly."

At this point in the story, countless priests instinctively clenched their fists.

They had already become immersed in the story. I clearly saved the baby, yet I was misunderstood because of a well-intentioned act, then beaten and blamed. That was far too unfair.

Was this story not a true reflection of Mr. Arthur's current predicament?

He had clearly saved Orlando, yet because of Orlando's loss of control, all his merits had been erased, and he had even been blamed for it. It was unfair! More than unfair—it was deeply wrong!

The more emotional nuns even had reddened eyes. The world should not be like this!

"They cursed and roared at me, mixed with the baby's cries, and I felt terribly sad."

Ning Xiuyuan continued his tale. Just when everyone thought he was about to plead his grievance, his next words made everyone with a conscience tremble.

"I knew they blamed me for failing to protect the baby. I was guilty, and I was willing to accept punishment. I only hoped that the child would stop crying."

A seemingly unrelated story had come to an end.

The Ashborn Grand Hall fell into a long silence.

Father Rhodes's furious, icy expression froze, and a trace of shame and self-doubt appeared in his eyes.

The previously furious priests quieted down.

"Mr. Lamp Keeper, please forgive my mistake! I should not have speculated and doubted you before the truth was clear. I deeply regret the misunderstanding this caused, and I am truly sorry!"

Father Rhodes spoke first.

"No, I am the one who should apologize. I was timid and cowardly, and I failed to try fighting back at the first opportunity." Ning Xiuyuan suppressed the disgust in his heart and spoke with a humble expression.

"You have done more than enough. If not for you, Orlando's loss of control might have caused an even greater disaster!"

Father Rhodes finally acknowledged Ning Xiuyuan's contribution.

"Everything was the work of God. I am merely an extension of God's will."

Ning Xiuyuan remained extremely humble.

This scene left all the priests deep in thought.

Perhaps they really had misunderstood Mr. Arthur.

Such devout faith was rare even among priests.

"Silence!" Bishop Byron paused with his little angel silver shepherd's crook, swept his gaze across the hall, and declared loudly, "Mr. Arthur's defense is over. Does anyone object?"

The hall was utterly quiet. They looked at one another, and the scene of furious opposition from before was nowhere to be seen. No one questioned him. No one objected.

Even the few people with darker thoughts knew that this was not the time to speak against him. Mr. Arthur had used a brilliant little story to make it clear that he was not God. He was a mortal who could make mistakes, feel fear, and hesitate!

He had merely made the mistake of failing to seize the right moment. No, it was not even a mistake—it could only be called a blunder. To deny all his achievements over such a minor blunder was equivalent to denying the Dawn Doctrine and denying human decency. If they encountered an out-of-control entity in the future, who would still dare step forward?

Looking at the silent audience, Bishop Byron nodded in satisfaction and announced loudly, "Since no one objects, I hereby declare that the result of the trial of Mr. Arthur in the Orlando loss of control incident is: not guilty!"

"Clap, clap, clap, clap..."

Scattered applause first arose from the audience, then grew hotter and more fervent. Countless people even rose to their feet!

Everyone was expressing their shame and approval.

Surrounded by applause, Ning Xiuyuan calmly watched the priests lost in self-congratulatory emotion. At that moment, his heart was unexpectedly tranquil.

He felt neither relief nor pride at having argued his case. Instead, there was an even more persistent disgust in his heart.

If he had been clumsy with words, would he have carried the reputation of being selfish and indifferent to others' suffering forever after this trial?

Wasn't this just bullying an honest man?

Anger gradually arose in Ning Xiuyuan's heart, but his expression grew ever more humble.

The Judgement Assembly ended.

Afterward, the priests who had applauded Ning Xiuyuan enthusiastically during the assembly—whether out of embarrassment or shame—did not come over to apologize or offer him any comfort.

Everyone dispersed in twos and threes, vanishing in the blink of an eye.

Ning Xiuyuan stood before the Ashborn Grand Hall, gazing up at the sky as his mind drifted into a daze.

Only after a long while did he return to his senses. He drew a slight breath, carried the Crystal Lantern that never left his side, and headed to the church to continue his usual duties.

—Before he grew strong enough, he had to maintain the image of a devout believer.

This would be his greatest protective charm.

When he arrived at the church, everything was as it had been during the few days he was away.

It was clear that his identity as the Lamp Keeper was dispensable to the church.

Ning Xiuyuan mocked himself inwardly. Only after diligently patrolling the church did he return to the stable dormitory.

After entering the stable, he first went to the horses' quarters.

The horses told him that no outsiders had visited the stables during the days he had been gone.

It seemed the church had not sent anyone to search his room.

Of course, that only meant no one had been sent openly. If they had actually sent rat ghosts, the horses would not have noticed.

Just as Ning Xiuyuan was about to leave, the horses' ears suddenly began to rotate, pointing toward the entrance.

Ning Xiuyuan's heart stirred, but he pretended not to notice.

"Excuse me, does Mr. Arthur live here?"

A clear voice drifted over.

Was that... Angela?

Ning Xiuyuan turned his head and saw a girl in her early twenties. She had a face full of freckles and wore a white headscarf as she poked her head in and asked.

"He doesn't live here." Ning Xiuyuan put on a solemn expression.

"Huh?" Angela's eyes widened. She recognized Ning Xiuyuan's voice.

"He lives in the groom's quarters."

Angela froze, then burst out laughing, covering her mouth.