CH-107

107 Sleeping

Shu Li had the old lady carefully taken down from the beam and laid flat on the floor. The weather was hot today, and the body still retained the warmth of a living person, without full rigor mortis. Shu Li could still bend her elbow joint. This indicated that death had occurred no more than an hour ago. Normally, high temperatures accelerate rigor mortis. The current state suggested the time of death was roughly between 30 minutes and an hour ago.

Shu Li looked up at the gathered crowd and asked, "Who was the first to discover the body?" The butler stepped forward. "I was." He explained, "We heard from the servants that something ominous might have happened in the attic. And since it was nearing dinnertime, we were also planning to bring the old lady her evening meal, and then... we discovered this tragic scene." He paused before continuing, "We saw this unfortunate sight."

Hearing the keyword 'we,' Shu Li didn't rush to ask exactly who else had discovered the scene with him. He simply observed the ligature marks on the old lady's neck and asked, "Why wasn't she taken down immediately?" Left hanging like that, with no one even left to guard the body. Shu Li also looked at Viscount Edmond. "Was there some concern?"

If the old lady was just an ordinary viscount's mother, even if Edmond had a strained relationship with her, maintaining such a cold distance was indeed bizarre. But precisely because the old lady carried the rumor of being a vampire, this distance seemed subtle yet reasonable. Perhaps in the Viscount's view, what hung there was no longer his mother, but something inhuman. Even as her biological son, facing a potentially dangerous entity disguised as his mother, he couldn't approach without caution. Until the truth was confirmed, any approach was imprudent.

"..." Shu Li lowered his eyes, quickly sifting through all the information he had about the Sermon Duchy. In his memory, it was a nation of devout believers; nearly every citizen had received basic church education. Perhaps, in their eyes, a body not exorcised and purified by clergy was unclean, dangerous, and touching it recklessly might be a desecration against the Lord. However, these were just Shu Li's personal speculations. He felt the family dynamics here were far from simple.

Even from what he observed, the scene aligned with suicide by hanging. The ligature mark on the back of the neck wasn't as uniform as a strangulation mark—deeper at the front, shallower at the back. A full autopsy would require undressing to check for marks on the back of the neck or back. Because of this, Shu Li wasn't in a hurry to state his conclusions.

Viscount Edmond responded to Shu Li's question without haste, his tone low, his expression reserved. "After all, my mother's condition is... special. Even her remains aren't something we can casually handle." His brow furrowed slightly. "I also worry that if she still harbors some strange power after death, anyone who touches her might suffer backlash, be attacked, infected, or even possessed."

At these words, the air froze, touching on the innermost thoughts of everyone on the estate—so the Dowager Viscountess truly was a vampire.

Edmond's voice then took on emotion. "However," his Adam's apple bobbed slightly, his voice growing hoarse, "I also cannot bear to see my mother's body left hanging alone in the air, forsaken." As Edmond said this, his previously calm and composed face seemed unable to bear the weight of his emotions. Pain and grief made him close his eyes briefly, as if forcing himself to restrain, forcing himself to accept.

When he opened his eyes again, they were red-rimmed. In that moment, he was no longer the pillar of the estate, nor the lofty Viscount, but a child who had lost his closest kin, a man standing grief-stricken and helpless before his deceased mother's body. He looked at Shu Li, his gaze filled with an almost pleading vulnerability. "I heard from the servants that you are a child favored by the Lord, able to see through the fog and guide the faithful... that's why I came to you for help immediately."

Edmond's voice was choked, yet steady. "Is there something wrong with that? Do you doubt my feelings for my mother?" His words stirred emotions in the crowd. Some couldn't help but weep softly, deeply moved. Edmond's loyal servants, attendants, and guards gathered around, either standing behind him in silent support or offering quiet words of comfort. It was clear Viscount Edmond was well-loved. Some already viewed Shu Li's earlier direct question as rudeness and offense towards Viscount Edmond, and resentment was quietly brewing in the air.

Shu Li naturally felt those veiled or overt angry stares. But having lived this long, he understood a principle—not all goodwill is appreciated, nor is all hatred worth his time or emotion. So Shu Li's expression remained calm as he swept past those unfriendly gazes. His tone was light, even soothing. "Viscount, please don't overthink it, and certainly don't be too sensitive." He glanced around, his words unhurried, but each one like a stone thrown into a lake, causing ripples. "Look, the entire estate trusts you deeply, don't they? Isn't that enough?" "Please, dry your tears."

He said it so naturally, without a hint of flattery, yet it perfectly diffused the subtle pressure that had been building. But Viscount Edmond paused, looking at Shu Li with a somewhat complicated expression. It was as if he was reassessing him, or perhaps sensing something was off. He felt that Shu Li's last sentence was laced with sarcasm. But this subtle emotion was fleeting, quickly masked by his usual composure, almost imperceptible to others. He said, "I was out of line."

Shu Li, however, didn't want to dwell on it. He continued at his own pace, his tone even lighter but more direct than before. "You needn't worry excessively... Based on my current observations, your mother is still an ordinary person. If she had truly transformed into something else, her death wouldn't have been so quiet." He spoke with conviction, leaving no room for doubt.

But Shu Li wasn't finished. "However, since she was a devout believer, ending her life by hanging is indeed against the Lord's will and a defiance of the Church's teachings. By rights, she would be destined for hell, or at least require baptism for redemption." He paused, lowering his eyes, placing one hand over his heart. His tone was calm yet carried a sense of ritual and solemnity. "You sought me out for this matter as well, didn't you? In this, I am willing to serve." At these words, the room fell even quieter.

*

The Viscount offered to arrange separate accommodations for Shu Li. However, Shu Li chose to sleep on the floor with the main group. For one, there were many eyes here; if anyone harbored ill intentions, they'd be constrained. Second, Shu Li could use the opportunity to obtain herbs and clean water for the sick children. That was the reason they'd sought shelter at the estate in the first place—too many had fallen ill. These few days of rest, under the pretext of the blessing ritual, would allow everyone to recuperate.

Phillips slept nearby. Seeing Shu Li toss and turn, sensing his restlessness, he whispered, "Are you actually frightened by the corpse?" Shu Li turned to look at him. The boy's eyes were clear, his tone calm, without mockery or sharp inquiry, just pure concern. Staring at him, Shu Li thought of the future Phillips who would kill with his own hands. But Shu Li had no interest in interfering with anyone else's fate. As long as it didn't involve his own safety, even if he knew the outcome, he wouldn't rashly intervene to change it. Everyone's destiny was a result of their choices, environment, and character. He didn't want to, nor could he, bear the consequences for anyone else.

His only concerns were Finnian and Leslie. As long as those two children could retain a sliver of kindness and clarity in this murky world, that was enough. In truth, Shu Li's favorite was Finnian. The first time he truly laughed in this world was because of that child who swore he'd steal bread for him. That child loved to laugh and play, brimming with vitality, like a lit spark that had burst in unguarded during his most bewildered time, giving him a little light.

But recent events had unconsciously tilted Shu Li's heart towards Leslie. That child, forever trapped in his family's shadow, was always silent, bearing too much. Leslie wasn't bright and boisterous like Finnian, but he quietly relied on him, looked up to him. He didn't seem like he would leave, didn't seem like he could bear to leave. Shu Li couldn't help but think that one day, when Finnian grew up, he would fly towards a wider world without any ties. But Leslie wouldn't. This child would stay, would remember him, would care about him. This feeling of being needed, this illusion, made Shu Li's heart quietly lean towards him. Just like when he first adopted little Naxi.

Ultimately, Shu Li was still afraid of loneliness, afraid that no one would remember him, afraid of being rootless and traceless in this world. Phillips saw Shu Li staring at him without speaking and was about to speak when Shu Li said, "Sleep. Don't talk. Once you start chatting at night, you won't be able to fall asleep."

Phillips was speechless. After two seconds of silence, he turned over decisively, ignoring Shu Li. Shu Li watched him for a few seconds, then turned to look at Kyle on the other side, but Kyle's eyes were already closed, seemingly asleep. So Shu Li closed his eyes, leaving only one thought in his mind: hoping that when he woke up, he would be back in his original timeline.

His breathing gradually steadied, his consciousness blurring and sinking. Just in this quiet night, a dark shadow slithered silently, creeping like a snake from the foot of the bed, slowly, gradually crawling closer to Shu Li. That hand reached into his blanket.