Timeline Player

The mirror reflected Chi Que's slightly tired face.

Then he suddenly realized something.

Something is moving behind me.

However, it's not clear.

No matter how hard he tried to concentrate or adjust his perspective, he couldn't make out the thing's exact appearance.

The unknown thing had no specific shape, like a twisted and writhing shadow. It had no eyes, yet seemed to be "watching" him; it had no sound, yet seemed to be muttering silently.

What is that?

Should we turn back?

Just a glance at it, and you might know what it is.

However, deep down, a frantic warning was emanating from within.

We cannot turn back, we absolutely cannot turn back!

He tried to back up, but bumped into something.

Chi Que didn't know what it was, but he was certain that it was definitely not a wall.

Cold, sticky, and filled with unspeakable malice.

Time passed by, and he kept staring straight at the mirror in front of him until dawn.

A beam of light shone in, and Chi Que felt the pervasive malice vanish instantly, letting out a long sigh of relief.

My back was completely soaked with cold sweat.

He needs rest now, both mentally and physically.

He went to the bed.

......

Chi Que had a nightmare.

He sat up abruptly in bed, panting heavily.

However, he had forgotten what nightmares were.

Thankfully, it was just a dream.

He wiped the cold sweat from his forehead, got up and put on his shoes. The silver moon outside the window had just passed its zenith; it was still a long time before dawn.

He went to the restroom, and while washing his hands, he suddenly noticed that the mirror in front of him was foggy.

So he reached out to wipe it.

But then it suddenly stopped.

A beam of silver light shone on the mirror.

Chi Que suddenly had a sense of déjà vu.

It was as if he had just experienced all of this.

No, it's not "as if"!

How many times has this happened already?!

The third time? The fourth time? Or...more?!

Each time he thought he had broken free, but each time he woke up in the middle of the night, and each time he exhausted himself to hold on until dawn.

Or rather, it is the starting point of the next cycle.

"Enough!" This time, Chi Que did not choose to wipe the water vapor off the mirror, but instead threw a punch.

His punch, imbued with all his energy at that moment, tore through the air and slammed into the mirror like an arrow released from a bow.

boom--

He imagined the mirror would shatter, but that didn't happen.

The mirror wobbled slightly, then gradually cracked, but not from the surface; rather, it cracked from the inside out.

It was as if something was trying to come out from inside.

He felt a chill run down his spine, but fortunately, the punch didn't seem to have been completely ineffective, and the door reappeared.

He immediately opened the door, turned around, and ran.

Outside the door was a corridor, but what was originally a short distance of less than ten meters now seemed like an insurmountable abyss.

No turning back! No turning back!

Reason warned him, but he could imagine that the thing behind him was a large, sticky wall of flesh, constantly approaching him, and he could even feel the dripping slime.

"What kind of Cthulhu creature is this?!" Chi Que complained as he ran, "It doesn't fit the world at all!"

But just then, a ray of light appeared ahead.

It wasn't sunlight; it was much softer, like a layer of silver gauze—the radiance of the moon.

But whatever the light, it is nothing short of a lifeline for Chi Que right now.

However, what appeared before him surprised him.

This is the attic.

Ke Lei sat by the window, her eyelashes fluttering slightly. Seemingly noticing his arrival, she turned her head: "Manager?"

She seemed to want to come over.

Chi Que was taken aback at first, then shouted loudly, "Don't come any closer! Quick! Turn around!"

However, Ke Lei did not respond.

At that moment, Chi Que sensed that the thing had arrived.

It smashed the door, blocking out all the light and casting an impenetrable shadow over the attic.

Chi Que immediately pounced on her, covering her eyes: "Don't look...don't look at that thing..."

However, Ke Lei raised her head, looked at him with emotionless eyes, and said softly, "It's okay."

She reached out her hand towards the mysterious monster.

The moment her fingertips touched the shadow, it vanished silently, like mist illuminated by sunlight.

Chi Que suddenly opened his eyes: "Ke Lei?!"

He found himself still in the Blood Moon Church, where priests were holding services and some people were looking at him strangely.

Chi Que was in a state of utter confusion.

What exactly is going on?

Was that just an illusion?

Or perhaps, it's hinting at something?

Chi Que took a deep breath to calm himself down.

He looked up at the mirror; it was still crimson, but the previous abnormality had disappeared.

Aston turned around and glanced at him, but said nothing.

Just then, the two suddenly heard a noisy commotion coming from the side of the church.

"I have something important to report to the bishop immediately, concerning the unusual circumstances of the celebration!" a familiar voice said.

Chi Que had recovered from the previous abnormality and recognized the silver-haired vampire youth.

"I'm very sorry, Your Excellency Cameron," a voice replied calmly, "the bishop is in meditation today and is not receiving visitors."

Retreat?

Aston was taken aback.

How can his plan proceed then?

At that moment, the silver-haired vampire youth was also pushed out from the side by another priest, and bumped into Aston.

"You are... His Excellency Aston? What brings you here?" His tone regained its composure, ignoring Chi Que standing to the side.

Aston suddenly had a plan.

He maintained his composure and slowly nodded, saying, "It's His Excellency Cameron. We've come to recreate a legendary dish, and therefore wish to borrow the church's kitchen to bear witness to it."

Chi Que instantly understood Aston's intention, but he was also happy to see it happen.

"A legendary dish?" Cameron was taken aback at first, his mind racing, and his eyes instantly lit up with a burning light.

Isn't this the perfect opportunity to curry favor with... no, to show loyalty to the Duchess?

In particular, he had just been rebuffed by the bishop and needed another breakthrough.

"Oh." A warm smile instantly spread across his face. "I see. But it's a real pity. His Excellency the Bishop is not receiving guests today, so I suppose we can't borrow the kitchen."

Aston gave a perfectly timed look of disappointment: "That's such a shame."

Cameron opened his arms and generously invited, "However, although my humble abode is not as solemn as the church, it is fully equipped with a kitchen. Since Lord Aston is in such a good mood, why don't you move in?"

"How could I possibly accept that?" Aston said with a smile.

The two declined three times...

Chi Que was too lazy to listen to their aristocratic banter. He was currently organizing the information he had gathered, and a hypothesis gradually formed.

Is Kelei related to the Moon Goddess? The imagery of the moon in the Duchess's power was taken from her?

As he was pondering, his ears twitched slightly. Looking in the direction of the sound, he saw Mia in a small room by the side door of the church, calling to him: "Master Chef, someone asked me to give you this."