Can a person fall asleep while standing? Of course, it's possible. Xiang Kun had such experience before his mutation, falling asleep standing up on the subway, only to be jolted awake when it was his stop.
However, generally, if you're sleeping standing up, you need something to lean on, or to be holding onto a handrail like on a bus or subway, otherwise it's easy to lose your balance when you doze off.
But Old Xia wasn't leaning against a wall or holding onto a handrail, yet she still managed to sustain her balance while asleep. This was quite amazing.
Could it be because she was holding that woodcarving, helping her to maintain her balance and center of gravity?
Xiang Kun put on a shirt and then squatted down in front of Old Xia, gazing at her with amusement. He tried to take the Eight-Armed, Eight-Eyed Wood Carving from Old Xia's hand, but the moment he touched the woodcarving, Old Xia's eyes shot open, and she lifted the woodcarving up.
