The morning sun shone brightly on the snow-capped mountains of western Romania, casting a radiant white glow. Despite the icy and snowy world, there was a unique warmth to the winter sun.
Shen Yi stood by the window, gazing at the rows of silver needle cedars and the vast sea of snow, momentarily lost in the pristine beauty of this world. Coming from the southern coastal region of China, he rarely saw snow. During his years in the capital, either buried in studies or consumed with thoughts of revenge, he had little time to appreciate such scenery. Now, in this world of Van Helsing, he had the chance and the mood to witness the natural beauty of the 19th century.
If he survived, theoretically, he could see all sorts of fantastic world sceneries, though he wondered why these worlds existed.
"You look well, as if you've completely recovered," Anna's voice came from behind.
Shen Yi turned to see her wearing a bright blue dress with exquisite lace and a red ribbon in her hair, looking casual yet slightly wild.
She stood at the door, arms crossed.
"It's thanks to your medicine," Shen Yi replied.
With the 'Despicable Medical Art,' Shen Yi had already fully recovered the previous night. Becoming an adventurer had significantly enhanced his constitution; even without the medical art, a night's rest would have been enough for substantial recovery.
"You don't need to find such excuses. I know the effects of those medicines, but if you don't want to say, I won't ask. Everyone has the right to keep their secrets."
"You're an understanding and kind girl," Shen Yi smiled.
The town's church bells rang, melodious and clear.
Shen Yi looked outside, seeing the townspeople gathering again.
"What's happening now?"
"It's nothing. It's the church bell. Most people in Transylvania are devout believers, and today is the day of prayer to God."
"What are they praying for?"
"What else? They hope God will help them escape the enslavement of vampires."
"Funny, after last night, I thought they welcomed vampires."
"Like no one welcomes tyranny, but no one dares to resist. Dracula is too powerful."
Shen Yi's lips curled into a slight smile. He picked up his coat and headed for the door.
"Hey, where are you going?" Anna asked.
"To the church."
"Are you a believer?"
"Everyone has their faith," Shen Yi answered.
In the church, an elderly priest with white hair was delivering a sermon.
"Today, we gather here to express our devotion and gratitude to God. This place is appropriate because it is filled with holy light, unaffected by the evils of the world. As we know, all evil spirits are not without reason; they are reflections of the evil within our hearts, the reflection of our greed, hatred, jealousy, fear. God guides us; He is like the sun, warming us, dispelling darkness, driving away evil spirits."
"To disrespect the Father, our Lord, is to abandon the light and embrace darkness and evil. The Father punishes him, surrounds him with evil spirits, until one day he awakens. If he does not convert, the Father will descend with holy light to cleanse the sin."
"Let us pray to the Father, who gives us light, air, flowers, clean water, and peace. In the name of the Father, may our hearts remain pure and untouched by the erosion of evil and darkness."
"Amen!"
"Amen!" the congregation prayed softly.
After the sermon, the priest typically asked about the feelings of the believers. Some enthusiastically shared how their souls were liberated and found peace since converting to God. Others sought the priest's guidance on recent events.
One townsman asked for the priest's guidance: "The Silver Wolf died yesterday, Father. Was that God's arrangement?"
The priest replied, "The Lord's will is inscrutable; we must follow His will. If the Lord wishes to punish us, we should accept it; if He wishes to reward us, we should be humbly grateful. The Silver Wolf, a servant of the vampire Dracula, is an undead and evil being, and the Lord will surely punish and eradicate them."
"But what if Count Dracula comes after us?"
The priest answered, "Then we must face it bravely... the Lord... has His plans."
"The question is, when the Lord's plans arrive, will you be able to see them clearly? And will you understand them?" A loud voice in the church broke the brief harmony.
The congregation turned to see Shen Yi standing at the church entrance. A murmur arose, and someone shouted, "It's that outsider who killed the Silver Wolf and brought disaster to our town. He even dares to come here!"
"Silence! This is a holy place, no place for uproar!" the priest called out loudly, and the church fell quiet.
Shen Yi walked confidently to the pulpit, joining the priest. "Father, may I have a few words?"
The priest looked at Shen Yi, thought for a moment, and then nodded. "Everyone has the right to express their opinion, as the Lord is magnanimous. Even the most sinful cannot be deprived of their right to speak. But if you blaspheme the Lord, you will be punished."
Stepping aside, the priest allowed Shen Yi to take the stage. Shen Yi surveyed the congregation and began, "Before I speak, I want to tell a small story."
"It's about a believer whose devotion moved the merciful Father. When he died and ascended to heaven, the Father personally met him and asked what reward he desired. He wished for his son to become a great man."
"The Father granted his wish. When the son learned of the Father's blessing, he gave up working, waiting for the Father to make him a duke. But he waited in vain, believing the Father would fulfill his promise. Years passed, and he grew poor and destitute, eventually dying miserably without food or clothes."
"In heaven, he questioned the Father why the promise wasn't kept. The Father replied that he never forgot his promise. The son needed to work first, even as a lowly official, to become great. The Father sent numerous calls to arms, but the son ignored them all. Without effort, the Father could not make him great. He then tried to make the son a merchant, promising success, but still, the son did nothing. Finally, the Father placed gold under the slabs of his yard. All he needed was to clean to find it. Yet still, he did nothing..."
Shen Yi spoke calmly, his eyes twinkling with an unusual smile. "Sadly, the people of Transylvania are like that foolish and lazy child, waiting for the Father's salvation. But when salvation came, they did not cherish or protect it. Instead, they treated their savior as an enemy."
A townsman, Gascon, stood up, "What are you talking about?"
"You heard me," Shen Yi said loudly. "You fear offending evil, but when the Father sends his messenger to save you, you treat him with contempt. What are you doing in this town? You're oppressed by vampires, yet you disdain outside help and even try to hand over the man who killed the Silver Wolf to appease Dracula. Is this how you repay the Father's grace? You pray for light, but when dawn comes, you choose darkness! What does that make you?"
Shen Yi shouted, "Hypocrites! Selfish, lazy, incompetent, cowardly unbelievers! You desecrate the Father's grace, ignore His glory, embrace darkness, bow to evil, then seek the Father's forgiveness? Are you worthy?"
"You dare speak for the Father?" Gascon yelled, fists clenched.
Northon, another townsman, interjected, "How can you be the Father's messenger? We will recognize the Father's grace when it comes!"
Northon called to the crowd, "Get rid of this blasphemer!"
Bang! A gunshot rang out. Northon clutched his leg and fell, screaming in pain. Shen Yi stood at the pulpit, smoke wafting from his gun.
The priest exclaimed, "How dare you commit violence in this holy place?!"
Shen Yi retorted, citing biblical passages about divine punishment and retribution, leaving the priest speechless.
Northon protested his innocence, but Shen Yi exposed his true nature as a selfish, money- and status-driven man, colluding with Dracula for personal gain.
The congregation was shocked. Shen Yi's words seemed to have divine insight.
As Shen Yi approached Northon and healed his leg with his medical art, the crowd gasped in awe, seeing it as a miracle.
"This is the grace of the Lord," Shen Yi declared.
The congregation, awestruck, knelt before Shen Yi in reverence.