Chương 60: Chapter 58

As we pass through the park, I notice it looks exactly the same as before my exile. Not a single tree has been pruned differently, nor have the rocks along the paths shifted from their places. Even the ducks on the pond seem to be the same ones from nearly two years ago. But of course, it seems they've forgotten me. When I used to come here in my free time, they would waddle over flapping their wings and quacking, begging for the breadcrumbs I brought them.

Now they barely lift their heads to glance at us before diving back into the water.

"Is something the matter, Zhāohuán Wen?" Lianhua asks me, lowering her voice slightly so as not to break the silence of the park.

"Nothing", I tell her without taking my eyes off the ducks.

"I was just thinking that this place seems to have been frozen in time. I suppose the imperial gardeners don't like changing things unless they're expressly asked to." I can feel Lianhua watching me over the back of the chair as she pushes it, but she says nothing as the procession continues forward without hurry, and little by little we leave the park behind and draw closer to the Imperial Library. The bronze doors rise imposingly before us, decorated with intertwined dragon effigies, as grand as I remembered.

On either side, two Jin Wei in gleaming armor stand watch in silence as they observe our approach. One of them raises his hand as we arrive at the doors "Halt. No one may enter without permission." Lianhua steps forward with a confident stride and produces the authorization my father gave me.

"We have a signed authorization to access the library in the name of the Zhāohuán", she tells them. The Jin Wei examines the authorization carefully, frowning, but then nods "You may enter, but only two escorts may accompany you." Lianhua turns toward the Nei Wei accompanying us and gives a signal, after which she positions herself behind my chair again and pushes it through the library doors while two of the Nei Wei follow us inside.

Inside, everything is exactly as I remembered, and I take in once more the dark wooden shelves, carved with scenes of history and what I'm now no longer so certain is mythology, filling the three floors visible through the opening of the building's central courtyard. I keep looking around and recognize the spot where I received my first lessons from the Jinshi Wenxue, though the custom table and chair they set up for me back then are clearly no longer there.

And I can't help but smile at the memory of those lessons, especially because of how boring they were and only bearable thanks to the brief moments when the differences between the Chinese culture of my former world and the culture of this one managed to intrigue me. But fortunately, this time I'm not here to learn to count rods, imperial history, or the doctrines of this world's ancient sages.

I lift my gaze toward the second floor, since that's where the books that interest me are, but then I notice something and look toward one side of the library, where I find what I have decided is, from this moment on, my greatest archenemy in this world, the stairs to the second floor of the Imperial Library. But in the end, with a sigh, I shake my head.

"Lianhua, bring me to one of the tables", I ask, gesturing toward the nearest one. Lianhua brings my chair to the table and makes room to accommodate it, then remains at my side awaiting my next instructions. I look around and notice the Nei Wei staying close but unobtrusive, while the nearby librarians stare at me, as is usually the case.

"See those librarians watching us?" I tell Lianhua.

"I'm sure at least one of them remembers me from when I used to come for my lessons with the Jinshi Wenxue. Tell them I need to ask about books on some topics that interest me." Lianhua nods and walks over to the librarians, where I watch her speak with them for a few moments, after which a librarian with a thin face and a short beard accompanies her back to my table. When he arrives, he inclines his head formally "How may I help you, Zhāohuán?"

After that brief introduction, I begin asking him about the contents of the books and about topics that interest me, and little by little I start to form an idea of what the two upper floors contain. The second floor is quite straightforward. As I keep questioning him, I realize it focuses on books more specific to the world than the first floor, above all on everything related to Qi and how it affects things, such as herbs, spirit beasts, forbidden zones, and similar subjects, so I have no trouble accessing them.

But things seem to change when I start asking about the books on the third floor and I realize that's where the books I'm most interested in are, and that they're restricted not only by cultivation level but also by what the librarian has called learning level. When I hear this, I can barely contain my frustration. Barriers again?

"Even with full access permission?" I finally ask, my tone tightening slightly with frustration.

"That is correct", he replies with the serenity of someone who has repeated this explanation a hundred times.

"The access permission grants entry to the general collections, but specialized disciplines such as alchemy or formations, as well as the detailed explanations of cultivation levels, are restricted by Imperial Decree."

"To access the detailed explanations on cultivation levels, you must first have completed the previous cultivation level", the librarian continues.

"In your case, Zhāohuán, you will be able to access all books pertaining to Gate Opening once you have completed Body Tempering. I'm sorry if that inconveniences you, but those are the rules and we cannot make exceptions." I exhale a sigh of frustration at his words, but then ask "And this learning level you mention, the one required to view books on formations or talismans, what exactly is it?"

"It simply means holding at minimum the rank of apprentice in the guild corresponding to the subject you wish to consult, since there is information that can be dangerous for those who don't understand what they're reading", the librarian answers. This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

"In other words", I say to him.

"If I want to consult books on formations, I have to be an apprentice of the formations guild."

"Exactly", he tells me.

"Or at the very least, a Formation Master must have taken you on as their apprentice and thus vouches for you, even if you're not affiliated with the guild." In other words, to access those books I essentially need to be a professional, or at least have learned the basics of how those professions work. I breathe in slowly and ask one last question, since I have only one solution left regarding what interests me most "And the books that only describe runes? Their shapes, their meanings, their names.

Are those restricted too?" The librarian pauses to think for a moment, then replies "No, those texts are accessible and are even located on the second floor. Although I should warn you that, without the context provided by the various disciplines, the study of isolated runes has very little practical use."

"I don't care", I reply firmly.

"I want a list of every book the library has on runes so I can plan the order in which to read them." The librarian regards me for a moment, perhaps evaluating whether I'm serious, but finally inclines his head "It will take me a few minutes, Zhāohuán." As he walks away, I turn to Lianhua and ask "Do you know what the requirements are to become an apprentice in formation crafting, talisman making, or enchantment? Those are the ones that use runes the most, according to the book on runes I bought in Xi'an."

Lianhua shakes her head "I don't know. But I can always write to the Shangshu and tell them you're interested in learning." I think it over for a few seconds and finally reply "Good thinking. When we get back, write him a letter saying I'd like to learn formation crafting, and let's see what he says."

"Understood, Zhāohuán Wen", she says without hesitation. After our conversation, we fall into silence, and the light creeps slowly across the library shelves as we wait. But the wait isn't long before the librarian returns and hands me a lengthy list of books.

"This is the complete list, Zhāohuán", he tells me with an inclination of his head.

"It's extensive, but it includes both introductory titles and more advanced ones." I look it over and begin reading, though there's only one title I recognize, the one I purchased at the Pavilion of the Golden Pearl, so I simply choose two that have the word introduction in their titles.

"I want these two to start with", I tell him, pointing at them with my finger as I hand the list back.

"I'll take them today." The librarian nods, bows, and goes off to find them. As I watch him walk away, I lean back slightly in my chair and think about how those books on runes will probably last me a couple of months, and barring any news on whether I can become an apprentice to a formation master or something similar, well, I still have an entire floor of books that, though less mystical than I'd like, still hold their share of interest for everything they'll tell me about this world.

I slam the last book on the list they gave me at the library shut, and the sharp crack of the cover striking the desk reverberates through the room, making my accumulated frustration plain for all to hear. With a sigh, I let my head drop onto the book as I sink into a feeling of helplessness. I clearly overestimated myself, both me and my Blessing.

I thought it would be enough to devour every book on runes and possibly have a couple of trances from my Blessing to learn something practical about their use, but now I see that was a mistake. Yes, I know, or at least I believe I know, every single one of them and all their possible individual meanings, since many have several, as well as their possible applications in theory, but what good does that do me?

Going over the texts again and again only leads me to one inevitable conclusion drawn from all the hints they contain, sometimes subtle and sometimes not, which is that runes are like an alphabet, and each discipline that uses them is its own language. Formations, talismans, and enchantments are each an independent language with distinct rules, and on top of that, apart from the elemental runes, the meaning of any given rune can vary drastically depending on context.

I finally raise my head slowly and let out another frustrated sigh, resting one hand on the desk and drumming my fingers against the wooden surface. To make matters worse, the Shangshu rejected my request to formally study any of these cultivator disciplines. According to him, I first need to be capable of manipulating Qi, and that means completing Body Tempering, something I won't be able to do until I'm twelve.

And that's only the beginning, because after finishing it, that's merely the prerequisite for beginning to cultivate Gate Opening, since to actually use Qi I have to open at least one of them, which will obviously take me even more time. What I don't understand is why they won't at least let me study the theory even if I can't practice it. I suppose that, as always in this world so similar to ancient China, tradition weighs more than logic.

"I suppose it's time for Plan B", I say to myself as I decide I need to change my approach, and for that I need to speak with my mother to ask her a few things. And with my birthday only a month away, I could also use the visit to get the preparations out of the way and ask her about them, so I reach for the cord near my desk and pull it, causing a small bell to ring through my quarters. Shortly after, the door opens silently and Lianhua appears with her customary composure.

"Lianhua", I say the moment I see her.

"I need to speak with my mother." She gives me a slight bow upon hearing me, but before moving she says "Zhāohuán Wen, I have received some information from my contact in the Yushitai regarding the city of Xi'an that may be of interest to you. Would you like to hear it before visiting Guifei Xiang?" I frown at her words, but it's true that now that we have information about what has happened since we left, I can't help but want to know, so I tell her "What did they tell you?"

"It appears that over the past few months, the court has been receiving reports of multiple attacks targeting businesses and members of the most influential families in Xi'an, attacks that neither the authorities nor private guards have been able to prevent", Lianhua begins calmly.

"This had generated conflicts between the governor and those families, significantly escalating the tensions that already existed since the incident at the Celestial Fragment of the Sands, and the court feared Xi'an was on the brink of a revolt and was preparing to act." When I hear Lianhua, I close my eyes in resignation and let out a sigh deeper still.

"It seems Ling Tian finally decided to go through with his plans", I say with resignation.

"I knew nothing good would come of his obsession with revenge."

"So it seems", Lianhua agrees softly, though I can tell from her tone that she's still holding something back.

"What else is there, Lianhua?" I say impatiently.

"Two days ago", she continues after a brief pause.

"The court received word that the Governor of Xi'an has disappeared, along with several of his subordinates." I stare at her, eyes narrowed "What do you mean, disappeared?"

"Exactly what I said, Zhāohuán Wen", she replies without flinching.

"Simply put, no one knows where he is. The Yushitai suspects he fled because of the situation in the city. As a result, the court has had to accelerate its plans, and the Emperor has ordered his immediate capture, in addition to dispatching a new military governor along with an Imperial Legion to restore order in the city." I massage my temples, weary, as I recall the pompous worm of a governor, whom I never thought capable of something like this.

It was obvious the situation would explode, but I hadn't imagined it would happen so quickly, much less that it would be his fault.

"Please don't say anything about this to Xia", I ask finally, my voice heavy with concern.

"If she doesn't find out, all the better. And if it does reach her ears, we'll see how she reacts before deciding what to do."

"Understood, Zhāohuán Wen", Lianhua replies firmly.

"Is there anything else you need to report, aside from court rumors?" I ask.

"No, Zhāohuán Wen. That's all I have for now", she answers.

"Very well", I say with a nod, regaining some composure.

"Now then, take me to see my mother. I have several things to discuss with her."

"As you wish, Zhāohuán Wen", Lianhua says as she approaches and takes hold of my chair. As we leave the room, I can't help but think with concern about Ling Tian and whether he'll be wise enough to know when to stop, because if he persists with his plans once the Imperial Legion reaches its destination, I'm certain they'll capture or kill him, and I have no desire to deliver the news to Xia that her brother has been killed or executed for pursuing a pointless vendetta.