Chapter 153 - Ocean of Books

Back in Fengfu City, Zang Wei had soldiers guard the borders and stationed soldiers around-the-clock within the city's vicinity. 

Redheaded Bernavoles citizens slowly arrived at the city gates. Zang Wei checked their papers and had no way to stop them from entering. Although they look suspicious with their big swords wrapped in cloths behind their backs, they held credible papers from the Youshi Government office signed by the Minister of Trade and Foreign Affairs.

On the other hand, they were also amiable and polite, and dressed up in the most presentable way as a merchant should. They even lined up for inspection. They also offered a gift to Lifen as the acting governor. However, it was a fact that these men found her adorable too. The head merchant even openly sought her hand out in marriage, making Zang Wei jealous and angry. If he could make her refuse to meet the visitors, he would, but duties come first. Thus, he had to stay at her side whenever a foreigner wished to meet her, of which she didn't mind. 

In other words, Zang Wei couldn't find anything illegal from these people to keep them from entering the city. Their only downside was they openly expressed their reason for coming, to buy the special stones in the city mines of which was legal in all sense unless the governor or the Youshi king would issue an edict from keeping anyone from buying the stones or mining the caves. 

Zang Wei deeply hoped Ming would be back soon so he could issue such an important edict.

As of the moment, Zang Wei allowed them to come, but they had to set camps outside and leave their weapons there. Unexpectedly, the Bernavoles merchants obeyed. He sent men to monitor their camps daily and their dealings in the city. Another Mafan would be the last thing they wanted to encounter.

Yet, so far, no incident deemed dangerous at the present. Markets opened as expected. Merchants traded as usual. People lived their lives daily as if nothing deadly occurred days ago. The city life moved on while construction of the walls went on, including in the Anjing Pavilion.

However, the Fengfu City residents united to hush the news about the bizarre incident with Mafan, the governor's disappearance, and the wife's extraordinary powers. They understood how dire their situation would be if these reached the ears of the high-strung officials in the capital. 

Another good thing took place. After that deadly incident, these people had warmly accepted the Chiangdas. They realized these exceptionally powerful beings were also flesh and blood with emotions like them. Not superior or inferior in any way. Nor controlled by demons but who only wanted to live peacefully and to be accepted as normal people like them. 

---- o ----

Not too far from Fengfu City, Prime minister Xian Lang, ordered the stone Chiangdas to dig a huge cavern, as big as a cathedral underground. The men built it in less than a day. They moved in when it was ready for habitation. 

The entrance was through a huge rock hewn to look like an eerie cave where the way was narrow and dark. However, it was all an illusion produced by an illusion formation the prime minister personally made. The hideous part about this formation was it was a deadly type, massacre awaited the uninvited guests.

In reality, the entrance was just an ordinary huge rock near a river with an opening carved by a stone Chiangda. But for double-precaution sake, a plant Chiangda surrounded it with tall trees and vines.

Inside the cavern, Prime Minister Xian Lang stood on a stone platform. "For now, this would be our abode while we are here," he told the army of thousand Chiangdas he brought. "So be ready anytime when we need to defend Fengfu City and fight with our lives on the line. Don't let the enemy have their way in our nation."

The people hailed in reply with their fists up high. Their voices echoed in the cave. Yet, outside, it was as peaceful as a wild forest could be. Only the chirping of birds, cries of four-hooved animals, rushing and splashing of river water, and rustling of the wind on the leaves could be heard.

---- o ----

Xinyi carefully opened her eyelids and was surprised to see herself surrounded by books and other things she could not recognize. Some were odd looking and bound in leathers or made of blocks of wood. There were some woven mats with drawn objects on it. 

There were books that had jewels on top while some were covered with thick metals with a keyhole. Common books she knew were also there. She had read them when she was young. But this was the first time she laid her eyes on most of these weird and intriguing items at the same time. Most of the writings were also foreign to her. 

She looked down and saw a sea of books under her feet. The place was messy. Yet, she couldn't understand her heart was at peace. She could not feel any threatening presence at all. But she was alone.

"Where am I? General Lofey? Sir Tyriece? Where are you?" No one replied. Not even an echo. 

She looked up and saw no ceiling or roof above her head, but only a clear blue sky. She had gone to her family's library, enclosed in stone walls and books arranged in shelves to keep it safe from wearing out. There were ancestral treasures in there too, but covered with blankets to avoid dust settling on it. However, this place had none to shelter these literary treasures from the ever-changing weather. 

Moreover, when her hand touched the books, there was no trace of dust. She skimmed through the pages of a book and found it was handwritten. The astounding part was the date written on top was thrice her age, but she saw no rotting of the pages. In other words, these collections had existed far decades ago, or maybe more. But these were well taken care of, aside from the arrangements. The person-in-charge left it piled up into small hills.

She opened more books in her language and was in awe to read diverse unknown topics. What is a rocket flying to the moon? Were stars made of stones and not the souls of his ancestors as she was taught they were? Michael Angelo? Hades, Zeus, Eres? Who were these people written in these books titled Encyclopedia? 

Where these books came from the worlds that Skrider mentioned? Would she be able to read something about her own world where her biological family lived? She was elated, believing she could find one.

"Wow, it would take decades to gather these vast collections. Who might be the owner of this place?"

She moved the books and objects, using her feet to make room for her legs to walk around, but it seemed she was also standing on books. She had to be careful to climb her way around or she might slip down along with the tumbling books. Xinyi did not want to be buried and die under books.

In the end, she couldn't bear the silence anymore. She stood with straight backs and cupped her hands on her lips, shouting, "Anybody out there?"

"Hi, lady Xinyi," a girl's audible voice said out of nowhere. 

Xinyi turned around but found no one. "Who are you? Do I know you?"

"Yes, and No." 

Xinyi still saw no one else. Wary of the unseen companion, she made a defending stance while she glanced at her sides. Ready to fight if the person would sneak an attack. 

"Who are you? Come out," Xinyi said, harsher this time.

"As you wish." A shimmering golden Koi as tall as Xinyi appeared right next to her, smiling from ear to ear. Before Xinyi could react, the Koi smashed its enormous tail toward her.