83 The Old Library (2/2)

The instructor stood beneath the signage of The Old Library and smiled sinisterly at the students who had a myriad of different expressions. He looked like a shrewd businessman giving out loans, or a rich man hoarding his gold while flaunting it at the poor. He said warmly,” Do not attempt to test these rules. Even if you were the world's greatest book thief, there is only one end for you if you tried anything in The Old Libary, and that is death. And it'd be a horrible death.”

There was a sudden uproar within the crowd of students. Ning Que stood amongst them, shaking his head. It didn't matter if the building housed every book in the world. How would one remember anything if they weren't allowed to copy nor borrow the books? He had other questions regarding the books kept in the building, and he was sure that there are others with similar questions. As such, he decided to quell his anxiety and waited.

There was no surprise when a student raised his hand and asked. ”Sir, you said that The Old Library had all kinds of books?”

The instructor's gaze shifted to find the bold student who dared raise a question. He furrowed his brows and said distastefully, ”Are you doubting my words?”

”I do not dare.” The student shrunk in the gaze of the instructor and said, ”I'm ... I'm just curious. Are there any... books about cultivation in the building?”

The instructor's expression softened and he smiled. With confidence, he said, ” To the public, books about the enigma would be rare, but to the Academy? If you want to read about the legendary Seven Tome of Arcane or lanke scriptures, it is true that we do not have them. Other than these, we have everything that you can read about cultivation.”

Upon hearing these, Ning Que clenched his fist. while there was no change in his expression, his heart started beating faster. He raised his head subconsciously and stared at the ordinary looking building with three stories. His burning gaze seemed to set the wooden building on fire.

Cultivation has been his dream since he was a child. While he had been disappointed time and time again, the best part about a dream was that it was difficult to attain but would keep reeling you in so that you'd keep trying. And on occasion, it would reveal just a little something to tempt you, seducing you, saying, ”Come and catch me if you can!”

While he had long given up hopes on cultivation, the discovery of a building filled with books on it was like finding gold to a young lad who had given his all on the frontiers and had bought the Article on the Response of the Tao after visiting a number of markets.

”Just a reminder to all the students here, please, reign in your gazes, or The Old Library might really go up in flames. The principal might just cut up all of us and eat us up.”

The instructor smiled faintly at Ning Que before straightening his face. He looked at the students severely and said, ”I have to warn you, the books on enigma that you're all interested about, you cannot memorize them, you can only experience it. As for the theories behind it, I shall of course, not explain. As humans, we all have limitations. If you do not have the potential for cultivation, but attempt to force your way through the books, it will only lead to negative results. When that time comes, do not complain that I did not warn you so.”

…

…

The wooden doors of The Old Library opened slowly. All was silent within. Walking into the library felt like walking into an unknown world. There were no dust nor cobwebs but it gave one the sense that it had gone through the vicissitudes of life. The students outside the building fell silent. They adjusted their robes and calmed themselves before crossing over the doorstill.

The building was bigger on the inside than it looked. The open spaces were filled with countless shelves arranged according to the six subjects, years and genres. They had every book you could think of. High and low, old and new, all gathered in one place, like years of scholars standing shoulder to shoulder watching you.

The students dispersed as they entered the building in search of books they are interested in. Ning Que walked through rows of bookshelves alone, pulling out the odd book to flip through occasionally. He suddenly noted a writing desk under the window. On the desk was paper, brush and ink. It piqued his curiosity, for why were there such things in the library if you were not allowed to copy the books?

He found a book about calligraphy in the South Jin Kingdom. Ning Que walked around while reading. His surroundings got gradually quieter. He raised his head to find a flight of clean stairs before his eyes.

The stairs were meant to access the upper level. He was on the first floor. That meant that at the top of the stairs, was the second floor.

…