Lin Yun felt a deep sense of satisfaction as he carefully gathered the stack of books he had been reading. The light streaming through the high windows had shifted, now casting long, golden beams that cut through the dusty air. It was well past noon; time to head back.
He made his way through the silent, labyrinthine aisles, returning each heavy volume to its proper place on the towering shelves.
As he slid the last book, "An Initiate's Guide to Basic Formations," back into its slot, a figure seemed to materialize from the shadows between the shelves.
"Wha—?"
Lin Yun jolted, his heart leaping into his throat. He hadn't heard a single footstep.
Standing before him was an old man, so wizened he seemed to be made of the same parchment and dust as the books surrounding them. He wore simple grey robes, and his back was slightly stooped. But his eyes, though clouded with age, held a sharp, penetrating light that seemed to look straight through Lin Yun.
The memories surfaced instantly. This was Elder Fang, the librarian. A figure of mystery who had been here for as long as anyone could remember. No one knew his origin or his true cultivation level, but all the students treated him with a healthy mix of respect and wariness.
A kind, wrinkled smile spread across Elder Fang's face.
"It is rare," he said, his voice a soft, raspy whisper like the turning of an ancient page, "to see a youngster nowadays pay such close attention to the fundamental knowledge. Most are in a hurry to learn the flashy techniques, to skip straight to the power. They forget that the tallest towers need the deepest foundations."
Lin Yun, having recovered from his startle, quickly composed himself and offered a respectful bow. "Respectful greetings, Elder Fang. This disciple knows nothing about these subjects, so it is only natural to start from the very beginning."
Elder Fang's cloudy eyes seemed to sharpen, focusing on Lin Yun with unnerving intensity.
"That is even more strange," he mused, stroking his long, white beard. "The Lin Clan does not have a bad record when it comes to educating their descendants. Their foundation in alchemy, in particular, is supposed to be quite solid."
Lin Yun felt a slight tension. This old man was far too perceptive. He offered a wry, self-deprecating smile, perfectly mimicking the original owner's attitude.
"My elder brother and sister are truly exceptional. They are the talented ones. I... am the least talented among the clan's younger generations. I have to work harder just to keep up with the basics."
Elder Fang continued to stroke his beard, his meaningful smile never fading. He looked Lin Yun up and down, not with disdain, but with a deep, knowing curiosity.
"Is that so?" he said softly. "Strange. You do not look like someone who is untalented to this old man's eyes."
Lin Yun's heart skipped a beat. Was he found out? Did this Elder Fang possess some profound skill that could see through him? Could he sense the system? Or was he simply referring to the newfound focus and clarity in Lin Yun's demeanor, so different from the lazy, unfocused boy he used to be?
Before Lin Yun could formulate a response, Elder Fang simply chuckled, a dry, rustling sound. "No matter. Work hard, young man. The path of cultivation rewards diligence above all else."
He turned to leave, his movements silent and fluid despite his apparent age. But after taking only two steps, he paused. Without looking back, he raised a bony finger and pointed towards the bottom of a nearby shelf, to a dark, forgotten corner.
"You might try reading that one," Elder Fang said casually. And then, he was gone, vanishing between the shelves as silently as he had appeared.
Lin Yun stood there for a moment, puzzled. He walked over to the spot Elder Fang had indicated. It was a low shelf, covered in a thicker layer of dust than the others.
He knelt down and saw a single, incredibly old book tucked away at the very back. Its leather cover was cracked and faded, its pages brittle and yellowed, looking as if it would crumble to dust at the slightest touch.
Carefully, as if handling a sacred relic, Lin Yun pulled it out. The title, stamped in faded gold leaf on the spine, was almost illegible: "The Origin of Alchemy."
His curiosity was immediately piqued. The Origin of Alchemy? This sounded far more profound than the basic theory books he had been reading. Why would Elder Fang point this specific book out to him?
He was just about to carefully open the cover when a calm, elegant voice spoke from behind him.
"Finding some interesting reading, Young Master Lin?"
Lin Yun turned, the ancient book still in his hands. Standing there was a young man about his age, dressed in robes of refined white and blue silk. He had a handsome, scholarly face and carried himself with a natural grace.
This was Bai Chenfeng, the Second Young Master of the Bai Clan, another of the seven major clans of Fortune City.
The memories informed Lin Yun that the Bai Clan and the Lin Clan maintained cordial, even friendly relations, primarily in trade. However, the younger generations weren't particularly close, unlike the natural alliance between the Hua and Lin Clans due to their complementary businesses.
Bai Chenfeng nodded at Lin Yun with a polite, somewhat distant smile. His eyes then dropped to the book in Lin Yun's hands. A trace of genuine surprise, quickly masked, flashed in his eyes.
"The Origin of Alchemy?" Bai Chenfeng said, his tone lightly inquisitive. "Are you planning to borrow that book?"
Lin Yun nodded, holding the book a little tighter. "Yes. I thought it looked interesting."
Bai Chenfeng's smile remained, but it didn't quite reach his eyes. He simply nodded again. "I see. Well, I wish you good luck in your studies, and also in the upcoming alchemy assessment."
"And to you as well, Young Master Bai," Lin Yun replied with equal politeness.
With a final, unreadable glance at the ancient book, Bai Chenfeng turned and walked away, his footsteps silent on the stone floor.
Lin Yun watched him go, a deep frown forming on his face. First, the mysterious Elder Fang pointed out this specific, forgotten text. Then, the aloof Bai Chenfeng showed a flicker of surprise upon seeing it and specifically mentioned the assessment.
Coincidence? Or was there something special about this crumbling old book?
It was his third day in this world, yet everything was full of mystery…