Three months passed in the blink of an eye.
The early morning mist had yet to dissipate, but Ian was already in the Chixia Business Alliance's library.
He had visited this room on the east side of the Stone Tower's top floor many times.
Ebony bookshelves reached from floor to ceiling on all four walls, neatly stacked with thousands of parchment scrolls, thread-bound ancient tomes, and a small number of metal plates sealed in a special alloy.
The air was filled with the musty scent characteristic of old paper, mixed with the faint, elusive fragrance of medicinal herbs used for fumigation.
"Core Honored Guest Elders may borrow three volumes per month."
The one managing the library was an old woman with completely white hair.
She sat in a rattan chair by the window, holding a yellowed booklet, and spoke in a raspy voice without looking up.
"The loan period is one month. Do not damage them, and do not copy them."
