act49side

As Magistrate of Water for the Sky Mirror Pavilion, I cannot allow you to enter, whether it is for the safety of the Pavilion's archives, or for your own safety.

Turn back.

Magistrate of Water... what kind of position is that?

The Sky Mirror Pavilion is the first library of Yan. The Magistrate of Water is responsible for preventing fires.

What are you doing in the Sky Mirror Pavilion, if you don't even know this?

I thought... a modern library wouldn't need a specific person to prevent fires anymore.

Indeed, you're right. Smart girl. Now, get out.

I'm sorry... I mean no offense.

But I happen to know someone who used to work in Baizao's library...

Who? What's your relationship?

That's not important. It was many years ago.

Hm...

The aloof woman takes a few steps forward, lifting her lantern to look closely at Ch'en's face.

Ch'en instinctively takes a step back.

Enough. Nothing you say will matter.

Leave, if you have no business here. You'll regret it when the gates close.

But you're the only one here. Are you sure you'll be fine?

That's none of your business—why do you poke your nose into it?

Honestly... I came to clear out these monsters.

But when I saw this library, I felt like... like I've seen it in a dream. Like someone intentionally guided me here.

A dream? Is that the best excuse you can come up with?

It's not an excuse. Besides, I used to be a cop. I'm familiar with security work.

Please, trust me. Let me participate in the investigation.

You... you're really a police?

Ch'en shows her ID.

You're from Lungmen...

Ch'en... Hui-chieh.

Ch'en Hui-chieh? What are you doing here?

Huh...?

Don't think a piece of paper grants you free passage.

I, Ch'en Chao-ch'ien, am the last of the Ch'ens. Have you come to mock the House of Ch'en? I'll never understand the imperial family's hobbies.

That means, you're—

Still playing dumb? Don't you even know who your parents are?

Your family never cared about the husband's side of the family when Princess Yanjing remarried, only to ruin the careers of the entire Ch'en family when she died...

What did my cousin do wrong? How could he possibly refuse?

Maybe you don't believe me... I can hardly believe it myself, but no one's ever told me so much about my family like that.

I thought... I was the only one.

You didn't know? Then why have you come to the Sky Mirror Pavilion?

They stare at each other wordlessly, as though looking into blurry mirrors.

I'm sorry...

Enough... leave. A few nice words, that's all. You were willing to say them, and I appreciate it. Let's leave it at that.

I gave up asking more questions a long time ago. Thunder and rain are both gifts from Heaven. I should be grateful I still have a job—

...Again.

Wh-What? Didn't they disappear...?

Oh no! The books!

I'll take you inside. It's faster that way. Excuse me.

Stop! Such gall—w-wait!

Insolent child—

Beneath the tall dome, densely packed bookshelves extend as far as the eye can see, reflecting in the floor like a massive, constantly expanding weiqi board.

Ink-colored scriptgeists wander amidst them, scattered like weiqi stones.

This is not good. The monsters here are much stronger than the ones I encountered at the gate.

It's like they came flowing out of the shelves... what are they?

Not shelves. Pages. Can't you tell?

Pages?

Get back!

Hey, don't grab me—

Fine, I suppose your intentions are righteous.

What do you think, Candleholder Zuo? Is the news timely enough for you?

Going straight for the source of the geist trouble—even you Sui Regulator people haven't been able to react yet.

Do you believe me now?

Shut up and give it back!

The sound of metal clanging against metal.

Sparks fly as blades clash.

Hmph.

Mo Yi clenches her teeth as the soreness spreads from her hand to the rest of her arm.

You blockhead... gotten stronger in the span of just a few days, haven't you?

What do you want, Shanhaizhong bandit?

Don't tell me you haven't noticed something's not right with the Sui Regulator?

What about this doll? Why did you steal it?

It belongs to a proxy, just like the <i>Book of Kung Fu</i>. I believe... it has something to do with the vanished proxy.

As for taking it...

Would you have cooperated and come with me to the Sky Mirror Pavilion, hard-headed as you are, if I didn't?

What?!

Out of the way!

He pushes so hard that it sends the doll in Mo Yi's arms flying.

(Oh no!)

You won't—

Blades cross again in the blink of an eye.

The force sends both of them recoiling.

The blades vibrate and hum.

—Look out!

The bookshelf collapses towards Mo Yi, the shockwave forcing her back.

Stop! STOP!

(Who are they...?)

You're swinging swords at each other when there are still monsters around?! And you toppled an entire shelf of books?!

Out! GET OUT!

Wait, be careful—

Hmph...

It is unclear who moved first.

The balance is broken, and chaos breaks out.

Mo Yi turns towards the charging Magistrate of Water, angling her wrist to point her sword at her foe's shoulder.

Zuo Le's swing misses Mo Yi by inches, cutting the red rope tied to the wooden lock.

Stand back!

Ch'en has no time to pull Ch'en Chao-ch'ien back. Almost by instinct, she draws Chi Xiao, and barely parries an attack, without even seeing who made it.

Sparks fly amidst the poorly lit bookshelves, accompanied by the piercing sound of clashing metal.

Huh?

Mo Yi grabs Ch'en Chao-ch'ien by the collar and pulls her away from the scuffle.

Ch'en steps forward, her blade leading the way.

Zuo Le stands his ground—

Stop!