Upon hearing that he was about to enter the library, with a lord present, Yan Xiaobao became curious. At first, he wanted to ask where this library was, but after pondering for a moment, he fell silent. It was better not to push his luck too far. Besides, he did not doubt that these guards were taking him to Wan Qiao. They all revered her, and it was impossible for these guards to disobey her orders.
What truly piqued Yan Xiaobao’s curiosity was the identity of this Lord Pan. He was likely the Forest King, but so far, Yan Xiaobao had only seen that pudgy man who had suffered misfortune months ago. In some ways, he hoped it was this man; he had already felt a certain kinship with him, having endured a similar fate.
Before long, they reached a massive wooden door made of heavy timber. Just like the door leading to Wan Qiao’s private chambers, the center of this door was carved with a vermillion bird, flanked by engravings of the sun and moon. The same craftsman must have carved this door, as it bore a similar design.
Standing before the door, Yan Xiaobao was taken aback. He stared at the bird that almost seemed to shimmer on the door, his mouth agape.
While Yan Xiaobao was absorbed in admiring the carvings, one of the men cleared his throat several times, then knocked on the door, loudly declaring, "Lady Wan Qiao, this humble servant has brought Lord Yan Xiaobao. Please permit entry for this lowly one."
The voice snapped Yan Xiaobao’s attention back to the guard standing before him. This man was an expert who had served the late King. Undeniably, he was someone not to be underestimated. His strength certainly surpassed Yan Xiaobao’s—unless that youthful white-haired man was about to transform into a werewolf.
"Enter," a melodious voice granted permission, as elegant and graceful as ever, as if accompanied by thousands of blossoms and butterflies. The gentle resonance of the voice felt warm to the listener’s ears. To Yan Xiaobao, however, it was undoubtedly a façade.
The woman they all revered was not as kind-hearted as she portrayed. She was not the calm and composed figure everyone expected. On the contrary, she was a strong-willed woman with bold ideas. However, she was fully aware that while she harbored these ambitions, she lacked the sophistication to carry them out safely. Thinking about this made Yan Xiaobao’s emotions toward her increasingly conflicted. He was deeply grateful for all the help she had provided—her training had proven to be the most effective he had ever undergone. However, her aspirations and desires for the future were not merely grand but overly ambitious, not only for her but also for the Divine Domain. Clearly, she lacked the necessary military insight, something that made Yan Xiaobao deliberate over his decisions more carefully.
With this in mind, the heavy wooden door opened before him. Nodding to the two guards, Yan Xiaobao stepped inside.
What greeted Yan Xiaobao inside shocked him. It was the largest library he had ever seen. It was even larger than the academy library in Liluo City. Bookshelves behind bookshelves were arranged in circular formations, and in the center, Wan Qiao was seated. Beside her stood a tall, lanky man with a hooked nose. His sharp eyes, long eyebrows, and a chin adorned with an extended white beard gave him a striking appearance. He was dressed in a magnificent white silk robe.
The elder in the white robe fixed his astounded gaze on Wan Qiao as he looked at Yan Xiaobao. "This young man... is he the one who wrote that astonishing work you showed me before?" he asked, his voice filled with incredulity, his eyes nearly popping out of his head.