Banyan Heart

After [Xiumu] left, [Chenpi] looked [Chen Miemie] up and down, suspicion written all over his face.

“Why did you think of recruiting [Xiumu]? She’s only a researcher. She doesn’t have any authority.”

Chen Miemie’s gaze seemed to pass through the wall and reach somewhere far away.

“I’ve wandered around Level B4 many times. Other than your section, most of the research projects down there belong to [Xiumu].

“I’ve seen every anomaly locked up there. They’re all doing fairly well. Even though they’re experimental subjects, they haven’t been abused or subjected to excessively cruel experiments.

“She’s spent years in a dark underground facility, lost the person she loved, and holds the power of life and death in her hands. The fact that [Xiumu] can exercise such restraint says a lot about her nature.

“[Chenpi], you’d better keep a close eye on her and make sure she’s treated well. Otherwise, one day I might poach her from you.”

“Hmph. As if you need to tell me. She’s my disciple.”

After leaving the underground facility, Chen Miemie went straight to the top floor.

The top floor was [Silence]’s office.

Chen Miemie sat down on his personal little sofa. “This sofa is much more comfortable. It beats [Chenpi]’s tiny chair by a mile.”

[Silence]’s office had not only a sofa, but also tea and pastries.

“This is ordinary tea, right? I’m not drinking your [Silence Water] again.”

“Relax. It’s high-quality black tea. What brings you here today?” [Silence] was speechless. A treasure of the caliber of [Silence Water] was something others would beg to drink.

“Do you know what Chen Miaomiao has been up to lately? Why has she gone missing?”

“More than half a year ago, Third Seat went to [Clam Ruins], an underwater city belonging to the Sea Clan, one of the demon races. A massive ruin had just been discovered in the area, and she went there to take part in its first exploration.”

“First exploration?”

“For a newly discovered ruin, the initial expedition is both extremely dangerous and potentially very rewarding. Something happened to her during the exploration, and she can’t return for the time being.”

“What, did she run into danger and get trapped?” Chen Miemie rolled up his sleeves, eager to put on the tired old routine of rescuing a damsel in distress.

[Silence] shook his head.

“No. Not even Lord [Chenpi] knows the truth of this matter, and it could damage Third Seat’s reputation, so please don’t spread it around.

“The ruin was dangerous, but Third Seat is powerful enough that her life was never in danger. The real problem is that she overdid it and modified a [torpedo] for underwater use, blowing up the entire ruin and causing massive property damage. She’s being detained in [Clam Ruins] now. They won’t let her leave until the negotiations are settled.

“Signals don’t travel through the deep sea, so we can only contact her once a week. If I’m counting correctly, the next contact should be the day after tomorrow.”

Chen Miemie immediately took her side, putting on an indignant expression.

“She blew up the ruin with her own ability. What right do they have to detain her? What, are they so powerful that even Chen Miaomiao can’t beat them?”

“That’s not it. But no matter how strong you are, some matters still have to be settled reasonably.

“There are witches among the demon races of the deep sea, along with people loyal to them. Third Seat isn’t the sort of person who causes trouble and runs away. She volunteered to stay there and cooperate with them.”

Chen Miemie had gotten the useful information he wanted and was quite satisfied.

“The day after tomorrow, huh? Then we’ll wait two more days. By the way, [Silence], why does it feel like you and Chen Miaomiao are somewhat distant? You always call her ‘Third Seat.’ Don’t you have a more familiar way of addressing her?”

“It isn’t that we’re distant, but we really aren’t as close as outsiders imagine.

“There was a period when our city faced a crisis and needed support. Following Lord [Chenpi]’s instructions, the city was placed under Third Seat’s protection. That was when I became her nominal disciple.

“My true teacher was a local human witch named [Peeling Paint]. She has already passed away.

“Many people say I’m the heir to Third Seat’s position. That isn’t exactly wrong, but it isn’t entirely accurate either. More precisely, I’m one of the candidates eligible to inherit the position.

“I spend most of my time stationed at the [Moonlit Library], so I rarely see Third Seat.

“Third Seat is an elf by birth. Don’t be fooled by how highly regarded I am among human witches—among the elven witches, I’m actually met with considerable resistance. They think I’m trying to steal a seat that belongs to them.

“Third Seat herself doesn’t discriminate based on race. She treats nearly all witches equally. But the elven witches do discriminate.

“There are also two elven candidates for the position. Their names are [Deer Shadow] and [Rainbow].”

Chen Miemie secretly absorbed this new knowledge while pretending on the surface that he already knew it all.

“So basically, you only have a one-in-three chance of getting the position?”

“No. I have almost no chance.”

“Why?”

“If the position went to me, the elven witches would be left without a Grand Witch. That would upset the balance and damage the friendly relationship between our two groups.”

Chen Miemie’s eyes widened.

“Then you don’t have anything to do with it at all, do you? Isn’t being a candidate in name only a waste of time?”

[Silence] looked a little puzzled.

“Being listed as a candidate simply proves that I have a connection with Third Seat. Why are you so determined to become a Grand Witch?”

“You’ve been doing this for years. Don’t you want a promotion?”

“No. I’m just hoping that the young Seventh Seat will grow up quickly so I can retire and stay home. I actually hate noise and commotion. Handling all sorts of matters every day and dealing with all kinds of people isn’t something I enjoy.”

Chen Miemie had certainly gotten his fill of gossip during this trip to the library.

Just as he was about to leave, [Silence] told him something unexpected.

“Oh, right. Two people escaped from the library’s prison.”

“Who?”

“[The Bag] of the Mist Church and Dong Ruixue. On the previous [Reading Day], we sent people to the sealing site, while the ordinary guards were distracted by their reading. [The Bag] took the opportunity to escape with Dong Ruixue.”

“[The Bag] escaped and took Dong Ruixue with him? It looks like Dong Ruixue is probably a member of the Mist Church too. All right, I’ll keep that in mind.”

Outside Moon Library City.

On a small hill.

Two figures gazed from afar at the city walls of Moon Library.

Dong Ruixue sat on a large rock, while [The Bag] stood respectfully behind her.

“Miss Ruixue, are we really leaving the Sealed Book Library just like this?”

“Let’s go. [Stone Speaker] is dead, and a new race has moved in. There’s no point in staying. This city is a perfect trinity of humans, witches, and anomalies. It’s as solid as iron, and impossible to infiltrate. If we don’t leave now, we may never get the chance.”

[The Bag] sighed. “What a shame. This was one of the largest human cities. All our previous arrangements have gone to waste.”

“No. At the very least, we collected a great deal of firsthand information on Chen Miemie. That’s priceless intelligence you could never buy.”

Fairy Tale Road.

Chen Miemie had not yet reached his own shop when [Forbidden Fruit Bestiary], who had gone out to play, intercepted him right in the middle of the street.

With book anomalies now flying all over the city, pedestrians had grown accustomed to behavior like this from [Forbidden Fruit Bestiary]. They simply walked past without stopping.

“Chen Miemie, something terrible happened!”

“There’s no need to panic. Take your time and tell me.”

Chen Miemie was perfectly composed.

“I was playing at school with Thirty-Six Tips for Early Romance just now, and I heard that the banyan tree died! [Banyan Heart] was discovered too. And when they found it, Grand Scholar [Carpenter] was right there at the scene. That guy’s no good—he actually said that everything on the banyan tree belonged to the public!”

Chen Miemie still looked composed, but the moment he turned away, he whispered, “My Banyan Heart! Quick—Origami, open a teleport.”

Chen Miemie appeared at Evergreen Academy.

The withered banyan tree had already been cordoned off, keeping people from approaching.

The Carpenter didn’t seem surprised by Chen Miemie’s appearance. He spoke first instead. “Mr. Chen Miemie, this banyan tree has gained a spirit. It left a note deep among its roots. This is its token of gratitude for a friend, and it said someone would come to collect it.”

Chen Miemie noticed the very “natural” root-wood box in his hands.

“I’m here on behalf of the Shopkeeper.”

At the mention of “Shopkeeper,” the Carpenter knew he was meeting the person they had been waiting for. He handed the box to Chen Miemie.

Chen Miemie opened it.

Inside was a miniature wooden carving of a banyan tree, along with a small note.

It was obvious that the carving was Banyan Heart.

Chen Miemie picked up the note. It contained a single line:

“Thank the Shopkeeper. When one tree falls, ten thousand books rise; when one book closes, ten thousand trees grow.”

Chen Miemie did not leave at once. “Apart from saying that someone would come, what else did the note tell you?”

The Carpenter looked up at the trunk of the banyan tree.

“It was the tree’s final wish. It wanted us to use its wood to make paper, and paper into books—to let books nurture people, so that trees and books might become one forever.”