They headed east past the waterfalls and came to a broad mountain hollow.
The woods were lush, quiet, and deep. Many old courtyards with blue-tiled roofs and stone walls stood with their gates shut, stonecrop growing on their roofs. Like the area near the Mountain Gate, the place was cold and deserted, most of its buildings vacant.
At the center of the hollow stood a five-story wooden building, accompanied by a stout ancient tree slightly taller than it.
The building was tall and large, visibly repaired many times, with a quiet, ancient air steeped in the passing years.
Its wooden pillars stood straight, their feet resting on round stone bases.
The doors and windows were simple in design. Their paint had long since faded away, exposing the wood's original pale brown.
Long slabs of stone were stacked crosswise to form the foundation, their crevices thick with fine moss and ferns.
Lin Wei stopped and turned, her tone growing somewhat solemn.
"This is Pillowstar Mountain's Library Pavilion. Five floors in all, packed full of books-classics, histories, philosophical works, literary collections, cultivation manuals, secret records, strange tales, and miscellaneous writings." As she spoke, she could not help yawning again.
"From now on, this place will be yours to guard."
Lin Wei pushed open the wooden door. Its hinges gave a low creak, and the smell of paper mingled with old wood wafted out.
She stepped over the threshold with her left foot first, giving instructions as she walked.
"You may read any of the books here. Handle them gently, and be sure to return them to their original places afterward. Don't just stuff them wherever you like, or someone else will fret when they can't find them." "All five floors are open to you. Each has a different collection of old books,