Between The Pages {Liu Yuxin x Reader}

Y/N

"This is ridiculous..."

The knot on my brows is only getting deeper by the second as my eyes skimmed through the whole page.

Chen jUe was right about the Fusang. Not that I didn't really believe her in the first place, I just had to make sure. It was indeed located on a far mountain range that in order to get there, I would have to pass about 2 rivers, a cave, and a mountain. At least that is what the book said.

The whole thing honestly made me think twice if I still wanted to go home. The journey to the tree would most likely take an average person about a week, and in my case as someone who rarely does any physical activity, it might as well take me a whole month. And that's not even considering the difficulties I might come across like wild animals and weather changes.

The only thing I think would be a great alternative is to still try for the Eastern Sapphire Forest. I haven't found anything about it in the book though. So, I am assuming that it must have been discovered after the book was written or it might have had a different name back then. Besides, I have a strong feeling that the myth that Lin Fan told me about the portals in that forest is true.

Between a month-long hike towards a mountain and a forest, it's pretty clear that the forest would be better.

I sighed and flipped to another page as I continued to walk towards the archive. My week was done and I have not even read halfway through the book. I haven't had the chance to actually dive deep into it because of how busy I was.

"In a blooming weald in the far side of the morning sun..." I slowly read out. "Tales of homecoming and evanescence flourished."

Why does everything have to be so deep and hard to understand? I sighed. What even is a blooming weald? What did the whole sentence even mean? This book is seriously making me question my intelligence.

"The one with - oww!"

A groan flew out my mouth as I felt myself bump into something and the hardbound book smacked the middle of my forehead and the next moment I was on the ground on my butt.

"I am so sorry, I thought you saw me."

My eyes squinted and I saw a lent-out hand in front of me. I looked up and saw Linghe looking down at me in concern. I clenched my eyes and rubbed at my throbbing forehead. At least the layers I'm wearing helped soften my fall. I grabbed the fallen book beside me before taking Linghe's hand.

"Geez, I think I smacked my brain," I commented as he pulled me up and I brushed myself off.
"Brain?" he repeated. "What is that?"

I looked at him in disbelief before just shaking my head. "Never mind, dude. I might just lose more brain cells."

I ignored the confusion on his face as I focused on brushing myself off. Geez, Meipo would not let me hear the end of it when she sees that I had once again managed to soil my clothes. She'd go on about how I should keep my clothes clean to look presentable and not make it hard for the helpers in charge of the laundry. For once, I have to admit that she did have a point.

"Anyway, where were you headed?" he asked out as I finally stood straight.

"To the archive. I have to return something."

"You? At the archive? Since when?"

I gave him an offended look and rolled my eyes. "Since now. Can't a person change?" I huffed.

"You are really different these days, Aihan." An amused smile stretched his lips.

I paused. How was I supposed to respond to that? Was I supposed to say 'thanks' or something? I gave him an awkward smile before averting my eyes. Why did everything feel awkward? I looked back at the book and cleared my throat.