“By the way, you’re living under someone else’s roof now, aren’t you?”
Olivia leaned against the counter, arms crossed over her chest.
There was no mockery in her tone—it sounded more like she was stating a fact she could relate to herself.
“That’s right.”
Masiweiluo pushed the ledger aside.
The lamplight reflected off her dark gray turtleneck, the stitching at the collar fine and neat.
She turned and walked to the bookshelf, her fingertips gliding across the spines until she pulled one out and handed it to Olivia.
The book had a dark brown hardcover, its corners worn white from use.
The gold-stamped Urske letters on the front had faded, barely visible under the light except for a few faint characters.
The page edges had yellowed with age.
“Kids should read more. It’s good for you.”
“This book is in Urske, though.”
Olivia took the book reluctantly.
The cover felt rough and dry under her fingers, like a stale loaf of dark bread.
She opened the first page, and a dense sea of Urske text rose up from the paper.
She closed it immediately.
“If you don’t want to sleep, you can go to the reading room. That old gentleman should still be there.”
Masiweiluo gestured down the hallway.
Her fingers were slender, with calluses on the knuckles from years of gripping a lance.
“Old gentleman?”
“Go see for yourself.”
Olivia carried the incomprehensible book and walked down the hallway.
A bit of snow water from the garden had dried on the hem of her skirt, leaving a faint gray stain.
She had no idea what old gentleman would be sitting in a small-town library at this hour, and she didn’t know why Masiweiluo had said “go see for yourself” in that tone.
The hallway wasn’t long.
A few pencil sketches of the Holy Mountain hung on the walls, the lines light and loose, like quick studies done on a whim.
At the end was a door left ajar, warm yellow light spilling through the crack.
She pushed the door open.
The reading room was small, with a lower ceiling than the main reading area.
Bookshelves lined all four walls, but the books here were older than the ones outside—most of the gold-stamped lettering on the spines had worn away to nothing.
By the window sat an old wooden desk with several open books spread across it.
An oil lamp rested at the corner, its flame burning quietly behind the glass shade.
Someone sat at the desk.
Broad shoulders, a heavy frame.
He wore a faded gray shirt with the sleeves rolled to mid-forearm.
The bear ears atop his head twitched slightly in the lamplight.
A chipped enamel mug sat on the desk.
Gaoerji.
Olivia stood frozen in the doorway, the book nearly slipping from her hands.
Her silver pupils contracted sharply in the lamplight.
Gaoerji looked up, his murky brown eyes pausing on her face for a moment, then narrowing slightly.
“Oh? What’s the matter, little miss.”
His tone was exactly the same as that day in the Red Sun Tavern.
As if running into her in a small-town library in the dead of night on the Urske border was the most normal thing in the world.
Olivia opened her mouth, then closed it.
She had so many questions she wanted to ask.
Aren’t you supposed to be at the stronghold? What are you doing here?
Do you know you’re still wanted?
Is this man out of his mind—a fugitive with a price on his head from the Tsar, running all the way from Eldron to Urske, just to read books in a little library like this?
But if she asked, he’d probably answer in that same calm voice, and she wasn’t sure she could handle it.
“Nothing, nothing. I’m just here to read.”
She looked away, walked to the chair across from Gaoerji, and sat down, placing the Urske book Masiweiluo had shoved at her on the table.
Then she reached over and pulled a random book from the shelf, flipping it open.
Her fingers were still trembling slightly from the rush of emotions.
The cover was dark brown hardcover, its corners even more worn than the one Masiweiluo had given her.
The title was stamped in gold Urske lettering, which she still couldn’t read.
But the signature on the title page was in the common tongue—Gaoerji.
She blinked, closed the title page, and opened it again.
The name was still there.
The author was the old gentleman sitting across from her.
Her gaze shifted from the title page to Gaoerji’s face.
Gaoerji was taking a sip from his enamel mug, then raised his eyes.
His gaze landed on the cover of the book in her hands.
Then she saw Gaoerji’s expression shift in a subtle way.
Not panic.
Not tension.
Those murky old eyes lit up under the lamplight—not with wariness, but with the brightness of someone who’d been shut in too long and suddenly heard a knock at the door.
His bear ears rose half an inch from his hair, the tips twitching slightly.
“You… you’re reading this book?”
Gaoerji’s lips moved.
The hand holding the enamel mug hung suspended in midair, his knuckles tightening slightly.
Olivia glanced down at the book in her hands, casually flipping a few pages as if she were just browsing.
Then she turned back to the title page, her finger pausing over the author’s signature.
She noticed a line of small text beneath the signature, written in the common tongue, but the lamp was too dim.
She squinted to make it out.
The line read:
“All truths in this world are just one way of looking at it.”
“You wrote this book.”
Gaoerji set the mug down, the bottom clinking softly against the wooden table.
The corner of his mouth twitched—not the silent, bitter smile from the restaurant, but something that had been pressed down for so long it had finally squeezed out a bit of light.
“I told you at the stronghold what kind of work I did.”
“Clerical work.”
Olivia repeated the words.
Now she understood.
He really was a clerical worker—except what he wrote wasn’t ledgers.
She looked down and flipped through the pages.
The paper was thin, and the ink was uneven in places—clearly not from a proper printing press.
More like something printed sheet by sheet on a secondhand machine in some underground workshop, then bound by hand.
Scattered between the pages were handwritten annotations in different hands—some in Urske, some in the common tongue, some even in Wuling’s square characters.
This book had clearly passed through many readers.
“This is a banned book.”
Gaoerji’s voice was soft, like he was stating a fact that had little to do with him.
Gaoerji’s bear ears swiveled half a turn on top of his head.
He leaned forward slightly, his thick elbows resting on the edge of the table, fingers interlaced.
The lamplight struck him from the side, casting half his face in bright relief and leaving the other half in shadow.
The expression in the light looked excited; in the dark, it looked cautious.
“This book is banned. In Urske, possessing it is punishable by exile. Writing it—is punishable by death.”
Chapters List
Free
Karium
Chapter 85: Wooden People Even Know How to Give a Welcome Beating
200
Chapter 84: Are Senior Sister and Wooden Puppets the Same Kind?
200
Chapter 83: Protecting Senior Sister from the Unscrupulous Is a Junior Sister’s Duty!
200
Chapter 82: Stupid Senior Sister Likes Taking Losses, Not Blessings
200
Chapter 81: Anyone Can See the Favoritism Toward Junior Sister
200
Chapter 80: Why Do You Look So Guilty?
200
Chapter 79: Still Wanted to Spank Her Ass
200
Chapter 78: All Talk! Next Second I’ll Really Hit You!
200
Chapter 77: Don’t Casually Call Someone Flat-Chested, or You’ll Get Beaten
200
Chapter 76: The Howler Bird’s Provocation
200
Chapter 140: Speech
200
Chapter 139: I Can't Sleep
200
Chapter 39: Ugh~ That's exactly what an accident is about~
200
Chapter 40: Right and Wrong, Success and Failure—All Turn to Nothing
200
Chapter 39: Crystal at the Last Moment
200
Chapter 55: Surprise Attack on the Blood Fiend Sect (4)Chapter 54: Surprise Attack on the Blood Fiend Sect (3)Chapter 50: Inspection
200
Chapter 49: House Rules
200
Chapter 48: Conspiracy
200
Chapter 47: Answering
200
Chapter 46: White Mist
200
Chapter 45: Dusk
200
Chapter 44: Swap
200
Chapter 43: Yukina
200
Chapter 42: Nightmare
200
Chapter 41: Mom
200
Chapter 15: The cat swore loudly, and Qian Yue was on guard against child snatching
200
Chapter 14: Master or Mother?
200
Chapter 13: The White Cat Arrives, a Century-Old Deal
200
Chapter 12: The Formation Activated, the Fox Spirit Appears
200
Chapter 11: The Fox Demon Who Will Take the Lives of Your Descendants
200
Chapter 185: The Logic of Power
200
Chapter 184: The Dragon Heart
200
Chapter 170: Spiritual Will
200
Chapter 169: Breathing in the Nightmare
200
Chapter 168: Heading to America
200
Chapter 167: The World’s Strongest
200
Chapter 45: Undercurrents on the Airship
200
Chapter 44: Royal Conspiracy and Murderous Intent
200
Chapter 43: Grandmaster's Sword Intent Shapes Martial Form
200
Chapter 42: The Negotiation and the Final Test
200
Chapter 41: A Test That Shows No Kinship
200
Chapter 200: Wangcai, Don't Die!
200
Chapter 199: Monthly Exam
200
Chapter 198: Thank You Video
200
Chapter 197: Boss Ma
200
Chapter 196: Extremely Insulting
200
Chapter 195: Trouble
200
Chapter 275: Little White
200
Chapter 274: Goddess of Judgment
200
Chapter 273: Daughter Pays
200
Chapter 140: The Conditions Proposed by Lin
200
Chapter 139: Seeking Lin's Help
200
Chapter 272: You're Lying
200
Chapter 138: Shuyue's Three-Day Seclusion
200
Chapter 271: A Proposal
200
Chapter 137: The Five-Scaled Silver Dragon Princess and the Solution
200
Chapter 136: Giant Beasts and Sky Law
200
Chapter 159: Astronaut Talia
200
Chapter 130: The Cat's HelpChapter 38: Ten Thousand Swords
200
Chapter 16: Dinner Finished, Time for an Awkward Chat
200
Chapter 38: Woo~ That's exactly what we call certainty~
200
Chapter 10: Why did your mother know it was demonic energy?Chapter 9: If you like me, don't tell me!Chapter 8: Who bullied my child? Mother will kill him for youChapter 7: My Sister Said, I'll Buy You a WifeChapter 6: The Demonic Aura Originates from the Fox SpiritChapter 5: I, Cang Ye, have become a Taoist priestChapter 4: A Demon Enters the Su Mansion, and Brothels Are Sold OffChapter 3: Born with a Seductive Charm, Cang Ye Enters the MansionChapter 37: Ugh~ That's exactly what people call 'doubts'~
200
Chapter 36: Woo~ That's exactly what war is like~
200
Chapter 15: Wake Up, Let's Eat First
200
Chapter 14: Promise
200
Chapter 13: Escape, Second Coma
200
Chapter 12: Unexpected Events
200
Chapter 11: The Poisonous Granny
200
Chapter 270: New Xp System
200
Chapter 269: Punishment Time
200
Chapter 268: So Skilled ?!
200
Chapter 267: The New Mansion
200
Chapter 266: The Only Duty
200
Chapter 2: Brothels, FreebiesChapter 1: The Beginning, Leaving the MountainChapter 40: The Invisible Sword Breaks the Dragon Subduing Palm
200
Chapter 39: The Villain with a Righteous Spirit
200
Chapter 38: The Five Continents Await the Dragon Palace
200
Chapter 37: Stone Bridge: Questioning the Heart, a Path of Life and Death
200
Chapter 36: The Demonic Embryo Descends to Jiang Shangjing
200
Chapter 35: The Purple Sun Sword and the Appearance of the True Dragon (Part 2)
200
Chapter 34: The Purple Sun Sword and the Appearance of the True Dragon (Part 2)
200
Chapter 33: The Purple Sun Sword and the Appearance of the True Dragon (Part 1)
200
Chapter 32: The Heart Sword Emerges from the Living Evil Spirit
200
Chapter 31: The Wrath of the Heroic King Causes Clouds and Mountains to Fall
200
Chapter 30: Mingzi's Rebirth in the Demonic Embryo
200
Chapter 29: Going Against the Tide to Slay the Dragon's Remains
200
Chapter 28: The Promise of Keeping Dreams, Swords Cry in the Night
200
Chapter 27: Swordplay on the Ferry Boat, Strange Tales on the River
200
Chapter 265: The Secret
200
Chapter 264: Unfaithful Obsession
200
Chapter 263: A Childhood Friend's Invitation
200
Chapter 262: Submitting to Jelly
200
Chapter 129: Mutual KillingChapter 35: Wooh~ That's exactly what art is~
200
Chapter 10: What Should I Wear......Chapter 9: Serious BusinessChapter 8: Play Games with Laughter!Chapter 7: Discharged!Chapter 6: Do You Want Me to Feed You?Chapter 5: In the hospital room, the troubled administratorChapter 4: Experimental AccidentsChapter 3: Senior, Cat, and the Prelude to ObservationChapter 2: Administrators, Shelters, and ......Chapter 1: The Girl Who Was Taken InMagical Girl Little Cupcake, Becoming Everyone’s Beloved Target
200
Chapter 261: My Weapon Is Butter?!
200
Chapter 260: The Weapon Master Arrives
200
Chapter 259: Do You Like Bunny Girls?
200
Chapter 258: Bloodstained Years Disband
200
Chapter 257: Reason Of Failure
200
Chapter 256: Beg for Mercy
200
Chapter 255: Experience of Killing
200
Chapter 254: Things Are Getting Strange
200
Chapter 128: BaitChapter 37: A Pair of Tragic Lovers
200
Chapter 34: Woo~ That's exactly what the so-called beginning is~
200
Chapter 33: Woo~ That's exactly what so-called intervention is~
200
Chapter 32: Ugh~ That's exactly what an apology means~
200
Chapter 31: Woo~ That's exactly what they call opportunity~
200
Chapter 30: Ugh~ That's exactly what justice is~
200
Chapter 13: Fire Stick Or Finger?
200
Chapter 40: A Little Devil's Mouth Must Be Soft
200
Chapter 39: Oh Dear, Junior Has to Carry Me
200
Chapter 38: What Is the Price?
200
Chapter 37: Junior Is Still Too Young
200
Chapter 36: That's Right, I Was Careless on Purpose
200
Chapter 35: Is This Mana Replenishment Normal?
200
Chapter 34: Isn't It Normal for a Maid to Get Pushed Down by Her Master?
200
Chapter 33: Junior, Time to Eat Peach~
200
Chapter 32: How to Have an Affair Without Getting Caught
200
Chapter 31: Little Devil-Style Teaching?
200
Chapter 40: An Icy Heart
200
Chapter 39: Tit for Tat
200
Chapter 38: Unfamiliar Hostility
200
Chapter Thirty-Seven: Do Adults Also Make Mistakes?
200
Chapter 36: Warrior
200
Chapter 35: The Wounded God
200
Chapter 34: A Painful Choice
200
Chapter 33: The Beautiful Girl's Offensive
200
Chapter 32: Upper-Class Life
200
Chapter 31: The Teacher's Other Side
200
Chapter 125: Love Eating Chocolate?
200
Chapter 124: The Truth of the Past
200
Chapter 123: Wang Xiyu
200
Chapter 122: Who Is It?
200
Chapter 121: Loli Is Fine Too
200
Chapter 120: Breakfast
200
Chapter 119: Chest Peril
200
Chapter 118:The Little Loli Under the QuiltÂ
200
Chapter 117: That's Too Unfair!
200
Chapter 116: A Horror Movie on a Rainy Night Chapter 115: A Ghost Movie on a Rainy NightChapter 114: Do You Know This Person?Chapter 113: The DormitoryChapter 112: Help Me Put Them OnChapter 111: The Day the Accident ArrivedChapter 183: Invitation from the PastChapter 182: The Eye of LobelateChapter 181: Lobelate's EyeballChapter 180: Overwhelming MightChapter 172: He is very obedient, very good
200
Chapter 135: Monster Crystal CoreChapter 171: Excitement of the Grass Leaf Cauldron
200
Chapter 170: She Repelled the Enemy
200
Chapter 169: That female disciple... did she look pretty crying?
200
Chapter 134: Who has Bad Eyesight?Chapter 168 : Ye Li Hit Me!
200
Chapter 167: The first day, six in the morning, Luo Xing was purely dumbfounded.
200
Chapter 166: I ate rice early on the first day!
200
Chapter 133: The Choice of Magic ArmorChapter 132: The Beautiful RoseChapter 131: Shuyue's New IdeasChapter 158: Wow, Tanks Too
200
Chapter 130: Extracting Fire Element AffinityChapter 157: Talia Gave It to Her for Free
200
Chapter 156: I Am the Fishing King
200
Chapter 129: Look how kind she is!Chapter 128: Application Directions of SpiritificationChapter 127: Order to Cause TroubleChapter 138: Where Are You From?
200
Chapter 137: Beneath the Mine
200
Chapter 136: A Single Spark Can Start a Prairie Fire
200
Chapter 135: Discussing Labor
200
Chapter 37: Luo Xiao Arrives
200
Chapter 36: A Narrow Victory?
200
Chapter 60: Controversy Over Profanity (1)Chapter 59: Acting is a LifelineChapter 58: Seon Je-min and Lee Ju-hyeong (3)Chapter 57: Seon Je-min and Lee Ju-hyeong (2)Chapter 56: Sun Je-min and Lee Ju-hyeong (1)Chapter 55: The Killing Recipe (3)Chapter 54: Killer Recipe (2)Chapter 53: The Killing Recipe (1)Chapter 52: The Choice Not to Look AwayChapter 51: A Memory That Hurts Way Too Much (1)Chapter 50: Acting Until DeathChapter 49: Jeong Chan-yul's Confession (2)Chapter 48: Jeong Chan-yul's Confession (1)Chapter 47: I’ve Been ReformedChapter 46: The Troubleshooter Crybaby (3)Chapter 45: The Troubleshooter Crybaby (2)Chapter 44: The Troubleshooter Crybaby (1)Chapter 43: Found You (2)Chapter 42: Found You (1)Chapter 41: I Saw The Future (2)Chapter 40: I Saw the Future (1)Chapter 39: Summoning a Handsome Guy?Chapter 38: Let's Succeed TogetherChapter 37: Reality and Catharsis (3)Chapter 36: Reality and Cider (2)Chapter 34: The Best Acting (3)Chapter 35: Reality and Cider (1)Chapter 33: The Best Acting (2)Chapter 32: The Best Acting (1)Chapter 31: Yeongbin, Please (2)Chapter 30: Youngbin, Please (1)Chapter 29: Another Regressor? (3)Chapter 28: Another Regressor? (2)Chapter 27: Another Regressor? (1)Chapter 26: Let’s Do a LivestreamChapter 25: Park Yi-won Is My Fan?Chapter 24: Acceptance and Agency (2)Chapter 23: Passing the Audition and the Agency (1)Chapter 22: A Charming Villain? (3)Chapter 21 – A Charming Villain? (2)Chapter 20: The Charming Villain? (1)Chapter 19: Reverse QuestChapter 18: Pathetic Joo Tae-gang (5)Chapter 17: Loser Joo Tae-gang (4)Chapter 16: Loser Ju Taegang (3)Chapter 15 (2/2): Loser Ju Taegang (2)Chapter 15 (1/2): Loser Ju Taegang (2)Chapter 14: Loser Ju Taegang (1)Chapter 13: When You End Up in the Trash Can (2)Chapter 12: When You End Up in the Trash Can (1)Chapter 11: The Too Handsome Ad Model (2)Chapter 10: The Too Handsome Commercial Model (1)Chapter 9: From the Very Beginning, This Kid (2)Chapter 8: From the Start, It Was Him (1)Chapter 7: Give Up Acting (2)Chapter 6: Give Up Acting (1)Chapter 5: They Say He’s a Genius (2)Chapter 4: I Told You He’s a Genius (1)Chapter 3: I Found Him! (2)Chapter 2: I Found Him! (1)Chapter 1: You Die at Thirty-FiveA Genius Actor Dies If He Acts