At the edge of the Core Area of the Serenitea Pot, a new public resting area had been recently established. Several tall, ancient trees spread out their dense, green shade, while wisteria trellises hung with clusters of pale purple blossoms. As a gentle breeze swept through, tiny petals drifted down in silence. A few rustic stone tables and stools were scattered about. Being not far from the Central Archives yet tucked away from the hustle and bustle of the main thoroughfare, this spot had become a favorite retreat for scholars and off-duty personnel to snatch a fleeting moment of leisure. The air floated with the faint fragrance of wisteria, the slight bitterness of cold herbal tea, and the distinct, earthy-scented fresh roots of the "Chisui Double-Resistant No. 3" corn drifting from the distant cornfields.
Jingyi sat on a stone stool in the most secluded corner beneath the flower trellis. An open copy of *Early Exploration Logs of the Chasm's Ancient Mines* rested on the stone table, alongside a cup of Qingxin flower tea that had long since grown cold. Her fingertips unconsciously stroked the frayed edges of the book's pages, while her gaze rested somewhat unfocused on the grain of the stone table. Sunlight filtered through the gaps in the leaves and flowers, casting dancing spots of light beside her hand on the book page and along the rim of the cold tea cup.
A burst of laughter and conversation carrying the scent of sweat and dust drew near. It was a group of veteran Mi…
Chapter 142