Without further ado, we immediately got to the action. The first stop was the library in the non-factional territory that Amanda and I mentioned earlier.

But when I got to the front of the library, I felt that the layout here seemed a bit unconventional.

"It's not a library at all, it's a lot like a big warehouse." I looked at the library that Amanda was talking about, and I was a little stunned. From any point of view, it's a large warehouse, and I'm sure to take that seriously.

But Amanda smiled unhurriedly and said, "Don't jump to conclusions, go in and take a look." ”

So we walked side by side into this so-called library. As I went deeper and deeper, I was completely conquered by this huge library. In my time, the Library of Congress, known as "the most beautiful room in the world," was the largest library in the world. Its stunningly majestic architecture is secondary, but what really sets it apart is its rich collection—the bookshelves that stretch over 500 miles long, and this great library, which has lasted a thousand years later, is indeed matched, but not because of its length, but because of its depth. It was actually thirty floors deep underground, which was something that a "senior" like me could not have imagined.

Amanda didn't say anything as she went, but led me proudly.

I was really struck by this huge library, which I had never heard of or imagined at all, but immediately a question slipped into my mouth. "How could such a large library be in a non-factional territory, and not in the camp of the Bogu sect?"

Amanda smiled disdainfully: "The leaders of the Tongjin Bogu faction are not unfamiliar with this library, they are better at storing and storing books through network software. However, I think that the systematic management of books should adopt a multi-method model, especially for those ancient books that can only be preserved on paper, which must be stored and viewed in physical form, but they scoff at this. In the impression of the Bogu School, these things are outdated old traditions, which have lost the value of learning and utilization, and are not worth seeing at all. ”

I see! Isn't that the biggest waste of all!

Amanda continued: "Actually, none of the other major factions are any better than the Tongjin Bogu faction, they are all busy with their own affairs, and no one has this library in their hearts. Fortunately, not all of the people in the authorities held this view, and there were still a handful of officials who felt the need for the existence of the library, so every year some funds were allocated to maintain and repair the library. Although the funds are not much, together with the donations and materials of some people of insight and the related expenses related to the borrowed books received every year, although it is a bit stretched, it is basically able to cope with it through diligent and thrifty management. ”

"Oh." I listened.

We didn't rush to the elevator, but continued to walk down. The library is open from the first floor to the fifth basement, just like a large shopping mall. We are on the ground floor, but we can see as far as the fifth floor. But it's not a daily look, it's a downward look. Now it's a bit dim, with only a few small energy-saving lights on each floor flickering, and most of the rest of the light has to be refracted by the multiple layers of the glass curtain wall, bringing the outside sunlight into the house to see it closely. Since the sun was still good this morning, there was still an illusory ethereal dream hovering as far as the eye could see.

As far as I could see, even in this dim light, the vast library still shone brightly. Walking to the fifth basement level, I was able to see the eight sculptures from head to toe. They actually stepped on the fifth floor of the ground, and the top of their heads was forced against the roof of the first floor above ground, which was really breathtaking. I couldn't stop looking up, and my neck was sore.

The eight sculptures stand in a straight line on the eight key seats scattered around the edge of the hall, with a seated statue of the Buddha on the left, a smiling statue of the Maitreya Buddha, a seated statue of the Medicine Buddha in marble and white marble, a statue of Shakyamuni in a standing position, and two vivid standing statues of the goddess Zeus and the goddess Minerva on the right. I guess it's because they're so big and too bulky that they've stayed in this relatively small space without making a move. Although these eight statues may seem a bit varied and nondescript at first glance, a closer look reveals that they are so majestic and graceful as a whole.

"These statues are the central pillars of this place, aren't they?!" I asked curiously.

"Well, yes and no." Amanda replied thoughtfully.

I'm more curious.

"First of all, the building was built like a rock from the start. The designer, Ellen, was a keen admirer of his own design, but the government had not yet figured out how to use the treasure trove. But no one thought that the war would break out suddenly, in order to protect these sculptures from damage, some people who are rare and ancient treasures remembered this very special building, because it is deep in the ground as long as 50 meters away, so compared with other buildings, the possibility of being destroyed by the smoke of war is not very large, so they took great pains to transfer these sculptures and a series of treasures such as books, calligraphy and paintings, and there was a significant advantage at that time that only this place could carry these huge sculptures. However, what I didn't expect was that it would be difficult to move out since I moved in. After hundreds of years of war, all that was left was the desolation, and no one had the heart to tinker with anything in it anymore. The stormy world has evolved into a different pattern, with six major factions appearing in a grand manner. Ay! At this point, these eight statues and many books and antiquities can no longer be on the grand stage, and can only rely on the salvation of some non-sectarians, like a light smoke after the wick of a candle is extinguished. ”

After saying that, Amanda shook her head helplessly. His gloomy silence made people feel an unprecedented sadness, but it was okay, just for a moment, he suppressed his gloomy expression, and he was like an ordinary person again.

Amanda continued: "In fact, the construction of underground buildings is much more laborious than above-ground construction, and it must be pressure-resistant, wear-resistant, moisture-resistant, moth-resistant, etc., which is definitely not comparable to above-ground buildings. But to say that these eight sculptures are just superficial decorations would be too wrongful to say that they are just decorations. In the war-torn era, they did play a central role in the rain of bullets, effectively avoiding the tragedy of the library that might fall into ruins. ”

It seems that these eight statues are really different from the ordinary, they are the treasures of the town!

Amanda glanced at her watch, then turned to me with regret and said, "That's all for today's visit." Let's take the elevator down and get the important things done first. When the whole thing is done, let's visit this library and take a closer look, and then there will be plenty of time. ”

"Okay." I gladly agreed.

So we took the elevator down to the 26th basement floor. This layer of swarthy, bright sunlight was no longer within reach, only a faint light not far away. Near the flickering lights, two librarians are unhurriedly sorting through scattered books.

After getting closer, Amanda waved at them, and the two staff members also said hello to each other, and they knew each other quite well.

Amanda explains: "The library's basement 21 to 30 floors are filled with some very old and rare books, and they are only open one day a month. Although today is not the opening day of the 10th floor, it doesn't matter, Uncle Ji is one of the investors and one of the managers of this library, and he has his approval, so we can travel here unhindered. And I come here whenever I have time, and it's not a day or two to deal with the people here, and I know each other so well that you can relax. ”

Unexpectedly, the step-uncle and step-aunt turned out to be one of the investors in this library, and they couldn't see anything from their simple and concise appearance. They must have loved the library so much that they put all their life's work and energy into it.

"The step-uncle and step-aunt are really impressive!" My approval came naturally.

"yes. Especially Uncle Ji, he simply loves books like life. And they live in seclusion here, there is another layer of need, that is, to avoid the impetuousness and harassment of the troubled times, and spend the rest of their lives in peace. Amanda said with relief.

It turns out that there are not only six major factions and no factions in this land and water, but also many people who are unwilling to go along with the same stream and hide among the people, which I have never thought of before.