At this moment, Wen Xishu had become successful and well-known, with a reputation and status that could be considered equal to the sixth elder. Yet, he had unexpectedly grown humble and courteous.
Luo Feng, having lived for several decades, naturally knew what was happening.
On one hand, their interests had aligned; on the other hand, Wen Xishu was someone who responded better to a soft approach rather than a hard one.
Luo Feng said:
"Is all of this related to Mr. Jin?"
Wen Xishu replied:
"It's still unclear. But I believe the old principal will successfully return to the bunker, and we will find out soon."
Luo Feng nodded:
"How is your injury? My Piercing Hand was intended as a killing move."
Wen Xishu said:
"I don't dare to leave this room at the moment, so I can't go to the hospital, but fortunately, my companions have some means."
Looking at the room full of Red House items, Luo Feng cupped his hands and said:
"Alright, I'll be off then."
After Luo Feng left, Wen Xishu checked his own wounds.
Though they had been treated, indeed, just as Luo Feng said, it was a killing move. Wen Xishu's recovery would not be that quick.
"I was still thinking about climbing the tower tonight, but it seems my physical condition won't allow me to recover that fast."
Climbing the tower was naturally out of the question for now.
Wen Xishu still very much wanted to know the outcomes of some matters.
"If the culprit is really Xiaojin... there are many doubts. With Mr. Jin gone, why does it feel like chaos is about to ensue?"
He closed his eyes, mulling over many things, as if asleep.
...
...
The bunker hadn't seemed peaceful these past few days.
The next morning, the Academy Spirit entered the facility and met with Wen Xishu.
After a night, Wen Xishu's wounds had mostly healed, making it possible for him to climb the tower, but he didn't. Because the Academy Spirit brought news:
"Principal, the old principal said he wants to see you, he has returned. It seems... not too well."
Wen Xishu immediately grew tense:
"Is he injured?"
"Not at all. Alas, the details you should discuss with him yourself. I have explained your predicament to the principal, that you can't easily go out, but the principal stated he is waiting for you at the Garden Forbidden Land in the Desire Tower System Area and assured your safety without any threats," the Academy Spirit said sincerely.
Wen Xishu could hear the somber tone in the Academy Spirit's voice.
"Alright."
He said no more, having spent a day in this Memory Record place, he yearned to get out for a walk.
With Albert's promise, Wen Xishu had nothing to fear in the bunker.
...
...
Desire Tower Academy, Garden Forbidden Land.
When Wen Xishu arrived, William, Matthew, Luo Feng, and Evelyn, the Five Elders, were already there.
Albert was seated, and Evelyn also sat, while the other three stood.
Upon Wen Xishu's arrival, Albert gestured for him to sit.
The old principal didn't emit his usual hearty laughter.
Albert merely waved a hand.
Though Wen Xishu began to show courtesy to the elders, he wasn't overly deferential; he dared to take a seat while others stood and naturally nodded to the three standing elders.
The elders, including Evelyn, who was also seated, wore unhappy expressions.
Especially Luo Feng, whose eyes were slightly red.
William and Matthew both showed signs of desolation.
Wen Xishu guessed the answer.
But he still waited for the principal to announce the definite outcome.
Albert had indeed aged.
At this moment, as Wen Xishu looked at Albert, he noticed Albert had not only lost his smile but was also overshadowed by sorrow, once full of zest.
He still exuded an extremely strong sense of security, with unimaginable power residing within him, yet he looked exceptionally lonely.
Wen Xishu had never had this feeling before. In his eyes, Albert was always a lone traveler unafraid of solitude.
But right now, Albert's sorrow and loneliness were as palpable as the fragrance in the Garden Forbidden Land.
"Old Jin is dead."
Albert spoke, providing that answer.
Wen Xishu was immediately stunned.
He had anticipated this. He even discussed it with Old Jin earlier, knowing this might happen.
But Wen Xishu never thought the plot would actually take this direction.
At this moment, all his conspiracy theories about Mr. Jin faded with his death.
Did the first person of the bunker, Mr. Jin, really die?
This was indeed overwhelmingly shocking.
Although in Albert's memories, in all the elders' memories, they had been with Mr. Jin for decades, to Wen Xishu, it seemed like only last time did the other make a grand entrance when climbing the tower.
He thought of an untimely joke.
Recalled a commander-in-chief, those movies where someone makes an exaggerated and grand entrance only to exit quickly.
Could Mr. Jin die so carelessly?
Wen Xishu was uncertain. Such a character, having left his trace in several Deceit Towers explored by himself... how could he die like this?
"Are... you sure?" Wen Xishu couldn't help but ask.
Albert said:
"You should know, the Slaughter Tower and the Deceit Tower are different; the Slaughter Tower is an enormous world. The Deceit Tower is partitioned into many levels based on the timeline."
"But the Slaughter Tower's levels are divided by spatial regions."
"I was on the ninety-seventh level, Old Jin on the ninety-third. There was a long distance between us, but after entering the Slaughter Tower, I started moving towards Old Jin."
"I... I couldn't catch up in time, I was too useless."
Albert slightly lowered his head, shattered words slipping through his gritted teeth. His fists clenched tightly, yet he couldn't find a direction to swing them.
Wen Xishu knew this wasn't the time for grief, so he asked:
"How exactly did Mr. Jin die?"
Albert said:
"It was Sagittarius."
Everything matched what Wen Xishu knew, Sagittarius eventually targeted Mr. Jin. Mr. Jin hadn't lied to Wen Xishu.
His purpose for climbing the tower was indeed to end the threat of Sagittarius.
"I felt the power of that arrow, filled with the aura of death. When that arrow aimed at Old Jin, I realized it... he knew all of this."
Albert gritted his teeth: "He knew everything!"
"He tricked me! He never intended to venture into the future with me! He just wanted to die!"
"I did everything I could to close the distance between us, but it was of no use! I was too late; the gap between us was too vast."
"Even having sensed him and that arrow, saving him was extremely difficult."
"By the time I arrived, I only saw a massive, abyss-like crater from the arrow. Old Jin's life essence had completely vanished."
"He was dead."
Albert's back was slightly hunched, as if burdened by an invisible weight.
Wen Xishu had once considered if the old principal knew Mr. Jin climbed the tower heading for death... if he knew he also knew all this, could the old principal forgive him?
Should he have revealed Mr. Jin's plans?
Wen Xishu remained silent and ultimately didn't utter those words.
Albert said:
"In fact, over these decades, I've witnessed much death... I know that climbing the tower is fraught with danger, survival is lucky, death is usual."
"But the more death I saw, the more I appreciated that Old Jin was still alive."
"I've always thought that he and I were destined by fate, that our collaboration could break through a hundred levels. So, I waited for him for a very long time, decades!"
"But I never imagined, that such a character would die! How could he die just like that?"
The inner sorrow and anger seemed to transform into a tangible storm at this moment; in the windless environment, everyone felt the strong breeze blowing.
Luo Feng also shed tears at this moment. This old man never imagined that his words from yesterday would become a prophecy.
Mr. Jin really did encounter trouble.
Evelyn was slightly stunned; it had been a long time since she behaved so out of character. Beside her, William Gordon and Matthew Jones also hadn't expected that the legend who once guided them would die just like that.
Wen Xishu didn't know how to continue the conversation.
After a while, Albert said:
"I heard that the bunker experienced some troublesome events over the past two days as well."
Wen Xishu nodded:
"I was attacked, the assailant hasn't been found yet."
Albert shook his head slightly.
Though grieved by his friend's departure, he could ultimately withstand these pains. Because he carried too many burdens.
He soon adjusted his expression of grief:
"Do you have any leads?"