Chapter 243

The meeting in the Forbidden Zone ended quickly.

Albert happily ran off to the seventeenth floor again, preparing to find Old Jin for a talk.

He was probably aware of Old Jin's situation, so he didn't expect Old Jin to come out of seclusion immediately.

But now, just like Wen Xishu, Albert was very eager to dig out all of Old Jin's secrets.

When leaving the garden, Albert said:

"You'd better not climb the tower for a while."

"Why? Actually, I feel that rather than waiting for Mr. Jin to summon me... I might as well climb a tower now." Wen Xishu felt that it was already time for him to start a new round of tower climbing.

Xun Hui and Wen Renjing were following behind, and as soon as the two heard this conversation, they immediately looked at Wen Xishu with the eyes of someone looking at a monster.

Regardless of Wen Xishu's current strength, this level of grinding truly made the two of them feel inferior.

It was no wonder that in just three months, he had gone from a death-row prisoner to a Bunker legend.

Albert said:

"Don't be in such a rush. Old Jin is about to go into seclusion, and I don't even know what he's actually going into seclusion for. He's clearly already in a state of seclusion, isn't he?"

"And once he starts his seclusion, it will be next month, or even longer, before he can talk to us."

"I'm worried that your next tower climb will delay your meeting with him, so this time, just don't climb the tower yet."

Wen Xishu really wanted to refuse. Not climb the tower, and just eat, drink, and play in the Bunker? Indulge in luxury? Enjoy life? No, that was too weird.

But if Mr. Jin could provide some bombshell information, that seemed quite interesting too.

In the end, Wen Xishu agreed.

For some reason, Albert, Xun Hui, and Wen Renjing all breathed a sigh of relief.

……

……

Mysterious Tower Academy, Dean's office.

Wen Xishu had nothing to do for a moment, so he thought, why not deal with that student who had gone crazy first?

He was about to ask the Academy Spirit about that student's background.

But just as he was about to do so, the door to the Mysterious Tower Academy office was knocked on.

The Academy Spirit poked its head out:

"Respected Dean, there is a gentleman named Zheng Zai who says he is your friend and wants to see you."

Old Zheng?

Actually, it hadn't been many days since he last met Zheng Zai, but inexplicably, he felt as if he hadn't seen him for a while.

"Let him in."

The Academy Spirit nodded:

"Very well. If possible, you could tell me about your social connections so I can serve you more attentively."

Wen Xishu waved his hand:

"Next time."

The Academy Spirit nodded, and before long, a familiar face appeared in Wen Xishu's line of sight.

Zheng Zai was still wearing the iron muzzle, which made him look quite ferocious.

However, he seemed a bit lost.

But the moment he saw Wen Xishu, Zheng Zai was happy from the bottom of his heart.

"Old Zheng, you've come at the right time; I was just about to go look for you."

Wen Xishu also smiled very happily.

Zheng Zai was even happier when he heard the words "Old Zheng."

Honestly, he was afraid that after seeing Wen Xishu, he would find that a sad, thick barrier had formed between them, and he would have to respectfully call him: Dean Wen.

"Brother Wen, this Mysterious Tower Academy of yours is too interesting!"

Zheng Zai sat down opposite Wen Xishu.

Wen Xishu said:

"Sit for a while first. After a short rest, shall I take you on a tour?"

"Sure, sure."

Scratching his head, Zheng Zai decided to get straight to the point:

"Brother Wen, I've come to see you this time actually to thank you... and, I found something. I was thinking, perhaps we could fight side by side once?"

Wen Xishu became interested. He really didn't mind exploring the Mysterious Tower with Zheng Zai. But the problem was, exploring the Mysterious Tower was a difficult thing to do in a team.

Could it be that Old Zheng had found some kind of team-up item?

Zheng Zai didn't immediately talk about teaming up, but instead brought up something slightly serious:

"My father... is no longer a sinner. I have to thank you, Brother Wen. Without you, even if he died, he would still be a sinner."

As Zheng Zai spoke, he stood up, preparing to kowtow to Wen Xishu.

Wen Xishu immediately helped Zheng Zai up:

"Between friends, why perform such a grand gesture?"

Zheng Zai shook his head:

"I told you about my past, right? I once tried very hard to change my situation and clear my father's name."

"I went to participate in the Wenti Bureau's competitions, climbed the Slaughter Tower, and finally started climbing the Mysterious Tower, all just to get my father's case some attention..."

"But that time, the woman who was climbing the tower with us told me that my father was already dead."

Wen Xishu still remembered. He had actually been quite moved at the time.

Zheng Zai said that there was an invisible mountain in this world that could never be climbed no matter how hard one tried. He would climb one step, and the mountain would grow two.

Wen Xishu was thinking at the time that perhaps he would be the same, and the Anquan Bureau would also devour him.

But later on, he climbed too fast and soon reached the summit.

Zheng Zai said:

"My father is indeed dead. Brother Wen, after you became a Bunker legend, everyone related to you was given important roles."

"I'm the same. The irony is... back then, I was always suppressed by people from the Wenti Bureau. Whatever ranking I achieved, they would ignore it."

"Even when I got first place..."

"But now, that leader from the Wenti Bureau has come to apologize in person. Because public opinion has started to overturn the verdict on my past!"

"Because I am also a hero, a friend of a Bunker legend, I must also be great."

"The backroom dealings of the Wenti Bureau at the time were widely reported by the media under Officer Liu Jinsen..."

"Everyone started to sympathize with my past. Suddenly, I became a hero with a tragic past who finally saw the light of day."

"Isn't it ironic? And that's not even the most ironic part."

Logically speaking, Zheng Zai should be happy telling these things, but he couldn't bring himself to be.

His expression was filled with confusion. Wen Xishu was also slightly confused.

Old Zheng was indeed quite tragic and could be called a hero; this wasn't ironic at all.

But soon, Wen Xishu understood what was going on.

"Officer Liu Jinsen also brought me some things. He told me to handle it myself and that he wouldn't interfere."

Officer Liu is really attentive to his friends... Wen Xishu had to admire him.

This is what you call widening your path.

"What is it?" Wen Xishu asked.

Zheng Zai said:

"It's evidence of my father's crimes. Evidence that my father committed crimes. Heh. It's real... He wasn't wronged; he really, truly... was a sinner."

Zheng Zai laughed at himself, his smile bitter.

Wen Xishu suddenly understood why Old Zheng was confused.

"I lived wishfully in the filter of my father, but my father was actually guilty; he wasn't wronged... and now, he is innocent."

"This is something that benefits me, but I'm suddenly afraid of this world."

"Brother Wen, you've been to the Tower of Desire many times... My life is lowly, and I've never been to that flashy world. Is it only the Bunker that is... so sloppy, or is every world like this? Always like this?"

Wen Xishu looked at Old Zheng's confusion and could feel the impact on Zheng Zai's heart when Officer Liu handed him the evidence of his father's crimes...

If Zheng Zai's father hadn't committed crimes, then Zheng Zai would likely have seen the light of day by now.

He had always longed to prove his father's innocence and had risked his life for it.

If... Zheng Zai's father had really been innocent, how good that would have been.

But now, Zheng Zai's father had finally been "cleared of his grievances" in the carnival of public opinion.

But as it happened, Zheng Zai knew the truth about his father. It turned out that his father had deserved it at the time.

And at this very moment, the people who had offended Zheng Zai back then were apologizing to him, and Zheng Zai's father had become a hero who died unjustly again.

Wen Xishu could understand why Zheng Zai would find all of this ironic.

"It's always like this, Old Zheng. I can't lie to you."

Yes, the world is always like this. When you have power and strength, you can turn right into wrong.

Crows can be white, deer can be horses, and you can misattribute achievements.

"Are you going to accept it, Old Zheng?" Wen Xishu asked softly.

Zheng Zai shook his head:

"I don't know. I'm thinking, Officer Liu Jinsen... gave me everything. He said this is the rule of the world."

"I can destroy this evidence and have a happy ending for everyone. Or... I can let my father bear the infamy."

"I'm very conflicted."

Zheng Zai was still shaking his head, shaking it incessantly:

"Compared to climbing the tower to save the world... Brother Wen, I shouldn't be bothering you with such things, but I am truly confused."

"What should I do?"

Wen Xishu said:

"You have a long time to consider this matter, Old Zheng. I cannot give you advice, although I have guessed what you will do in the end."

Zheng Zai was slightly stunned.

Wen Xishu remembered that a certain big star once said that after you succeed, everyone around you is a good person.

It seems that is indeed the case now.

At this moment, the problem Old Zheng is facing, if it weren't for the fact that Old Zheng is his friend... from a pure passerby's perspective, it's quite interesting.

A person who longs for fairness and justice now holds power and stands at the crossroads of distorting fairness and justice or upholding them.

What will Zheng Zai choose?

Wen Xishu had the answer.

After Zheng Zai was silent for a long time, he sighed softly:

"If I choose to get rid of that evidence... then, wouldn't I become the person I hated most when I was desperately trying to prove my father's innocence?"

Back then, Zheng Zai hated everyone who distorted right and wrong. Why should good people be thrown into prison?

Why are so many bad people enjoying themselves in the Tower of Desire?

Zheng Zai shook his head again:

"I can't be that kind of person... I can't be that kind of person."

"Brother Wen, I understand. I will return the things to Officer Liu Jinsen. Is this... the answer you saw?"

Wen Xishu did not deny it; he nodded:

"Yes, Old Zheng. I can understand whatever you choose to do, but I also know you, so I know that there is only one way you will act."

"Power is good; it can make a group of people turn right into wrong for you, and you can also use power to tease others."

"When we have no power, we hate those who abuse it. Now that we have power... we might also become one of the evil dragons."

"But fortunately, my friend, Old Zheng, you are a noble guy. This isn't conducive to getting by in an environment like the Bunker... but I think one day, if we work hard together, we will allow good people to get ahead."

Zheng Zai discovered that Brother Wen really had a talent for speeches; he had a passionate drive to go and do something big with Brother Wen.

After being told this by Wen Xishu, Zheng Zai wasn't as conflicted or pained anymore.

"By the way, I am now... fourth on the Heavenly Ladder. Hehe, I will chase after the third place; I feel I can surpass him."

"I've been climbing the tower lately too! My Strange Sequence 123: Full Meal Supplement, even got a rune. This means I won't have an episode for a short time."

Wen Xishu was very curious about this sequence. He still remembered that Zheng Zai had even used this sequence to eat a ghost before.

A certain terrifying mission involving a grandfather climbing out of a coffin had its style completely changed because Zheng Zai ate the grandfather...

Don't say it, Wen Xishu felt Zheng Zai's sequence was quite strong.

It was the same during the previous slaughter; controlling Zheng Zai with a controller could even make that Zheng Zai recover health.

"Tell me about your sequence?"

The sequence of the fourth person in the Mysterious Tower, Full Meal Supplement, is a very useful sequence.

Simply put, you supplement whatever you eat, and it isolates the fatal dangers brought by food.

Zheng Zai had now also obtained a rune, an exclusive rune called "Accumulate Thinly, Release Thickly."

For a period of time, it will suppress the power of the sequence, but after the suppression is lifted, the sequence will be abnormally powerful for a short time.

This rune was obtained by Zheng Zai the last time he climbed the tower.

Wen Xishu had to say that this rune was very suitable for Zheng Zai.

"A very powerful and practical sequence, very good, Old Zheng, congratulations."

Zheng Zai said:

"I also got something else... called a Mysterious Assembly admission ticket, a double ticket."

Wen Xishu didn't expect that Old Zheng could actually tell him about a new thing in the Mysterious Tower that he hadn't even heard of.

He was very curious:

"What the hell is this?"

Zheng Zai said:

"I didn't understand at first either; it was only after I asked the Guide that the Guide told me."

Wen Xishu couldn't help it:

"Did it not give you a triple-combo?"

Zheng Zai didn't understand what a triple-combo was, so he shook his head and said:

"I don't really understand, but the Guide said that if you clear the Mysterious Tower in a strange way, and a certain strange behavior is frequently repeated, you might get a Mysterious Assembly admission ticket."

It really is. Wen Xishu pondered for a moment; Old Zheng's way of clearing the tower was probably just eating.

Eating from beginning to end, if he isn't strange, who is? No wonder he was issued a Mysterious Assembly admission ticket.

"A double ticket means... you can fill in the name of one more friend. This way, when I climb the tower, I can forcibly summon my friend to climb the tower together."

Zheng Zai suddenly felt a bit embarrassed:

"But I thought about it, whether it's Amiao, or anyone else... they probably wouldn't think that being invited into the Mysterious Tower is something that reflects friendship; on the contrary, it's more like something that would break a friendship."

"Probably only you, Brother Wen... would think that being invited to climb the tower is something that reflects friendship."

Why do I have a feeling of being both praised and scolded? Wen Xishu wanted to laugh.

Zheng Zai said:

"The Guide said that the admission ticket will take us to a specific floor, not too high... but we might encounter many equally strange existences."

"However, the rewards obtained will break through the floor limit."

"I thought about it, and I'm not confident, so Brother Wen, are you willing to... experience this special Mysterious Tower mission with me?"

Wen Xishu felt that this was really not bad.

Old Zheng's floor shouldn't be high... If he goes in, presumably even if the mission is difficult, he should be able to handle it with ease.

And the rewards of the Mysterious Assembly breaking through the floor limit made Wen Xishu very interested.

"Okay, I promise you."

"Really? That's great! Brother Wen!" Zheng Zai almost jumped up.

Although he didn't know what challenges he would face, with Brother Wen there, he felt abnormally stable.

Zheng Zai asked:

"Then Brother... when do we set off?"

Wen Xishu said:

"Wait for my notification; I'll tell you next time I climb the tower. But I can't leave the Bunker right now."

Wen Xishu really wanted to see Mr. Jin right now. Because his addiction to climbing the tower was acting up.

But he really couldn't rush this matter.

(End of chapter)