It had been nine days since Tang MIngTuo and Yu learned of Chong MingDe's death.

Due to their involvement with Yan's organization in Japan and Yan's manipulation of information, they were completely cut off from the outside world.

It wasn't until today, when they returned to headquarters for work and went to visit Chong MingDe, that they realized everything had changed.

The room where Chong MingDe had been kept was now empty.

After inquiring with the staff, they found out that Chong MingDe had been dead for nine days.

This couldn't be true.

Neither Tang MIngTuo nor Yu could accept this news.

Just a few days ago, when they spoke to Yan on the phone, Yan had mentioned that Chong MingDe was gradually recovering.

How could Chong MingDe suddenly die?

And no one had informed them of this.

It didn't make sense.

What had happened?

Tang MIngTuo and Yu's first reaction was to see Chong MingDe's body.

The process went smoothly, with no one obstructing them. Everyone cooperated and led them to the body.

In the morgue, they finally laid eyes on Chong MingDe's preserved body, without any external injuries.

Yu, who was skilled in medicine, rechecked the autopsy report. In the end, he could only come to the same conclusion as the report.

The internal organs had shrunk, as if the body had voluntarily ended its own life.

"How could this happen?" (Yu)

Yu, looking at the examination results, felt like he had lost his soul. He sat on the ground, feeling devoid of strength.

Tang MIngTuo, propping his forehead, could barely stand against the wall in disbelief.

For their age, the death of a close friend had come too early, much too early.

"I'll go ask Elder Bi." (Tang MIngTuo)

Saying that, Tang MIngTuo turned and left the room.

When he arrived at Yan's room, the door wasn't closed like usual, but slightly ajar.

He could see through the crack that the room was unlit.

"Did he forget to close the door when he left? Or..."

Without Yan's permission, Tang MIngTuo couldn't enter his room.

As a precaution, Tang MIngTuo knocked on Yan's door.

With Tang MIngTuo's knocking, the door opened, revealing Yan sitting alone in the dimly lit room, his expression grave.

Through the slits of the curtains, beams of light streamed into the room.

In those beams of light, they could see specks of dust floating and rising.

And beside them, behind the desk, Yan sat collapsed on the wooden chair, leaning against the backrest.

The wrinkles on his face were like the ravines of the Loess Plateau, as deep as the bark of an old tree.

Compared to the last time Tang MIngTuo had seen Yan, he had aged several decades in an instant.

"What exactly happened, Principal?" (Tang Mingtuo)

Tang Mingtuo approached the desk.

He saw Yan in a dazed state, and lowered his voice as well.

Even the anger that Tang Mingtuo had initially felt and wanted to question Yan about subsided unconsciously upon seeing him like this.

After Tang Mingtuo's voice dissipated for a while, Yan slowly lifted his head and saw him.

"Oh, it's Mingtuo... Why are you here?"

Yan's speech was very slow, completely different from his usual decisive and swift demeanor.

It was like an old vintage car, struggling with every step.

As for Tang Mingtuo's questioning, Yan didn't hear it at all.

Tang Mingtuo couldn't do anything more for this grieving old man.