121: Chapter 121 Even in death, a man has the ideal of protecting his country!

Jiangcheng Professional University, Wu Tian's office.

The air was filled with a faint scent of tea, yet it could not mask the stifling sense of heaviness.

"Has the situation at the Trial Grounds been tallied yet?"

Wu Tian Wu Tian sat behind his desk and rubbed his temples.

Standing opposite him was Tian Lin, Grade Head.

At this moment, Tian Lin appeared somewhat hunched, his face etched with exhaustion and self-reproach.

"Reporting, Wu Tian."

Tian Lin's voice was somewhat hoarse. He opened the folder in his hands, and every number he read out sounded like a heavy hammer striking his heart:

"After the final verification, in this beast tide incident at the Trial Grounds... four students have been confirmed dead. Eight are seriously injured and receiving treatment in the hospital, and dozens of others sustained minor injuries."

Upon hearing the words "four deaths," Wu Tian's hand paused slightly, and he nodded thoughtfully:

"Four... For this kind of sudden disaster, this number is already the best of a bad situation."

Tian Lin remained silent for a moment, finally unable to resist asking the question in his heart:

"Wu Tian, do you know... why this incident happened in the first place?"

He raised his head, his eyes filled with a trace of urgency:

"Why would a space-time rift suddenly appear in a perfectly fine Trial Grounds? Why would so many fierce beasts descend without any warning?"

Wu Tian shook his head, his expression grave:

"According to the latest news from the military, recently, it's not just our Jiangcheng; similar air-drop incidents have occurred quite often across the entire Dragon Kingdom. But the specific, exact cause remains a mystery to this day."

"Our school's losses this time, compared to the other cities that suffered attacks, can already be considered very small."

Wu Tian's words were meant to be comforting, but to Tian Lin, they felt like a thorn.

Tian Lin lowered his head, looking at his own calloused iron fists, his heart in turmoil.

"Could it be..." A thought he firmly believed was circling in his mind: Could it be the chain reaction triggered by that punch in the Flaming Dense Forest a while ago?

If that were really the case... then he was truly damned!

A strong sense of guilt caused Tian Lin's breathing to become heavy.

"Wu Tian!" Tian Lin suddenly raised his head and continued to press:

"Doesn't the military have any countermeasures? If they just keep happening like this—today it's at the school, tomorrow it might be in a residential area! Over time, people will be in a state of panic, and how will people be able to live their lives?"

Wu Tian sighed and helplessly spread his hands:

"I don't know. It seems the military doesn't have any particularly effective methods for the time being. These space-time rifts appear too randomly. However..."

Wu Tian changed the subject:

"I heard that the military is currently recruiting a large number of people to form special investigation teams and cleanup squads, preparing to start an in-depth investigation into this matter and strengthen clearing efforts Outside the Border."

"Recruiting?"

Hearing these two words, Tian Lin's eyes, which had been somewhat dim, instantly lit up. For him, since he felt that this accident might be the butterfly effect caused by "that punch" of his, and since the dead could not be brought back to life, the only way he could atone was to use his own strength to fill this void. As a Level 80 Great Fist Master, although he had been teaching at the school for years and had never guarded the border, his raw strength was second to none in all of Jiangcheng. As long as he didn't encounter a Level 100 fierce beast, he should still be able to run rampant Outside the Border. Thinking of this, the confusion in Tian Lin's heart was swept away.

Wu Tian noticed the change in Tian Lin's expression and asked curiously:

"What? Looking at you like this... you want to go?"

Tian Lin nodded heavily, his tone unprecedentedly firm:

"Yes, Wu Tian. Fierce beasts are harmful, and our students have died in the school; I cannot swallow this anger."

"It's rare that the military is expanding recruitment this time without restrictions on positions, so I want to go and try. Even if I can kill a few more fierce beasts, that would be good."

Wu Tian looked at the old subordinate who had been with him for many years, a flash of something different in his eyes.

"Alright then."

Wu Tian did not stop him, but instead revealed an approving smile:

"Since you want to go, then go and try. However, Old Tian, usually at your age, most people are thinking about how to coast to retirement, go home, and hold their wife and children in a warm bed. Someone like you, abandoning a stable position and insisting on going to the front lines to risk your life... that's really quite rare."

Tian Lin scratched his head and revealed an honest and heroic smile:

"Men, until the day they die, always harbor the ideal of defending their home and country. Besides, if I don't go, should I let that group of children who haven't grown up yet go?"

Wu Tian slapped the table and stood up:

"Go, I support you! You don't need to worry about things at the school; I will arrange everything."

"You go and try first. If you can pass the selection, I will naturally find someone to replace your position here. If you can't pass, or if you get tired and want to come back, the position of freshman grade head will always be reserved for you."

Tian Lin's eyes grew warm, and he bowed deeply to Wu Tian:

"Thank you, Wu Tian Wu! Then... I'll be leaving first!"

Having said this, Tian Lin turned around and strode out of the Wu Tian's office.

Watching the door close, Wu Tian sat back in his chair, picked up his teacup, and took a sip, just about to sigh a few words.

"Knock, knock, knock." The knocking sounded again.

Wu Tian was taken aback:

"Old Tian? Is there something else?"

However, after the door was pushed open, it was not Tian Lin who walked in.

When Wu Tian saw the faces of the people who had come, a flash of brilliance instantly erupted in his cloudy old eyes, and he almost dropped the teacup in his hand.

"You... how did you come back?"

The ones who walked into the Wu Tian's office were none other than Shen Ye and Xia Qing, who had been gone for half a month.

"Wu Tian Wu."

Shen Ye bowed slightly and nodded.

Wu Tian hurriedly put down the teacup, stood up, walked around the desk, and looked the two of them up and down, his tone filled with concern and a trace of nervousness:

"Why did you rush back so anxiously? Were you seen by anyone on the way? Now is an extraordinary time; if you are discovered..."

"Rest assured, Wu Tian Wu."

Xia Qing pushed up his glasses, a wise light flashing on the lenses:

"We were very careful. Besides..."

Boom!

A burst of momentum suddenly erupted from Xia Qing's body. The aura of a Professional above Level 30 blossomed from him.

"With our current strength, I estimate that not many people would recognize us."

Wu Tian felt this aura and nodded with satisfaction:

"Not bad, really not bad! It seems that during this time Outside the Border, you have grown quite a bit."

Subsequently, Wu Tian sighed with some regret as he looked at the two:

"What a pity... if 'Night Curtain' were still around, and if that incident hadn't happened to you, this Freshman Challenge Tournament would surely have been very interesting to watch."

Shen Ye gave a bitter smile and touched his eyepatch:

"There's no help for it; fate plays tricks on people. Some prices must be paid."

"Alright, let's not talk about this."

Wu Tian waved his hand:

"Then, what are you here to do by sneaking back this time? Could it be... the thing that voice asked you to do, have you already completed it?"