Suddenly, a burst of clamor and hurried footsteps came from outside the door, breaking the quiet inside the room.
Zhu Yanfeng pushed the door open and entered, followed by an old man—none other than Old Man Ku Rong, Zhuang Mochen, one of the Three Elders of Chang'an.
As soon as Zhuang Mochen entered, he bowed deeply to Chen Menglin, then nodded to Chen Xiaojun in greeting.
Chen Menglin and Chen Xiaojun both returned the courtesy, their expressions carrying a measure of respect.
Zhuang Mochen said, "Dean, I heard you had awakened, so Lao Zhuo and Lao Wang specially entrusted me to come on behalf of Chang'an Academy to visit you."
Chen Cong replied with a smile, "Old Zhuang, you are all too polite. We are colleagues—there is no need for such courtesy."
Zhuang Mochen shook his head and said earnestly, "It is only right. The dean was injured for the sake of the teachers and students of our academy. It is only natural that we come to visit you."
After saying that, he paused, then continued, "In addition, regarding the situation in this incident, I must report it to you."
Chen Cong's expression sharpened, and he said gravely, "Old Zhuang, go ahead."
Zhuang Mochen recounted in a pained voice, "In the battle at the camp this time, including the personnel our academy left behind and the teachers and students within the academy, there were nearly a hundred people in total. Twenty-two died in battle, and seventeen were heavily injured."
"Thanks to Ji Shuran decisively ordering the camp to self-destruct, otherwise not a single one of them might have returned."
In truth, as soon as Ji Shuran saw the wolf bandits attacking on a large scale, he immediately ordered the camp passage to self-destruct.
They held out for a while, then