This Time, What Will You Choose?

Only after seeing the Horcrux did Li Wei truly understand why Dumbledore had gone in circles and said so much to him earlier.

The information he had previously given Dumbledore had not been wasted. Dumbledore had actually already gotten his hands on the Horcrux.

So the main purpose of all today's discussion had really been to test him?

Dumbledore wanted to judge from his performance whether to tell him the secret of the Horcrux?

Li Wei understood perfectly and was not angered by Dumbledore's caution and probing.

Not to mention that Dumbledore truly had pointed out the path ahead for him.

The secret of Horcruxes was indeed no trivial matter.

If this information leaked, those Death Eaters who had believed Voldemort would never return would surely gather once more.

This had nothing to do with loyalty. The fear Voldemort had instilled in them was rooted deep in their hearts.

As long as Voldemort showed even the slightest sign that he could rise again, they would immediately act to demonstrate their loyalty and avoid being purged by him later.

Therefore, keeping the secret of the Horcruxes sealed was absolutely necessary.

Magic truly made no sense.

Voldemort had gained an undying soul through Horcruxes, yet he also feared that his secret would be discovered. Thus, he would not reveal the secret of the Horcruxes even to his most loyal Death Eaters.

So, on the night Voldemort was struck by his own curse, everyone believed he had died completely.

And now, Li Wei was about to learn this secret—a secret Dumbledore had never shared even with Professor McGonagall.

The reason Dumbledore had decided to do so was because he had sensed an astonishing coincidence. Just in the second year after Voldemort's shadow had emerged, he had discovered Li Wei.

And only two months after Li Wei began teaching at Hogwarts, he had uncovered the Basilisk's secret through Harry and the others, and had helped Dumbledore easily obtain the first Horcrux.

Dumbledore was willing to try trusting him—to believe that Li Wei would be an important factor in the fight against Voldemort.

"Do you know what this is?"

"A diary? I seem to sense extremely evil magic coming from it."

Li Wei frowned slightly, pretending not to know what lay before him—though this was indeed the first time he had come into actual contact with a Horcrux.

"It looks utterly unremarkable, doesn't it? If I had not seen with my own eyes how it bewitched a young witch and even drained her life force, I truly would not have believed that something so evil could exist in this world."

"So what exactly is it?"

Li Wei's brow furrowed even more deeply, and his expression as he looked at Dumbledore became increasingly solemn.

"A Horcrux."

The moment Dumbledore spoke that word, the atmosphere throughout the office seemed to sink, as though the term itself possessed magic.

"This is a Horcrux? One of the darkest and most evil magical objects in the world?

"Who was its owner? Did some madman really dare split his own soul?"

Li Wei examined the diary "cautiously" and did not touch it rashly.

"It seems you already know something about this."

Dumbledore was not surprised—after all, Li Wei had read every book in the Hogwarts library, so naturally he had also read Moste Potente Potions.

His expression turned solemn, and his tone grew heavier.

"What I am about to tell you concerns one of the most dangerous secrets in the wizarding world—the owner of this Horcrux is not dead. Of course he is not, because his soul has not been completely destroyed.

"His owner was named Tom Riddle. Naturally, he also had another name that was far more famous—"

Dumbledore watched Li Wei's reaction and slowly uttered a name that seemed to carry magic.

"Voldemort."

Rumble!

Thunder suddenly roared above the castle. Lightning briefly drove away the darkness in the sky, illuminating Dumbledore and Li Wei's faces with an eerie brightness.

Li Wei glanced curiously out the window, then turned back to Dumbledore, his expression unchanged.

"So the Dark Lord isn't dead? What state is he in now?"

"His body has perished, but his soul remains."

Dumbledore answered Li Wei's question precisely.

"His body was completely destroyed in that accident, but because of the Horcruxes, his soul has not perished. At this moment, he is hiding in the forests of Albania."

"I want to ask: is his soul whole now?"

"No. He is weaker now than at any other point and can only cling to life in Albania.

"But what is frightening is that some utterly loyal Death Eaters have not given up hope of finding him. Those people are far more terrifying than you imagine—they are even willing to let Voldemort's soul parasitize their bodies.

"Therefore, with their help, he could return at any time."

"You're telling me this because?"

A questioning look appeared in Li Wei's eyes as he pretended not to know that there was more than one Horcrux.

Dumbledore indeed spoke again at once.

"Tom definitely made more than one Horcrux. I suspect he most likely made six. With the main soul inside his own body, that would make seven pieces in total."

"Seven is a number with powerful magic. Tom was obsessed with the Dark Arts, so he must have had an extraordinary fixation on that number."

"So even though we have already found one Horcrux, we still have to remain on guard against his return at all times, correct?"

"Yes."

Dumbledore confirmed Li Wei's answer and studied him with some curiosity.

"You do not seem surprised by this at all?"

"I mean, if anyone else heard this news, they would be at least somewhat alarmed."

Li Wei supported his chin with his right hand and looked somewhat wearily at the diary in the middle of the table.

"I really am not very worried. Isn't the headmaster here? The Dark Lord may be an evil and powerful Dark wizard, but we have the greatest white wizard of the nineteenth century. I don't think I have much to worry about."

"As a Chinese proverb puts it, when the sky falls, the tall people hold it up."

"...This is the first time I've received such a sincere compliment and been unable to feel happy about it."

Perhaps infected by Li Wei's gesture, Dumbledore's face suddenly showed a trace of weariness as well.

"I am already 111 years old, Li Wei."

"I am old."

"I am neither as powerful as you claim, nor can I bear everyone's hopes alone—not even when I was at my youngest and strongest. There were always people behind me supporting me.

"Without them, I could not take a single step.

"And now, that is even more true."

"You said earlier—that the reason you hid your identity during those two years of war was because you were not strong enough—"

Dumbledore looked at Li Wei, his voice gentle, like an old man speaking to his young grandson.

"I do not believe that is an excuse."

"In this world, the brave deserve praise. But people like you during your student days, who chose to flee because they lacked sufficient strength, should not be blamed either.

"You had not undergone harsh training and lacked the experience and courage to fight Death Eaters. It was perfectly normal that you did not dare face them."

"But what about this time?"

Dumbledore's blue eyes seemed to contain endless wisdom and magic, making one unable to resist sinking into them.

"You have now seen the path toward legend. Given time, perhaps your achievements may even surpass Tom's and mine."

"I am sorry for forcing you to come teach at the school last time.

"So this time, I have told you every secret and will let you choose for yourself.

"Li Wei, Tom will return one day.

"This time, what will you choose?"