This Time, How Will You Choose?

After seeing the Horcrux, Li Wei truly understood why Dumbledore had spoken in such a roundabout way with him before.

The information he had given Dumbledore earlier had not been wasted; the other party had actually obtained the Horcrux.

So, the main purpose of all the discussions today was actually to test him?

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

Li Wei saw through it all, and he wasn't angry at Dumbledore's caution and probing.

Not to mention that the other party had indeed guided his future path.

The secret of the Horcrux was indeed no small matter.

If this information leaked, those Death Eaters who thought Voldemort would never return would all regroup.

This had nothing to do with loyalty; it was because the fear Voldemort instilled in them was deeply rooted in their hearts.

As long as Voldemort showed the slightest sign of being able to make a comeback, they would immediately act to express their loyalty, to avoid being purged by him later.

Therefore, keeping the secret of the Horcrux under wraps was quite necessary.

Magic was indeed unreasonable.

Voldemort had gained an immortal soul through the Horcrux, but at the same time, he was afraid of his secret being discovered. Thus, even to his most loyal Death Eaters, he would not tell them the secret of the Horcrux.

So, on the night Voldemort was struck by his own spell, everyone thought Voldemort was completely dead.

And now, Li Wei was about to learn this secret—a secret that even Dumbledore had not shared with Professor McGonagall.

The reason he decided to do this was that he sensed an astonishing coincidence: in the second year after Voldemort's shadow reappeared, he discovered Li Wei.

And in just two months of teaching at Hogwarts, Li Wei had gleaned the secret of the Basilisk from Harry and his friends, and had also helped him easily obtain his first Horcrux.

Dumbledore was willing to try to believe—to believe that Li Wei would be an important factor in fighting Voldemort.

"Do you know what this is?"

"A diary? I seem to sense an extremely evil magical power from it."

Li Wei 'frowned slightly', pretending he didn't know what the object in front of him was—this was indeed the first time he had actually come into contact with a Horcrux.

"It looks unremarkable, doesn't it? If I hadn't personally witnessed how it bewitched a Little Wizard, even draining her life force, I would never have believed that such an evil thing could exist in the world."

"So, what exactly is this?"

Li Wei's frown deepened, and his expression as he looked at Dumbledore became even more serious.

"A Horcrux."

When this word was spoken by Dumbledore, the atmosphere in the entire office sank, as if the noun itself carried magical power.

"This is a Horcrux? Considered the darkest, most evil magical item in the world?

Who is its owner? How could a madman dare to split his soul?"

Li Wei 'cautiously' examined the diary, not daring to touch it rashly.

"It seems you already have some understanding of this."

Dumbledore was not surprised—after all, Li Wei had read all the books in the Hogwarts library, so he must have also read Moste Potente Potions.

His expression was serious, and his tone deepened.

"What I am about to tell you involves the most dangerous secret in the wizarding world—the owner of this Horcrux is not dead—of course, because its soul has not been completely destroyed.

Its owner's name is Tom Riddle, though he has a much more famous name—"

Dumbledore observed Li Wei's reaction and slowly uttered a magical name.

"Voldemort."

Rumble!

Thunder suddenly roared in the sky outside the castle, and lightning briefly dispelled the darkness, illuminating Dumbledore's and Li Wei's faces brightly.

Li Wei glanced out the window curiously, then looked back at Dumbledore, his expression unchanged.

"So, the Dark Lord isn't dead yet? What is his current state?"

"His body is gone, but his soul remains."

Dumbledore accurately answered Li Wei's question.

"His body was completely destroyed in that accident, but his soul has not perished due to the existence of the Horcrux, and is currently hiding in the forests of Albania."

"I'd like to ask, is his soul intact now?"

"No, he is weaker now than ever before, barely surviving in Albania.

But the terrifying thing is that there are still some loyal Death Eaters who have not given up hope of finding him. Those people are far more terrifying than you can imagine—they are even willing to let Voldemort's soul possess their bodies.

Therefore, he could make a comeback at any time with the help of those people."

"You're telling me this because?"

A look of inquiry flashed in Li Wei's eyes, pretending he didn't know there were multiple Horcruxes.

Dumbledore soon spoke as expected.

"Tom's Horcruxes are definitely more than one. I'm guessing he'll make six Horcruxes, which, along with the main soul in his own body, makes a total of seven."

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

"So, even though we've already found one Horcrux, we still need to be on guard for his return, right?"

"Yes."

Dumbledore affirmed Li Wei's answer, looking at him with a hint of curiosity.

"You don't seem surprised by this at all?"

"I mean, if anyone else heard this news, they'd be at least a little panicked."

Li Wei propped his chin with his right hand, looking tiredly at the diary in the middle of the table.

"I'm not really panicking. You're still here, Headmaster. The Dark Lord is certainly an evil and powerful dark wizard, but we also have the greatest white wizard of the nineteenth century. I don't think I have anything to worry about."

"To use a Chinese proverb, it's like saying 'When the sky falls, the tall ones will hold it up.'"

"...This is the first time I've ever received a sincere compliment and couldn't feel happy about it."

As he spoke, perhaps influenced by Li Wei's demeanor, a hint of weariness suddenly appeared on Dumbledore's face.

"I am 111 years old this year, Li Wei."

"I'm old."

"I'm not as powerful as you say, nor can I bear everyone's hopes alone—even in my prime, there was always a group of people behind me supporting me. Without them, I couldn't have moved an inch. And now, even more so."

"You said earlier—that you went into hiding for two years during the war because you weren't strong enough—"

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

"I don't think that's an excuse."

"In this world, brave people deserve rewards, but those who choose to flee because they lack strength, like you did in your student days, I don't think they should be harshly judged either. You haven't undergone rigorous training, lack the experience and courage to fight Death Eaters, and it's perfectly normal to be afraid of facing them."

"But what about this time?"

Dumbledore's sapphire-blue eyes seemed to hold infinite wisdom and magic, drawing one in.

"You have now seen the path to legend. In time, perhaps your achievements will even surpass those of Tom and me."

"I apologize for forcing you to teach at the school last time. So this time, I'm telling you all the secrets and letting you choose. Li Wei, Tom will return sooner or later. This time, what will you choose?"