The Ninth Layer had not closed.
After Shen Yu's footage disappeared, the door deep inside the Air-Raid Shelter remained open. The office beyond it was still there too, but the documents on the desk were gone, replaced by an old bronze clock.
The bronze clock made no sound, but its hands kept turning.
The Director ordered the operation suspended. Song Zhixia also forbade anyone from approaching the Ninth Layer again. Lu Wenchuan was wheeled back to his hospital room at Headquarters, and Xu Zhihan was taken to the observation room next door. Only a corridor separated the two rooms.
Xu Zhihan sat in the observation room, with frame-by-frame screenshots of Shen Yu's footage laid out before him.
Mortal Realm Severance Agreement.
A photograph of Lu Wenchuan's death.
Shen Yu's face remained blurred, no matter how the Technical Team tried to restore it.
The Deputy Captain stood at the door and asked quietly, "Mr. Xu, would you like to rest for a while?"
Xu Zhihan looked at the screenshots.
"Is Lu Wenchuan asleep?"
The Deputy Captain paused. "Doctor Song gave him a painkiller injection. He should be asleep soon."
Xu Zhihan lowered his eyes.
"Keep an eye on him."
"Yes."
After the Deputy Captain left, the observation room fell quiet.
Xu Zhihan raised his hand and pressed his fingertips against the Silver Nameplate. The crack in it was still hot. Shen Yu's words were like a fine needle, not buried deep, but lodged there all the same.
Every day you remain in the mortal world is another day he will be affected.
Xu Zhihan briefly closed his eyes.
A faint noise suddenly came from outside the door.
He opened his eyes and saw Lu Wenchuan standing at the other end of the corridor, his coat draped over him and his right