The rhythmic clip-clop of horse hooves against the dirt road provided a steady rhythm, intermingling with the cheerful melodies of songbirds in the morning sun.

Meanwhile, inside the carriage, Song Jia's delicate features were framed by her hair, wispy like strands of warm maple tresses dancing in the gentle breeze as she leaned against the carriage window. Her heart-shaped face held an air of innocent wonder as her gaze drifted across the pastoral scenery gliding by.

Across from her, Ji Wuye's expression was equally pensive, his crimson eyes reflecting the passing landscapes through the opposite window. A comfortable silence had enveloped the pair for nearly five minutes since their departure from Baiyun Village.

The man's brow was furrowed slightly, deep in contemplation over the infromations that had recently he heard. In contrast, Song Jia's mind was at ease, a weight lifted from her shoulders after her apology being accepted.

"Brother Ji," she called out abruptly, her soft voice breaking the tranquil quiet as she turned her head to glance over her shoulder at him. "What are you actually searching for in Tianmu village?" The query held no urgency nor apprehension, spoken in a casual lilt as if idly pondering a thought aloud.

Now that the tension between them had dissipated and she had acquiesced to his request for compliance, the complicated knot of emotions that had previously plagued her thoughts had untangled.

Studying the composed, almost stoic countenance of Ji Wuye, who in that moment exuded an aura of ageless wisdom, she found herself puzzled by his contradictory nature.

"Hmm? Well..." His response trailed off into pensive silence, as if reluctant to divulge the true scope of his quest.

Yet Song Jia did not press further, seemingly unsurprised by his evasive non-answer. She had not harbored lofty expectations from the outset, understanding that her role was to obey his wishes without question.

Through their recent interactions, she had glimpsed facets of the real Ji Wuye that contrasted starkly with his public persona - a man renowned for his gentle disposition towards women, his lack of martial prowess, and an almost effeminate weakness. The reality, however, painted a different picture altogether.

'He's actually cold and indifferent,' she mused, her gaze flickering towards his passive, serene features as he continued to observe the passing vistas with those piercing crimson eyes.

Yet, for Song Jia, the true nature of Ji Wuye's persona mattered little. What lingered most prominently in her mind was the indelible image of him nonchalantly deflecting her attack with seeming ease, and the blur of his swift kick that her eyes could scarcely follow.

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That display of his formidable skills had left an lasting impression, one that she could not reconcile with the meek, unassuming figure he projected to the public.

Strength... For reasons she could not fully articulate, Ji Wuye's aura of quiet power stirred a familiar resonance within Song Jia - one that echoed the formidable presences of those elite disciples she had observed under her Master's tutelage, pupils handpicked by the another Emperors themselves like her Master.

'Ah... speaking of which, what should I say to him?' Her brow furrowed as a sudden recollection surfaced. Amidst their journey towards an uncertain destination, she remembered the primary impetus for joining Ji Wuye on this mission: to master the elusive second form of her Master's sword art.

RUMBLE--!

But suddenly, a jarring tremor and startled whinnies of the horses shattered the tranquil atmosphere as the carriage ground to an abrupt halt.

Song Jia's slender fingers instinctively tightened around the hilt of her jian, her senses heightened. Simultaneously, the coachman's urgent voice cut through the commotion, laced with an undercurrent of trepidation.

"Please wait a moment, esteemed heroes. We have some trouble here," he called out, his words mingling with the ominous growls of unseen beasts.

Song Jia's heart hammered in her chest as she prepared to rise and assess the situation, ready to lend her aid if necessary. However, Ji Wuye's steady hand upon her arm halted her movement, his crimson gaze scrutinizing her with unruffled calm.

"What do you think you are doing?" he inquired, his voice smooth yet carrying an undercurrent of authority as he observed the fleeting rebellion and subsequent resignation that flitted across her delicate features.

"Didn't you hear what the coachman said? There's danger! We are martial artists from Kunlun; we must help him!" Song Jia insisted, her slender frame straining against his unyielding grip as she attempted to break free, surprised by the sheer immovability of his hand.

"I know, but didn't you forget what the Uncle said before?" Ji Wuye replied, a hint of amusement dancing in his eyes as he effortlessly withstood her struggle.

"I know! But are you really sure about this?! Letting innocent people die?!" she snapped, her frustration mounting as she channeled more of her strength against his implacable restraint, her piercing glare boring into him.

"Of course-" Ji Wuye's words trailed off, momentarily widening Song Jia's eyes with a flicker of disbelief before his subsequent explanation further stoked her annoyance.

"-not, but did you forget how hard the Tower challenges were that you tried to complete? That Uncle is one of those challengers, like you, remember?" he stated with casual nonchalance, as if the matter were self-evident.

"Ah..." A soft gasp of realization escaped Song Jia's lips as comprehension dawned, her gaze following Ji Wuye's measured movements as he carefully opened the carriage door and stepped out onto the road. The cacophony of clashing metal and bestial growls intensified, now unimpeded by the carriage walls.

"But this is good training for you. Didn't you say you want to master the second move of your Master's sword art?" His words resonated with pragmatic wisdom as Song Jia processed their implications.

On the other hand...

Ji Wuye's crimson eyes shifted towards the commotion unfolding ahead, where the clash raged on.

Squinting against the brilliant morning sunlight, she beheld the cause for their abrupt halt: a pack of snarling wolves obstructing their path, their lupine forms prowling restlessly.

"HOWL!" One of the beasts threw back its head, unleashing a haunting cry that pierced the air before launching itself towards the coachman, who stood ready with a jian gripped in each calloused hand.

With surprising agility, the coachman deftly sidestepped the attack, executing a seamless roll that carried him onto the grassy embankment.

TREMBLE--!

The ground trembled violently as the wolf's powerful jaws snapped shut on empty air, its momentum carrying it past its intended target.

"W-what is that?!" Song Jia exclaimed, finally emerging from the relative safety of the carriage, her body tensing as her widened gaze took in the full scope of their predicament.

Towering over the scene were several gargantuan wolves, their obsidian fur bristling as they circled the coachman with malicious intent, crimson eyes glowing with an otherworldly light that seemed at odds with the bright daylight.

Their size... big and tall like the horse carriage beside her.

"Well, it seems that Uncle is out of breath..."