'Of course, the reason is simple,' Ji Wuye pondered, his brow furrowing slightly as they advanced deeper into the Dungeon.

The flickering torchlight from Song Jia's hand pierced through the enveloping darkness, revealing the Dungeon's twisted structure - a tangled blend of thick, gnarled roots resembling shattered logs embedded haphazardly into the damp, loamy ground.

On the other hand, the Dark Wolves were creatures that came from the 'dark' attribute Dungeon. Yet the goblins, the creatures they slew in the ravaged village, unmistakably originated from a 'wood' attribute Dungeon.

Now, as they delved further, the very Dungeon they trod merged seamlessly with the encroaching forest, gnarled roots and vines snaking underfoot, confirming Ji Wuye's suspicion that it was indeed a 'wood' attribute Dungeon.

Not a 'dark' attribute Dungeon, which meant...

'If my assumption is correct, there are two Dungeons appearing nearby or around this area,' Ji Wuye's mind raced, recalling fragmented memories from the previous timeline.

At that timeline, Dungeons weren't such horrific or mystical places drenched in peril, but rather farming grounds teeming with resources for other Climbers to challenge.

They were targeted by everyone, not because of any actual reward for vanquishing monsters, but instead...

Ji Wuye's eyes narrowed, a faint smile playing across his lips. 'Well, it would be worth the trip if I can get my hands on it.'

In addition, another underlying reason for Ji Wuye venturing here was, of course, to raise the proficiency of his skills.

...

As Ji Wuye ruminated, following Song Jia who led the way, her torch casting wavering shadows that danced across the uneven walls, her footsteps suddenly ceased.

She turned, squinting at him over her shoulder, hesitation flickering across her delicate features.

"I know I shouldn't ask, but I'm curious. Brother Ji, did you perhaps know this Dungeon would appear? Is that why you came here?" Her voice was laced with a hint of suspicion and uncertainty.

"I've been wondering this entire journey: how did you know about this place, and why did you come here? After encountering those wolves and being with you for a couple of days, I have a hunch that you knew from the start and planned this. So-"

"Watch your step," Ji Wuye interrupted, his tone clipped. Song Jia's gaze snapped downwards, the torchlight revealing a treacherous gap, dark and wide enough to swallow her legs whole had she taken another stride forward.

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A tremulous sigh of relief escaped her lips. "That was close."

Ji Wuye's frown deepened as he observed how Song Jia quickly regained her composure and led onward, the torchlight casting a wavering glow over her features.

'This girl...' he thought, eyes narrowing in contemplation. 'She seemed so naive the entire time, yet she's quite perceptive when it comes to suspicious details.'

He recalled their first interaction - how Song Jia's clever observation had initiated their conversation, her sudden appearance in the abandoned courtyard, and her uncanny ability to see through his carefully constructed facade.

Yet, when it came to complex discussions or tasks requiring deep focus and thought, she seemed unable to grasp the finer nuances, 'much like most single-minded martial artists,' he mused.

Not only that, there was a fact that Song Jia's wariness likely stemmed from her Master's teachings about 'the inherent danger men pose,' Ji Wuye surmised with an inward chuckle.

It was quite amusing to see how one of the legendary Five Emperors had so thoroughly instilled such caution towards the opposite sex in their disciple.

Meanwhile...

"So, Brother Ji, why?" Song Jia's voice cut through his musings as she turned to face him completely, her gaze locking with his, eyes flickering with solemnity and a hint of...regret?

"Why didn't you tell the sect about this? Why? Just why?" She repeated the questions insistently, her head lowering as if a weight pressed upon her shoulders. The waver in her tone surprised even the composed Ji Wuye.

Yet what came next was rather quite...

"I'm too weak to save them... I mean... why... I'm..." Her voice faltered, and the torch slipped from her trembling grasp. Ji Wuye moved swiftly, catching it before the hungry flames could ignite the wood-strewn ground.

'How can the Dark Horse be this fragile?' Ji Wuye wondered, confusion furrowing his brow as he regarded Song Jia's downcast, curled form hiding her face behind her knees. She neither wept nor raged, but seemed utterly drained of energy and spirit.

As far as his memories served, the Song Jia in the previous timeline was cold, indifferent, her expression an impenetrable mask. The only thing that seemed to ignite any spark within her was the sparring and training related to martial arts.

Yet here, before him...

'Is this related to her strange reaction before?' His mind raced back to how she had frozen, seemingly paralyzed when the battered villagers were about to be torn asunder upon their arrival.

Ji Wuye exhaled a weary sigh. 'This is troublesome,' he thought, a myriad of concerns swirling through his mind - the future timeline, training Song Jia, advancing to the next realm, and now... dealing with her turbulent emotions.

Not just hers, but the other Sisters' as well. Only then did the realization fully dawn - he kept forgetting that this Song Jia was still a girl, not yet the woman, not yet the fighter, not yet the one who would bear the nickname "Dark Horse."

Now the target he aimed to train as a decoy to attract others' attention was in the throes of an emotional breakdown. How could she grow stronger, play her vital role, if she was crippled by such vulnerability?

"Sister Song," Ji Wuye called out softly. She remained unmoving, curled into herself, refusing to meet his gaze, but he noticed the slight tremble wracking her body. "There's nothing I can say about why I came here, but there is one thing..."

He half-knelt on the uneven ground, bringing his mouth close to her ear to whisper, "I trust you, Sister Song. You are strong, strong enough to stand side by side even with our sect's genius."

As the words left his lips, he felt the trembling in her body cease, her muscles relaxing ever so slightly. However, Song Jia's next response made Ji Wuye's mouth twitch and his brows knit.

"No, I don't trust you. I don't trust anything that comes out of your mouth," she stated plainly, raising her head just enough for him to glimpse eyes filled with distrust. "But, I do trust you."

Her simple yet utterly contradictory words left Ji Wuye speechless for a beat. Yet, behind those guarded eyes, he could discern a faint, smoldering confidence in him - again? The same enigmatic faith that had first sparked this turbulent emotional episode, oddly tethered to him in some inexplicable way.

Rising Gale... and now this...

"Then, it's good because... I believe in... you, Sister Song, your potential... to soar even higher...." Ji Wuye replied at last, a faint smile playing across his lips. Though she was still mired in a fragile emotional state, a treacherous Dungeon was no place for sightseeing. "Please wake up, or you'll get eaten."

Song Jia's eyes widened, visibly stunned by the warmth of Ji Wuye's smile which reminded her of... but then she puzzled.

'Eaten?' The words were so unexpected and seemed out of place. But then her puzzlement quickly gave way to alertness as a low, menacing growl echoed from the shadowed depths ahead.

"In the dark, a stone tiger can crush a real one. The night is a cloak that hides a thousand arrows." Ji Wuye's voice vibrated with warning as he vanished from Song Jia's side the moment he uttered the word "eaten."