The last rays of the afternoon sun had long faded, making way for the pale silver moon that cast a soft, ethereal glow over the courtyard. Its gentle luminescence painted the surroundings in muted shades of blue and gray, creating an almost dreamlike atmosphere.

The once warm breeze had turned crisp and chilly, whispering through the bamboo trees that swayed gently above. The slender stalks rustled softly, their leaves creating a delicate symphony that echoed through the night air.

As the vibrant orange sky transitioned into inky darkness, the night settled in with a hushed tranquility, broken only by the occasional chirp of a nocturnal insect or the distant hoot of an owl.

Outside Ji Wuye's living quarters, the neatly stacked logs and rows of boulders remained undisturbed, just as they had been meticulously arranged earlier.

On the rounded stone table that Ye Yujin's people had brought, a modest dinner lay waiting - ceramic pots emanating the mouthwatering aroma of simmering pork, its rich, savory scent mingling with the earthy fragrance of the simple clay teapot.

However, only the sounds of Ji Wuye's deliberate chewing punctuated the stillness, each bite resonating in the quiet courtyard.

The tantalizing smells wafting through the courtyard only served to stir his appetite further as Ji Wuye consumed his meal with practiced elegance.

His chopsticks moved with precision, selecting each morsel with care. His every measured bite and sip was closely observed by Ye Yujin, seated across from him, her eyes squinting slightly as she watched his unhurried motions.

The silver moonlight shone over her face, highlighting the tension in her jaw and the slight furrow of her brow. In addition, Lin Fang stood vigil behind her, unmoving like a sentinel, yet his eyebrows secretly rose in an unpleasant manner toward Ji Wuye's slow and deliberate eating pace.

It was an undeniably peculiar situation, one partly of Ye Yujin's making for insisting on this immediate audience, despite the courtyard nominally belonging to Ji Wuye now.

“Please, enjoy your dinner to the fullest, Young Master Ji,” Ye Yujin spoke.

Ji Wuye then raised his gaze momentarily from his plate, his eyes met Ye Yujin's eyes, her expression a mixture of patient expectancy and thinly veiled impatience.

In addition to that, his peripheral vision caught the subtle movements of the overhanging bamboo, keenly aware of the unseen eyes watching his every move.

‘This should be enough to put pressure on them,’ he thought inwardly as he placed the ceramic pot down purposefully, the soft clink of pottery against stone echoing in the stillness.

As he reached for the teacup, "Let me," Ye Yujin deftly seized the moment to refill it, the fragrant steam wafting upwards, carrying the delicate aroma of freshly brewed tea.

"Many thanks, Young Lady Ye," Ji Wuye replied evenly, his voice low and measured. He brought the piping hot cup to his lips, inhaling deeply before taking a sip, letting the familiar taste of green tea soothe his throat.

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The warmth spread through his chest, a stark contrast to the cool night air. He placed the cup down with deliberation, using the provided handkerchief to dab at his mouth unhurriedly.

Ye Yujin's striking eyes, a mesmerizing blend of deep blue and warm brown hues that seemed to shift like the tranquil depths of the ocean itself, locked onto Ji Wuye from across the table.

The siver moonlight danced in her irises, casting fleeting shadows across her face and accentuating the intensity of her gaze. Faint veins were visible at her temples, pulsing slightly beneath her porcelain skin, betraying the intensity behind her composed exterior.

Who knows that she would found herself in the highly unusual position of having to wait and simply observe as the young man before her consumed his meal with maddening leisure.

Her slender fingers drummed almost imperceptibly against the cool stone of the table.

"Then, I assume you now have free time to talk with me, Young Master Ji?" Her melodious voice finally broke the weighted silence, unable to mask her impatience any longer.

Unlike Ye Yujin's restlessness, Ji Wuye appeared the picture of unhurried calm as he replied, his posture relaxed yet poised. "Of course, I believe this must be related to the Ye family's problem, right?" He spoke slowly, carefully enunciating each word while keenly observing her and Lin Fang's reactions.

"As expected of Young Master Ji, then it should be easy," Ye Yujin acquiesced, straightening her posture on the rounded stone chair.

Her eyebrows knitted slightly as her gaze turned solemn, a shadow passing over her features. "This 'Dungeon,' which could endlessly swarm with monsters, has already wreaked havoc in the region where our Ye family resides."

She paused, scrutinizing Ji Wuye for any reaction as she caught her breath. "Despite there being no official statement, I heard that Kunlun—or to be precise, you, Young Master Ji, along with Miss Song—are the ones who cleared the 'Dungeon' in Tianmu Village."

Maintaining his unhurried demeanor, Ji Wuye reached for the clay teapot, his movements deliberate and graceful. The action prompted Lin Fang to tense visibly, his hand instinctively moving towards the jian at his waist with a soft rustle of fabric.

"Hmm..." Ji Wuye responded with a derisive snort seeing his reaction. He then poured the fragrant green tea into Ye Yujin's cup, the steaming liquid cascading smoothly, its aroma wafting upwards and mingling with the night air.

'Well, it's not that hard to find that information, even if the Elder Qiao's had somehow concealed that fact,' he thought inwardly.

Ye Yujin gave a small nod of understanding as Ji Wuye poured the fragrant tea into her cup. The delicate porcelain clinked softly as she brought it to her lips, taking a measured sip before placing it back down with deliberate care.

The warmth of the tea seemed to do little to soothe her, as when she spoke again, her usual poise shattered, voice cracking with raw emotion.

"The common people, Young Master Ji - they're suffering." Her hands clenched involuntarily, knuckles whitening against the dark fabric of her robes. The sudden shift in her demeanor was palpable, like a crack in a pristine facade. "It's not just one Dungeon. They're multiplying, spreading like a plague across our lands."

The veil partially concealing Ye Yujin's features could not fully mask the way her lips pressed together in a tight line, a visible tremor running through them. Her fists bunched the fabric of her sleeves as she struggled to maintain her composure, the silk creasing under her grip.

"Our territory... it's mostly open plains. These abominations charge straight into our villages and cities." Unshed tears glistened in her eyes, catching the flickering candlelight and lending a sorrowful shimmer to her gaze. "They destroy our rice fields, devour our cattle. Even our prized horses aren't spared."

She faltered momentarily, observing Ji Wuye's complete lack of visible reaction. His crimson eyes didn't even flicker at the knowledge that countless innocents were dying, remaining as still and unfathomable as deep pools of blood.

The implication that famine and homelessness ravaged her lands seemed to bounce off his impassive mask, like water off a lotus leaf.

A flicker of something inscrutable passed over Ye Yujin's elegant features at his indifference. 'He didn't react at all,' she mused inwardly, pupils narrowing briefly. 'That's right...the more beautiful one, the more heartless one could be.'

Steeling herself, Ye Yujin leaned forward, forearms resting on the stone table. The cool surface seemed to ground her, providing a stark contrast to the heated emotions roiling within.

"Young Master Ji, I... I'm not here to appeal to your humanity." She then took a steadying breath before continuing, her chest rising and falling with the effort. "Your method for clearing the Dungeons...teach it to us, share your secrets.

"And in return..." Ye Yujin paused, carefully weighing her next words, her gaze never leaving Ji Wuye's impassive face. "In return, I'll provide you with something I know you desire: comprehensive intelligence on your own family, the Ji clan."

Ji Wuye's expression remained inscrutable, his crimson eyes betraying no flicker of emotion in response to Ye Yujin's impassioned plea.

The moonlight cast half his face in shadow, lending an air of mystery to his already enigmatic demeanor. He let the weighted silence linger for a moment, the tension in the air almost palpable, before responding in that same unhurried cadence.

"I'm truly sorry for the loss of the people of Gansu," he began, the faint crease in his brow the only hint of remorse, like a ripple on an otherwise still pond."But there is one problem that has been bothering me."

Rather than provide an immediate answer, Ji Wuye placed his hand flat on the stone table. He then used it as a rest for his chin as he tilted his head slightly to regard Ye Yujin more directly. "Why ask me? Not Kunlun?"