Ji Xiulan had cleared this dungeon in her previous life. He had done what no one else could: found the core of corruption hidden beneath layers of illusion and destroyed it.
How had he known?
Her brows furrowed. If she recalled correctly, he once mentioned that the main disaster within this dungeon wasn't a spirit, but something born from the Tree's own will, a manifestation of guilt, perhaps, or despair. Something that couldn't be seen through normal eyes.
Her pulse quickened. 'Then… what if the true corruption remains?'
Ling Yu's eyes snapped open. The steam swirled around her like a veil, moonlight glinting off the water's surface. She straightened slightly, the gears in her mind whirling.
'If the main corruption is tied to emotion, then it wouldn't appear until—'
"—until it's called out by despair itself?"
The voice, smooth and mocking, sliced through her thoughts like a blade.
Ling Yu froze as her head snapped up in an instant.
And there he was.
Ji Xiulan.
