"What happens in the next second, no one can possibly know." Watching Wen Shu say this through her tear-filled eyes, Wang Jue was suddenly transported back to the years they had worked together. Who could have guessed that the situation they faced today would be so utterly helpless, when he had once accidentally seen Wen Shu and Xiao Yu roughhousing in the sick bay? Facing a legendary Puppet King and a fickle, ever-changing puppet, trusting her or doubting her had become an agonizing dilemma.

Gazing into her innocent eyes, Wang Jue asked coldly, "What happened after you entered the wooden hut? Why couldn't we find you inside that room?"

"I..." Tears streamed down Wen Shu's face, one after another. Her sobs rendered her mute, incapable of answering the question.

Wang Jue took a deep breath, pacing back and forth before the crystal pillar. Suddenly, he spun around, returning to lean against the rock wall, settling down by a nascent Treasure Gathering Basin. He stared blankly at Wen Shu, devoid of any discernible emotion. Perhaps, for him, the moment Wen Shu plunged the dagger into his body, this former colleague and friend had already died in his heart. He should not even be debating the question of trust anymore.

Seeing Wang Jue’s detached demeanor, Wen Shu stepped forward, pressing close to the crystal pillar, and spoke to him, "Zhang Yuqiu has been captured, and Xiao Shu and Xiao Yu are also in danger. Now, only the two of you can save them."

"Save them how? Can you let us out?" Hou Dayong spread his hands, addressing her.

Wen Shu shook her head at the crystal pillar and whimpered, "I can't open this crystal pillar, but you can jump over. Stand on Wang Jue's shoulders and leap to the outside; I'll catch you on this side." As she finished, she stared unblinkingly at Hou Dayong, as if awaiting his response.

Hou Dayong turned his head, exchanging a glance with Wang Jue. If one considered their own safety, the current predicament posed the least danger to Wang Jue and Hou Dayong. However, when focusing on the original purpose of their arrival, abandoning the rescue of Xiao Shu, Xiao Yu, and Zhang Yuqiu would be inexcusable. Considering Wen Shu's words again, it did present a possible solution to their predicament.

Thus, Wang Jue stood up, extended both hands downward, and Hou Dayong stepped onto those hands to gain leverage onto his shoulders. Seeing the two move, Wen Shu immediately stepped back two paces, estimating the landing spot for Hou Dayong, and extended both her hands as well, assuming a posture ready to catch him, waiting for Hou Dayong to leap from Wang Jue's shoulders.

"If you get out, remember one thing," Wang Jue whispered softly before Hou Dayong jumped, "Never give a second chance to someone who has betrayed you." Hou Dayong understood the meaning behind his words; he remained silent, focusing solely on the three-meter-high crystal pillar. Wang Jue was about 1.8 meters tall; standing on his shoulders, Hou Dayong would be about 1.4 meters shy of the pillar's apex. This height posed no issue for the Wraith Monkey, but the true danger of this operation lay in whether the person reaching out to catch him on the other side was sincere.

Hou Dayong took a deep breath, braced all four limbs on Wang Jue's shoulders, coiled his two hind legs, and with a swoosh, sprang from Wang Jue’s shoulders, soaring over the high spire of the crystal pillar toward Wen Shu's outstretched embrace. Just as he was about to land in her arms, Wen Shu's hesitant, whimpering expression vanished instantly, replaced by a sly, sinister smile on her face.