Hello, is this a letter addressed to Demon Fortress?

Finally, at sunset.

Lin Gui forcibly closed the battered wooden door of the post office and hung up a "Closed" sign.

The still noisy crowd was kept out.

Inside the shop, candlelight flickered.

Lin Gui sat wearily beside a small mountain of envelopes and began to count them.

Shea pinched her nose and picked it up with two fingers in disgust.

That heavy, greasy cloth bag filled with copper coins.

Start estimating today's "income".

"More than 1600 letters..."

Lin Gui rubbed his throbbing temples; the number far exceeded his expectations.

"These dirty, sticky copper coins..."

Shea poured all the money from the bag onto the table.

Looking at the pile of copper coins that was almost like a small mountain, his face was filled with despair.

"It probably doesn't even add up to ten gold coins! Good heavens, that's not even a fraction of what I used to get for the simplest escort mission! Should we just abandon it? It's just too painful to look at!"

She simply couldn't understand it.

Why would Lin Gui do something so thankless, exhausting, and unprofitable?

With his abilities, he could easily have lived a comfortable life by accepting a few high-priced commissions from nobles.

Lin Gui did not answer her directly, but silently looked at the pile of copper coins that gleamed with a dark luster under the candlelight.

These rough coins are covered in sweat and dirt.

It seemed to reflect faces filled with expectation and humble pleading.

It also reminded him of himself many years ago, when he was also rummaging through garbage dumps for food and struggling to survive.

In the stillness of the night.

Lin Gui slung the heavy bag full of copper coins over his shoulder.

He told Shia, "I'm going out for a bit," and then walked out of the post office alone.

He walked through the quiet streets and came to the dimly lit slums of New Testament City.

Before we even got close, we could see several small, thin figures in the distance.

By the faint moonlight, they were carefully searching through the garbage heaps and corners.

Anything that might be a substitute for some food.

The homeless children also saw him, and at first they shrank back warily.

Only after recognizing Lin Gui did a hint of familiarity and relaxation appear in his eyes.

Lin Gui walked over without saying a word.

He simply placed the heavy bag of copper coins he was carrying on his shoulder gently in front of them.

The children were stunned, staring at the large bag of money.

Their eyes widened and their breathing became rapid, but no one dared to step forward.

Lin Gui squatted down, his voice calm.

"Take this money, divide it among yourselves, and use it to buy some food and clothes."

He paused, looking at the children's incredulous yet eager eyes, and continued.

"Also, while I'm away, I'd like to ask you for a favor: could you keep an eye on the newly opened post office on the main street?"

"You don't need to do anything, just keep an eye out for us while you're hanging out nearby."

His tone became more serious.

"If anyone dares to cause damage, such as smashing windows or graffitiing walls, you don't need to go up and stop them; it's too dangerous."

"You just need to quietly memorize what the other side looks like, how many there are, what they roughly look like, and when they arrived."

"When I get back, take me to find them, okay?"

The children looked at each other, and finally the older boy nodded vigorously.

His eyes were filled with the excitement of being trusted and the solemnity of shouldering a task.

"Okay! Brother Lin Gui! We got it! We'll keep a close eye on the post office!"

Lin Gui smiled and patted his head.

He gave a few more words of advice to be careful, then got up and left.

When she returned to the post office, Shia was still wiping her longbow under the lamp.

She glanced at Lin Gui, who had returned empty-handed, and seemed to understand something.

He didn't press further about the whereabouts of the bag of copper coins, but simply asked a question in a low voice.

"Is everything arranged?"

"Okay." Lin Gui nodded. "We'll set off first thing tomorrow morning."

At the same time, Lin Gui spoke to the system in his mind.

"System, please end the search early."

[Ding, mail retrieval has ended early]

Long-distance booking enabled.

[Long Journey Route: New Testament City → Karan City → Withered Rift (Forbidden Zone) → Capital of King Carter]

[Content: Escorting 1324 letters home to Karan City, and escorting 348 letters home to the capital of King Carter]

[Weekly Commission Update.]

[Content: Escorting 1324 letters home to Karan City]

[Route: New Testament City → Black Magic Forest → Aldor Canyon → Karan City]

[Time Limit: 14 calendar days]

[Contract completion criteria: Acceptance rate exceeds 70%]

[Basic Reward: For each letter delivered, you will receive 1 random beginner-level magic spell]

[Bonus: Slightly increases magical control precision and maximum mana]

[Risk Warning: The demon activity level in the Black Demon Forest area is 3%. Demons are now extremely rare there, so it's best to pass through directly...]

May every longing travel through the darkness and reach the other shore.

The morning mist had not yet completely dissipated.

A small group of people had already gathered on the main street of New Testament City, attracting the attention of early-rising residents.

At the heart of the procession was a carriage that was fairly ornately decorated, but whose axles had clearly been reinforced for the long journey.

The driver was a composed veteran who was carefully inspecting the reins and wheels.

Around the carriage were eight guards from the city lord's mansion, riding tall horses, fully armored, and with solemn expressions.

The leader was the knight commander, who scanned his surroundings with sharp eyes, remaining highly vigilant.

Lin Gui and Xia stood at the front of the group.

Lin Gui was still wearing his faded mage robe.

Carrying that bulging backpack.

It was filled with letters received yesterday and necessary travel supplies.

Shea changed into a set of leather armor that allowed for easy movement, with her elven longbow slung over her back and her quiver full.

Her silver hair was tied into a neat ponytail, and her emerald green eyes calmly observed her surroundings.

This combination seems rather peculiar.

A squad of elite soldiers was escorting a carriage.

However, the group was led by a seemingly poor mage and a beautiful elven ranger.

"Hmph, stop dawdling! How much longer do you want me to wait!"

The curtains of the carriage were lifted by a hand wearing a silk glove.

She revealed the city lord's daughter's face, which was filled with impatience.

Her critical gaze swept over Lin Gui and Xia.

Especially when his gaze lingered on Xia's stunning face for a moment, a barely perceptible hint of jealousy flashed across his eyes.

"I really don't know what my father was thinking, hiring these people of unknown origin..."

The regimental commander frowned and said in a deep voice.

"Miss, please calm down."

"Master Lin Gui and Lady Shia are guides and guards specially hired by the city lord. Their expertise is needed to cross the Black Demon Forest."

"Professional competence?"

The young lady chuckled, her voice not loud but clear enough.

"A mage who looks like a beggar, and an elf who looks like a dancer? I think..."

Before she could finish speaking, Shia's gaze swept over her indifferently.

His gaze was calm and unwavering, yet it sent a chill down the young lady's spine for no apparent reason.

He swallowed back the harsh words that followed and reluctantly lowered the curtains.

"Is everyone here? Let's go."

Seeing that there were no further mistakes, the commander of the knights gave the order.

The procession slowly started moving, the horses' hooves and wheels making a crisp sound as they rolled over the bluestone pavement.

They headed towards the city gate.

Passersby made way for the group, their gazes filled with complex emotions.

Some were envious, some were worried, and some whispered about the young lady's willfulness and the dangers of her journey.

Just as the procession was about to leave the city gate, several thin figures suddenly ran out from the roadside.

It was those homeless children from the slums last night.

They stood timidly by the roadside, not daring to approach the group, but trying their best to straighten their thin chests.

He waved vigorously at Lin Gui, his eyes filled with promise and the meaning of "Leave it to us".

Lin Gui nodded slightly to them.

Shia also saw this scene, and a faint, almost imperceptible smile appeared on her lips.

Only the young lady in the carriage lifted a corner of the curtain once more.

Seeing the ragged children, he frowned in disgust and muttered something under his breath.

"What bad luck..."

Once outside the city gate, the scene before me changed abruptly.

It was no longer a relatively safe city-state, but a wilderness permeated with a faint sense of desolation and danger.

The troupe leader rode up to Lin Gui and Xia, his tone serious.

"Master Lin Gui, Ms. Shia, I'm entrusting the rest to you two. According to scouts, the Black Demon Forest has been unusually quiet lately, but we must not let our guard down."

Lin Gui nodded, his gaze fixed on the dark forest in the distance, which resembled a lurking giant beast, and thought to himself.

"Quiet? That's because the 'big guys' inside have all gone to block other people's doorsteps..."

He took a deep breath and gripped the oak staff in his hand tightly.

"Let's go."

The team officially stepped into the vast and perilous wilderness.

Heading towards the eerily quiet Black Demon Forest.