Hello, is this a letter addressed to Demon Fortress?

The group marched through the desolate wilderness for more than an hour.

The outline of the dark forest in the distance became clearer and clearer.

The closer you get to the forest, the more stagnant the atmosphere becomes.

The occasional chirping of birds and insects that used to be heard have completely disappeared.

All that remained was the whistling of the wind through the withered grass and the monotonous sound of wheels rolling over the ground.

This excessive silence was more unsettling than the roar of a monster.

The Knight Commander and his men visibly tensed up.

His hand unconsciously rested on his weapon, and his eyes scanned his surroundings warily.

The warhorse seemed to sense the unease, snorting from time to time, and the sound of its hooves became somewhat chaotic.

The young lady in the carriage seemed to have noticed the change in the atmosphere outside and stopped complaining.

You could even faintly hear her slightly rapid breathing due to nervousness.

Only Lin Gui and Xia remained unusually calm.

Lin Gui's eyes were half-closed, as if he were dozing off.

But the [Wind Listening Technique] had already been quietly cast, taking in every subtle sound within hundreds of meters.

Shea, on the other hand, moved like a nimble cat, her steps light and silent.

Its emerald green eyes are like the most sophisticated detectors.

He kept scanning the path ahead, the bushes on both sides, and even the canopy in the distance.

"stop."

Shea suddenly raised her hand, her voice not loud but unusually clear.

"Seventy meters ahead on the right, a tree hollow, a sleeping lesser demon."

"In the bushes to the left, two little devils are gnawing on the remains of some kind of animal."

"Watch out for the tree branch overhead. There's a Night Howling Bat Demon lurking there, but it seems agitated and has no intention of attacking."

Shea kept lowering her voice and accurately reported the location and status of each potential threat.

Her senses were like the most sophisticated radar, taking in every subtle movement in her surroundings.

After once again avoiding a brood of howling imps huddled under the rocks.

Shea slowed her pace and walked alongside Lin Gui.

She gestured with her eyes to the creaking, jolting carriage behind her.

He gestured towards Lin Gui with his lips, his emerald green eyes conveying a clear message.

This thing is so noisy.

Lin Gui immediately understood what she meant.

In such a silent yet perilous environment.

The sound of horse-drawn carriage wheels crushing fallen leaves and branches, the creaking of the axle rubbing together.

It's like banging drums and gongs in the dark, telling all potential predators, "There's plenty of meat here, come on over!"

This is why Lin Gui was traversing the wilderness by himself.

I would rather choose the monitor lizard mount, which is lighter and more adaptable.

Although only low-level demons remain in the forest now, their numbers could surge if they were to suddenly increase.

Lin Gui and Xia weren't afraid, but the guards and that delicate young lady would probably be torn to pieces by the demon.

He nodded and turned to walk toward the Knight Commander in the center of the formation.

"Commander."

Lin Gui lowered his voice and directly stated his concerns.

"The carriage is too loud. If we continue like this, it's like walking in the night with a torch, attracting too much unnecessary attention."

"It gets more dangerous the further you go in; I suggest abandoning the car and walking."

To Lin Gui's surprise, the Knight Commander did not show any objection; instead, he nodded solemnly.

"I see."

"To be honest, our city defense forces have never really ventured deep into the Black Demon Forest, and our understanding of the situation inside is limited."

"Since we have hired you two, we will follow your professional advice in this regard."

He paused, a hint of embarrassment on his face.

"But... what about Miss..."

He glanced at the carriage, which still occasionally emitted a few complaints, and shook his head helplessly.

Let him persuade that pampered, spoiled young lady to give up the relatively comfortable carriage.

Hiking through this muddy and dangerous forest is an incredibly difficult task.

Lin Gui seemed to have expected this, and he gave a knowing look on his face, speaking in a relaxed tone.

"Commander, do you think it's more painful to travel in a carriage, living in constant fear, not knowing when a demon might attack, or to close your eyes, sleep soundly, and wake up to find that you've safely arrived in Karan City?"

The knight commander paused for a moment, then understood the implication in Lin Gui's words.

His expression shifted several times, his eyes reflecting the struggle between duty and reality.

Ultimately, the desire to succeed in the mission and the concern about potential risks prevailed.

He took a deep breath and lowered his voice so low that only Lin Gui could hear him.

"...Be gentle, don't leave any marks."

"Don't worry, we're professional."

Lin Gui gave him a reassuring look.

He composed himself, walked to the carriage, and politely knocked on the window.

"What are you doing now?! The road is so bumpy, can't you walk more steadily?! Slow down! My bones are about to fall apart!"

The car window was suddenly pushed open, revealing the young lady's face, which was filled with displeasure and exhaustion.

She launched into a tirade of complaints at the guards outside, clearly mistaking the person knocking on the window for a soldier.

Lin Gui wore an impeccable, slightly apologetic smile.

"Excuse me, miss. We just discovered some very peculiar bioluminescent fungi on the tree to our right."

"It's shaped like crystal and changes color; it's said to only be found deep within the Black Demon Forest. Would you like to...?"

"Luminous bacteria? Like crystal?"

The young lady's attention was indeed drawn.

Although she was spoiled, she was still a little curious about these rare things.

Instinctively, I followed the direction Lin Gui was pointing and turned my head to look into the depths of the dense forest on the right.

The instant she turned her head!

Lin Gui's right hand, which had been hanging naturally at his side, shot out with lightning speed!

A faint, almost imperceptible blue magical aura had appeared on his hands.

It's the special magic [Stun] that the system rewarded me with!

"Well!"

A precise yet gentle chop landed on the young lady's fair nape.

The effects of the [Dizziness Technique] take effect instantly.

She didn't even have time to utter a cry of surprise before her eyes rolled back, her body went limp, and she fainted.

Lin Gui then helped her limp body up.

He smoothly opened the car door and carried her out.

The whole process was clean and efficient, happening in the blink of an eye.

The guards nearby hadn't even fully reacted yet.

Lin Gui handed the unconscious young lady to the knight commander who had rushed forward.

"Alright, problem solved. Let her sleep a little longer; it's better for everyone."

The troupe leader took his young lady from her and looked at her face, which was still furrowed even in her unconscious state.

With mixed feelings, he ultimately just nodded to Lin Gui.

"...Thank you for your trouble."

"Pack the necessary supplies and travel light. Abandon the carriage here," Lin Gui instructed.

The team sprang into action.

Some essential dry food, water and valuables were unloaded from the carriage and distributed.

As for the magnificent carriage, it was simply hidden behind some bushes.

Without the burden of the carriages, the procession moved much faster and became much quieter.

Xia walked over to Lin Gui's side.

He glanced at the still unconscious young lady being carried on the back of a strong guard, and a slight smile appeared on his lips.

"Your technique is quite skilled?"

Lin Gui remained unfazed: "Life forces me to have more skills; it's never a bad thing."

The two exchanged a smile and continued to serve as the team's eyes and ears.

Leading this silent team, they ventured deeper into the forest.