Hello, is this a letter addressed to Demon Fortress?

The raft is back on track and drifts quietly through the forest.

Lin Gui broke the silence first and asked a question.

"Is there something wrong with that bow and arrow?"

Upon hearing Lin Gui's question, Elvia nodded.

He looked at the longbow that Shia was holding tightly in her arms with a complicated expression and said.

"That's the weapon of Gorn, the legendary archer from the Order of John."

"The divine bow 'Zan', crafted with the painstaking efforts of a master dwarf craftsman."

"It uses countless rare materials, so it can be considered a semi-divine artifact."

"Even Ghosn himself is said to be unable to unleash its full power."

Upon hearing the words "semi-divine artifact," Shia's pointed ears trembled slightly with excitement, and a blush appeared on her face.

He tucked the longbow tightly into his arms and let out a silly "hehehe" laugh.

It was as if he were holding some priceless treasure.

"Hmph, ignorant half-demon."

Elvia complained.

"That bow is Ghosn's lifeblood!"

"That guy is notoriously cruel and bloodthirsty, he takes pleasure in torture and killing!"

"If he finds out his bow is in your hands..."

"I suggest you find a place to run yourself over right now, so you don't end up being tortured by him until you're nothing but a wretched elf!"

"I...I'll just hide it and not use it!"

Shea retorted defiantly, but a hint of fear still flashed in her eyes.

"Besides, we're not going to stay in the capital for long!"

"Lin Gui said he'll leave in two weeks at most! Once he gets to Avalon, I don't believe he'll be able to find me!"

"Avalon?"

Elvia was startled, and then suddenly realized.

These two are just going to the capital to deliver messages to those commoners.

And the destination doesn't seem to be the royal capital, but rather... Avalon, which she's never even heard of?

"You guys went to the capital just to deliver a message?! And then you leave?! Next stop... Fortress City of Solid Shield?! That dwarven hideout?!"

Her voice suddenly rose, filled with disbelief.

"But the Silent Sea separates us! That...that's forbidden territory! A death zone utterly ravaged by the Black Tide's main current!!"

Lin Gui said calmly, "What's there to be afraid of? It's not like we've never been through forbidden territory before."

Shia chimed in, "Exactly. I've passed through forbidden areas before, since I escaped from the Elf Forest to here."

"No matter how terrifying a forbidden area is, it's still better than an unknown region where no one has ever explored it and the map is completely blank, right?"

"Clam?!!"

Elvia felt that her worldview had been shaken.

It's a forbidden area, meaning people are forbidden from going there!

You guys are getting really stubborn!

"You bunch of lunatics! I'm not going to die with you! Once we get to the capital, we'll go our separate ways!"

"sure."

Lin Gui nodded.

"But what if something happens to me on my way to Avalon?"

"You'd better prepare to find a sturdy wooden stake and smash your head against it to death, so you won't be tortured beyond recognition by the 'Devil's Poison Kiss'."

"..." Elvia choked, speechless.

"Doesn't this sound familiar?"

In the time that followed, Elvia tried every possible reason to persuade Lin Gui not to court death.

To be precise, don't drag her down with you.

She kept escalating the situation, trying to use various temptations to keep Lin Gui in the capital:

"Lin Gui! As long as you stay in the capital, I can use all my connections to make you a court mage! You'll enjoy the privileges of an earl! Gold coins, magic crystals, and rare materials—you can have as much as you want!"

"Don't like it? Then... then I'll give you all my estates and trading companies! I'll make you one of the wealthiest people in the capital!"

"Still not enough? Then...then I'll personally become your maid! Serving you tea and water, warming your bed, and making the blankets! I'm a princess, you know! A renowned lady of the capital, just imagine how prestigious that would be!"

"Or...or maybe you've taken a fancy to some noble lady or woman in the capital? I can get them for you! I guarantee they'll be completely submissive!"

However, Lin Gui remained unmoved, maneuvering the raft without changing his expression.

Elvia is absolutely furious!

This was the first time she had ever met someone like Lin Gui.

He has no interest in huge sums of money, no interest in power and status, and even... he doesn't seem to have much interest in beautiful women?

Karan donated the astonishing wealth he had acquired without hesitation.

They controlled her, the city lord, but they didn't intend to control Kalan.

He held her life in his hands, but didn't force her to do anything unsavory.

Even with Hia, who was prettier than her and whom she spent every day with.

Judging from the elf's long, slender legs and the occasional glimpse of her expression, she is clearly still a virgin!

"I said! What exactly do you want from me to give up on going to that damn Avalon to die?!"

Elvia was practically wailing.

Lin Gui replied indifferently.

"Unless all the nobles' heads are cut off and fed to pigs."

"...Damn it!!!" Elvia was completely speechless.

"Alright, that's enough of the small talk."

Lin Gui's tone turned serious.

"We're almost out of Whispering Forest, and my magic is almost depleted. Be careful, I'm preparing for an emergency landing."

The raft passed through the last few towering trees, and a bright white light approached from afar.

The moment the raft passed the edge of the forest, the view suddenly opened up!

A vast, deep chasm, as if cleaved open by a giant axe of a god, stretched out before us!

The edge of the rift valley is made of jagged, twisted, dark red rocks.

The valley was filled with a persistent, murky mist that smelled of sulfur, and its depths were unfathomable.

Occasionally, a strange purplish-red light can be seen flashing through the depths of the fog, inspiring fear in those who behold it.

This is.

Withered Rift Valley!

The raft swayed and landed gently on a relatively flat patch of gravel.

This place is right at the border between Whispering Forest and Withered Rift.

Between the two demonic territories, demonic activity is scarce, almost nonexistent.

Therefore, it was usually transport teams or adventure groups that traveled between the two places.

They would choose to establish temporary outposts or camps in such places.

Before the three of them could catch their breath, Shia's emerald green eyes suddenly narrowed, and she hissed.

"Someone's coming!"

Her first instinct was to pull Lin Gui away and hide.

Lin Gui roared.

"No! We can't leave the wooden crates here! How strong are the people who are coming?"

"Two lower-level transcendents! Five upper-level high-level beings!" Shia spoke very quickly.

Lin Gui gritted his teeth, cursing inwardly for wasting too much magic power and time picking up the money earlier.

At this moment, his magic power was almost exhausted, and he couldn't even cast the simplest spell.

He quickly spoke to Elvia, who had already stepped back with her left foot, ready to slip away.

"You stay here and act as bait! Shia and I will hide in the shadows and wait for our chance to strike!"

"Huh?! I... would do something so suicidal..."

Elvia's face turned pale, and she was about to refuse.

Lin Gui's icy gaze swept over them instantly.

That gaze seemed to pierce through her soul, making her feel as if she had fallen into an ice cellar, and she swallowed back the words she was about to say.

She clenched her teeth, her back instantly soaked with sweat, and finally squeezed out a few words through her clenched teeth.

"...Fine! Don't sell me out!"

Lin Gui nodded.

"You may die, but the letter in the wooden box must not be damaged in the slightest."

"If you want to live, drag it out for as long as you can. This is your only way to survive."

"..." Elvia.

As soon as he finished speaking, Xia grabbed him.

The two figures flashed and quickly disappeared into the nearby rocks and bushes.

Alvia was left alone on the spot.

Facing the increasingly close and undisguised powerful aura, his face was covered in cold sweat.

Two transcendent beings, five high-ranking superiors... How the hell is she supposed to fight them?! This is no way she's just throwing her life away!