The convoy had been traveling through the desolate wilderness for over two hours.
The dark, looming silhouette of the forest in the distance was growing clearer by the moment.
The closer they drew to the forest, the heavier the air became.
The occasional chirping of birds and insects that they could hear earlier had completely vanished.
Nothing remained but the howling of the wind through the withered grass and the monotonous rumbling of the carriage wheels.
This oppressive silence was far more unnerving than the roars of any magical beasts.
The Knight Commander and his men were visibly growing tense.
Their hands instinctively rested on their weapons as their eyes warily scanned the surroundings.
Even the warhorses seemed to sense the unease, snorting from time to time as their hooves fell in a disorganized rhythm.
The City Lord's daughter inside the carriage also seemed to have noticed the change in atmosphere, as her complaints had finally ceased.
They could even faintly hear her shallow, rapid breathing born of anxiety.
Only Lin Gui and Theia remained remarkably calm.
Lin Gui kept his eyes half-closed, looking as though he were dozing off.
In truth, he had already cast 【Wind Listening】, catching every minute sound within a radius of several hundred meters.
Meanwhile, Theia moved like an agile cat, her steps completely silent.
Her emerald eyes acted like high-precision sensors, constantly sweeping over the path ahead, the bushes on either side, and even the distant tree canopy.
“Stop.”
Theia suddenly raised her hand, her voice soft but exceptionally clear.
“Seventy meters ahead on the right, in a hollow tree, there is a sleeping lesser demon.”
“In the bushes to our front-left, two imps are gnawing on the carcass of some animal.”
“Watch the branches overhead. A Night-Howl Bat Demon is lurking there, but it seems highly agitated and has no intention of attacking.”
Lowering her voice, Theia accurately reported the location and status of each potential threat.
Her perception was like high-precision radar, capturing every subtle movement in their surroundings.
After bypassing yet another nest of screeching imps huddled beneath some rocks.
Theia slowed her pace to walk side-by-side with Lin Gui.
She gestured with her eyes toward the carriage behind them, which was creaking loudly as it jolted along, and pouted slightly at Lin Gui, her emerald eyes conveying a clear message: This thing is way too noisy.
Lin Gui instantly understood what she meant.
In an environment so silent and fraught with danger, the sound of carriage wheels crushing dry leaves and the creaking of the axle were no different from beating drums in the dark, telling every potential predator, “There is fat meat here, come and get it.”
This was also why, when Lin Gui crossed the wilderness on his own, he preferred the lighter-footed, more adaptable monitor lizard mount.
Although only low-rank demons remained in the forest now, their sheer numbers meant that if they were to swarm them, Lin Gui and Theia would be fine, but the guards and that delicate young lady would likely be torn to shreds.
He nodded and walked back toward the Knight Commander in the middle of the convoy.
“Commander.”
Lin Gui lowered his voice, stating his concerns directly.
“The carriage is making too much noise. If we keep going like this, we might as well be walking through the night holding torches. It will attract too much unwanted attention.”
“The deeper we go, the more dangerous it gets. I suggest we abandon the carriage and proceed on foot.”
To Lin Gui's surprise, the Knight Commander did not offer any objection. Instead, he nodded with a solemn expression.
“I understand.”
“To be honest, our Defense Force has never truly ventured deep into the Black Demon Forest either. Our knowledge of the interior is limited.”
“Since we have hired the two of you, we will defer to your professional judgment on this matter.”
He paused, a look of difficulty appearing on his face.
“It's just... the young lady...”
He glanced at the carriage, which still emitted occasional complaints, and shook his head helplessly.
Asking him to convince that pampered, spoiled young lady to abandon her comfortable carriage and trek through this muddy, dangerous forest on foot was a nigh-impossible task.
Lin Gui seemed to have expected this. With an “I get it” expression, he spoke in a relaxed tone.
“Commander, think about it. Is it more painful to ride in a carriage on pins and needles, not knowing when demons might attack, or to close your eyes, have a good sleep, and wake up to find you've already safely arrived in Caran City?”
The Knight Commander blanked for a moment before catching the underlying meaning in Lin Gui's words.
His expression shifted as a conflict between his duty and reality played out in his eyes.
Ultimately, his desire for the mission's success and his concern over the potential risks won out.
He took a deep breath, keeping his voice so low that it was barely audible even to Lin Gui.
“...Be gentle. Don't leave any marks.”
“Don't worry, I'm a professional.”
Lin Gui gave him a reassuring look.
Adjusting his expression, he walked over to the carriage and politely tapped on the window.
“What is it now?! The road is so bumpy! Can't you drive more smoothly? Slow down! My bones are about to fall apart!”
The window was shoved open, revealing the young lady's face, which was a picture of irritation and fatigue.
She directed her complaints at the guards outside, clearly mistaking the person tapping on her window for one of them.
Lin Gui maintained an impeccable, slightly apologetic smile.
“Apologies for the intrusion, My Lady. We just discovered some very unusual glowing fungi on a tree to our front-right. They are shaped like crystals and even change colors. It is said they can only be found deep within the Black Demon Forest. Would you like to...”
“Glowing fungi? Like crystals?”
The young lady's attention was indeed drawn.
Though pampered and spoiled, she still possessed some curiosity for such rare novelties.
Subconsciously following the direction of Lin Gui's finger, she turned her head to peer deep into the dense forest on the right.
The very instant she turned her head, Lin Gui's right hand, which had been hanging naturally by his side, shot out like lightning, his palm coated in an extremely faint, almost imperceptible blue magical aura.
It was none other than the special magic rewarded by the system: 【Stun】!
“Ugh!”
A precise yet gentle hand chop struck the fair nape of the young lady's neck.
The effect of 【Stun】 activated instantly.
Before she could even let out a gasp, her eyes rolled back, her body went limp, and she passed out.
Lin Gui caught her sagging body in stride and, with a fluid motion, opened the carriage door to lift her out.
The entire process was clean and efficient, happening in the blink of an eye.
The nearby guards had not even fully registered what had happened.
Lin Gui handed the unconscious young lady to the Knight Commander, who had quickly stepped forward.
“Alright, problem solved. It's better for everyone if she sleeps for a while.”
The Commander took his lady, looking at her face, which still bore a slight frown even in her slumber.
His feelings were complex, but in the end, he simply nodded at Lin Gui.
“...Thank you for your help.”
Lin Gui instructed, “Pack up the essential supplies and travel light. We'll abandon the carriage here.”
The group quickly went to work.
They unloaded the essential rations, water, and valuables from the carriage and distributed them among themselves.
As for the ornate carriage, it was simply concealed behind some bushes.
Without the burden of the carriage, the convoy's pace quickened significantly, and they became much quieter.
Theia walked over to Lin Gui's side.
Glancing at the still-unconscious young lady being carried on the back of a sturdy guard, the corners of her mouth curled up slightly.
She noted, “You seem quite practiced at that.”
Lin Gui replied with a straight face, “Forced by circumstances. One can never have too many skills.”
The two shared a smile and resumed their roles as the eyes and ears of the group.
Leading the newly silent convoy, they pressed deeper into the forest.
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