Hello, is this a letter addressed to Demon Fortress?

The campfire flickered in the dimly lit passageway.

The raft was moored in a wide area on one side of the passageway.

The three sat around a small fire.

An iron pot is placed on a fire, the water boils, and the noodles gradually become soft in the boiling water.

Lin Gui took out a few shriveled jerky pieces and a small jar of salt from his storage bag, tore them up, and threw them into the pot.

An enticing aroma quickly filled the narrow space.

Lillian huddled beside the fire, her hands cupped around her knees.

His gaze would occasionally drift towards the thick darkness deep within the passageway.

Elvia held a bowl of hot noodles, picking at the noodles with her chopsticks, but her gaze was also fixed on the depths of the passageway.

She swallowed a mouthful of noodles and asked.

"What was that just now?"

Lin Gui handed another bowl of noodles to Lillian.

Lillian carefully took the bowl, warming her hands against the sides.

Lin Gui sat back down in his seat, picked up his bowl of noodles, and explained.

"They are demons of the red desert."

"We are now on the outskirts of the red desert."

"The entire passageway rises higher and higher as we get closer to the red desert."

"Therefore, we can feel the oppressive aura of the astonishing number and terrifying power of the demons above."

"Including underground demons that operate beneath the desert."

Elvia frowned.

How many meters above the ground is this location?

Lin Gui replied:

"About thirty-nine meters."

Elvia was even more confused.

"Thirty-nine meters deep, and the pressure can still penetrate through?"

"Why didn't I feel that sense of oppression in the desolate wilderness?"

"Aren't they all forbidden areas?"

Lin Gui glanced at her speechlessly.

"A barren wasteland, can that compare to a red desert?"

"In the desolate wilderness, you might not see a legendary demon even after ten miles."

"And in the red desert, just over a sand dune you can see legendary demons having a meeting."

"Demons of the level of the Wasteland Overlord can be found on every hilltop in the Red Earth Desert."

Elvia's lips twitched.

Lin Gui added another sentence:

"You really thought I was lying when I told you I encountered 3,587 legendary demons here?"

Elvia covered her face.

She recalled the outrageous number the other person had told her beneath the ruins of the withered rift valley.

At the time, she assumed the other party was exaggerating.

Now it seems—

She looked up, paused for two seconds, and tentatively asked:

"How about we head back home?"

"Go back the way we came?"

Lin Gui rolled his eyes at her:

"We're already here, what else is there to say?"

Lillian, who had been listening silently, couldn't help but speak up.

Her voice carried a hint of fear, as if it were being squeezed out of her throat:

"T-Teacher..."

"You...you guys are planning to go to the red desert?"

She had heard about their goals from Elvia.

But she always thought it was a joke.

The oppressive aura that had almost scared her to death told her...

This doesn't seem like a joke.

It seems they really intend to go to the red desert.

"Yes, we have to cross the red desert."

Lin Gui said with certainty.

"This is the only way to return to the border region in a short period of time."

Lillian was silent for a moment, then looked up, her eyes already glistening with tears.

"I don't want to die."

"I haven't lived enough yet."

"Can you take me home?"

Lin Gui glanced at her and shook his head.

"No, that won't work."

"You know too much; you have to come with us."

"As a disciple, shouldn't you stand with your teacher through thick and thin?"

"I haven't taught you the true meaning of the Night Veil yet."

Lillian's expression instantly fell.

Fear, grievance, and despair alternated on her small face.

Tears welled up in her eyes, then rolled down her cheeks.

She held the bowl of noodles, tears falling drop by drop into the soup, splashing up tiny droplets of oil.

"Waaah..."

She sobbed softly, her shoulders heaving.

Seeing her teary-eyed, pitiful look, Elvia couldn't help but burst out laughing.

But after laughing...

She glanced again at the thick darkness deep inside the passageway, and her smile slowly faded.

Actually, she was also very reluctant to walk this path with Lin Gui.

Red soil desert...

Recalling the relevant intelligence gathered along the way.

Elvia felt a chill run down her spine.

Lin Gui lowered his head and ate his noodles, saying nothing more.

They need to rest and recuperate.

Because once they actually enter, there won't be many opportunities for them to get a proper rest.

That night, the three of them stayed in the passageway to rest.

Elvia was in charge of keeping watch.

She sat by the campfire, one hand on the hilt of her sword, her gaze sweeping back and forth across the edge of the darkness.

After setting up some defensive equipment, Lin Gui then...

He hastily wrapped himself in his robe, leaned against the ancient wall, and closed his eyes.

As the only person who has ever been here and crossed the red desert, he cannot afford to be too complacent.

One must be able to wake up at any time.

In contrast.

Beside him, the soft goose down bedding that Elvia had bought at a high price was spread out.

Lillian sat on it, curled up in a ball.

Elvia tried to appease her.

He pulled a bunch of things out of his storage bag.

A jar of honey, a packet of dried fruit, and a neatly folded fleece blanket.

There is also a small, warm-colored lamp made of magic stone.

Lillian was surrounded by these luxurious indulgences.

Holding the honey candy that had been stuffed into my palm, I still couldn't truly relax.

Her body remained tense.

His gaze would occasionally drift towards Lin Gui, and then towards the darkness deep within the passageway.

Lin Gui had his eyes closed, yet he seemed to see Lillian's unease.

His voice was sleepy, yet steady:

Don't worry.

"The red desert is not as terrible as you imagine."

"I've crossed this desperate situation twice already."

"..."

"At that time, I was only a mid-to-high-level official."

Lillian was stunned.

She turned her head abruptly, looking at Lin Gui in disbelief.

"Intermediate... level?"

Her voice rose half an octave, then she suppressed it again out of fear.

Lin Gui opened his eyes, turned his head, and looked at her with a smile:

"Yes, it's intermediate level."

"Aren't you curious how I did it?"

"How can one traverse the Red Soil of Despair at the mid-level?"

"Aren't you curious about what lies deep within the red desert?"

Lillian opened her mouth, but no sound came out.

Lin Gui chuckled again and closed his eyes once more.

"Get some rest."

"This trip may become an unforgettable journey for you."

He pulled down his hood, burying his face in the shadow of his robe.

His breathing gradually became even and long.

Lillian sat on the soft down bed.

He clutched the honey candy warmed by his body heat in his hand.

It took me a long time to recover from what Lin Gui had just said.

She glanced at Lin Gui's quiet silhouette.

He glanced at the amber-colored candy in his palm again, then lowered his head.

The campfire crackled beside her, its light dancing in her eyes.