Yue Zhenqiao naturally agreed with Li Nian's suggestion.
The numerous unexpected situations along the way had severely slowed down the team's progress and schedule.
Although these guards often traveled through the Fire Prison and had rich experience in avoiding the heat, wearing special animal skin clothing produced in the Fire Prison that was relatively insulated, and carrying many water bags, ice stones, and other things for cooling down, they seemed to be in better condition than 'Flying Knife'.
But they were, after all, just a group of guards, and were somewhat affected by the high temperature at the moment.
Moreover, precisely because they were experienced and active outside all year round, they knew very well what the consequences of staying outdoors in the Fire Prison at noon for a long time would be, and they were even more in awe of this.
Walking in the winding valley road, the team's marching speed was obviously much faster than before.
After another while, they repelled several more waves of demon attacks that were still abnormal, but fortunately not large in scale, and were about to leave the scope of Fuyuan Mountain.
But...
Judging from Yue Zhenqiao's increasingly anxious and frequent glances at the sky, map, and hourglass for timing, their progress was still not fast enough!
Lin Yu, walking in the team, already felt his lips a little dry.
He even had to temporarily take Hannah back—as an aquatic animal, even if the little octopus had a higher rank, it also had its natural weaknesses before reaching the realm of 'doing whatever it wants'.
Hannah was really afraid of heat and dryness. Lin Yu was very worried that the little octopus would turn into dried octopus if it was exposed to the sun all the time in this kind of weather.
"What about me, boss, am I not afraid of the sun?"
Old Zheng, hidden in Lin Yu's sleeve, said resentfully: "I'm just a lump of delicate and fragile connective tissue. Without the protection of a skull and directly exposed to the sun, I'll turn into roasted brain."
Lin Yu said helplessly: "You look quite energetic to me."
"Actually, it's a last burst of vitality," Old Zheng flashed, "Take me back too, please."
"No, Hannah went back because she really couldn't hold on anymore, and I don't need her for the time being," Lin Yu cruelly refused Old Zheng, "But you... now we are carrying a 'remnant body' that we don't know what the situation is, which may attract new demon attacks at any time, so..."
"You have to stay outside."
Hearing Lin Yu's words, Old Zheng sighed a long sigh: "Okay, boss... is there a high-temperature subsidy?"
"Did you have a salary before, and you want a subsidy."
"Heartless...!"
And Lin Yu, whose physique could be regarded as upper-middle class in the Black Marsh Realm, felt thirsty and hot. Old Zheng, the former 'Tier 3', began to try to actively let Lin Yu stuff him back into the [Item Space]...
The other ordinary guards in the team were naturally hot-headed and their lips were dry and cracked.
Several of the previously injured were directly unconscious, moaning repeatedly, and it sounded extremely painful.
The employer 'Flying Knife' was also lying motionless on the horse's back, about to suffer from heatstroke and faint.
The only ones in the entire team who were in slightly better condition besides Lin Yu were Yue Zhenqiao and his deputy, the two chief guards.
Of course, there were also Sanyang and Li Nian—Sanyang naturally didn't need to say much. As a native demon of the Fire Prison and a leader-level demon, although Sanyang also didn't like being exposed to the sun, it obviously had extremely outstanding high-temperature resistance.
Even though the time was approaching noon, Sanyang only had to stick out its tongue to dissipate heat from time to time, and did not show any signs of decline.
As for Li Nian, she was the one with the mildest symptoms among humans.
She hummed a song while wearing sunglasses, and even had the leisure to look around and chat with Lin Yu.
"It would be great if there was a big watermelon on this hot day—preferably the kind that's been iced, not iced in the refrigerator but iced in well water. Cut a big piece and just gnaw on it, the juice is so cold that your gums hurt, that's what's really cool!"
"Hey, Sister Zhu Ming, do you like to eat crispy or sandy watermelons? I like to eat crispy, juicy ones. Sandy watermelons are certainly sweet, but I always feel itchy in my throat after eating them..."
Lin Yu said helplessly: "Aren't you hot at all?"
"It's okay, this stolen outfit has a big background and is useful for both keeping out the cold and avoiding the heat," Li Nian pinched and shook her fingertip. Lin Yu then realized that she was wearing a layer of transparent soft clothing, "However, although Escort Yue is getting more and more anxious, we should find a place to rest soon."
Li Nian said, and Lin Yu was a little surprised.
"How do you know?"
He was too hot to observe Yue Zhenqiao.
"Because he's starting to struggle," Li Nian said calmly, "Especially when looking at the map... This shows that Escort Yue is struggling with one thing..."
Lin Yu hadn't been affected by the high temperature to the point of losing his ability to think, so after hearing Li Nian say this, he reacted.
"Escort Yue plans to take a shortcut, or not go to the originally scheduled village to rest, but find another place to spend noon?"
"I guess so."
Li Nian nodded.
Before long, the escort team finally left the boundary of Fuyuan Mountain—they walked out of the end of the valley, and two downhill forks appeared in front of them.
The left one leads to the complex and dangerous mountains, and the right one leads to another complex and dangerous mountain.
Escort Yue Zhenqiao took out the map and hourglass for the last time here—moreover, he even stopped his horse to look at them.
Finally, Yue Zhenqiao made up his mind.
"Everyone, I'm afraid it's too late for us to go to 'Five Springs Village'. It's already approaching noon... so this time we'll go to another road first, go a little closer, and go to Chen's Fortress on 'Double Saw Mountain' to rest and recuperate."
"Then we'll replenish the water bags in the well and give the wounded a chance to recuperate. At night, we'll go to Five Springs Village to rest as planned."
Yue Zhenqiao tried his best to cheer up and said.
When the guards in the team heard this, they seemed a little shocked by the decision, and they also struggled.
"Double Saw Mountain? Chen's Fortress?"
"This..."
But soon, the deputy guard spoke again, dispelling the doubts in the team.
"Chen's Fortress is much shorter than Five Springs Village. It will take less than a quarter of an hour to get to Chen's Fortress now, and it won't be too far to go tomorrow... Right now, what Lao Yue said is the best solution!"
"If we grit our teeth and go to Five Springs Village, it would be good if we arrive smoothly, barely able to settle down just a little after noon starts. If we are blocked by monsters for a while, that would be a big trouble!"
The deputy guard said, and everyone was finally convinced.
"Okay, let's listen to Escort Yue's instructions."
The guards turned their horses around one after another and followed Yue Zhenqiao into the mountain road on the left.
Lin Yu, who was mixed in the team, frowned again.
"It seems that there is something strange about this Chen's Fortress..."
Judging from what the deputy guard said, Chen's Fortress is much closer than Five Springs Village.
Then what was Yue Zhenqiao struggling with before?
What were these ordinary guards struggling with after Yue Zhenqiao came up with this plan?
There must be something strange about Chen's Fortress that makes them so tangled!
