"What is that noise?"

Flying Knife vigilantly looked around, like a startled ostrich, raising his head to glance left and right.

"Mountain demons of Fuyuan Mountain," the dart master beside him responded. "No need to worry too much. These are just the lookout mountain demons at the mountain pass seeing we've arrived, so they're signaling their companions."

"We have many people. We just need to show our strength. These mountain demons might not dare to approach."

That dart master confidently reassured Flying Knife.

Flying Knife nodded with a grave expression.

Lin Yu was actually somewhat surprised.

"That whistle sound was actually made by demons and monsters..."

He had thought it would be the work of human bandits and outlaws, but he didn't expect it to be demons and monsters.

These demonic creatures and evil spirits... actually have lookouts and communicate with each other... This was quite beyond Lin Yu's expectations.

The intelligence of the demons, monsters, and ghosts in this realm seemed to be a bit higher than he had estimated.

However...

Lin Yu actually felt that was a good thing.

At this moment, the leader, Yue Zhenqiao, also took action.

"Fire the signal arrows!"

As Yue Zhenqiao spoke, three dart masters beside him carrying bows acknowledged the order. They then took the hunting bows from their backs and arrows from their quivers, shooting them into the sky.

"Whoosh—!"

The sound of three arrows piercing the air rang out simultaneously, howling like evil spirits. Amidst those whistling sounds, they were not drowned out at all.

And that wasn't all!

A moment later, the three arrows soared high into the sky and actually exploded mid-air.

"—Bang!"

The explosive sound rang out, instantly overwhelming all the miscellaneous noises!

The three arrows exploded at roughly the same time. The three overlapping explosion sounds were like thunder from a clear sky, echoing unceasingly through the mountains.

After the reverberations faded, no more whistling sounds continued.

Yue Zhenqiao sneered smugly, saying, "A bunch of beasts, let's see if you dare blow any more!"

"These mountain demons, do they really think we're an ordinary escort team?"

As Yue Zhenqiao spoke, he then spurred his horse forward. "Let's move."

Watching this scene, Lin Yu also nodded slightly.

Just as he had thought, the demons and monsters of the Prison Mountain Realm indeed possessed some intelligence.

For Lin Yu, this was tangible good news.

They had intelligence; they could be frightened and retreat by Yue Zhenqiao's intimidation; they could exchange information with each other. This meant that the demons and monsters of this realm, at least this group of mountain demons... might be able to be "deceived" into producing 'belief'.

While Lin Yu was pondering, Old Zheng's voice leisurely sounded in Lin Yu's mind.

"Be careful, boss. Don't trust the dart master leader and the other dart masters too much. Although they have some ability, they're... still among the weaker kind."

"Try releasing your own mental energy to probe, aiming to capture other mental fluctuations as much as possible. Then you'll know what I mean."

Old Zheng said leisurely. Lin Yu was stunned for a moment, then began to release his mental energy outward.

After reaching an agreement with Old Zheng, the other party had already begun guiding and teaching Lin Yu how to use mental energy.

And after doing as Old Zheng said, Lin Yu understood the meaning of Old Zheng's previous words.

He felt his mental energy spreading outward like water ripples, quickly sensing the mental energy of roughly over thirty people—peaceful, upright, without major fluctuations. Upon careful sensing, it seemed he could detect that everyone present was quite tense.

Other mental fluctuations were also like ripples spreading outward in circles, akin to signal towers transmitting signals. Without Old Zheng explaining, Lin Yu could directly distinguish their "mental state" through some mysterious feeling.

And when his mental energy expanded further outward, Lin Yu could sense mental fluctuations that did not belong to them, and which were clearly different from human mental activity.

Simpler, but also more frenzied and bloodthirsty.

More importantly, the sources of those mental fluctuations were all not far away, and Lin Yu could detect that the targets locked onto by these mental fluctuations... were all on their group of thirty people.

Lin Yu reached a conclusion: "Those demons and monsters weren't frightened; they were just pretending to be afraid. They quieted down just to set up an ambush!"

He communicated his thoughts to Old Zheng, who was very satisfied.

"Ho, you learn really fast. You're definitely among the top three in terms of comprehension and talent among all the students I've taught."

Lin Yu was surprised: "There are actually two people ranked ahead of me?"

"Of course there are. One of them even has a grudge against you."

Before Lin Yu and Old Zheng could continue their exchange, suddenly, the whistling sound rang out again.

"Shriiiiek—!"

A sudden, abrupt whistle sound came from overhead, and this time... it was extremely, extremely close!

Yue Zhenqiao was somewhat horrified: "What? Have these mountain demons gone mad?!"

Atop the cliff wall above their heads, figures of demonic creatures resembling monkeys, with faces clashing in crimson red and indigo blue, fierce and ferocious, appeared.

Each of these demonic creatures was the size of an adult human, but their limbs were bulging with muscles, and their fangs protruded outward, clearly possessing combat power far exceeding that of an ordinary adult man by more than a notch or two.

As they emitted sharp, piercing whistles, they also began leaping down from the cliff walls, stepping on protruding rock crevices as they charged toward the foot of the mountain, clearly targeting the convoy.

"It seems the scorching heat has driven you bastards mad with hunger," Yue Zhenqiao, though horrified, quickly calmed down as the dart master leader and began issuing orders. "Demons and monsters are attacking. Prepare to engage the enemy!"

"Close-combat experts hold the perimeter! Those skilled in archery and hidden weapons, start shooting arrows!"

"Wu San, Wu Qi, you two lead teams on the left and right flanks. Keep a sharp eye out; don't let a single demonic creature break through."

The convoy was currently located in a long, narrow mountain pass canyon, with cliff walls on both sides. The mountain demons were coming from both sides, forming a pincer attack, and all were charging from high ground to low ground. This was very disadvantageous for the defending dart master team.

Therefore, Yue Zhenqiao continued giving instructions: "While engaging the enemy, the team must not stop. Maintain formation integrity while continuing to move. We cannot engage them in the location these demonic creatures have chosen!"

Yue Zhenqiao spoke in rapid succession, then also drew his long blade, charging toward the right side where the defense seemed somewhat weak.

Then, the first wave of mountain demons had already charged to the foot of the mountain, leaping high to pounce on the horse and carriage team, clashing in close combat with those dart masters on the perimeter wielding swords and blades.

"Clang! Clang!"

The mountain demons' claws were long and sharp. When they collided with the dart masters' blades and swords, they actually produced the sound of metal clashing.

And a volley of arrows and hidden weapons from within the team also rained down, striking the mountain demons behind. Although they caused some casualties, making the rear mountain demons emit many shrieks and spray many blossoms of blood...

The number of mountain demons that actually fell and rolled down the mountainside, losing all combat ability, was pitifully few!

Within the team, watching the escort company members quickly change formation to respond to the enemy and fight the demons and monsters in a chaotic melee, Li Nian couldn't help but sigh with feeling.

"They really are quite professional... Employer, do you think we should help them?"

Li Nian said with a giggle, seeking Flying Knife's opinion.

And Flying Knife, looking at these mountain demons and smelling the blood, naturally spoke up immediately.

"Of course! If these demons and monsters kill all these dart masters... won't it be our turn next?!"

"If we can help, help quickly!"

By the end, Flying Knife almost shouted himself hoarse!