Andrew gave her bottom a helpful push and said casually, โItโs not that I was rough. You just need a little more experience!โ
Chantelle was climbing ahead and angrily replied, โI never thought you were such a pervert!โ
Andrew deliberately kept talking to distract her and make the climb less difficult, and as they bantered back and forth, Chantelle eventually started laughing, too.
โThe moonlight is lovely tonight. The moon in the mountains seems prettier than in the city!โ
Andrew said seriously, โNo matter how beautiful the moonlight is, itโs not as beautiful as you, Ms. Garcia!โ
Chantelle stopped talking and climbed silently. After a while, she turned back and huffed at Andrew, โMr. Lloyd, I can give you my body, but do you know that if you keep being so charming, I might end up giving you my heart, too? When that happens, Iโm afraid youโll have quite the problem on your hands!โ
Andrew looked genuinely worried. โPlease donโt! Just giving me your body is fine. Your heart is too precious, and I couldnโt handle that responsibility!โ
Chantelle was both angry and amused. Just as she expected, men really did not want to take responsibility once they pulled their pants back up.
But why was she getting angry? She was the one who had taken advantage of Andrew, not the other way around. The initiative had been on her side, so if anyone should feel taken advantage of, it should be Andrew.
Chantelle comforted herself with this self-serving logic.
Finally, the two reached the top of the modest slope. Looking around, they saw wilderness everywhere โ nothing but dark forests and mountains stretching in all directions.
โIt looks like that underground current swept us up from below ground,โ Chantelle said after figuring out the directions.
Andrew looked around, frowning. โMs. Garcia, donโt you feel like where weโre standing is actually a small path?โ
Chantelle looked and exclaimed in surprise, โYouโre right! Mr. Lloyd, look โ these stones on the ground were clearly laid by people.โ
Andrew said, โLetโs go left first and see where it leads. One thingโs for sure โ weโre definitely still within the mountain range around Gallowโs End.โ
Chantelle nodded. โWe werenโt in that underground current very long, and based on the water flow speed, we canโt be more than a few hundred yards from the underground tomb!โ
Andrew thought that while a few hundred yards was not a short distance, if they could not find a way back into the underground world, those few hundred yards might as well be an impossible distance.
He could not worry about treasure now โ he just wanted to reach the tomb quickly to ensure Tiana and the others were safe.
Following the left-hand path, they walked a few hundred yards and reached the foot of the mountain. At the end of the road, a dark cave appeared, surrounded by towering trees that would make it hard to spot if you were not looking carefully.
Chantelle was delighted. โMr. Lloyd, could this cave lead to the tomb?โ
Andrew looked at the ground and noticed that the small path seemed to have been carved out by people. It was very roughly made and uncomfortable to walk on, covered with vines and weeds that clearly had not been disturbed in ages.
โThis path was probably built by the Patoajo people from the village below,โ Andrew said. โRegardless of where that cave leads, letโs continue down the path and take a look!โ
Chantelle was full of energy. โRight, Iโll go first and check it out!โ
The caveโs location was basically a downward slope, and the two carefully walked down into the entrance.
The moonlight disappeared immediately, leaving them to feel their way forward in the dim light. Normal darkness could not stop Andrew, of course. The cave entrance was not large, but once inside, it opened into a whole different world with a much more spacious interior.
Chantelle waved her hand in front of her nose. โMr. Lloyd, do you smell that musty stench in here?โ