Athena had thought she’d long forgotten those hardships. But when they resurfaced, she realized some wounds had never truly healed, just deliberately buried deep in her heart, untouched. Like a splinter left in a healed wound, throbbing with dull pain at the slightest touch.

The mountain wind cut into Athena’s face like knives, but Jessa’s embrace was warm.

Athena could feel Jessa’s concern. She gave her a reassuring smile and said, “It’s all in the past. Everything’s going to be fine now.”

Jessa didn’t know how to comfort her, so she just squeezed Athena’s hand tightly and said, “Yes, it’s all over now.”

Leaning on each other for support, Athena and Jessa made their way up to the mountaintop.

A vast temple loomed into view, but all around them, desolation stretched as far as the eye could see.

Even the path was choked with rubble and withered grass.

Only as they drew closer did Athena realize the temple had been abandoned for ages; the main gate lay askew, toppled to one side.

The temple was nothing but charred ruins now, crumbling walls, toppled statues, and bricks strewn across the ground like scattered bones.

The two women cautiously stepped inside. Jessa gazed at the devastation in shock. “This temple must have been burned down years ago. They wouldn’t have gone this far unless they were trying to cover up a murder.”

Athena nodded softly. Even after all these years, the acrid scent of smoke still lingered in the air.

Both side halls had also collapsed.

The ground was strewn with broken bricks and splintered beams. Athena and Jessa carefully picked their way through the debris, searching the courtyard for the dry well.

But after scouring every corner, they still came up empty-handed.

Jessa’s brow furrowed in suspicion. “What’s going on? It doesn’t make sense!”

A short while ago, she and Athena had split up and searched the entire courtyard, but the dry well was nowhere in sight.

Athena began to doubt her own judgment. “Could it be that Chief Rogers never came here after all?”

Yet this temple was undoubtedly the perfect refuge.

Given the circumstances, with his entire family in tow, there was nowhere else he could possibly have gone.

Athena’s gaze slowly swept across the temple ruins, until her eyes suddenly landed on a peculiar pile of stones.

Jessa noticed it too and muttered, “Why is there a pile of rock stones?”

The heap looked so out of place that Athena’s instincts kicked in, and she hurried over.

She began heaving the rocks aside with all her strength. They were heavy and hard to move.

Jessa quickly rushed to help, and together they struggled for nearly two hours before what lay beneath finally began to emerge.

“A well! A dry well!” Jessa gasped in surprise as the edge of the well came into view.

A triumphant smile broke across Athena’s face. “Just as I thought,” she murmured.

But then, Athena found herself facing a new dilemma.

The culprits had filled the dry well with rocks to cover their tracks.

With just the two of them, there was no way they could clear away such a massive pile.

Just as the two women were at their wits’ end, Jessa suddenly tensed up.

“Athena,” she whispered urgently.

Athena caught the seriousness in Jessa’s eyes and tilted her head in silent question. Jessa nodded, and together they slipped into the shadowy corner of the ruined temple, crouching low.

No sooner had they concealed themselves than several black-clad figures stormed in.

Athena’s expression turned grim as she glanced at Jessa; her injuries hadn’t fully healed yet.

If they ran into those black-clad men now, it would surely spell disaster.

She gently tugged at Jessa’s sleeve and whispered, “Let’s retreat through the back mountain.”

In a situation like this, survival came first.

Jessa nodded, then took Athena’s hand, and together they crept stealthily toward the rear of the hall.

Fortunately, the temple was large enough that the black-clad men hadn’t yet reached this side of the main hall.

By the time Athena and Jessa emerged from behind the main hall, none of the intruders had noticed them.

Athena let out a soft sigh of relief, but before she could even catch her breath, she froze in her tracks.

Four or five black-clad men suddenly blocked their path. Each brandished a long sword, glaring at them with menacing looks.

With their escape route cut off, their only choice was to fight for their lives.

Jessa sneered. “Persistent bastards, aren’t they?”

Drawing her sword from her waist, she leapt into action. As she soared, she shouted to Athena, “Run!”

With a single slash, her blade unleashed a torrent of sword energy that surged straight for the black-clad men’s faces.

Clearly aware of her prowess, the black-clad men dared not engage head-on and scattered to avoid her attack.

Seeing this, Athena could only run forward with all her might. She realized that if she stayed, she’d just be a burden to Jessa.

Jessa watched Athena dash away without looking back, a relieved smile flickering across her face.

‘Decisive and never hesitating in a crisis, no wonder Prince Xander fell for her,’ Jessa thought.

She’d been afraid Athena would cling to her, sobbing and refusing to leave.

Now, with Athena gone, Jessa could focus all her attention on the assassins.

Her sword strikes grew even fiercer, each strike aimed for vital points.

The black-clad men were completely pinned down by Jessa, unable to break free.

Just as Athena was about to disappear into the woods, one of the assassins suddenly flung a cloud of poison powder.

Seeing this, Jessa leapt back. Seizing the opportunity, two black-clad men broke away to pursue Athena.

The rest kept Jessa engaged in fierce combat.

Jessa watched in horror as the black-clad men chased after Athena, her heart pounding with anxiety.

These relentless assailants were impossible to shake. Even though she dodged just in time, she still inhaled a lot of poison powder.

Her vision blurred, and her mind clouded over.

Jessa’s movements slowed, and she was a beat too late. Her arm was slashed by a sword.

The pain snapped her back to awareness for a fleeting moment, but almost instantly, sluggishness overtook her again.

“Athena, run…” Jessa choked out with immense effort as her consciousness faded, then collapsed to the ground.

Seizing their chance, the black-clad men quickly subdued her.

Meanwhile, Athena raced down the mountain path to the edge of a sheer cliff.

Ahead stretched a rickety chain bridge, swaying precariously in the mountain wind.

Just as Athena was about to step onto the bridge, a harsh voice from behind abruptly halted her.

“Stop! Take another step and she’s dead,” one of the men threatened.

Athena whirled around, her heart sinking, to see several black-clad figures clutching tightly to Jessa. They had caught up.

Jessa remained conscious, but she was completely drained of strength.

She gazed feebly at Athena, murmuring in a fading voice, “Athena, run… just run… don’t worry about me…”

Blood dripped from Jessa’s wounded hand, staining her sleeve crimson.

Athena’s heart clenched as she forced down her panic. Staring down the black-clad men, she demanded, “It’s me you want, let Jessa go!”

The black-clad men exchanged uncertain glances, momentarily hesitating.

“Still want those pawn tickets?” Athena countered sharply. “I’ve got them right here. Let Jessa go, and I’ll come with you willingly.”

The black-clad man furrowed his brow and snapped, “How do we know you’re not lying?”

Athena pulled out a stack of papers from her coat, her voice rising. “Isn’t your master looking for these very pawn tickets? Take me back and you can report success. All I want is my friend’s safety. It’s a fair deal for you.”

“Think it over, are you letting her go or not?”

The black-clad man paused, then sneered. “A cornered rat like you, what makes you think you can bargain with us?”

Clearly, they had no intention of freeing Jessa.