Fortunately, Andrew had bet correctly. The copse of the underground pce had not affected the underground river, and the rushing current still carried him and everyone else through a life-and-death underwater swim before bringing them outside the mountain.
Everyone was gasping for air.
"The sun! I can see the sun! We made it out alive! We escaped with our lives!" Loganughed heartily.
The sheer relief of surviving sent a wave of relief through everyone''s tense body.
Andrew was the first to climb onto the riverbank. One by one, he reached down and helped Tiana, Chantelle, Natasha, and Jerry up.
Logan waved his hand andughed, "It''s okay, Andy, I can get up by myself. You should rest!"
Andrew chuckled and plopped down on the ground, rxing his entire body. Beside himy the golden teak safe. He still had not had a chance to open it and see what the Elixir of Immortality looked like.
Tiana, Natasha, and Logan were all taking inventory of their gains. Although everyone was considered respectable in Blumedale, the items from the Little Emperor''s underground pce of the Fallen Crimson Dynasty were extraordinary.
Any single piece would absolutely cause a sensation if brought to the outside world.
Andrew did not bother asking who had gotten what treasures, as everyone had their own secrets.
After risking their lives like this, they could not make the trip for nothing.
Chantelle''s wet clothes clung tightly to her graceful figure, entuating her curves. Her overall build was very simr to Lauren''s, mainly tall and slender.
Walking up behind Andrew, she wrapped her arms around his waist from behind and eximed, "Mr. Lloyd, thank you for saving me and everyone else again!"
Andrew was slightly surprised and turned around. "Ms. Garcia, what are you doing?"
Chantelle looked him straight in the eye, totally calm and unbothered. "We almost died back there. Do you think I care about anything else right now?"
"But everyone''s still here, Ms. Garcia. I think we should rest first!" Andrew replied.
"Resting is exactly what I n to do," she said smoothly. "But first, there''s one thing I want to do."
With that, she gave him a quick kiss
on the lips. She pulled away
immediately as if nothing had happened and walked over to arge rock to lie down and look at the sky.
Logan, Tiana, and Natasha all stared at this scene in stunned silence.
Tiana''s expression darkened as she was about to make a sarcasticment. Fortunately, Logan was quick-witted and hurried to smooth things over with augh.
"Mrs. Rhodes, Natasha, let''s rest too and not worry about anything else! Everyone should rest up too! We still need to get back to Patoaja vige before sunset!"
Tiana snorted. "They were sneaking around behind everyone''s backs! Things sure escted fast!"
She added threateningly, "When we get back to Blumedale, you better believe I''m having a long talk with you!"
Andrew gave a helpless smile. Of course, Tiana would try to interfere in his personal life.
But what could he say? Her precious daughter happened to be involved with him too.
Natasha suddenly asked, "Mr. Keller, where''s Mr. Wright Senior?"
Logan looked around, puzzled. "Right... Kevin was right behind me when we were escaping. Where the hell is he?"
Chantelle spoke calmly. "The current
from the underground river has
sudden surges. It''s incredibly
powerful. Since Mr. Wright Senior
didn''t make it out with us, he''s most likely gone."
She spoke with unsettling calmness, but Logan and the others felt secretly sorry for Kevin''s bad luck.
Tiana said indifferently, "The Wrights lost almost everyone on this trip except for one security captain, Tora! This could be called poetic justice-what goes aroundes around!"
Andrewy t on a riverside stone in a full sprawl. He stared up at the endless blue sky, lost in thought.
It was mid-tote afternoon by now, probably around 4 p.m.
The sunlight had softened, no longer scorching, and the sky above was as blue
as ever.