I’d heard it all before. The warnings, the superstitions, the whispered legends meant to scare you off. But none of it ever worked. Not on me. So, when you tried to convince me that this temple, tucked away in the depths of China’s forgotten jungles, was a bad idea, I couldn’t help but smile.

“Look, I’ve been through worse,” I said, adjusting my hat and giving you a reassuring glance. This wasn’t my first temple, and it sure as hell wouldn’t be my last. Abandoned or not, there was something in there worth finding—something the world had forgotten, but I hadn’t.

Still, you didn’t look convinced. I could see it in your eyes. You were worried. There’s always that moment before the plunge, where you second-guess the leap. But if I’ve learned anything, it’s that second-guessing gets you nowhere. I gave you a nod, my hand resting on the whip at my side. “Trust me. I’ve got this.”