Chapter 18

After the princess-carry incident, Fu Li somewhat avoided Apollo.

They tacitly ignored the previous "like."

As if it had never happened.

Fu Li processed the game, hanging the fresh meat in a cool, ventilated corner of the courtyard.

The remaining meat, Fu Li planned to cure to prevent spoilage.

Apollo leaned against the wall. Recently, Fu Li avoiding him had made him very unhappy.

"Fu Li, can you handle all that?"

He suddenly spoke.

Fu Li replied offhandedly, "It's okay."

Apollo: ...

When answering him, he didn't even turn his head to look.

Apollo began to get angry.

Fu Li continued to bustle about. The arrival of winter gave him too much work to do.

He knew Apollo was angry, but the vegetables needed harvesting, the blueberries needed jamming. He would come coax Apollo after he finished.

Apollo remained angry like this for several minutes without Fu Li paying him any attention.

He broke down.

In his eyes, he was worth less than those mortal objects.

If Fu Li was so ungrateful, there was no need for him to wait for him.

Apollo's face was cold as he started working alongside Fu Li.

With the god's help, Fu Li instantly felt much more at ease.

The two finished all the preparatory work before dusk.

To reward Apollo for his contribution, Fu Li made a barbecue dinner.

The tender meat, once grilled over charcoal, burst forth an enticing aroma.

Fu Li sprinkled on coarse salt and crushed dried herbs from the courtyard. The fat sizzled over the flames.

The fragrance wafted with the evening breeze, and even from the neighboring courtyard, the sound of swallowing saliva could faintly be heard.

Apollo sat on the simple stone stool, watching Fu Li deftly turn the skewers of roasting meat.

Fu Li's long golden-red hair was loosely tied behind his head. A few strands were stuck to his forehead with sweat. His emerald-green eyes were focused, reflecting the dancing firelight.

That concentrated expression inexplicably felt to him even more touching than the most devout prayers in the Temple of Delphi.

"Try some?"

Fu Li offered the first skewer of roasted meat to Apollo, his face carrying a bit of nervousness.

He didn't even know if gods ate barbecue.

Apollo didn't take it immediately. He just looked at him with those molten gold eyes.

The last rays of twilight fell on Fu Li's slightly upturned face, gilding the flush born from busyness and the cooking fire with a layer of warmth.

Ahem, Fu Li had good judgment.

He still had him, Apollo, in his heart after all.

Apollo's sullen anger dissipated without him noticing.

He reached out to take the wooden skewer, his fingertips inevitably brushing against Fu Li's slightly cool skin.

"What flavor could mortal food possibly have?" he said, feigning pickiness, yet he still lowered his head and took a bite from Fu Li's hand.

The outer skin was fragrantly charred, the inside tender and juicy. The coarse salt and herbs perfectly brought out the meat's savory freshness.

Truly simple, truly delicious.

"How is it?"

Fu Li looked at him with sparkling eyes.

"...Passable."

Apollo gave a reserved evaluation, but his chewing speed was clearly not slow.

The corner of Fu Li's mouth curved. He didn't expose him, just picked up a skewer himself and started eating.

Simple food after a busy day always brought an extra sense of satisfaction.

The two of them sat just like that around the small fire, quietly sharing dinner in the deepening twilight.

After cleaning up, Fu Li stretched.

The moon was beautiful tonight. He moved a stool to the courtyard to enjoy the moonlight.

Apollo sat in the chair he often occupied in the courtyard and asked, seemingly casually, "Bored?"

Fu Li rubbed his eyes. "Sort of?"

Mostly, feeling sleepy after a full meal was quite severe.

Apollo played a short, gentle melody. The golden strings of the lyre shimmered in the night.

The music was melodious and soothing, like a babbling brook, like an evening breeze brushing over a wheat field.

Listening, Fu Li's eyelids fought each other. He yawned several times.

Apollo's lyre music grew increasingly soft. Fu Li slowly entered dreamland.

The music ceased. He approached the sleeping Fu Li and picked him up. Fu Li nestled against Apollo. Half-dreaming, half-awake, he softly said, "Thank you, Apollo."

Words of thanks were better left for when he was awake to say to him.

They slept side by side through the night.

*

The King of the Gods had been very busy lately.

For some unknown reason, his workload had skyrocketed recently.

At first, he hadn't felt it deeply, until one related god after another came looking for him.

Zeus: Is this the divine life I'm supposed to have?

From mediating the bickering among several minor god systems over territorial disputes, to inspecting a few border city-states where faith was wavering, to urging certain procrastination-afflicted Nymphs to complete the preparation for the spring sacrifices.

Zeus was tired.

He didn't even have the energy to flirt. His frequency of secret trysts had plummeted recently.

Even the frequency with which Hera gave him good looks was rising. This was too terrifying.

Who on earth was finding things for him to do?!

Zeus lay in a chair covered with soft furs, his indigo blue eyes vacant.

The moment Hermes entered, he saw Father God looking as though his heart had already died.

Ahem, Apollo was really quite impressive.

"Hermes, my workload recently has been abnormally high."

Zeus said.

Hermes blinked. "Father God, the work of the King of Gods has never been easy."

Zeus retorted, "It was never this much before."

Hermes explained, "It was always this much. It's just that you always dumped the work onto other gods."

Zeus pondered. That was actually true.

Who had he previously dumped this work onto?

The God of Light, Apollo.

His most beloved son.

The busiest god on the divine mountain.

"What has Apollo been doing lately? All his work has come to me."

Zeus chose to forgive his own behavior of exploiting his son.

He was the King of Gods, after all. Enjoyment was his main theme.

Hermes thought to himself: Finally!

"Apollo is busy being all lovey-dovey with his little sweetheart."

Zeus was immediately interested at the sound of this.

Gossip was always more appealing to a god than work.

"Tell me in detail."

Hermes said with a beaming smile:

"Father God, previously, in order to stand up for his little sweetheart, the world's light briefly disappeared, causing quite a shock in the mortal realm."

Zeus casually picked up a cup of fine wine and listened with great relish.

"So it was a fury for the sake of a beauty."

He commented. Then suddenly he thought of something.

"Still that same mortal from before?"

Hermes nodded.

"Apollo is this constant in his affections?"

After eating a grape, Zeus stood up. There had been too much work lately. He needed to walk around now.

For instance, right now he was going to give his most beloved son, Apollo, a surprise.

"Not just constant in affection. He's fallen deep."

Hermes said, winking and grinning.

Zeus was even more delighted. He had been just worrying about having no entertainment to watch.

He said jestingly, "Then it's the perfect time for me to go witness these star-crossed little lovers."

"However," Zeus's face grew serious, his brows tightly furrowed, "Hermes, keep a close watch on those Titans. Recently, there have been too many stirrings from them, especially my father, Kronos."

Hermes put away his casual demeanor and nodded solemnly.

The matter of the Titans was far too significant.

"Relax a bit, my child." Zeus walked over and patted his shoulder. "At worst, it's merely an uprising. It won't escalate to war."

Hermes said worriedly, "Father God, the signs of their activity are becoming more and more obvious. I'm afraid it will still develop to that stage. Let's strengthen the seal."

After Zeus had detected the obvious Titan activity, he had dispatched Hermes to monitor it. Only Hermes was clear on the specific situation.

Every observation made his heart tremble with fear.

Was divine war about to come again?

Zeus's entrance was as mischievously playful as the god himself.

He transformed into clouds, blocking all the light that fell on Fu Li.

Apollo only felt his medium being erased. In extreme irritation, he saw Zeus.

"Father God?"

Why haven't you gone to do your work yet?

"My most beloved son, you are truly cold when you see your Father God."

Zeus withdrew his avatar.

A tall, robust figure manifested out of thin air.

The newcomer wore a simple white robe, yet it couldn't conceal the regal aura permeating his entire being.

He had golden curls similar to Apollo's, only thicker and wilder, casually draped over his shoulders.

His face was handsome, his indigo-blue eyes deep as an abyss.

He carried a playful smile as he scrutinized Fu Li, who was protected behind Apollo.

"So protective of your food?"

Zeus chuckled lightly at Apollo's nervous appearance.

Apollo: ...

Who wouldn't be nervous seeing you?

A notorious philanderer, someone passing by would have to cover their rear.

Fu Li was also very nervous.

Zeus's name was like thunder in his ears.

He subconsciously shielded his buttocks.

Zeus: "..."

Was his reputation this bad?

Zeus, whose reputation was indeed very bad, didn't feel his reputation was poor.

The atmosphere was somewhat awkwardly delicate for a moment.

"Ahem."

Zeus cleared his throat and decided to ignore this little interlude.

He refocused his gaze on Apollo, his smile returning to its cynical nature. "My son, won't you introduce this special little friend behind you?"

His gaze lingered on Fu Li's unusually striking golden-red hair and emerald-green eyes, not bothering to hide the appreciation and curiosity within.

This was indeed a rare and fine appearance. No wonder it could make his son, who always looked down on others, so attentive.

Apollo stepped forward half a pace, shielding Fu Li behind him even more thoroughly, and said warily:

"Father God is swamped with countless affairs every day. Why would you suddenly grace this humble mortal dwelling? If you had matters to find me for, a message would have sufficed."

"Swamped with countless affairs?" Zeus acted as if he had heard a joke, his smile carrying a hint of gritted teeth. "Yes, I've been quite swamped recently."

"My most reliable son suddenly developed such a strong interest in the pastoral life of the mortal realm that he couldn't even attend to the mountain of work belonging to his dear Father God. Could I not come and see?"

The resentment in these words nearly solidified into substance.

Apollo's face didn't change:

"To share Father God's burdens is a duty. Now that there is leisure, paying attention to the stability of faith in Athens is also part of my responsibilities."

He paused and added meaningfully, "Father God is the final arbiter. Many matters require your judgment."

You brat, you speak pretty words well.

Zeus recalled those trivial tasks, and the corner of his mouth twitched.

The work was like mediating never-ending family problems.

And his city gates had long since fallen.

"Hermes said you were here, taking such delight that you forgot home. I didn't believe it originally. Now it seems the rumors are not unfounded."

Zeus directly ignored Apollo's words.

His gaze fell directly on Fu Li's face, his tone arguably kind and amiable:

"Child, what is your name? To make Apollo so linger and forget to return, you must have extraordinary qualities."

Fu Li's scalp tingled. Being looked at so "cordially" by the King of Gods was no ordinary pressure.

He took a deep breath, slightly turned sideways from behind Apollo, performed a standard bow, and tried his best to make his voice sound steady:

"Honorable King of the Gods, Lord Zeus. My name is Fu Li. I am merely an ordinary traveler who admires Athens's prosperity and settled here. To receive a measure of favor from His Highness Apollo, the God of Light, is my greatest honor."

"Fu Li..."

Zeus savored this exotic-sounding name, the interest in his eyes growing stronger.

"An ordinary traveler would not make my son use his source divine power to protect you, nor would they make him willingly linger in such a crude dwelling for so long."

Fu Li answered carefully: "It is His Highness Apollo's compassion."

Because he is kind!

Zeus laughed.

Since when was Apollo associated with compassion?

This was more bizarre than him being hit by a chariot today.

He looked at Apollo, trying to find an embarrassed expression on his face.

What he saw instead was Apollo curling his lips smugly.

Zeus: ...

Don't believe a mortal's praise. How bad your own reputation stinks, you should know in your heart.

Zeus suddenly felt a bit of toothache.

He looked Fu Li up and down. This mortal's beauty was beyond doubt, the type he would also glance at twice.

But his filter for Apollo was too high, making him seem particularly abnormal.

"Fu Li, you are truly special."

Zeus sighed with emotion.

Hermes was right.

"Father God, if there's nothing else, I believe there are still many matters awaiting you on the divine mountain."

Apollo did not hesitate to shoo the guest away.

Zeus choked.

This symptom was truly like being shot by an arrow of love.

"I sought you out because I inevitably have important matters."

Although Zeus liked to seek amusement, he could distinguish what was important from what wasn't.

"The seal of Tartarus has been fluctuating abnormally recently."

Apollo's expression instantly darkened.

Tartarus, synonymous with the abyss, was the bottomless pit where the ancient Titan gods and numerous terrifying beings were imprisoned.

That seal was maintained jointly by the gods and was one of the keys to maintaining the current world order.

Once an anomaly occurred...

"Kronos?"

Apollo almost immediately thought of the former King of Gods imprisoned by them in the deepest layer of the abyss.

"Not just him." Zeus shook his head. "The signs of his activity are the most obvious. But cracks of all kinds are appearing throughout the barriers of the entire abyss. It seems something is impacting them from within."

"They're about to come out?"

This matter was far too significant. Even Apollo found it troublesome.

Once these Titans appeared, the disasters they brought would be more than mortals could bear.

At that time, he would surely need to rush to the divine war.

Could Fu Li protect himself?

Zeus saw through the worry in his eyes. Apollo had truly taken this to heart.

"Perhaps it's just an uprising."

He brought out the words he had used to comfort Hermes to comfort Apollo.

If a divine war truly occurred again, nowhere would be safe.

Although Fu Li was not very familiar with the specific battles of Greek mythology, he knew how Zeus had obtained his throne as King of Gods.

After hearing the key names, he realized that a storm was coming.

If a divine war truly descended, could he still survive?

He'd only just managed to live a stable life for a short while.

Fu Li lowered his eyes.

Uncertainty enveloped him.

Apollo unobtrusively tugged his hand.

More powerful than the telepathic link was the warmth transmitted through the touch.

Fu Li looked up at Apollo and found that Apollo was also looking at him.

Zeus: ...

He always felt he was shining with an unbearably bright light.

"Also, Apollo, what's going on with you?"