Chapter 27

Ever since Apollo could stay in the Underworld for extended periods, this place had gained one special long-term visitor.

Among the residents of the Blissful Fields, there was no one who didn't know Apollo.

No one could ignore that golden-haired god who brought his own intense light wherever he went.

In the very beginning, the original inhabitants of the Underworld all felt discomfort toward this.

"Too bright... How is anyone supposed to sleep..."

Hypnos, the God of Sleep, complained more than once while rubbing his bleary, drowsy eyes.

"Fu Li, can that one of yours tone it down a little?"

The God of Death at his side, though silent, had dark circles under his eyes that proved he, too, hadn't been resting well.

Even Charon, who was always so good-natured, tactfully reminded them during a certain ferry crossing:

"Lord Apollo, your radiance makes the spirits too afraid to come aboard."

Seeing you from afar, they all think they've come to the wrong place.

Fu Li could only apologize while tugging at Apollo's sleeve, quietly urging:

"Apollo, this is the Underworld. Tone it down a little..."

Apollo did try hard to restrain himself, but his inherent authority wasn't so easy to completely mask.

Thus, Apollo became the Underworld's unique little desk lamp.

"I really am trying my best to control it."

Apollo sat beside Fu Li's work desk, which was piled high with scrolls. His molten gold eyes were filled with complete innocence.

"Look, I'm not even glowing anymore. I'm just making the surroundings a little brighter."

Fu Li sighed. He looked at the glittering, golden Apollo. "Mm. You've been working very hard."

His heart aching, he touched the bruise-like shadows at the inner corners of Apollo's eyes. "It must be tiring, constantly suppressing your divine power, right?"

Fu Li's voice gradually softened. His emerald eyes gazed intently at Apollo.

And what Apollo could stand the least was Fu Li looking at him with such eyes.

His Adam's apple bobbed twice.

Apollo caught Fu Li's hand in his own. His fingertips rubbed the other's slightly cool skin.

"Then praise me. I won't allow you not to know."

Apollo lifted his chin. His golden eyes were filled with pride.

He was the only surface god who could survive in the Underworld.

Fu Li chuckled softly, as if seeing a golden retriever wagging its tail.

Fu Li couldn't help laughing. He leaned over and quickly pecked the corner of Apollo's lips.

"Mm. Our Apollo is the most amazing."

The tips of Apollo's ears turned red at lightning speed.

He coughed to cover it up and turned his face away, but the hand holding Fu Li's didn't let go.

"Hmph. It's good that you know."

With the protection of the pomegranate seed, the side effects of Apollo staying in the Underworld had lessened considerably. At the very least, he wouldn't turn pale after staying too long like in the beginning.

But this didn't mean he had seamlessly integrated into Underworld life.

Apollo's daily life in the kingdom of the dead could be called a chronicle of one mishap after another while adapting.

Fu Li would lend a hand when Charon was swamped. At these times, Apollo would squeeze onto the ferry boat.

He tried to row the oar together with Fu Li.

Apollo had an exceptionally strong desire to be in sync with Fu Li. It was quite unbearable for Charon to watch.

He should've known better than to let you two row the same boat.

You rowed far too slowly!

There were many spirits waiting to cross the river. Following the rules, they each paid a silver coin to board.

The ferry boat slowly crossed the river. Midway through the crossing, a spirit recalled its memories.

Before it could bare its fangs and brandish its claws, Apollo sent a blast of divine light its way.

The spirit's eyes stung painfully, and it obediently stayed put.

Fu Li cheerfully gave the spirit a talking-to, leaving it completely dumbfounded.

Charon, who had been confronting the spirit at the side: ...

Truly, comparisons between people are maddening.

After the ferry boat docked, Charon's expression was complex.

He felt he'd eaten dog food for an entire day.

"Charon, your rowing technique is inadequate. It needs improvement."

Apollo critiqued.

Charon: "..." Thank you so very much! In the end, under Fu Li's mediation, Apollo obediently left with him, lest Charon be angered to death.

The farming project in the Blissful Fields continued to advance.

Adonis reported the recent harvest to Fu Li. Apollo listened from the side and discovered they intended to sell everything.

Upon learning there was no food in the Underworld, Apollo awakened a feeding obsession.

He procured from who-knows-where a fruit very rare on the surface and insisted Fu Li try it.

Apollo brought the fruit, which emitted an enticingly sweet fragrance, to Fu Li's lips. "This one's good. I specially nourished it with my divine power."

Fu Li looked at the fruit. It was indeed very tempting.

But could he even eat it in his current state?

Wouldn't it just leak out after eating?

"Apollo, I'm not hungry."

He tried to refuse.

"Just one taste." Apollo was insistent, his eyes full of anticipation. "Look, you've grown thin."

Fu Li looked down at himself. Not at all. Still the same figure as before.

But under Apollo's scorching gaze, he swallowed his words.

Fu Li couldn't dissuade him and cautiously took a tiny bite.

Even if it leaked out, he accepted it.

The fruit melted the moment it entered his mouth. The clear, sweet juice, carrying the warmth of sunlight, slid down his throat.

Fu Li's nosebleed then streamed down without any warning whatsoever.

Apollo: "!!!"

What was going on?!

Fu Li also froze.

He hadn't expected this to be the result after eating it.

Apollo's healing divine light struck Fu Li. Only then did the nosebleed slowly stop.

Afterward, Apollo held Fu Li, whose nosebleed had finally ceased, and rested his chin atop his head, speaking in a muffled voice:

"You're even more fragile than before. The Underworld really can't be stayed in. The longer you stay, the worse it is for you..."

Fu Li leaned in his embrace, feeling the heartbeat transmitted from the other's chest. His heart was both warm and helpless.

Apollo's arms tightened a fraction.

"The Abyss can't be delayed any longer."

He had originally wanted to prepare a little more.

Tartarus was an exceedingly dangerous prison even for gods.

The fates of gods in the past often ended with being cast into Tartarus.

Apollo worried the Three Fates would be unwilling to help him.

After all, it was hard to say that the Three Fates hadn't done anything behind the scenes regarding him and Fu Li coming this far.

Even if they didn't agree, they would have to agree.

Apollo was not a god who would let go.

Fu Li didn't know what he was thinking and only comfortingly patted him.

He was satisfied with the current situation now, relishing the hard-won stability.

"When?"

Fu Li wouldn't just watch Apollo risk danger alone.

"I'll go with you."

He squeezed Apollo's palm.

Apollo interlaced his fingers between Fu Li's and held on tightly.

"I can go alone."

He didn't want Fu Li to take risks.

Fu Li shook his head. "I don't want to be separated."

Apollo's expression softened. "Then let's wait a little longer."

Going alone, he could be casual about it. Taking Fu Li along, he couldn't be casual.

"Alright."

Fu Li curved his lips and rested his head against Apollo's chest.

As the time he spent in the Underworld grew longer, Apollo's possessiveness also began to show.

He truly minded the time Fu Li had spent in the Underworld without his participation.

Apollo wanted even more exclusivity.

He indeed was a very excessive god.

He wanted more of Fu Li.

Thanatos came to find Fu Li to check the classification method for a batch of backlogged documents. The two stood a little close and discussed a little long.

When Apollo returned from handling some prayers on the surface, what he saw was Fu Li leaning slightly over, pointing at a spot on a scroll, earnestly explaining to Thanatos, while the usually expressionless God of Death listened intently and nodded from time to time.

The atmospheric pressure around Apollo instantly plummeted.

He strode over and very "naturally" inserted himself between the two.

An arm stretched out and wrapped around Fu Li's shoulders, pulling him closer into his own embrace.

"What are you talking about?"

His tone was flat. Anyone could tell Apollo was jealous.

Thanatos, holding his scythe, silently retreated half a step. His black eyes held little emotion. He merely nodded at Fu Li.

Toward a God of Light in love, one must retreat three feet.

"We'll continue next time."

Thanatos turned around. His black robes fluttered as he vanished in an instant.

Fu Li: "..."

He looked up at Apollo. The other had an expression that said, "At least he knows what's good for him."

"Apollo," Fu Li poked his waist, "Thanatos just came to ask about work."

"Oh." Apollo responded, then looked down at Fu Li, and suddenly asked, "Why was he standing so close to you just now?"

Fu Li didn't know whether to laugh or cry:

"To discuss the issue. How can we look at a scroll without being close?"

"Does the Underworld not have longer tables?"

Apollo was righteous and confident.

Fu Li decided to give up on communicating.

He wrapped his arms around Apollo's waist in return and buried his face in his chest.

Fu Li already had a mature set of soothing procedures.

Just as expected, Apollo's anger soon subsided considerably. Most of the irritation dissipated.

He huffed and lowered his head to nuzzle against Fu Li's soft, golden-red hair.

"I don't like other men around you."

Fu Li cupped Apollo's face in his hands. "I only have you, this one man."

Apollo: "!"

Caught off guard by a confession!

"O-of course I know that. With a man like me, how could you possibly look at anyone else!"

Apollo stammered. His handsome face was also flushed an extraordinary red.

The possessiveness in his tone was nearly overflowing.

Fu Li laughed softly in his embrace.

"Yes, yes, yes. Lord God of Light, no more eating random jealousy, okay?"

Fu Li teased.

Apollo averted his gaze. Next time, he probably wouldn't eat random jealousy, right?

Probably.

He couldn't guarantee it.

"Fu Li, I want to take you home."

"Mm."

"Back to our home in Athens."

"Mm. Let's go home."

*

Once the agreement was made, Apollo's capacity for action was instantly maxed out.

With Fu Li accompanying him, Apollo dared not be the slightest bit careless.

He didn't even let information slip by.

Hypnos reclined lazily upon a cloud condensed from dreams and yawned lazily.

"That place is Tartarus's territory. The rules there aren't quite the same as the rest of the Underworld. Ah, so sleepy. Apollo, did you have to disturb me while I was sleeping?"

He glanced at Apollo's tightly furrowed brows and added:

"Tartarus himself is very gentle-natured."

The God of Sleep had wanted to find a more fitting word, but he'd discovered that the word suited Tartarus himself best.

Thanatos sat beside the God of Sleep. He spoke concisely:

"Asking directly will yield better results."

Apollo nodded and committed the information to heart.

He went to find Charon again.

Charon had originally been slacking off but immediately pulled himself together when he saw him coming.

"Apollo?"

Apollo nodded. "It's me. Charon, how much do you know about the Underworld's depths?"

Charon shook his head. "Dangerous."

"Are you two really going down there?"

He asked.

"Naturally."

Apollo nodded.

Charon: "Why don't you go ask Hades?"

Apollo: Ahem.

Wasn't it because Fu Li was still working, and he didn't want to disturb him?

If he went to find Hades, Fu Li's working hours would be extended again.

In the end, Apollo still went to Hades's palace. But he went to find Fu Li.

Fu Li had already been away from him for several hours!

When Apollo arrived, Fu Li was handing over the completed work to Hades.

Fu Li had used the gaps between work to look up some materials.

The records mostly spoke in vague terms, or else were filled with the exaggerated descriptions of the Mythical Age.

Credibility was low.

Just as he was about to give up, he discovered a special notation.

"Where fate resides, reached not by force, but reflected by the heart."

"Shadows of the past are the guide."

"Intersecting lines, branching paths."

Fu Li chewed on these words repeatedly.

Did "the past" refer to the past?

Or did it refer to traces left behind by those who had once reached that place?

What did intersecting lines and branching paths mean?

These words seemed to be guiding toward something, yet seemed to say nothing at all.

When he saw Apollo arrive, he first shared his doubts with him.

Apollo pondered for a moment. "Perhaps it's a trial from the Three Fates."

Finding them certainly wouldn't be an easy matter.

Fu Li looked toward the King of the Underworld, hoping he could say something.

Since the Three Fates were in the Underworld, did Hades, as the King of the Underworld, know more?

Hades was silent for a moment. Under Fu Li's inquiring gaze, he slowly spoke:

"You will undergo a trial."

This counted as a clear confirmation of part of Fu Li's speculation.

Hades: "I can only tell you this. You will be chosen by fate."

Fu Li: ?

Hades, when did you start speaking in riddles?

Apollo furrowed his brows. "...Can you be more direct?"

Hades shook his head with rare solemnity.

"If I tell you, fate's trial of you will become even more unpredictable."

He continued, "Apollo, this is not what you want to see."

"Isn't it fine for Fu Li to just live in the Underworld like this?"

Hades did not understand why Apollo was so set on taking Fu Li away.

Clearly, there was no need to risk danger.

Apollo gazed tenderly at Fu Li: "I want him to be able to see the sunlight, the great earth, the mountains and rivers again."

"Everything he wants to see, he can see. And I will accompany him through it all."

"Fu Li, he really wants to live a peaceful, ordinary life..."

The Underworld was anything but peaceful.

No matter how nice the Blissful Fields were, they couldn't change the pervasive atmosphere of stillness and death.

Fu Li covered his lips. He hadn't expected Apollo to say such words.

His eyes reddened a little.

He hadn't expected Apollo to have noticed his discomfort with the Underworld.

The Underworld was very good, but he still wanted to lazily bask in the sun.

Apollo looked at him. His fingers gently brushed the corner of Fu Li's eye.

Hades: ...

He felt the scroll in his hand had become even more bland and dull.

Watching the two people who acted as if no one else was present, Hades let out a sigh.

"Remember your choice, and then set forth."

This was the only counsel he could offer.

"Shouldn't we bring anything?"

Fu Li wanted to prepare a little.

"No need. Your preparations are transparent to fate. Let fate know with the most resolute determination. This is your only method."

The night before their departure, Apollo held Fu Li. The two leaned against the bed.

The "night" in the Underworld was even dimmer. The suspended Underworld flames provided a faint light source.

Apollo's fingers idly combed through Fu Li's golden-red long hair. He said in a low voice:

"Scared?"

Fu Li nuzzled against him to find a more comfortable position and shook his head:

"With you here, I'm not scared."

He paused, and his voice grew even softer:

"I'm just a little worried about you."

"Your power is still restricted in the Underworld. Once we reach the Abyss..."

"Shh." Apollo lowered his head and touched his lips to Fu Li's forehead. "Don't think so much."

"Sleep. We still have to travel tomorrow."

Fu Li, lulled by the steady sound of his heartbeat, gradually sank into dreamland.

Apollo, however, did not close his eyes for a long time.

He gazed at the quiet, sleeping face of the person in his arms, as if he wanted to engrave this moment's warmth deep into the very core of his soul.

Setting foot once more on the path to Tartarus, their state of mind was already different.

The contours of Tartarus's palace, like inverted mountain ranges, once again appeared in their field of vision.

At the entrance of the palace, someone was already standing there. It was the God of the Abyss, Tartarus.

He stood at the doorway as usual, basking in the "sun."

Only, compared to the last time, there was an additional figure this time. A handsome god with short golden hair.

The God of Love, Eros.

He was awake. The corners of his mouth carried a teasing arc. His pair of blue eyes darted around as they looked at them. No matter how one looked at it, he seemed to be up to mischief.

Fu Li suddenly had a bad premonition.

Tartarus, upon seeing Fu Li, tilted his head.

"You came to play with me again. What are we playing this time?"

Before Fu Li could speak, the God of Love at Tartarus's side rolled his eyes.

"Tartarus, no matter how you look at it, they're not here to find a mushroom like you."

Eros smiled and met Fu Li's eyes. "Isn't that right?"

Fu Li couldn't nod, nor could he shake his head. He was thoroughly embarrassed.

Apollo had no such scruples.

"We're here looking for the Pillar of Heaven."

He looked around. There were no signs of the Pillar of Heaven's whereabouts.

"The Pillar of Heaven, ah... Looking for the Three Fates?"

Eros asked despite knowing the answer.

Fu Li nodded. "Yes."

The one who took up the conversation this time was Tartarus.

The moment he heard "Pillar of Heaven," he grew displeased. Now, hearing "Three Fates," he was even more averse.

"Those ones, like Eros," Tartarus glanced at Eros, "are not very good fellows."

Eros: ?

Old pal, it's been over ten thousand years. Your assessment of me is still this low?

Fu Li was completely bewildered.

He still wasn't very clear on the true faces of the primordial gods.

Apollo raised an eyebrow. He had learned some rumors about the primordial God of Love before. This god's degree of wickedness was not beneath Zeus.

Especially in the area of watching drama for amusement, he was far ahead.

Eros felt a little unable to save face. He pretended to cough a few times, which could be considered putting the topic to rest.

"Ahem. In any case, you're here looking for the Three Fates."

So stop caring about why his reputation was so poor.

Eros felt that Tartarus bore the vast majority of the responsibility for his dirty laundry being discovered.

As fellow primordial gods, the two of them were opposite extremes.

Tartarus was extreme stillness.

Eros was extreme wild chaos.

Perhaps this was the reason they had been able to keep each other company all along.

The other primordial gods all had companions. Only they could tolerate each other.

"That's correct. Can you tell us where they are?"

Adhering to the principle of asking when one doesn't know, Fu Li posed the question to Eros.

"Can't say~"

Eros refused Fu Li's question with a beaming smile.

Fu Li: .

So what was the point of all that you said?

The smile in Eros's eyes deepened. His gaze shifted back and forth between Fu Li and Apollo.

"But I can point you in the right direction."

He added unhurriedly.

Tartarus spoke:

"The Pillar of Heaven is not inside Tartarus."

He felt Eros's resentful gaze but paid it no mind.

Tartarus continued:

"You should already know the Pillar of Heaven is a concept?"

Both Fu Li and Apollo said yes.

He looked toward the Tartarus behind him. "Tartarus is also a concept. The concept of hell. Yet it can manifest."

Fu Li pursued, "'Why is that?"

Tartarus said indifferently, "Because they believe it exists. Therefore, Tartarus exists."

Fu Li thought about it. "So it exists because it is believed to exist?"

Apollo countered, "Didn't Tartarus appear together with you?"

This was beyond his understanding.

Ever since Apollo's birth, he had known of Tartarus.

Now Tartarus was telling him that Tartarus existed because it was believed to exist.

"Then as long as we believe the Pillar of Heaven exists, it will immediately appear?"

Fu Li drew inferences.

Tartarus: "Not quite. It requires more of a catalyst. Tartarus is this catalyst."

Fu Li couldn't grasp it. It was far too cryptic.

He couldn't understand.

Apollo's mouth twitched. Truly, listening to your words was like listening to words.

The God of Love burst out laughing.

Listening to Tartarus speak, one couldn't understand at all.

"Alright. Actually, it's very simple. The Pillar of Heaven only exists as a concept. Tartarus is also a concept given form. Only here can you 'find' the Pillar of Heaven."

"The method to find it is also very simple. The topmost level of Tartarus. That is the boundary line between illusion and reality."

Fu Li and Apollo subconsciously looked up. The towering structure shot up into the upper fog, impossible to see clearly.

Tartarus, with a hint of dissuasion, said:

"If it's not absolutely necessary, don't go."

Apollo picked Fu Li up. He intended to fly him up. "We have a reason that makes it absolutely necessary."

Eros watched them fly upward and chuckled softly.

"Aren't you curious?"

Tartarus glanced at him. "Curious about what?"

"Curious about their choice?"

Eros: "The moment I think about what they'll encounter, my mood improves greatly."

"You're too mischievous."

Tartarus said coldly.

Eros narrowed his eyes slightly. "Just what kind of branching point will it be? I'm truly looking forward to it."

*

After flying to the airspace above Tartarus, the first sensation was suffocating oppression.

The sky-covering, sun-blotting fog was like viscous porridge that couldn't be dispersed.

By the time Fu Li noticed something was wrong, Apollo had already vanished.

He tried to walk within the fog. The sensation underfoot was a sticky slickness.

Fu Li called out within the fog: "Apollo—where are you—"

No one answered him.

This wasn't right.

Fu Li began to recall when he and Apollo had been separated.

He remembered it was just as they had reached the top of Tartarus's spire!

Damn it! The fog had separated him and Apollo!

Could this be the trial of fate?

Fu Li bit his lip and cautiously fumbled around.

A flash of light streaked by. He unconsciously followed the light along.

Fu Li's eyes rapidly widened, his face full of disbelief.

Modern society unfolded before him!

Familiar bustling traffic, streets painted with crosswalks, passersby coming and going, and the cries of street vendors.

How had he come back?!

No. Had he truly come back?

Fu Li couldn't believe it. Yet he didn't want these things.

His mind was full of thoughts about where Apollo had gone.

Perhaps he truly had changed.

Apollo, where are you?!