Chapter 30

Fu Li no longer dwelled on it. He withdrew his attention.

"One-third of the time. I can live on the surface for four months?!"

Faced with this outcome, Fu Li was overjoyed.

He had thought he would never have the chance to return to the surface again.

Four months. A full third of the year he could stay on the surface.

He could go back with Apollo to their little house in Athens,

bask in the sun together, tend to the long-neglected vegetable patch, and live ordinary and warm days just like before!

Apollo was not entirely satisfied with this time limit.

His brow habitually furrowed. His brilliant golden eyes were filled with "how could four months possibly be enough."

But seeing Fu Li's emerald eyes light up in that instant, the protest on the tip of his tongue was swallowed back down.

Being able to leave the Underworld was good enough.

Even if it was only four months.

As for later, he would always find a way.

What he, Apollo, wanted, he had never failed to obtain.

"After four months, you must return." Clotho said. "These are the rules, little one. Excessive detachment from the Underworld does you no good."

Fu Li nodded solemnly.

"I understand. Thank you, Goddess Clotho."

He paused, then looked at Lachesis and Atropos as well. "And thank you as well, the two of you."

Lachesis waved her hand and picked up her ruler once more. Her tone carried laziness.

"Go on now. Time is a very precious thing. Enjoy your four months well."

The enormous spinning wheel slowly began to turn again. Countless threads of fate extended once more toward the unknown distance.

The figures of the Three Goddesses gradually became indistinct.

Very quickly, the platform beneath their feet began to turn transparent. The sensation underfoot grew increasingly insubstantial.

Apollo tightened his arm around Fu Li's waist and said in a low voice:

"Hold on tight. We're going back."

The next second, a sensation of weightlessness hit them. The scene before their eyes rapidly reversed.

As if plummeting from a great height, or as if pulled by an invisible force, they passed through layer upon layer of dense fog and gloom, and finally their feet touched solid ground.

They had returned outside the entrance to the palace of Tartarus.

The God of Love, Eros, was circling Tartarus out of sheer boredom, trying to make this "humanoid mushroom" budge even a little.

Tartarus's capacity for endurance was clearly very formidable. He didn't move a single inch.

Seeing Apollo return holding Fu Li, only then did his eyes brighten slightly.

"You've returned."

Eros followed his line of sight and eagerly crowded closer.

He didn't bother to hide the thirst for gossip on his face one bit.

"Oh? You've returned? It seems you successfully met the Three Fates. So? Did you get what you wanted?"

Eros was genuinely very curious.

Very few mortals or gods ever went seeking the Three Fates, let alone went seeking them with the intention of rewriting fate.

No matter which angle you looked at it from, it was explosive gossip.

Enough to make his boring divine life interesting for quite some days.

Tartarus was also waiting for an outcome.

Fu Li straightened himself up from Apollo's embrace and showed these two primordial gods a sincere, heartfelt smile.

"We got it. Thank you both for your guidance. I can leave the Underworld for four months."

"Only four months. Those three are still so stingy."

Eros pursed his lips, somewhat disappointed. He had thought things were heading toward the ending of love.

"But oh well. It's better than nothing." Eros suddenly smiled. His blue eyes teasingly looked at Apollo. "Four months is enough for many things to happen, isn't that right, Apollo?"

Apollo snorted lightly.

He was not about to take the bait on this obviously ill-intentioned remark.

Tartarus: "Still too deeply connected to the Styx."

As a primordial god, he could perceive quite a bit.

He cast a casual, dismissive glance at the God of Love.

This fellow had been feigning ignorance the whole time.

Truly too mischievous.

Just who did he learn it from.

Some ultimate source of all evil, currently sleeping, rolled over.

Tartarus, an honest soul since birth, could not comprehend the humor of a drama-loving god.

He said slowly, "Come play often."

Eros nearly burst out laughing but was shot a glance by Tartarus and barely managed to hold it in.

Having bid farewell to the two primordial gods of utterly contrasting styles, Apollo and Fu Li immediately set off to return to the main region of the Underworld.

They needed to first go back to Hades's palace to submit an application to Hades to leave the Underworld.

What was more, Fu Li still needed to bid a brief farewell to his friends.

News always traveled faster than footsteps.

With the friendly assistance of the God of Love, the moment they returned, they discovered Charon waiting for them at the crossroads.

"Yo, you're back?"

Charon was the first to greet them.

His gaze swept over the two of them and finally settled on Fu Li's face. "Seems like it was a success. How long can you stay?"

"Four months." Fu Li stepped forward and said sincerely to this ferryman who was both teacher and friend, "Charon, thank you for taking care of me during this time. Without you, I might have..."

Charon had taught him so much.

As the god best at doing business and adapting in the Underworld, many of Charon's tricks had benefited Fu Li enormously.

Like preventing buyers from haggling with butcher knives.

Maximizing profits.

All of these Fu Li had learned from Charon.

"Stop, stop right there!" Charon hurriedly waved his hands, looking as if he couldn't stand the sappiness. "Don't give me any of that. I simply took money to handle matters, and happened to find you agreeable, that's all."

Fu Li was a good friend.

Charon had discovered this back when they ferried and guided spirits together.

Only Fu Li would listen to the spirits.

Charon had experienced too much and had already lost this precious ability.

He paused. His violet eyes were uncharacteristically serious. "Four months. Live them well. The surface is far more interesting than here. But keep an eye on this one of yours. Don't let him stir up big trouble again."

Charon leaned a little closer to Fu Li and lowered his voice. He used his eyes to gesture at Apollo, who appeared indifferent but was actually all ears.

"Lord Hades may not say it, but every time he comes, the workload of soothing the spirits in the entire Underworld surges. They all demand to sunbathe."

Fu Li couldn't help laughing. He nodded.

"I will."

Apollo raised an eyebrow in displeasure.

"Charon, I heard every word you said."

Charon immediately straightened his back and reverted to that cynical, money-grubbing expression.

"Oh dear, discovered. Then I wish you two a smooth journey. Remember to still pay the ferry fare next time you come to the Underworld, alright?"

Charon said with a smile, "Hurry along now. They're all waiting for you."

Fu Li and Apollo walked into the palace. Hades was still behind that desk of his piled high with scrolls. Thanatos and Hypnos stood on either side. One held his scythe, the other yawned.

"You've come."

Hypnos greeted them with a yawn.

"Here to bid farewell?"

Thanatos spoke.

After they spoke, Hades shifted his gaze away from his scroll.

"Fu Li, you completed your work very well. Remember to return on time. Apollo, remember to work."

Hades's voice was as flat and even as always.

This was probably the highest praise and admonition the King of the Underworld could offer.

And naturally, expectations as well.

Now Apollo had no excuse to skip work.

Fu Li agreed.

Hypnos lazily spoke up:

"Little flower is leaving... What a pity. One less amusing little one to tease before sleep. Live well now..."

"Ah, so much work. What will we do without you..."

He was already starting to worry.

The God of Death looked helplessly at his own brother. This brother of his was good in every way, except he loved sleeping far too much.

Thanatos didn't know how to say pretty words. He was concise and to the point:

"Take care. The vegetable garden. I will watch over it."

A warmth spread through Fu Li's heart. He knew this silent God of Death was referring to the vegetable garden in the Blissful Fields.

"Ah, little flower. If you don't leave now, you'll have to stay and work, you know?"

Hypnos winked at him. Fu Li instantly pulled Apollo along to visit the Blissful Fields.

Staying behind for overtime—no thanks!

The entrance of the Blissful Fields.

Led by Adonis and Orpheus, a dense, dark mass of Blissful Fields residents followed behind. It practically looked like a send-off ceremony. "Fu Li! You're really leaving?!" Adonis was the first to rush up. He grabbed Fu Li's hand, his eyes full of reluctance. "Four months on the surface. How much time will have passed in the Underworld! We can't even tell day from moon here. I'll miss you to death!"

A gentle smile was on Orpheus's face. "Congratulations, Fu Li."

"How can Teacher Little Flower be leaving? We still have so many results to show!"

"Lord Fu Li, who will teach us the new composting method after you're gone?"

"Teacher Little Flower, remember to bring back some seeds from the surface!"

The residents of the Blissful Fields all spoke at once. For a moment, the scene was extraordinarily lively.

These heroes and sages who had once commanded the wind and clouds—what they cared about most now was actually farming and farming tools.

Fu Li was both moved and amused. He raised his voice:

"Everyone, rest assured. I've left all the farming tool blueprints with Adonis. The planting notes are also in the usual place."

Adonis sniffled and suddenly pulled a small, delicate bracelet from his chest.

It was woven from flowers.

Finding fresh flowers in the Underworld was a difficult task.

Adonis had prepared for this for a very long time.

"This is for you. Wear it. Consider it our shared sentiments."

Fu Li's heart melted completely.

"Thank you, Adonis."

Amidst the shouts of the Blissful Fields residents—"Come back soon!" "Remember to bring local specialties!" "Don't forget the pottery style I ordered!"—Apollo finally couldn't take it anymore and scooped Fu Li up horizontally into his arms.

"Farewells are over. We're leaving." Apollo announced.

Not waiting for Fu Li's protest, the golden light around him flashed. He turned into a streak of light, speeding toward the Underworld's exit.

Charon had long been waiting there.

"Let's go home."

Apollo was in an exceptionally good mood.

Fu Li couldn't help smiling either.

"Let's go home."

Charon shook his head and focused on ferrying.

The setting sun dyed the sky a warm orange-red. The outlines of the distant mountains were soft. A gentle breeze, carrying the scent of grass, trees, and earth, brushed past.

Athens reappeared before Fu Li's eyes. It felt as if a lifetime had passed.

The familiar little house stood quietly by the roadside. The door was tightly shut.

Fu Li drew in a deep breath.

This was the vividness that belonged to the mortal world.

"We... really came back?"

He asked softly, as if confirming a dream too beautiful to be true.

Apollo set him down but didn't let go of his hand, only changing to holding it tightly instead.

His bright golden eyes appeared exceptionally luminous under the setting sun, reflecting Fu Li's somewhat dazed face.

"Mm. We're back." His voice was very low, carrying a gentleness that spoke of dust finally settling. "Our home."

He pulled Fu Li along and walked to the door of the little house.

A thin layer of dust had settled on the lock.

Golden light flickered at Apollo's fingertip. The lock clicked open with a snap.

Pushing open the door, a familiar scent greeted them.

Fu Li was in a daze.

He had truly come back.

Their home in Athens.

They were home.