Chapter 31

Just as Fu Li and Apollo returned home, the curiosity of the gods on the Divine Mountain also reached its peak.

Hermes had long since recounted Apollo's exploits to them over and over again.

The gods sat around enjoying the gossip. Not a single god was willing to miss Hermes's revelations.

"Apollo did it! He snatched his beloved from the clutches of the cold-hearted Hades!"

Hermes stood atop a rock, his face flushed with excitement. He was like a storyteller. When he reached the key parts, he would pause to observe the audience's reaction.

The gods were very supportive.

Such grand, true love!

It had been so long since they'd heard a love story this pure.

Thinking that it was a true love story led by a Greek god, they all felt a sense of self-reproach.

The gods couldn't help but think of Zeus.

No matter. Zeus was the floor.

There was still hope for them.

Zeus's expression in the temple was unreadable.

He hadn't expected Apollo to actually manage to fish the person back out.

He casually plucked a plump grape and popped it into his mouth. As long as Apollo hadn't stirred up any major trouble, it was fine.

If worse came to worst, he would cover for Apollo.

Zeus rubbed the corner of his own eye.

Was there any other father as good as him?

There was not.

Supremely self-confident, Zeus beckoned a cupbearer to pour him wine.

Upon hearing this news, Artemis rushed before Hermes at the fastest speed possible.

"You said Apollo brought Fu Li back?!"

She was very anxious. The image of Apollo's earlier grief-stricken appearance still lingered in her mind.

Hermes gestured for her to calm down.

"That's right. They've already returned to Athens. I imagine Athena must know by now."

Artemis followed up, "Have they come back for good, or is it temporary?"

From what she knew of Hades, the probability of him releasing someone was extremely high.

Had Fu Li's return come with other conditions?

Hermes's words confirmed her thoughts.

"Temporary. Fu Li carries the aura of the Styx."

Artemis: !!!

"The aura of the Styx?!"

The Styx connected to Chaos, and Chaos was where the Creator God slumbered.

Fu Li, a mere mortal, how could he be connected to the Creator God?!

"I know you have many questions, Artemis. The answers you want cannot be given by any god."

Although Hermes said this, his gaze was cast far toward the place where Zeus was.

If you had the ability, pry open Father God's mouth.

He had definitely hidden quite a bit.

Receiving his gaze, Artemis also looked over.

Artemis: ...

Expecting Father God to speak was less realistic than expecting him not to go out on a date tomorrow.

"It's not bad. Now at least there's one-third of the time to return to the surface."

Hermes continued with the previous topic.

"Artemis, do you want to go see Apollo?"

Artemis, however, shook her head. "They've only just truly reunited with great difficulty. Since there are only four months to return to the surface, every moment is precious. As long as Apollo doesn't act the way he did before, that's enough."

In this regard, she always offered her blessings.

She warned Hermes to stop thinking up schemes involving Fu Li and Apollo.

No matter how bored he was, he must not go disturb their life.

Hermes rubbed his own nose sheepishly.

Was he that wicked?

Artemis raised an eyebrow. Weren't you exactly a god who stirs up mischief when bored?

Hermes behaved himself.

Artemis shook her head and returned to her mountain forests.

"What a truly uninteresting Goddess of the Hunt."

The Goddess of Beauty, Aphrodite, had been listening for who knows how long. She only spoke up after Artemis had left.

Seeing her, Hermes's eyes lit up.

If anyone on the Divine Mountain shared his tastes, it absolutely had to be the Goddess of Beauty.

"Honored Lady Aphrodite, what wise insights do you have?"

Aphrodite had rarely taken such interest.

She crooked her finger at Hermes.

Hermes obediently walked to her side.

After hearing Aphrodite's idea, he still wore an expression of shock.

"Are you really going to do this?"

Aphrodite curved her lips into a smile:

"Can't I?"

"You can, of course you can. But it doesn't seem like you."

Hermes scratched his head in confusion.

Aphrodite: ...

She twitched the corner of her mouth. "Then your understanding of me is still far too shallow."

"Then should we go find the King of Athens?"

Hermes thought about it. The plan Aphrodite proposed absolutely required the King of Athens's participation.

"Naturally."

Aphrodite rolled her eyes at him.

"Hehe. I'm really starting to look forward to their expressions."

Hermes laughed heartily.

*

The first few days back at the little house were spent peacefully and busily.

Fu Li and Apollo tacitly agreed not to mention the time limit.

Like all reunited partners after a long separation, they busied themselves with tidying the little house back into a home.

Apollo used his divine power to sweep all the accumulated dust clean. Fu Li washed the dust-laden pottery jars.

The weeds in the courtyard had grown tall. Apollo prepared to simply incinerate them with his divine power.

Fu Li stopped him with lightning speed. What if he set the house on fire?!

Everything was made of wood.

"Use the sickle to cut them."

Fu Li rummaged through the tool shed and handed a sickle to Apollo.

Apollo accepted the rough wooden handle. His brilliant golden eyes were filled with disdain.

"This method is inefficient."

Although he said so, he still mimicked Fu Li's movements and clumsily swung the sickle.

The sunlight fell on his slightly sweating forehead. His golden strands of hair clung to his cheek. His earnest yet awkward expression made Fu Li stare, spellbound.

"What are you looking at?"

Apollo noticed his gaze and raised an eyebrow, looking over.

"Looking at you, because you're good-looking."

Fu Li finished with a smile and turned to tidy up the vine trellis on the other side, leaving Apollo standing in place with the tips of his ears flushed red.

Why was his threshold getting lower and lower?

Apollo grinned unconsciously, then completely eradicated all the weeds.

By the time they finally managed to tidy the home into a presentable state, the Athenian harvest festival was also drawing near.

This was the most important celebration of late summer, celebrating the harvest of a year's labor and giving thanks for the gods' protection.

Wreaths woven from olive branches and ears of wheat hung along the streets. The sweet scent of roasted bread and honey drifted in the air.

"The harvest festival..."

Fu Li stood at the doorway, looking at the cooking smoke rising in the direction of the distant marketplace, somewhat lost in thought.

In the Underworld, the concept of time was blurred.

Only after returning to the mortal world did he truly feel the passage of the seasons.

Apollo wrapped his arms around him from behind, resting his chin on his shoulder:

"Want to go?" "Mm." Fu Li turned his face and nuzzled against Apollo's cheek. "The first festival after coming back. I want to go see it with you."

Apollo was silent for a moment.

As the God of Light, if he appeared in his true form at the celebration, it would inevitably cause a commotion.

"Then we'll go." Apollo released him and turned to go inside. "Wait for me a moment."

A few minutes later, he emerged from the inner room.

His golden hair had turned a common dark brown, tied behind his head with a simple leather cord.

Those signature dazzling eyes had also transformed into a gentle amber color.

He had changed into an ordinary linen robe, with a leather belt at his waist. He looked like a tall, handsome young man.

"How is it?"

Apollo lifted his chin slightly, clearly conveying "praise me now."

Fu Li circled around him and couldn't help laughing:

"Very handsome. Just don't make your expression so proud, like everyone owes you money."

Apollo: "...I'm always like this."

"Yes, yes, yes. The Lord God of Light is born noble." Fu Li took his hand with a laugh. "Let's go, noble Lord Apollo."

"It's Apollo. Not Lord Apollo."

Apollo corrected Fu Li's form of address with dissatisfaction.

Fu Li blinked and obediently spoke.

"Let's go, Apollo."

Apollo was satisfied.

At dusk, they walked side by side toward the center of the city of Athens.

The closer they got to the marketplace square, the denser the flow of people became.

Both sides of the street were lined with stalls. Children ran through the crowd holding honey cakes, their laughter crisp and clear.

Bards plucked at lyres, singing of the harvest.

Fu Li took a deep breath. His emerald-green eyes sparkled brightly in the twilight.

He still preferred the lively bustle of the mortal world.

Apollo tightened his grip on his hand, the corners of his lips unconsciously lifting.

Fu Li's joy was transmitted to his heart through the restored telepathic link.

The surrounding noise and crowding were also not so unbearable anymore.

They walked slowly through the crowd.

Fu Li stopped in front of a small pottery stall and picked up a clay cup painted with a simple olive branch design, examining it.

"Like it?" Apollo asked.

"It's quite simple and plain." Fu Li put the cup down and shook his head. "We still have some at home. I won't buy it."

Apollo, however, had already fished out a few obolus coins and handed them to the stall owner.

He picked up that cup. "Consider it a souvenir of the harvest festival."

"I remember you said life needs a sense of ritual."

Fu Li's face reddened. He hadn't expected Apollo to truly remember something he'd said so casually before.

He took the cup and hugged it to his chest.

"You still remember..."

Fu Li murmured quietly.

"What you say, I won't forget."

Apollo took his hand and continued walking toward the center of the square.

The center of the square was usually the heart of the festival celebrations, and now an enormous bonfire had already been lit there.

The flames danced and leaped, illuminating the crowd singing and dancing all around.

People held hands and formed circles, stepping to simple dance steps. Their songs were loud, clear, and joyous.

The aroma of roasting meat wafted from the grills beside the bonfire. Golden fat dripped onto the charcoal fire, sizzling loudly.

"Want to dance?"

Fu Li was eager to try.

Apollo naturally took his hand.

They strolled into the dance circle.

It had to be said, Fu Li's dancing was terrible.

It was more like randomly swaying than dancing.

Apollo indulgently danced along with him. There was no need for perfect art. Simply dancing chaotically with the one you loved could just as well bring happiness.

By the end of one song, both of them had broken a light sweat.

Fu Li's cheeks were flushed. His forehead hair was damp with sweat and clung to his temples. His eyes were astonishingly bright.

Apollo looked at him, and his heart skipped a beat.

He wanted to kiss him.

Right here, under the firelight, amidst the crowd.

Apollo, however, still had his rationality online.

"Tired?"

Apollo asked, his voice a bit hoarse.

"A little."

Fu Li hadn't noticed Apollo's condition. He nodded.

He looked around. More and more people were joining the festivities.

Fu Li made a sour face. It was too crowded.

"Let's find somewhere a bit quieter?"

Fu Li suggested.

Apollo's Adam's apple bobbed twice. "Alright."

Fu Li pulled him against the flow of the crowd and slowly squeezed out of the square.

Looking at the star-filled sky, Fu Li suddenly wanted to feel the evening breeze.

Apollo indulged him. The two of them walked together toward the edge of the city-state.

The sounds of revelry were gradually left behind. The air became fresh and crisp again.

The evening breeze, carrying the coolness of the mountain grass and trees, blew over and swept away the stuffy heat from their bodies.

They stopped at a small hill. Fu Li sat down. Apollo pressed close beside him.

"It's much more comfortable here." Fu Li said with a smile.

"It's very quiet here. Not many people around. Very convenient for doing anything."

Apollo's eyes were dark and deep.

Fu Li nodded. This place was indeed a good spot.

The evening breeze lifted Fu Li's golden-red strands of hair, brushing them across Apollo's cheek.

Apollo raised his hand and gently tucked that lock of hair behind Fu Li's ear. His fingertips lingered on his slightly cool ear.

"Fu Li."

"Mm?"

"I want..."

Fu Li turned his head and found that at some point, Apollo was nearly face to face with him.

Their foreheads touched.

The tips of their noses met. Their breaths mingled.

The telepathic link became incomparably clear at this moment.

Fu Li's face rapidly flushed bright red. He seemed to have sensed something improper.

"...May I?"

Apollo's voice was hoarse and low.

Fu Li shyly nodded. Only his heart remained, beating violently.

Just at this moment, a strange floral fragrance suddenly permeated the air.

Very quickly, the emerald-green mountain grass seemed to be swept by an invisible hand. It rapidly lost its color. From where they were as the center, an intense, deep red burst forth to the extreme.

Countless roses bloomed instantaneously under the moonlight.

The originally ordinary hillside transformed into an endless, boundless sea of roses.

The deep red blossoms swayed gently in the evening breeze. The rich, intense fragrance almost seemed to condense into a tangible entity, gently wrapping around them.

"Th-this... this is..."

Fu Li's eyes widened in shock.

Apollo's expression instantly darkened.

Anyone interrupted right at the final crucial step would be extremely displeased.

"Surprise!"

Hermes was the first to leap out and claim credit.

Why did his good brother Apollo look like he wanted to devour a god?

The Goddess of Beauty slowly walked out.

As the God of Love and Beauty, she keenly smelled the scent of desire.

She secretly cursed. She had finally, after great difficulty, done something romantic, and now it had become a disaster.

Cecrops remained silent, as someone who had been forcibly dragged into this.

He had heard Fu Li had returned and thus decided to cooperate with the Goddess of Beauty and the others to present this gift.

Now it seemed it had backfired.

"To celebrate your reunion after enduring countless hardships, and to commemorate this hard-won four-month time together, we prepared this special gift for you. Apollo, and Fu Li, do you like it?"

"The Goddess of Beauty provided the idea. The King of Athens provided the venue. And I prepared the surprise for you!"

Hermes spoke at an extremely rapid pace, his face animated with delight.

Apollo gnashed his teeth in fury.

The atmosphere he had painstakingly built!

"Oh dear, don't be angry, Apollo."

Aphrodite felt she needed to salvage the situation.

Hermes had sold all three of them out in a single sentence.

She quietly glared at him.

Hermes couldn't figure out why.

What was going on?

Aphrodite lightly tapped her fingertip. A single, gorgeous rose flew up on its own and tucked itself behind Fu Li's ear.

The golden-red hair set off the deep red flower. The moonlight draped a silvery gauze over Fu Li.

Fu Li's emerald eyes still carried a bewildered helplessness. Apollo's heart was fiercely struck.

The irritation in his heart dissipated considerably. Fu Li suited wearing flowers very well.

Cecrops spoke at the appropriate moment. His voice was filled with apology.

"Lord Apollo, Fu Li, intruding so rashly was truly not my wish. The overwhelming hospitality of the Goddess of Beauty and the Divine Messenger was hard to refuse. I felt I had the responsibility to ensure this surprise would not turn into a fright."

Although it had already become a fright in a certain sense.

Cecrops swayed his serpent's tail and said, with a sincerity that was also official:

"Fu Li brought precious agricultural wisdom to Athens. You two are honored guests of Athens. In this trifling way, to express a small measure of gratitude and blessing. I hope you will not take offense."

Having put it this way, Apollo's irritation at being interrupted could really no longer be vented.

Apollo could only glare fiercely at Hermes.

Hermes laughed mischievously and hid behind Aphrodite.

Fu Li came back to his senses from the initial shock. He raised his hand and gently touched the rose by his ear. The petals were soft and slightly cool.

"Thank you all. This surprise is very beautiful."

Fu Li was both helpless and amused.

"What an adorable little one! It was worth using my authority to make the roses of this hillside pour out their beauty for you in a single moment."

She looked at Apollo again and blinked:

"Enjoy these four months well, God of Light. The preciousness of love lies in every single moment of the present."

Having said this, she transformed into a clear breeze carrying the scent of roses and vanished without a trace.

If she didn't leave now, it would be too late!

Cecrops bowed slightly. "May the moonlight and gentle breezes of Athens always be with you two. If there is any need, you may come to the palace at any time."

His serpent's tail slid through the flower thicket. This half-human, half-serpent sage king also quietly departed.

Hermes was completely baffled. How was he the only one left?!

Under Apollo's god-devouring gaze, he decided to grab his bucket and flee. "Uh, Father God seems to have something to find me for. You two continue!"

A flash of silver light, and he was gone without a trace as well.

The world fell quiet once more.

Apollo stood in silence for a while, then suddenly let out a sigh. Perhaps the time wasn't yet right.

"The night breeze is cool. Don't catch a chill. Let's go home."