Chapter 32

The days were passing in an orderly manner.

Fu Li, readjusting to life in the mortal world, stretched lazily.

The summer heat was about to pass. The autumn wind blew through his hair. The courtyard was much cooler.

He had found a craftsman to make him a Gobang set.

Now was the perfect time to put it to use.

Fu Li held the black stones in his hand. He found the right spot and placed his piece.

"What kind of place was that place?"

Apollo dropped his white stone, forming an artful interception on the board.

His golden eyes focused intently on the board.

This abrupt statement made Fu Li look up slightly.

"What?"

"During the trial of the Three Fates earlier, we were forcibly separated."

Apollo set down the stone in his hand. His eyes gazed steadily at Fu Li.

"The world I was in was a world without you."

Fu Li's heart tightened. His world had also been without Apollo.

Apollo lowered his eyes. His fingertip stroked the back of Fu Li's hand.

"I've always wanted to ask. Why was your world like that?"

It was so strange that Apollo couldn't find any words to describe it.

Like a completely parallel line.

Spanning countless ages in between.

Ever since completing the trial, Apollo had been avoiding this question.

But some things could not be avoided.

Fu Li was silent. He knew the world Apollo spoke of was the modern world.

Could Apollo understand his origins?

Something like transcending time and space—was it something a god could comprehend?

Apollo felt the emotion transmitted from his chest. Fu Li was afraid.

"If you can't say it, you don't have to."

He reached out and ruffled Fu Li's hair.

If Fu Li wanted to say it, he could. If he didn't, that was fine too.

Apollo had confidence in himself. No matter what happened, he would definitely be able to find Fu Li.

The warmth of Apollo's palm and the telepathic link transmitted together. Fu Li drew a deep breath.

"That world is my homeland. My true homeland."

Apollo's expression went blank for an instant.

Homeland?

That kind of strange place was Fu Li's homeland?!

Didn't Fu Li live in the city-state of Yage?!

Apollo recalled their first meeting.

Fu Li's novel behavior was indeed rare in the city-state of Yage. But at most, he had assumed Fu Li had once lived in some distant tribe.

On this land of Greece, the land of gods and heroes, migrants from remote foreign lands were nothing unusual.

No matter how he calculated, he had never expected that Fu Li's true homeland would be a land for which even he could find no adjectives.

Fu Li saw the doubt in Apollo's eyes and revealed a smile tinged with bitterness.

"I come from a place very, very far away. So far that it's unreachable."

He paused. Fu Li searched for suitable words to describe a gulf that no concept of this era could encompass.

"It's the other end of time. It's the world of the future."

Fu Li gazed into Apollo's eyes, unwilling to miss any of his emotions.

"The future?"

Apollo repeated the word.

He instinctively felt something was wrong. His brows furrowed subconsciously.

As the God of Prophecy, he was no stranger to the concept of "the future." But that was usually the obscure maxims within divine oracles.

The future Fu Li spoke of was more like an era already determined.

Fu Li's fingers unconsciously traced the rough wood grain of the board. This was a small habit of his when he was nervous.

Apollo noticed.

He stroked Fu Li's fingers, giving him reassurance.

Take your time. I'm listening.

Fu Li: "My era... is several thousand years away from you all... no, from now."

"There are no gods walking the great earth there. No centaurs or nymphs."

"People rely on a kind of power called technology to live."

Fu Li tried hard to translate modern common sense into words a Greek god could understand.

He hadn't spoken of the modern world for too long. The more he spoke, the more excited he became.

He was like a squirrel that had stored away a hoard of food, excitedly sharing all the various pine nuts he had hidden away.

Apollo listened quietly.

It was only when Fu Li grew tired from speaking that he finally opened his mouth.

"You must have been very lonely?"

Fu Li paused. "Eh?"

Apollo looked at him seriously. "Living alone here must have been very lonely?"

"Not really..."

Mainly because I met you.

The loneliness of the past had also turned sweet.

Fu Li was too embarrassed to say it out loud. He could only secretly transmit it to Apollo through the telepathic link.

Apollo curved his lips helplessly.

He responded to Fu Li with even more fervent emotion.

Fu Li blushed. He had always been alone in the modern world.

Missing the modern world was nothing more than wanting its convenient lifestyle.

Apollo's voice was right beside his ear. "Now you have me."

"Interested in singing? I'll accompany you."

Sometimes music was more powerful than words.

"Alright."

Fu Li agreed to Apollo's invitation. Hand in hand with Apollo, they came together to the very center of the courtyard.

Apollo pulled him to sit beneath the lush, leafy olive tree.

Speaking of which, it was rather funny. This olive tree, which had originally been at the temple, had been forcibly relocated to his place by Apollo under the excuse that "changing locations is healthier."

The sacred tree would cry.

Fu Li thought, amused.

Just as he was distracted, Apollo unceremoniously pulled Fu Li in front of him and let Fu Li rest his head comfortably on his lap.

Caught off guard, Fu Li pressed against the soft, warm linen fabric of Apollo's clothing. The tip of his nose was surrounded by the crisp, clean scent unique to him.

He struggled, wanting to get up, but Apollo pressed down on his shoulder.

"Weren't you going to sing? This position isn't very good for singing, is it?"

Fu Li teased.

"Informal is best. Relaxing is optimal."

Apollo was righteous and confident.

He produced his golden lyre from who knew where. His long, slender fingers gently swept across the strings.

A clear, melodious prelude, like the flowing of a spring, began. The fluid, soothing melody drifted through this tiny courtyard.

This was not the style Apollo excelled at.

This was a piece Apollo had composed especially for him.

He gently hummed a tuneless song, tapping a rhythm even he himself didn't know, casually following Apollo's melody.

Just like this, they resonated.

Apollo's slightly cool hand stroked Fu Li's forehead, gently brushing aside his stray, scattered hair.

That hand followed his hairline down and came to his ear.

The calloused pad of his finger traced faintly, as if not quite there, over the skin behind Fu Li's ear, bringing a shuddering, tingling numbness.

The sound of the lyre gradually softened and grew even more lingering and tender.

Apollo stopped his fingers that plucked the strings, letting the final note slowly dissipate into the air.

He lowered his head. His chin gently nuzzled Fu Li's soft, golden-red hair.

"No matter where you come from, Fu Li, you are here now, by my side. This is the only thing that matters."

"The moonlight will be very beautiful tonight."

Apollo left a kiss on Fu Li's neck.

His eyes were deep and dark. "I want to invite you to enjoy it together."

This was their home.

No one would come ruin his plans like last time.

Fu Li's heart began to beat violently.

He was an adult. Having certain needs was perfectly normal.

Being intimate with his own lover was even more normal.

Just as he was about to open his mouth and agree, a knock sounded at the door.

Apollo: ...

Fu Li: ...

Apollo: Who on earth is it!!!

Fu Li quietly stifled a laugh.

Apollo's love life misfortune debuff was still in effect.

It seemed even more punctual than his divine power.

The visitor at the door naturally had no idea they had once again ruined the God of Light's plans for intimacy.

Fu Li opened the door and was somewhat surprised that the visitor was actually Cecrops.

Did this King of Athens have some matter to find him for?

"Forgive the intrusion."

Cecrops keenly detected Apollo's low atmospheric pressure.

Clever as he was, he quickly realized he had unfortunately interrupted this pair of lovers' intimacy.

"Please, come in first."

Fu Li made way so that this half-human, half-serpent King of Athens could enter.

"Forgive my presumptuous visit, Lord Apollo, Lord Fu Li. May the sunlight of Athens forever favor you two."

A very official opening.

Apollo nodded faintly, which counted as returning the courtesy.

"What urgent matter brings the King of Athens to visit at this time?"

He asked directly, not intending to make much small talk.

If he could, he wanted to kick Cecrops out the door right this instant.

"My deepest apologies, Lord Fu Li. I know you have only just returned and should be resting well and enjoying peace and quiet. If the circumstances were not pressing, I would absolutely not have come to disturb you at this time."

The King of Athens met Fu Li's eyes. "The planting techniques you so generously gifted previously have been extremely effective. A great harvest is expected this year. I humbly beseech you to assist with the harvest and the preservation of fine seeds."

Fu Li nodded. "No problem. Just give me a definite time."

The agricultural harvest was a matter of great importance. Since he was living in Athens, he naturally hoped for the city-state's development to be as stable as possible.

The King of Athens smiled gently. "Thank you for your efforts. Athens will repay you with the compensation you deserve."

Fu Li keenly noticed a flash of worry cross Cecrops's face.

What was this about? What about a great harvest made him worry?

"What are you worried about?"

Fu Li wasn't the type to hold back his words. He asked directly.

Cecrops opened and closed his mouth in some surprise, then quickly shook his head.

"Merely some routine precautions against future troubles, Lord Fu Li."

Fu Li understood.

As the arbiter of a great city-state, while Cecrops was praised by people, he also bore corresponding responsibilities.

Cecrops did not linger long. After leaving the exact date and location, he departed.

Once the door closed, only the two of them were left in the courtyard.

The atmospheric pressure around Apollo was so low it could practically condense water.

He crossed his arms and leaned against the doorframe. His molten gold eyes looked sideways at Fu Li. His entire face said, "I'm very unhappy. Soothe me now."

Fu Li held back his laughter and walked over. He wrapped his arms around Apollo's waist and pressed his face against his chest.

"Alright, don't be angry. The King of Athens was just doing his duty."

Apollo snorted coldly, yet his arms honestly wrapped back around him. His chin nuzzled the top of his soft hair.

"Duty? His duty was to specifically pick this exact moment to knock on the door?"

"It was just coincidence."

Fu Li raised his head, stood on his tiptoes, and quickly pecked his taut jawline. "Speaking of harvest, I remembered our field at the foot of the mountain too."

"By my count, it should be about ready to harvest as well!"

Thinking of all the various vegetables to harvest, Fu Li's heart blossomed with joy.

"Let's go take a look tomorrow, alright?"

Fu Li's emerald eyes were full of anticipation. His tone carried a coaxing, coquettish quality.

What Apollo could endure the least was Fu Li looking at him with such eyes. He surrendered on the spot.

Early the next morning, just as the sky was beginning to brighten, Apollo carried the still drowsy Fu Li out the door.

The cool morning breeze made Fu Li a bit more alert. He wrapped his arms around Apollo's neck and looked down at the city-state of Athens and the fields rapidly passing below.

Very soon, they landed on that gentle slope at the foot of Mount Hymettus.

The moment his feet touched the soft earth, Fu Li couldn't wait to look at his own field.

Then he froze.

The imagined scene of abundant, heavy-laden crops had not appeared.

The field ridges were still orderly. The plants that should have been laden with fruit were now all wilted and drooping.

Many of the leaves were covered in irregular holes. The edges were yellow and curled. Under the morning light, they looked somewhat pitiful.

"This is..."

Fu Li's heart thumped in alarm. He walked over quickly and crouched down to take a closer look.

He pushed aside a clump of barley leaves. On the underside of the leaves clung quite a few pale green little insects, slowly wriggling.

On the grapevines beside them, there were also traces of gnawing.

Insect infestation.

His field was suffering from an insect plague.