Chapter 33

Fu Li let go of the leaf and straightened up.

"This insect infestation is really severe. Were our previous protective measures not thorough enough..."

He rubbed his chin, thinking of ways to deal with it.

Apollo stepped forward. "It's merely some insects."

He raised his hand. Golden light gathered in his palm.

Fu Li watched Apollo show off like this.

Ah, wouldn't using divine power to expel insects be using a sledgehammer to crack a nut?

However, when the divine power touched the wriggling pests on the leaves, the little green insects only curled up slightly, then immediately stretched back out and continued gnawing at the leaf flesh.

Apollo: ...

Fu Li: ...

These insects were immune to divine power?!

Fu Li was dumbstruck. Apollo's brows were tightly locked.

Very quickly, an even stronger wave of divine power was sent out. The pests were frightened and twisted restlessly on the leaves.

After waiting a few seconds, their instincts told them the crisis was over, and they resumed eating.

Apollo: .

Since when could he, the God of Light, not even deal with mere insects?!

With a dark expression, he swiftly transmitted a beam of light to Zeus, who was enjoying himself on the Divine Mountain.

Very quickly, a thunderbolt, carrying Zeus's mocking laughter, replied to Apollo.

"Apollo, this is a natural law, the way the great earth balances itself. We cannot violate the most fundamental laws of nature."

"Forcibly annihilating them with divine power would destroy the vitality of this land itself and bring about an even worse backlash."

"My most beloved son, you excel at using a flood to extinguish a cooking fire."

The last line of mockery was deliberately broadcast extra loud by Zeus.

Fu Li heard it.

Apollo's face darkened.

This good-for-nothing King of Gods!

Fu Li consoled him, "We can't use the divine power cheat. Then we'll use the most primitive biological cheat to solve it!"

Since gods had the limitations of gods, then mortals would use the methods of mortals!

Seeing him like this, Apollo knew Fu Li had a countermeasure.

"You have an idea?"

Fu Li nodded. "You could say that."

He stood up and dusted the dirt off his hands.

Fu Li walked to the edge of the field and carefully inspected the infestation on different crops.

Aphids on the wheat leaves, leaf beetles on the grapevines, and green caterpillars on the vegetable leaves...

Quite a few different species.

His finger pressed against his chin. He had an idea.

Fu Li turned his gaze to Apollo. Ahem, it was just that Apollo would be put out a little.

Apollo: ...?

Why was Fu Li looking at him with that kind of expression?

"Great Lord God of Light, would you be willing to condescend and learn how we mortals dance with insects?"

Apollo snorted lightly and lifted his chin:

"Why ever not?"

Fu Li's smile widened a fraction.

Looking at his smile, Apollo felt a rare moment of hesitation.

Why did he feel like he'd just fallen for a trap?

There was nothing wrong with the telepathic link?

Fu Li first returned to the little house and rummaged out a few crude clay pots and some sun-dried herbs.

Then he took out the plant ash he'd saved up before, and the fruit vinegar he'd brewed earlier.

This fruit vinegar had fermented very well. The only problem was that it had fermented too well, so sour that both he and Apollo had frowned at it together.

Otherwise, it wouldn't have been left until now.

"Step one. Physical removal."

Fu Li handed Apollo a clay pot, then pointed to the few rows of wheat in the field worst hit by the disaster.

"See those leaves with the most aphids gathered on them? Pick them off and put them in the pot. Don't shake the insects off onto other leaves."

Apollo accepted the clay pot, his expression strange.

He was going to personally go and pick leaves covered in insects?

"Hurry up," Fu Li had already crouched down and started working himself. His movements were practiced as he pinched off the infested leaves and tossed them into the pot at his feet. "Great God of Light, can you bear to watch me go hungry?"

They were nothing but tiny fat bugs!

Apollo was filled with fighting spirit. How could these fat bugs be worthy of making Fu Li go hungry!

He rolled up his sleeves and mimicked Fu Li's actions. Crouching down, he extended two fingers and, with extreme disgust, pinched a wheat leaf crawling with green aphids, swiftly tore it off, and threw it into the clay pot as if the leaf was burning his hand.

Fu Li secretly glanced at him and nearly burst out laughing.

Apollo glared at Fu Li. You're still laughing!

The two of them tidied up at a speed that wasn't slow. Especially after Apollo got the hang of it, his speed was even faster than Fu Li's.

Truly worthy of being the model worker of the Divine Mountain.

The sunlight fell on his focused profile. Fine beads of sweat seeped from his forehead, dampening a few strands of his golden curls.

Fu Li looked at his profile and, for a moment, was lost in thought.

Until Apollo noticed Fu Li sneaking glances at him and secretly adjusted his angle to make himself look even more handsome, drawing Fu Li's focused gaze.

Fu Li: Pfft.

Apollo really was like a peacock displaying its feathers.

The two of them busied themselves for half the day, picking off a large number of severely infested leaves and filling two full clay pots.

Fu Li took these leaves to a corner far from the field, dug a shallow pit, and buried them.

"Step two. Making a natural insect repellent."

Fu Li crushed the dried pyrethrum and other herbs, mixed them with plant ash, added a generous amount of clean water, and that deathly sour fruit vinegar, and stirred well.

A strange, dark brown liquid was completed.

Apollo: "!!!"

Apollo retreated several steps as if facing a formidable enemy.

Not only was the color suspicious, the smell was pungent, and it was even bubbling?!

"Is this some kind of witchcraft potion?"

"Something like that," Fu Li winked slyly. "It's just witchcraft specifically for pests. Help me find something to sprinkle it with... Mm, let's use these large leaves rolled into funnels."

The broad leaves were made into simple sprinkling tools. The strange liquid was carefully sprinkled onto the leaves of the crops, especially the undersides.

Apollo was very resistant at first, but seeing Fu Li do it so earnestly, he could only pinch his nose and help.

That expression of his, as if facing death itself, once again amused Fu Li.

"What's the next step?"

Apollo had an expression that said, since he'd already started, he might as well finish it all.

"Bringing in allied forces."

Fu Li pulled Apollo along to carefully search the nearby underbrush.

Very soon, they found some ladybugs, and a few spiders that were in the middle of spinning webs.

"Invite these little fellows to the field. They're experts at eating aphids."

Apollo looked at a seven-spotted ladybug crawling in his palm, his expression subtle.

The little ladybug paused in his palm, as if sensing something, then spread the wing cases on its back and flew toward the nearest aphid-covered stalk of wheat.

Over the next few days, Fu Li and Apollo spent every day out in the fields.

Apollo, self-taught, used his divine power to condense several mirrors that reflected light. He placed these among the field ridges, using the changes in light and temperature to interfere with the activities of certain shade-loving pests.

"See, my divine power isn't completely useless."

Apollo looked at the vegetable seedlings in the field, obviously regaining their vitality. His tone was quite smug.

"Mm. Our Apollo is the most amazing. A genius who combines theory and practice."

Fu Li wiped the sweat from his forehead and looked at his profile gilded by the setting sun. His heart melted into a complete mess. He leaned over and kissed Apollo's cheek, which was smudged with a bit of dirt.

The tips of Apollo's ears instantly turned red. He turned his face away, but the corners of his mouth couldn't be suppressed from lifting.

"That goes without saying. My Fu Li is a genius of bravery and action."

Apollo's straightforward praise made even Fu Li's gaze shyly drift about.

*

With their joint efforts, the insect infestation in the field was finally brought under control.

Although they had lost some of the harvest, most of the crops had tenaciously survived and once again glowed with the green of life.

Looking at this field that had survived the calamity, both Fu Li and Apollo breathed a sigh of relief and exchanged a smile.

Just that afternoon, as they were preparing to celebrate their initial victory, Fu Li discovered a few locusts clinging to the blades of grass.

Fu Li's heart plummeted heavily.

Did Ancient Greece have locust plagues?

In his memory, the Mediterranean region didn't seem to be a traditional high-risk area for locust plagues, but it wasn't without records.

What was important was that this world was fundamentally derived from mythology. Many things happened without any logic.

If these locusts...

Thinking of that possibility, Fu Li's expression grew grave.

A locust plague, no matter where, was a severe disaster.

"Apollo, look at this."

Fu Li caught the locust and passed it to Apollo to see.

Apollo walked over. With just one glance, his expression also turned solemn.

"This is a locust?"

Fu Li: "Are you very familiar with them, Apollo?"

Apollo shook his head:

"My authority does not lie here. But the appearance of this insect means a calamity."

It meant skies blotted out by swarms of insects, famine with not a single grain harvested, death and turmoil.

"This is not a good omen." Apollo said in a deep voice.

"I need to go find Cecrops immediately!" Fu Li made a prompt decision. "If it were just a few isolated cases in our field, that would be fine. But if Athens also has signs..."

The harvest was just about to arrive.

Fu Li dared not imagine what would happen if the harvest met a locust plague.

And how they would survive the winter afterward.

They didn't delay. Time was pressing. Apollo took Fu Li and flew directly to Athens.

Apollo couldn't be bothered to conceal his tracks. The golden light streaked across the sky, causing a brief commotion in the city-state below.

Cecrops was somewhat surprised by their sudden visit. After hearing Fu Li's description and seeing the locust he had brought, the calm and steady King of Athens also changed color.

Cecrops's brows were tightly furrowed. His serpent's tail restlessly tapped the ground lightly.

"This kind of insect has been recorded on clay tablets. Lord Fu Li, your concern is not unwarranted."

"I will immediately dispatch people to patrol the farmlands and wilds around Athens."

The results of the patrol came out very quickly.

An attendant elaborated fully on the report.

Traces of locusts had been discovered one after another in the farmlands at the edges of the Athenian royal territory.

The distribution points were extremely numerous.

What was worse, after receiving the notice, the nobles also went and inspected their own fields.

Their fields had also discovered traces of locusts.

The ominous omen was verified.

Cecrops paced back and forth in the palace, his expression grim. "This concerns the autumn harvest. If the locusts show signs of gathering into a plague... this involves the life and death of countless people!"

"Lord Apollo, Lord Fu Li, please accompany me to see the Goddess of Wisdom. This is a calamity in the making!"

The Parthenon.

"Esteemed Goddess Athena," Cecrops stepped forward and urgently stated the situation, presenting the locust. "Lord Fu Li was the first to discover traces of the locusts. After patrolling, similar insect traces have been found at multiple locations around Athens."

"This could be the precursor to a large-scale locust plague. Once a locust plague forms, the consequences will be unimaginable!"

"Athena, once a locust plague takes shape, does Athens have surplus grain in reserve?"

Apollo first made plans for the worst-case scenario.

Athena gently shook her head. "Athens does not have much surplus grain. If the harvest does not replenish the granaries, many people will not survive the winter."

Fu Li asked worriedly, "Can we harvest early? Harvest the near-ripe fruits first to reduce some losses."

"I'm afraid not." Cecrops sighed. "Our storage techniques cannot preserve them fresh for that long."

"Human effort can achieve anything." Athena gazed at Fu Li. "Fu Li, Athens wishes to request your help. How did you control the insect infestation? Can you lead the citizens of Athens in an attempt to resist?"

Fu Li: "I will do my utmost."

This place was his home. He wouldn't stand by and do nothing.

Athena breathed a sigh of relief. Her blue eyes took on an emotional warmth.

"Thank you."

Very quickly, Athena gave Cecrops an order.

"I will go carefully survey the areas around Athens. Cecrops, as the King of Athens, you should immediately issue a warning, mobilize all forces, and closely monitor the insect situation."

"Fu Li, please organize the farmers and stockpile materials for repelling and eliminating insects in advance."

Having said this, Athena was silent for a moment. She looked steadily at Cecrops.

"Cecrops, inspect the granaries. Make preparations for grain reserves and allocation contingency plans."

She hoped this possibility wouldn't come to pass.

"Yes, Goddess!" Cecrops solemnly accepted the order.

Apollo had listened for ages but still hadn't heard himself mentioned.

"Athena, you could say that I'm also one of the patron gods of Athens. If there's anything I can help with, just say the word."

His own little home was still in Athens!

Athena gave it some thought.

"Apollo, I need your prophecies and the help of those fellows."

"Those fellows" referred to their brothers and sisters.

Artemis was always easy to talk to when it came to important matters.

But the other gods were simply too absurd.

Especially that grinning Hermes.

"I more or less understand your idea. I'll go persuade those fellows."

Apollo had quite the headache but still agreed.

"Whether Athens can pull through smoothly depends on everyone's efforts."

Athena said solemnly.

*

The atmosphere in the city of Athens quietly grew tense.

Cecrops's orders were swiftly relayed through officials at all levels.

At the citizens' assembly, the King of Athens, with rare solemnity, announced the potential threat and issued a series of emergency decrees.

Fu Li led the experienced old farmers in collecting and making insecticide together.

With the King of Athens's written edict, their progress went very smoothly.

The only difficult part was probably Apollo's side.

Mount Olympus.

Hermes was sitting cross-legged on a cloud, one leg propped up.

Suddenly, his sharp ears twitched, and a mischievous smile appeared on his face.

"Oh my, what a rare guest! What wind has blown our esteemed God of Light all the way to my place?"

Hermes leaped down from the cloud.

The winged sandals at his feet stirred up a clear breeze. He crowded up to Apollo, his blue eyes sparkling with the light of gossip.

"Let me guess... Is it for your little Fu Li? Or has something new happened in Athens that even you find tricky?"

The veins at Apollo's temples throbbed. He forcibly resisted the urge to pin this noisy fellow to the cloud with an arrow of light.

He concisely recounted the matter.

"If you're too busy, pretend I didn't say anything."

"Busy? How could I be busy!"

Hermes immediately straightened his back. The teasing on his face receded somewhat, replaced with the expression of a "professional divine messenger."

"When it comes to a disaster that could shake the very foundations of faith, I, Hermes, cannot shirk my duty! Tell me, what message do you need delivered? To whom? How urgent? I guarantee it'll travel faster than your light!"

Apollo: ...

You're that kind of god?

Hermes naturally wasn't that kind of god.

He had merely thought of a new source of amusement.

He'd been wanting to set Zeus up for ages.

Such a perfect opportunity—it would be a waste not to use it.

Apollo hesitantly rattled off the list of those who needed to be contacted.

Before leaving, he also warned Hermes to put away his mischievousness.

Hermes nodded repeatedly.

"Don't worry, Apollo. It'll definitely all fall into place! You hurry and contact Artemis. She's skilled at tracking and hunting. She might be able to lock onto the source ahead of time. At worst, she can lead mortals in hunting. I'll notify the rest of the fellows!"

Hermes's words were far too reasonable. Apollo knew time was tight and turned to leave.

Hermes first paid a visit to the God of War, Ares.

Their muscle-bound brother, the god whose brain was filled with muscle.

When Ares was found, the entire god was baffled.

This wasn't even a war?!

What did they want him for?

"Ares, those words aren't quite right. Fighting people is war. Fighting insects is also war. It falls within your authority!"

Hermes began to spout nonsense with his eyes wide open.

Ares listened and thought about it. What Hermes said actually made some sense.

"You have a point."

The smile in Hermes's eyes deepened. Ares truly lived up to his nickname.

As expected, muscle reigned supreme over wisdom.

"Ares, this is the time to demonstrate the authority of you, the God of War!"

Ares was sweet-talked into a daze.

"How do I demonstrate it?"

He still didn't understand.

"Among your followers, there are many veterans with rich experience. In terms of action, they'd absolutely be the most efficient. With such an army, plus you yourself, Ares, are you still worried about not being able to demonstrate it?"

Hermes's linguistic artistry was extremely powerful. In just a few words, Ares began to let his imagination run wild.

Sure enough, Ares agreed in one breath.

"It's time for them to know I'm not just capable of winning wars against gods and men. Even insects will be defeated by me all the same!"

Ares was fired up!

Hermes nodded with a beaming smile, chiming in with agreement from time to time.

The most useful part about this muscle-bound brother of his was his followers. Surely Apollo and the others had also considered that.

No matter. It was a buy one, get one free.

Ares was the free one.

Next was the God of Fire, Hephaestus.

Hephaestus was a complete and utter shut-in.

Aside from his crafts, Hephaestus cared about nothing else.

"Hermes...?"

Upon seeing Hermes enter, Hephaestus subconsciously checked himself for any curses.

This brother of his never visited without a reason.

The impact he'd had on him was immeasurable.

Hermes ignored Hephaestus's resistant expression.

"Hephaestus, your craftsmanship looks even more refined than before."

Hephaestus proudly puffed out his chest.

"Naturally."

"Ah. Mortals only know you as the God of Fire. They always forget your other divine office, Smithing. I truly find it a pity."

Hermes sighed sincerely, as if lamenting the regret that his brother's talent wasn't fully seen.

Hephaestus's mood also sank.

He was a transparent god on the Divine Mountain.

Among mortals, they also acknowledged the authority of fire more. Actually, he hoped Smithing would become his byword.

"However, there's now an opportunity for mortals to get to know you anew, Hephaestus."

Hermes coaxed step by step.

Hephaestus looked at him suspiciously.

An opportunity?

Now?

"What are you talking about, Hermes? There is currently no war on the great earth."

The method he could think of was making weapons.

Hermes told Hephaestus what Apollo had told him, picking out the parts he considered key points.

Hephaestus revealed the same blank stare as Ares.

This didn't seem to be within his responsibilities?

Hermes: "Hephaestus, this is your opportunity! You forge a batch of highly efficient insect eradication equipment. This can directly enhance your reputation as the God of Craftsmen. Once mortals gain an understanding of your Smithing aspect, won't they revere your aspect as the God of Craftsmen even more?"

Hephaestus: !

It actually seemed to be true!

"Hephaestus, God of Smithing and Craftsmen. Believe me, my brother. You will like this."

Hephaestus was already drunk on the flattery.

Just like that, Hermes sweet-talked Hephaestus into it as well.

"How truly interesting..."

The God of Wine, Dionysus, who had arrived at some unknown time, chuckled softly.

This was the most absurd drama he had ever heard.

But this was what suited his tastes.

"Count me in."

"No reason to refuse."

Hermes naturally accepted Dionysus's self-recommendation.

Yet another buy one, get one free.

Now only their good Father God was left.

Hermes sharpened his blade, ready to slaughter Zeus.

The Palace of the King of Gods.

Zeus was, for once, busy with work.

Hermes, his face full of melancholy, paced back and forth before him. Just as expected, he was stopped by Zeus.

"What's with that expression?"

Even his most cunning, most mischievous son Hermes would show such an expression?

Such huge entertainment simply had to be savored!

And so Zeus bit the hook directly.

"Ah... Father God. A great upheaval has occurred in the mortal realm."

Hermes hemmed and hawed, making Zeus itch with curiosity.

"What upheaval? How come I don't know about it?"

Zeus hurriedly urged Hermes to spill the news quickly.

"Father God, you know me. Usually, I'm not this melancholy. But this time, I feel the mortals are doomed..."

"So what is it?"

How could he not know a single thing about something this important?

Zeus's appetite was thoroughly whetted.

"A locust plague, Father God."

Zeus couldn't help but frown. This was not good entertainment.

The impact of a locust plague was too great. It could seriously shake his faith.

"Truly doomed."

Zeus assessed.

A locust plague, strictly speaking, was a part of nature.

Zeus, who held the relevant authority, would not casually intervene.

If the most fundamental laws were broken, none of them could bear the consequences.

Hermes continued, "Father God, if all the mortals go and report to the Underworld, then the Underworld's population will outnumber the people on the great earth."

He was deliberately provoking Zeus's desire for power.

Zeus's desire for power often manifested as liking to have an audience watch him show off.

If all his audience went over to his brother's side, to Zeus, that was no different from challenging his sorest nerve.

"This is a natural law."

It wasn't that he didn't want to do something.

Zeus said gloomily.

"Father God, with your supreme authority, bestowing a blessing upon mankind is still a trivial matter. Naturally, you must appear in person and lead the mortals to victory to demonstrate your greatness!"

Hermes had a glib tongue.

He'd even thought of the method. He was just waiting for Zeus to step up onto the stage himself and agree.

Zeus: "You're exploiting a loophole."

Hermes chuckled.

Anyway, you exploit them every day. One more time won't make a difference.

Zeus waved his hand. "Forget it. One more time won't hurt. I'll go see the situation personally."

"Father God is wise."

Hermes offered up the appropriate rainbow farts.

Apollo, this time I'm really helping you. You absolutely have to wipe the slate clean about the last time I ruined your date.

The extremely terrified of being held a grudge by the petty God of Light, Hermes thought thus.

Athens welcomed the gods.

The gods gathered in Athens, staring at each other blankly.

The first to crack was Zeus.

What was going on? Why were all his sons and daughters here?!

Was this a family gathering?!

Fu Li, who had come in to report the situation, sank into contemplation.

So many gods.jpg

Countless pairs of eyes fell upon him.

Under immense pressure, Fu Li: ...

Apollo, who entered a step later: ...

Zeus let out a strange laugh. "Came back together, have you?"

"How far have things progressed?"

When even Zeus felt awkward, he would randomly roast one of his children.

What was more, he was indeed curious about them.

Engaging in a pure god-mortal love—every time he saw it in person, Zeus felt especially guilty.

Apollo: .

Hermes: !

"Oh dear, Father God. Fu Li and Apollo are clearly in a hurry and must have important matters to discuss. These things can wait~"

Hermes's rescue came just in time. Fu Li found his voice again.

He truly did have important matters.

"The locust numbers are increasing. They have gathering points everywhere, ready to take flight and migrate south at any time. The fertile plains of Athens are exactly their target."

"The worst outcome is a foregone conclusion."

On the walls of the city-state of Athens, an old soldier suddenly rubbed his eyes fiercely and stared fixedly toward the distant horizon.

A large swath of dense, dark shadows was flying toward Athens.

A tooth-aching "rustling" sound went from distant to close.

"The locusts are coming——!"

As this voice fell, the dense shadows on the horizon revealed their true faces.

The locusts converged into a boundless brownish-yellow storm. With the force to crush dry weeds and smash rotten wood, they rolled toward the fertile plains of Athens.

A true locust plague had descended.