Wishes

Though the little god of love had left, Bai Mo was still in quite a predicament. Atalanta clung tightly to him, but Bai Mo, who had been single all his life, had never experienced anything like this and had no idea what to do.

A cool sensation washed over his mind, dispelling all his confusion. Bai Mo then said calmly, "Atalanta, fate is often shrouded in mist. That deer guided you here, but there are actually two men here. Hylas is in the water right now. Atalanta, are you certain the person you love in your heart is truly me?"

But Atalanta said with absolute conviction, "My heart would never deceive me. When I'm with you, I feel truly happy. When I'm with you, I never feel the disgust I feel around other men. You're a responsible man who didn't throw himself into the arms of the women of Lemnos for the sake of desire. You're full of wisdom and kept the Argo from being stained with a friend's blood. Bai Ermo, I know perfectly well that you're my destined lover."

Good heavens, was the god of love's golden arrow really this powerful? Even as Bai Mo marveled inwardly at this terrifying rule-based weapon, he considered how to break out of this predicament.

Then Bai Mo's tone softened, and he said to Atalanta, "But I don't want to gamble with something that will affect your entire life. Atalanta, forgive my worries, but please understand that they're for the sake of your future happiness. Please let go of me so I can rescue Hylas. Only after you've confirmed who your destined lover truly is can I respond to your feelings."

Atalanta's gaze was practically dripping with desire. Bai Mo felt as though a terrifying beast had set its sights on him.

After some time, Atalanta sighed helplessly and said, "If you bring Hylas out and my feelings don't change, will you reject me?"

Bai Mo answered just as firmly, "If you truly love me, it would be my honor."

At last, Atalanta released him, and Bai Mo leaped straight into the water without hesitation.

"What's the hurry?" Atalanta chided gently. Sitting on the bank, she began imagining their happy future together.

Underwater, Bai Mo opened his eyes. The goddess of the spring would never let Hylas drown. Thank heavens, she was gazing joyfully at the lover in her arms and failed to notice Bai Mo approaching. Without hesitation, he drew his blade blank, and the power of Electric Current Push manifested at once.

The goddess of the spring also sensed Bai Mo's presence, and undercurrents surged. Yet Bai Mo moved like a fish; no opposing current, however strong, could stop his advance. A current of this level was nothing compared to the Great Blade Martial God's training.

Avici Hell Blade-Eighteen Levels of Hell!

In an instant, countless streams of blade force charged like a vast army. Blade qi formed a vortex, its overlapping layers sealing off every escape. Now this little goddess of the spring had nowhere to flee, neither to heaven nor into the earth!

"Give him back!" Bai Mo bore down ferociously, like a shark-a giant shark that ruled the ocean, ready to devour and crush this little fish that lived in a spring!

Yet in that instant, the goddess of the spring hugged Hylas tightly, preparing to use her own body to block that terrifying strike. Hylas's pupils contracted.

When the murderous vortex struck, the goddess of the spring was not shredded as she had expected. The blade force dispersed less than a few centimeters from her. Just as she turned her head in confusion, Bai Mo's fist came straight at her.

"Atalanta, are you certain Bai Mo really went down there?"

At the spring, Jason and Heracles carefully examined the water. The spring was so deep that its bottom was invisible and was probably connected to underground currents. Anyone dragged down would likely have little chance of survival.

"Certain."

Atalanta answered Jason coldly. Jason paid it no mind; her coldness toward men was nothing new. Indeed, Atalanta had always kept her distance from the opposite sex, but once love appeared in her heart, she could no longer permit herself to speak to other men. In her eyes, such behavior was disloyal to her lover.

Splash! With the sound of the water breaking, Bai Mo leaped out of the spring with Hylas. It was impossible to imagine an ordinary person climbing out of the water while carrying a blade blank like that, but to Bai Mo, this was routine in the Great Blade's training.

Of course, in Jason and Heracles's eyes, such a feat was perfectly normal for a son of Zeus.

Before Jason could ask what had happened, a figure faster than anyone else rushed over like a swallow returning to its nest and hugged Bai Mo tightly.

Now Jason and Heracles were dumbfounded. When Jason looked over, his gaze three parts confusion and seven parts eager gossip, Heracles merely shrugged. He had no idea when these two had developed such a relationship either.

Atalanta's gentle voice rang out. "I've seen him now. I feel nothing for Hylas. Only you make my heartstrings tremble again. Darling, there's no need to prove anything else, my love."

Jason's only regret now was that he hadn't brought some fruit to enjoy while watching this drama. Atalanta's declaration was so shocking that even Heracles wore a subtle, gossip-hungry smile.

"No, there's still one thing that needs proving," Bai Mo said. Then the leaden arrow pierced Atalanta's body, and the flame of love symbolized by the golden arrow the god of love had left behind was extinguished in an instant.

Atalanta let go and leaned against a nearby tree, looking somewhat dazed.

Bai Mo examined the leaden arrow in his hand. Unexpectedly, it had not disappeared. It seemed the arrow the god of love had given Athena was special and could be used multiple times.

"Atalanta, don't let anyone, not even a god, control your heart or your feelings. When you feel love suddenly appear and rage like an uncontrollable fire, chances are that mischievous little god of love is scheming against you. Control love; don't let love control you."

Hearing Bai Mo's words, Atalanta understood everything. Earlier, Bai Mo had told her to use this leaden arrow to intimidate Jason. Now that she had been pierced by it herself, the feelings that had burned in her heart faded. Atalanta said nothing more. She did not know what to say either.

Then Bai Mo tossed Hylas and the goddess of the spring onto the ground and explained Hylas's situation to the other two.

They then woke the goddess of the spring. The moment she opened her eyes, Bai Mo stabbed her with the arrow. Hylas reached out instinctively. Although he knew the arrow would not harm her, he still could not control himself. Heracles and Jason saw it all.

After awakening, the goddess of the spring was indeed much more rational and apologized to Heracles and Bai Mo with heartfelt remorse.

"Since this was the god of love's prank, I won't blame you. Hylas, let's leave once you've fetched the water." Heracles's words snapped Hylas out of his daze. He looked between his master and the goddess beside him, torn.

But the goddess of the spring spoke. "Great Heracles, even with the god of love's curse removed, I still love Hylas in my heart. His face is as radiant as sunlight and warms my heart. Great Heracles, please give me a chance to express my love."

These words took everyone by surprise, but Atalanta was the most deeply affected. Even she could not understand why, despite the leaden arrow having lifted the curse, her heart could not return to calm. Perhaps it was because of her own bold behavior.

The goddess of the spring took Hylas's hand and said to him, "Hylas, even though the god of love's curse has vanished, I'm still drawn to your endearing face. Handsome Hylas, I've lived here peacefully for hundreds of years, but your arrival has sent ripples across my tranquil waters. Hylas, please stay by my side."

Beside them, Bai Mo's expression turned cold. Before Hylas could reply, Bai Mo stepped in front of him and questioned the goddess of the spring. "You're a god, while Hylas is only an ordinary human. His life is no more than an instant to you. How long can his looks last? Hylas, don't let love go to your head. She only met you today and fell for you because of your face. When you grow old and lose your looks, she'll abandon you."

Naturally, Bai Mo's words won everyone's agreement except Hylas's. He felt that when the goddess of the spring had risked herself to protect him, it could not possibly have been purely because of the god of love's arrow. Hylas had seen beautiful women before, but compared to this goddess, those women were nothing but dirt. Hylas fell silent.

The goddess of the spring could not lose her temper with Heracles present, but her furrowed brows expressed her displeasure. She continued, "I can endure a hundred years of tranquility, and my love will not vanish as Hylas ages. Hero, please give me a chance to prove myself."

Bai Mo scoffed. "Absurd. Is this so-called chance of yours worth Hylas gambling his life on? In my eyes, your life as a goddess and Hylas's life are equal. No, I'll absolutely favor Hylas. Why should he gamble his life for this so-called chance of yours?"

The two faced off, but Hylas gritted his teeth and said to Heracles, "Master, I've never seen such a beautiful goddess. For a human like me to receive a goddess's love is already an immense blessing. Master, please allow me to stay."

With that said, neither Bai Mo nor Heracles could say much more. Watching the goddess of the spring embrace Hylas with a blissful expression, they could only offer their silent blessings.

Heracles said, "Very well, Hylas. Since you've made your decision, I won't interfere with your choice. From today onward, you're free. May you always be healthy."

Jason said, "Young Hylas, you truly are fortunate. How rare it is for a human to receive a goddess's love. I wish you wealth and a prosperous life in the future."

Atalanta said, "Hylas, you're a loyal attendant. I hope you, too, will find fulfilled love in the future."

When Bai Mo's turn came, he approached expressionlessly. The goddess of the spring thought some curse would come out of his mouth, but Bai Mo spoke slowly. "Hylas, everyone chooses their own path. I don't agree, but I respect it. Hylas, don't entrust your fate to any being other than yourself. Finally, I wish that every blessing you've received will come true."

Then the four of them left.

Of the four people's wishes, one person's wish did not come true.

That night, Bai Mo was trying his hand at night fishing again. As usual, no fish took the bait.

"With waves this big, how could any fish bite?" A voice as refreshing as a spring breeze rang out. Bai Mo had already sensed someone approaching from behind.

"I'm just passing the time. I have to watch the ship in case anything happens," Bai Mo replied. Then he turned his attention away from the hook and addressed the person behind him.

"May I ask what brings Artemis, goddess of the moon, to see me?"

After Atalanta had done something like that, Bai Mo had guessed Artemis could not pretend nothing had happened, but this way of making contact was still somewhat unexpected.

"Oh, you're so clever! You actually guessed it was me."

Artemis sat down on the steps behind Bai Mo with easy familiarity. To think this goddess was like this... Bai Mo's eyelid twitched.

"I don't know why, but my brain feels particularly sharp right now. Maybe it's because of this."

Bai Mo took out the olive branch Athena had given him, with no intention of hiding anything. Indeed, when he had become caught up in Atalanta's romantic pursuit, it was Athena's olive branch that had granted him calm and wisdom, allowing him to escape the vortex of love.

Artemis stroked a nonexistent beard, then spoke to Bai Mo with an air of worldly experience.

"That personality of yours will get you into trouble someday, you know. And you should maintain an air of mystery around girls."

"Are you really Artemis? Are you Aphrodite, the goddess of love, in disguise?"

"I'm not that shameless slut!"

Artemis seized Bai Mo's head. Despite all the countless trials he had endured in training, he nearly cried out in pain.

Only once Artemis had vented her anger did she release her undying grip on Bai Mo. Rubbing his head, Bai Mo asked speechlessly, "So what exactly did you come here for?"

"What else could it be? You, of course. My Little Ata can't sleep and keeps praying to me, so now I can't sleep either."

"All right, I just have a few questions. Once I've asked them, I'll leave."

"That's all? I spent the whole evening thinking about how to shift all the blame onto the god of love. I prepared quite a few things to say."

At Bai Mo's words, Artemis snorted, then laughed. "You're so afraid of gods, yet weren't you quite fierce with that goddess of the spring? Why are you so cautious around me?"

How could those possibly be the same? Bai Mo grumbled inwardly.

"Still, I'm quite pleased with you, little fellow. If you'd dared take advantage of the situation to steal my Ata away, you could have waited for a goddess's curse."

Bai Mo breathed a sigh of relief. A goddess's curse was absolutely one of the most terrifying things in this world, second only to a witch's curse.

"So, are you really not interested in my Ata? She's actually very cute, you know."

What kind of ridiculous rose-colored glasses were these? Bai Mo grumbled inwardly, then slowly explained his reason.

"Because of respect."

"Respect? What do you mean?"

"Atalanta is a living, breathing person. I respect her feelings. Whether she never marries or falls in love with someone, that should be her choice, not some arrow from the god of love."

Bai Mo extended his hand as though trying to grasp something.

"Her fate should be in her own hands, not in someone else's schemes. I despise those things that take pleasure in toying with other people's fates. I hope everyone's fate can be held in their own hands."

There was actually another reason. Bai Mo still had not abandoned his plan to leave this world. Things might seem glorious for the moment, but he knew very well that as long as the gods remained, he was a pawn in their schemes.

Ultimately, he had to find a way to leave the Age of Gods, so he would not fall in love with anyone, because any romance he began now was destined to end in a sorrowful parting.

Bai Mo clenched his fist. In Artemis's eyes, this young man seemed to possess boundless strength. Two thoughts suddenly arose in her heart: she hoped Bai Mo would remain just as he was, yet she was also filled with curiosity about his future.

"Hehe, very spirited, but zero points."

Without hesitation, Artemis knocked the ambitious Bai Mo down a peg.

"Who asked you to score me?!"

"Why, you disrespectful little thing!"

That night, Bai Mo realized something: a goddess's nails were especially hard, and being grabbed by them hurt terribly.

"Gah, that hurts!"

Only after Artemis's anger subsided did she withdraw her hand.

"Do you know why I gave you zero points?"

"I don't want to know!"

"Idiot! Don't you understand what it means to be considerate? Can't you talk to me with the emotional intelligence you used to soothe Atalanta back then? You're making this very awkward for me!"

Seeing Artemis's fingers curl once more, Bai Mo immediately thought of an old saying.

A wise man knew when to bend.

"I'd very much like to know. Please enlighten me, Lady Artemis."

At that moment, Bai Mo understood how those kings who had no choice but to throw lavish feasts for the Agor felt.

With both hands on her hips, Artemis instructed Bai Mo with an air of seniority. "My Atalanta is a strong, independent girl. Look at how utterly unconcerned you are. In a situation like this, do you really expect the girl to make the first move?"

"Are you really not the goddess of love in disguise?"

"You have a death wish! What's wrong with you?!"

"Gah, stop!"

While Bai Mo's attention was completely occupied by Artemis, Atalanta hid in the shadows at a bend in the stairs he had not noticed, hearing every word of their conversation.

Artemis looked at her little girl and gave a sweet smile. This time, she had no intention of offering her any help. Although that fellow's emotional intelligence could not even match Ares's, Artemis thought this was right.

She would let Atalanta take hold of her own love and fate.

Somewhere unknown to all, one of three goddesses manipulating threads stopped her hands for an instant.

"What's wrong?" a young voice asked.

"Nothing. It seems a predetermined fate has changed," a mature voice replied.

"Then we should pay attention. Let him come meet us," an aged voice concluded.