[Greek Mythology] The Demons Under My Command - Chapter 16

The City of Fragrant Springs was located in the central region, where the seasons changed regularly, unlike the North, which was perennially covered in snow and ice, or Yan City, which was hot and filled with sand everywhere.

When Hera chose the location for the Wedding Temple, what she valued most was the climate and the mountain range here.

It was not far from the Hot Spring Stream; to be precise, the entire Hot Spring Stream was encompassed within it.

The city got the name Fragrant City because the farmers here planted extensive areas of sweet-scented osmanthus trees for a living. The osmanthus wood was excellent timber, could be used in medicine, and the petals could be used to make food.

Every year, around July and August, the entire capital city was filled with the fragrance of golden osmanthus.

The name Spring City came from the fact that this land was mainly composed of warm geothermal fields, with countless small springs converging into large ones. This place also had the most spring eyes in the entire human world.

The locals named it simply and crudely, combining the two features, hence the name City of Fragrant Springs.

The general populace held the subconscious belief that wherever the Twelve Divine Masters built their temples, that place would receive the divine master’s protection.

Hera did not have the energy to govern a city, so she simply adopted an electoral system, unlike the hereditary system of other divine masters, where one family reigned supreme and was worshipped.

The core philosophy was “the capable rise, the average yield, and the mediocre step down.”

An election was held every three years. If a leader was deeply loved by the people, they could be re-elected, regardless of gender or age, only talent mattered.

The city was governed in an orderly and prosperous manner, showing a peaceful atmosphere.

As soon as Li Jia and Winslow appeared in the city, Li Jia was attracted by the common, everyday atmosphere.

It was not much different from a modern market, like a primitive version of a large bazaar.

Small vendors were everywhere on both sides of the street.

Woven bamboo baskets were tightly packed, containing vegetables with the morning dew still on them. The glossy, vibrant green cucumbers still had fine fuzz, and the purple eggplants shone brightly.

A vendor, with a sweat towel draped over their shoulder, spoke with a voice as loud as a copper bell hung on the eaves: “Local cucumbers, only one copper coin per catty! Money back if they’re not delicious!”

Fresh steaks hung on iron hooks in front of the butcher shop, their red and white grain looking clear and bright. The butcher swung a gleaming knife, and with a “clang,” he chopped open a bone, splashing oil onto his linen apron.

Li Jia continued to walk further in; these raw foods did not interest her.

The sun gradually climbed higher until it hung fully in the sky, and a scent made her stop.

White, hazy steam rose from sesame bread rings in the oil pan, gathering into a cloud above the market, sweet and sticky, wrapped in the purest human desire.

It was the appetite.

She looked at Winslow, who understood immediately: “Take whatever you want, I have plenty of money.”

It was a different experience having a wealthy patron. In a moment, Li Jia’s hands were laden with delicious treats: cinnamon mille-feuille, milk pudding, grilled skewers…

She also grabbed a few donuts to put in her bag, planning to take them back for Dorin to try, as divine beings didn’t need to eat anyway.

Passing by the blacksmith shop, Li Jia thought of something. She asked Winsor for a few gold coins and whispered to the blacksmith. The blacksmith thought her request was very simple. She paid a deposit and arranged to come back in a few days to pick it up.

Winslow asked what she bought. Li Jia stammered, saying she was just playing around and bought a few tools for catching birds.

After buying some sketchbooks, Li Jia felt a bit tired and wanted to go back to the palace to rest. Winslow checked the time, and it was getting late. She asked Li Jia to wait for her at the city gate while she went to relieve herself.

Li Jia nibbled on a sugar-coated pastry, licking it twice, and waited boredly on the ground for Winsor to return.

“My lovely lady, seeing your sorrowful brow, may I read your fortune?”

A raggedly dressed, blindfolded old woman holding a tarot deck appeared before Li Jia from nowhere.

She was a fortune-teller.

Li Jia felt pity; it seemed that no matter the era, there were always people making a living by begging and fortune-telling.

She took out her last gold coin from her pocket and placed it in the old woman’s hand. The old woman paused for a few seconds, looking stunned.

The old woman spread the tarot cards in a row and asked Li Jia to draw one out, and then told her the star inscription.

“Griffins weep blood, serpents and hounds hold blades. Save one person, perish yourself.”

Li Jia obediently read out the inscription and asked, “Grandma, what does this mean?”

Although Li Jia didn’t understand the meaning, she recognized the character for ‘perish,’ which meant death.

The old woman shook her head, her finger, like a withered branch, tracing the divination shell: “My lady, you do not belong here. The celestial signs are in a deadly conflict. Your fate is intertwined with hers; it is but a fleeting illusion, a destiny that will not end well.”

“Who is she?”

Li Jia’s heart sank into an ice abyss. She stared at the old woman, her voice as light as a spider’s silk in the wind.

How could the old woman know that she didn’t belong here?

“From the moment she was born, confinement has been with her. All who approach her will be scorched to ashes. Your soul has a spiritual light; you could have lived a long life. Finish what you must do and leave. Do not get entangled in this Shura’s Game…”

The old woman sighed, “My lady, cherish your life.”

“Bah, bah, bah! You can lie to her, but how dare you cause trouble on my territory?”

Winsor happened to return and overheard the conversation between the old woman and Li Jia. Furious, she snatched the card from Li Jia’s hand and threw it to the ground, pulling Li Jia away to leave.

“The celestial signs are irreversible, unless… unless someone is willing to sacrifice their life to change the fate and sever this karma.” The old woman’s words clung to Li Jia’s ears like a ghost, lingering for a long time.

“Don’t listen to that old woman’s nonsense. She specializes in swindling young people like you. If she was really that accurate, why couldn’t she calculate her own destiny? She probably tells everyone they’re facing a calamity,” Winslow said irritably.

Li Jia nodded, telling Winslow not to be angry.

After all, she had already died once, so she was indifferent to life and death. If she could live, that was great, but if she was really going to die, there was nothing she could do.

She was just a slacker; how could she dare to defy the will of Heaven?

The old woman must have mistaken her for someone else. She didn’t have that much power.

It was already afternoon when they returned to the palace. When Li Jia entered, Dorin was resting nearby, and Hera was still looking at the matchmaking slips.

Li Jia took two of the donuts she bought out of her small backpack and put them into Dorin’s hand.

Dorin was a bit embarrassed but smiled shyly and accepted them, saying thank you.

Li Jia felt that Dorin was a very reliable person. Not that Winslow wasn’t reliable, but of the two, one was outgoing and the other introverted. Dorin was outwardly cold but inwardly warm; she quietly got things done.

Winslow was outwardly warm and inwardly warm, easy to get along with, but the success rate of her tasks was not high.

Perhaps this was complementarity: sharing the good times and facing the difficulties together. When there were good things to eat, they should definitely be shared with everyone; this could foster team spirit.

They all worked in the same unit; one was kindred in spirit, and the other was decisive and efficient.

This was probably a case of three poor workers being better than a single great mind.

Li Jia bought a total of four donuts, two sugar-glazed ones and two sweet-scented osmanthus jam ones.

Li Jia gave Dorin one of each, and carefully put the rest into her small backpack, planning to have them for a late-night snack.

Winsor was full from eating with her in the market and was burping, so she wasn’t going to eat dinner.

As for the Divine Master.

Divine Masters didn’t need to eat.

This conveniently saved them from having to cook dinner.

By the time Hera finished dealing with the matchmaking slips, night had fallen. Li Jia and Winsor were dozing in a corner. After a day of playing wildly outside, they were physically exhausted and sleepy.

Hera had a headache looking at the two of them sleeping haphazardly.

This only added to her workload.

She and Dorin carried them onto the peacock convertible chariot. Even in deep sleep, they didn’t move around, obediently nestling in Hera’s arms.

Hera pinched Li Jia’s round, full little belly. She smelled sweetly of food, and Hera couldn’t help but let out a low laugh.

Was going out to play this enjoyable?

Dorin stood behind Hera, looking like she had seen a ghost.

Could it be that what Winslow said was true?

Since Li Jia arrived, the Divine Master had smiled more times than in the past thousand years.

A woman’s heart is like the needle at the bottom of the sea, hard to retrieve.

Back at the Hot Spring Stream, before Dorin could say anything, the two of them disappeared. Dorin had no choice but to carry Winslow r back to her residence.

“How was it? Didn’t I tell you the truth?”

Halfway there, Winsor tugged at Dorin’s hair tie, saying proudly.

Dorin wore her hair in a ponytail today, tied tightly with a black and gold subtly patterned hair tie.

The subtle pattern was crooked and uneven.

It was of poor quality, looking like the work of a beginner.

Winsor had given it to her many years ago.

“Why do you always only like to wear this one? Didn’t I give you many different colors? You can switch them out.”

Dorin’s hair was very long, already past her waist. She was a blade-wielder, and loose hair would be very inconvenient.

Winsor thought Dorin looked beautiful with long hair and didn’t want her to sacrifice her inherent beauty just because she became a blade-wielder.

So, she sewed many different styles and colors of hair ties for her to braid in various ways.

This was the only needlework Winslow was good at.

Practice makes perfect; after sewing for so many years, she should have made some progress.

“No switch.”

Two cold words.

Winslow pouted. No switch, then no switch.

“So you discovered I was pretending to be asleep long ago?” The hand clutching Dorin’s hair tie swayed back and forth, but she had no intention of getting down.

Dorin didn’t speak, but hugged her tighter, slowing her pace as she walked toward the residence.

Truly a block of wood.

Seeing that she wouldn’t talk to her, Winslow chattered on to herself:

“This was to create an opportunity for them. I’ve already said it; His Majesty definitely feels something for Li Jia.”

“If I hadn’t pretended to sleep, how awkward would His Majesty have been?”

“His Majesty has never had breakfast before, let alone sending a verbal command late at night, telling me what food to prepare for the next day. And the Divine Master actually allowed me to place the food in the main hall.”

“Pffft, pffft, pffft! Before, not to mention food, not even a fly could enter the main hall. His Majesty’s cleanliness is terrifying.”

“And think about it, how far is the Hot Spring Stream from the City of Fragrant Springs? Was it necessary to drive the chariot there?”

“Hmph, don’t think I didn’t see it. You drove the chariot around the wheat fields three times before going to the City of Fragrant Springs.”

“Usually, His Majesty can reach the Wedding Temple with a simple shadow-teleportation. Why go through all that trouble? Wasn’t it just to show her the majestic chariot and how glorious it is to be her attendant?”

“…”

Winslow rattled on and on, reminding Dorin of the parrot butler at Artemis’s mansion, chirping and chirping.

A little bird that worried a lot.

When they reached the entrance of Winslow’s residence, Dorin pushed the door open and gently set her down.

“Don’t you think what I said makes a lot of sense?” Winslow let go of her hair tie and stood steadily on the ground, analyzing the situation logically and actively seeking validation from the person next to her.

Dorin glanced at her, then said, “Mmm.”

“Rest early.”

“Remember to wipe the drool.”

Before Winslow could react, the door slammed shut with a “clatter.”

Winslow was so angry that she stomped her feet in the room.

She would draw a few more circles to curse the block of wood that didn’t understand romance.

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