Chapter 69: Underlying Currents of Affection

The rekindled flame, the reformed barrier, the released heat, and the surge of vitality—all heralded the awakening of the earth. The Sacred Fire of the Earth’s Core blazed as brilliantly as the noonday sun, its warmth spreading instantly throughout the barrier, and then, with lightning speed, radiating outward.

Nyalu collapsed, no longer needing to worry about what the Lord of the Underworld or Fuli might do. The human world had only just begun to revive; if they wanted to gain more, they needed time. For now, she could finally relax.

She was exhausted. With the sacred fire rekindled, her initial plan was fulfilled, and all her fatigue seemed to magnify a thousandfold in an instant. Every last ounce of her strength was spent.

Although Nyalu had fallen, she could feel the peerless warmth of the sacred fire enfolding her. Her soul, every inch of her skin, was basking in this gentle heat, restoring the energy she had lost.

Though the Earth Deity’s lineage had protected the human world for generations, few realized that this land was the true source of their strength.

Nyalu closed her eyes with ease. Though darkness filled her vision, warmth encircled her. In this moment, she felt as if she had returned to her mother’s embrace, imagined herself beneath the most dazzling sunlight, witnessed the sacred fire’s rebirth. In this moment, she wished only to forget everything, to finally let her taut nerves unspool and rest.

Nyalu relaxed, while the others were left in astonishment.

Niaoniao’s beak hung open in utter surprise as she gazed at the rekindled sacred fire. So this was how it felt here: neither the scorching of Sunset Mountain, nor the chill of the Underworld, nor the oppressive brightness of the Heavenly Realm. Instead, it was a life-giving warmth beyond words. In such a climate, the only word that came to mind was “rebirth”—to regain lost strength, to find courage to live again, to release the passion for life that had been suppressed.

Niaoniao saw Nyalu lying on the ground, but she didn’t miss the faint smile on her lips. She had seen Nyalu smile before, but never one quite so moving. Her smile seemed capable of awakening the deepest longing in one’s heart—a longing for survival, for cherishing life. Perhaps, this was the goal Nyalu had always sought.

The Lord of the Underworld was also watching Nyalu, his eyes fixed on her smile. Had he ever seen such a smile before? No, never. The cold, shadowy Underworld was a world of souls, filled only with the despair of death.

Perhaps only she could so perfectly embody the meaning of such a smile.

Fuli glanced at Niaoniao, then at Nyalu on the ground. He, too, noticed the profound meaning in Nyalu’s smile, but right now, his main concern was the Lord of the Underworld.

“Your Majesty, the Sacred Fire has been rekindled, and humanity’s business is concluded. Shouldn’t Your Majesty return at once?” Fuli spoke as though he were the true master of the human world, issuing a veiled order to depart for his most precious master’s sake.

Niaoniao had already come to Nyalu’s side and, seeing her sleeping face, couldn’t bear to disturb her. Niaoniao thought her own behavior had become strange; before, if anyone dared make her wait, she would have smacked them aside without hesitation. Now, she could only wait quietly for Nyalu to awaken.

But Niaoniao suddenly smelled something odd. What were those two doing over there?

The Lord of the Underworld ignored Fuli’s provocation—here, only Nyalu’s words mattered to him; anything else could be disregarded. He didn’t even take Fuli seriously.

Ignoring Fuli, the Lord of the Underworld kept watching Nyalu.

For the first time, Fuli realized he was being ignored. As the Arbiter of the Heavens, his status far exceeded that of ordinary deities—even the Heavenly Emperor Liu Jia had never treated him so.

He believed that, though the Earth Deity’s lineage governed humanity and stood apart from the Celestial Realm, they were still nominally under its rule. The Celestial Realm could abandon the human world, but that didn’t mean the Underworld could interfere at will.

Now that the Sacred Fire was burning again, the Lord of the Underworld had no reason to stay. No matter what agreement he and Nyalu had reached, it couldn’t take effect without the approval of the Heavens.

Fuli, therefore, naturally gave his guest the order to leave.

But he was ignored.

The Lord of the Underworld turned to Niaoniao and asked softly, “How is she?” paying no heed to Fuli’s growing anger.

Truthfully, the Lord of the Underworld wanted to leave as well. He sensed a strange repulsion from the Sacred Fire’s barrier—perhaps due to his deathly aura. The only reason he hadn’t been expelled was that his power, too, had been infused into the flame.

However, his departure would only be from the barrier, not a return to the Underworld. Moreover, he had no intention of obeying any orders.

Niaoniao answered grumpily, “She’s fine.”

The Lord of the Underworld was a bit exasperated. He couldn’t understand why this peculiar bird bore such deep hostility toward him.

Behind him, Fuli was about to speak again.

But the Lord of the Underworld turned, facing the angry Fuli, and said, “Remember, this is the human world. I can overlook your discourtesy here, but in the Underworld, such words would have obliterated your soul ten thousand times over.”

Niaoniao felt as if a thousand bolts of lightning flashed between them.

They were both terrifying, and both insufferable—couldn’t they see Nyalu was still lying on the ground? Truly, apart from Nyalu, there was nothing good about any of them.

Niaoniao glanced worriedly at Nyalu, who still hadn’t woken, but whose face wore a gentle smile. That reassured Niaoniao—perhaps she was only too tired.

The standoff between the Lord of the Underworld and Fuli had only just begun, silent killing intent surging between them. If not for the barrier of the Sacred Fire, they might have come to blows.

One was the sovereign of the Underworld, the other the exalted Arbiter of the Heavens—since their first meeting, each harbored deep hostility toward the other, each determined to outdo the other in presence.

A great battle seemed about to break out.

At that moment, Niaoniao leapt up. “You’re both insufferable—only getting in the way! Whether you’re the Lord of the Underworld or the Arbiter, don’t forget this is the human world, the realm of the Earth Goddess. If you want a fight, find somewhere fit for it.” With that, she rolled her eyes at them both in disdain.

Fuli withdrew his gathered power—being scorned by such a creature was a first for him.

The Lord of the Underworld also relented; he was used to Niaoniao’s contempt. She’d challenged his authority in the Underworld before, let alone here.

Nyalu remained unconscious, missing their confrontation as she gradually regained her lost strength in sleep.

Her wounds were beginning to heal, leaving only faint marks behind—a testament to the price she had paid to rekindle the Sacred Fire.

Niaoniao’s gaze returned to Nyalu. Now she hesitated: should she let Nyalu sleep, or bring her back to the Earth Goddess’s temple?

Nyalu had already described the temple’s layout in detail.

Time ticked by, and still Nyalu did not wake.

Niaoniao grew anxious. Had something gone wrong? But she sensed nothing amiss; in the Underworld, she and Nyalu had formed a certain connection.

Perhaps Nyalu was truly just too tired. But they couldn’t wait here forever. It was better to return to the temple, her true home.

Niaoniao tried her best to lift Nyalu, but as she was now only a bird, she had no strength to support her.

At that moment, a pair of strong hands gently took Nyalu from her. Startled, Niaoniao looked to see who it was.

It was the Lord of the Underworld.

He, the cold and ruthless ruler, could perform such a gesture—this was beyond Niaoniao’s imagination.

The Lord of the Underworld ignored her surprise. “Let me do it. Let’s go to the Earth Goddess’s temple.”

“How do you know?” Niaoniao asked, puzzled by his calm certainty.

“That’s her home, isn’t it?”

Niaoniao was even more surprised. Did the Lord of the Underworld understand the concept of home?

He picked up Nyalu and strode from the barrier.

Niaoniao cast one last glance at the softly burning Sacred Fire, the scene etched deeply in her memory—she would describe it to Nyalu in detail; it would make her happy.

Throughout, neither of them spared Fuli a glance, as if he did not exist.

Fuli sneered inwardly. So they intended to leave him behind? “Hmph!”

He, too, wanted to see what the true Earth Goddess’s temple was like.

And so, the Lord of the Underworld carried Nyalu, with Niaoniao at his side and Fuli following behind—a strange procession making its way to the Earth Goddess’s temple.

Upon appearing once more in the human world, the Lord of the Underworld and Fuli had taken on new forms, now seeming only like ordinary human men. Some truths are destined to remain hidden, just as their identities could not easily be revealed.

If the handful of survivors knew the Lord of the Underworld had come to the human realm, it would bring only greater terror.

Niaoniao remained a bird, lacking the strength to transform into human shape; she had spent too much power maintaining a human appearance in the Underworld. Now, she could only be a bird.

In the arms of the Lord of the Underworld, Nyalu still did not awaken. He glanced down at her from time to time, feeling something nameless stirring within him. Just as the Sacred Fire’s rekindling had awakened hope in the human world, so too did the seeds of hope begin to sprout within him.