Ye Wen wasn't foolish; the eerie silence in the plaza and the murderous glares from the assembled gods made him realize his recent action had incurred the profound displeasure of nearly every deity on Mount Olympus.

However...

"I can understand why the pure men are looking at me like that, but why are the goddesses giving me the same look?"

With leisure enough for a pleasant fantasy, Ye Wen spread his hands towards Zeus. "It was merely the instinctual reaction of a martial artist, dodging an object flying at high speed!"

"Is that so?" Zeus's expression was far from pleased. After all, he always believed his children were the most perfect beings in existence, or rather, all Olympians were paragons of perfection. He had offered his daughter to this man, and instead of immediately dropping to his knees in gratitude, he had actually dodged in such a manner just now?

"Yes!"

He absolutely could not admit it was intentional; in that split second, he had thought catching it would invite more trouble, but he had forgotten that not catching it would lead to a heap of trouble right now.

Still, if this was the case, Zeus must be displeased with him now. Perhaps he wouldn't insist on marrying his daughter to him after all?

Yet, Zeus suddenly broke into a brilliant, radiant smile, laughing heartily as he said, "So that is how it is. Then I was the one who handled things improperly just now!"

With a wave of his hand, the innocent Moon Goddess, who had fallen again, floated back into the air and slowly drifted before Ye Wen. This time, Ye Wen had no excuses left—he could only reach out and catch Artemis.

"Take good care of my daughter... and preferably, don't let her see any dust on herself!"

With that, he turned, calling out to Hades, who had been standing there expressionlessly, "You and I will find a place, and you can tell me all about that game in detail!"

Hades didn't respond to Zeus immediately; he merely turned to cast a glance at Ye Wen before turning and walking directly toward the great hall of the gods. The hall was not merely a single large room but a complex building with various functions. If Zeus hadn't planned this out beforehand, even a normal banquet would have been held in the main hall.

From this, one could deduce that Zeus hosting a banquet here was premeditated. The duel between Ye Wen and Artemis was unavoidable; there was just an unexpected little twist.

Leaving Ye Wen standing there, stunned while holding Artemis, Zeus and Hades walked towards the hall. As for the other gods, they either found places to continue drinking and chatting or simply returned to their own lodgings—though for them, rest had become almost optional.

Of course, quite a few shot Ye Wen vicious glares before departing, but the King of the Gods' decree was something they could not defy. Even with their dissatisfaction, they dared not show it.

Perhaps the only solace was that marriage did not exert strong constraints upon the Olympians. They could look forward to Artemis resisting her marriage if she became dissatisfied. Then, perhaps, they could seize the opportunity to enter the heart of the beautiful Moon Goddess?

At this moment, none of the daydreaming male gods considered that if Ye Wen truly married Artemis into his household, would he, given his power, tolerate others coveting his woman? If such a thing were to happen, a river of blood would not be an unlikely outcome.

Through the thin layer of fabric, Artemis's astonishing resilience gave Ye Wen a feeling of reluctance to let go. Yet, he clearly understood that the beauty in his arms could likely bring him nothing but trouble.

He glanced at Apollo not far away. The handsome man's eyes were practically spitting fire. If Zeus hadn't been lingering nearby, this brother of Artemis might have immediately attacked him.

"Damn sis-con!"

Turning his back on Apollo, Ye Wen looked for someone to ask where the most appropriate place to deposit the bundle of trouble in his arms might be. However, perhaps because of his earlier action, no one on Mount Olympus was willing to acknowledge him—except Athena.

"To hold the Goddess of the Moon and the Hunt like that is the dream of countless men. You should feel fortunate!"

"No, I just feel a headache coming on!"

Ye Wen looked at Athena with profound suspicion. He was almost certain that everything that happened today was part of this Goddess of Wisdom's design, including Zeus suddenly and inexplicably wanting to marry Artemis to him. Although this was done under the seemingly normal guise of a duel's stake, in Ye Wen's eyes, Artemis was completely unaware, a poor creature muddled into becoming bait. And himself? He was the one ensnared by the bait riddled with traps.

"To gain a wife yearned for by countless people, what dissatisfaction do you have?" Athena gestured for him to follow and walked ahead on her own. Her long skirt, requiring attendants to help trail it, appeared annoyingly cumbersome at that moment. Ye Wen had the urge to step on it.

"I already have a wife!" He stressed this point again, wanting them to understand that their scheme was doomed from the start. Never mind whether the Olympians could accept the Goddess of the Moon, one of their main deities, marrying an outsider who already had a wife; even if the gods said nothing, could Artemis herself accept it?

Athena's steps didn't falter, even though the path was uneven and winding enough to be confusing. "Then... couldn't you just dissolve the marriage?"

Before the words fully left her mouth, Athena felt a chilling sensation run down her spine. Her shoulders, exposed to the air, felt abnormally cold—a cold that wasn't merely due to a drop in temperature, but a chill emanating from the depths of her soul, signaling she was in danger.

Turning back, she looked at Ye Wen, who had stopped behind her. His expression was one she had never seen before. The face that always held a relaxed smile was now covered in frost, and his eyes radiated terrifying killing intent. Athena could fully predict that if her next sentence didn't satisfy Ye Wen, even if the outbreak of war between Mount Olympus and the Heavenly Court remained uncertain, a personal war with Ye Wen would ignite without a doubt.

"Apologies! It seems I misspoke!" From Ye Wen's reaction, Athena perceived some underlying issues and decisively retracted her previous words. She was the Goddess of War, yes, but she never fought needless wars—this was what she fundamentally scorned about Ares, the war fanatic.

Turning to lead the way again, the chilling aura from behind her had lessened considerably. This made Athena understand that as long as she avoided those topics, Ye Wen would not immediately turn hostile towards the Olympians. Even if she had schemed against him slightly today, he wouldn't fuss too much over it.

Simply put, Ye Wen could tolerate jokes or playful teasing, but there was a bottom line! Crossing that line meant they would part ways immediately and start fighting.

True, this did not align with Ye Wen's interests or those of the Shu Mountain Sect. But for Ye Wen, some matters transcended mere profit.

Although he understood that accepting Zeus's decree and following Athena's plan to marry Artemis would bring immense benefits to him personally, to his Shu Mountain Sect, and even to the Heavenly Court—this was why Shen Gongbao had remained silent throughout the day's events, even seeming to lean toward Athena's side.

Firstly, Ye Wen would become a bridge connecting the East and the West. Moreover, due to his relationship with the Moon Goddess, the Shu Mountain Sect would, to some extent, be considered family by the Olympians. Thus, the Olympians would never launch an attack on Shu Mountain—even if irreconcilable differences arose between Olympus and the Heavenly Court, they might bypass the Shu Mountain Sect entirely.

Simultaneously, the Shu Mountain Sect would gain an additional layer of protection. Even if the Heavenly Court later decided the Shu Mountain Sect held no further utility, they wouldn't dare act against them—Ye Wen only took this precaution because, in the vast Immortal Realm populated by many sects, others wouldn't remain silent if the Heavenly Court truly tried to harm Shu Mountain.

Furthermore, their connection with the Olympians would encourage continued support for the Shu Mountain Sect, allowing Ye Wen to develop his sect more easily.

In short, marrying the Moon Goddess was a choice rife with countless advantages. Any man with ambition would likely accept without hesitation.

Unfortunately, Ye Wen lacked ambition. From the beginning, he only ever wished for a simple, happy life with a wife and children in a warm house.

Later, due to a series of unforeseen circumstances, he was propelled step by step to greater heights, but this was always driven by external factors. Even now, he was scrambling about everywhere because the security of the Shu Mountain Sect could not be guaranteed, solely for the purpose of establishing a foothold for the sect in the Immortal Realm.

As for the Moon Goddess in his arms? Although extremely tempting, Ye Wen had no desire to abandon his wife and wed this woman for such reasons.

They arrived before an incredibly magnificent hall. Athena pointed to the brightly lit structure. "This will be your residence on Mount Olympus. It comes equipped with sufficient attendants; you may instruct them for any material needs you have!"

Compared to the pile of dilapidated ruins from before, this palace-like building represented the polar opposite. Ye Wen could tell from the arrangement of this residence that the impression the Olympians held of him had changed—perhaps only a few gods, but it was a breakthrough nonetheless, bringing him a major step closer to his goal for this trip.

Shen Gongbao glanced at it and said nothing, proceeding directly into the hall before summoning an attendant to lead him to the sleeping quarters.

Athena showed no inclination to enter, and Ye Wen remained standing where he was.

"What? You don't want to rest?"

"What I want to ask is, where should she be taken?" Athena looked at Artemis, whom Ye Wen was still holding. The poor Moon Goddess had fallen twice already; though still beautiful, she appeared somewhat disheveled. Her white dress was stained with a good deal of dust, and the patch of her leg exposed to the air was also covered in dirt. Moreover, someone had spilled wine, soaking the hem of her long skirt with liquid. Some of the wine mixed with the mud was even trickling down her smooth calf.

"She naturally stays with you! Tonight, you won the duel. The beautiful Moon Goddess is your spoils; you may enjoy her as you please... Of course, after you've enjoyed her, she will become your wife, with the sacred ceremony witnessed personally by His Majesty, the King of the Gods!"

"Nonsense ceremony, I have zero interest in it!" Ye Wen ground his teeth watching Athena's smug look. Had all his previous words been in vain? Why was this woman so set on pushing this goddess into his bed? Could it be that the esteemed Moon Goddess had passed her prime marriageable age, and her family was desperately worried she'd never marry, so now that she was caught, they were solving their own sister's (daughter's) lifelong matter?

"In any case, tonight, she is yours to command... Even if you have no interest, she will stay with you tonight!" Athena shrugged her shoulders. "At the very least, I won't tell you where her chambers are." Before the words were finished, a male voice suddenly rang out from the darkness, and a man radiating a light even stronger than when Ye Wen had used his Cosmo in the plaza appeared before the two figures.

"Apollo? What are you doing here?"

Athena was surprised to see the Sun God, Apollo. Especially considering how much this man cared for Artemis (perhaps too much), she doubted he would allow Artemis to stay overnight with Ye Wen. Even if Ye Wen genuinely had no interest in Artemis and wouldn't take advantage while the Moon Goddess was unconscious, he wouldn't agree.

"I'm just here to take my sister back to rest in her own palace!" Apollo's expression hadn't changed from beginning to end. Although the man seemed sunny, like carrying ten million lightbulbs generating personal power, his speaking expression was somewhat grim, his entire face veiled in a layer of frost.

"You mean me?" Athena was also Apollo's sister, but on Mount Olympus, most were family; these relationships were often overlooked in daily life. The sister Apollo spoke of was almost always his twin, Artemis, the Moon Goddess.

Athena naturally knew this; she was merely being deliberately obtuse. "Dear brother, it seems I do not require your escort back to my chambers. See? I am perfectly lucid!"

"I meant her!" Apollo had no interest in quibbling with Athena. He very directly pointed his finger at Artemis, still cradled in Ye Wen's arms. "Easterner, how long do you intend to hold her?" To be fair, Ye Wen’s hands holding Artemis were very proper, showing no outright transgression. However, cradling someone horizontally invariably allowed the hands to take some advantage. If Ye Wen had only gained a preliminary understanding of Artemis visually before today, after this incident, through touch, he had gained a deeper comprehension of her physical structure.

"If you're willing to take her, that would be best!" Ye Wen circulated his inner energy and was about to effortlessly transfer Artemis into Apollo's hands. If someone was willing to take this burden, he'd be delighted!

Unfortunately, Athena would not agree. "Apollo, are you defying the will of the King of the Gods?"

"The King's will must not be defied, but if this Easterner disappears from Mount Olympus, then that will cannot be fulfilled..." A sharp light suddenly flared in Apollo's eyes. His previously empty hand materialized a long bow, and then, with a flash of light on his right hand, an arrow condensed from light, burning with golden flames, appeared before Ye Wen.

Before Ye Wen could even react, the light arrow, wreathed in golden flame, was already upon him. Ye Wen, his hands still occupied with Artemis, had a momentary impulse to use the woman in his arms as a shield, as most of his current troubles stemmed from this goddess.

But he wasn't depraved to that extent; in a sense, Artemis was innocently implicated. So, he wouldn't resort to that.

He shifted his foot, seemingly just moving sideways a small step, but both Apollo and Athena only saw a blur. Ye Wen, who had been standing there holding Artemis, vanished, only to reappear instantly behind Apollo.

"You think I'm easy to bully, eh?" Being unable to use his hands didn't mean Ye Wen lacked combat capability. Setting aside the fact that he could externalize his vital energy, condensing it into sword qi or summoning the Zixiao Sword to attack, even if he truly couldn't use those techniques, he still had his legs—natural weapons.

Even if Ye Wen hadn't truly practiced specific leg techniques, at his level of martial arts mastery, any skill could be employed effortlessly, even if it wasn't originally a leg technique, it could be adapted.

His legs coiled, and the vitality of the Primordial Chaos Scripture erupted, manifesting the force application methods of the Eighteen Dragon Subduing Palms.

Ye Wen first kicked out with his left leg, intending to execute a 'Soaring Dragon Repents,' but as the move reached its halfway point, he suddenly felt the sharp pressure of a blade behind his head, accompanied by terrifying heat.

"Could it be...?"

A thought flashed through his mind. Simultaneously, he altered his leg stance, abruptly retracting the 'Soaring Dragon Repents.' Then, with his entire body leaping, using his left leg as support, his right leg swung back in an arc, instantly transforming into the move 'Dragon Tail Swing.'

As Ye Wen threw out his leg, he channeled the vitality of the Azure Snow Ice. Although this 'Dragon Tail Swing' didn't manifest a frost dragon, the intensely frigid air made both Apollo and Athena shiver sharply.

With a crisp snap, the light arrow, which Ye Wen had just evaded by sidestepping, had somehow circled behind him. It was perfectly struck by this 'Dragon Tail Swing,' and the condensed light and heat erupted instantly, burning away a significant portion of Ye Wen's robes.

At this moment, Ye Wen was astonished by the magic and power of Apollo's arrow, and then he realized that after his kick, his body was hunched over, head down, and with someone held in his arms, his face had landed in a profoundly awkward position.

Precisely at this juncture, Artemis opened her eyes, staring wide-eyed at Ye Wen, who was mere inches away from her.

"This is bad!"