Lucifer's arrival was not unexpected for Ye Wen; in fact, he had anticipated it. As he was leaving the tunnel, he had sensed Lucifer deliberately radiating his aura—a signal to Ye Wen that he had arrived.

However, since he was still within the confines of the tunnel, responding immediately with his aura would have exposed their rather covert location. Thus, he maintained his composure, strolling out slowly until he reached the mountain, where he finally allowed his own presence to be known. By then, Lucifer was already inside the cavern; had he not felt Ye Wen's response, he might have left immediately, finding no one there.

Lucifer guessed that Ye Wen was keeping something from him, which explained the delay. But he was familiar with the nature of their alliance: pooling resources based on a shared objective, stopping short of a complete sharing of all secrets.

Therefore, this situation was not alarming; at most, it warranted a brief display of impatience regarding Ye Wen's slow pace. After expressing his dissatisfaction, the crucial conversation resumed: "The Heavenly Gods are already mobilizing forces. If you cannot deliver on what you promised last time, we might not have a next meeting!"

This statement served both to clarify that failure on Ye Wen’s part meant the end of their cooperation, and subtly to imply the dire straits he himself was in. His return might lead to an immediate confrontation with the Heavenly God army, and his survival afterward would be uncertain.

With a casual wave, Ye Wen conjured a spacious armchair back into the otherwise bare space. Two such chairs were placed facing each other, separated by a glass table—one positioned right beside Lucifer, clearly arranged for him. The chair for Ye Wen was noticeably wider, easily accommodating two people if they squeezed in.

As for the reason for this arrangement, it needed no explanation.

Ye Wen sat down in his chair, sparing only a glance for Artemis. The Moon Goddess gracefully settled into the seat beside him, her movement entirely natural, showing no sign of awkwardness.

Lucifer, upon sitting down, finally noticed the woman next to Ye Wen. Sensing the surging Olympian divine power radiating from her, he immediately broke into a smile. "Oh? I almost overlooked something significant!"

Ye Wen poured a glass of wine for Lucifer. "No, she has nothing to do with this." Then, flipping his hand adorned with rings, a piece of jade, about the size of two fingers, materialized. With a gentle squeeze, the jade instantly dissolved into fine dust, scattering glittering particles into the air.

Lucifer watched Ye Wen's action, recognizing it as the Easterner contacting his collaborator through some form of magic. Understanding that the matter was likely settled, he calmed considerably and calmly took a sip of his fine wine.

The wait was brief. Athena’s voice echoed from the tunnel nearby.

"What a lively gathering!"

As her voice faded, the woman appeared before the assembled group. This time, she was not in the flowing gown Ye Wen usually saw her in. Instead, she was clad head-to-toe in armor that seemed both fitted and magnificent, shimmering with divine light, yet apparently not hindering her movement. The lower section of the skirt armor had been adjusted; it was no longer voluminous, but shorter and tighter, perfectly showcasing her stunning leg curves.

Her feet were shod not in greaves, but in black high-heeled shoes emanating divine light, adorned with golden trinkets protecting her slender ankles.

Artemis's eyes flickered upon seeing Athena's altered armor, but she remained silent, not even offering a greeting to her sister.

Lucifer's gaze upon Athena was neutral, as if assessing another powerful figure of comparable standing to himself. He was clearly calculating whether this woman possessed the necessary qualifications to enter into an alliance with him.

Despite Athena being a renowned Goddess of Olympus, Lucifer was not inclined to grant partnership based on reputation alone; he intended to probe her capabilities during the negotiation.

Ye Wen waved his hand again, and another spacious couch appeared beside the table, situated exactly between himself and Lucifer. It wasn't a matter of preference, but rather that Artemis was seated on his other side, and moving the seating arrangement would be bothersome, not to mention Artemis herself would likely object to sitting near Athena.

Fortunately, with Lucifer present, Athena refrained from the usual familiar teasing directed at Ye Wen, sparing him a headache. Having provided an ideal venue for negotiation, Ye Wen felt his involvement was mostly complete. He settled back to quietly savor his exquisite wine, catching the faint, delicate fragrance drifting from Artemis beside him, content to watch the intense negotiation unfold right before his eyes.

"Truly relaxing," he murmured.

Artemis turned her head slightly to look at him. Though she didn't roll her eyes or make any overt gesture, her meaning was perfectly clear. Ye Wen paid it no mind, leaning back on the sofa, engrossed in the silent, invisible skirmish unfolding between the two women.

"I don't find this kind of thing interesting in the least!"

After watching for only a short while, Artemis grew restless. She understood every word spoken by the two, yet when strung together, the conversation felt baffling. Nevertheless, they seemed to be enjoying themselves immensely, and Ye Wen beside her was utterly captivated. Was she truly operating on a different level than these individuals?

Of course not—it was simply that she chose not to expend the energy.

Ye Wen gently smoothed the slight furrow on her brow with his fingertip, as if trying to iron it out. "If you don't like it, then stop watching. In any case, these matters don't concern us much."

He used "us" instead of "you," a subtle shift that nonetheless drew a brief glance from Athena and sparked a sliver of warmth in Artemis's heart.

The negotiations continued. Ye Wen and Artemis ceased paying attention to the dialogue between the two, engaging instead in their own private conversation.

"I plan to return to the East the day after tomorrow."

Artemis made no sound.

"You are coming back with me this time." It was not a question, but a simple statement of fact, as mundane as saying he was taking a possession back with him.

Artemis still offered no verbal reply, which Ye Wen interpreted as tacit agreement.

Seeing her response, Ye Wen began to seriously contemplate his return to Mount Shu.

Olympus was currently embroiled in internal strife and unlikely to launch any attack on the East anytime soon. Even if Athena managed to seize the throne of the God King in a short period, she would need Lucifer's alliance to secure territory for his fallen angels.

War with the Heavenly Gods seemed almost inevitable, leaving her no time to deal with Eastern affairs. Furthermore, Athena's ascension to God King was far from certain; Ye Wen’s earlier strategy was more than just idle talk.

He had decided that after today, he would visit the Underworld to have a frank discussion with Hades, to gauge his ambition for the Olympian throne. If Hades was interested, Ye Wen could begin making arrangements; if not, other plans would be necessary. Regardless, he wouldn't need to spend his days constantly running around the West.

In any case, returning East was settled. Moreover, after being away for so long, he deeply missed home and wondered if his family missed him too.

His thoughts drifted toward Mount Shu, causing him to momentarily tune out the people before him. When he snapped back to attention, Lucifer and Athena had reached a preliminary agreement on cooperation, settling fundamental points. Specific details would require a separate arrangement: a dedicated time and place for a private discussion.

Seeing that both had fallen silent—Lucifer sipping his wine while Athena observed him with an intrigued expression—Ye Wen knew the matter for the day was concluded.

"Finished talking?"

Lucifer did not respond, but Athena nodded. "Basically settled! Though... didn't you say you weren't planning to get involved this time?"

Ye Wen shook his head. "I am returning East. But finding me won't be difficult if you need to, will it?"

For deities of Athena and Lucifer's caliber, locating him should be straightforward. At worst, they could send an emissary. Mount Shu remained where it was, and Ye Wen had no intention of relocating anytime soon, so they wouldn't lose him.

Besides, Yuwen Tuo, his disciple, had settled in the West with his wife. Ye Wen would certainly arrange for communication artifacts to be placed there to maintain contact. If the two found sending messengers East too troublesome, they could always visit Yuwen Tuo.

Athena narrowed her eyes in silence for a moment before breaking into a smile. "Indeed! You won't just vanish, after all!" She turned her neck slightly toward Artemis. "You are going too? Not returning to Mount Olympus?"

"No." Artemis was also a Goddess, and given the now extremely hostile state of her relationship with Athena, she felt no obligation to be polite. "It makes little difference whether I am there or not."

Athena's machinations had genuinely angered her. Artemis also recognized that a major upheaval was coming to Mount Olympus, and she had no desire to be caught in the crossfire. Staying there meant being inevitably swept up. She had only sought a quiet place to rest and hunt occasionally, only to be used by Athena as bait, indirectly helping her eliminate her own brother.

Though Artemis harbored resentment toward her brother, her estrangement from Athena was even more profound. Thus, the fact that she could speak calmly with Athena here was already an achievement.

Athena maintained her smile but her eyes darted, clearly contemplating something. Ye Wen suddenly let out a soft humph—a seemingly insignificant sound, but Athena understood its weight. She had pushed too far this time; not only was Artemis deeply dissatisfied with her, but Ye Wen now viewed her with considerable disapproval.

That muffled sound was a warning. If she dared to plot against Ye Wen or Artemis again, it would be a declaration of war, leading to only one conclusion: a fight to the death.

"Is that so? In that case, I wish you happiness in the future!"

Athena was astute enough to know when to stop. Ye Wen going along with the plan to eliminate Apollo was already taxing his patience; she shouldn't overreach by trying to manipulate him further. Therefore, she generously offered her blessing. "If you two end up together, be sure to let me know!"

Artemis remained silent, though a faint blush crept across her otherwise icy cheeks. She had never imagined discussing such a topic—the possibility of becoming united with a man. Had anyone dared suggest such a thing to her face a decade ago, the proud Goddess of the Moon and Hunt would have erupted into a frenzy.

Now, however, Artemis, with that subtle flush, looked exactly like a bride-to-be.

Ye Wen nodded matter-of-factly. "We will."

It was only then that Lucifer pieced together the situation, mapping out the relationships: the woman with slightly wavy brown hair and a crescent moon mark on her forehead was the Olympian Goddess of the Moon and Hunt, whose relationship with Athena was clearly fractured.

Furthermore, this woman shared an exceptionally close bond with the Easterner, Ye Wen, potentially bordering on marriage. Ye Wen's own relationship with Athena was also complex; the Goddess seemed interested in him, betraying subtle hints despite her outward composure.

As for Ye Wen... judging by his demeanor, he held Athena in a degree of wariness.

"Truly fascinating," Lucifer mused, finding the wine suddenly much more flavorful as he watched the scene unfold.

Regrettably, his viewing pleasure was short-lived. After a moment, Lucifer set down his glass, bid them farewell, and departed immediately.

Ye Wen watched until Lucifer’s silhouette vanished, then turned his attention back to Athena. "You aren't leaving?"

Athena looked at Ye Wen again, seeming poised to speak, but ultimately restrained herself. She then stood, hefted her scepter, and left as well.

Ye Wen seemed to anticipate what she might have said, but Athena chose silence, departing as Ye Wen had expected.

Even Artemis beside him was unsurprised. "In the end, her love for power outweighs everything else."

In that instant, she had made her choice.

Ye Wen casually produced a bag of potato chips, tore it open, and offered it to Artemis. "Immortals, with nearly infinite lifespans, must have something to strive for!"

Hearing this, Artemis asked curiously, "Oh? Are you going to grant her wish?"

Granting her wish meant ceasing to impede Athena, allowing her to smoothly ascend to the God King's throne, and perhaps even secretly aiding her.

Unfortunately, Ye Wen was clearly not feeling so benevolent.

"I have decided that to prevent her from losing the joy of struggle too early, she absolutely cannot have the position of God King!" He then brazenly provided himself with a perfectly reasonable justification: "If she gets it now, what purpose will she have left to fight for in the days to come? How dreadfully boring her existence would become?"

Artemis, who had been sipping her wine, nearly choked on the remark. In that moment, she saw a side of Ye Wen she hadn't often witnessed. Before her, Ye Wen had always maintained an aura of strength, pride, and mystery. In Ekaterina's memories, he was portrayed as gentle and imposing. This current display was entirely new.

"Oh, right!"

"What is it?"

"Do you remember that 'Wrath of Stars' move you demonstrated? You mentioned it had a significant flaw. Do you have any suggestions?" Sitting quietly together, the first thing Artemis thought to ask about was her signature technique.

The failure of her ultimate move to harm the Siren had been a major blow, and she had long sought an opportunity to ask Ye Wen about it. Now that she finally had the chance, she seized it.

Ye Wen had almost forgotten the incident until she brought it up. "Your 'Wrath of Stars' is inherently powerful! The problem is you prioritized aesthetic flourish too much. With a slight adjustment, its power could increase several tiers!"

"How should I adjust it?"

"You just need to change the falling curtain of stars into a rain of arrows! Solidify the energy of the explosive descent, make it sharper, and the previous issue won't occur!"

Ye Wen had already spotted the flaw in 'Wrath of Stars' previously: the descending stars, while possessing immense power, were too unstable. They dispersed upon impact with the sea surface, allowing the Siren, hiding underwater, to escape unharmed. If they were replaced entirely by arrows, even if the Siren retreated into the water, she would face the torment of countless piercing shafts.

So, a minor change was all it needed. Yet, this small modification would require considerable study for Artemis to perfect, the time needed depending entirely on her innate talent and comprehension.

After discussing this, the two met each other's gaze, suddenly finding themselves unsure what else to say. Although Ye Wen felt he should bring Artemis back with him, he realized their progress seemed almost impossibly fast. While talking, it hadn't felt strange, but in the ensuing silence, an awkwardness settled in.

Fortunately, Artemis broke the tension by leaning over and resting her head on Ye Wen’s shoulder, instantly dispelling the awkwardness.

Ye Wen moved to place his arm around her shoulder, but just at that moment, a boisterous voice cut through the air: "I'm freezing! Where is everyone? Get me a thick blanket, quick!"