Chapter 65
Hera eventually returned to the Underworld, where she built herself a crystal coffin.
Without the work of a master craftsman or the inlay of gemstones, she personally smoothed out every protrusion on the coffin wall.
During the day, she helps Charon ferry the souls that come here.
Charon's wooden boat bobbed on the River Styx, its oars cutting through the phosphorescent water, and Hera stood at the bow, examining each of the translucent spirits.
Some spirits carried the scent of the mortal world, while others still bore the marks of undried tears. Her gaze swept over every blurred face, her fingertips occasionally brushing against the cool hem of a spirit's garment, as if testing every wisp of mist that might hold her presence.
Charon knew perfectly well what she was looking for.
Hera, the goddess of marriage, searched for her wife for three thousand years, making the underworld brightly lit, and officiating the marriage of Hades, the king of the underworld, and Persephone, the queen of the underworld, leaving eternal spring there.
Hades tacitly approved of her behavior, so Charon naturally dared not say anything.
She understood why Hera did this. Charon only had the power to ferry the souls of the dead from the world of the living to the world of the dead; he did not have the power of judgment and could not help her retain any soul.
The final destination of the deceased is judged by the judges of the underworld.
Minos was just, Radamanthys was harsh, and Aeacus was prudent.
The three people sat on stone chairs in the main hall of the underworld, and with a stroke of their pens, they determined the fate of the souls.
The virtuous enter the Pure Land, resting eternally in the flower fields of Ilysion; the wicked enter the funnel-shaped hell, suffering eternal punishment in the flames of Tartarus; and ordinary people wander the plains of the underworld, their souls like rootless grass, forever remaining, never to be reincarnated.
But Hera didn't want Rika to go to the funnel-shaped hell, nor did she want her to go to Elysium.
The Pure Land is too far away, shrouded in mist, and she fears she may never find it again. The funnel-shaped hell is too painful, and she cannot bear to see Li Jia suffer even a fraction of the torment.
Hera always thought that Li Jia should stay by her side, just like in the hot springs, where she would cling to Li Jia's arm and act coquettishly, saying that she wanted to be a carefree, happy salted fish, just lying lazily.
She must find her spirit beforehand, bring her back to the hot spring valley, hide her, and prevent anyone from finding her.
Hera went to Hell and searched for her wife's soul day after day, year after year.
That night, he returned to the crystal coffin at the mouth of the underground river and lay down to sleep.
Hera raised her hand and stroked the coffin wall. The newly polished crystal surface reflected her image, and a few more strands of golden hair at her temples turned white.
She slowly lay down in the coffin and gently closed the lid. The crystal blocked the wind from the River of Oblivion and also blocked the silence of the underworld.
Hera suddenly smiled and gently touched the coffin wall with her fingertips.
It's alright, she's waited for three thousand years, she'll eventually get to Li Jia.
...
Meanwhile, in the hospital's ICU, the smell of disinfectant, mixed with the chill, filled the air.
Wrapped in a large hospital gown, Li Jia sneezed while curled up on the hospital bed, her nose turning red, and she mumbled softly, "Who is it? Who is thinking of me?"
Li Jia has been back in this world for almost three years. The fragments of her memories about the hot spring valley are like a fog, but she always dreams of a golden-haired figure at night, whose fingertips, carrying a familiar warmth, gently brush across the top of her hair.
Her health was deteriorating. Not long ago, she was still happily going to the DQ chain store at the end of the alley to eat matcha almond ice cream.
Yesterday, before I could even swallow the bits of almond that were stuck to the tip of my spoon, I was suddenly rushed to the ICU by excruciating pain.
The doctor has issued three critical condition notices. She has no relatives in this world, and her only support is Aunt Zhang next door.
Aunt Zhang, who always brought her hot soup, said with tears in her eyes, "From now on, I'm your family," when Li Jia entrusted her to sign the agency agreement during her coma.
Li Jia secretly went to get the notarized document made, leaving the small house under her name to Aunt Zhang. She didn't dare say too much, afraid that this kind person would feel guilty because of it.
The remaining savings were all donated to girls in remote mountainous areas. Perhaps in this way, it was a way to do more for that vague figure.
As darkness fell outside the window, the nurse came to change the IV bag and, before leaving, asked softly, "Would you like me to leave the light on for you?"
Li Jia was a regular at this hospital. She had an incurable disease, but she always had a smile on her face, which left a deep impression on the doctors and nurses. When they learned that she lived alone, they felt even more pity for her.
Li Jia nodded, gazing at the light on the ceiling. In the dim light, she seemed to smell the familiar warm fragrance tinged with moisture again.
She got out of bed barefoot and took out the photo from the inner pocket of her small cloth bag. In the light, the blonde woman in the photo had a slight smile on her lips, her eyes were completely fixed on her, and her fingertips were gently protecting her wrists that were holding the two of them.
She gently traced the blonde woman's face in the photo with her fingertips, and suddenly felt the lights in front of her begin to blur, and the sounds of the instruments around her gradually faded into the distance.
"Owner!"
Intermittent electronic sounds flashed into Li Jia's mind, and her first reaction was the system! The system is back!
System, is that you?
"It's me, Master."
After a few minutes, the radio waves gradually stabilized, and the two began to chat.
How are you doing? Are you alright?
As soon as Li Jia opened her mouth, the system felt like it was about to cry. It was a blessing from several lifetimes to meet such a good master who cared about it even though she was about to die.
"Master, I'm doing great, really great. I'm currently on a new mission. Once I complete the second most difficult mission on the leaderboard, I'll get a huge amount of points again."
But I've already exchanged the rewards for the power of the God-King, so why am I alive in this world?
The electronic voice fell silent for a long time before speaking softly with a hint of guilt.
"Because I can't bear to see you die, I'm using all my remaining points to save my master's life in this world for three more years."
"I'm sorry, Master, my points are too few. I can only exchange them for three years of your lifespan, and in that case, you'll have an unhealthy body, causing you so much suffering..."
Its electrical hum grew softer and softer, as if it were admitting its mistake.
Li Jia felt a lump in her throat. She had always thought the system was just a cold program, but she never imagined that it would risk all the points she had accumulated to keep her.
Clutching the photo, tears dripped onto the laminated surface, spreading into a small water stain: "Fool, I've never blamed you... I'm already so happy to have lived these three more years and to be able to see you again."
The electronic voice stopped speaking; only the hum of electricity echoed softly in her mind, as if silently keeping her company.
"Master, I'm leaving. Another world is calling me, and I don't know when we'll meet again."
system.
Thank you.
May I ask your name?
"I don't have a name, my number is 220612."
The electronic sound disappeared completely, leaving only an empty echo.
Soon, a figure paler than the night itself walked in from the darkness outside the window.
It's Nyx.
Her long robe was adorned with flowing stardust, and with each step she left behind a trail of shimmering light. She did not disturb anyone, and her footsteps were as light as the wind brushing against withered leaves. She stopped only before Li Jia's spirit, and her drooping eyelashes cast a faint shadow on her face shrouded in night mist.
"It's time to go."
Nyx's voice was flat, yet carried a reassuring calmness, like the underworld's eternal night: "Someone has been waiting for you for three thousand years."
Li Jia's spirit swayed, and she unconsciously followed Nyx out the window. Her spirit passed through the glass without any obstruction, and in the darkness along the way, stardust from Nyx's clothes fell behind her, as if paving a path to the underworld.
Li Jia couldn't help but turn around and saw Aunt Zhang in the ICU crying by the bedside. The nurse was gently patting her back. It seemed that she had died.
She suddenly remembered her donated savings and that small house, and a pang of guilt rose in her heart, but it was quickly filled with anticipation.
"She will be alright."
As if reading her mind, Nyx said softly, "What you left behind is enough for her to live out her old age in peace."
Li Jia nodded and didn't look back.
She followed Nyx into the deeper night, and gradually the sound of flowing water came to her ears. The sound grew closer and closer, carrying the unique fishy smell of decaying leaves and the River Styx, yet it gave her a strange sense of peace.
After walking for an unknown amount of time, a faint light suddenly appeared ahead. The light was neither starlight nor will-o'-the-wisp, but a warm glow refracted by crystal. We had arrived at the mouth of the underground river.
Nyx quietly bypassed the direction of the Underworld Palace, thus saving her from the judgment of the three judges.
Nyx stopped at the river mouth and pointed to the crystal coffin standing on the barren slope not far away: "She's waiting for you inside."
"I have to go back and cook. She wants to eat stir-fried lotus root shreds tonight."
After speaking, Nyx's figure gradually faded away, leaving only a last wisp of stardust that landed in Li Jia's hair, like a silent blessing.
Li Jia walked step by step toward the crystal coffin. The coffin walls were translucent, and one could vaguely see the tall figure lying inside.
She reached out her hand, and just as her fingertips touched the cool, crystalline surface, the coffin lid gently lifted. The person inside slowly opened their eyes; though the golden hair at their temples had turned white with frost, their eyes were still like the warm water of a hot spring.
The moment he saw her, a tenderness that hadn't faded for three thousand years filled his eyes.
"His Majesty."
"Why is your hair all white?"
Li Jia's spirit rushed into her arms, clinging to her arms as it had done in the hot spring valley before. Her tears fell onto the inner wall of the crystal coffin, instantly condensing into tiny water droplets.
Hera reached out and caught her, her voice carrying the longing of three thousand years and the peace of finally settling down.
“Li Jia”.
"I'm home."
— End of main text
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