Following Pan's footsteps inward, after walking roughly a hundred steps, the scenery suddenly opened up, and a natural mountain valley came into his view.
Inside, clear streams flowed gently, and greenery spread across the land.
Snow-white sheep lowered their heads to graze, sturdy horses leisurely wandered along the slopes, and over a hundred well-fed bulls and cows gathered by the clear stream to drink water…
Large and small livestock numbered in the thousands, filling the valley with vigorous vitality.
Everything was orderly and well-arranged.
Once any livestock left its designated activity area, dozens of hunting dogs stationed at the valley entrance or on higher ground would rush over like the wind, barking loudly as they drove the straying animal back to its original place, conscientiously guarding the property entrusted to them by their master.
That fierce and capable posture made it obvious at a glance that these were top-quality hunting dogs.
"Clang—"
As Pan appeared at the valley entrance, he lightly struck the stone beside his feet with his shepherd's staff, and the next moment, dozens of hunting dogs immediately responded to the sound, running over to surround their master, tongues hanging out as they let out a burst of cheerful barking.
"Look, these are all dogs I personally trained!"
The half-man, half-goat pastoral god proudly opened a magic array diagram.
Under Lorne's slightly strange gaze, he skillfully fed fresh lamb meat to the beloved dogs beside him, then pointed at the ones fighting most fiercely for food and introduced them smugly.
"Those best ones there,
Lady Artemis will definitely like them. I plan to present all of these to that great lady!"
"Alright, I'll pass these on to Lady Artemis for you."
Lorne nodded with a smile, raised his hand, and took the leashes of several selected hunting dogs from Pan, then kindly suggested,
"However, you were injured last night and are not suitable for long-distance travel. You should stay in your sanctuary and rest properly."
Hearing this, Pan's expression immediately changed, and he hurriedly flashed forward, blocking Lorne, who was heading toward the cave entrance.
"No!"
"Don't you trust me?"
Lorne smiled faintly, raised his hand, and patted Pan's shoulder, revealing a warm and gentle smile.
"Relax. It's just delivering a few hunting dogs. I can manage."
Feeling the overwhelming force pressing down on his shoulder, enough to make half his body go numb, Pan's face stiffened, regret surging in his heart.
Sure enough, those small tricks on the road earlier had still left a mark in this guy's mind.
Finally, under Lorne's half-smiling gaze, he forced out an expression uglier than crying and awkwardly revealed his true intention.
"Actually, I also wanted to take this opportunity to ask Lady Artemis to let me marry one of the nymphs under her command."
As expected, courtesy without a reason was never sincere.
As Hermes' son, this lustful goat was obviously not going to give away the hunting dogs he had painstakingly raised for nothing.
The beautiful nymphs under Artemis were the real reason Pan had come.
After listening calmly to Pan's intention, Lorne slowly spoke in a low voice. "Do you want to die?"
Pan was startled, his expression instantly darkening.
"What do you mean by that?!"
"Lady Artemis and her hunting nymphs have all sworn vows of chastity.
Even Zeus himself was expelled for touching a chaste nymph.
And now you want to trade a few hunting dogs for one of her hunting nymphs, forcing her to break her oath…"
Lorne cast a deep, meaningful glance at Pan and asked, "So tell me, are you more noble than the King of the Gods, or is your head harder than Lady Artemis' arrowheads?"
Pan froze, fear and hesitation surging in his eyes.
After all, he was lustful, but not stupid.
He naturally understood the hidden meaning.
Artemis would never give up one of her nymphs just because of a few hunting dogs.
And if he truly angered her, the hunting goddess might very well shoot him like a rabbit.
He did not possess Zeus' status or power; how could he face her?
At that point, not only would he fail to get a woman, he would also lose his own life.
However, the moment Pan recalled the graceful figures and beautiful faces of those nymphs under the firelight, his heart still refused to give up, and he argued unwillingly.
"Lady Artemis has already accepted my gift. Shouldn't she give me some reward?"
"Then you can try it and see whether she rewards you with one of her nymphs, or rewards you with an arrow!"
Lorne rolled his eyes at the goat who had harbored ill intentions from the very beginning and snorted coldly.
"Don't say I didn't warn you.
Do you know why Lady Artemis originally had twenty hunting nymphs, but now only has nineteen?"
"Why?" Pan instinctively swallowed his dry throat and asked.
"It's said that a sea nymph named Aura was encountered by someone in Sicily, and then, well, the sea beasts of the Oceanus Sea were almost wiped out, and even the so-called Father of Sea Monsters became a trophy."
Pan recalled the joint hunt of Apollo, Artemis, and Athena, as well as the recent rumors about the Oceanus Sea and the sea lord who had already been imprisoned, and a chilling cold rose in his heart.
Just touching a nymph, could it really be that exaggerated?
"Of course, I'm just saying it casually. Believe it or not, it's none of my business anyway."
As he spoke, Lorne tossed the dog leashes back into Pan's hands, wearing a completely indifferent expression.
But when it truly came time for Pan to make a decision himself, his cowardly side was exposed.
Holding the leashes of the hunting dogs, he hesitated for a long time, unable to step out of the cave.
"Take my advice. Treat it as if nothing ever happened. Finish this jug of wine and have a good dream."
Lorne advised earnestly, casually untying the wineskin from his waist and tossing it to Pan, releasing goodwill.
The latter's face shifted between light and dark as he took several big gulps of wine and stubbornly muttered,
"Then wouldn't all my livestock be given away for nothing?"
At the same time, his hands unwillingly tightened around the dog leashes, clearly unwilling to suffer another loss.
Lorne looked disdainfully at this lustful, stingy, deceitful yet cowardly pastoral god and snorted.
"If you truly want to marry a beautiful goddess, it's not like there's no way."
"What way?!"
Pan instantly perked up, staring straight at the man in front of him.
Lorne rolled his eyes and reminded him impatiently. "Who told you to fixate on those untouchable nymphs? Aren't there goddesses here who can be married?"
The speaker had no particular intent, but the listener took it to heart.
"The Muses?"
Recalling the Muses' uninhibited dances and joyful songs, Pan's eyes lit up instantly, a new line of thought opening up.
"That's right! They're even more beautiful than the nymphs, and their figures are good enough, too!
If I marry one of them, wouldn't that be an even better deal?!"
The lustful half-goat god grew more and more excited as he spoke, excitement flickering in his eyes, a blazing fire igniting in his heart.
However, just as Pan was indulging in his fantasies, Lorne once again poured a bucket of cold water over his overheated goat brain.
"Heh, even if the Muses can be married, it doesn't seem like it would be your turn."
"What do you mean?
Are you looking down on me?"
Pan's eyes reddened as he panted heavily, his face filled with indignation.
"I'm just stating a fact," Lorne spoke lazily. "They are Apollo's attendants. That light god not only has outstanding looks, but also excels in music, poetry, and medicine.
Which aspect can you beat him in, that he would willingly hand over his attendants to you?"
"..."
Pan immediately fell silent.
Apollo's reputation as Olympus' acknowledged handsome god was not undeserved.
Wanting to snatch a beauty from his hands was nothing short of a fool's dream.
"Unless…"
That turning pause reignited hope in Pan's heart, and he eagerly looked at the person in front of him.
However, Lorne did not speak, only spreading his hand behind him.
Pan immediately understood the meaning and awkwardly smiled as he quickly handed over the dog leashes.
But after taking the leashes, Lorne still did not speak, instead looking at him with even greater disdain.
"Ha ha, those were meant to be delivered to Lady Artemis anyway.
I certainly can't let you make this trip for nothing!"
Pan suddenly realized and spoke straightforwardly.
"Anything in my ranch that you like, take it!"
Hearing this, Lorne's expression immediately darkened, and he grabbed the leashes, walking decisively toward the cave exit.
"Stop, stop!"
Seeing the situation turning bad, Pan hurriedly rushed forward to stop Lorne.
After fumbling around on himself for a while, he gritted his teeth and took out two jet-black ram horns from an open magic array.
These were divine remnants shed during his growth, containing rich pastoral divine power, originally meant to be kept for forging his own artifact.
Now, in order to embrace a beautiful goddess, he could only endure the pain and hand over the only things he could offer as a worthy gift.
Seeing that this stingy, lustful goat was finally willing to cut some flesh, Lorne accepted the two horns with satisfaction and spoke leisurely.
"If you want to marry a Muse, it's not impossible. Challenge that light god to a wager, with marrying a Muse as the stake. If you win, doesn't that solve everything?"
"How could he possibly agree to such a contest?"
"Of course he will.
As long as you challenge his authority in his own professional field, such as music, poetry, or medicine…"
Hearing this, Pan's eyes lit up, and he nodded as if enlightened.
Indeed, with Apollo's arrogant personality, he would never tolerate outsiders questioning his professional expertise.
However, Pan's naturally suspicious nature still made him uneasy.
"What if he refuses?"
"Then challenge him first, compete later, and after the dust settles, seize the chance to propose the condition."
"What if he goes back on his word?"
"That's why you must not only win, but win openly and decisively.
Defeat him in the field he is best at, leaving him speechless. If you're still worried, then find some witnesses."
Lorne rolled his eyes at Pan and waved his hand, yawning as he walked toward the cave entrance.
"Alright, I still need to deliver these hunting dogs. Whether you go try or not is up to you."
With that, he led the hunting dogs out of the valley, his figure gradually disappearing into the thick night.
After watching this newly risen god leave, Pan recalled the Muses' beautiful bodies and appearances, his mouth drying as he gulped down several mouthfuls of wine.
Faint voices echoed in his mind, and a wave of heat rose from his lower abdomen straight to his goat brain.
"Muses! Such beautiful goddesses, why should Apollo monopolize them alone!"
As long as he could set up a wager and win against that guy, those things could be his, too!
Pan paced back and forth inside the cave, murmuring to himself.
His eyes glowed red in the darkness as confusion and madness gradually brewed.
Finally, he slammed the shepherd's staff heavily against the ground, a smug, cold smile spreading across his face.
"That's right. In some areas, I might not lose."
Meanwhile, outside the vine-shrouded cave, Lorne carefully checked the hunting dogs around him, then looked back at the restored stone wall, a smirk playing on his lips.
His wine wasn't so palatable; it was infused with the frenzy of his divinity.
So, little lamb, you'd better hold on a little longer.
.
.
.
The Next Morning
Heavy hoofbeats and shrill warhorse neighs jolted everyone awake.
Half-men? Enemy attack?
The camp instantly went on alert.
But when they rushed out, they saw Pan, yesterday's visitor—standing outside the camp at dawn, leading dozens of divine warhorses.
"Lord Apollo," Pan said with a humble smile, "last night I only had time to prepare a gift for Lady Artemis. I neglected you. So today, I bring these warhorses I personally bred, to offer you."
Hearing his words, Apollo froze briefly, then nodded with satisfaction.
He didn't care much for the gift itself, but being overlooked in front of his sister had displeased him.
Since Pan was being respectful now, Apollo's irritation faded.
Just like his thief father—quite sensible.
As Apollo reflected, Pan stepped forward, rubbing his hands.
"My father often praises your musical accomplishments. Coincidentally, I have some skill in music as well."
"Oh?" Apollo smiled faintly.
"Since you're visiting Arcadia, I'd like to ask for guidance—face to face."
Pan continued, eyes lowered.
"If by chance I win, I ask for nothing grand—just a small gift."
You want to beat me...in music?
Apollo's eyes narrowed, pride rising unconsciously, so much he didn't even notice the trap hidden within that "small gift."
(End of Chapter)