The underground world was silent for a long time. Xie Ning leaned against Echidna and whispered, "Thank you."
Echidna didn't want to tell him, but he was deeply regretful in his heart. He said hoarsely: "It's okay, I love you."
After the conversation was over, Xie Ning felt relieved and everything in front of him became clear. He suddenly remembered the messenger and asked, "Where is Xanthipe? How is she?"
Echidna replied unhappily: "She ran away! Like an antelope being chased by a tiger or leopard, she fled in panic from the door when I was in a hurry to find you to verify it. But she can't leave Alima. I have decided to make her blood flow in the dark underground."
"Let her go," Xie Ning pleaded. He told Echidna all the reasons why Xanthippe came to find him, and "I asked her to find you, and I promised her. After this, let her leave here and go anywhere she wants."
Echidna hated Hermes so much that he almost died! If he had the chance, he would have cut off Hermes' legs, broken his staff in half, and thrown it heavily into the mire.
"It's up to you," the snake demon said unhappily, "Anyway, she's just an insignificant pawn, not my main enemy."
As soon as the demon's voice fell, the stone door of the underground palace opened. Xanthippe, wearing a cloak, knew that this was Dolos fulfilling his promise, so she ran out of the underground palace quickly and ran to the sunny earth impatiently.
The sunlight shone on her dazzling white skin, so much so that Phoebus Apollo immediately discovered her trace. The sun god who was far away frowned and called his brother in heaven.
"Hermes, look down," said Apollo. "Xanthippe has escaped from the crypt of Arima. Has she neglected her duty? Go and see what has happened."
Hermes was also very confused. He came down to the mortal world and transformed himself into a beautiful woman with noble manners. He came before Xanthippe and scolded her mercilessly.
"Look at you, you hurried woman!" said the beautiful woman. "Have you run away from your husband's spinning wheel or your baby's cradle? Why are you standing here alone, acting like a homeless prodigal?"
Xanthippe cried out inwardly. She saw at a glance that this was the incarnation of a god. She cried out, "You are a wise lady. Please understand my predicament. I have just escaped from the snake cave of the devil. Because I revealed a terrible secret to him, he threatened to kill me. I have spent so much effort to escape from the clutches of death! If you can have mercy on me, please give me a way out. Let me be your humble maid, which is better than being buried in the snake's mouth and being devoured miserably."
Hermes was very satisfied. He saw that Xanthippe had not lied and she had indeed done as he instructed. But he immediately began to wonder in his heart what to do with this beautiful creation.
He returned to his original form and said solemnly: "Yes, Xanthippe! You are right, but I alone cannot decide your fate. After all, you have not fulfilled your mission."
Xanthippe fell at the god's feet, hugged his knees and begged: "My God Hermes! I have no temple to pray to. Your knees are my altar. Please remember your noble promise: promise me that if I do what you ask, you will plead with Athena for me."