The Heavenly Realm continued as usual after Lord Long Xiao's departure. With the Gods' Contest temporarily on hold, the Celestial Stadium remained mostly empty, and the gods spent more time with friends and companions.
Odoye Pavilion
(A Week After Long Xiao's Descent)
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The velvet winds blew gently, carrying the fallen flower petals. A few gods were taking a walk in the meditation garden. Meanwhile, in the listening veranda, sat Goddess Ling Xing with another guest, her lotus pod glowing faintly.
"Goddess Ling Xing, my divine companion left me because I commented on her closest friend's appearance. She said she never wants to see me again." The lesser god said, shoulders slumped.
"What exactly did Lord Chen say for her to make such a hasty decision?" Goddess Ling Xing asked, her tone soft, halo purple glowing as she sat in her blossomed lotus pod.
"I only said her friend looked like an incarnation of the Sun Goddess. I was nervous and didn't know what to say." The lesser god sniffled.
Goddess Ling smiled, but not at what the lesser god said, but at her own thoughts.
"If Lord Long Xiao were here, he would probably say something like…" She thought.
"That's why she no longer wants to be with you.
Who compares their companion's closest friend to a literal Sun goddess?
You brought this on yourself, Lord Chen."
He would certainly add more to the fire instead of cooling it down.
"Oh, Lord Long Xiao, where are you?" Goddess Ling Xing looked around slowly, as if expecting him to be arriving with the petal-like tissues.
When Long Xiao said he'd be away for a while, Goddess Ling Xing didn't believe that he would actually go through with it. Not that Long Xiao was unreliable, but he was unpredictable. He could say one thing and mean another. That was just the type of god he was.
Goddess Ling Xing began, her purple halo pulsing softly as she sensed the depth of the lesser god's anguish. She leaned forward, her blossomed lotus pod creaking gently beneath her.
"Lord Chen," she called, her voice soothing.
"I understand that you weren't yourself at the moment, but we must always be cautious with our words and compliments, especially when it comes to our dear ones."
Lord Chen's shoulders shook with every breath. "I never meant to hurt her…"
"I feel like today's session might take a whole full moon." Goddess Ling Xing closed her eyes, a soft sigh escaping her lips.
Outside The Great Hall
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The Four Holy Gods found themselves outside the Great Hall. They were looking for Long Xiao. They had already visited his palace, but all they found were the words 'Off To Seek Enlightenment' on his door in a bold, glowing font. Divine messengers and gods claimed they hadn't seen him leave.
The Four Holy Gods decided to wait outside the Great Hall because they assumed he'd be attending the meeting held by the Eleven Higher Gods.
"How do we know he's inside?" Lord Han asked quietly, pacing back and forth as he avoided the gaze of the two celestial guards guarding the gate.
"Easy." Lord Bai smirked as he snapped his fingers, placing the guards under a temporary sleeping spell.
It would give them just enough time to confirm Long Xiao's presence.
"Lord Bai, we can't afford any trouble." Lord Han adjusted the sleeping guards against the wall.
"Lord Han, I don't know about you, but I can surely afford it. All we have to do is pay a few thousand merits for such an act. No problem!" Lord Feng shrugged, looking all smug and entirely too pleased with himself.
"Lord Feng, how about you afford some hair with those few thousand merits?" Lord Zhao teased.
"You..."Feng Luo trailed off, his tone annoyed, and the temperature seemed to drop as his words hit home..
"Guys, guys, we came here to look for Brother Xiao, remember?" Lord Han said, trying to ease the tension, though the atmosphere just became colder and colder, betraying his own nervousness.
Lord Feng snorted, running a hand over his bald head. It was a habit of his. They approached the Great Hall's door, peering through it to see if Long Xiao was really inside.