Outside The Great Hall
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The Four Holy Gods pulled away from the hall gate after realizing Long Xiao wasn't present. Lord Bai lifted the sleeping spell and they left the premises.
Ling Mountain
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They came to their usual meeting place, Ling Mountain. They sat in their usual positions, their gaze drifting to Long Xiao's empty post.
"A-Xiao has really left, hasn't he?" Lord Zhao sighed.
"We should have accompanied him when he asked." Lord Han poured tea for everyone.
"What are you talking about?" Lord Feng scoffed, swirling his cup.
"You are still angry at A-Xiao, aren't you?" Lord Bai teased.
"On the other hand, the Eleven Higher Gods think our handiwork was divine intervention." Lord Zhao laughed, slightly choking on his tea.
Lord Bai and Lord Zhao's tea cups clinked in their shared laughter.
"Brother Han, where is A-Xiao?" Lord Feng set his cup on the table with more force than necessary.
"Hmph! He better be finding ways to bring my hair back." Lord Feng scoffed.
"Do you not remember that fateful day, Brother Feng?" Lord Han asked, setting the tea jug down.
Flashback Begins—Ling Mountain
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Three days before Long Xiao descended, he decided to invite his friends to accompany him to seek enlightenment. He found them at their usual spot. They were finding solutions to help grow back Lord Feng's hair. Lord Han flipped through ancient books on hair growth as Lord Bai and Lord Zhao went through a list of ingredients.
"Brothers, how do you fare?" Long Xiao cleared his throat, settling in his seat.
"Brother Xiao, I presume Goddess Ling Xing must have retired early today." Lord Zhao teased, marking a divine ingredient on the scroll.
"That is certainly not relevant to the discussion, Brother Zhao." Long Xiao adjusted his robes.
Not knowing, lord Feng had been fuming the whole time. Not only had Long Xiao not acknowledged his situation, he also never once apologized. He stood up abruptly.
"I cannot bear the sight of you, A-Xiao." Luo Feng said, teleporting to the other side of the mountain.
"Well that was..." Lord Zhao rolled the scrolls.
"Dramatic?" Long Xiao let out a small chuckle.
"Dramatic?" Lord Han repeated, closing the book.
"You burnt his hair with a perfectly charged thunderbolt, A-Xiao. A mere mortal would have died."
"A-Feng really loved his hair." Lord Bai added.
Long Xiao knew he had to speak up soon.
"Anyways... I'm going to the Mortal Realm." Long Xiao declared.
"What?! The three gods exclaimed together. The Mortal Realm?!"
"I know it's sudden. The mortals... They need divine guidance." He said solemnly.
"And as the newly appointed Overseer, it is my responsibility to provide them with that." He declared, his posture grand, rising up.
"I want you guys to come with me." He smiled.
"Just like centuries ago." Long Xiao stretched forth his hand, a subtle plea.
"To the Mortal Realm...? A-Xiao, is there something wrong?" Lord Han asked, standing before him.
"Of course not! Just think of it as a vacation. A divine one." Long Xiao declared, placing his hand on Lord Han's shoulder.
"A divine vacation?" Lord Zhao repeated, his tone skeptical.
"Do you not remember what happened the last time we descended the Twelve Heavens?" Lord Bai said.
"I remember." Long Xiao sighed. "Forget what I said."
"I'll take my leave now." He smiled, materializing a vial and a scroll.
"I concocted this yesterday. A-Feng to apply it once a day." Long Xiao left.
The three gods exchanged worried looks, a silent communication passing through the gesture.