Odoye Pavilion
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The velvet winds blew silently in the listening veranda where Goddess Ling Xing held her divine counsel sessions. A few gods occupied the meditation garden, seeking a quiet place to relax. Some walked around while others observed the flowers.
Goddess Ling Xing sat in her green-blossomed lotus pod. Behind her, the mural of drifting clouds and silver threads which represented the Mindstream had gone dark. Before her sat a lesser goddess—Goddess Su, whose internal struggle caused the Mindstream to darken.
"As I said before, Goddess Ling Xing, I'm the one at fault." She said quietly.
"Lord Zu always tries his best to listen and help me progress. In three centuries of union, I feel he tries too hard to understand me. He has many remarkable qualities, but I fear none complement his. That's why I often spend time apart, hoping not to dim his light. But this makes Lord Zu sad. He's grown distant, and I feel our divine bond weakening. I don't know what to do, Goddess Ling Xing." Goddess Su's eyes were teary.
Goddess Ling Xing smiled reassuringly. She looked around, her eyes searching for Long Xiao. Usually, at these moments, Long Xiao would offer the guests petals of the Flower of Regret and say something outrageous at the same time. Yet, he always managed to cheer everyone up.
Her gaze finally landed on Long Xiao. In the courtyard's center, a shallow reflecting pool remained still. Long Xiao sat beside it, staring at his tear-streaked face, clutching petals of the Flower of Regret. He was about to offer them when a passing thought about the Gods' Contest pierced his heart like a dagger. Goddess Ling Xing shook her head slowly.
"This session is going to take longer than I expected…" Goddess Ling Xing turned back to Goddess Su, who was also staring in Long Xiao's direction.
Only sobs and forced smiles finished that fateful session.
Inside Long Xiao's Hut
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Months after his appointment, Long Xiao felt the weight of the contest pressing down on him. He definitely couldn't wait for misfortune to come knocking on his door.
After a lot of pacing and scribbling nonsense, he got an amazing idea.
That was to absolutely ditch the contest.
"'I'm not ready for seclusion." He muttered, crossing out the contest on his scroll as if that sealed his decision.
After pondering for a while…
"Master, are we going somewhere?" Lei, the confused phoenix, finally spoke as he swirled up and about in their hut.
Long Xiao ignored the nosy mount by packing his favourite tea leaves and other essentials.
With no response, Lei descended.
"Master, why are you packing?" Lei's tone was now skeptical, tossing his own belongings with his claws and beak into a storage ring, imitating his master.
Long Xiao paused, folding his robes, then glanced at Lei before continuing..
"Don't tell me you plan on ditching the Gods' contest." Lei landed gracefully, transforming into his human form. He gauged Long Xiao's facial expressions intently.
"Of course not! How bold of you to assume that." Long Xiao scoffed.
"Oh, but you are, Master," Lei smirked, crossing his arms.
"You're doing manual work. You only do that when you're nervous, or there's an urgent matter." Lei settled onto the ground.
Long Xiao sighed deeply. "I'm certainly not nervous. I only wish to seek enlightenment from the lower realms."
With that response, Lei already knew he planned on ditching the competition.
"From the lower realms? How noble of you, Master." Lei said sarcastically.
"I do wish to gain enlightenment and aid the mortals and other creatures in need." Long Xiao snapped, looking annoyed.
"Whatever you say, Master."
Long Xiao looked around his hut.
"We leave when night falls." Long Xiao's tone left no room for argument.
Thus Lord Long Xiao descended that fateful night.
The Heavenly Realm continued as usual after Lord Long Xiao's departure. Yet his absence did not go unnoticed by those closest to him.