The air inside Xiaoqong was heavy with power; every breath tasted faintly of starlight, and every sound echoed with quiet reverence. Even the shadows seemed disciplined, keeping their distance from the hall's center.
In the aftermath of the dreadful meeting, the Higher Gods decided to temporarily relinquish the vacant seat. They summoned their messengers, and divine scrolls bearing the decree were carried by celestial cranes to the doorsteps of the lesser gods.
Odoye Pavilion
—
Lord Long Xiao occasionally read the heavenly mail as he was often busy assisting Goddess Ling Xing, the appointed goddess of Divine Counsel—an act of kindness that kept him occupied (according to him).
Goddess Ling Xing resided at the Odoye Pavilion. It rested lightly on the hillside, built not to dominate but to blend seamlessly into the landscape. Its structure was open and airy, formed from pale moon‑wood polished to a soft glow. Instead of towering walls, the pavilion used flowing curtains of celestial silk that drifted with the breeze, letting sunlight and fresh air move freely through the space.
A wide courtyard stretched before it, paved with smooth river‑stones that warmed under the daylight. At its center lay a shallow reflecting pool, its surface perfectly still, mirroring the sky like a second heaven. The gods often paused here, letting their thoughts settle as the water calmed their spirits.
The pavilion was arranged in gentle layers: a listening veranda where Ling Xing held quiet conversations beneath hanging blue lanterns, a meditation garden filled with whispering bamboo and star-orchids, and a counsel chamber that was simple, serene and with cushions arranged in a circle instead of thrones.
Goddess Ling Xing sat in a green-blossomed lotus pod, which positioned her at equal height with her visitors. No elevation, no pedestal — only presence. Behind her, a mural of drifting clouds and silver threads represented the Mindstream, the realm where she guided troubled hearts.
Every breeze carried warmth.
Every corner invited rest.
Odoye Pavilion was not a place of judgment, but a sanctuary.
—
"Lord Ao Yi has been avoiding me these moons." Goddess Mei sighed, her eyes teary.
"He always has an excuse whenever I ask him to accompany me to the Celestial Gardens or the Celestial Theatre. What should I do, Goddess Ling Xing?" Goddess Mei wiped her tears with petals given by Lord Long Xiao.
He had plucked them from the Flower of Regret. It didn't produce any nectar. Only pearls.
"Goddess Mei, we understand that Lord Ao Yi has been distant." Long Xiao said softly, sitting beside her.
"It's been hard for you." Long Xiao plucked more petals from the nearby Flower of Regret, giving them to her.
"Here, these petals from the Flower of Regret soak up tears well." He said, smiling gently.
Goddess Mei looked at him through teary eyes, confusion clouding her face.
Goddess Ling Xing's voice echoed telepathically, "Lord Long Xiao, you're not helping."
Long Xiao cleared his throat. "What I mean is—there's always a reason behind someone's actions. If you can't find it, perhaps it's time to leave them and seek someone more capable," Long Xiao said, winking.
Goddess Ling Xing sighed, shaking her head in gentle reproach.