In the Heavenly Realms, Gods Remain Indifferent to Mortal Affairs
Mount Tai Cang, Crown Prince Peak.
At this hour, tourists on the mountain could no longer linger and had all been politely ushered out, leaving the Supreme Pole Temple. Within the Divine Joy Palace, chants echoed as over a thousand Taoists conducted their evening rituals. Four national teachers presided over the ceremony at the base of a grand golden statue towering five zhang high.
Inside the Crown Prince Palace, rows of prayer lamps stretched from the floor to the ceiling. Xie Lian descended from the heavens, lightly landing atop the divine altar, sitting just before his own idol.
With a wave of his hand, a soft breeze arose, causing numerous lamps to slowly spin in the air. The swirling lights were mesmerizing, prompting the gathered Taoists to look up in awe, whispering among themselves. One of the national teachers, who had been sitting with closed eyes, suddenly opened them and said, "That's enough for today. Everyone may return."
The Taoists rose and exited. The three deputy national teachers, though unable to see Xie's true form, also realized something had descended and left together, closing the grand doors of the shrine behind them. Once the doors shut, Xie Lian couldn't contain himself any longer. He spoke up, "National Teacher, do you know about the severe drought in Eternal Peace? It seems like there's no response from my father. Has something happened at court? Or is he unaware of the seriousness of the situation?"
A deity should not reveal themselves to mortals except in one instance—before high-level cultivators like national teachers or abbots. These learned individuals served as the earthly intermediaries for deities, so Xie Lian could communicate directly with the national teacher. The rule that "no kneeling in the Crown Prince Palace" was a guideline Xie Lian passed through the national teacher.
He thought perhaps the ruler was preoccupied with other matters and couldn't address the disasters in Eternal Peace, or the ruler was unaware of the severity, but the national teacher replied, "His Majesty is quite well, nothing major has happened, and he is well aware of the disaster in Eternal Peace."
Xie Lian was taken aback and asked, "Then why, every time Father visits the Supreme Pole Temple, have I not heard him pray for Eternal Peace? Why doesn't he mention it?"
Although Xie Lian and his father had long been at odds, he knew the ruler was not an unwise king. Proud as he was of his status, he wasn't indifferent to the plight of his people. The national teacher said, "This is not His Majesty's doing. I advised him, and the empress, not to mention Eternal Peace in their prayers."
"..."
Xie Lian asked, "Why?"
The national teacher answered, "Because it's futile."
Xie Lian was stunned: "What do you mean it's futile?"
After a pause, he understood and said, "You mean, because I'm a martial god and can't interfere with droughts, it's pointless to mention it to me? But did you forget, I'm not just any martial god, I'm the Crown Prince of Divine Joy. My people are suffering.
How can I turn a blind eye?" After pondering, he continued, "The immediate task is to relieve the disaster for Eternal Peace's people. Please convey to my father to stop building more temples and shrines.
There are plenty across the nation already, I do not need them. As for those golden statues, they could all be melted down to fund disaster relief. Since Eternal Peace in the west suffers from drought, why not dig a canal to divert water from the east for irrigation and nourishment?"
The national teacher shook his head as Xie Lian spoke, mumbling, "Too early. Too early."
Xie Lian was perplexed: "What do you mean it's too early?"
The national teacher replied, "Do you now understand why I said you rose too early to the heavens? It's because not all your people are dead yet."
"..." Xie Lian's eyes widened as he angrily said, "National Teacher! What... what are you talking about? What do you mean... what do you mean not all my people are dead yet?!"
The national teacher replied, "You're already a god, but you can't sever your ties with your past as a mortal. You're caught between two worlds and ultimately powerless, leading to a complete mess."
Even though Xie Lian sat above the national teacher, it seemed as though the teacher stood higher as he spoke. Xie Lian said, "How can it be powerless? If you try, there will be rewards. Saving even one life is better than doing nothing. If you won't convey my message to my father, then I will find him myself."
Xie Lian stood abruptly, and the national teacher grabbed his sleeve, shouting, "Come back! Do you know why gods don't reveal themselves freely before mortals? There are reasons for centuries-old rules. Don't do anything foolish!"
Xie Lian turned sharply, asking, "Then what can I do? If I can't do this or that, National Teacher, now, on my land, many people are about to die! Aren't gods called gods because they can save all beings? If I can't appear at this moment, then what did I ascend for?!"
The national teacher, still holding him, sighed, "Crown Prince, ah, Crown Prince. Do you know what I saw?"
Calming down, Xie Lian sat back down and said, "Please tell me."
The national teacher gazed at him and said, "I see your future—utter darkness."
Xie Lian retorted, "You might have seen it wrong. I only wear white."
The national teacher continued, "I'm afraid you can't save your people, and instead, they will pull you down from the altar."
Xie Lian remarked, "My people aren't like that. They can discern right from wrong. If I can't save them, there's no reason for me to remain on the altar."
After a moment of silence, the national teacher sighed, "Though your father’s actions aren't entirely right, they aren't wrong either. You mentioned using funds for relief; your father did allocate some. You can see the results. You said to dig a canal and divert water. See for yourself if that's feasible."
Xie Lian nodded: "Understood. Thank you, National Teacher."
After leaving Mount Tai Cang, he journeyed westward, arriving at Eternal Peace's Yong'an City.
In twenty years, Xie Lian had never felt the sun's heat so scorching and lethal. As soon as he stepped onto the land, he was overwhelmed by the intolerable dryness. The air seemed twisted. Under the blazing sun, the land cracked into jagged pieces, ancient and terrifying. Alongside the road was a deep trench that might have been a river, now dried with its black riverbed emitting a foul odor. He walked for a long time but could not find any farmland. If there was any, its original form was unrecognizable.
As Xie Lian walked, he looked around. The hot wind blew his hair into a wild mess, but he had no time to fix it. Suddenly, he heard someone calling behind him, "Your Highness!"
Turning, he saw two figures in black, rushing towards him—Feng Xin and Mu Qing. Xie Lian immediately asked, "Do you have any information?"
Feng Xin fanned his chest to cool down and said, "Yes. West has been short on water the past couple of years, and this year it's at its worst. Yong'an suffers most; the river's dry, the rain's gone, no crops can grow. Wealthy families fare better, bringing in water and food from far. But most fled east already, leaving those too poor or weak to move."
Xie Lian frowned: "The national teacher told me my father wasn't idle, that he ordered disaster relief, so why is it this severe?"
Mu Qing replied coldly, "Funds trickle down—only a fraction reaches where it's needed. They siphon off, layer by layer, leaving nothing left. It'd be better not to send anything at all."
Holding back anger, Xie Lian said, "I'll demand they return everything they took."
Mu Qing reminded him, "Your Highness, remember, it's not your place. Gods shouldn't meddle in mortal affairs. These problems didn't start overnight, and it's the realm's ruler’s job to handle them. With the burden of countless believers' prayers on your shoulders, how can you manage everything? If you try to save all, you'll only become entangled. Moreover, it's only treating the symptoms."
Feng Xin shielded his eyes from the sun and said, "For a lasting solution, there needs to be water. Otherwise, Your Highness could ask the national teacher to tell His Majesty to divert water from the east to the west."
Xie Lian shook his head: "I mentioned this idea to the national teacher earlier."
Feng Xin asked, "What did he say?"
"...He probably meant it wasn't feasible. But now I see it truly isn't. Diverting water means digging a canal, requiring laborers for years. It's too much strain."
Feng Xin nodded: "That's true. Distant water can't extinguish a nearby fire."
After a pause, Xie Lian said, "But if mortal ways don't work, perhaps we can try the heavenly approach. I heard of a new Rain Master who ascended recently. Though reclusive, I might pay a visit to request rain to divert east water westward."
Since his ascension, Xie Lian had only visited Jun Wu, never actively seeking out any deity or building any alliances in the Spirit Communication Array. An invitation from him was rare. Mu Qing objected, "No."
Xie Lian turned, "Why?"
Mu Qing continued, "Your Highness, I thoroughly investigated. It's not just Yong'an or the west that's short on water; the entire Divine Joy is water-scarce. The east, by the sea, by rivers, shows less now, but overall water levels and rainfall have vastly reduced."
Xie Lian widened his eyes, and Mu Qing added, "If you do dig a canal or divert rain, Yong'an might partially heal, but not fully. It'll only prolong survival. Simultaneously, the east could face drought."
Xie Lian's heart tightened: "And Divine Joy's bustling east, housing triple the west's population and the royal city, would be far worse once a drought hits..."
Feng Xin caught on: "The fallout would be worse, more deaths!"
Mu Qing nodded gravely: "And the ensuing unrest would be greater."
Drawing a deep breath, Xie Lian said, "So this choice isn't entirely right, but it's not entirely wrong either. Hence my father's decision, nothing more."
Mu Qing stated, "Therefore, no one praying for Yong'an in your temple is a blessing. Let His Majesty make the choice."
Xie Lian remained silent, turning away.
Throughout his journey, everyone he saw was skeletal, with men and children bare-chested, ribs starkly visible, and women bearing peeling skin, eyes dull. None wanted to move or had the strength to move. Everything reeked of decay, compelling a scream to escape this dying land and return to the vibrant capital.
After a long silence, Xie Lian said, "Stay here and help me, bring as much water as you can. Let me think."
Feng Xin nodded: "Okay. You take your time, let me know when you've decided."
Xie Lian patted his shoulder, turning to leave, but Mu Qing softly added, "Your Highness, you need to think carefully. We can help for ten, twenty days, but not for years, hundreds of thousands of people. You are a martial god, not a water god. Even a water god can't create water from nothing. If the core problem isn't solved, this won't work. A drop in the ocean."
Holding his breath, he departed.