Louder, They're All Back!

One problem often faced by old husbands with young wives was that they could not please their wives, leaving them empty and lonely.

The same was true of gods!

Lonely and empty!

Making a god smile from the heart was an exceptional skill. Pleasing a lonely, empty god could even earn one a blessing.

That was right!

Pleasing gods was also a shortcut to obtaining blessings.

It was just that no one had walked this shortcut before. Yet Indra had opened up a shaded little path through Goddess Saraswati.

Now, Goddess Saraswati, the Mistress, wore a delighted, satisfied smile as she transformed into a streak of golden light and vanished before Brahma. Leaving the Brahma Realm, she suddenly appeared in the Heavenly Realm.

For a time, lotuses bloomed throughout the Heavenly Realm, like flowers scattered by Heavenly Maidens, bringing a brief fragrance and splendor to the realm.

Seeing the Mistress descend, the gods all pressed their palms together and praised Goddess Saraswati.

"Praise the Mistress! Praise Goddess Saraswati!"

Indra and the other gods said.

Goddess Saraswati held a Phoenix-Tail Qin in her arms. She wore a red dress and golden ornaments, her lovely face bearing a faint, wise smile. Her skin was as pure as snow, while the fragrance of books and flowers drifted around her. Divine light encircled her body, radiating brilliant golden radiance.

"What kind of instrument is that in your hand?"

Goddess Saraswati asked with a sweet smile.

An idea suddenly came to Indra.

He did not know why Goddess Saraswati had descended, but judging by her smiling expression, it did not seem to be a bad thing.

He would flatter her and see if he could get some benefits.

"Mistress, I had not decided on a name before. But when you arrived, lotuses rained down, and since you are the goddess of music and art, I thought of calling it 'Lotus Fall.'"

As soon as he finished speaking, Goddess Saraswati's face flushed crimson, and her smile deepened as she became even more pleased.

"Lotuses are objects of utmost purity. This instrument is convenient for composing music, and calling it Lotus Fall is only fitting. I shall grant you a blessing!"

As she spoke, Goddess Saraswati raised her right hand, and radiance emerged from her pale palm.

"From this day onward, anyone who chants hymns through 'Lotus Fall' may lessen their sins with every recitation!"

Goddess Saraswati said leisurely.

Then her gaze fell upon Indra.

Indra raised his head, his face full of anticipation.

Goddess Saraswati was still smiling.

Where was the blessing?

Where was his blessing?

"Indra..." Goddess Saraswati continued.

Indra breathed a sigh of relief.

She was finally speaking. He had thought she was about to leave directly!

That was why only when he was lying in bed watching women get dressed did he enjoy their slow, elegant manner.

"I bless the gods: whenever you encounter hardship, if you praise me through this, you may enter the Brahma Realm."

Goddess Saraswati said.

Whoosh!

In the blink of an eye, the goddess vanished.

Indra: "..."

The Brahma Realm was indeed not somewhere just anyone could enter. Only those with pure hearts could enter it.

But this blessing was still completely useless!

What use was this blessing to him? Was he supposed to lead the gods in a group trip to the Brahma Realm to eavesdrop? To admire the yoga poses of that old couple?

Yet the other gods were clearly delighted.

Surya said, "Wonderful! If we encounter a great calamity in the future, we can directly take refuge in the Brahma Realm."

"Why don't we move there right now?"

Agni glanced around and asked tentatively.

The gods fell slightly silent.

They had just been granted a blessing, and moving in immediately seemed a little too presumptuous.

Vayu shook his head. "Better not. We still need to go meet Supreme Lord Vishnu later. Let's wait until we encounter a great calamity next time!"

"Right! We must hurry and meet Supreme Lord Vishnu!"

Priest Sage reminded them.

The gods chattered amongst themselves.

Rumble!

Suddenly, fierce winds rose throughout the Heavenly Realm, instantly making the gods stagger and struggle to stand steadily.

"Oh no, we can't stay in the Heavenly Realm! Should we hurry to the Brahma Realm?"

Vayu instantly panicked. His body swayed as he grabbed Agni beside him and cried out in alarm.

"Wait!"

"It seems to be Garuda!"

Indra raised his head, looked at the massive golden shadow flying toward them, and recognized the arrival.

Hearing this, the gods finally relaxed, and Vayu returned to normal.

"Ahem! So it was you. You only stirred up such a little breeze."

Vayu said.

Bang!

At that moment, Garuda folded his wings and crashed heavily onto the ground, sending waves of air billowing outward.

"Hmph!"

Garuda snorted and immediately spoke.

"I saw Sukra and an Asura over the Ocean of Milk. That Asura did not seem to be affected by the curse. I guessed they were going to seek the Supreme Lord. If you do not go, those Asuras will come looking for you. When the time comes, those Asuras..."

"Stop, stop, stop!"

Indra immediately cut him off.

He stepped forward two paces and pointed at Garuda. "Since you're back, apologize to me!"

"You! I'm talking about those Asuras!"

"I know about the Asuras. So where's the apology?"

"You..."

"What about me!"

Indra was not about to indulge Garuda.

Hearing this, Garuda lowered his head and stopped bristling. Turning his head aside, he muttered quickly and quietly, "Sorry!"

"Is that supposed to be an apology? You make it sound like I owe you something!"

Indra spoke again.

"I did all this for the Supreme Lord!"

"For the Supreme Lord!"

Garuda gritted his teeth so hard they were nearly crushed. He took a deep breath and adjusted his state of mind.

He lowered his head and dropped his voice.

"S... sorry!"

Garuda said.

Indra shook his head.

"Louder. I can't hear you!"

"You're speaking so quietly that I can't hear you. The Golden-winged Great Peng dares to face everything—show some courage and shout it out. Otherwise, it'll be hard for me to be satisfied!"

"You don't want to be unable to see the Supreme Lord, do you?"

Indra said loudly.

Smack!

Garuda pressed his palms together. His expression was complicated, seemingly compassionate, seemingly sacrificial, and perhaps carrying a trace of stubbornness as well. He closed his eyes, bowed deeply to Indra, and shouted as though throwing caution to the wind.

"I'm sorry!"

"Because my arrogance violated Dharma, I ask the King of Gods to withdraw the curse and let me see the Supreme Lord. From this day forward, I will certainly treat Indra with respect and offer devotion to Indra."

Garuda kept his eyes tightly shut and shouted.

Indra slowly nodded and smiled.

Satisfied!

He was very satisfied!

He liked seeing Garuda like this—clearly unwilling to accept it, yet having no choice but to submit.

"Good!"

Indra raised his right hand toward Garuda.

"As long as Garuda holds respect for me, Indra, does not forget gratitude toward me for dispelling his arrogant heart, and does not casually slander or harm me, this curse will no longer take effect."

At once, the Power of Arduous Cultivation surged forth.

A golden light rose from Indra's body and flashed down onto Garuda in an instant.

Golden light flickered around Garuda.

He hurriedly pressed his palms together, closed his eyes, and praised the name of Supreme Lord Vishnu.

"Praise the Supreme Lord!"

Amid that praise, Garuda immediately felt fullness within his heart and sensed Vishnu's presence once more.

"They're back!"

"They're all back!"