Everyone understood what Zai Jiu Xunge meant, including Star Sea and Mountains, including Order, which was still in chaos.
She did not want the Order Clock's self-righteous idea of "good," or its self-righteous idea of fairness.
She wanted to establish a new order.
The scene fell utterly silent. The Biscuit Houses rattled against the sails as the wind swept them up and dropped them again, and the hems of every living being's robes snapped in the wind.
Neither the Star Sea Gods nor the Mountain Gods spoke, but who among those present had not already broken free of their God's Gifts? Gradually, they heard one another's heartbeats quickening, as though Order's pendulum was no longer striking Star Sea and Mountains, but their hearts.
They had thought their hearts had long since grown numb through the cycles of one era after another. The same stories had played out again and again. Warfire and lament had done far more than prevent Fragrant Branch from blooming; it had withered the hearts of every Star Sea God.
Was the "past" the Mountains copies received the moment they broke free of their God's Gifts a gift, or a punishment?
Had it made them "whole," or left them even more broken?
After an indeterminate stretch of time, Mountains Qihua and Mountains Beaver Duke spoke almost simultaneously. "All right."
Those two voices broke the silence, followed by more voices of agreement.
"We'll live in Mountains. Star Sea Players who want to participate in future Godly Games will continue to do so," Yu Xunge announced. Every Godly Game was an opportunity for development, and she did not want to miss any.
"Do as you please." Although they had agreed to Zai Jiu Xunge's plan, they had still been forced into such a sorry state by a player who