"God-King, please wait."
Just outside the Southern Heavenly Gate, a quiet voice called out, stopping the God-King as he was about to leave. A golden Buddha clad in a kasaya emerged slowly from the void and brought his palms together in greeting.
At the sight of the golden Buddha, Shi Lan, standing behind the God-King, narrowed her eyes. She had seen him beneath the Yellow Springs of Lingyang. He was none other than the ruler whom the Heavenly Dao of Lingyang would later suppress in the Other Shore.
"Shi Jie?"
The God-King's brow furrowed slightly at the newcomer. "What is it?"
"It is still about the Buddhist sect spreading its teachings in Lingyang. I hope the God-King will agree." Shi Jie wore a gentle smile and bowed slightly, chanting a Buddhist invocation.
"For the God-King, this would be no more than a small favor. If you feel my Buddhist sect's sincerity is lacking, please tell me what you require, and my sect will gladly offer it."
"I discussed this with the World-Honored One. Lingyang has no need for the Buddhist sect, and your sect cannot give me what I want."
The God-King paid him no mind and waved a hand dismissively. "If there's nothing else, move aside."
Shi Jie fell silent for a moment, then sighed and stepped out of the way. His gaze drifted over those behind the God-King, meeting Shi Lan's eyes.
He froze for an instant. Before he could react, the God-King had already led the people of Lingyang on their way back.
Beneath the Southern Heavenly Gate, Shi Jie stood motionless for a long while, gazing at the empty starry sky. His fingertips slowly traced through the void, sketching the tracks of space and time.
Not long after the God-King left, a figure dressed in black