Chapter 15 Disappearance

　　—A highly advanced civilization does not mean the abandonment of ugliness and evil. So long as the seven emotions and six desires exist, society cannot escape the law of the jungle.

　　On the road out of the city Su Ziqi took the opportunity to learn more from Gongkong about the celestial gods of Mu Star.

　　Gongkong explained that all celestial gods possessed a third eye, supernatural powers, the ability to ride clouds and mist, and the capacity to pilot Vimana freely through the sky. They were divided into different clans according to the color of the pupil in the third eye.

　　Ancient tradition held that the common people of the continent of Mu had all been created by the celestial gods. The Yellow Clan and Black Clan gods created the human race; the Green Clan gods created the BullHead Clan, the Giant Clan, and the halfdivine EagleGod Clan; the Purple Clan gods created the LeopardPeople; the Gray Clan gods created the Centaurs; the Brown Clan gods created the Dwarves; the Blue Clan gods created the Merfolk. Each creation worshipped the gods who had made them.

　　Hearing that this planet harbored so many strange races, the five were astonished; such beings had previously been known only from myth.

　　The impact upon Professor Dong Yifeng was greatest. His head shook like a rattledrum; his worldview had clearly collapsed since arriving here. He muttered continuously: “Oh heavens, spare me—am I living inside a Grimm fairy tale?”

　　Zheng Ya’s worldview had also been shaken, yet she remained relatively calm and analyzed: “According to Gongkong earlier, the Yellow Clan Celestial Gods who created the Gongyou Clan died at the hands of the Green Clan gods. Presumably the Green Clan now dominates Mu Star alone. That would explain why the mural worshipping the Green Clan gods appeared in the Martian lava cavern.”

　　“Ya, you mean that because the Green Clan gods were the victors and unified religious ideology, years later their supporters upon Mu Star emigrated among the stars, some going to Mars and leaving that mural.”

　　“Exactly; it is logically consistent. Ziqi, ask Gongkong whether any other celestial gods still remain upon Mu Star.”

　　Upon hearing Su Ziqi’s question Gongkong answered: “I have heard the older generation say that the Yellow, Black, and Purple Clan gods all perished in the War of the Gods; the Gray and Brown Clan gods were defeated and fled. The Blue Clan gods have not been heard of for a long time and are probably also dead. Only the Green Clan gods remain upon Mu Star.”

　　Su Ziqi suddenly recalled the attack upon the Kuafu after it entered Mu Star’s atmosphere and asked urgently: “Did the Green Clan gods build a huge, glittering golden pyramid?”

　　Gongkong’s face showed astonishment: “How do you know of that place? Damn it—have you been there? Even I have only heard that in the capital there stands a gigantic pyramid covered in gold foil; it is said to be the lair of the Green Clan of Evil Gods.”

　　The five exchanged glances and confirmed that the attack upon the Kuafu had indeed been the work of the Green Clan gods.

　　Thus the appearance of Vimana in the sky since the previous day had only one purpose: after attacking the Kuafu, the Green Clan gods were continuing to search for their traces.

　　Having failed to contact Yang Zhiyuan that morning, the five’s anxiety increased sharply. They quickened their pace and left Wangqiu City with Gongkong.

　　In the undergrowth outside the city Huamei deactivated the ecological cloaking of the flying craft; it immediately became visible. Once everyone was seated she started the engines.

　　“Shall we rise directly above the treetops and fly in the open sky, or fly among the trees?” Huamei asked.

　　“For safety I think we should remain under the cover of the trees, flying among them as we did yesterday,” Zheng Ya suggested.

　　Guided by Gongkong, Huamei piloted the craft eastward.

　　On the outward journey they had followed the camelhorse and kept the craft’s speed low. Now Huamei opened the throttle fully; before long they reached the landing site of the Kuafu—the grassland between forest and lake.

　　They disembarked. Huamei used the operating system on her wrist to deactivate the ecological cloaking of the Kuafu. Yet nothing appeared before their eyes. The ship had vanished without a trace; only the three depressions left by the landing gear remained upon the ground.

　　Su Ziqi and the others collapsed to the ground like deflated balls, staring blankly.

　　The three women had planned the previous night to leave this planet today in search of Earth. In a single night so great a change had occurred.

　　“It must be those Green Clan evil gods who seized the ship,” Dong Yifeng said angrily. “We should go confront them and demand why they attacked us and stole the vessel.”

　　“Professor Dong, going to reason with them would be like a scholar meeting soldiers—right or wrong would never be clear. I rather find Gongkong highly suspicious. Might this ruffian have lied, invented some absurd story about celestial gods, and hidden our ship himself?” Wang Yue had always disliked Gongkong’s grinning manner and held a prejudice against him.

　　“Impossible. The Kuafu is a vessel of several dozen tons; even to shift it slightly these natives lack the capacity. Moreover, if they had done so, why bring us here? Had they harbored ill intent they could simply have seized us in Wangqiu City,” Zheng Ya analyzed.

　　Though Gongkong could not understand their words, the habitual grin had vanished from his face; he appeared even more anxious than they, rubbing his hands beside them: “Damn it, celestial sisters, your conveyance must have been seized by the Green Clan’s Vimana. The Green Clan evil gods are certainly still searching for you. We cannot remain here a moment longer; we must leave at once and take refuge in Wangqiu City.”