Chapter 16 Refuge

　　—There are no “ifs” in this world, only consequences.
Once a decision is made, one must bear the corresponding consequences. Those ordinary people who, regardless of consequence, step forward, draw their blades, and rescue others from peril—those are the true heroes.

　　The Kuafu had disappeared. Su Ziqi and the others felt that the only course now was to follow Gongkong’s advice and seek refuge in Wangqiu City.

　　They reboarded the flying craft, still piloted by Huamei, and headed back toward Wangqiu.

　　On the return journey the company again discussed the threeeyed celestial gods of this planet.

　　Huamei, while flying, said: “These ‘Green Clan evil gods’ appear extremely advanced technologically. They were able to detect the Kuafu even after ecological cloaking had been activated. Unless they possess detection technology capable of piercing invisibility, discovery would have been impossible.”

　　Zheng Ya added: “Huamei, that is not all. The threeeyed celestial gods spoken of by the natives seem also to have mastered geneediting technology, creating so many bizarre races.”

　　Huamei replied: “In fact humanity is not inferior to the threeeyed celestial gods in technology. We can create bionic robots such as myself and also possess geneediting techniques capable of producing new species. In a certain sense humanity already is a Creator God.”

　　At the thought of the BullHead and other monstrous forms Su Ziqi’s mind filled with misgivings: “Humanity possesses ethics and morality. Even with geneediting technology we would not use it lightly, still less create monsters such as BullHeads.”

　　Wang Yue disagreed: “Ziqi, that view is humancentric and amounts to racial discrimination. One cannot say that because the threeeyed gods created BullHeads they lack ethics. From the perspective of the BullHead Clan, humans are the monsters. There is no absolute good or evil—only differing positions.”

　　Su Ziqi retorted: “Sister Yue, the socalled celestial gods of this planet are by no means benevolent. They not only fight among their own kind but also provoke conflict among their creations. That explains why our ship was attacked without cause.”

　　Zheng Ya declined to pronounce upon good and evil: “Ziqi, the universe does not deal in good and evil—only in power. Liu Cixin’s Dark Forest law appears fully applicable to our present situation. We have already been exposed; we are the prey of the Green Clan gods. They are hunting us with guns in hand. Our position is extremely dangerous.”

　　Since the disappearance of the ship Dong Yifeng’s mood had deteriorated; he had lost interest even in the novel plants along the way: “Ladies, let us set aside these empty discussions of good, evil, and power. First decide what we are to do from now on. Are we to remain here forever?”

　　Wang Yue’s mood was equally poor: “What else can we do? We have lost the ship and stand alone in a strange land. Only by taking refuge in Wangqiu City is there a path to survival. Ziqi, ask Gongkong whether our presence will bring danger to his people.”

　　Su Ziqi translated Wang Yue’s concern.

　　Gongkong thumped his chest in guarantee: “Please rest assured, celestial gods. With me, Gongkong, present, the Gongyou Clan will absolutely not make things difficult for you; we will certainly take you in and provide protection. Moreover, the evil Green Clan has probably not yet discovered your whereabouts, so you should be safe remaining with our clan.”

　　“And if we are discovered?”

　　Gongkong gritted his teeth: “Damn them—then we fight to the end! Even if they kill me I will never hand you over. They are the mortal enemies who murdered our Yellow Clan Celestial Gods. One day I will settle that score with them!”

　　On the return journey the five were heavyhearted.

　　Su Ziqi, Zheng Ya, and Wang Yue had not slept the previous night. Their plan to leave Mu Star that day had collapsed; the ship was missing and the crew’s fate unknown.

　　The three women, depressed and overcome by drowsiness, sat listlessly in the craft, nodding off.

　　By the time they reached Wangqiu City it was already noon.

　　At the outer gate a guard reported to Gongkong that the Great Chieftain ordered him to proceed at once to the residence for council.

　　Gongkong first settled Su Ziqi and the others in the sacrificial hall, arranged lunch, and only when everything was in order crossed the gallery bridge to the Great Chieftain’s residence and entered the council chamber.

　　Before he reached the chamber he heard the sound of argument within and could not help shaking his head.

　　The Gongyou Clan, composed of five tribes, was a loose federation; at critical moments consensus was always difficult.

　　After the door guards announced him and received permission, Gongkong stepped into the chamber.

　　The Great Chieftain’s residence occupied a giant tree less massive than the one of the platform hall, yet still more than ten meters in diameter.

　　The council chamber was on the ground floor; above were the Great Chieftain’s private quarters.

　　A long table stood in the hall. Gongdian sat at the center; on either side sat the High Priest and the four tribal chieftains; at the far end sat the brothers Gong Kang and Gong Yi.

　　They had already been deliberating for some time. While Gongkong and Su Ziqi’s party had gone in search of the ship, the Great Chieftain had ordered Gong Kang to summon the remaining chieftains swiftly to council.

　　Seeing Gongkong, the Great Chieftain indicated the seat beside Gong Yi: “Kong’er, what is the latest news?”

　　Gongkong briefly reported the morning’s events and conveyed the humanclan celestial gods’ request for refuge with the Gongyou Clan.

　　“High Priest, chieftains—what are your opinions? Shall we accept their request for refuge, or refuse?” Gongdian swept his gaze over Fang Mu, Ge Xiong, and the others at either end.

　　Fang Mu, still masked, said: “Great Chieftain, the frequent appearance of Vimana in the sky is no small matter. Do you still remember the War of the Gods?”

　　“How could I forget? I personally witnessed the fall of the great Yellow Clan Celestial Gods in that war. It was a nightmare I shall never erase. Even now I sometimes dream I am back upon that battlefield and wake in the middle of the night.” Having lived through the war, Gongdian still shuddered at the memory long afterward.

　　“Precisely. The Green Clan gods now rule. As the defeated side we have already submitted to them; every year we must offer human sacrifices and labor. I believe we lack the strength and the possibility of acting against the will of the Green Clan gods.” Fang Mu’s tone was firm.

　　“Does the High Priest mean we should hand them over?” Gongkong asked angrily. He had always disliked Fang Mu’s greater talent for pretension and constant air of mysterious profundity.

　　“Third Young Master, you children never experienced the War of the Gods and naturally do not understand the stakes.” Though Fang Mu’s expression was hidden by the mask, his tone carried clear disdain. “Since the War of the Gods our clan has suffered greatly; we cannot afford further folly. If these people are enemies of the Green Clan gods, not only must we refuse them refuge—we should bind them at once and deliver them to the Green Clan.”

　　“The High Priest is correct; I support handing them over,” said Chieftain Kong Xiaotian of the Tiger Tribe.

　　The moment the words left his mouth Gongkong sprang to his feet and raised his voice: “Damn it! I say you two have been frightened out of your wits by the Green Clan! You fear them; I, Gongkong, do not. Every hunter of our Gongyou Clan is a man who stands upright between heaven and earth! I ask everyone present: do you still remember the motto of our hunter people?”

　　Beside him Gong Yi’s expression grew solemn: “Live toward death; die and be reborn!”

　　“Exactly! The motto teaches every hunter to regard life and death lightly, to face death without fear, to sacrifice life for honor, and never to do anything that wrongs another. The humanclan celestial gods have trusted us enough to seek refuge here; yet we would act against conscience and deliver them to the Green Clan of Evil Gods? I tell you—even a ruffian like me cannot do such a thing!”

　　Elder Brother Gong Kang strongly agreed: “Third Brother’s words are coarse but true. The Green Clan are our enemies; all our sufferings come from them. We must never commit an act of betrayal or do anything that violates conscience. We would rather sacrifice ourselves than hand the humanclan celestial gods over to them.”

　　Seeing Gong Kang’s support, Gongkong’s spine stiffened: “Everyone, our Yellow Clan Celestial Gods once prophesied that in the age of the end of the Dharma a group of humanclan celestial gods would descend from the heavens, come to our clan, and deliver us. Are not the celestial gods who have now arrived precisely those of whom the Yellow Clan gods spoke?”

　　Fang Mu glanced at Gong Kang and Gongkong and continued in his habitual disdainful tone: “Young Masters, even our Yellow Clan Celestial Gods were no match for the Green Clan; how much less these humanclan gods? Those socalled prophecies are themselves absurd.”

　　“Fang Mu, you old fellow—why does your backside always sit with the Green Clan?” The highestranking among them, Chieftain Yu Yong of the Wolf Tribe, rose angrily. “I think the young people are right. Both in feeling and in reason we should not hand them over to the Green Clan.”

　　Seeing the deadlock, Gong Yi hurried to mediate: “Grandfather is correct, and the High Priest’s concerns also have some foundation. We must find a way that both protects the humanclan celestial gods and does not bring harm to our clan.”

　　“Second Young Master speaks wisely. I too believe we should not deliver these humanclan gods to the Green Clan. At present only we few, and certain guards who have seen them, know they have come to our clan. So long as mouths remain sealed there will be no great problem.” The longsilent Chieftain Ge Xiong of the Bear Tribe suddenly spoke.

　　The Bear Tribe was the secondlargest of the Gongyou Clan; Ge Xiong’s words carried great weight.

　　“Chieftain Xin Biao, what is your view?” Gongdian, noticing that the Leopard Tribe chieftain had not yet spoken, sought his opinion.

　　“Well… I think Chieftain Ge Xiong is right; I support granting them refuge. Great Chieftain, what is your opinion?” Xin Biao was a fencesitter who preferred to wait until the situation clarified before deciding. Seeing that Ge Xiong, who customarily opposed Gongdian, now unexpectedly favored acceptance, he immediately followed suit.

　　Gongdian himself had favored accepting Su Ziqi’s party for refuge. Seeing the majority in agreement, he went with the flow: “Since the majority favor granting these humanclan celestial gods refuge with our clan, the matter is settled. We shall protect the celestial gods, and at the same time we shall protect our clan from harm.”

　　He surveyed those present and continued: “The present course is to seal information as tightly as possible. All who have seen the celestial gods must be ordered to keep silence. Further, the celestial gods must change into our clan’s garments and blend among us. So long as we leave no gap, the Green Clan gods will not know they are here.”