Chapter 231 - 218: Hundred Years of Pain; Thousand Years of Suffering 2
"It's not that His Highness didn't know this, but, he didn't know what to do about it." Guoshi said.
Xie Lian inclined his head slightly and commented, "He's a god, of course he couldn't say to the devotees that I won't allow you to worship a god other than me. He probably felt disdain for such a demand too."
"Naturally, you understand him very well." Guoshi said.
Xie Lian added, "But, this just had to be when he can't afford to lose devotees and spiritual powers, otherwise the construction of the Cross Heaven Bridge would be affected."
"That's exactly it." Guoshi said, "So, it was up to the four of us to relay to the people what the stakes were."
"And how did that go?" Xie Lian asked.
"Probably nothing remarkable," Hua Cheng said.
"Nothing remarkable indeed," Guoshi replied, "At least, nothing that met our expectations. A part of the people worried the construction of the bridge might fall apart and returned, but there was a larger part of the people who thought instead His Highness was being domineering. Their prayers were not fulfilled, so it couldn't be helped that they turned around to worship other gods that could fulfill their wishes. They were free devotees, they could believe in whatever they wanted to believe, it's all more than natural."
"It wasn't that he didn't want to please everyone, it's just he really was..."
Xie Lian sighed and whispered, "...He had the heart but not the strength."
Guoshi continued, "After His Highness learned of this, he stopped us, and said if they wanted to go then let them go. If they were forcefully kept, they wouldn't be believing in him wholeheartedly anyway. That certainly was the case, and even though we've warned them over and over again, the hearts of the devotees had already dispersed. Even if they forced themselves to come back, they were only placating us."