[Zhongli: "If you still remember, Azhdaha... reaching this point was never our intention."]
[Azhdaha roared: "Ugh...! You betrayed me once, and now you betray me again!?"]
[Zhongli replied calmly: "If that is what you believe, then so be it."]
["Those who bear memories are destined to carry the weight of truth. This is how it should be."]
At this moment, Zhongli's words sounded eerily similar to a lover's quarrel—like saying, "If you want to think that way, I can't stop you."
But the reason he offered no explanation was simple: he knew Azhdaha had already forgotten the past. Explaining would be meaningless.
Yet Azhdaha, unaware of the truth, could only think—Morax, look me in the eyes and say that again!
As the story reached this point, Iron Tongue Tian subtly glanced at Zhongli, observing the Geo Archon's expression from the corner of his eye.
Zhongli merely sipped his tea in silence, his face betraying no emotion.
Zhongli never wore his heart on his sleeve, making it impossible for those around him to discern his true feelings.
The people of Liyue cared deeply for their Archon, yet they feared burdening him with their concern. Thus, their gazes were discreet, their worry hidden.
They trusted their Archon completely, never doubting that he would betray an old friend. There had to be more to the story.
They could only hope Shikikan would clarify things later—because while Liyue's people would never question their Archon, outsiders might.
[The battle ended. Azhdaha snarled: "You truly mean to destroy me!?"]
[Zhongli let out a heavy sigh but said nothing: "..."]
[Eight stone pillars rose from the earth, sealing Azhdaha once more.]
At Three-Round Knockout, though Zhongli remained silent, everyone could sense the weight in the Archon's heart.
This was the second time. Once again, he had personally sealed away an old friend...
Even the sturdiest of rocks would crack under relentless erosion.
The first time, Azhdaha had still retained some fragments of his former self. This time, he had forgotten even more.
What about the next time? And the time after that? Both Azhdaha and Zhongli lived such long lives—would there come a day when Azhdaha could no longer even remember his name?
[Azhdaha reverted to his child form and cried: "Morax! It was you who sealed me beneath the earth in the past, and now, a thousand years later, it is you again...!"]
[Zhongli sighed softly: "You may call it fate, Azhdaha."]
Yes, fate. For both of us. Zhongli thought silently.
[Azhdaha laughed bitterly: "Fate?! Hahahahaha!"]
["Is this the deliberation of gods? To destroy what you no longer need, to trample the wilderness with slaughter!?"]
To the present Azhdaha, he was nothing more than something Zhongli no longer needed—discarded like worthless scrap, sealed away without a second thought.
At least the old me wouldn't have thought this way. A voice suddenly spoke from behind the crowd.
[???: "No. You have forgotten."]
[Zhongli did not turn, only lowering his gaze: "Azhdaha..."]
[The speaker was Kun Jun, who stepped forward to stand beside Zhongli: "It has been a long time, Morax."]
[Now, 'Kun Jun's' voice carried a newfound steadiness, one that inspired trust.]
[Azhdaha: "You... who are you...?"]
[Kun Jun crossed his arms—mirroring Zhongli's posture exactly: "As you can see, Azhdaha."]
In reality, Kun Jun had an epiphany. No wonder I was so capable—I was possessed by the Dragon King Azhdaha! That explains it.
Though, if this were a novel, it'd be about reincarnating as Azhdaha. But in my case, it's more like Azhdaha 'reincarnated' into me.
Kun Jun read on intently—not just for the sake of Zhongli and Azhdaha's bond, but to learn about his own future.
[Kun Jun: "Forgive me for not revealing the truth sooner, Traveler. Some things only became clear to me beneath this tree."]
["To be precise, I am not the complete Dragon King Azhdaha... but merely a fragment."]
Kun Jun (Azhdaha) spoke in a manner entirely different from Azhdaha's other manifestation, Ajou (Azhdaha).
Kun Jun's voice was gentle, his tone steady—almost reminiscent of Zhongli's own demeanor, more 'human' in nature.
Ajou, on the other hand, was filled with fury and fervor, embodying the essence of a 'dragon'.
[Kun Jun: "Heaven and earth, yin and yang, duality—you may consider the Dragon King and myself as such existences. We are both fragments of Azhdaha's will."]
In simpler terms, it was as if the Tiger Talisman had split Azhdaha's consciousness—separating his kindness from his wrath.
The story explained how Kun Jun (Azhdaha) came to be.
Due to the weakening of the seal, part of Azhdaha's power had seeped out, taking the form of a child.
She spoke of her resentment toward her imprisonment, but no one took her seriously.
So she decided to manipulate miners into digging at the seal, weakening it from within.
Meanwhile, 'Kun Jun' was another fragment of power that had awakened as the seal loosened—so weak it could not manifest independently, only possessing a human.
His power was so faint that he had forgotten much, remembering only that he needed to find Morax.
Zhongli listened with a faint smile, only speaking once Kun Jun finished.
["Had your power been stronger, I might have recognized you sooner—not just when you mentioned the Dragonfall stone."]
[Kun Jun (Azhdaha): "Do not blame yourself. I am already unrecognizable. It was only when I touched that ancient stone tablet that I recalled the past."]
["It has been far too long. A secret unknown to both young humans and an aged dragon... Morax, shall you speak, or shall I?"]
[Zhongli smiled: "It matters not. The choice is yours."]
[Kun Jun chuckled: "Hah, you haven't changed. Then I shall."]
["Azhdaha was once the Geo Archon Morax's confidant and comrade, his lifespan far exceeding that of humans. Yet, as creatures born of the earth, we are like the very rocks beneath our feet..."]
["'Erosion'—this is the fuse the world has placed upon us..."]
["Erosion stripped Azhdaha of his reason, making him forget the faces of old friends, the very harbor he once swore to protect."]
This was the first time ordinary readers encountered the concept of 'Erosion'—realizing it was not merely about forgetting, but a force that could drive one to madness.
[Ajou: "It was humans who attacked the ley lines I depended upon for survival!"]
Ajou's meaning was clear: excessive mining had disrupted the ley lines, causing Azhdaha unbearable suffering.
Compounded by Erosion, Azhdaha gradually lost his reason, no longer able to empathize with humans—until he finally turned against them.
During this time, Zhongli had tried to halt Erosion's effects, but to no avail.
Morax had never betrayed Azhdaha.
[Kun Jun: "The sky falls, the earth quakes—"]
[Ajou: "—Barren land birthed stars, blazing like the sun..."]
Zhongli said nothing, only sighing heavily once more, his expression uncharacteristically sorrowful.
In the end, Kun Jun imparted the emotions and memories of human connection to Ajou.
[Ajou, unwilling, her voice trembling with grief: "No... how can this be fate? I refuse to accept it!"]
[Before vanishing, Ajou uttered his name one final time, her voice breaking: "Mora... x..."]
Ajou disappeared—another fragment of Azhdaha's memory and consciousness, gone.
The next time he awoke, he would forget all of this again. And perhaps Zhongli would have to seal him away once more.
[Zhongli, who had remained silent until now, finally spoke: "Azhdaha... are you satisfied?"]
[Kun Jun: "Cleaning up after oneself can hardly be called 'satisfaction.'"]
["Morax... the name you go by now is—"]
[Here, Kun Jun paused, forcing out the name awkwardly: "Zhong... Li... correct?"]