55. Settled
When he saw Azhdaha's state, he whispered to Zhongli.
"Mr. Zhongli, if you can copy Kun Jun's memories to Azhdaha, better do it now when he is in this state!"
Since Kun Jun was the benevolent remnant of Azhdaha, then he must have the memories, including the contract and living coexistence with humanity. And Ryūhei's idea was to copy those memories to let Azhdaha remember his past. With that, there is a possibility that Azhdaha can return to normal.
Zhongli agreed with what he said. So, he immediately called out to Kun Jun before approaching Azhdaha inside the seal.
Meanwhile, Ryūhei took out waterproof papers from the system backpack along with a brush, template, and waterproof ink. Then, he drew the formula and symbols in it while imbued with his cursed energy.
A moment later.
"Mo–rax…"
Only after Zhongli let Azhdaha see Kun Jun's memories, did Azhdaha know that what Kun Jun said was not bullcrap.
Azhdaha used to be slumbered underground. When he awakened, every move he made, no matter how small, caused the earth to tremble and shake, which led to Morax seeking him out to stop it.
As a blind Geo lifeform that dwelled underground but wished to see surface life, he was delighted when Morax granted him a pair of eyes. Since then, Azhdaha became a friend of both Morax and humanity itself, taking a particular liking to blacksmiths.
Azhdaha naturally felt nostalgic when he saw those memories, although he could no longer remember.
At that moment, Ryūhei approached them. He said.
"Allow me!"
He formed a hand seal. Then, talisman papers he drew floated behind him before they flew toward Azhdaha and stuck in his body. Then, the moment he clapped his hand, the formula and symbols within the talisman papers started to change into burning color.
Strangely enough, the talisman papers seeped into Azhdaha's skin while leaving the burning marks of the formula and symbols.
Kun Jun and Zhongli widened their eyes, especially Zhongli since Zhongli was the one who taught Ryūhei about the talisman and Adeptus Arts. However, it seems Ryūhei drew the talismans for another purpose that he doesn't know about.
"Thank–you." Azhdaha slowly gave him gratitude as he laid his entire body on the ground. He felt that his mind became clearer after the technique formula of the talismans was engraved on his body.
His body was weakened, but his consciousness was still there. He had no idea what Morax wanted to do with him—especially Ryūhei, who has the ability to destroy his body.
On the other hand, after seeing the talismans seeping into Azhdaha's skin while leaving burning marks, Zhongli couldn't help but ask.
"What was that?"
Ryūhei turned to Zhongli with a question mark on his face.
"Hmmm? Don't you want to save him? I created these talismans to absorb his negative emotions whenever and wherever. And if he is out of control, the technique formula inside them will absorb his negative emotions instantly before turning to cursed energy at the same level as him to seal his power."
In fact, although Zhongli taught him, he never taught him how to seal other people using a talisman. However, he didn't know the secret of Ryūhei's eyes.
Ryūhei always observed how Zhongli created the giant formation as well as the flow of energy. Since his thought process could turn a moment in reality into over a minute within his brain, he understood pretty well how Zhongli's giant formation worked in restraining and sealing Azhdaha's power. Combining with how Zhongli taught him Adeptus Arts and talismans, Ryūhei created sealing talismans on his own.
"Since he's already forgotten his past and the people have forgotten about him as they only know the evil dragon defeated by the Geo Archon, Morax, why don't you let him make a new start and create his legend once more? Or perhaps let him live normally with humans to hone his thoughts. Although his Erosion is still there, it will be no problem as long as his power is sealed."
Ryūhei's voice was loud enough to be heard by Zhongli, Kun Jun, and Azhdaha. However, Kun Jun rejected that idea.
"Ryūhei, it's too dangerous. We're in a different space, so the battle over here didn't attract anyone. However, if he suddenly gets out of control—"
"What are you saying? Am I not here? As long as I'm around, I'm not going to let him lose control. I can also sense that something is wrong with the talisman I used on him. Mr. Zhongli was the one who asked me to save Azhdaha. And this is my idea. Though, the final decision is still on you, Mr. Zhongli."
The two of them turned to Zhongli. Even Azhdaha slowly opened his eyelid after hearing that.
"I have no problem with that. And I think it's better if Ryūhei took care of him."
"Eh, me?"
"Of course. From what I see, your power is the most suitable to restrain him if something unexpected happens in the future." Then, Zhongli turned to Azhdaha. "What do you think?"
"Make a… new start. And create… a new memory, huh? That's not bad…"
Since Azhdaha had calmed down, he was able to think a little rationally, and that was thanks to the talismans that dampened his negative emotions.
With that, Ryūhei asked Azhdaha to transform. Since he could manifest his power as a little girl, Ryūhei believed that Azhdaha could transform himself as well.
However, since he was weakened and his power was sealed as well, he could do nothing about it. Then, Zhongli approached Azhdaha and lifted the seal and pillars surrounding him to share his power while Ryūhei loosened his seal on Azhdaha for a moment.
With that, Azhdaha's body started to shrink rapidly. Oddly enough, Azhdaha transformed into a little girl, the same little girl who forced people to dig the entrance of the seal. Ryūhei didn't know if it was because Azhdaha fonded little girls or what, although Kun Jun stated that Azhdaha took a particular fonding for blacksmiths. In any case, he put aside that thought.
"Right, it will be weird if I call you Azhdaha from now on. What do you want me to call you?"
If Ryūhei called out Azhdaha's name in Liyue Harbor but what he called turned out to be a little girl, everyone knowledgeable might look at them strangely. Therefore, he thought that Azhdaha needed to use another name.
"Jiu." Azhdaha replied shortly.
Ryūhei nodded and looked at both Jiu and Kun Jun.
"Can we make a contract? I want you to keep my secrets including my power, and I'll do something in exchange. And Mr. Zhongli over here will act as a witness."
"Do as you please!"
Although Jiu was still rude, at least he agreed to form a contract with Ryūhei.
Kun Jun turned to Zhongli and opened his mouth.
"So, Morax, you call yourself Zhongli these days?"
"I do. So, refrain yourself from calling me that name in public."
"Hahaha. It's my old habit. To me, you're always Morax. Although you're different from the old, your familiar aura and the shape of your eyes can't fool me." Then, he turned to Ryūhei. "To be honest, even without a contract, I'd probably forget what happened in this space. However, I will still take your word for the contract. You don't need to do anything since you will take care of my main body. Think of it as an equal exchange."
"I'll honor your agreement." Ryūhei nodded.
Zhongli opened his mouth.
"Now, since the matter is settled, are you gonna leave? Your power is not enough to keep you awake."
Kun Jun nodded.
"Yeah. You're perceptive as always, my friend. In the first place, this isn't my body. If I fall into slumber, I don't know when I'll wake up again. But it will be a good thing for Kun Jun since his memories will return to normal."
"Since it's like that, I'll forge the contract for the three of you."
After that, Zhongli forged the contract. In exchange for Ryūhei looking after Azhdaha, Azhdaha will keep Ryūhei's secrets. After the contract was forged, all of them walked out of the space.
After getting out, they carried the unconscious miners and adventurers to the tent that Ryūhei set earlier. They were also carrying the dead ones as well.
Ryūhei began to contemplate after seeing the victims in this incident. He wondered how he should report after going back to Liyue Harbor.