57. Parting

Author's note: Guys, I made a tier list based on the lore, please check out the auxiliary chapter (ch. 0) and give your thoughts in the comment!

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"Oh, they're my bionic puppets. Since you can feel the energy flow, you should understand what I meant."

Because he was still under contract with Zhongli, Ryūhei didn't really mind if he told a bit of his secret, though he didn't reveal the full extent.

Zhongli held his chin for a moment before saying,

"Just like the receptionist in the Adventurers' Guild, huh?"

Looking at those bionic puppets' appearances, no doubt, those two were combat types. However, Zhongli mused, why did Ryūhei take them out now? Why not earlier?

After pondering for a moment, he understood why Ryūhei didn't take them out. After all, even a god-like being could still be troubled when fighting against Azhdaha, let alone just mere puppets. Unless, those puppets were at the same level as the Raiden Shogun's puppet.

"Ryūhei, where did you find these puppets?" Zhongli asked.

"In the ruins. I can't tell you more than this."

"I get it. So, is there a reason why you took them out now?"

Ryūhei nodded, then replied, "Yes. I set off from Inazuma by a waverider. Since the watercraft can only be driven by one person, I put the two bionic puppets into my space. I was unlucky at that time due to the lightning that destroyed my waverider. Then, I was saved by pirates who just happened to be passing by."

Zhongli knew that Ryūhei was so proficient in manipulating space. So, having a dimensional space wasn't strange to Ryūhei.

Ryūhei hadn't finished his explanation yet. He continued, "Since I was on a strangers' ship, I couldn't take them out. Even when I arrived in Liyue Harbor, I felt like I was always being observed. So, ain't no way I took them out at that time. And if I suddenly had two beautiful women by my side, the one who observed me would have questioned me nonstop."

"I should have stopped observing you after making contact with you. So–"

"That's right. As you have guessed, it is Liyue Qixing. They've been off my radar ever since I received this request. That's why I decided to take them out now. And I didn't plan to return to Liyue Harbor early to make excuses if the Tianquan asked me. Perhaps, tomorrow. Can you accompany me?"

"I see. Sure thing, we can go back tomorrow."

Ryūhei was glad that the Geo Archon was such an easygoing person. What's more, he was a person who always kept his word due to his status as the God of Contract.

If he wanted to open a new shop in another nation, it was better if the god there was easy to get along with, just like Zhongli. However, he also considered Inazuma as well since it was his home nation.

Ryūhei looked at his bionic puppets. The system said they were multifunctional puppets, but what he sensed was that they didn't seem to have such utility except for combat purposes.

"I should check them first." Ryūhei muttered.

As soon as he wanted to check his two puppets, he saw Kun Jun coming out of the cave with something in his hands.

"Ryūhei, this is Dragonfall, a rare ore to forge an excellent weapon. Take it!" Kun Jun handed a light-colored rainbow crystal to Ryūhei, at least the size of a baby's head.

"Are you sure about this? This is a rare ore, you know!"

"Haha. In the first place, I was looking for a Dragonfall to find my purpose in aiding Morax to seal my main body once again. But, since you solve our problem, it doesn't matter anymore. Although I'm sure this ore is sought after by many wealthy families. I believe you're the most suitable owner to have a weapon forged by using Dragonfall. Just take it!"

"Since you insist, I'll take this ore."

Ryūhei gladly accepted the ore. He just needed to find an excellent blacksmith after getting the ore. Although Ryūhei could be said to be a blacksmith due to his family lineage, he could only forge an ordinary sword or katana by using common ores. Thus, he didn't have the confidence to forge a sword using a rare ore such as Dragonfall.

Kun Jun noticed two strangers. Since Kun Jun was under contract with him, Ryūhei was willing to tell him just as he had told Zhongli.

But then, Ryūhei sighed.

Looking at Ryūhei's troubled expression, Kun Jun asked.

"Is something wrong?"

Ryūhei looked at Kun Jun.

"Nah. I think I need to go back to Inazuma to forge my weapon. I don't have the skill to forge this kind of ore after all." He replied.

"Oh. Hehe. In that case, once I leave this body, you can ask Kun Jun to forge your weapon. Kun Jun hails from a family of famous artisans in Liyue, so I believe a rare ore like this will become a top-notch weapon after being forged by him or his family members." Kun Jun replied with a chuckle.

"You always did have great admiration for blacksmiths after all. That's why you prefer to possess someone with such a talent." Zhongli added.

When Kun Jun mentioned, "leave this body," Ryūhei remembered that Kun Jun said that he would forget what happened in the sealed space.

"Right, you said you'll forget our fight against your main body. But, will the real Kun Jun remember our conversation right now? And if he somehow forgot he followed us to The Chasm and Nantianmen from Liyue Harbor, it would be more troublesome to explain later."

"You don't need to worry about that. He only forgot when my memory returned completely, in other words, when I touched the stone tablet there." Kun Jun pointed to the stone tablet near the cave. Because the big tree that was used as the seal had become Azhdaha's tail, it had already disappeared when Ryūhei fought against him. And all that was left now was the large hole and cave that led to the sealed door.

"That's reassuring." Ryūhei sighed in relief after hearing Kun Jun's reply.

Then, Kun Jun turned to Zhongli.

"Morax, I've been wanting to ask. That day in The Chasm, did you hesitate? Were it not so, you would have killed me long ago, and would not be having to face me again now."

"..." Zhongli couldn't reply immediately. A brief silence made Ryūhei nervous as well.

Then, Zhongli said after a few moments of silence.

"A heart of stone is a heart nonetheless. But I am the God of Contracts and a god of the people of Liyue. You've brought a smile to my face. When all is said and done, a reunion between old friends is an auspicious occasion."

"You chose justice but did not forsake your kindness. You came to me not as an assassin, and so I was willingly sealed away."

Zhongli reminisced about the past. Then he said, "The movements of the Earth Dragon can tremble the earth and shake the heavens. With your abilities, even at my full strength, I struggled to confront you, let alone seal you away."

It was Zhongli's honest thoughts. Moreover, Azhdaha could control 5 elements in total by absorbing the Ley Lines, which increased his resistance over those elements. Thus, unless he sealed Azhdaha, he couldn't do anything against him.

"Hence "my" inception to this world. Do not forget that I was there with Liyue's founder. The face may have changed, but the content of the contract remains intact. Old friend, God of Contracts. I hereby honor our agreement."

"Thank you, Azhdaha!"

"..."

There was a sudden disturbance of energy in Kun Jun's body as his body shone. Naturally, all of them noticed that.

"You're leaving?" Zhongli asked.

His question got a smile as a response.

"If it is fated, Morax, we will meet again."

A ray of light flew away from Kun Jun's body, and just like that, Azhdaha's will, who remembered their contract, was gone. After the light dissipated, Kun Jun fell unconscious and Ryūhei immediately caught him. Then, he rested Kun Jun in the tent.

Zhongli turned his gaze toward the sky as he muttered, "Amidst the quiet, only the soft sound of the wind can be heard. Time seems to transform into an invisible river, trickling away. A fleeting moment, a thousand years in the mortal world. The rocks feel it, and so does the earth and the gods."

Ryūhei heard that, albeit a little, so he asked.

"What are you mumbling about, Mr. Zhongli?"

Zhongli shook his head.

"Nothing. Don't mind me! Oh, there they are." Zhongli saw some people walking toward the camp. Ryūhei turned around and saw Uncle Dai bring some helpers.

"So there you are! My men and I found your clues and followed them straight here." Uncle Dai greeted them before he saw Kun Jun and some people in the tent. He also saw some people covered by cloth on their faces.

Noticing that the people whose faces were covered with cloth didn't look like they were breathing anymore, Uncle Dai asked Zhongli and Ryūhei about them.

"They're–"

"Dead." Ryūhei replied. Then he lied that an evil spirit had attacked them. They died before Ryūhei, Zhongli, and Kun Jun arrived. Then, Zhongli immediately performed an exorcism with Ryūhei and Kun Jun's help. When Uncle Dai asked about Kun Jun, Ryūhei told him that he had just fallen asleep from exhaustion.