"So now, I'll head outside and deal with the aftermath caused by you."
Zhongli looked at Kun Jun with a faint smile. Reuniting with an old friend brought him genuine joy.
"Well said. Let's go."
Kun Jun chuckled and nodded.
By now, dusk was approaching.
The slanting sunlight bathed the valley in gold, while the stream shimmered with reflected brilliance. The fresh air prompted Lumine and Paimon—who had just been teleported out from beneath the Dragon-Queller Tree—to take a deep breath.
Soon, the group arrived beneath the tree, where they ran into Lao Dai.
"So this is where you all were!"
"My brothers and I followed the traces you left behind all the way here."
Lao Dai waved as he approached them.
"On the way, we found Xiao Mao unconscious in a tent at the camp ahead. We've already settled him down."
"Unfortunately… we still haven't found the other three."
He continued, his tone tinged with worry.
"Xiao Kun, what's with you…?"
Lao Dai noticed the faint white aura surrounding Kun Jun and looked surprised.
"It's nothing serious. No need to worry."
"As for the workers you're looking for—they're in the cave nearby."
Kun Jun replied calmly.
"In the cave? What… what happened to them?!"
Lao Dai asked, confused.
"They've expended quite a bit of strength, but their lives are not in danger. There's no need for concern."
Zhongli explained with his arms crossed.
"Alright, alright! Thank you all so much!"
"I need to go check on them right away!"
Lao Dai nodded repeatedly, then hurried off toward the cave beneath the tree.
"Will you be taking them back to Liyue Harbor later?"
Kun Jun pressed a hand to his forehead and asked.
"Yes, yes!"
Lao Dai replied.
"I'll go with you."
"Would that be acceptable?"
Kun Jun asked, placing a hand over his chest.
"No problem at all!"
"You're all lifesavers to my brothers. Whatever you need, I'll do my best to help."
"Let me check on them first—I'll come back to thank you properly later."
With that, Lao Dai rushed into the cave.
[Lao Dai has no idea everyone here has lived as long as heaven and earth]
[LOL he still doesn't realize who he's talking to]
[Please let Azhdaha enter the banner]
[+1]
[At least put Qiu Nian in the banner first (facepalm)]
"Xiao Kun… ah, no—sorry, I should call you Dragon King."
"Are you going back to Liyue Harbor too?"
Paimon asked.
"Not me—this body."
"Once I fade, its original owner can return with the foreman."
"Kun Jun is the descendant of a master craftsman. Given time, he will surely make a name for himself."
"A person like that must not come to harm."
Kun Jun explained.
"You're still the same—so fond of craftsmen."
Zhongli remarked.
"Blades may be cold, but craftsmen have heart."
"And 'human sentiment'… isn't that what humanity prides itself on most?"
Kun Jun said with a soft smile.
"Azhdaha… I am no longer the Geo Archon."
Zhongli said.
"I can tell."
Kun Jun fell silent for a moment before replying.
"Now, I am merely an ordinary citizen of Liyue."
Zhongli added calmly.
["Ordinary citizen of Liyue"]
[Same energy as Guixu saying "I'm just a normal person"]
[What kind of 'ordinary' person summons meteors with a wave of his hand? (facepalm)]
[You two seriously misunderstand what 'ordinary' means]
"So… even you have come to this point."
"Let me say this first—I cannot guarantee that another upheaval won't awaken me again."
Kun Jun warned.
"Even if that day comes…"
"The people of Liyue should be ready to face you."
Zhongli said as he walked forward.
"Can Liyue… truly stand without the Geo Archon?"
Kun Jun asked, his expression complicated as he looked at Zhongli's back.
"If there are no gods in this world…"
"Then this land shall belong to humans."
"I was once their god."
"It is only right that I witness their rise and fall."
Zhongli gazed over the valley bathed in dusk.
"All life will erode and change in the long river of time."
"You were the strongest soul among us…"
"And even you have been worn down…"
Kun Jun said with emotion.
"The strongest soul…"
"That is not quite accurate."
"Azhdaha, you of all people should know—"
"The strongest among us… could never be me."
Zhongli shook his head slightly.
"Then… could it be me?"
At that moment, Qiu Nian stepped forward, standing on Zhongli's other side.
"Haha…"
"I never said that."
Zhongli chuckled.
"You even counted Guixu among us."
"He can hardly be called normal—more like an anomaly."
Kun Jun teased.
"An anomaly, is it?"
"Azhdaha, that's not exactly a flattering term."
Qiu Nian turned his head with a faint smile.
"Crude words, but not inaccurate."
Kun Jun replied with a grin, hands resting on his hips.
[They're joking even at a time like this? (facepalm)]
[This kind of friendship is honestly enviable…]
[The BGM fits perfectly]
[Lumine and Paimon literally can't get a word in]
[Why does Azhdaha call Guixu an anomaly lol]
[Obviously teasing—maybe Guixu's soul is even stronger than Zhongli's]
"But that aside…"
"All things follow cause and fate."
"If our mission has reached its end, then we should face departure with courage."
"You may be immortal, destined for solitude—but that is only temporary."
"When you reach the end of time…"
"You will reunite with all those bound to you—past and future alike."
Kun Jun said, turning to Zhongli.
"Loneliness… I wouldn't say I feel that now."
Zhongli replied with a faint smile.
"I see…"
Kun Jun chuckled softly.
"And when it comes to lifespan, you still surpass me."
"Beings born of the elements may very well be the longest-lived on this continent."
Zhongli added.
"If not…"
"You wouldn't have been forced to face me instead of killing me."
Kun Jun said, waving his hand.
"You jest."
"Reuniting with an old friend is something to be cherished."
Zhongli replied.
"Back then, at the Chasm…"
"Did you hesitate?"
Kun Jun suddenly asked.
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