The adepti caught up with each other, then flew toward Mount Aocang.
Qiu Bai looked at the damaged terrain below near the Southern Gate.
He immediately summoned a beam of white divine light that illuminated the entire land.
Before the Traveler and Paimon astonished eyes, Countless plants began growing wildly, with trees sprouting to cover the damaged terrain.
"That should do it."
Qiu Bai said with a smile as he looked at the vegetation below.
"Since everything has been resolved. We should return to the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor. Director Hu must be worried by now."
Bosacius scratched his head and addressed Qiu Bai, Morax, and the Dragon King.
"Yes, go ahead, I'll need to check on things there shortly as well."
Zhongli said calmly with his arms crossed.
"Brother, goodbye!"
"We'll be heading back first!"
Qiu Yue said to Qiu Bai with a smile.
"Go on, Qiu Yue, Tell the Director we'll be back soon."
Qiu Bai smiled at his adorable sister.
Afterward, the five Yaksha and Qiu Yue shot toward Liyue Harbor.
Only Azhdaha, the Traveler, Paimon, Qiu Bai, and Morax remained.
"Let's go down, let's talk on the ground the wind is too strong up here."
Qiu Bai said with a smile, looking at everyone
Then everyone descended to the ground.
Morax flashed with golden light and transformed into Zhongli.
Morcius similarly flashed with ink-white spiritual light and took on Qiu Bai appearance.
Then Morax turned his head, smiled at Azhdaha and walked toward a tree.
The Fulong Tree had vanished by now. In its place stood a large tree regrown by Qiu Bai divine power.
"Three hundred years ago, Azhdaha attacked the Chasm, I personally intervened and fought him from the Chasm all the way to here."
Zhongli began slowly, looking at the tree.
"In the end, I struck him down and sealed him underground."
Azhdaha looked at Zhongli's back, crossed his arms and revealed a slight smile.
"The Dragon-Quelling Stone was born from that great battle, Azhdaha has an instinctive reaction to it, subconsciously wanting to use it to find me."
Zhongli turned to face the Traveler and Paimon.
"At the end of that battle, though I defeated him, it wasn't because he was inferior to me."
Zhongli said with a smile, looking at Azhdaha.
"In his heart, he still held affection for me, for Liyue and for all life above ground."
"Unfortunately, he forgot due to erosion."
Zhongli sighed, turning to the Traveler and Paimon.
"The power of erosion is terrifying."
the Traveler asked Zhongli in surprise, one hand on her chest.
"Have you been eroded as well?"
"I cannot escape it either."
Zhongli touched his chest, glanced at Qiu Bai, then turned to the Traveler.
"If not for Qiu Bai, the time until my complete erosion wouldn't be very long."
"Qiu Bai can even repair erosion?"
Paimon asked in surprise.
They had heard about erosion for so long now and understood what it meant.
Could everything related to memory be repaired?
"The more powerful the force, the more dangerous it becomes after erosion."
Zhongli said slowly, gazing at the twilight sky.
"For the sake of the right path, people continuously lose things."
"Perhaps this is the erosion that the heavenly principles have imposed upon me."
"But I am the god of humans. No matter how my identity changes, I will use these eyes to witness the history that belongs to humanity."
Zhongli lowered his head and looked at the Traveler and Paimon.
"You still care so much about Liyue..."
Paimon said with a smile, one hand over her chest.
"It's nothing, just my duty."
Zhongli said slowly, arms crossed, looking at Qiu Bai and Azhdaha.
"I believe my two old friends would feel the same way."
"Naturally."
Qiu Bai nodded with a smile.
"Even if we have become mortals, if Liyue faces a crisis it cannot resolve, we will intervene."
Azhdaha said with furrowed brows,
"Thank you for your help this time."
Zhongli said slowly to the Traveler and Paimon.
"You're welcome!"
Paimon said with a smile, her small hands behind her back.
"Wait, I want to ask you about something."
Lumine said softly, looking at Zhongli.
"What is it?"
Zhongli asked, somewhat puzzled.
"It's about my brother."
Lumine said slowly, one hand over her chest.
"Oh right, I almost forgot!"
Paimon turned to Zhongli as if remembering something.
"Recently, we met someone named Dainsleif."
"He told us about Khaenri'ah's disappearance and the gods' punishment..."
Paimon pointed forward, recalling the scene.
"These matters are related to the person we're looking for."
"Also, Qiu Bai said he's only lived for a thousand years."
Paimon turned to Qiu Bai.
"And he's been asleep the whole time, so he doesn't know anything."
"This concerns my family, it's all very important to me."
Lumine said, looking at Zhongli.
"Zhongli, unlike Qiu Bai, you're an ancient god who has lived for thousands of years."
Paimon asked expectantly.
"You must have witnessed that event, right?"
"Hmm...."
Zhongli closed his eyes as if recalling something, looking troubled.
"I cannot speak of it."
He slowly opened his eyes and said to Lumine and Paimon.
"Why?!"
Paimon exclaimed loudly.
"Why can't you reveal any information about it? This is really important to us!"
"I understand, but I'm sorry. This is my contract."
Zhongli lowered his head, remained silent for a moment, then continued slowly.
"This contract was formed before everything began. As one who honors contracts, I must remain silent on this matter."
"How can this be!"
Paimon said angrily.
"That's enough, don't pressure Morax."
Qiu Bai said with a smile, arms crossed.
"Disappointing you is not his intention."
"I'm also investigating the mysteries of this world."
Qiu Bai said with a smile to Lumine and Paimon.
"When I find answers, I'll tell you."
"I consider you a friend, and disappointing you is not my intention."
Zhongli said apologetically, arms crossed.
"But as the God of Contracts, I absolutely cannot break these contracts."
Qiu Bai smiled.
This world still held many mysteries.
If Zhongli simply revealed everything, wouldn't that make things boring? Even he had doubts about certain aspects of himself.
Thinking of this, Qiu Bai frowned. There was something he had been unable to figure out.
(T/N: Like the story fellow daoist? Read 20 chapters ahead on my P@treon [[email protected]/DaoistRongyi] Thanks for your support! 😊)