The glorious years of the past traversed the long river of time, like a gentle breeze brushing the face, reappearing in Azhdaha's mind.
A moment ago Azhdaha was seething with rage, but he gradually calmed down.
His colossal body emerged from the bottomless abyss, nearly spanning the entire Nantianmen. With such a massive form, a single sweep of his tail could turn Liyue Harbor into ruins.
The anomaly at the horizon dissipated. The splendid sun scattered gold-like shards of light; lush green grass and golden flowers swayed in the breeze.
"Heaven moves ten thousand phenomena; mountains and seas take form; wastelands birth stars, brilliant… as the blazing sun."
"Morax…"
Memories of long-ago deaths surged back anew.
The mad, scarlet eyes of the Azhdaha Dragon King gradually returned to brown.
His enormous body shrank accordingly, becoming roughly the size of an ordinary house. He felt the world's wind and the bright clouds… His spirit, worn down and tormented, was rapidly recovering.
"Looks like it's working."
Zhongli showed a rare flash of excitement.
Whether when playing the game, or after Ken recognized who he was, Zhongli had always been steady and mature, as if nothing in the world could stir much ripple in his eyes.
But today Ken saw the millennia-old bedrock show excitement.
It wasn't merely because the potion could overcome erosion.
More so… seeing a once-eroded retainer gradually regain his senses—regret, sorrow, and joy tangled together—even living rock would be moved.
"What was that just now?"
Xiao asked curiously. He had seen everything Ken did earlier.
"A mental restoration potion. It can restore spirits and memories tortured by erosion," Ken explained simply, though his mind was racing.
Though he himself feared no erosion in Teyvat, and the potion was useless to him, for the Seven and the adepti, a mental restoration potion was incredibly precious.
With these potions, he might gain excellent bargaining chips in the future.
"Azhdaha…"
Looking at the gradually calming Azhdaha, the excitement in Zhongli's eyes turned into wistfulness.
The seal that lasted thousands of years had left Azhdaha struggling in a lightless abyss. That was his regret as well.
"Morax, I feel… much better."
Compared to his raging self just now, Azhdaha's voice was calm. He kept flexing his tail and limbs, feeling a rare ease and comfort.
That ease didn't come from being unbound, but from the soothed exhaustion and pain of his spirit. It allowed him to freely feel the mountain breeze, the gentle sunlight, and all the beauty of the world.
Many memories eroded away had become clear again.
He remembered Morax's grace in enlightening him, remembered the camaraderie of warring at Morax's side, and remembered his original intention to protect the people of Liyue.
Everything seemed to come alive again with that cool, refreshing sensation.
"We also have Ken to thank." Zhongli laid out how things had happened.
Azhdaha looked at Ken, a little ashamed. "I'm sorry, Mr. Ken. My mental state was unstable just now. I spoke rudely to you and Morax. That wasn't my intention…"
He had even misunderstood that Morax had designs on his backside—utterly absurd.
But at that time, tormented by erosion, he'd lost all reason and couldn't control himself.
"I understand." Ken naturally knew Azhdaha's experience. He cut him off to ask, "Do you feel your mental state has stabilized now? How exactly does it feel?"
This mattered.
During his centuries of imprisonment, Azhdaha's mind had split into benevolence and malice.
When unstable, he was mostly dominated by malice.
If this was only a temporary suppression rather than full recovery, Azhdaha would remain a ticking time bomb, not yet fit to be freed and needing continued sealing.
"I feel the memories I'd forgotten have become clear again. Even the many tangled spiritual fragments formed over the millennia of sealing have dissipated."
Azhdaha carefully sensed the changes and said softly, "My current state feels like when I first met Morax. But this likely can't last forever. So long as I exist in the world, erosion won't stop."
Even if much erosion had been healed now, he would still undergo erosion again.
In a thousand years, he might go mad once more.
"That's enough."
Ken glanced at Azhdaha. "In my world, most erosion can be avoided. But your body is far too large to go over recklessly. Zhongli is there as well. If you want to go, you'll need to shrink or assume a human form."
Even though Azhdaha's body was now less than a thousandth of its original size, on Blue Star it was still too big.
Azhdaha didn't answer, but looked to Zhongli.
Zhongli nodded. "He's right. Blue Star can greatly avoid erosion. Since your mind has stabilized, come with me—whether to sleep or wander the mortal world, come along."
He now counted as having retired with honor. Since Azhdaha had a chance to lay down his arms as well, Zhongli certainly wouldn't refuse.
Having an old retainer by his side was the greatest solace to a god.
"I'll… shrink then."
Thinking of his malicious incarnation, Azhdaha felt a little embarrassed.
Though an elemental life could freely decide its gender, after following Morax he'd chosen to be male. Who knew his malice would take the shape of a delicate little girl—awkward indeed.
Fortunately, he'd now strangled that malice with his own will. Otherwise, for the mighty Azhdaha Dragon King to have taken a loli form… it would be hard to live down.
He would recuperate on Blue Star first, then consider a male human form.
"Is this enough?"
After shrinking to around the size of a Blue Star crocodile, Azhdaha asked.
Ken nodded. "That'll do."
At a glance, Azhdaha now looked a bit like a crocodile. If discovered, though, he would surely draw scientists' attention.
But so long as he didn't go out in that form, he wouldn't be exposed.
The villa district was covered by wind-shields set up by Ken, blocking all probing. To the outside, it appeared as tranquil and picturesque as ever.
"Xiao, what are your plans?"
With Azhdaha's situation settled, Zhongli looked to Xiao.
As his yaksha, Xiao's experience was no lighter than Azhdaha's. He still bore many karmic debts that flared up from time to time, bringing him unbearable pain.
"I will continue to protect Liyue. Please rest assured, Lord Rex Lapis." Xiao knelt, devout.
Zhongli said solemnly, "Liyue now walks the path of human rule. The era of the adepti has passed. You should earnestly feel the beauty of this world as well. If you wish to go to Blue Star, I believe Mr. Ken won't refuse."
"Of course." Ken smiled kindly.
These characters going to Blue Star earned him more lottery pulls. Naturally he wouldn't refuse.
Besides, the villa where Zhongli and Venti lived was large. A few more residents wouldn't crowd it.
"Xiao… obeys." Xiao was tempted.
In front of Zhongli, he wasn't the cold figure of the past—only loyal.
Ken opened a vortex gate, and they all headed to Blue Star.
As for the terrain change at the Nantianmen caused by Azhdaha's escape, Ken summoned a gale to smooth the ground.
It didn't fully restore it, but at least it was passable.
…
The villa.
After bringing them back, Ken didn't disturb Zhongli, Azhdaha, and Xiao's reunion, returning to his own villa instead.
A reunion after hundreds or thousands of years was hard-won.
They surely had much to say.
But soon after Ken got back, Venti, reeking of alcohol, came running over.
"I want to bring Dvalin over too."
Seeing Azhdaha freed and following Zhongli to Blue Star, Venti couldn't help feeling envious.
After all, Dvalin was his retainer.
Venti didn't want to see Dvalin continue to suffer erosion either. Dvalin had endured plenty.
"That's certainly fine—but let's see some sincerity?"
Lounging on the sofa, Ken spoke lazily.
Venti: "…"
Seeing Ken's relaxed posture, Venti pouted helplessly, but wasn't upset. It was a fair trade, after all. He reached into his bag-space and rummaged around.
A god who had lived for millennia would always have some good things, even if he kept a light load.
"How about Hurricane Seed?"
After much fishing around, Venti took out a few Hurricane Seed.
They were products of the Anemo Hypostasis.
In the game, the Anemo Hypostasis respawns two or three minutes after being defeated.
But in the real Teyvat, an Anemo Hypostasis appears only once every few years, at uncertain times and in completely different places. Even if you wanted to hunt one, you needed luck and fate.
Hurricane Seed contain dense Anemo power. Absorbing them enhances Anemo aptitude.
They're also excellent consumable items: a single seed can form a small tornado, easily destroying a village or town.
So for adventurers in Mondstadt, the Anemo Hypostasis is a target to pursue. Unfortunately, its appearance is random, and its power great—encountering it doesn't mean you can defeat it.
For someone at Ken's level, though, it wasn't very useful—just an amusing trinket that might come in handy someday.
"Such generosity from the Anemo Archon—I'll gladly accept." Ken teased Venti, then smiled. "But you told Dvalin to seek his own freedom. Whether he's willing to come is another matter."
Long ago, Dvalin had been attracted by Venti's lyre and song, becoming his retainer.
After the Dragonspine disaster, Venti didn't want to impose his own definition of freedom on Dvalin.
He let Dvalin pursue the freedom he believed in.
Compared to Azhdaha's erosion, Dvalin's was not yet so severe.
"I know—but it doesn't stop me from reserving a spot for him." Venti grinned. "Thanks. If you ever need help, just ask me. Streaming and such—I've got loads of experience."
Ken: "…"
Compared to Zhongli, Venti adapted far better to life on Blue Star.
Besides drinking, he watched all kinds of streams and talent shows. He could probably debut as an idol right now.
On this, Ken pondered having Venti make some derivative shorts for promotion.
After Venti left, Ken didn't return to Teyvat but drove to the company.
He hadn't visited in a good while; he needed to oversee things personally.
…
"Boss, what brings you here today?"
Hana looked surprised to see Ken.
"I'm here to check on the progress of the new Inazuma map." Ken glanced at Hana. "Tell me—how's it going?"
"Boss, you're ruthless. You never show up, and when you do, you rush us," Hana joked. "But progress is good—about 60%. Mainly because the asset packs you provided are complete, so it's easy for us."
With that, Hana pulled up the data on her computer and showed Ken.
Ken skimmed it and nodded, satisfied. "Not bad. Keep it up."
"Just verbal praise?" Though she was his subordinate, Hana had known Ken before, so she spoke casually.
"Everyone gets a bonus." Ken smiled. "And about the comic-con—you'll arrange it. I'll bring Cosplayer myself."
Hana's eyes lit up. "Really? That's great!"
If those god-tier cosplayers showed up, Genshin would explode on-site.
This was Genshin's first convention appearance—meaningful in itself. With god-tier Cosplayer, it'd be a showstopper.
Hana promptly notified her assistant to start the promo.