Coming back to his senses, Morax looked at Guizhong, who was now drenched in tears, and slowly walked over to her.
"You've already done everything you could." Morax gently pressed her head against his chest and comforted her softly.
That gesture from Morax was the final straw that broke Guizhong.
Guizhong hugged Morax tightly and burst into unrestrained sobs.
Once she started, she could not stop. She cried for several hours, nearly exhausting her tears, before she slowly quieted down.
A large patch of Morax's clothes was soaked.
"I've made up my mind. I'm going to build lots and lots of Guizhong Ballistas, enough to strike anywhere within the Guili Plains and Liyue at any moment. I'm going to cover all of Liyue and the Guili Plains with Guizhong Ballistas. I know I can do it!"
Guizhong declared her resolve, her eyes swollen from crying.
She did not want to be useless, a mere ornament who could only be protected by others. She wanted to protect this land too, to protect it alongside Morax.
"Yes. I believe in you," Morax said earnestly.
"I'm sorry I took up so much of your time, and got your clothes wet too..." she apologized quietly, lowering her head.
"It's nothing."
"I'll head back, then. I'm going to shut myself away and build Guizhong Ballistas."
"All right."
After saying goodbye to Guizhong, Morax did not immediately return to Liyue. Instead, brimming with boundless killing intent, he headed toward the flood to kill its source.
He followed the flood's path all the way to Qingce Village, where, sure enough, he discovered an enormous monster.
The Chi, which had unleashed the greatest flood in recorded history, had already lost its strength. Morax slew it effortlessly, then sealed it beneath Qingce Village.
This time, the Chi was not