[no one should have to bear his weight, not when he had a hand in causing the pain of others. he had a firm grasp at his emotions, at his memories, but to be triggered so intensely, to react in such a way...]

Could you protect those from me?

[he had not wanted to be like the other lords. to torment and cause death, turning a blind eye because it's the Renans' belief of totalitarianism over the Dahan race. there is no lie in his mind that the ease of life for the Dahnans came from a place of selfishness, but if they were content, then he wouldn't have to hear those screams and the sounds of despair.

what Dohalim had discovered instead, were the underground workings of his own kin, to overturn that peace. they, he supposes, had succeeded in that. Viscint is shaken, bearing witness to the sheer power its lord had truly possessed, corrupted by rage and grief, and a need to seek out those who disturbed that peace.

so, for Zhongli, this mystery of a man, who possesses power like no other Dohalim had ever encountered before, for him to say that he can protect the people of this city and realm...]

You would... Have to kill me. End my life, and you will end the suffering of the people who should not have suffered under Renan rule. Liberate them from our grasp, from what I could do.

I do not see another way you would be able to offer such protection.