Genshin Impact: Dionysus reigns supreme, all demons retreat!

Chapter 122 Walnut 77 Reconciles Past Grudges

"Qiqi, I've made thorough preparations for you this time."

"look,

Dig a deep pit and prepare firewood.

All incense and candles have been purchased.

Xu Ning, who assaulted the person, wasn't there.

I went to gather herbs late at night on the seventh day of the seventh lunar month.

Talismans were displayed in the dark alley.

A whole sack of stuffed vegetables, covering their heads and feet.

I'll take charge of the impermanence of life and death.

Who doesn't love the balance of Yin and Yang?

"Mmm, what a beautiful poem! I feel like even God is helping me complete this funeral."

"I can't talk anymore, we need to hurry, or things might change."

Hu Tao first laid firewood at the bottom of the pit and threw in some kindling. She turned around to take Qi Qi out of the sack, but saw Xu Ning standing behind her, who had already taken the sack far away.

You're like a persistent ghost!

Hu Tao angrily rebuked Xu Ning for his lines, then turned and ran away.

A moment later, Xu Ning sat by the lit fire pit and tore off the extra talismans from Qi Qi's head and threw them into the fire.

"The Hall of Rebirth has some clever methods. It seems you put up a fight this time, but you still couldn't defeat her?"

Qiqi rubbed her forehead. "Press it on, don't move."

Xu Ning rubbed Qi Qi's little face and said with a smile, "It's alright now. You've been collecting herbs all night. Are you hungry? What would you like to eat?"

"Coconut... coconut milk."

Xu Ning magically produced a small jar from behind his back and laughed, "I knew it!"

Xu Ning took out a straw, inserted it into the jar, and handed it to Qi Qi. Then, she turned to Hu Tao, who was crying beside her, and asked, "Why don't you sit down too? What would you like to eat?"

With tears welling up in her eyes, Hu Tao said, "It hurts, I can't sit down. I want to eat matsutake mushrooms."

Xu Ning sighed, "Then squat there. You've got quite a appetite. You want some matsutake mushrooms? I remember Xiangling made some for me. I'll go in and look for them. You're not allowed to touch Qiqi!"

Still not entirely at ease, Xu Ning gave another word of advice and quickly retrieved a plate of vegetarian abalone drizzled with sauce and a small bowl of rice from the cave.

This dish is made by pan-frying matsutake mushrooms, drizzling them with sauce, and garnishing them with snapdragons. Both in taste and appearance, it is almost indistinguishable from abalone.

"The fried matsutake mushrooms have already cooled down, so they won't taste good if you fry them again. However, I've warmed up the sauce and rice for you, so you won't feel cold. Just make do with this for the late hour."

Even though Xu Ning was very picky about the dishes in his hands, for Hu Tao, who had been waiting there all night, they were already a rare delicacy.

I ate a plate of matsutake mushrooms with rice, and even ate the snapdragons that were garnishing the plate with sauce.

Hu Tao wiped her mouth with satisfaction, feeling that it had basically made up for the beating she had just received.

"When I have time, I need to find Xiangling and learn how to make this dish so I can eat it often in the future."

Xu Ning looked up and dissuaded her, "Don't mess with Xiao Xiangling. If you want to eat, just take Mora. Cooking? Do you have the talent for it?"

Hu Tao said defiantly, "I'm going to learn it anyway. What do you mean I don't have the talent? Give me some of that coconut milk too."

After getting another can of coconut milk from Xu Ning, Hu Tao advised him, "Qi Qi is in a state of utter despair, imprisoned in this mortal world with no way out. Every moment here is one of suffering. If you truly love Qi Qi, you should let her pass away peacefully."

Xu Ning asked in surprise, "What suffering? Our Qiqi has suffered so much. Our new life has just begun. Qiqi's task now is to live happily every day. You'll be happy as long as you don't come and disturb our Qiqi, right?"

The last question Xu Ning asked was about Qi Qi.

Qi Qi nodded emphatically, "Yes."

Hu Tao's curiosity was piqued, and she asked while chewing on a wheat stalk, "What hardship? What new life?"

Xu Ning rubbed Qi Qi's head and told Hu Tao everything about Qi Qi's great misfortune, her subsequent imprisonment by the immortals, and how he rescued her.

Hu Tao was so engrossed in listening that she forgot to drink her milk. After a long while, she murmured, "I didn't know there were so many causes and effects involved."

"Alright, since Qiqi wants to live a good life, then I won't bury you. On the contrary, we can be friends. That way, if you ever get tired of living, you can come back to me, and I'll still help you!"

Hu Tao reached out her hand to Qi Qi, who shrank back and hid behind Xu Ning, seemingly still somewhat afraid of Hu Tao.

Hu Tao gave an awkward laugh and withdrew her hand.

Xu Ning didn't dare to completely trust this quirky little girl. He pointed to his own eyes, then to Hu Tao, and said, "You'd better keep your word. I'll be watching you."

Hu Tao pointed three fingers to the sky, "I, Hu Tao, always speak my mind and never lie! I have to go now, otherwise Grandpa will be looking for me everywhere again."

After Hu Tao left, Xu Ning thoroughly soaked the fire pit with water, then filled it with soil and stomped it a few times. Only then did he take Qi Qi's little hand and walk towards Yujingtai.

They found Qiqi's little basket on the road and took her all the way to Bubulu.

"...Remember to tell him I'm not here."

In the quiet night, Xu Ning could faintly hear Bai Shu instructing his apprentices inside the door, and his lips twitched involuntarily.

It seems that Bai Shu was probably following behind, otherwise he wouldn't have known that he would bring Qi Qi back.

If I weren't there, with Bai Shu by my side, Hu Tao might not be able to do anything to Qi Qi.

Let him off this time.

The door opened, and before the apprentice could speak, Xu Ning stuffed two jars of coconut milk into his arms.

"I know without you saying anything. Your master just said he wasn't here. This is for Qiqi, so please help me move it to her room."

"Qiqi, go back and get some rest. Brother Xu Ning will come to see you again in a few days."

After saying goodbye to Qiqi, by the time I arrived at the dock, it was already dawn.

Some diligent merchants had already instructed their subordinates to load the goods onto the ship and leave port as soon as possible.

Xu Ning didn't plan to go back to Chenyin Cave to sleep. He leaned against a pile of wood, drank a few sips of wine, and then fell into a deep sleep.

When Xu Ning opened his eyes again, he was shaken awake by Beidou.

"What are you doing here? Were you waiting for me? Where's my knife? Take it out and let me see it!"

Xu Ning looked up and saw that the sun was already high in the sky, and the little girl in front of him was safe and sound. He felt relieved, but at the same time, he felt his stomach rumbling like thunder.

"I'm hungry. If you don't help me to Wanmintang and order me some good dishes to fill my stomach, you'll never get that brand-new, upgraded, and incredibly sharp Black Rock Slashing Blade again."

Beidou was overjoyed and half-dragged, half-carried Xu Ning to Wanmintang, where he served breakfast for four people.

After having breakfast with Xu Ning, Beidou happily said, "One of our ships was destroyed by Haishan, but we also shot an arrow at it. Unfortunately, it didn't hit a vital spot, only grazed it, but it still scared it away."

Upon hearing that a ship had been destroyed, Xu Ning immediately frowned. "Were there any casualties?"

Beidou shook his head. "Although we went on two ships, there weren't many people, and they were all excellent swimmers, so we managed to rescue them in time. Only one person was hit by debris and probably suffered a fracture; he was taken to Bubulu."

Xu Ning nodded and said, "That's good. Don't go again if you're not fully prepared. Hai Shan isn't stupid. If we're going to fight, we'll use all our trump cards at once and win in one battle."

Beidou agreed. "The Hutchison Whampoa sent someone to me, saying they could send more skilled men and prepare four ships with ropes, fishing nets, and harpoons to help us kill Haishan."