Genshin Impact: Dionysus reigns supreme, all demons retreat!

Chapter 344 Are there bathtubs in the shrine?

"Alright, you two little devils, stop making those faces. With me here, how could anything possibly happen to her?"

With a long sword in one hand and her son in the other, Mikoto Chiyo led the group into the shrine.

Hearing that nothing had happened at the Fox Palace, Xu Ning finally breathed a sigh of relief.

"As long as she's still here, it's not too late..."

The main body of Narukami Shrine was still protected by a circular barrier. Mikoto Chiyo walked to the edge of the barrier and went inside almost without stopping.

Yuko no Nagamasa cried out "Ouch!" and opened his arms to press them against the barrier. Because his mother was holding his shoulders, she almost broke his neck.

"Zhaigong, I've taken care of all those big guys outside. Open the door and let a few little ones in."

The barrier silently opened a crack, and after Xu Ning and the other two slipped in, it closed again without a sound.

The first thing Xu Ning looked at upon entering the barrier was the sacred cherry tree behind Narukami Shrine.

The cherry tree has a strong trunk and lush foliage, and is blooming brilliantly on the edge of the cliff.

It was only at this moment that Xu Ning noticed the current Divine Cherry Tree. It was just like an ordinary flowering tree with branches and leaves, unlike the Divine Cherry Tree of later generations, which had a strange fox-like appearance.

"Was it because the fox clan took care of you and deliberately molded you into that form? Only that mischievous fox would do something so pointless."

Muttering to himself that Yae was still a little fox, Xu Ning walked to the Divine Cherry Tree. The white-haired Fox Prince was standing with his back to him, gently reaching out to stroke the trunk of the Divine Cherry Tree.

"Isn't that amazing?"

Fox Palace smiled gently and said, "Yesterday I also divined that the glimmer of hope in the dark will only appear in you after you leave here."

"But in less than half a day, you have returned here, while that glimmer of hope has already arrived before you."

Xu Ning raised his hand, took a sip of wine, pointed at the Divine Cherry Tree, and asked.

"Is this the divine cherry tree you divined?"

Fox Palace nodded and smiled, "Yes, it has always been here, but until yesterday, I didn't even think to look at it. It's as if I have eyes that I didn't see."

That's because it was planted and started growing just yesterday.

Xu Ning walked to the Divine Cherry Tree, tilted the wine gourd in his hand, and poured some wine onto its roots.

The Divine Cherry Tree seemed to greedily absorb every last drop. Then, its massive trunk stretched like someone who had been curled up sleeping all year round. The entire tree not only suddenly grew taller, but its enormous root system even broke through the hard rocks beneath it, twisting and turning downwards.

Fox Palace's eyes lit up. He looked at the wine gourd in Xu Ning's hand, then glanced at the rejuvenated Divine Cherry Tree, and smiled.

Xu Ning was feeling uneasy at the inexplicable smile on Kosai-miya's face. Meanwhile, Yuugami Harunosuke and Mikoto Nagamasa, who had spoken with the witch named A-Xiang, also came over.

"Was that giant monster coming from the direction of Inazuma Castle?"

Upon hearing Harunosuke's question, Xu Ning shook his head slightly and replied, "There's more than one, over a dozen, and hundreds of giant wolf-like king beasts..."

However, both Kami Harunosuke and Mikoto Nagamasa's faces immediately darkened.

"No wonder Hibiki was so heartbroken. If what you said is true, then Kombu Maru must have already perished in the Black Tide..."

Xu Ning glanced at the shrine maiden leaning against the stone pillar, silently holding a longbow and weeping, and knew that Harunosuke was referring to the warrior known as "Kirigiri Takane".

However, that kelp-maru did not die even after the dark, foul poison disappeared from the earth.

Both their willpower and vitality are incredibly strong.

However, Xu Ning wasn't worried about that person yet; the people in front of him were enough to keep him occupied.

"Hmph, Inazuma has been ruined by these Kuroshio. The dead are piled up and are probably taller than Mount Kage. What's one more kid? Kage still doesn't know where Kazuma is. If she comes back, I'll definitely beat her up to vent my anger."

As Mikoto Chiyo spoke words of venting her anger, a wisp of black smoke inadvertently flashed across her face, making her expression appear exceptionally cold.

Xu Ning looked at the darkness in her eyes, then turned to Fox Palace and asked, "Lord Fox Palace, do you know if there are bath tubs in this shrine?"

Harunosuke looked at Xu Ning with a bewildered expression and said with a wry smile, "Do you want to take a bath? It's a bit late..."

Xu Ning said seriously, "I just suddenly thought of a secret technique of Liyue."

However, Kami Harunosuke was immediately confused and dared not say anything more.

Fox Palace glanced at Xu Ning, as if knowing what he wanted to do, and said, "There's one in the side room. Chiyo, take Xu Ning there."

Mikoto Chiyo stretched her arms and sighed, "Sigh, speaking of bathtubs, I really want to take a bath. After we kill all these monsters, I'm going to find a hot spring and soak for three days and three nights to my heart's content before I come out. Little Liyue, come with me!"

After Xu Ning and Miyuki Chiyo left together, Kosai-gumi turned around again and placed his hand on the trunk of the Divine Cherry Tree, as if he was contemplating something.

After standing there staring blankly at the back of the Fox Palace for a while, Harunosuke Yuugami suddenly remembered the secret method Xu Ning had mentioned earlier, and kicked Mikoto Nagamasa, who was resting on the ground.

"Hey, do you want to go see what kind of Liyue Celestial Art Xu Ning is using this time?"

"What's the point of watching? We can't learn it anyway. I'd rather practice my swordsmanship properly and try to become as skilled as Mother." Yu Yu Changzheng was somewhat listless.

Seeing that he didn't move, Shinobu's eyes darted around. "But Lady Mikoto Chiyo hasn't returned yet. She might be observing Xu Ning's immortal techniques. Are you sure you don't want to go?"

Speaking of his mother, Yuko no Nagamasa's heart stirred, "Then let's go see her."

The two vaguely remembered the direction Xu Ning had left in, so they headed in that direction.

Perhaps because Mikoto Chiyo had killed too many demon leaders during the day, the surging onslaught of the dark tide seemed to have been temporarily contained.

Although the wolf packs in the Beast Realm were still running rampant, most of them were kept outside by the barrier of the Fox Palace, and for a time, a rare tranquility appeared on Shadow Mountain.

However, Shinobu and Mikoto Nagamasa approached a side room. All the doors around them were closed, and they had no idea which room Xu Ning would be in.

Suddenly, a sneer rang out from the darkness.

"He even seriously lied to Harunosuke about some secret technique, but in the end, he just found a bathtub to take a bath?"

It was the laughter of Mikoto Chiyo.

Mikoto Nagamasa almost burst out laughing, nudging his friend beside him, "Only Harunosuke would trust this guy so much that he's going to use a bathtub to perform some kind of magic, right?"

Ushinosuke rubbed his head helplessly, unsure how to refute Mikoto Nagamasa's mockery.

Suddenly, Xu Ning's serious voice was heard saying, "It is indeed a secret technique. However, it was not used by me, but was specially performed for you."

"???"

Yu Yu Changzheng's smiling face froze instantly. What was Xu Ning trying to do?

Mikoto Chiyo's voice rang out again, "Oh? So now that the water is ready, it's time to perform the secret technique, right? Does this secret technique require you to take off your clothes?"

Xu Ning seemed to pause for a moment before saying, "It's okay if I don't take them off, but of course, you should take them off to take a shower!"

What kind of logic is that? What kind of secret method is that? In the end, it's still just about taking a bath!

Mikoto Nagamasa had already drawn his long sword from his waist, but Kami Harunosuke, suppressing a laugh, quickly stopped him, "Don't rush, don't rush, what if it's a Liyue Sage Art that requires a bath to use?"

Yu Yu Changzheng angrily retorted, "I'd never believe you! You magicians are all corrupt!"

As the two were struggling, a voice rang out beside them.

Who are you calling dirty?

With such a loud noise outside, the two people inside could hear it clearly. Xu Ning filled the bathtub with wine and then came out.

Seeing the way Yu Yuchang was holding his sword, it was obvious what kind of person this kid thought of him.

Yu Yuchang grabbed Xu Ning's arm and growled in a low voice, "What are you and my mother doing in there?"

Xu Ning broke free from the guy's grasp, took a sip of his drink, and waved to the two men, signaling them to come and talk to him over there.

Xu Ning led the two to the other side of the pool, where they sat cross-legged on a large rock, looking at the dark night view outside.

Do you know what's the scariest thing out here?

Yuko no Nagamasa sheathed his sword with an annoyance. "Naturally, it's that giant monster we saw when we came here."

Xu Ning shook his head, as if he knew you would say that, and said, "Even such a powerful demon was reduced to a wisp of black smoke under Lady Chiyo's blade, wasn't it?"

"No matter how powerful those monsters are, as long as we support each other and work together to the end, we will eventually kill them all. Besides, there is still one Thor who hasn't returned yet, so why should we be afraid of them?"

However, Harunosuke Kami agreed with Xu Ning's statement and asked, "Then Xu Ning, what do you think is the scariest thing outside?"

Xu Ning remained silent, pointing out a sickly-looking singing grass inside the barrier to the two of them.

"This is just a regular narcissus..."

Before Harunosuke could finish speaking, Xu Ning spilled some of the wine from his gourd onto Naraku.

A wisp of black mist suddenly appeared on the leaves and flowers of the singing grass, which dissipated with a gust of wind. Then, the entire singing grass slowly unfolded as if it had been reborn.

Mikoto Nagamasa also witnessed this somewhat eerie scene and couldn't help but ask, "That black mist..."

Xu Ning pointed outside, "The culprit behind all this is the evil force that shouldn't exist in Teyvat."

"Even if we kill the vast majority of the monsters, these evil forces that are so easily corrupted will still ravage this land and spread their poison far and wide."

Yu Yu Changzheng suddenly stood up, "Mother has killed countless demons, and even entered the belly of that demon. Doesn't that mean she has been contaminated even more..."

Xu Ning nodded, "That's why I wanted her to immerse herself in the bathtub and use the power of my wine to wash away the filth from her."

Yu Yu Changzheng was stunned for a moment before realizing that Xu Ning had deliberately sought out the bathtub. It seemed that Lord Zhaigong had already guessed his intention, which was why he hadn't asked anything.

Yu Yuzhang bowed deeply to Xu Ning, "I'm sorry, I misunderstood you."

Xu Ning rolled her eyes at the guy. "What? Is my image really not righteous enough? It's one thing to be misunderstood back home, but to be framed by you here is another."

However, after glancing at Naraku a few times, Shinobu Shinobu turned his gaze back to Xu Ning's wine gourd.

"If the wine in your gourd could transform into a torrential rain that covers Inazuma..."

Xu Ning crossed his arms irritably. "Stop it already! Although my wine element seems inexhaustible, the transformation still takes time. It can be used to take a bath, but as for rain, I might not even be able to protect it from the rain with my Shadow Mountain!"

“Then aren’t we doomed to lose this battle no matter what? Even if we wipe out all the monsters one day, people might not be able to survive on this land,” Harunosuke Yugami said pessimistically.

Xu Ning laughed, "That's not necessarily true. See that divine cherry tree over there? Starting tomorrow, prepare several large vats, fill them with wine one by one, and have two people water the divine cherry tree whenever they have free time. Once it grows up and its roots spread throughout Inazuma, it will naturally be able to exorcise all the miasma and poison."

Shinobu asked curiously, "Xu Ning, how do you know so much about our Divine Cherry Blossom? And where did you learn those Celestial Techniques?"

Xu Ning paused for a moment, then laughed and said, "How could I possibly learn such a secret? I naturally heard it from Lord Huzhai Palace."

Shinobu immediately felt relieved and smiled, "No wonder you knew so much. It seems that Lord Saigu had already thought about it. Now I can rest assured. You all sit down. I'll go check on Hibiki. It seems that she hasn't eaten or drunk anything for a whole day and night."

When Asase Hibiki was mentioned, Mikoto Nagamasa quickly stood up as well, "I'll go and try to persuade her too."

As the sound of their footsteps faded into the wind, a figure in white appeared beside Xu Ning.

Fox Palace tilted its head slightly, looking at Xu Ning with interest, and said, "If I weren't Fox Palace, I'm afraid I would have believed what you just said."

Xu Ning laughed, "This Harunosuke seems to have a great interest in Liyue's Sage Mode. If I don't borrow Lord Kosai's name, I'm afraid he'll keep asking until tomorrow morning."

Fox Palace squatted down next to Xu Ning, holding the thin pipe in his hand. He glanced at the gourd in Xu Ning's hand and suddenly pleaded, "Can I have a sip of the wine in the gourd too?"

Upon hearing Fox Palace's request, Xu Ning hurriedly wiped the gourd opening with his sleeve and handed it to the stunningly beautiful woman in front of him.

Fox Palace took a deep sip from the gourd, closed her beautiful eyes, and quietly savored the familiar aroma. After a long while, she opened her eyes, returned the gourd to Xu Ning, and smiled, "Although I've already said this to you once, I still want to say it, it's really amazing, isn't it?"

Xu Ning took the gourd and drank a sip, slightly puzzled by what Hu Zhaigong had said.

Fox Palace turned his gaze to the Divine Cherry Tree behind him and said, "Many secret techniques are hidden in Bai Chen's bloodline. Ever since Inazuma suffered the disaster of the Black Tide, I have been seeking a way to break the deadlock."

"Your appearance seems to have changed many, many things in the dark, and I have finally found the way to save Inazuma from my bloodline."