Genshin Impact: Dionysus reigns supreme, all demons retreat!

Xu Ning, on the other hand, seemed quite indifferent, as if the name "Seven Stars," which had been mythologized by the people of Liyue, was nothing special.

The positions of the seven stars in Liyue are very special.

Except for the fact that Tian Shu Star is designated to inherit by the previous Tian Shu Star.

The others were selected by the Liyue merchants.

It has a combination of the abdication system and the election system.

"This Uncle Tian is in the prime of his life, and I'm afraid he'll be in this position for a long time. Rather than waiting for him to recognize talent, we might as well make some moves in the other star positions."

Xu Ning leaned down slightly to look at Da Huang, "I only hope that one day in the future, when the Seven Stars are selected, Ning Guang will be able to get a lot of support and sit in that position without any obstacles."

Under Xu Ning's intense gaze, Da Huang finally made up his mind.

He picked up the wine bowl on the table and drank it all in one gulp. He then swore an oath: "Very well, I, Da Huang, hereby establish this contract today. Whenever and wherever Ningguang is needed, I will do my utmost to help her ascend to the position of Seven Stars."

Xu Ning smiled, patted Da Huang on the shoulder, and picked up the wine jar.

"No need for such formalities, the thought is enough. Would you like another bowl?"

Xu Ning poured another bowl of wine for Da Huang, then turned to look at Bei Dou, who was unusually quiet beside him.

"Today's drink is to celebrate our victory. You can drink as much as you want, so why are you so listless?"

Beidou said somewhat unhappily, "It seems like we have no difficulty in doing this wine business. I feel like I haven't made any contribution at all. I can't drink this wine."

Xu Ning rubbed her head to comfort her, "Don't say that. Actually, thinking about it carefully, it seems like you really didn't help at all. You really can't drink, haha... Hey, hey, don't hit me..."

Xu Ning held down Beidou, who was swinging his little fist, and drew a small circle on the table with his finger while pointing at the wine.

“Our business is currently operating within the tiny circle of Liyue Harbor, so we don’t need your help at all.”

Xu Ning pointed to the table again, "But Teyvat is such a big continent, and our business is not limited to alcohol. In the future, our goods may be exported to various countries."

"There are countless pirates and sea monsters in the middle of the ocean. At that time, we will rely entirely on your superb martial arts and powerful fleet to protect our goods. So your most important task now is to practice your swordsmanship well and become stronger than everyone else."

Beidou nodded seriously and said, "I've been practicing very hard. Xiling even said she's going to take me to her father's big ship tomorrow!"

Xu Ning nodded with satisfaction.

“But Xu Ning,” Bei Dou said, still somewhat displeased, “when will you write me a poem too?”

Xu Ning was so shocked that he almost choked on his drink. Luckily, Ningguang was watching him closely and quickly patted his chest and back to help him swallow it.

"Uh, write... write what kind of poetry?"

Beidou drew circles on the table in frustration, "It's that line, 'What can dispel sorrow? Only Ningguang!' So many people are reciting it..."

Xu Ning smiled wryly and said, "I copied someone else's work. By the way, do you want people to talk about your name?"

Beidou blushed slightly and said after a long while, "I don't want anyone else to read it. I just want you to write me a poem with my name in it."

Big Yellow, slightly drunk, suddenly chimed in, "That's right, we can't favor one over the other. If we have it, we should have it all!"

Ningguang laughed and said, "Yes, if you're so capable, then copy another one!"

Xu Ning chuckled, "You two are just enjoying the show. Fine, since they're all copying anyway, I'll just copy one more for Beidou."

"Okay!"

Beidou jumped up excitedly, poured the wine bowl in front of Xu Ning to the brim, and looked at him with expectant eyes.

Xu Ning pondered for a moment and said, "I copied 'Short Song Ballad' for Ningguang, so I'll copy 'Short Song Ballad' for you too, Beidou."

Xu Ning cleared his throat and read aloud.

"How short is the day, how easily a hundred years of suffering can pass."

"The vast sky is boundless, and the Taiji is eternal."

"Magu's temples are drooping, half of them already turned to frost."

"When the Heavenly Emperor saw the Jade Maiden, he laughed a thousand times over." Beidou asked urgently, "Where is Beidou?"

"I wish to seize the six dragons and turn my chariot to hang on the sun."

"Let the Big Dipper pour fine wine, and each dragon will have a cup."

"Wealth and status are not my desire; what I wish for is to preserve youth and radiance in others."

Xu Ning downed his drink in one gulp, then rubbed Beidou's head and laughed, "How's it going? Did you get Beidou? Are you happy now?"

Beidou didn't understand the poem's implied meaning either, but he clearly heard the line "Beidou pours fine wine." He chuckled, nudging Xu Ning's hand, and said, "Happy!"

After laughing and joking around for a while, Da Huang refused to drink anymore.

"I'm not drinking anymore. I need to deposit the Mora before the money exchange closes. I'm still a little nervous carrying so much money."

Xu Ning smiled and saw him out of the cave.

He carried the already drunk Beidou onto the newly made Yanxia Yunmeng couch and covered her with a soft cotton quilt.

Xu Ning then let out a sigh.

"This big shot's vision is ultimately too narrow. Money is only money when it's spent; if it's kept in a money exchange, it becomes someone else's money."

Ningguang's fingertips slowly traced circles on the rim of the wine bowl as she chuckled, "Do you think everyone is like you, 'not desiring wealth and status'? In the end, there are more ordinary people like me in this world."

Xu Ning sat down next to him and said, "Don't be like them and become a miser."

"I spoke with the warehouse staff at the port today and have rented a large, independent warehouse from them."

"I'll go over there tomorrow and fill it up. You have Da Huang find someone to seal the wine properly, whether with water or wax. That way, my occasional absence won't affect the operation here."

Ningguang paused in her circular motion, then asked in surprise, "You're leaving?"

Xu Ning was taken aback and said, "No, there are still many things to do here, how could I leave? It's just just in case!"

Ningguang was finally relieved.

Xu Ning pushed all the Mora on the table, representing his and Beidou's share, to Ningguang and said, "Not only will I gradually extricate myself from this business world, but I also hope that you can gradually transcend it, get rid of your status as a pawn, and become the one who sets the rules."

Ningguang took a sip of the "sweet wine" in her bowl and replied to Xu Ning with a smile, "I understand the reasoning."

“But I remember the other day when you were teaching Beidou here, you said, ‘Don’t be bound by the rules set by our predecessors, dare to break the rules and find new paths.’”

"You taught me to make the rules, but you taught Beidou to break them. Xu Ning, what exactly are you trying to do?"

Xu Ning scratched his head, puzzled, and said, "Did I say that? It's nothing. She's learning swordsmanship, so of course it's best to break the rules and be flexible and unpredictable. You're in charge of people's hearts, so naturally you should set the rules and hold them as tight as possible. Hmm, I didn't teach her wrong!"

Ningguang rolled her eyes at Xu Ning, then looked down at Mora on the table.

"You gave me all your money, aren't you afraid Beidou will have a problem with that?"

Xu Ning laughed and said, "As long as you fulfill any request she makes, she'll be overjoyed."

"Just keep enough for living expenses, and spend everything else without feeling bad."

"What you need to do now is to do all the things that the Winter Solstice Executive needs to do ahead of time. They need time to infiltrate and establish themselves, and to win people's hearts. We are already based in Liyue, so we have an inherent advantage over them."

"As long as we can stay one step ahead of him, all the money he invests will only become our advantage."

Ningguang picked up a Mora and flipped it between her fingers, asking, "So you mean I can spend these Moras however I want?"

Xu Ning nodded, "Use it however you like, I won't offer any objections."

"Okay, Beidou and I are going shopping tomorrow. You can carry our things, and I can also buy you a couple of outfits that fit."

Ignoring the astonished Xu Ning, Ning Guang turned her gaze to the only large bed in the cave.

"I've had a bit too much to drink today, so I'm not going back. I'll just sleep here with Beidou for the night. You shouldn't have any objections, right?"