Genshin Impact: Dionysus reigns supreme, all demons retreat!

When Xu Ning sat down at Wanmintang, he felt that Master Mao was unusually enthusiastic today.

Of course, this doesn't mean that Master Mao isn't enthusiastic on ordinary days.

However, since arriving in Liyue Harbor, Xu Ning has practically treated Wanmin Hall as his own kitchen.

As for how familiar I am with Master Mao, well, if I wanted to get even closer to him, the only way would probably be to become his son-in-law.

Master Mao is being so enthusiastic now, he probably needs something from me!

After finishing his breakfast, Xu Ning noticed that Master Mao looked hesitant and said, "Master Mao, we're old acquaintances, just say what's on your mind!"

Master Mao smiled sheepishly and said, "I really do have something to say."

"As you know, in Liyue Harbor now, the Glazed Pavilion controls Licai, and the Crescent Moon Pavilion controls Yuecai."

"The two companies have acquired almost all the rare and precious ingredients from the mountains and seas at high prices, leaving many of our restaurants in Huyan facing a shortage of ingredients."

Xu Ning nodded in understanding.

The food in Liyue is arguably the most lavish in all of Teyvat.

However, many famous dishes are now hard to find at restaurants in Huyan or even Yujingtai.

It's not that chefs don't know how to cook, but rather that many restaurants simply can't buy those ingredients.

Liuliting and Xinyuexuan controlled the distribution channels for these materials at very high prices, forming a monopoly, hoarding them and then selling the dishes at even higher prices to reap huge profits.

Xu Ning didn't have any ill feelings about this kind of thing; in business, everyone has to rely on their own abilities.

Master Mao continued, "So now there are many ingredients, and some merchants hire people to go to the mountains to pick them. When Xiangling heard about this, she also wanted to go to the mountains to find some good ingredients."

Upon hearing this, Xu Ning knew what Master Mao wanted to say.

Are you worried about Xiangling's safety going into the mountains alone?

Master Mao smiled wryly: "Although Xiangling's marksmanship, which she learned from her master, is very good, she is still young after all..."

Xu Ning laughed heartily and readily agreed.

"Although I really want to say that you should be most worried about the wild animals when Xiangling goes into the mountains, I have nothing else to do anyway, so I'll just go and have some fun with her!"

Master Mao was overjoyed and hurriedly called Xiangling out from the inner room.

Seeing that the little girl was carrying a bamboo basket on her back and a long spear in her hand, Xu Ning knew that she had already made preparations.

If it weren't for Master Mao stopping us, we'd probably be on our way into the mountains by now.

"Brother Xu Ning, are you coming with me? Aren't you taking Sister Beidou with you?"

Upon hearing this, Xu Ning immediately recalled the pitiful scream Beidou had made that morning when Ningguang had taken him away for extra lessons.

He wanted to help her, but the thought of Ningguang glaring at him made Xu Ning hesitate.

With a heavy heart, she said, "Your sister Beidou has other things to do, let's hurry up and go!"

Xu Ning asked Master Mao to pass on a message to Ningguang, and then hurriedly left with Xiangling.

The two set off from the southern foot of Tianheng Mountain, and would pass through the village where Shen He lived along the way.

After consulting with Xiangling, Xu Ning took the little one to the house they had knocked on last time.

After inquiring with Mingjun, I learned that Shenhe's father hanged himself on the third day after returning home.

He lost his mind, blindly believed in evil gods, sacrificed his daughter but failed to gain a wife in return, so this ending was inevitable.

His funeral arrangements were also handled by someone arranged by Mingjun, and he was buried in the back mountain.

Xu Ning didn't tell Mingjun what happened later. He only asked for the address of the grave, thanked Mingjun, and then took Xiangling to pay their respects.

Next to Shen He's father's grave, there was even a small cenotaph with Shen He's name engraved on a stone tablet in front of it.

Xu Ning, seeing the ominous sign, simply pulled it out and smashed it.

He took out a wine bowl from his spatial storage, filled it with wine, placed it in front of Shen He's father's tombstone, stood quietly for a while, and then left with Xiang Ling without saying a word.

Once inside the mountains, Xiangling, who had seemed rather docile just moments before, became unusually lively.

I wanted to pluck a piece of any unfamiliar flower, grass, or tree I encountered on the road to taste its saltiness, and when I encountered living creatures, it was even more extraordinary; I immediately entered ultimate thinking mode.

"Whether to boil or grill it, it's not a question."

Moreover, Xiangling never let Xu Ning do anything for her from beginning to end.

"Brother Xu Ning, I want to travel to all the places in the future and eat all the delicious food. I want to see if I can handle everything on my own. If I don't ask you for help, please don't help me, okay?"

Upon hearing Xiangling's words, Xu Ning agreed without hesitation.

I remember in my previous life, many people said that Xiangling was the true daughter of the Genshin Impact world.

Let's leave aside the "I'll take one of yours" joke. Just consider that a celestial master came to take him as an apprentice, and his childhood sweetheart was a super rich second-generation. He captured the hearts of a large number of immortals, gods, and humans with his cooking skills, and they were all big shots in Liyue.

Finally, they even kept a demon as a pet, can you believe it?

However, Xu Ning suddenly thought of the Demon God and couldn't help but wonder if it was Xiang Ling who encountered Him during this trip into the mountains!

Just then, Xu Ning suddenly saw Xiang Ling staring at a large insect on a blade of grass with shining eyes, and quickly called out, "Xiang Ling, I think there are matsutake mushrooms growing under the tree over there. Should we go take a look?"

Xiangling immediately turned her head when she heard "matsutake mushroom," and after taking a few steps with Xu Ning, she suddenly turned back, "If we were to grill it..."

Xu Ning: "Let's go, let's go dig for matsutake mushrooms first."

Xiangling picked some matsutake mushrooms and then suggested going up the mountain to collect glass bags.

Xu Ning offered to help Xiang Ling carry the iron spear, but Xiang Ling refused.

The little girl pulled a rope from her basket, slung the iron spear over her back, and then began to climb the mountain.

Xu Ning dared not be careless at this moment. He tied the Dust Concealment Gourd to his waist and followed closely behind Xiang Ling, ready to deal with any possible crisis at any time.

But fortunately, there was no danger.

However, the glass bags are extremely difficult to pick; only five were found on the entire mountain.

However, Xiangling said that five flowers were enough for her to experiment with her new dishes.

It always gets dark earlier in the mountains. Before it was completely dark, Xiangling, who was walking ahead, suddenly turned around in surprise, "Brother Xu Ning, I've found a place to rest!"

Xu Ning took a sip of wine and said with a wry smile, "Wouldn't it be better if you went to Chenyin Cave with your brother to rest? I'll have Qingyi cook you something delicious."

Xiangling stubbornly shook her head. "I brought food with me. This time I won't rely on Brother Xu Ning to complete the journey. Only then will Dad feel at ease letting me go out in the future."

Xu Ning nodded helplessly, "Then I'll stay with you."

The two entered the nameless little temple, and Xu Ning was stunned as soon as he entered.

"Huh, there aren't any statues of immortals in this temple, not even a portrait."

Xiangling looked around the small temple with curiosity, and was quite surprised that there were no offerings at all.

Xu Ning took two steps forward and carefully examined the offering table.

He shook his head with a wry smile, thinking, "Of course there's no need for a portrait or statue; the real body is lying here sleeping!"