Genshin Impact: Dionysus reigns supreme, all demons retreat!

Chapter 347 Holding onto a deep obsession, I travel far away.

This startled Ah Sheng, who was rowing the boat. If he had rushed over recklessly, he might have already fallen into the cave.

I have no idea how deep it is inside; it could very well cost me my life.

Xu Ning took out a small jar of Thousand Winds and some food from his Hidden Dust Cave and handed it to A Sheng.

"Based on our previous experience, it will probably take most of the day to get out. If you don't want to stay here, you can go back first and come back in half a day."

Ah Sheng accepted the wine and food from Xu Ning and said with a smile, "This is enough for me to stay here for a day or two. I can't leave you behind and go back, otherwise the head of the family will blame me if he finds out."

Xu Ning thanked him, "Then I'll have to wait for you."

Xu Ning walked to the cave and jumped down.

Because the ground here is in the sea, it is damp and slippery everywhere, with moss growing underfoot.

Xu Ning walked along this passage for a long time before he saw a crooked torii gate, entangled by the roots of the sacred cherry tree.

After placing the Dust Concealment Gourd, Qingyi and Shenhe appeared together.

Shen He was already completely familiar with Xu Ning's procedure, and without needing any instructions, she easily laid Xu Ning down and held her in her arms after Xu Ning had absorbed the miasma and fainted.

Seeing her posture, Qingyi clicked her tongue, shook her head, and turned back to the cave.

Yesterday, she witnessed how Shen He dealt with Xu Ning. The kind of troublesome situation where someone would punch and kick Xu Ning even if she fainted was handled by Shen He, who would freeze her wherever she moved.

Whenever Xu Ning was about to move his hands and feet, Shen He would flick her finger to freeze them. Once he calmed down, she would unfreeze them, which allowed Xu Ning to lie quietly in her arms all day long.

When Xu Ning woke up, he found that he was not next to the torii gate in the cave as he had last time.

Instead, it was in a room.

Xu Ning sat up and saw Yuijin Harunosuke sitting on a stool in the room, staring blankly at his sake gourd.

Master Ji leaned against the corner of the room, remaining silent.

"you're awake."

Xu Ning's voice startled Harunosuke Yuugami, who turned to look at Xu Ning with a complicated expression.

Xu Ning frowned and asked, "What time is it now?"

Harunosuke slowly replied, "It has been two days since that day."

"Where are we? And where are the two little ones?"

"This is Master Reisenbo's Senmon no Usoppō. Neko is staying with Hibiki, and Yae is staying at the shrine. I thought you might not want to wake up there, so I had Nagamasa carry you onto the ship."

As the two were talking, Yu Yuzhang came in carrying a food tray, looking worried. He said, "Master is still locked in his room, neither eating nor speaking. Hey? Xu Ning, you're finally awake. Would you like something to eat?"

Xu Ning picked up a rice ball from the plate he was holding, took a bite, chewed it carefully, and then said, "Ling Shan Fang did nothing wrong, there's no need to blame yourself."

Yu Yu Changzheng said with a wry smile, "I also comforted Master in the same way, but unfortunately Master always felt that if he had listened to you all and returned to Yingxiang Mountain together, it would have been in time to prevent that incident from happening..."

Xu Ning sighed deeply, "Actually, it's all my fault. I should have been more vigilant."

Suddenly, Harunosuke spoke up, "It's too late to say all this now. Xu Ning, let me ask you, is Liyue's Sage Art really as wondrous as you and I have described?"

Xu Ning nodded. "That's for sure. And I'm not afraid to tell you the truth, the abilities I've demonstrated are less than one-tenth of true immortal techniques. True immortal techniques possess the power to see through cause and effect, to bring the dead back to life...

However, Kami Harunosuke keenly noticed the two words Xu Ning uttered in a low voice.

"The Divine Cherry Tree absorbed a large amount of the Black Tide, and the remaining monsters are being systematically eliminated. After we settle these refugees, would you be willing to take me to Liyue?"

Xu Ning regretted his careless words earlier.

According to his own memory, after Harunosuke disappeared from the Fox Palace, he still went to Liyue to learn Sage Mode and returned.

However, it was not because he wanted to revive the Fox Spirit, but because he hoped to bring back the Celestial Arts from Liyue and lead the people of Inazuma to eliminate the remaining influence of the Black Tide.

However, Harunosuke Yuugami seems to have a stronger obsession with Kosai-gumi now, and his words are undoubtedly adding fuel to the fire.

"What I just said was actually all from books, and there may be some exaggeration. Although Liyue's fairy magic has many wonders, but..."

However, Harunoku interrupted Xu Ning, "I'm just asking if you're taking me with you?"

Xu Ning slowly shook his head, "I'm afraid I don't have that much time."

However, Shinnosuke lowered his head and resumed the same demeanor that Xu Ning had just seen, and remained silent.

Looking at him, Xu Ning sighed deeply and turned to the Imperial Carriage Master to ask, "Can I go out and take a look?"

Yu Yu Changzheng nodded. "I'll take you out."

After Xu Ning and Yu Yuzhang went outside, they realized that the room they had been sleeping in was actually a cabin below the deck.

The entire ship is shaped like a shuttle, and its size is probably similar to that of the Beidou Death Star.

Unlike the ship full of guards I saw last time, there were only a few people on the deck.

"Due to the effect of the Divine Cherry Blossom, the Black Tide was cleared most thoroughly near Shadow Mountain. We have decided to first gather all the refugees around Shadow Mountain and slowly resume production before expanding outwards."

Seeing Xu Ning's puzzled look, Yu Yu Changzheng explained, "The people from the desolate sea have all come out. We are now going to pick up all the people from the isolated island. There are also people on the cliffs to the northwest of Yingxiang Mountain. We will pick them up on our way back."

Xu Ning nodded, and Yu Yu Chang apologized, saying he had some things to take care of, and then walked away on his own.

Xu Ning was drinking wine while standing on the ship's side when a girl dressed as a shrine maiden saw him from afar and walked straight towards him.

The girl gave a slight bow as a sign of respect and greeted him softly, "Greetings, Lord Xu Ning."

Xu Ning glanced at the witch and realized she was a complete stranger.

"Hello, I am Misato Inashiro, a shrine maiden of Narukami Shrine."

Upon hearing the surname "Inashiro," Xu Ning carefully examined the shrine maiden before him. He couldn't find any resemblance between her and Inashiro Hotaru, but her serene and composed demeanor was as if they were carved from the same mold.

"What do you want from me?"

Xu Ning took a sip of wine and asked slowly.

Inashiro Miri bowed slightly. "Although I did not witness the moment the miracle occurred the day before yesterday, I learned about what happened from everyone afterwards."

Xu Ning said in a deep voice, "Since you already know these things, why are you still coming to me? I have no mood to relive those feelings now."

Inashiro Miri slowly shook her head. "I don't want to ask you about the details of that day. In just two days, the Divine Cherry Tree almost swept away the Black Tide on Narukami Island. I followed the branches of the Divine Cherry Tree to investigate a great distance and found that the filth did not disappear, but was absorbed into the Divine Cherry Tree's body."

“While this method protects everyone on Narukami Island, I’m afraid that absorbing so much filth will make the lady very uncomfortable. Moreover, I’ve noticed that many branches have become completely withered due to absorbing too much filth…”

Xu Ning frowned, "Why wasn't a purification ritual performed at Narukami Shrine...?"

Halfway through his sentence, Xu Ning suddenly realized that at this time, Narukami Shrine had just come into contact with the sacred cherry tree and probably did not yet have experience in cleansing impurities.

"If possible, go and get some paper and ink from them. I'll teach you a method to cleanse yourself of impurities, which can help Shenying dispel the miasma."

Upon hearing Xu Ning's words, Inashiro Miri bowed deeply with delight and immediately ran down to the cabin to retrieve writing brushes, ink, paper, paperweights, and other items.

However, after hearing from Inashiro Miri that Xu Ning was going to teach the method of exorcism, Shinobu followed her up.

"Let's just write 'A Brief Guide to the Great Purification of the Divine Cherry Tree,' I can't think of anything too specific. First is the minor purification, which aims to help the Divine Cherry Tree temporarily expel the miasma into the branches and trunk, minimizing damage to the main body and branches of the Divine Cherry Tree."

"These underground palaces where we're hiding are basically useless after this black tide. It's just right to set up a barrier to shut down those things that expel the miasma..."

"...Then the time for the great purification arrives. Using a protective object, the barrier is broken, and one enters the area. Incantations are used to eliminate the miasma and completely cleanse the area. This completes one cycle."

Xu Ning slowly recounted the story, and Inashiro Miri meticulously recorded every word on paper, bound it up, held it in her arms, and bowed deeply to Xu Ning.

"I will definitely bring these back to Narukami Shrine and pass them down through generations, so that the sacred cherry blossoms will never be harmed again."

Xu Ning nodded. "I believe you."

When the Thousand Gates Void Boat arrived at the deserted island where Xu Ning's true form was located, the people hiding there learned that the Black Tide had dissipated and they could return to their hometowns to start a new life. They cheered and celebrated with great joy, embracing each other and enjoying the happiness of surviving a calamity.

Xu Ning looked calmly at the crowd in front of him, feeling that he did not share their joys and sorrows.

He only found them noisy.

When those people cheered and celebrated, they only thought that their suffering had been relieved, but they never thought that someone had poured everything into darkness for their momentary pleasure, enduring the corrosive influence of filth, and perhaps never being able to get out again.

Ling Shan Fang hasn't come out yet; perhaps she also thinks these people are too noisy.

However, her daughter and Yu Yu Changzheng's brother made an appearance, but Xu Ning had no interest in talking to them.

After escorting this group of people to the nearby beach and handing them over to the garrisoned Shogunate troops, Senmon Kōshū settled the personnel and then continued northward along the coastline.

After circling the desolate sea, the Thousand Gates Void Boat once again docked at the foot of a cliff.

There was also a very deep cave at this location, but the people here did not rush to the boat like people in other places when they learned that they could go home.

Surprisingly, a considerable number of people stayed.

The young man at the head of the group, named Hiiragi Hirotsugu, smiled and repeatedly expressed his gratitude for everyone's help.

"Thank you for taking care of me all this time."

"Now that the Black Tide has subsided, everything is in need of rebuilding. It's time for us to repay everyone for their care."

Inashiro Miri looked at the young man and asked, "How do you plan to repay this?"

Xu Ning looked at Hiiragi Hiroshi's raised hand, which was pointing at the distant island.

"Look at that island over there, doesn't it look like a giant ship docked in the bay? If we can build a port there, develop trade with distant countries, and exchange goods with other countries, I believe we can quickly earn a lot of Mora and resources. With money in hand, I believe Inazuma will soon prosper again."

Inashiro Miri glanced over there, shook her head, and said, "Although the Black Tide has receded, there are still many demons scattered here. I'm afraid there are still demons remaining over there. There are only so many of you..."

Hiiragi Hiroshi laughed and said, "We've been hiding here in the Black Tide, enjoying the fruits of our labor. I'm sure many excellent people have already sacrificed themselves to protect us good-for-nothings. If I don't even dare to face these minor dangers, wouldn't I, Hiiragi Hiroshi, be a useless coward?"

Upon hearing this, more than a dozen people disembarked from the Thousand Gates Void Boat and joined his group.

Inashiro Miri sighed, took a transparent mirror from her bosom, and handed it to Hiiragi Hiroshi.

"This is a sacred object I borrowed from the shrine when I came out. It can be used to see the filth in the distance. I'll lend it to you for now."

Xu Ning looked at the mirror, which seemed to be the commemorative mirror he later obtained from Inashiro Yingmei, but it seemed that it had not yet been made into a camera lens.

"Since I have nothing else to do, I might as well go with you to the outlying islands."

Xu Ning pressed his hand on the gunwale and jumped off.

After a moment of silence, Harunosuke Kami said something to Mikoto Nagamasa and then stepped off the ship.

Hiiragi Hiroshi was not familiar with Xu Ning, and he smiled gratefully at Xu Ning for being willing to help. However, he was overjoyed to see that Yuijin Harunosuke was also willing to help him.

The area between here and the outlying islands is all shallow water, making it impossible for boats to pass. Since no one planned to take a boat again, they rolled up their trousers and waded across.

We did encounter several groups of demons along the way, but they were not wolf packs from the Beast Realm. They were probably mutated plants that had been corrupted by the Black Tide.

Xu Ning didn't even have a chance to make a move; Shen Qingzhijie cleared everything away with just two lightning spells.

However, Xu Ning did take the mirror from Hiiragi Hirotsugu and learn about its new function.

Point the mirror at the scene in front of you. If there is any filth left by the Black Tide, you can faintly see wisps of black smoke coiling in the mirror. You can easily find the monster and eliminate it.

After discussing it with Harunosuke Yuugami, Xu Ning simply asked him to borrow the mirror. The two of them quickly ran around the island and wiped out all the monsters.

Then, on the very night he rushed back to meet Hiiragi Hirotsugu, who was building the port, Yujin Harunosuke disappeared.