SFS Chapter 327 Who is the Chapter Title Maker?
Chapter 327 Who is the Chapter Title Maker?
Ningguang didn't keep an eye on the project near Qunyu Pavilion; instead, she went directly to work at Yuehai Pavilion.
I don't know if she actually has a job or if she's angry with herself.
With a mix of trepidation and excitement, Xu Ning and Shen He handed over the Thousand Wonders Core to Bai Shi. Xu Ning then tapped the Dust Concealment Gourd, summoning Qing Yi, the former chief designer and chief engineer of the Jade Pavilion.
"After all, you are the most experienced among these people. Let Ningguang take care of your meals for the next few days. Finish your work quickly to avoid any new complications."
Qingyi already knew from Ningguang and Xu Ning's conversation that the construction of Qunyu Pavilion involved many things, so she readily agreed.
When Qingyi went to check on the progress of the Hundred Knowledge Connection Project, Belial also emerged from the Dust-Hidden Cave.
Seeing that she seemed to be deep in thought, Xu Ning asked, "Have you made any new discoveries?"
Belial nodded slightly, then shook his head after thinking for a moment. "Not sure yet. But I do understand why Abedo's master gave him that kind of task."
Xu Ning looked at her speechlessly, "I'm saying, you still can't let go of that guy? Anyway, you've changed your ways now, why don't you just go back to the Great Snow Mountain and marry him? That way you can do research with him."
Belial chuckled, "It's just that we're heading in the same direction, different paths, so what's with all this talk about marriage? Hmm, but your suggestion is actually quite constructive. If it really works out, we might be able to legitimately cause him trouble for the rest of our lives..."
Xu Ning was startled and immediately offered a small yellow flower to Abedo in her heart, mourning for a few seconds.
"Oh, right……"
Before Beryl returned to the synthesis platform, he suddenly turned back to Xu Ning and reminded him, "...I almost forgot to tell you, your Dust Concealment Cave isn't just home to Wendy and Qingyi, there's another little guy there too, and he's quite drunk as well..."
Who is the little guy?
Xu Ning frowned and thought for a moment, then clapped his hands. How could he have forgotten that little guy again!
"I understand, thank you for reminding me."
After Belial left, Xu Ning pressed his finger on the dragon's eye and shouted into the gourd, "Aji, come out and have some fun. Don't follow that tasteless slacker and learn to drink. I'll take you to eat something delicious."
A small figure flashed by. Knowing that Liyue was a vast and densely populated place, Master Ji transformed into a little boy to avoid causing a stir.
“It’s not Aji, it’s Master Ji, and Master Ji didn’t drink alcohol.”
Xu Ning ignored the little raccoon's explanation and laughed, "Let's call him Aji. In Liyue, not just anyone can be called a mage. I won't hold the drinking incident against you; Belial already told me."
The little raccoon wanted to argue a bit more, but its gaze was immediately drawn to the enormous building beside it.
"What a huge...house."
Xu Ning saw that Master Ji was tilting his head back so high that the back of his head was almost touching his back, and chuckled as he patted the back of his head. "It's not just big, it'll be able to fly into the sky in a couple of days. Then we can go up there and take a picture of it going into the sky."
First came Inazuma's strongest demon bomb, then Liyue's flying pavilion.
Following Xu Ning, one can indeed see the most beautiful scenery in the world. In an instant, Master Ji no longer minded Xu Ning calling him Aji.
“Let’s go to Wanmintang for breakfast. Master Mao’s porridge is one of the best in Liyue.”
Xu Ning spoke to Shen He and Master Ji, completely unaware of how eye-catching the sight of the three of them standing together was.
"Is this the new fairy? Tsk tsk, as expected, she has white hair again."
"New here? Are you just using your eyes to vent your anger? Can't you see how old your child is?"
"Hiss, you can tell whose child this is at a glance. Let me tell you, I've watched Xu Ning grow up since he was a child."
Wherever the three of them went, they inevitably attracted countless discussions.
Xu Ning glanced at Shen He and saw that she was still expressionless. He wondered if she had heard the whispers coming from the streets and alleys.
As Xu Ning passed by Quick-Knife Chen's grilled fish shop, he saw Quick-Knife Chen leaning out halfway, his eyes following his steps, with a mischievous smile on his face.
Xu Ning knew that the guy must have received some information about him and was secretly waiting to see what would happen if he could get Chen to adopt this posture.
However, Shen He arrived the day before yesterday. These guys, who claim to have firsthand information about eating at Huyan, are not like the old ladies on the streets. They would never keep the same topic going for more than two days. Xu Ning immediately felt a sense of unease.
"Master Mao, three servings as usual, and more if needed."
Xu Ning casually found a table on the street and sat down, then greeted Master Mao.
Master Mao replied with a "Okay," then looked at Xu Ning with a smile as sharp as Chen's.
Xu Ning's heart skipped a beat. Oh no, something bad was about to happen.
Before Xu Ning could even ask Master Mao a question, a girl with short, ear-length hair and wearing traditional Inazuma clothing at the next table had already turned around.
"Xu Ning, Xu Ning, after going through countless hardships, I have finally found you."
The girl was quite pretty, but the tears welling up in her eyes, coupled with her gaze that seemed to hold both love and hate, resentment and complaint, made it clear at a glance that Xu Ning must have done something to wrong her, and most likely, he was the kind of person who started something and then abandoned it.
"No, we're talking, but don't come any closer..."
Xu Ning reached out and stopped the girl who was about to pounce on him, while using his other hand to restrain Shen He, who was very likely about to attack the girl.
"Get to the point first. What's your name, and what do you need me for?"
The girl stopped, tears welling in her eyes, and sobbed, "You did such a terrible thing, and you just forgot my name like that? All my efforts to cross the ocean and risk my life to come to Liyue were for nothing..."
So what you said is basically saying nothing at all? Xu Ning was a little annoyed and turned to Master Mao to ask, "Master Mao, do you know what this is about?"
Master Mao shook his head and laughed, "You're asking me about things you did yourself?"
After teasing Xu Ning, Master Mao continued, "But I do know this girl. Her name is Zhu Zi. It is said that she smuggled herself out of Inazuma half a year ago on a bamboo raft. She almost drowned at sea but was rescued by passing merchants and brought to Liyue Harbor. Now she works at the docks."
After a brief introduction, Master Mao smiled at Zhu Zi and said, "Miss, you should think carefully before you speak. After all, we've watched Xu Ning grow up. We old neighbors probably know better than he does what he likes..."
Xu Ning said to Master Mao with dissatisfaction, "What do you mean you know better than I do... Well then, Zhu Zi, tell me now, what did I do to offend you?"
Zhu Zi seemed surprised that even the roadside vendors knew so much about her, and her expression was clearly a little stunned.
However, she quickly realized what was happening and wiped her eyes, saying, "I received a letter from my parents a few days ago and learned that Liyue's ambassador, Xu Ning, went to Inazuma and took my little cousin with him. I was wondering if I could try to talk to the Seven Stars of Liyue and get my little cousin back..."
Xu Ning was completely dumbfounded. What was going on? Who had seen his little cousin?
Just as he was about to ask again, Master Ji, who was sitting next to him, pointed to the Dust Concealment Gourd that Xu Ning had placed on the table, "It's in here."
Xu Ning was furious. "You little traitor, whose side are you on? Besides, besides Wendy, that lazy bum, who else is here with me right now?"
Just then, a figure flashed by the table, and Wendy appeared with a sly laugh, leaving a little girl behind before disappearing back into the Hidden Cave.
The little girl, dressed in an adorable raccoon costume, reeked of alcohol and stood swaying beside the table with her eyes half-closed.
"Oh~"
The vendors who had come to watch the spectacle at Chihuyan suddenly let out a meaningful shout, and many of them exchanged glances and nodded.
Everyone had the same thought: it shouldn't be that Zhu Zi, now it makes sense.
"Zao...Zaoyou?"
Xu Ning was shocked and shook the little girl's shoulders to wake her up, "When did you hide in my cave?"
Zaoyou let out a hiccup, exhaling a fragrant aroma of alcohol, and mumbled, "In front of the castle tower... while waiting for you..."
Upon hearing this, Xu Ning remembered that Zao You, under the orders of Ayato Kamisato, had been stationed in front of the castle tower, but had accidentally fallen asleep again, and he had sent her into the cave to catch up on her sleep.
Later, he met with Ayato Kamisato and said goodbye to Narukami Taisha and others. Throughout the whole process, not even he or anyone else remembered this little ninja from the final episode.
And she has been hiding in her own secluded cave ever since.
"You've been hiding inside all this time, why didn't you tell me?"
Xu Ning couldn't help but smile bitterly. Well, he had inadvertently confirmed the crime of abducting a little girl, which only made his already bad reputation worse.
"My two older sisters... said they'd give me... a secret height-increasing training program..."
I teach you how to drink every day, right?
Is it legal to teach adult little girls to drink alcohol?
And they didn't even give me a heads-up from beginning to end. If I had known earlier, I wouldn't have given them any reason to criticize me...
Xu Ning suddenly remembered that when they were at the construction site, Belial had told him that there was a little guy in the cave who was drunk. At the time, he thought she was referring to the little raccoon dog, Master Ji, but he never expected that she was actually talking about this little raccoon dog.
No wonder Master Ji kept insisting that he didn't drink alcohol!
"Well... since you're here, sit down and eat with us. Don't go back and drink with them."
Xu Ning sighed, dragged over a stool, and pressed Zaoyou down to sit.
The little girl was still hungover and drowsy. She sat down as soon as she was offered a seat and started nodding off.
The matter of Zaoyou has been clarified, but how could this possibly involve Zhu Zi?
Xu Ning had never known that Zao You and Zhu Zi were related, and how Zhu Zi's parents knew that he was the one who took Zao You away was still a mystery to Zhu Zi.
Xu Ning nudged Aji under the table and subtly pointed to Zhu Zi over there, asking Master Ji if he could tell if this guy was the real person.
The raccoon is skilled in transformation and possesses an instinct that goes straight to the heart. If the bamboo in front of him were another demon in disguise, Master Ji should be able to recognize it.
Master Ji glanced over there, pinched his thumb, middle finger, and ring finger together, and raised his index finger and little finger, making a fox-like gesture under the table.
Xu Ning saw this and let out a long sigh.
He was all too familiar with that gesture.
That Lord Yae no Kami often makes this gesture in his daily life, even when he covers his mouth and laughs, he pinches the fox mark.
But aren't you, the straightforward raccoon, always the one to say whatever comes to mind?
Why are you gesturing like that when you're in front of this scoundrel?
Xu Ning smiled wryly at Zhu Zi, whose eyes were still a little red, and said, "Lord Gong Si, if you have something to say, just say it. Why do you have to belittle me like this? Besides, this isn't good for the reputation of the two young ladies!"
"Oh dear, why do you make it sound like I ruined that girl's reputation? It's all because of you. Once you get involved, I become unclean."
Zhu Zi is no longer the pitiful girl he used to be; his demeanor is now very similar to that of Yae no Miko, and he has become quite outspoken.
Xu Ning quickly admitted defeat, "Okay, okay, it's all my fault. I beg you, Lord Gong Si, to be kind and not describe me as some kind of unclean thing. After all, everyone still needs to eat!"
Zhu Zi sat down next to Zao You without any hesitation. "Let's serve the food then. I've been wanting to try the famous Liyue cuisine from Teyvat for a long time. Hmm, I wonder which one will suit my taste. What would you like to eat, Zao You?"
Zhu Zi held the menu and asked Zao You about it.
Zaoyou woke up with a start, and said in a slurred voice, "I want to eat Lu Manman..."
Master Mao, standing to the side, asked in confusion, "What does 'a long and arduous journey' mean...?"
Zaoyou extended one index finger, bent it, and then straightened it, explaining, "Lu Manman always stretches her neck and cranes her neck upwards very hard. Eating it will make you grow taller, and I like it very much..."
The surrounding air seemed to freeze eerily.
The old neighbors of Liyue have no idea what Lu Manman is, but that doesn't stop them from making certain unpleasant associations with him.
Master Mao paused for a moment, which was unusual, and then said, "Let's eat something normal. I'll make you some of my signature dishes."
While Master Mao was cooking, Xu Ning asked Yae no Miko, who had transformed into Zhu Zi, "You've come all this way to Liyue, surely not just to enjoy the food and play pranks on people?"
Yae no Miko said with a smile, "I'm not as carefree as you. The affairs of Narukami Shrine and Yae-do keep me extremely busy. However, someone came to our Inatsume for a trip and took away several of our shrine's protective charms when he left, making it impossible for us to carry out our exorcism ritual. The evil spirits are about to blow my shrine into a spectacular firework, so I had no choice but to come here for help."
You're Inazuma, not Fontaine. Where do you get so many devices that can blow people up into the sky?
Xu Ning considered for a moment before saying, "Unless you can get that person to invite me, I won't work for you."