GBP Chapter 689 The World's Turmoil and the Suffering of All Beings
Chapter 689 The World's Turmoil and the Suffering of All Beings
The red-haired auntie poured the remaining wine from the wine jar into the large bowl in front of her, picked it up, and drank it all in one gulp.
“Do you think this guy was involved in that matter?” Vulcan glanced at Wendy in the corner.
Wendy, leaning crookedly against the corner of the wall, was probably the least classy guy in the whole room.
However, Xu Ning did not detect the slightest hint of disdain in the way the gods looked at Him.
But no one responded to Vulcan's question for a long time.
The ice goddess with long, crystalline hair like snow chuckled softly, "This is Barbatos, after all. What could Teyvat possibly hide from Him? Besides, His relationship with that one..."
Xu Ning was listening intently when, unexpectedly, the Ice God seemed to suddenly remember something and stopped talking.
Aunt Vulcan, holding a wine bowl, laughed and said, "How can nothing be hidden from Him? He still hasn't found Morax's wine cellar, has he?"
"That's because I don't have a wine cellar here at all."
The Emperor slowly spoke, "Those dozen or so jars in the corner are the last remaining stock."
Aunt Vulcan exclaimed in surprise, "Huh? Then there won't be enough for the next gathering... wait..."
He paused to think for a moment, then kicked the guy slumped in the corner, saying, "If this guy keeps hanging around here, he might not get any more drinks before the next time."
Aunt Vulcan threw the wine bowl in her hand on the table, stood up, and stretched.
"Are you leaving already?" The Emperor's calm voice rang out.
With a flick of his long, sun-drenched hair, Vulcan laughed, “We’ve had our drinks, our words, and our meeting. What’s the point of staying? We Natas aren’t like you in Liyue Mondstadt, where you can’t be without someone for even a moment.”
"If there's anything I can help with, please let me know," the Emperor nodded and said.
As soon as the God of Fire stood up, the other gods also rose to say goodbye.
"I'm leaving soon. If you have some free time recently, you might as well come and visit me. I have a few small favors to ask you for."
These words were spoken by the water god to the Great Tree King.
However, because he was standing too close to these two gods, Xu Ning felt that the words spoken by the first water goddess, Ergolia, seemed to be directed at him.
And whether it was just my imagination or not, even the aunt who stood up to leave seemed to glance in my direction, intentionally or unintentionally, before she left.
"No way? It feels like you can see me everywhere. Am I just imagining things?"
Xu Ning turned around and looked at the god he cared about most.
But then he saw his own emperor holding a wine cup in one hand, looking at him calmly.
Xu Ning felt his heart suddenly stop beating, but before he could recover, the scene in front of him shattered like glass.
Before Xu Ning could exhale the long breath he had been holding, he heard Hu Tao's surprised voice beside him.
"Are you awake? Have you also entered the memories of ancient times? What did you see?"
Xu Ning turned around, forcing a smile, and gave Ningguang a reassuring gesture before looking down at the wine glass in her hand.
"It was nothing, just a scene from a long time ago when we were all drinking together. The memory ended almost instantly."
Hu Tao didn't suspect anything and laughed, "I guess it's true that it's a vessel related to wine? Well then, the wine cups on this table are yours. I'm going downstairs to open the treasure chest."
Xu Ning nodded and casually put the wine glass into his pocket.
If the Emperor asks about what he gained on this trip when he returns, he will inevitably have to mention it in his reply.
But if the Emperor wants to know what he saw in his ancient memories, what should he say?
Your Majesty, that one look from you almost scared me to death?
While pondering, Xu Ning casually picked up the small iron ring from the corner of the stone platform and rubbed it in his palm.
I didn't know what kind of lie to tell the Emperor, but I rolled the small iron ring in my palm a few times, wiping away the dust and revealing a dark ring.
Xu Ning's heart stirred, and he began searching around the platform again.
Apart from dust, there was nothing else usable.
The only things on this table, besides the wine vessel, are this unremarkable ring.
The treasure chest below, opened by Walnut, overflowed with Mora and gems, flowing out like a small river.
Compared to the value of the treasure chests below the stage, the items on the stage are undoubtedly far superior to the two large treasure chests below.
The preciousness of that wine vessel goes without saying, but could the ring placed on the table with it be an ordinary object?
This ring-shaped design is simple and unsophisticated, unlike the styles currently popular in Liyue.
The green gemstone set on the ring face, under the firelight, presented a very warm and lustrous sheen and color.
It just seems to have been eroded by the long years, making it appear somewhat dull.
Xu Ning gently stroked the inner ring with his finger, his expression shifting slightly. He tilted the ring, and a line of small characters could be clearly seen engraved on the inner side.
"The world is full of troubles, and all living beings suffer."
The handwriting did not seem to become blurred by the passage of time; on the contrary, it presented an unprecedented clarity.
"Is it true that the world is full of troubles and all living beings suffer?"
Xu Ning repeated it to himself, then couldn't help but look up again at the surroundings of the tomb.
Whose tomb is this? And why was there no body or ashes left behind?
Moreover, what was the reason that the tomb of the owner of this ring, which was engraved with the words "compassion for humanity," was suppressed here by those nine stone locks carrying different powers?
Xu Ning couldn't figure out these questions at once.
I casually slipped the ring onto the middle finger of my left hand, and the size and tightness were just right.
"Alright, it seems that's all there is to this place."
Xu Ning clapped his hands lightly, attracting everyone's attention.
"I am deeply grateful for everyone's hard work in opening the stone lock. It is a rare opportunity for us all to get together. How about we come to my humble abode and have Qingyi and our chef Xiangling prepare a feast for us to enjoy? It would also be a good opportunity for everyone to taste my newly brewed wine and see how it differs from the previous ones?"
Most of the people present knew that the "humble abode" that Xu Ning mentioned was located inside the dust-concealing gourd in his hand.
It is said to be a magnificent and splendid place with carved beams and embroidered pillars, and countless rare and exotic flowers and plants.
Many people who have never been inside before are eager to go when they hear the invitation, not to mention that they can also taste Xiangling's dishes and Xu Ning's wine.
Ningguang and Shenhe led everyone into the Hidden Dust Cave in turn. Xu Ning threw the two large treasure chests on the ground and the treasure chest on the peak outside into the cave, intending to leave them for Hu Tao when they returned to the Hall of Rebirth.
But he himself did not go in.
After all, the helpers who came today—Hu Tao, Ye Lan, Ke Qing, Xiang Ling, Yao Yao, and Shen He and his apprentices from the cave—are all girls (wait, something seems out of place here), so let Ning Guang be the hostess and entertain them.
I should just go back to the Hall of Rebirth and find the Emperor to explain this task to him!