frightfiction Chapter 514 Meeting Old Friends in Aru Village
Chapter 514 Meeting Old Friends in Aru Village
Xu Ning recalled his early days in Teyvat, when he thought he knew some of the plot and felt he could be invincible.
But as he traveled across the mainland, he gradually realized that the world was not as simple as he had imagined.
Even those ordinary people whom I've never really looked down on, those who aren't even qualified to be NPCs in the game, have their own little tricks for survival.
Gradually, he came to accept that he was just an ordinary person on the continent of Teyvat. Perhaps he had gained the attention of a certain god of wine and could easily have a better life than the average person, but compared to some geniuses, he was still not good enough.
Take this Al-Hysen, for example. He always likes to get information from others, calling it "obtaining analysis and summaries." But when it's his turn to share his own insights, he starts to put on a sarcastic face.
"I thought I made myself very clear. Perhaps you should try to experience the joy of using your brain sometimes."
As soon as Elhesen uttered those words, apart from Tinari who seemed to be deep in thought, Xu Ning, Kong, and Paimeng all turned pale.
So we're all just brainless idiots!
"Perhaps what she wanted to tell you was to go to the desert to find the answers."
Tina was kind enough to directly state her guess.
Xu Ning looked down at Setare lying on the ground. "Oh? So she's from the desert? I thought people there were mostly mercenaries, while people here are mostly scholars!"
Elhesen crossed his arms and looked at Xu Ning, "Your prejudice against the Sumeru people is thicker than the sand barrier."
Xu Ning shook his head. "This is not just my perception. After coming here, I can feel that many Sumeru people think this way, so it's no wonder that I have formed this stereotype."
"Let's not talk about that. Tell me why Nasida wants us to go to the desert to find a solution. Could it be that there's some great help there?"
"There are indeed a few things that can help, but the answer is more important."
Xu Ning looked at Elhesen, "What answer... Forget it, I really hate talking to people like you. Let's just go. Tinali, would you like to come with us for a trip in the desert?"
When Xu Ning asked this question, it seemed to trigger some unpleasant memories for Tina.
The fox-tailed pretty boy smiled wryly and said, "I think I won't go. Haibasha can't be left alone for the time being. If I'm not there, I'm afraid the disciplinary officer will find out and send her to Aru Village as a mad scholar."
Xu Ning didn't insist. He pointed to Setare, who was sleeping on the ground, and said, "Then you can leave her with you. She'll probably wake up soon, and then she can go wherever she wants."
"Let's go. If we go any later, those gilded tour groups that are after money will come after us again."
Xu Ning, Kong, and Elhesen left the Zen Garden and headed directly towards Kavan Station.
Since the two of them were not very familiar with Sumeru, they naturally followed Elhesen's lead.
According to El-Hysen, since they were going to go, they naturally had to gather intelligence in advance. Kavan Station was the last stop before entering the desert region, but it was also a very prosperous town.
This place is a melting pot of all sorts of people. Many supplies from the rainforest city flow here, and many mercenaries also come here to replenish the food and water that are so scarce in the barren desert.
It was already late at night when we arrived here.
Elhesen went to stay at the only inn in the station, "Golden Sand Journey," while Xu Ning and Kong went back to their respective caves to rest.
After washing up in the morning, Xu Ning had breakfast with everyone in the cave and came out feeling refreshed, chatting casually with people around him on the street.
Starting from here and heading west into the desert, you will inevitably pass through Aru Village, which is also the largest settlement in the desert. It seems that this is the place that Elhesen wanted to investigate.
This made Xu Ning wonder if he had already received some information from there.
Connecting this to what Tinari said about "Hybasha being sent to Aru Village if discovered by the disciplinary officer," and considering the divine knowledge jar given to Elhesen last time that would drive anyone who came into contact with it, it's clear that scholars like Hybasha would go insane if they came into contact with the gods.
These messages seem to form a strange closed loop.
Perhaps the answer Nasita spoke of can indeed be found there.
"Hey, my stock is pretty much sold out. If you don't have anything you'd like to buy, you might want to check out other stores..."
Xu Ning was startled by the merchant's impatient tone, only then realizing that he had been standing in front of a stall for a bit too long.
"Hey, Haward, don't talk like that... I'm sorry, this guest, he's not in a good mood because he didn't see his beloved girl today..."
A vendor in a long gown nearby greeted Xu Ning and also apologized on behalf of the rude Hawad.
Xu Ning wasn't angry at the person's attitude. Looking at the person's clothes and appearance, Xu Ning walked over and struck up a conversation: "You look like you're from Liyue?"
The man laughed and said, "My name is Yin Jie, I'm from Liyue, but I've been here for many years, so I'm practically a Sumeru person. But doing business in this place, I can't really say whether I'm a rainforest person or a desert person."
"Don't be angry because of that kid. The beautiful girl he has a crush on went to Sumeru City and is heartbroken because he couldn't see the beautiful flowers. But Miss Gohar is indeed very beautiful; just looking at her is enough to heal your soul..."
Seeing that Yin Jie was quite talkative, Xu Ning went up to him and asked, "I'm planning to go on an adventure in the desert with two friends. Is there anything I should avoid?"
Yin Jie chuckled and said, "The desert is the most direct place. The strong are respected there. Apart from paying attention to your supplies, there's really nothing to avoid... Oh, right, if you're going to enter Aru Village, you'd better be careful. After all, the guardian, Candice, is a very traditional person. If you deliberately violate those long-standing rules and regulations and anger her, tsk tsk, the consequences are unimaginable."
Xu Ning became interested immediately upon hearing the news about "Aru Village".
"From what you've described, Candice sounds like a woman, right? Is the reason she's so frightening because she possesses extraordinary powers?"
"Of course, come closer. There are some things that can't be said loudly."
Yin Jie gestured for Xu Ning to come closer and whispered, "This is a true descendant of the Crimson King, said to be a great warrior who carries the Crimson King's memories. Although almost everyone in Aru Village is a descendant of the Crimson King, it seems that only Candice has obtained his power. It is said that she can stir up an endless sandstorm in the desert with a wave of her hand... And the weeping ghosts wandering near that village, each one tells of how powerful she is..."
Uh, this is almost like divine power! It's getting more and more exaggerated.
Xu Ning smiled and chatted with him for a few more minutes, then bought some desert essentials that he hardly ever used and casually tossed them into the cave, as a way of thanking Yin Jie for the long conversation.
Although Yin Jie doesn't seem to care about what he sells, he seems to care more about having someone to chat with. After all, he said that his suits have long been taken away by a product called "Dust in the Sand - Guaranteed to Survive - Supply Pack".
Xu Ning wandered around for a while longer, and then Kong Cai, who was used to getting up late with Paimon, met up with Elhesen and found their way here.
As expected, Elhesen's target was Aru Village.
"It seems the Order of the Church is rather hostile towards the Crimson King, and the people here who worship the Crimson King don't seem to welcome the Order of the Church much either. Are you really going to walk over there in just the Order of the Church's robes? Aren't you afraid of being stabbed in the back?"
Elhesen clearly didn't pay attention to what Xu Ning said, but it seemed as if Xu Ning's words were under a spell.
As a cloud of yellow sand rose, a bright yellow spear, carried by the wind, approached Al-Hysen's thigh in a single thrust.
Elhesen suddenly leaped up, and while still in mid-air, he pulled out a grass-green longsword from somewhere and thrust it at the attacker with a backhand.
Kong reacted quickly, immediately drawing his bladeless sword and preparing to join the battle to help Elhesen.
Xu Ning grabbed him, saying, "Hey, don't go, they're all acquaintances."
An acquaintance? Does that refer to this short man with the jackal-head hairstyle?
So, despite his fierce attack, is he someone Brother Xu knows?
Hearing Xu Ning say that everything was fine, he casually sheathed his sword and watched the fight between the jackal-headed boy and Elhesen with a relaxed attitude.
"Hey, is this your first time here? How dare you bring such pointless disputes into the pure land of Aru Village..."
When Xu Ning heard this, he turned around and initially thought it was the legendary, almost mythical guardian.
But upon closer inspection, it turned out to be Dixia, whom they hadn't seen in a long time.
"You two are just watching the show and making things worse. Quickly separate them. If you anger Candice, it won't be something that can be resolved with just a few words."
As they were talking, Elhesen and Seno, who had a jackal-like head, had already exchanged a few blows.
Xu Ning could tell that although the two were fighting fiercely, neither of them was going all out, so he shouted, "Hey, hey, let's vent our anger already, we don't have much time to play around here."
Elhesen stepped back a few paces, making way for Seno's terrifying spearhead, which was almost like a cleaver, and then asked, "Your Excellency, it seems we don't have much interaction. Is it really worth getting so excited about meeting once in a while?"
Sino coldly said, "I've been hunting you for more than a day or two, scribe. Now, hand over the divine knowledge you possess."
These words surprised both Xu Ning and Elhesen.
Sino has been missing for quite some time, so he shouldn't know what happened in Port Omos. How did he determine that Elhesen carried the knowledge of the divine canister?