bookbashuk Chapter 1239 The entire Teyvat was undergoing an unexpected upheaval.
Chapter 1239 The entire Teyvat was undergoing an unexpected upheaval.
Diluc breathed a sigh of relief when he saw that Shao Yun was no longer asking for details; his heart, which had been hanging in suspense, finally settled down.
He composed himself and continued the previous topic. His previously expressionless face gradually revealed a hint of undisguised pain, a rare display of genuine emotion.
"I don't know who I hate now: Qin, who cooperated with my father's killer and chilled my heart, or myself, who hates my incompetence and has not yet been able to avenge my father."
The thought of being with an incompetent husband (Diluc) like in the drama "Inazuma" and watching helplessly as his wife (Jean) is humiliated by her boss (Dottore) is unbearable.
Diluc felt like he couldn't catch his breath...
Seeing Diluc's angry yet helpless "pathetic" appearance, Shao Yun tried to ease the heavy atmosphere by changing the subject.
"So, you've had a falling out with Mondstadt and run away from home?"
Upon hearing the words "run away from home," Diluc subconsciously nodded, but then abruptly shook his head halfway through the nod.
He wanted to admit that he was running away, but he was unwilling to define his departure with the somewhat childish term "running away from home".
"Running away from home, going out to clear my head, you can describe it however you like. Anyway, I just don't want to stay in Mondstadt right now. The air there is just too oppressive. I feel suffocated even if I stay there for a second longer."
Looking at Diluc's expression of utter disappointment with Mondstadt and his desire to escape, Shao Yun suddenly thought of Yura, who had left Mondstadt before.
Diluc's current state seems to be following in the footsteps of Yura.
"So, you traveled all the way from Mondstadt to Nata? Don't tell me you really intend to settle down in Nata?"
Upon hearing this, Diluc's somewhat bewildered expression instantly softened, and he suddenly became more reserved, though his words still hinted at a desire to leave Mondstadt.
"I haven't made up my mind to leave Mondstadt completely yet, after all, there are still wineries there... But I have indeed looked around in many places, looking for a suitable place to start over."
"I've been to Liyue, Inazuma, Sumeru, and even Fontaine before finally arriving in Nata."
He paused for a moment, then began to analyze the countries he had visited one by one.
“The land in Liyue is actually quite good, but due to the Demon God War in the past, many areas still have remnants of the Demon God, and the land is severely polluted. Even people cannot live there for long, let alone grow crops. So I ruled it out first.”
"In Inazuma, the land itself is relatively barren, with most of the area being mountainous and very few plains suitable for cultivation."
"Moreover, land resources there are scarce and extremely valuable. Just buying a suitable piece of land would cost a huge amount of money, making it unsuitable for establishing a large-scale vineyard, and it's not within my consideration."
"The rainforest region of Sumeru is indeed moist, but the humidity is too high, the sunlight is weak, and the temperature difference between day and night is small."
"Grapes need ample sunlight and significant temperature differences to accumulate sugar, so that they can produce good wine. The climate of Xumi is completely unsuitable, and naturally it won't work either."
"I have indeed seriously considered Fontaine for some time. The climate there is similar to that of Mondstadt, mild and humid, and there are gentle slopes suitable for growing grapes."
"Besides, Yura has settled in Fontainebleau. If I go there, we might be able to look after each other and occasionally chat about the old days in Mondstadt."
At this point, Diluc's gaze fell on the pasture meadow outside the window.
"However, after coming to Nata, I think the environment here is quite nice."
“Natal has plenty of sunshine and a moderate temperature difference between day and night. Although the terrain is a bit rugged, if we find a flat piece of land to cultivate, it might be even more suitable for grape cultivation than Fontainebleau…”
As for the winter season, Diluc didn't even mention it.
That place is covered in ice and snow all year round, and the temperature is so low that even a donkey would be frozen stiff.
Moreover, Diluc's relationship with the Fatui can hardly be described as that of friends and family; in fact, it can be described as one of irreconcilable enmity.
Going to that place to grow grapes is like going to the guillotine with Louis XVI—a one-way trip.
……
After listening to Diluc's detailed analysis of whether grapes could be grown in various countries, Shao Yun joked, "You're not just going out for a stroll, you're just looking for a new place to move to. And you're doing such meticulous research..."
Diluc glanced at him indifferently upon hearing this, neither replying nor refuting.
Shao Yun was right; his investigations these past few days were indeed in preparation for the "relocation."
But... this kind of thing... sigh...
Seeing that he did not refute, Shao Yun leaned back on the sofa, crossed her legs, and suddenly sighed about something.
"It's interesting, really. A thousand years ago, Vanessa left Nata for Mondstadt; and now, you, Diluc, have come to Nata from Mondstadt, intending to start over here. Isn't that a kind of cycle?"
"Isn't everything predetermined? Back then, Barbatos borrowed Vanessa from Nata to bring a new order to Mondstadt; now, he's gone, and Nata has been given back Diluc. What a strange cause and effect!"
Upon hearing Shao Yun's lament about fate, Diluc suddenly remarked, "Sigh, if Nata really is suitable for growing grapes and can get the winery running again, I might actually consider moving my family here."
Upon hearing that Diluc wasn't just saying it casually, but genuinely intended to settle in Nata, Shao Yun's smile gradually faded, and he calmed down slightly, silently analyzing the current situation in his mind.
Yura left Mondstadt a long time ago, and Barbatos is gone too. If Diluc leaves as well, Mondstadt will have very few pillars left.
Now that Grand Master "Falgar" has no intention of returning to Mondstadt, will Jean be left to fend for herself?
"Well, I'm not really sure if the climate and soil in Nata are suitable for growing grapes. But are you sure you want to leave Mondstadt? To move away completely like Yura did?"
"Yura chose to leave because her family was gone and she no longer had a real home in Mondstadt."
“But you’re different. Your family has been in Mondstadt for generations, and your winery is one of Mondstadt’s iconic businesses.”
"Although the previous snowstorm ruined your vineyard, your family is so large and powerful that even if other businesses in Mondstadt run into problems, your family should be the one that goes bankrupt in the end, right?"
"Besides, with your abilities, the winery could never possibly go bankrupt."
As Diluc listened to Shao Yun's earnest advice not to leave Mondstadt, and watched him analyze his family's legacy and emphasize how he was different from Yura, he remained silent for a moment before suddenly looking up at Shao Yun and asking a question in return.
"Then why don't you open a ranch in Mondstadt? I remember Lisa mentioned to me two years ago that you were interested in finding a piece of land in Mondstadt to open a ranch, so why did you end up settling in Nata instead?"
When Shao Yun saw Diluc asking him why he didn't open a ranch in Mondstadt, he thought to himself, isn't it obvious?
So he chuckled self-deprecatingly and said, "Because I feel disgusted..."
Diluc felt a resonance upon hearing this answer.
"Me too. Mondstadt is no longer my hometown; it has become a place of sorrow for me."
"My father's great revenge remains unavenged, and the people I trust are collaborating with the enemy. Staying there will only make me constantly think about these upsetting things."
Seeing the desolation in Diluc's eyes, Shao Yun's desire to persuade him completely vanished.
"Okay... I understand. Indeed, anyone would feel really annoyed if they encountered something like this."
He stopped trying to persuade Diluc, after all, Diluc had the right to decide whether to stay or leave.
……
Just as Shao Yun and Diluc reached an understanding due to their similar circumstances, soft footsteps came from the kitchen doorway.
The coffee, which should have been prepared by Fuchigami, was instead served by Ningguang.
As agreed beforehand, Ningguang now takes on most of the housework on the ranch, handling everything from cleaning to laundry and cooking in an orderly manner. Serving tea and water has naturally become part of her daily duties as well.
Just now, when Yuan Shang was preparing coffee in the kitchen, she took the initiative to take over the task of brewing the coffee and carried the tray towards the living room.
But when Ningguang reached the living room door and saw that the guest sitting on the sofa was Diluc, she paused and almost dropped the tray.
She never expected that Shao Yun's guest would be Diluc!
Ningguang certainly knew Diluc, and not only did she know him, she was also very familiar with his identity: the owner of Dawn Winery, the richest man in Mondstadt, and the former cavalry captain of the Knights of Favonius.
What kind of "fallen noble family Liulichuan" storyline is this? It's so embarrassing!
But she quickly suppressed her embarrassment. Since she had chosen to abandon her past identity and self-respect and stay in Shao Yun's family, she should no longer care about other people's opinions, and she should not lose her composure because of the appearance of old acquaintances.
After taking a deep breath, Ningguang's expression became numb.
She carried the tray and walked step by step to Diluc's side, gently placing the coffee on the coffee table in front of him.
"The coffee is here. I'm sorry we don't have any tea or similar drinks at home, so we can only serve you coffee."
Diluc's pupils contracted sharply when he saw the person in front of him clearly.
My impression of Ningguang is that she is always dressed in gorgeous clothes and exudes an aura of control over everything with every move she makes.
But now, she's wearing a headscarf, a long-sleeved high-waisted dress, and an apron, looking no different from a maid at the Dawn Winery.
He simply couldn't reconcile the woman serving him tea and water with the powerful and influential Tianquan Star he remembered.
This stark contrast left Diluc momentarily speechless.
"Ningguang?!"
He had indeed heard that a coup had occurred in Liyue some time ago, and that the power structure of the Seven Stars was in turmoil, but he never imagined that Ningguang would fall into such a predicament.
He never expected that he would meet her in such an absurd way at Nata Ranch, far away from Liyue.
Ningguang could clearly feel Diluc's gaze upon her, making her extremely uncomfortable.
But she quickly calmed down and repeatedly reminded herself that she was no longer the glamorous Tianquan Star, but just a maid in Shao Yun's family.
She took a deep breath, lowered her head slightly, and replied humbly, "Hello, Mr. Diluc Legnfind, is there anything else you need?"
This respectful greeting startled Diluc even more. He put down his coffee cup, leaned forward slightly, and asked in a tone full of confusion, "What are you doing here?"
Ningguang didn't want to explain the past about the overthrow of power and the loss of dignity.
She avoided Diluc's gaze and changed the subject in as calm a tone as possible.
"Is there anything else you need? If not, I'll go get back to work; there are still chores to finish in the kitchen."
After saying that, she didn't wait for Diluc's response and turned to walk quickly toward the kitchen.
Watching Ningguang's hurried departure, Shao Yun didn't say much, nor did he deliberately humiliate her in front of Diluc.
His anger towards Ningguang had gradually dissipated in the past few days as she diligently cared for Ying and managed the ranch chores.
Shao Yun glanced at Diluc, who was still in shock, and casually broke the silence.
"Stop staring at her, she's gone. Now she just wants to live a quiet life, so let's not dwell on the past."
Diluc then came to his senses and looked at Shao Yun, his eyes still filled with doubt, but also with a hint of understanding.
He nodded slightly, picked up his hot coffee, and took a sip.
It turns out that not only Mondstadt, but the entire Teyvat is undergoing a dramatic change that he never expected.
……