After leaving Wangsheng Funeral Parlor, Mu Yang looked up at the sky.
At this hour, he wasn't sure if Bubu Pharmacy had closed for the day.
Being an apothecary, business tended to pick up as the weather turned cooler.
If people weren't careful, they might catch minor illnesses or injuries, keeping Bubu Pharmacy busy.
Mu Yang wasn't in a hurry. He strolled through Liyue Harbor leisurely, making his way slowly toward the pharmacy.
He had fully come to terms with his "setting" now—no more fragmented flashbacks like before.
So, when he reached the steps of Bubu Pharmacy, he didn't feel the same way he had the first time.
There was no need to hesitate anymore. If he wanted to see her, he would.
Yaojun was one of his most important friends.
Quite a few people were descending the steps, most carrying large bags.
These were likely not patients but merchants from overseas.
Baizhu's medical skills were exceptional, and he was also well-versed in commerce—not an uncommon combination in Liyue.
Running such a large pharmacy required more than just medical expertise.
Most of Bubu Pharmacy's goods were fairly priced, focusing on high volume with slim profit margins.
Though some items were exorbitantly expensive—like the three-million-Mora Eternal Incense...
Generally, customers seeking medicinal goods weren't overly sensitive to price, prioritizing quality and efficiency instead.
Rather than haggling in the market, it was easier to get everything in one place.
With Mr. Bai's reputation as assurance, spending a bit more Mora was worth it.
Of course, these merchants couldn't hog all the benefits either.
Take these traders, for example—they had now become Bubu Pharmacy's partners.
They brought rare medicinal ingredients from across the continent to Baizhu and helped distribute his newly developed prescriptions far and wide.
The partners' pockets grew heavier, and Bubu Pharmacy's profits flourished.
It was a win-win situation.
By the time Mu Yang ascended the steps, Qiqi had just finished preparing the last prescription.
Handing the medicine to the patient, Qiqi tilted her head at Mu Yang, thinking hard but still unable to recall.
"Baizhu, Qiqi seems stuck," Changsheng's voice came from inside the shop.
Mu Yang walked up to Qiqi and used the power of his Vision to create a small mechanical finch.
Only then did Qiqi remember—this was the big brother who had given her the toy last time.
"Mu Yang. Qiqi remembers now."
She turned and called inside, "Mr. Bai, Mu Yang is here."
Baizhu immediately set down his brush and came out to greet him.
"So the Adeptus has graced us with his presence. My apologies for the lack of preparation."
"No need for formalities, Mr. Bai. Just call me Mu Yang like Qiqi does. I hope I'm not disturbing you at this hour."
"Not at all. The last scheduled patient just left."
Baizhu guided Mu Yang into the reception room.
"The medicinal herbs you gifted Bubu Pharmacy last time were all of exceptional quality. Patients reported excellent results."
"I hadn't yet had the chance to thank you properly."
Mu Yang glanced at the white snake coiled on his shoulder.
"You should thank Changsheng. Though we discovered that place together, most of the herbs were cultivated by her."
Changsheng sniffed. "Your power has recovered. So, has the memory loss improved?"
Typical of her. Forget pleasantries—medical mysteries are far more interesting.
Mu Yang deliberately didn't activate any shielding.
Otherwise, in her current state, no matter how familiar they were, Changsheng wouldn't have been able to gauge the extent of his power.
Mu Yang admitted that recent memories were still fuzzy, but the older ones had mostly returned.
"Could it be unrelated to the loss of power?" Changsheng fell into thought.
Mu Yang suspected Clarisse might be involved but didn't mention it to Changsheng.
He would handle it himself—no need to trouble her with it.
"Please, have some tea."
Baizhu brought out three cups.
Qiqi, who disliked hot drinks, usually didn't touch tea.
But Changsheng seemed to have retained this habit.
Baizhu spoke, "Might I ask what brings you to Bubu Pharmacy today, Mr. Mu Yang?"
"Nothing urgent. With the festival approaching, I simply wanted to visit."
Mu Yang took out the mooncakes.
"And to ask for your thoughts on these new pastries I made."
Qiqi picked one from her box—cool to the touch, which she liked.
Glancing at the one in Baizhu's hand, she asked Mu Yang,
"Qiqi's... different from Mr. Bai's?"
"Yours is called a snow-skin mooncake, made specially for you."
While Baizhu got a regular mooncake, Qiqi's was the chilled version.
Changsheng, of course, had some of everything—though she probably couldn't eat much...
Teyvat lacked refrigerators, but with his current abilities—both innate and Cryo Vision—Mu Yang was more convenient than any icebox.
Qiqi took a small bite. "No taste. But cold. Like."
Baizhu had already finished his, sipping tea afterward.
"Sweet but not cloying. Your culinary skills are truly unmatched," Baizhu praised.
"After bitter medicine, a small bite of this perfectly alleviates the aftertaste."
Why would Baizhu know this so well?
Because he was something of a medicine connoisseur himself...
Noticing Changsheng's silence, Mu Yang asked, "Not to your liking?"
Changsheng shifted into human form.
Though "human form" was a stretch—it was merely an illusion with very limited physical interaction.
She could move lightly but couldn't grasp heavy objects, and the transformation didn't last long.
The white-robed maiden shook her head. "No, it's delicious. Just... strange."
"Long, long ago, under a tea tree... four people drank tea and ate sweets together..."
"Later..." She frowned, unsure if these were memories or tales Baizhu had told her.
"Later, the sword became a snowy mountain, the fish sank into the depths, and the mountain's master could no longer pick those tea leaves..."
Baizhu tactfully excused himself with Qiqi to close up the shop.
"Are these... things I've experienced?"
Changsheng knew she had many past experiences but could no longer recall them.
Her current memories only dated back to her contract with the pharmacist.
Mu Yang nodded and slowly recounted the ancient tale to her...
He only spoke of the four's joyful times together.
The rest, he left silent.
Clarisse... you were never one of them.
When Mu Yang left Bubu Pharmacy, he never brought up restoring Changsheng's power.
For one, he couldn't do it yet.
For another, he had already said enough—she needed time to process it.
The Next Day
Parallel Earth
The Lantern Rite event begins!
[Streamer, check your mail! You're gonna love this!]