When Ayu heard that Baizhu actually knew his mother,
he immediately widened his eyes.
"Mr. Baizhu knows my mom?"
Baizhu explained to Qiqi.
The pharmacy wasn't busy right now.
Ayu's parents had an old connection with him.
He wanted to invite more people to help with the search.
"I wonder if Qiqi has time?"
At this point, Paimon interjected to remind him, "There are also the three of us. We just promised Ayu."
Upon hearing that Lumine and Mu Yang were also there, Baizhu gave up the idea of bringing Gui and Qiqi along.
Someone still needed to watch the pharmacy.
He said, "That couldn't be better. I'll trouble the few of you to lend us a hand."
Lumine put her hands on her hips. "Leave it to us."
Mu Yang nodded in greeting.
Qiqi also followed with, "Qiqi, will help."
She turned to Ayu and, with words nearly as cold as ice, expressed warmth.
"Family... very important..."
After the group arranged the tasks, they set off.
Baizhu planned to first ask the Millelith outside the city if they had found any clues.
Before they even got close, Mu Yang heard the guards reporting.
"...We've already searched the northern area, no sign of anyone matching the description."
The other looked troubled.
"This is problematic now. No news from inside the city either. To search farther out, we'll probably need to request more manpower."
Ayu impatiently rushed to the Millelith's side.
"Millelith uncles, any news about my dad?"
The Millelith was very kind; he first comforted Ayu.
Upon hearing that Baizhu, Lumine, and Mu Yang were helping,
joy finally appeared on his face.
Requesting manpower took time.
And for a search and rescue, time was what was needed most.
The Millelith were short on hands and hadn't found any useful clues in the nearby areas.
But there was one guess.
"The brothers guarding the front checkpoint said they hadn't seen him. It's unlikely he went toward the Guili Plains. It's very possible he went to Luhua Pool."
Mu Yang analyzed, "Luhua Pool has complex terrain and frequent monster activity. Let's hurry."
Baizhu nodded in agreement. "Let's hope nothing happens."
Lumine told the Millelith, "Leave the Luhua Pool side to us."
"Then thank you very much." The Millelith said, then looked guiltily at Ayu.
"Sorry, little friend. We couldn't find your father ourselves."
"It's okay. Thank you, Millelith uncle."
With Mu Yang's assistance, the group moved swiftly and soon arrived near Luhua Pool.
"Dad, can you hear me? Dad—!"
Ayu shouted at the top of his lungs.
Mu Yang thought this method was too slow, so he picked him up and leaped onto a small hill in one go.
Ayu nearly dropped his jaw in shock from the momentum.
Th-this-this, he's indeed an expert!
"That figure over there—is it your father?"
Ayu looked in the direction Mu Yang pointed.
His eyes weren't as good as Mu Yang's.
But he wouldn't mistake his father's clothes and back.
Ayu nodded heavily. "That's my dad!"
"Oh no, that's a cliff over there."
Upon hearing Mu Yang's words from below, Lumine immediately activated Electro teleportation to rush over and save him.
Unexpectedly, a figure moved even faster than her.
Only after she brought the person away from the cliff did everyone see her appearance clearly.
[It's you, countering A]
[It's actually my wife!]
[The one upstairs hasn't woken up yet?]
[Baizhu: My face is really something; everyone came to guest star]
Hu Tao had her hands on her hips, speaking to the dazed middle-aged man walking toward the cliff.
"This customer, if you want to patronize our Wangsheng Funeral Parlor, there's no need to be in such a hurry! Are you okay?"
The man seemed very confused in his mind and still felt great discomfort all over his body.
He couldn't answer her question at all.
Hu Tao tilted her head. "Hm?"
Looks like she saved a very troublesome person.
"Dad—!"
Ayu's voice came from above.
It turned out Mu Yang had flown over with him.
Baizhu and Lumine also arrived at the spot.
"Hey, Hu Tao!" Paimon waved at the Hall Master.
"Aiya? Let me see who's here."
"Hm... it's Lumine and Paimon, and even Mu Yang? It's really lively."
Her gaze scanned the group, finally landing on Baizhu.
The sincere enthusiasm in her eyes turned cold.
"Ugh... and there's one troublesome guy."
Changsheng watched the drama from the side. "Ha, looks like you're still not welcome by her."
[Hu Tao's reaction is too real. Do these two have a grudge?]
[One sends people off, one keeps them alive—of course they have a grudge (amused)]
[It's a conflict of professions and identities]
[Like Kiana and Kevin]
[Exam.JPG]
Compared to Hu Tao's face-changing performance and sudden attitude shift,
Baizhu remained the same, his face full of gentleness.
"Thank you for your help just now, Hall Master Hu."
Ayu's tone was urgent here; he seemed to have encountered similar situations before.
He desperately tried to make his father recognize him.
However, the middle-aged man's response didn't go as he hoped.
"You are... Ayu, then who am I..."
"You're called Jialiang, you live west of Qingce Village, and you came to Liyue Harbor to see a doctor..."
Ayu blurted out his father's information all at once.
"How about it? Do you remember now?"
The middle-aged man clutched his stomach; his symptoms hadn't eased much.
But fortunately, following Ayu's words, he recalled his own identity.
However, he didn't remember what illness he had.
"Wow, it's already this serious? We need to hurry and take him back to Bubu Pharmacy."
Paimon urged Baizhu; everyone shouldn't just stand there.
"Sorry, Hu Tao. Next time, I'll treat you to something delicious."
Who knew, at this critical moment, Hu Tao actually opposed it.
"You're not thinking of just taking him back to Bubu Pharmacy like this, are you?"
Lumine frowned. "Is there a problem?"
Bubu Pharmacy should be the most effective place in Liyue Harbor for treating difficult illnesses.
If not Bubu Pharmacy, where?
Surely not directly to Wangsheng Funeral Parlor?
Ayu was still right there!
Hu Tao glanced at Mu Yang, then looked at Baizhu.
"I say, Baizhu, you can't possibly not see it, right? Or did your master forget to teach you this skill?"
"Or perhaps, you've already noticed... but still want to use [it] to do some good deed right under Mu Yang's nose?"
Baizhu remained silent...
Mu Yang didn't speak either.
Paimon was completely confused by these riddle-speakers.
"What riddles are you playing again? I'm almost dizzy from it."
Lumine seemed to have figured out some clues.
But she didn't speak up.
Both sides were her friends; she didn't know how to take sides now.
Sometimes, having too many friends isn't good.
In the end, Baizhu said it himself.
"...Jialiang has the aura of a demon god's residue on him."
Hu Tao added from the side, "Not just has it—even on the verge of losing control. Once it erupts, the consequences would be unimaginable."
After saying that, she pondered it herself.
The reason Baizhu brought Mu Yang along—was it to cover for his research?