The two bantered, easing the atmosphere.
Though Baizhu's complexion had improved a bit,
it was still evident that he was completely drained.
After all, that was life energy.
Lumine was worried. "So that's why Hu Tao said your lineage's method of saving people goes against life and death."
"It turns out it's premised on overdrawing your own life force..."
Baizhu explained, "It's not that severe. With Changsheng helping regulate my qi, it doesn't endanger my life."
Changsheng interrupted him, clearly unable to hold back anymore.
"Even with me helping regulate and Mu Yang assisting from the side, your life force will eventually run out."
"We must quickly find a way to detoxify and save Jialiang."
— — — — — —
In the stream chat, a comment asked Guinaifen
why, with Mu Yang right there, they didn't ask him for help.
Little Gui said, "As the saying goes, 'different trades have their specialties.' Even though Mu Yang's strength far surpasses Changsheng's, he can't accomplish everything with the sword in his hand."
"Adeptus power is convenient, but it probably can't be used in every situation."
[Indeed, I remember at the beginning in Mondstadt, Mu Yang said his way of dealing with the Abyss: slay them with the sword]
[Mu Yang pursues the pinnacle of swordsmanship; helping Jialiang pass on peacefully would definitely be professional]
[Like a butcher dissecting an ox]
Guinaifen gave a simple analysis of the plot seen so far.
She admitted she had misunderstood Baizhu a bit before.
After all, squinty eyes look like a bad guy.
Who knew he would use his own life force to save people.
[Misunderstanding cleared]
[This life-for-life saving method is too intense]
— — — — — —
On the Teyvat side.
Lumine, following Changsheng's words, also thought of Mu Yang.
Mu Yang's strength was unfathomable—couldn't he resolve the demon god residue?
Baizhu smiled bitterly. If it were that simple,
would he still need to suffer every time?
"Mortals cannot withstand the infusion of an Adeptus's power."
Even someone like Baizhu, who possessed a Vision, couldn't—let alone an ordinary person like Jialiang?
Lumine recalled this too. Back during the battle with Osial,
it seemed only she had received the Adepti's blessing.
And only her body could withstand it.
Baizhu continued, "Now, the demon god residue has penetrated deep into Jialiang's five viscera and six bowels. It's very delicate work..."
Changsheng added from the side, "If it truly comes to the worst, Mu Yang could at least let him pass peacefully."
She changed the subject. "Let's not talk about treatment for now—you two quickly persuade him to go back and rest."
"If not several people speak up, he's probably thinking of toughing it out alone again."
Lumine, having learned all this, naturally wouldn't abandon her friend.
If there was a way to help, she truly would!
"Let us help you."
Baizhu turned his face away, seemingly still hesitating.
Changsheng took the opportunity to persuade. "...Baizhu, don't you think this is also an opportunity?"
"You can't possibly hide it from everyone forever. Over such a long time, it will be exposed eventually."
Baizhu looked up at the horizon, sighing inwardly.
"Sigh... a lifetime..."
If it were someone else, a lifetime might be sixty or seventy years...
For someone like Mu Yang, perhaps over a thousand years.
But for physicians of their lineage...
Baizhu's lifetime was probably already running out, wasn't it?
That's why he wanted to seek the method of [immortality].
Not only to save Changsheng, but also to benefit the people of Liyue, to benefit all living beings under heaven...
"...Thank you, Lumine, Paimon."
Paimon grinned foolishly; she was best at lightening the mood.
"Hehe, it's rare to see Baizhu like this. Haven't you helped me a lot before too? No need to be polite."
Lumine also said that friends should help each other.
"Then where should we start?"
[Is this Qingque promising to stay with you for a lifetime?]
[Whoa, can it be interpreted like that? Too bad my lifetime is already given to Mu Yang]
[I can have both left and right]
[You are both my wings]
[Wings that can even tie knots!]
Baizhu already had a preliminary plan at this point.
As he had just said,
the damage from the demon god residue to Jialiang had already penetrated the five viscera and six bowels.
This wasn't something formed overnight.
Moreover, earlier, Ayu had mentioned
that though their family lived in Qingce Village,
they were very far from the village proper.
During Lantern Rite, they even stayed indoors, avoiding crowds.
So now, they should head to their residence.
To see if there were any clues about the poison.
Baizhu paused. "...Besides clues about the poison, we also need to pay attention to Ayu's missing mother—my long-unseen senior sister."
"Before that, wait for me to settle the pharmacy matters. We'll set out this afternoon."
Lumine and Paimon nodded in agreement.
Baizhu turned and entered Bubu Pharmacy.
He instructed Gui that he would be going out this afternoon.
During his absence, Bubu Pharmacy would be looked after by Gui and Qiqi.
Gui assured him he could handle the task well.
If things really got tough, he would immediately go to Qingce Village to notify Baizhu.
Qiqi poked out her little head. "She... finally left. Temporarily... won't come back, right?"
[Haha, hides every time Hu Tao comes once]
[Already has PTSD]
After giving these instructions, Baizhu took Changsheng back to the resting room.
Mu Yang had already been waiting there for some time.
He channeled Adeptus power to Changsheng.
Changsheng quickly recovered.
Afterward, through the contract between the two, Baizhu felt a bit better.
And slowly fell asleep.
In the afternoon.
After resting a while, Baizhu took Lumine to Qingce Village.
Mu Yang followed along too.
Since he was already freeloading, he didn't mind this bit more.
From the player's perspective, Mu Yang and Changsheng were covering for Baizhu.
The group wandered around and finally found Ayu's home.
Paimon's phantom limbs were exhausted. "Wow, the house here is too hidden. If not for Mu Yang sensing a trace of demon god residue aura,"
"With just us, we really might not have found it."
Lumine agreed. Who lives in such a remote place, and even set up a bunch of illusions along the way?
Now it was hard not to suspect this family.
Baizhu was also helpless. "No wonder when I often made house calls near Qingce Village, I never noticed this place."
"Perhaps... senior sister didn't want to be discovered by others."
Lumine tilted her head. "Your condition was too poor earlier, so I didn't ask—about your senior sister Jiangli..."
Baizhu gave a simple introduction to Jiangli's situation.
Back then, he and his senior sister had studied under their master together.
Learning medicine near Chenyu Vale.
Jiangli was several years older than him and had gone out traveling alone very early.
So the time the two spent together wasn't much.
Changsheng interjected to add, "We only heard that during her travels, she married a herb gatherer."
"Probably that guy Jialiang."
This surprised Lumine a bit. "So you hadn't met Ayu and Jialiang before?"
She was shocked because Baizhu had actually used his own life energy for people he had never met.
This behavior—Lumine couldn't quite understand it for a moment.
It already went beyond the scope of a doctor's profession...