As the saying goes, "It's not the King of Hell's smile you should fear, but Baizhu's frown."
After taking in Bai Luo, the professional smile on Baizhu's face gradually faded, eventually replaced by a deep frown and occasional sighs.
"Dr. Baizhu, is our leader going to be okay?"
Dozens of Fatui members crowded around Bubu Pharmacy, making the room stiflingly hot.
These Fatui, who had followed Bai Luo all the way from Stone Gate, genuinely cared about him.
It made sense. Which Harbinger would go out of their way to fight for ordinary soldiers and throw lavish banquets for them?
Though they weren't sure why they were being served almond tofu.
Bai Luo had already left a favorable impression on them.
"Please step outside for now. And that lady over there, please stay away from the patient. You might accidentally hurt him."
"..."
There are only two types of people who can make the Fatui back down: their superiors and doctors.
After Katarina helped Bai Luo adjust his bedding, she followed the other Fatui out of the inner room, leaving the space much more open. The air felt fresher, and Baizhu's expression relaxed.
It was strange. Bai Luo's condition was strange.
Baizhu had examined the knife wounds. Logically, with injuries that severe, his internal organs should have been badly damaged.
But in reality, aside from some indigestion, Bai Luo seemed perfectly healthy.
"Have you encountered anyone unusual recently?"
After activating his Dendro Vision, Baizhu attempted to heal Bai Luo using elemental energy.
"I met someone at Wangshu Inn who called himself an adeptus. He wasn't very tall, but he had quite the temper."
Bai Luo thought for a moment before tentatively answering.
"..."
Baizhu knew a thing or two about the adepti. Not very tall... If he had to guess, it was probably the Vigilant Yaksha. Could Bai Luo have been affected by the karmic debt surrounding the Yaksha?
"What did you do?"
The adepti protect Liyue. Even if Bai Luo wasn't from Liyue, the adeptus would likely only give him a light warning, not a deadly blow.
Perhaps Bai Luo had done something extreme?
Bai Luo reached into his pocket and pulled out a sunsettia. "I gave him this."
Baizhu took the sunsettia, sniffed it, and as a doctor, quickly determined it was non-toxic.
After wiping it with a handkerchief, Baizhu took a bite.
Gathering herbs wasn't just Qiqi's job. Sometimes, Baizhu would also carry a medicine basket and wander among the clouds.
When he was tired or thirsty, mountain spring water and sunsettias often became his snacks, so he wasn't particularly picky.
However.
"..."
With an expressionless face, Baizhu opened his mouth and spat out the sunsettia after barely chewing it.
Do people carry sunsettias with them? Of course. Some parents pack fresh sunsettias and apples for their children when they go out to play, so they have something to eat when they're hungry.
These wild fruits are easy to pick and make great snacks.
But... who in their right mind would carry such sour sunsettias around?
"Was it sour?"
"Not bad."
"I have more. Want another?"
"..."
Looking at Bai Luo's cheerful expression, Baizhu suddenly realized that he was probably—no, definitely—doing this on purpose.
Baizhu didn't get angry. Instead, he stopped channeling Dendro energy, covered Bai Luo with the blanket, and left the room.
"Dr. Baizhu, how is he?"
The Ninth Company members crowded around Baizhu as soon as he stepped out, anxiously asking.
Baizhu sighed and shook his head slightly.
"The patient's injuries are severe, and the wounds need to be stitched immediately. However, Bubu Pharmacy is out of anesthetic, so..."
"Where can we get some? We'll go pick it!"
Katarina was the first to stand up, pounding her chest with determination.
"By the time you gather it, we might as well take him straight to the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor."
Baizhu hadn't expected Bai Luo to be so popular among the Fatui, but he couldn't let them go herb gathering.
"Then what should we do?"
Katarina looked at Baizhu nervously.
"There's one more option, but I'll need your consent. Otherwise, I can't proceed with the treatment."
"Dr. Baizhu, please tell us. We'll do anything to save our leader."
"Yes, who do you want dead? I'll make sure they don't see tomorrow's sun!"
"We'll even storm the Golden House for you!"
The Ninth Company members surged forward, chattering loudly, ready to tear Liyue apart. If the Northland Bank hadn't been their own, they might have even threatened to raze it.
"It's not that serious. I just need to stitch the wounds without using anesthetic."
When Baizhu said this, he was prepared for resistance.
He had even prepared a speech in his mind to convince these stubborn Fatui.
Because stitching without anesthetic would be pure torture. The Fatui would probably...
"Ha, is that all? We thought it was something serious!"
"Our leader was joking and laughing with us even with a belly full of wounds. A little pain won't bother him."
"Exactly! That night at Wangshu Inn, he downed a whole bottle of Fire-Water. Later, the Fire-Water started leaking out of his stomach. He's a true hero of our time!"
And so... the Fatui confidently handed Bai Luo over to Baizhu.
Baizhu didn't disappoint them.
He raised his hands, and the Fatui immediately fell silent.
"Don't worry, everyone. I'll stitch the wounds with the utmost care and precision. Not only will there be no scars, but he'll recover quickly."
As Baizhu said this, he emphasized the words "care" and "precision," as if to assure them that he would treat Bai Luo's injuries with the utmost seriousness.
In reality...
"Qiqi."
Once back in the inner room, Baizhu called Qiqi over with a smile.
"Qiqi is here."
Qiqi obediently stood by Baizhu's side. Though she was primarily a herb gatherer, she occasionally assisted Baizhu in treating patients.
Her adeptal arts also had some healing properties.
"Fetch the needle. The biggest and bluntest one."
Baizhu's face still wore that professional smile, but his words sent a chill down even Qiqi's undead spine.
The biggest... and bluntest...
With some hesitation, Qiqi noted it down and went to the pharmacy.
Soon, Bai Luo's voice echoed through Bubu Pharmacy.
"What? No anesthetic? You're just going to stab me like that?!"
"Damn! Are you stitching a wound or knitting a sweater?"
"Ouch... Didn't you say eight stitches? This feels like eighteen!"
"Huh? Eighty stitches?!"