Mr. Zhongli, we can't slack off anymore!

Hall of Rebirth.

"I'm back! Why aren't you two welcoming me? I'm exhausted, exhausted..." Hu Tao collapsed onto a wooden chair after finishing her business.

"Master, you're back!" the traveler greeted.

"Master, what was the result?" Zhongli asked as he stepped forward, holding a booklet, pretending that he had been working just a moment ago.

"Hehehe, with me in charge, there's no deal that can't be closed. You two can enjoy the good life with me from now on." Hu Tao stood up from her seat, hands on her hips, looking very smug.

"As expected of the hall master." Zhongli flattered him.

"It's amazing that the Hall Master is so talented at such a young age. I have a lot to learn from him." The traveler imitated him, flattering him as well.

"Hehe, that's called the art of negotiating. There's no deal in Liyue that I can't close. I'll teach you later." Hu Tao's lips curled into a wide smile.

"Please give me more guidance, Master." The traveler was engrossed in his performance.

"By the way, Lu Ren, how did your studies go today?" Hu Tao asked about something important, and the traveler's heart skipped a beat.

Oh no! I haven't gotten anything important done today.

"The business of the Hall of Rebirth is extensive and profound, and cannot be learned overnight," Zhongli explained to the traveler.

As expected of a seasoned professional, he can cover up his slacking off with just one sentence.

"Indeed, you'll have to teach her more in the future, Guest Elder."

"Yes."

"My feet are killing me from walking all day. Guest, could you please go to Bubulu and get me some medicine?"

“Okay,” Zhongli immediately agreed.

“I’ll go too,” the traveler said, getting up.

"No need, no need. You've just arrived, and you're a young lady. How can I let you do errands? I'm a very considerate person."

"I'm new to martial arts, and my wrists have been a bit sore these past few days. I was also thinking of asking for some medicine." She just wanted to ask her to stay a little longer and also visit Bai Zhu and Qi Qi.

"Oh, then you should let Dr. Bai Shu take a look. I'll cover the medical expenses. Once you join the Rebirth Hall, I, the head of the hall, will take care of you, and I'll cover all your medical expenses."

"Well... thank you very much, Master." The traveler suddenly felt a surge of emotion.

The boss runs the business single-handedly, supporting us bunch of good-for-nothings and even covering our medical expenses. He's an absolutely amazing boss.

"You're too kind! But when you say you're learning martial arts, what kind of weapon do you mean?" Hu Tao was also a little curious.

"I learned to use a gun first," the traveler replied.

"Gun! Why didn't you say so earlier? I could have taught you! My gun skills are among the best in Liyue. Who did you learn from? Quickly drop the course, and I'll teach you." Hu Tao patted the traveler on the shoulder, hands on her hips.

“The traveler is just starting out and is far from reaching the level of a hall master. It would be better to let her learn a few basic moves, and then she can seek out a hall master when she has improved.” Zhongli helped to smooth things over.

"Well, sigh... They won't learn what's free, they insist on paying for it. These young people nowadays, tsk tsk tsk." Hu Tao shook her head, feigning maturity.

"Then we'll be going now... See you later, Master." The traveler waved.

*

Bubu's Lodge is located on the west side of Liyue Harbor.

Walk straight along the central avenue, pass through a moon gate guarded by two Thousand Rock Army soldiers, and you will see a pond of lotus flowers. Above the pond is a stone bridge. Then turn right and climb several hundred steps to see Bubulu.

Standing at the bottom of the steps, the traveler felt a sense of retreat.

She couldn't help but say, "So many steps! My legs will ache from walking up them."

"There's something I don't understand. Why did you come with me?" Zhongli looked into the traveler's eyes.

For a moment, the world seemed to stand still.

"It's because..." I wanted to spend more time with you.

The traveler did not utter the second half of the sentence.

"Of course it's because you can't use Celestial Magic to move around in Liyue Harbor, and it's so boring to walk around alone. Having more people means having more people to chat with. Besides, I really want to see Bai Shu and Qi Qi." The traveler was afraid that one reason wouldn't be enough to convince people, so he gave two.

"Thank you. Having you around certainly makes things more interesting." Zhongli's expression remained unchanged, and no one could guess what he was thinking.

Although his words left room for interpretation, the traveler knew he was just being polite and had no other intentions.

"Let's go. We need to get back and report as soon as possible; it's almost dinnertime." The traveler feigned urging, but was actually masking his panic.

She looked at the endless steps and sighed unconsciously.

"If patients have to suffer like this just to come for a medical checkup..."

Do you want me to carry you up?

"No, no, it's not that bad!" The traveler was already trying to stop himself from overthinking, so why did this person keep causing misunderstandings?

"Then I'll carry you up?" The temptation seemed to increase even further.

The traveler fiercely suppressed the countless little voices inside him screaming, "Let him hug me! Let him hug me! Let him hug me!"

"Why don't you carry me up?" the traveler said, stopping him from speaking in an increasingly dangerous manner.

After thinking for a moment, Zhongli said, "...That works too."

"I can walk..." The traveler didn't know if he was feigning ignorance or what he was thinking...

To dispel her own thoughts, she blushed and stepped onto the stairs first.

*

Ten minutes later, the traveler finally arrived at the entrance of Bubulu.

In the game, the characters climbed up in just a few steps, but the traveler climbed with great difficulty.

Even in the game, Bubulu isn't located this high!

It's definitely comparable to Mount Tai!

"Let's rest for a while," Zhongli said, supporting the traveler with one hand.

"I...huff...huff...I'm fine." The traveler gasped for breath. She looked up and saw two or three children skipping and jumping back and forth on the stone steps, not feeling tired at all.

Perhaps the physical strength of people in reality is very different from that of people on the continent of Teyvat.

Upon entering Bubulu, you are greeted by the aroma of medicinal herbs.

Unlike traditional Chinese medicine clinics, the aroma of herbs here is a light and refreshing fragrance.

Agui, the pharmacist at Bubulu: "Sir, do you want to get medicine? Please give me the prescription."

Zhongli spoke first: "We've come to ask for a prescription. Is Dr. Baizhu here?"

"Okay, wait a moment, I'll go call the master." Agui turned and went into the inner room.

"Cough cough..."

Before she even arrived, Bai Zhu's cough was the first thing people heard.

"You two have been waiting for a long time. Which one is the patient?" Bai Shu's voice was weak and feeble. He looked very weak, and his face was as pale as paper.

"It's me," the traveler volunteered.

"Miss, are you feeling unwell?"

"My wrist is a little sore," the traveler said, raising his swollen wrist.

"Judging from your appearance, Miss should be fine, please don't worry. The symptoms in your wrist are likely due to prolonged lifting of heavy objects and a sprain. You just need to apply some herbal medicine and rest for a few days and you'll be fine." Bai Shu looked up and examined the traveler's face, immediately giving her diagnosis.

"You're panting like this after climbing just a few stone steps. You need to exercise more, little girl." The white snake Changsheng poked its head out from behind Bai Shu's neck.

“Okay!” The traveler nodded vigorously.

Even people who exercise regularly would be out of breath climbing Mount Tai...

"May I check your pulse? It would be safer to make a further diagnosis." Bai Shu took out a wrist pillow from the drawer.

“Okay.” The traveler reached out her hand, and Bai Shu’s fingertips pressed against her wrist. The cool touch made the traveler tremble slightly.

The traveler felt somewhat guilty that a healthy person was seeking treatment from a seriously ill one.

"Hmm, everything is normal, it should be due to fatigue. The flow of elemental energy in the body is also normal... Hmm? This..." Bai Shu frowned as he spoke.

The traveler's heart rate skyrocketed, and the renowned doctor's furrowed brow was quite alarming.

"Mr. Bai Shu, what's wrong with her?" Zhong Li frowned, as if he had also noticed something.

The traveler panicked even more at this point.

"We don't know yet..." Bai Shu frowned even more deeply.

"Could it be... that I'm about to die?" the traveler asked cautiously, suddenly feeling his energy drain away and his whole body go weak.

"Please let me check the pulse in your other arm." Bai Shu did not answer.

The traveler placed her other hand on the table as well. Seeing the traveler's pale face, Zhongli put her hand on her shoulder.

The air was heavy; the only sound inside the room was the traveler's heartbeat.

"This!" Suddenly, Bai Shu shook off the traveler's hand.

"Bai Shu, what's wrong with you!" Chang Sheng asked anxiously.

"Hmm..." Bai Shu's pupils contracted, and he stared stiffly at his hands.

"Will I have time to write my will?" the traveler trembled.

"No...the girl is very healthy..."

"only……"

“Hmm, Bai Shu, you…” Chang Sheng understood something but didn’t say it directly.

A riddle about a person and a snake.

“Young lady, you… have a special constitution. When I accidentally used elemental analysis to check your physical condition just now, I may have inadvertently absorbed your life force…” Bai Shu’s expression was urgent but also confused.

His face regained color, and he stopped coughing while speaking.

“Drawing life… such an obscure phrase.” The traveler repeated Bai Shu’s words.

Not understanding it means not being afraid.

"I'm afraid so," Bai Shu said apologetically.

"Is that so!" The little white snake Changsheng excitedly raised its little tail.

"What will happen to her?" Zhong Li's face was devoid of any smile.

The traveler shivered. She sensed a chill emanating from Zhongli, unlike when he dealt with the group of treasure thieves. He was genuinely intent on killing.

He immediately realized his loss of composure and suppressed his anger.

He didn't know where his anger came from; perhaps it was because this incident made him doubt the integrity of Bubulu's business, or perhaps it was because he discovered that the doctor had bullied a little girl.

As for other reasons, Zhongli did not want to delve into them.

"It's nothing serious. Miss, go home and observe for a few days. If you feel unwell, I will treat you."

“Mr. Baishu, those who steal others’ property should repay it,” Zhongli refused to back down.

“Mr. Zhongli is right. Please come with me to the back room for treatment, young lady.” Bai Shu also felt it was inappropriate and wanted to use her secret technique to repay the traveler.

"Are you going to use it again? Your body can't take even one more time!" Changsheng said, stopping him.

"No matter how it was acquired, it should be returned..." Bai Shu said firmly.

"No need, no need, I seem to be fine. If you feel bad about it, please give us the meal for free today." The traveler didn't want to cause any major misunderstanding or separation because of himself.

"Life cannot be measured in money," Zhongli advised.

"See, I'm fine. Never mind, never mind. I've already said I'm alright, so you don't need to worry about me."

“This is not appropriate…” Bai Shu insisted.

"Didn't you already treat me? You said I'm fine, I trust your medical skills. I'll come back to you if there are any aftereffects." The traveler didn't seem to care.

In the game's storyline, Bai Shu and Chang Sheng suffered significant physical damage after using the secret technique, but the traveler experienced no discomfort.

……

Bai Shu and Zhong Li both fell silent.

The traveler was caught in the middle, unsure whether he had done the right thing or the wrong thing.

Ultimately, this medical dispute ended with the traveler receiving a lifetime free treatment.

Watching the traveler and Zhongli's departing figures, Bai Shu looked down at his bloodshot hands.

“This traveler is quite an oddball,” Changsheng remarked.

“Chang Sheng, when I came into contact with the energy within her, it felt like a star falling into the Milky Way. I felt incredibly small,” Bai Shu told Chang Sheng about her discovery.

"So, I should go and sign a contract with her?" Changsheng joked.

“In the blink of an eye, she replenished the part I had lost. And she didn’t even notice; her body didn’t even bother to give a warning. The part I had taken away was like a scoop of seawater.”

"Could she be the embodiment of justice?" Changsheng guessed.

"There are heavens beyond heavens. In my humble opinion, she may be even more powerful than the laws of nature." Bai Shu gazed thoughtfully at the starry sky of Teyvat.