Ten minutes later.
Yae Miko, having changed her clothes, pushed the door open and stepped out.
Seeing the newly transformed Yae Miko, even Lu Heng's eyes widened slightly.
At this moment, she wasn't just similar to Changli; she was practically a ninety percent match!
The only noticeable difference one might perceive was Changli's exceptionally endowed figure, something Yae Miko admittedly couldn't quite compete with.
But even so, it was more than enough!
"Well?"
Seeing Lu Heng's expression, Yae Miko smiled radiantly.
Ah, men. Just fulfill their heart's desires, and they'll agree to anything.
Look at Lu Heng now—his eyes were completely fixed on Yae Miko.
A deliberate plan, a simple move, effortlessly capturing Lu Heng's attention.
Lu Heng didn't speak, simply giving a thumbs-up.
Damn!
How exactly are Yae Miko and Changli put together? They're just so beautiful it hits me right in the heart.
"This..."
Yae Miko dangled a black eyepatch from her slender, jade-like finger, her charming eyes smiling. "I'll wear it when we get down to serious business."
Eh!
Lu Heng leaned back slightly.
This Yae Miko!
You really know a bit too much, huh!
Lu Heng took a deep breath, then revealed a smile. "You really understand me best!"
"Mhm~"
Yae Miko glided over with light steps, stopping at a微妙 distance from Lu Heng. She whispered with a laugh, "Using magic to change clothes means you can swap outfits without moving a muscle... it doesn't delay things at all, you know~"
Good, good, good!
After hearing this, Lu Heng felt Changli's flame of departure burning in his heart.
"Ah."
"Feeling a bit hot, aren't we?" Lu Heng looked up at the sky.
It was almost noon, the sun blazing brightly.
It really made one grit their teeth.
Why is the temperature near summer so easily able to make one feel restless and hot?
"Daytime is fine too~"
Yae Miko's tone was soft and gentle, her tender fingertip pressed against the corner of her lips as she blinked at Lu Heng.
She's giving me the look!
Lu Heng immediately put on a serious face. "It's fine. It should be nighttime in the Pocket Realm right now!"
"Oh my?"
Yae Miko's lips parted slightly in surprise.
To avoid disturbing the masses, he'd just make the Pocket Realm enter night time?
Hachii Lu, you... really are impatient, aren't you?
But Yae Miko didn't refuse, because she was willing too!
"Then let's go~"
"Let's go!"
Lu Heng, who usually loved eating, didn't even think about lunch.
He directly raised his hand and tore open space.
Indeed, as Lu Heng said, the Pocket Realm was already dusk under his will.
No one was home, so they could play however they wanted!
In the mansion where Lumine stayed.
She was live-streaming Genshin Impact quests with Paimon.
Just after a cutscene, Lumine raised a hand to her forehead, frowning. "I have this inexplicable uncomfortable feeling... what is it?"
"Could it be side effects from that kick the Uncrowned One gave you?!" Paimon exclaimed with 'shock'.
"I'm not setting up a bit for the stream, you know."
Lumine shook her head, her expression serious. "I genuinely feel uneasy in my heart, but I can't pinpoint what it is... It's weird!"
"Huh?"
Paimon scratched her head, puzzled. "Then... do you want to think about it carefully?"
"No use. I still don't know what's actually wrong."
Lumine sighed.
'Is Lumine okay?'
'If it's not part of the act, then could it be...'
'That kind of sudden premonition often turns out to be real, just don't know what happened to make the streamer feel this way?'
'Definitely not anything good!'
"Feeling a bit irritable."
Lumine grabbed her hair, then said, "Sigh, let's stop the quest here. It's almost noon, let's not order takeout today. The delivery fee is ridiculously expensive."
'G66, a big streamer making at least 200k a day worries about a little delivery fee?'
'Can't I? Once or twice is nothing, but it adds up. Might as well just get two more dishes at the restaurant!'
'Is this the "save where you should, spend where you should" philosophy?'
'Lumine seems like the type who'd rather eat dirt every day to save up for gacha pulls.'
'Even though the streamer and viewers in this channel are at odds, we all hope the streamer lives a long, troublesome life. Streamer, take care of yourself.'
"Sounds like you think I'm about to die."
Lumine pouted, having already packed up, ready to take Paimon and head out.
The best place to eat was, of course, Wanmin Restaurant when Xiangling wasn't out!
"From now on, the indoor gaming stream becomes an outdoor food exploration stream~~!"
Lumine wasn't worried about getting a seat at Wanmin Restaurant. She got along well with Xiangling; a heads-up was all it took to get things arranged.
As Lumine and Paimon headed to Wanmin Restaurant for lunch...
Qingce Village.
Baizhu leaned on a stick about the thickness of a child's wrist as a cane.
With his constitution, even a little walking left him feeling weak.
Looking at Qingce Village ahead, Baizhu couldn't help but sigh. "Qiqi, we've reached the last stop. After two days of free clinic here in Qingce Village, we can return to Liyue Harbor."
"Ah."
Qiqi stood by the roadside, watching the chirping little finches on a nearby tree branch. Hearing Baizhu's voice, she turned her head.
Qiqi looked at Baizhu with confusion in her eyes. She asked, puzzled, "You are...?"
Baizhu: "..."
Changshe, hanging around Baizhu's neck, sighed. "Qiqi's memory... Check the notebook on you!"
"Ah, oh."
Qiqi didn't understand, but she complied. She found the notebook on her.
"Practical Guide for the Undying: Home and Travel Edition"!
After flipping through it for a moment, Qiqi had a sudden realization: "You are... Mr. Baizhu!"
"This child..."
Baizhu smiled wryly.
Even with his superb medical skills, he was helpless against Qiqi's forgetfulness.
Qiqi was just too special; his healing methods had little effect on her.
Fortunately, she carried a notebook with her, so she could remember important things by consulting it. Otherwise... Baizhu had to admit, it was a bit frightening.
If Qiqi lived as an adeptus deep in the mountains, it might be fine, but she lived among people.
The human world was full of joys and sorrows, but Qiqi would forget them after a turn.
Over time, she would forget so much, while only vague impressions of particularly deep memories remained, yet she couldn't recall them clearly.
If something was bad for Qiqi, forgetting it was a blessing.
But if it was something Qiqi desperately wanted to remember, yet couldn't, that would be a kind of indistinct suffering for her.
Baizhu sighed inwardly.
If only there was a way to help Qiqi.
Shaking his head, he stopped dwelling on it. Leaning on his cane, he said, "Qiqi, let's go."
"...Coming."
Having just checked her notebook, Qiqi remembered a little.
Baizhu walked slowly due to his health. As Qiqi followed him, she also moved her somewhat stiff body.
The man, the zombie, and the snake walked towards Qingce Village while chatting.
Before they even reached the main road, Baizhu froze.
He saw a rectangular object moving on the distant main road.
Squinting, he saw wheels underneath the rectangular shape; clearly, it was a vehicle.
"What kind of cart is that?"
Baizhu was perplexed.
From not too far away, he could see someone inside driving, and a few elderly people chatting and laughing happily.
On the front windshield, there was a fairly large white sign that read: Qingce Village — Wangshu Inn.
What in the world is that?
Beep beep—
While Baizhu was still stunned, the vehicle honked and slowed down.
The window rolled down, and a young man called out loudly to Baizhu, "Heading to Qingce Village?"
"Yes!"
Although Baizhu still didn't understand the situation, he decided to go along for now.
He possessed a Vision. Though his body was weaker than an average person's, he still had some combat ability to rely on.
"Qiqi, follow me!"
Baizhu led Qiqi to the main road.
The vehicle had stopped and opened its door.
"I noticed you from afar. You're Mr. Baizhu from Bubu Pharmacy in Liyue Harbor, right?"
The young man who had called out to Baizhu earlier said with a smile, "You might not remember me, but I remember you. Earlier this year, it was you who cured my mother's chronic illness during your free clinic. Thank you so much!"
A patient's family member?
Baizhu felt even more at ease.
"Thank you so much!"
"I saw you were walking towards Qingce Village? I heard your health isn't great, so I can give you a lift since I'm heading that way!" the young man said cheerfully.
Baizhu nodded. After making sure Qiqi was seated in a nearby seat, he sat down himself and asked, "This vehicle we're in is...?"
The young man started the vehicle again, glanced in the rearview mirror, and said, "Mr. Baizhu, you haven't been in populated areas recently?"
"No." Baizhu shook his head.
He had been traveling through remote mountain villages lately.
"No wonder."
The young man understood immediately. As he drove, he explained, "This thing we're riding in is called a 'bus'! The route I drive is from Qingce Village to Wangshu Inn."
Hearing this, an elderly person sitting further back chimed in, "Times are good now! Considering us old folks with不方便 legs, they sent this thing to take us around for free!"
"Yeah, yeah! Before, we couldn't go far. Now with this bus, it's much easier to get from Qingce Village to Wangshu Inn. You can even transfer once to go straight to Liyue Harbor!"
"It's so convenient now. My boy is busy with work, doesn't come back often. I want to visit him, but the journey was too long! Now it's much easier. It's just the road is too rough, too bumpy! My old bones feel like they're getting shaken apart!"
Baizhu immediately looked at the old man, even reaching out to feel his bones before smiling, "Don't worry, sir. Your bones are still strong."
"Don't worry, Grandpa!"
The driving young man said loudly, "The higher-ups are planning the routes. Eventually, they'll fix the roads! Once we have wide, smooth roads, we can drive faster and steadier, and it'll be even cheaper!"
After saying this, the young man proceeded to update Baizhu on the recent situation in Liyue Harbor.
Qiqi didn't understand, but Baizhu and Changshe were dumbfounded after listening.
What's this?
After doing a round of free clinics in the mountains, I come out to find I've become a savage left behind by the times?
Baizhu's mouth twitched.
No wonder the young man could drive a vehicle full of elderly people out here in the wild.
He had been worried about encountering monsters blocking the road, but it turned out they had so-called equipment and a few cards, making their combat power stronger than a whole team of Millelith from before!
Incredible! Just incredible!
"So, you mean we don't need to do a free clinic in Qingce Village anymore?" Changshe asked.
"Probably not needed."
The young man shook his head, sounding somewhat emotional. "The higher-ups are busy with the Golden House, didn't pull out Mora to pull cards, but us common folk are pulling cards ourselves."
"The other day, I dropped off some professionals from the Ministry of Civil Affairs. They had cards related to medical skills, something like a 'Healing Spell,' I think?"
"I know about that!"
The old man said, "The higher-ups sent people for something like 'medical security' or something? Not sure! But Old Zhang fell and hurt his leg a while back. His bones aren't as tough as mine! But that expert just pointed at him! Guess what happened?"
"...Please elaborate, sir." Baizhu was very interested.
The old man slapped his thigh emphatically. "It was amazing! Just a point like that! Old Zhang's leg was healed! Now he's jumping around, can even eat three bowls of rice!"
Gasp—
That sounds like something straight out of a fantasy novel, doesn't it?
Baizhu felt his worldview was being challenged.
But there was no reason for these people to lie to him for no reason.
"Does that mean there will be no more illness and pain in the world?" Changshe marveled.
"Ah, not necessarily!"
The old man shook his head. "The experts only come once a year at fixed times. They can't just come immediately whenever someone gets sick, right? Gotta consider the bigger picture, the overall plan! So if you miss it, then it's hard to say!"
"The appearance of these cards means there's basically no illness that can't be cured..." Baizhu tightened his grip on his cane.
This meant that medical professionals who had studied for years might find it hard to make a living.
But Baizhu didn't care about that potential loss. He wanted to see that kind of prosperous scene.
No one would suffer from illness and pain anymore!
Baizhu leaned back in his seat.
His gaze inadvertently fell on Qiqi, who was staring out the window in a daze.
If the number of patients decreased and ailments diminished drastically under healing spells... perhaps he didn't need to pursue immortality so desperately anymore.
Screech—
The bus came to a stop.
"Mr. Baizhu, we've arrived!"
"Huh?"
Baizhu, lost in thought, snapped back to reality and quickly expressed his thanks.
"Mr. Baizhu, I didn't get the chance before. Now that we've met, let me treat you to a meal!" the young man offered cheerfully.
Baizhu tried to decline, but the young man insisted enthusiastically. In the end, they ate together at a place similar to a农家乐.
After confirming that Qingce Village truly didn't need a free clinic, Baizhu adjusted his subsequent plans.
The young man's bus was scheduled to depart for Wangshu Inn at 1 PM. Once they reached Wangshu Inn, they could transfer to another bus heading straight back to Liyue Harbor.
Baizhu was increasingly feeling the convenience brought by this era of rapid change.
"I'm full!"
Lumine scanned the code to pay, then said, "Hope you're all full too, folks?"
'Damn, it's just home-style cooking, but you make it look like a state banquet!'
'On the contrary, state banquets might not taste good, but Wanmin Restaurant definitely does!'
'I really want to eat at Wanmin Restaurant too ahhh!'
'Don't worry, bro, you don't have the streamer's connections, you won't get a seat!'
"You're all just jealous of my connections."
Lumine smiled and waved goodbye to Xiangling, then left Wanmin Restaurant with Paimon.
Just as she stepped out...
Ding—
Her phone chimed.
Lumine took out her phone, unlocked it with facial recognition, and the message was displayed in full.
The camera didn't capture Lumine's phone screen, only her face turning red with a mix of confusion and anger.
"What's going on?"
Paimon was baffled. She leaned in to look and was instantly stunned.
It was a message from Yae Miko to Lumine.
The content was... of a nature that couldn't possibly pass censorship if fully revealed.
Of course, it wasn't that explicit, but it didn't stop Lumine and Paimon from understanding the implication.
'What's with these two?'
'Who sent the message? Why did Lumine turn red after reading it?'
'Paimon, say something! Point the camera at the screen!'
'The last time Lumine turned red like this was when she couldn't beat the Uncrowned One on floor 54. What happened now to make her so angry?!'
'So anxious! Tell me!!'
"Damn it!"
Lumine was genuinely furious.
"What does she mean by this!" Is this a victor's gloating?
But did she have to describe the... 'battle report' in such detail?
"Sigh."
Paimon disabled the microphone and patted Lumine's shoulder sympathetically. "Bro Lu isn't pure anymore, huh."
Lumine's mouth twitched. "By that logic, he hasn't been pure for a long time!"
"No!"
Lumine took a deep breath.
Damn it, the more she thought about it, the angrier she got!
That wicked woman Yae Miko. Not only did she succeed, but she also had to send a message to boast about it!
This made Lumine feel that this matter was even more upsetting than not being able to beat the Uncrowned One on floor 54!
"Aren't you being a bit too much?"
Lu Heng said in astonishment after reading the message Yae Miko sent to Lumine. "You're really not afraid of being cursed out, are you?"
"Since I'm already in the lead, of course I need to notify the others,刺激刺激 them to work harder~"
You put it that way?
Then I have no choice but to support it.
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T/N:
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