Cold Blooded

The Bubu Pharmacy

Saya couldn't help but feel as if she had been pushed off into the background and that nothing was really happening. They had reunited some old friends, some tears were shed, and while Saya knew that this was important to them, something inside her was telling her that they needed to hurry. They needed to save Chongyun before it was too late and Yin took over again.

Chongyun started to stumble over his feet and Saya picked him up and held him against her shoulder. His head rested on it, let out a small whine, and then fell asleep. It had been a long day for such a small boy. Some many emotions were buzzing through the air, not to mention the stress alone.

After climbing the hundreds of stairs all the way up to their next stop, Saya was about ready to take a nap as well. She hadn't realized how much this whole journey had weighed on her. Even on the Karlin, Saya hadn't been able to sleep right. She sighed and rubbed her hand over the small of Chongyun's back and stepped into the Pharmacy.

It seemed like no one was there, but Xingqiu strode up to the counter and looked over the edge of it. Saya followed after him and found a small girl with purple hair and a cute hat looking up at her with empty eyes.

"Um, hello," Saya said to the girl, adjusting Chongyun's sleeping body on her hip. "Do you think you would be able to help us with something?"

"Help..." The girl whispered tiredly. "Yes... I can help you... Just get some cocogoat milk... and... well... I forget..."

"Hey, Qiqi," Xingqiu cut in. "We don't need cocogoat milk, but do you think you could get Dr. Baizhu for us?"

"Doctor... Baizhu...?"

"Yes, Dr. Baizhu, if you please."

"Okay..." The girl, Qiqi, headed off into the back of the store and it was only a moment before a tall man with a white snake around his neck and dendro vision by his side stepped out.

"Hello and welcome to the Bubu Pharmacy," the man said with a smile."I'm Dr. Baizhu, what can I do for you- Oh," Dr. Baizhu's smile fell as he scanned the group. "Hello, Hu Tao."

"Hey, Doc," Hu Tao said with her nose in the air.

"Dr. Baizhu," Xingqiu cleared his throat. "We were hoping that you could possibly help us diagnose what it is that is happening to our friend. We aren't really sure where else to go or what to do next, so we came here looking for your experience."

"Hah," Dr. Baizhu's smile returned. "Always the diplomat, young master Xingqiu. Come to the back with me. I'll see what I can do."

They all stood there for a moment exchanging glances. This seemed a bit too easy.

"What's taking you all so long?" The snake around Dr. Baizhu's neck hissed. Saya almost dropped Chongyun and jumped out of her skin all at once.

"The- the snake..." Saya whispered. "Have I lost my mind?"

"No need to worry, Hisaya," Xingqiu said with a sly grin. "Don't teh snakes in your nation talk?"

"No!" Saya screeched. "They most definitely do not."

"It's rude to talk about others when their backs are turned." The snake hissed again.

"Now, now, Changshen," Dr. Baizhu said with a smile and a glance over his shoulder. "We must be nice to our patients. Do follow me though, I'd like to see what it is that's wrong with your friend."

They followed after him and managed to get their whole group into a small room with only a desk and an empty bed. It was a calm, warm room but Hisaya felt slightly ill at ease. She didn't exactly have the best experience with doctors.

"Lay him down here," Dr. Baizhu instructed, motioning to the bed.

Hisaya hesitated, but then slowly lowered Chongyun's small body onto the bed. The boy curled up into a ball and shifted just the tiniest bit. Dr. Baizhu knelt down beside the boy and turned Chongyun onto his back.

With a graceful sweep of his hand, Dr. Baizhu called a thin green ribbon of dendro energy out of the air and tapped Chongyun's forehead, chest, and stomach.

As if the lock of a door had been flipped open, the monster within the small boy leaped out.

~author's note~

Chapter 60 and almost 200 pages on the doc. Thanks for reading as always and have a great day today. Happy 3rd anniversary of Genshin!

chapter art posted by soeru_eru