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First it was the Feiyun Commerce Guild. Then it was the visitor from Mondstadt. Now it was Qiqi’s disappearance. Something about all this didn’t sit right with him.
Why is it that people are rapidly aging? There’s something extremely unnatural about this whole situation.
“Baizhu!”
As soon as he heard the soft voice, Baizhu spun around. Standing at the entrance of Bubu Pharmacy was the Conqueror of Demons and a familiar petite figure. He dashed toward Qiqi and hugged her, immediately sensing something off about her condition. It can wait a moment.
“Thank the stars, you had me worried.”
Qiqi wrapped her arms around him too, hiding her face in his shoulder. “Sorry, Bai.”
“As long as you’re safe.” He glanced up at Xiao. “I hadn’t expected the Conqueror of Demons to be the one to bring our little Qiqi back home.”
Xiao crossed his arms and shut his eyes. “She was trapped in the border with the director of the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor and a visitor from Chenyu Vale. The Traveler assisted in finding them.”
Baizhu froze. “How did they get trapped?”
“There are leaks in Wuwang Hill.”
Her interest now piqued, Changsheng raised her head. “Would that explain Qiqi’s current condition?”
“Yes.”
Sighing, Baizhu rose to his feet and gave a small nod. “Thank you for bringing her home.”
Xiao replied with a curt nod before promptly disappearing to other places. Qiqi hugged Baizhu’s leg, melting his heart.
“Baizhu, will everyone be okay soon?”
He patted her head as he tried to smile. “Yes, I believe they will be. Director Hu appears to be handling the situation."
But if even Director Hu was trapped, what will this mean for her? What is in store for Liyue?
~~~
It was already bad enough when Ningguang came to him for help with this task, but when Hu Tao showed up at the entrance to Bubu Pharmacy with fortune coins in hand for all of them, he already had a sinking feeling about what the end result would be, even if no one else realized the implications. After all, if anyone knew her philosophy on life and death best, it was him.
You can't seriously be considering this, can you?
Here he was with the ability to spare her of her fate, yet still just as powerless to stop her from pursuing the endeavor. He had every right to strongly advise against this as a doctor, yet simultaneously he had no right to stop her from her duties. Once Hu Tao set her mind to something, there was no changing it, and there was no convincing her to tell the truth about her true reason for delivering the coins. Regardless of his stance on life and death, Baizhu would say nothing about the outcome out of respect for her choices.
There must be something I can do.
"One moment, Director Hu."
There is something.
Baizhu could only suppress the urge to smile at Hu Tao's look of surprise as he attempted to pass on a little bit of support to her. He had never done this outside of treating a patient, so he was satisfied that it worked successfully. This might be something to keep in mind for the future.
"Tonight, you will stand guard over the Gate of Death — the most ominous gate of them all. It may not help much, but I transferred a little extra life force to you." Now he let the grin form on his lips comfortably. "May it help you stay alert and focused during the proceedings."
"Hopefully not at a detriment to your own health, though?"
"You needn't worry about that." He gave a wave of his hand before crossing his arms. "As your archenemy, why would I undermine myself to help my opponent?"
A wave of relief passed over him when she let out a laugh, but it didn't do much to soothe the anxiety still lurking underneath the surface. She was still so young. How could she take on a task like this and hope to survive? Perhaps this is her way of coming to terms with it .
"Okay — this time I really am leaving." Hu Tao gave a small wave to the Bubu Pharmacy duo. "Bye, everyone."
Qiqi returned her wave with a small nod. "Good luck, Hu Tao..."
Baizhu nodded. Good luck, and may you return safely home.
~~~
No…
They had lit the altar and the fire went ablaze, but the little rattan doll of Hu Tao that Madame Lan had given to them had lost all its color in the process. Baizhu held the doll in his hands, shaking at the sight of it. If the fetor had this much of an effect on the doll… Could she truly have lived through that event?
He felt a tug on his shirt and he glanced down at Qiqi, whose eyes glimmered under the moonlight with deep concern.
“Is Hu Tao okay?”
Sliding an arm around her, he pulled her close to him and flattened his lips, holding back a sigh.
“We can only hope.”
~~~
“Dr. Baizhu!”
His first emotion was relief at seeing her, alive, in front of Bubu Pharmacy.
His immediate reaction was panic at seeing the Traveler slumped over her shoulder, completely unconscious, while she struggled to keep herself upright.
"Qiqi, go find Gui. We need the treatment room ready."
"Okay, Dr. Bai."
Qiqi ran off, leaving Baizhu, Hu Tao, and the Traveler behind. Baizhu walked over and slipped his shoulder under the Traveler's other arm.
"Doctor, you shouldn't-"
"I'm fine, Director Hu. Don't worry about me." He shot her a glare. "Let's just focus on getting the Traveler to bed first before I interrogate you."
"Fine, as you wish."
Together, the two of them tried to synchronize their steps, which failed due to how well they were cooperating, but eventually they got inside and laid the Traveler down to rest. Baizhu quickly did a check of their vitals as Gui brought in potential remedies and water. After jotting down some notes, he sent Gui and Qiqi off to find Paimon and Ningguang, though he hoped their errands would take them time.
"So?"
He turned to Hu Tao, who had been standing anxiously next to the bed this whole time. "Exhaustion. They'll need some time to rest before they get around again."
She slumped into a chair and let out a quiet sigh. "At least you're reliable when it counts."
"Be careful, you’re in enemy territory, Director Hu."
A chuckle escaped her as she sat up properly now, crossing one leg over the other so she could place her elbow on her knee and her face in the palm of her left hand. "Let's call it a truce for now, hmm? Just until our friend here has recovered."
Baizhu's lips curled into a smirk. "I suppose that's fair. Now..." He took a seat in a chair nearby and pulled it up next to her. "What exactly were you thinking? You knew the risks of this plan and went through with it anyway, without even telling anyone what the true outcome would be. All of this was extremely reckless, even by your standards."
"You know I wouldn't let anyone else handle that task. How was it fair to those who still had life left to live?"
"And did you stop to consider how they would feel?"
"Of course I did, but I can't let that interfere with my duties. As the funeral director, I have to keep the balance intact," she glanced at the Traveler, then the floor, "even if that means I die."
Sighing, he shook his head, letting his gaze land on the Traveler. "I'm guessing our dear friend here saved your life somehow?"
"Mhmm."
What would have happened if they didn't intervene though?
Baizhu already knew the answer to that, but he still couldn't help himself. The thought of anyone dying sent chills down his spine, even if that person was his archnemesis. "Hu Tao, you may be the funeral director, but your life is as valuable as the rest of ours. You cannot expect to sacrifice yourself for all of us every time.”
She scowled, sitting upright in her chair so she could properly shoot him a glare. “You’re such a hypocrite.”
“Ahh, we are not so different then, hmm?”
“Maybe you should follow your own advice, Dr. Baizhu.” Hu Tao poked his shoulder. “You have your own life to live. You need to do all you can before you leave with regrets.”
He gave her a light flick to the shoulder to nudge her away. “If you haven’t noticed, I am doing all I can.”
She rolled her eyes. “I wish you would do it a little differently.”
“Say what you will about my methods. They’re effective.”
The two of them sat in silence, listening to the sounds of festivities outside and the Traveler’s quiet snores. Baizhu let his gaze hang aimlessly on the bed while Hu Tao’s drifted to all parts of the room.
“I don’t know if I would have been able to do what you did tonight.”
The funeral director perked up. “Huh?”
The doctor adjusted his glasses. “I don’t know if I would have been brave enough to face the possibility of death in the same way you did.” Especially since I’m running from death rather than embracing it.
“I don’t think most people would. Death is a natural part of life, but many try to escape it.” Hu Tao let her legs swing from the chair as she stared now at the floor. “Even if I don’t agree with your views, I still think it’s respectable, wanting to take away the suffering of others to help them keep living until they’re ready to go.”
“I never thought I’d hear those words from Miss Hu Tao.”
She stuck her tongue out. “You’re not receiving any more compliments, Doctor. Just coupons.”
Baizhu laughed. “You shall receive the same.”
“Ugh.”
“Please be more careful in the future. You're still young."
Hu Tao blinked, nodded, but her gaze didn't move from the floor. "Live in life, die in death."
"Follow your heart, and do what you can." He rose from his seat and looked at her. "Go get some rest, Director Hu. You'll need to regain your strength after that strenuous trial."
"I will. I'll head to bed in a few minutes."
"Take your time." Baizhu began to walk toward the door, but swiftly turned around. “Oh, and Miss Tao.”
“Hmm?”
“Thank you.”
She stared at him solemnly, this time giving him a soft grin. “Fine, I won’t leave coupons, tonight anyway.”
Satisfied, Baizhu made his way out of the room, leaving Hu Tao to have some alone time with the sleeping Traveler. After he closed the door, he gazed up at the night sky, smiling at the thought of a better tomorrow for all of them.
Rest peacefully this night, and every night to follow. May death’s door only open when it’s time.