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It's nighttime in Liyue. The pale light of the moon is reflecting on the city. Almost everyone is asleep. Few Milleliths are patrolling, some are doing a night walk, adventurers are collecting their commissions... But yes, the huge majority of the inhabitants are sleeping.
But someone isn't, despite what her caretaker asked her for.
Yes, Qiqi woke up soon after Baizhu put her to bed. And taking advantage of a moment where the doctor wasn't fully paying attention, Qiqi went to the inventory of the pharmacy. She was sure that there was some herbs missing
"Mint... Violetgrass... Sweet flower... Oh ! We lack Lotus Head ! Quick"
She quickly grabs her notebook, a bag, a map of the region, and she goes outside of the Bubu Pharmacy. Those night expeditions aren't unusual for her. She doesn't always remember what a child of her age is supposed to do, nor what her caretaker asked her before sleeping, but there is one ting that Qiqi remembers : she needs to help Doctor Baizhu, and the Bubu Pharmacy
As she pushes the door, a small carillon rings with a delicate melody, informing Baizhu of Qiqi's nocturnal expedition
The zombie, now outside, runs in the city, towards the exit, trying to find ungathered lotus heads. Some Milleliths are surprised of seeing such a little girl running late in night, others have to explain that she isn't an usual girl, but a zombie
Qiqi, once short on breath, is looking for... For what ? Oh yeah. Lotus heads. For that, she has to walk a bit more. The road isn't exactly safe around there, but that isn't in Qiqi's notes. However, what is in her notes is that, in the ponds of the small forest next to her, there are some lotus
Meanwhile, Baizhu, awoken by the delicate sound of the carillon, is searching for his clothes. But he takes more time than usual. Changsheng, yawning, is looking at the doctor:
-What issss happening?...
-I heard the carillon, and I can't find anything... No... No... Raah, this can work, sighs Baizhu, holding the first piece of clothes he can find, now, my glasses...
-On the dessssssk. Assss usssual
-Thank you... Quick, come here Changsheng
The snake quickly climbs on his arm. Despite her tiredness, she knows how urgent the situation is : Qiqi can quickly be lost, or hurt, and they already took too luch time than he could allows himself without feeling more stress than he wants
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Swimming in the small pond, Qiqi grabs the Lotus Heads. She lost count of how much she collected, but better grab them all. The zombie finally climbs back, trying to put off the water off her clothes, and fixing her hat. Her talisman could quickly fly off. A simple blow, and whoooosh - every control she has can be lost
Once her hat is fixed, she looks around. No more Lotus Heads for now... Maybe some other her-Ooooh, a feather. Judging by its size... Its colour... Yes. It's a finch's feather. Yellow and brown ! Just like Yaoyao! Qisi is sure, her friend will l... Oh no ! The wind is blowing away. She tries to hold both her hat and the feather, but that said feather is going away.
That doesn't matter though. Let's try to catch it. Qiqi is running, looking for the feather. However, she hears something behind her
"Ha ! Another test subject!"
Treasure hoarders! Qiqi tries to run away, but the fire cocktail is blocking her. And one crossbow bolt comes close to her head, damaging the talisman. Something that the Treasure hoarder will soon regret
Qiqi starts to see red. She feels an uncontrollable rage boiling. The zombie takes out her sword, and rushes towards them...
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Baizhu has been running for a while. More than his body allows him to. He coughs to the point of blood, but he has to continue. Qiqi can be anywhere. And he cannot let her alone. He barely catches his breath before he runs in the woods, being extremely close from passing out... Changsheng turns her head behind, screaming:
"Baizhu, move over !"
The doctor barely has the time to look, that he falls on the side, seeing a bright blue trail. Before he can stand up, trying to czlm the pain on his head, an entire group of Milleliths is also coming
-What isssss happening? Asks Changsheng to one of the soldiers
-Excuse us, but it's an emergency. An unknown creature has been doing a lot of damage further up in the North
-A creature... QIQI ! I hope she is alright... Do you have any ideas of what she looks like?
-Reports says that it's a small, yet extremely powerful creature, mostly purple
-Baizzzzhu... I have a bad feeling
The doctor doesn't evenr answers, that he feels a second wind in his body. His heart races to a pace he rarely felt. He even runs faster than the Milleliths, until he finds a scene of battle : a lot of unconscious, severely injured Milleliths, and in the middle of it, Qiqi. Even far away, he could recognize her. He runs faster than he ever ran, and what does it matter if he's on the verge of collapse. A Millelith take his spear and trues to stop him :
-Sir ! It's dangerous for a civilian...
-I can defend myself, tries to argue an angrier than usual Baizhu, let me go see her
-You're not allowed ! Until the creature is...
-She is NOT a creature ! She is my Qiqi...
Baizhu tries to go around despite the guard's persistence. But when it's about Qiqi, he can be really, really stubborn
-SIR ! If you try to go there we will not...
-I'm sorry...
Baizhu presses the guard's vital points with his Dendro powers, making him fall asleep, before running towards Qiqi
The blue trail is running towards her, before it takes Qiqi around a rope. From a blue shadow, a woman in black and blue, with a peculiar white coat, appears. She looks at the zombie, trying to stop her. She is too focused on her that she doesn't notice the doctor, that quickly took the zombie in his arms
Baizhu whispers to the zombie, relieved that she is there "I love you, Qiqi. I love you so much. I am here now... We will go home. We will go home, Qiqi"
It takes some time, but Qiqi finally regains consciousness, in Baizhu's arms. The blue woman walks, angrily, towards them :
-Doctor Baizhu... Long time no see !
-Miss Yelan... I'm sorry, so sorry for what happened... If I can do anything to help you or the Milleliths...
-Do you know this dangerous g-
-Call her Qiqi, cuts Baizhu with a dry voice. That's her name. And yes. She is under my care
-What do you mean, under your care ? asks Yelan with an inquisitive tone
-Qiqi is a zombie, he answers as he holds Qiqi's hand. And lady Ninnguang named me as her caretaker as soon as she was discovered
-That zombie caused a lot of damage
-Qiqi is sorry, answers the zombie with a sad voice. Qiqi was bullied by mean people here, she points towards a forest, and then... Red... Rage... Did Qiqi did something wrong ?
-No, no Qiqi. It's not your fault, he hugs her with care, You did nothing wrong. But... Can you find me some water and a fire pit ? Once done, use your vision to numb their pain
The zombie nods and tries to go, but Yelan is tying Qiqi before :
-You're going nowhere. We will not let you being a threat for Liyue...
-It's out of the picture that I let you imprison or seal up Qiqi
-We must have to, answers Yelan, she injured many Milleliths !
-She never did anything wrong before... And as a zombie, things can be extremely difficult
-As her caretaker, why weren't you there to keep an eye on her ?
-Qiqi... Um... Forgot to sleep... Says with some difficulty the zombie, I was supposed to go to bed, but we needed some Lotus Head and... Qiqi ran away without notifying Baizhu... Qiqi is sorry
A Millelith, who was listening to them, looks at Qiqi:
-Excuse me... I have to talk to you
-Do I have to go, Doctor Baizhu?
-Yes... I'll talk to miss Yelan
Qiqi is slowly walking towards the Millelith, that asks, further away from Baizhu:
-So... You ran away?
-I had to gather herbs...
-Is that true ? Asks patiently the soldier, If your caretaker is cruel or mistreat you, we can find a solution
-Umm... Qiqi looks at her notebook, but she quickly git an answer, Is... Preparing food, giving hugs, tucking, buying toys and reading stories are mistreatment?
-No... What is this notebook?
-Oh... It's Doctor Baizhu's gifts. So that I can help with my memory...
-Can I look ?
Qiqi nods, the Millelith looks for any signs of mistreatment... On one page, thought, he finds some blood:
-What is it?
-Oh... Doctor Baizhu's blood... Qiqi reads the page, and feels warmth inside, It was during his day-off... Qiqi loved that day so much
-I see... So, Baizhu doesn't hurt you
-No... Can we... See him ?
-We will have to see if Yelan agrees...
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-Listen, doctor. I know you don't want us to take Qiqi. But you lost control of her
-It was an accident. I will make sure that it doesn't happen again. She would never, NEVER lose control if she keeps her talisman. And if someone took it or damaged it, it cannot be Qiqi's fault
-So, you're saying that Mill...
-Boss, shouts an exhausted Millelith, We saw a defeated camp of Treasure hoarder. And in a bolt, we saw this...
-That's... A part of her talisman! Exclaims Baizhu, They must have attacked her and she lost control. And the Milleliths were caught by the rage of Qiqi...
-Fine, sights Yelan, however, the soldiers will not heal themselves...
-I can help... But with one condition, answers Baizhu
-What is it ? Yelan seems exhausted by Baizhu's behavior
-Qiqi stays with me. And if you refuse, I... I would even be ready to leave Liyue
-You mean...
-I would fight Osial by myself rather than losing Qiqi...
After a short moment, Yelan sighs :
-Fine. I'll make sure that Ninnguang knows that it's not Qiqi's fault
-Thank you... Now, asks a more calm Baizhu, I would need to know where is the next encampment with an infirmary
Baizhu and Qiqi are guided towards the encampment. Baizhu joins the infirmary, asking for Qiqi and strong enough Milleliths to bring the injured, while Baizhu boils water to sterilize it, and prepare some medication
If the sight of Qiqi carrying soldiers that are as tall as four Qiqis is making the Millelith amused, they quickly lose their breath when they see how easy it is fir her to carry soldiers on her back, after using her Cryo vision to numb the pain. Those injured soldiers looks at the zombie, smiling:
-Thank you, little girl...
-Qiqi is sorry... I... Didn't want to hurt you
-That talisman... You are a zombie?
-Yes... I am Qiqi... I am a zombie, and I... Um... Don't know what comes next
Baizhu, on the infirmary, is preparing painkillers, and balms to help their injuries to heal themselves, without any infections. Changsheng helps him, double checking every confection of medication. A calmer Yelan, relieved to see how helpful Qiqi is to fix her mistakes, walks towards Baizhu :
-What do you need ?
-Don't worry, doctor... I am just curious
-I'm listening if you have any questions, answers Baizhu while he gives to a soldier a decoction that helps him to calm the pain
-I'm just curious... Why do you insist about keeping Qiqi ? I know there are many apprentices, but... Why did you never took one except her ?
-Oh ? He answers with an amused smile, You wanted to learn medicine ?
-No... But I heard rumours
-What kind of rumorssssss ? Hiss the white snake
-You keep Qiqi... To learn the secrets of immortality
Baizhu stops for a second. He can't say that it interests him... But Baizhu has a stronger reason:
-Do you have a family, miss Yelan?
-Why do you ask this ?
-I... Lost my parents when I was young. From a plague. That's what inspired me to become a doctor, he looks at Qiqi, and this little girl... She doesn't have any parents. She is a zombie since centuries. But she is just a child. So, zombie or not, I want to provide to atleast one person a childhood I never got
-So that's why you're treating her like you do...
-What do you mean ?
-The soldier wanted to be sure that you aren't mistreating her. Instead, he found out that there's your blood on her notebook
-Oh, just... A... A cut I got from preparing her meal, lies Baizhu, nothing to worry about
Changsheng is rolling her eyes, and Yelan is nodding slowly. She ends the conversation with a simple "See you next time" before leaving. Qiqi brings other injured on her back, before catching her breath. The doctor quickly kneel in front of her :
-You did z great job... But... Are you injured?
-Um... I... Don't think so? Qisi didn't saw any blood on her
-Bleeding or not, it must have been exhausting... Helps me with the treatments, and then we will go home as soon as possible
-Got it... Helping...
-And Qiqi ?
-Yes ?...
Baizhu takes her in his arms gently, closing his eyes. He tries to hold back a tear, before he whispers to the zombie : "I love you, Qiqi. I want to never lose you. Never"
The zombie feels touched by those words. She feels a bit warmer inside, and she says to the doctor, with as luch emotion she can put in her voice "Qiqi... Loves you too, doctor Baizhu"