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The evening starts to settle down on Liyue harbour. Baizhu locks the door of the consultations, before he walks towards Qiqi. She was outside, stretching, before she sees her caretaker. A sign for Qiqi to stop, as she managed to remember that when the sky starts to be orange, it usually means "dinner time". The doctor looks at the zombie with a warm smile, every day, Qiqi was getting less and less stiffen. Some would not see the progress compared to the day before, but for Baizhu, the smallest step is still a progress, and he is proud of her. His warm smile radiates on his face, before he says to the zombie :
- You are making progress
- Thank you, answers the zombie, her deadpan pink eyes hiding the proudness she also feels
-;It's getting late. I'll prepare the dinner, do you mind setting the table ?
She nods negatively and starts to go inside. Clumsily, she takes the plates and put them on the table, while Baizhu starts to take the ingredients. Changsheng, meanwhile, was guiding Qiqi to put the plates, before trying to get her the cocomilk bottle with her tail
Baizhu was on his way to ignite the stove, when a short, dry, knock resonates. Qiqi, closer to the door, opens it, and see a woman that was almost a complete stranger to her. In doubt, she treats her like any stranger :
- He-
- Is Baizhu there ? Cuts the woman, armed crossed
- Doctor Baizhu? Um... Please wait...
- The situation is urgent, she orders, visibly stressed
- I am here, comes Baizhu, Is there anything I can do, miss Yelan ?
-;I need you at the Chasm. Order of the Qixing. I'll tell you the details on the way
- I see... Baizhu sighs, thinking that it must be important enough for Yelan to be involved, do I need to bring my instruments ?
- No. But I think someone as strong as Qiqi would not be too much too...
Baizhu thinks for a while. Qiqi, despite her impressive strength... Is still a child. However, she answers before Baizhu could answer :
- Qiqi wants to help
- You're sure ? gently asks Bauzhu as he kneels to be at her size, It's not... A safe place for a child
- Doctor Baizhu would need help in the... Em... Place. Qiqi can defend herself. Also, Qiqi will be sad if something happens to doctor Baizhu
He thinks about it for a few seconds, before he sighs, looking at her deadpan - worried eyes "Fine. I let you take anything you need. But if you don't feel safe here, you have one word to say, and I bring you back home. Okay ?" He has a gentle smile, but he was still a bit worried. He hopes that she will not have any problems
Qiqi comes back a few minutes later, with a backpack. Inside, a few herbs, her notebook, and the cocogoat plushie. Now, they only have to go to the Chasm...
In the outskirts of Liyue, a beast-tracted cart was bringing the group towards the Chasm. Qiqi was sitting next to Baizhu, Changsheng firmly around the doctor's neck, and Yelan, arms crossed, in front of the doctor:
- I'll cut to the Chase : the details are confidential. Officially, you helped Milleliths...
-And... What's the truth ?
- The Chasm, even if officially off-limits of miners, had a landslide. Many injuries... Perhaps even more than we could know. We still haven't explored the entirety of the impacted zone
- And you needed our help with the wounded ? Asks Baizhu, professionally
- Exactly... Plus, I saw Qiqi fighting, and she is probably stronger than half of the Milleliths combined
- Qiqi simply does what she can, answers the zombie, not remembering how Yelan saw her
- And you're doing it right, smiles Baizhu
- Anyway, you have all of the equipment the Jade Chamber was willing to offer for this operation. Plants, pharmaceutical equipment, medical tools... You also have a few of the Tianquan physicians
- Fine... But if Qiqi must intervene with debris, I want to be there to keep an eye, making sure she is not hurting herself
They finally arrived at the Chasm. For Qiqi, it was an impressive first time. She looks at it, and tries to write (and draw) about it. A few minutes after, the cart is at a small camp, where some Milleliths, as well as injured miners are lying on some mattress. But apparently, that's not the big of it. Yelan brings him towards a wooden elevator...
Instinctively, Qiqi raises her hand towards Baizhu. This place can feel... Overwhelming. Baizhu doesn't lose time, he quickly takes Qiqi's baby hand, making the aombie feel less scared. They finally arrive at the level -1. Where more wounded were waiting for them :
Here, introduces Yelan, are our most recent found ones. And there's still to search some for
Thank you, miss Yelan... Qiqi, come with me, says the doctor with a gentle tone, we have some patients to help
Qiqi nods, and she starts to help, using the instructions in her notebook to give the proper care to the wounded, cleaning and bandaging the wounds, giving herbs and medication - even if she is doing it clumsily, and often asking questions to Baizhu. Even if he's not the only doctor here, she always asks him, and he answers with the same usual care that would have exhausted many
Eventually, after hours, Baizhu started to take a seat to rest for a few minutes. Qiqi went to see him, slightly concerned :
- Doctor Baizhu... Do you feel good ?
- Yes, Qiqi, don't worry, he smiles with care
- Qiqi is worried for Doctor Baizhu anyway... Doctor Baizhu didn't ate and didn't slept
- Lissssten to Qiqi, Baizhu, hiss Changsheng, Eat ssssomething at leasssst, or elssse I'll...
- Okay, okay, sighs Baizhu
Qiqi come to search a mora meat for Baizhu, while Changsheng eats some insects nearby. The doctor is exhausted, but he knows that he must do his best to help. He starts to eat. The mora meat wasn't that good, but it was the only thing he could hope. He feels his head spinning... Until he feels Qiqi against him. He smiles gently. The feeling of his baby giving him a hug is almost fueling him with energy
After ten minutes, as he started to get up again, Yelan comes back. She looked at the family, while she catches her breath:
- We'll need some help downhere...
- Is there anything ? Asks Baizhu ?
- We found a few miners... But they are trapped behind debris. We would need more arms. Especially strong ones
- So... Qiqi must push the debris ?
- Correct, Yelan nods, and we would need a doctor down there to help with the most critical injured
They are guided down. There's a narrow path with Milleliths trying to push the debris, their faces red with efforts. Qiqi looks at it, then at Baizhu, that kneels at her level, smiling "You can do it, Qiqi", before he kisses her forehead
She nods before lifting rocks, like it was as heavy as feathers. A small opening is freed, allowing the Milleliths to come, with Qiqi, Baizhu and Yelan. They starts to extract the last surviving miners. Qiqi was the last one, carrying one injured on her back... Until the ground starts to shake. Yelan and Baizhu runs, despite the effort for the doctor. The archer uses her Life bond, trying to attach Qiqi and the unconscious body with her Hydro rope... But if she manages to take the miner, Qiqi falls as debris are falling. One huge pile of rocks falls on the zombie...
The ground seems to fall beneath her feet, she falls... But she feels something warm protecting her. Qiqi can't see exactly what it is, for now. After twenty seconds, she stopped falling. She feels then something crawling in her back, before a familiar hissing can be heard next to her :
- Isss everyone okay ?
- Qiqi thinks... Mh ?
She starts to see what was protecting her. She moves some rocks, and helps what was around her body to be out of it. As soon as she sees the Dendro vision... She sees doctor Baizhu, severely injured. He was the one that took the debris to protect Qiqi. Her heart felt painful. She... She never felt pain, especially not one that intense in her chest. She tried to move him, to wake Baizhu up. Changsheng quickly goes towards him... It takes a minute. It feels like an hour. Until Changsheng looks slightly relieved "I feel a pulse. Weak... But here"
Qiqi feels her chest getting infinitely less heavy. But she is still worried about Baizhu being unconscious... With everything that happens... Qiqi feels like the best thing to do il to lie down on him, and closes her eyes for now... As she rests, she can feel Changsheng go next to her, sleeping too
It may take a few minutes. It may take an hour. A few hours. No one knows really... But one thing wakes Qiqi and Changsheng at the same time. An arrow, followed with a loud splash, and a bright blue light. Far away, Yelan was there. Everytime her bracelet was bright, she would shoot an arrow, as a small torch. Qiqi rubs her eyes, before she tries to make signs at Yelan "We are here, shouts the zombie, we are here"
Yelan answers, but it's not intelligible, neither for the zombie, or for the snake (as snakes don't have ears) :
- I heard, but imposssssible to underssssstand
- She will probably send help, answers Qiqi, optimisticly deadpan
- Maybe... Ssssend a rock
Qiqi looks at the peebles next to them, she sends a few to clarify her location. Yelan leaves a post where she is, before she starts to walk away
Qiqi and Changsheng goes close to Baizhu, monitiring him like they can. They were both worried, but each heartbeat was a sign of hope for them. After almost an hour, a cyan light falls, before becoming a familiar face - at least for Changsheng :
- Cloud Retainer, hiss Changsheng
- Chop chop, sights Xianyun, I am not here to listen to your venomous words
- You know that I am not venomousssss, at leassssst ?
- Ha ! Like I could ever forget about it
- Lady... Um... Um... I... Qiqi looks for a few seconds at her notebook
-;I think you search for Xianyun, answers the adepti with her haughty tone
- Um... Lady Xianyun, why are you there ?
She sighs before looking behind her. Yelan was further away, bringing some help too, an help that would take hours to come, at least without Xianyun :
- I heard that Doctor Baizhu was there
- Oh pleassssse, answers Changsheng with a sassy voice, you have a ssssssixth sssssenssssse when it'ssss about children in dissssstresssss. And you deccccidee to help Qiqi... I think it'ssss poetic that it'sssss you, even ?
- Changsheng, sighs Xianyun, before walking to Baizhu, with a more serious tone, so. How long did he pass out ?
- Qiqi... Can't tell... Qiqi knows that it's bad but... Qiqi needed to rest and... Qiqi wanted to be close to Doctor Baizhu
- I warned Yelan about the collapse of the tunnel, you will both be able to rest. I'll just need to install this...
Xianyun installs another wooden post, before tying a rope to it. A wooden stretcher descends towards them, sent by the Milleliths, where the unconscious Baizhu is put, while he does a small moan of pain. As the stretcher is pulled back up, Xianyun looks at Qiqi "Now, it's out turn. Come here, you two"
Qiqi looks at Changsheng, before walking towards Cloud Retainer. She gasps of surprise when she carries the zombie with the snake around her neck, before taking a huge inspiration. She concentrates her Anemo powers and jumps to the other side. It was almost like she was flying. Once they arrive, Xianyun kneel, letting Qiqi jump off her back, with Changsheng around her neck. Some fresh reinforcement were sent, extracting more wounded. And Qiqi stayed close to Doctor Baizhu. He was breathing. Slightly, but still breathing
Once up there, inside the tents, Qiqi was on a chair, waiting for the doctor to wake up, her legs moving in the air. Changsheng, still around her neck, looks at the zombie :
- You sssseemsss worried
- I... I want to know if doctor Baizhu will wake up
- Don't worry, Qiqi. I don't sssseeee doctor Baizzzhu leaving usss like that
- You... You think? Asks Qiqi
- I'm ssssure...
Qiqi looks again at Baizhu, before jumping out of the chair. She takes his hand. She needs to reassure herself that Doctor Baizhu is still there. After a minute, a small grunt escapes from Baizhu's lips. He slowly opens his eyes, before coughing, with a lot of dirt and blood. Qiqi, with her deadpan's excitement, exclaims "Doctor Baizhu ! You're awake"
Without thinking about how he needs to recover some strength, she hugs hi, with a bit too much strength. Despite being a bit strangled, Baizhu smiles, and his arms quickly envelops Qiqi with a warm hug. Changsheng quickly takes advantage of it to go back around Baizhu (not that Qiqi was uncomfortable, but she is more used to Baizhu's neck)
Qiqi is slowly getting more and more relaxed, feeling Baizhu stable. After a few minutes, Xianyun and Yelan walk inside too. Xianyun looks at the doctor, she seems in all of her emotions. Weakly, Baizhu starts to talk :
- I'm sorry, I...
- When I learnt that you were unconscious at the Chasm, erupts Xianyun, do you have the slightest idea what one went through?
- Qiqi is sorr-
- Imagine if you never woke up ! One us already scared enough at your subject
- Xianyun, I...
- No one wants to see you gone, Baizhu. You matter to all of us. Liyue, Yaoyao, Qiqi, me. And being in a coma isn't where you're the prettiest
- Xianyun, hiss Changsheng, witty enough to not be cut by the Adepti, I think you would have done the sssame desssspite what you're ssssaying
- Qiqi wanted to help a guard, says timidly the zombie, but rocks fell...
- I rushed to protect her... Oh, Yelan! How are the Millelithes ?
- Some help from Chenyun Vale arrived a few hours ago. The Millelith Qiqi pulled was in a critical condition, but is now stable. We will not say no to some help, but you need rest...
Qiqi looks at Changsheng, then at the tents, then at Baizhu :
- Doctor Baizhu... Changsheng... Can I borrow you ? I will help patients while you rest...
- Q-Qiqi... It's a lot of work... I w-
- Baizzzzhu, for the Adepti's sssssake, will you ever take a ssssssingle moment to resssst ? I can help Qiqi !
- One agrees with the snake, jumpd Xianyun, not thinking she would pronounce such a sentence, I would rather have my adobe covered by mint rather than see you working yourself until you collapse under such stubbornness
Baizhu sighs, defeated by the begging eyes of Qiqi, and the demands of Xianyun and Changsheng. The snake slowly runs down his arm before going around Qiqi neck like a scarf. The zombie, full of deadpan joy, goes helping the injured, following the services pf the snake
Baizhu, a bit afar, can't gelp but to smile. She was intact. And that thought alone helped him to keep his heart calm. Xianyun holds his hand tight, smiling, and whispering
"One seems to really care about this precious child. May you be protected, with everything the mightest can even do"