Chapter 12: Master Paimon, the Divine Physician!
[Genshin Impact · Paimon]: "Ta-da! Look who's here!"
[Honkai: Star Rail · March 7th]: "Paimon is so happy, she must have pulled something good."
Floating excitedly in the air, Paimon immediately flooded the multiversal group chat with a detailed account of her recent gacha success. She typed out enthusiastic paragraphs explaining the Optimization Power she had just acquired, the metallic wrench it manifested as, and the various physical experiments she and Lumine had already conducted. She even typed out her grand theories regarding the ability's potential to completely eliminate human diseases.
Before signing off, she mentioned that she and Lumine were heading out to track down Zhongli, hoping to bring the knowledgeable consultant into their chat group, promising to talk more once they had free time.
A flurry of messages immediately followed, with everyone in the group chat expressing their open envy at the little guide's absurdly good luck.
Inside the quiet confines of the Random Play video store, the glow of the holographic chat interface reflected in Wise's calm eyes. He rested his chin on his steepled fingers, analyzing the scrolling text. 'Since it is a purple-tier item and carries the power of rules, it is definitely not simple.'His mind raced through the possibilities.'I wonder if it can help people eroded by Ether escape the fate of becoming Ethereals.'He leaned back in his chair, staring at the ceiling.'A purple item with the power of rules... if its purification ability is truly as Paimon claims, perhaps those who are deeply eroded and on the verge of turning into Ethereals still have hope?'The thought brought a rare warmth to his chest, a spark of genuine optimism. But his analytical nature quickly took over, cooling his rising excitement.'The cost and usage restrictions are the key factors here. We will have to wait and see the results of Paimon and Lumine's next attempt.'Across the cosmos, the quiet hum of the Astral Express Data Bank faded into the background as Dan Heng closed his holographic record panel. His gaze darkened, staring into the empty space of the archive room.'Optimization Power... a force that touches the very level of rules.'A heavy, suffocating shadow that had haunted the Xianzhou Luofu for thousands of years surfaced in his mind. The Mara-Struck.'If this power can truly reverse the aberrations brought by the Abundance...'Dan Heng's fingers tightened slightly, his knuckles turning white.'No matter the cost, it is worth a try. But what are the consumption rates and limits of Paimon activating this power? I will observe further for now.'
In the passenger cabin of the Express, Stelle reached up and touched the cheap plastic bamboo dragonfly resting on her head. Her deadpan expression deepened into deep gloom. She pulled the useless toy off, stared at it with absolute betrayal, and tossed it aside.
March 7th watched the lively excitement in the group chat. She glanced over at Stelle's cautionary tale of a gacha pull, then looked back at her own screen. She hovered her finger over the glowing draw button, her face twisting in utter agony. "Argh, I am so conflicted! Should I just go all-in?!"
Meanwhile, back in the video store, Belle's fingers twitched violently over her own holographic interface. She was practically vibrating with the urge to gamble. Wise reached out, firmly clamping his hand over his sister's wrist.
"Belle, stay calm," Wise instructed, his voice a pillar of reason. "Purples are the extreme minority. We have to trust the strategy and save up for a ten-pull!"
After sparking the heated discussion across multiple universes, Paimon and Lumine quietly slipped away, heading straight to the nearest Teleport Waypoint to return to the bustling streets of Liyue Harbor.
Zhongli usually spent his mornings drinking tea and listening to stories at Iron Tongue Tian's stand or Tea Doctor Liu Su's establishment. However, after checking both locations, the pair found empty seats and no sign of the refined consultant.
Lumine crossed her arms, scanning the passing crowds. "I reckon Zhongli went off for a stroll again. Let us stop looking for now. We will check Xinyue Kiosk or Wanmin Restaurant at noon. I will treat you to a good meal, Paimon, as a celebration."
Paimon's eyes lit up like stars at the mere mention of food. "That is great! Er, I mean, what a shame we could not find him. Hehe!"
"So, what are we doing next?" the floating guide asked, wiping a bit of imaginary drool from her chin.
Lumine adjusted her scarf. "Next, let us head to Bubu Pharmacy to find Baizhu. We will see if your Optimization Power can actually cure illnesses. It will be much safer with a professional doctor watching over us."
The two handled the winding wooden stairs and went straight to Bubu Pharmacy. The scent of dried herbs and bitter medicine filled the air. Fortunately, Baizhu was not out on a house call today. He stood behind the counter, currently attending to Huixin, a secretary from the Yuehai Pavilion.
"Dr. Baizhu, I worked overtime for far too long last night, and I stood in the cold wind just to stay awake." Huixin swayed slightly on her feet, her voice listless and weak. "I did not expect to wake up today feeling so dizzy and feverish. My body is completely exhausted. It is likely a severe cold. Please prescribe some medicine to help me get through this; I still have a massive pile of work to finish."
Baizhu offered a gentle, practiced smile. "Miss Huixin, you should focus on rest. No matter how fast the medicine works, the body still requires time to recover."
Before the doctor could continue his lecture, Lumine stepped forward, interrupting the consultation. "Hello, Baizhu. Busy as always, I see."
Baizhu turned, his golden eyes curving in recognition behind his oval glasses. "Oh? Lumine, long time no see. I heard you were playing the hero again over in Fontaine; truly impressive work. Let us catch up in a moment; allow me to finish writing Miss Huixin's prescription first."
Paimon puffed out her chest and floated right to the front. "No need for all that trouble! I have recently gained a new ability that can heal people too. Let me give it a try!"
Baizhu paused. He shot Lumine a look that clearly communicated his professional skepticism, silently asking if this was some sort of joke. Experimenting on patients randomly was strictly against his medical principles.
Lumine understood the silent question perfectly. She offered a reassuring nod. "Do not worry, it should be fine. Besides, you are right here to supervise, are you not?"
Huixin, who was already feeling incredibly groggy and nursing a pounding headache, barely registered the conversation happening around her.
Paimon raised her hands. A flash of light materialized between her palms, solidifying into a heavy, metallic wrench. Without another word, she floated up behind the exhausted secretary and brought the tool down in a swift tapping motion against Huixin's back.
Unlike their previous experiment with the iron ore, the wrench behaved as if it did not exist in the physical plane. It passed directly into Huixin's body without any resistance, a sight that caused Baizhu, Lumine, and Changsheng to jolt in surprise.
They only let out a collective breath of relief when they saw that Huixin exhibited no signs of pain or adverse reaction.
A moment later, Lumine and Paimon watched as a phantom image of the wrench began spinning rapidly above Huixin's head. A faint, almost invisible wisp of black mist was violently extracted from her crown, floating upward before completely dissipating into the sterile air of the pharmacy.
Huixin blinked. The heavy, suffocating fog of her cold vanished instantly, replaced by a refreshing wave of coolness washing through her mind. Her limbs, previously heavy with exhaustion, felt light and full of energy.
Remembering the mountain of organizational meetings she still had to arrange today, she immediately stood up, her posture perfectly straight. "Dr. Baizhu, I seem to have suddenly recovered. Perhaps you do not need to prescribe that medicine after all. I am very sorry to take up your time, but I have a lot of work to do, so I will take my leave now."
This scene completely defied all medical common sense. Baizhu's pupils shrank to pinpricks, and his steady breathing hitched in his throat.
Draped around his neck, the white snake Changsheng was so shocked she froze entirely, her forked tongue hanging loosely from her open jaws. "This... how is this possible?!" she hissed, her usual snark completely absent.
But Baizhu's professional instinct, honed from years of medical practice, immediately suppressed his initial shock. He stepped forward quickly, his hand shooting out to gently but firmly stop the departing secretary. "Miss Huixin, wait! Allow me to check your pulse once more to ensure everything is truly alright."
He focused his mind entirely, placing three fingers delicately on Huixin's wrist. He closed his eyes, sensing the flow of energy carefully for a long moment. The pulse beneath his fingertips was steady, strong, and rhythmic. Her Qi and blood were abundant and flowing perfectly. There was absolutely no lingering sign of any illness or fatigue.
Baizhu slowly opened his eyes and looked up. The shock in his gaze had not faded, but it had transformed into a burning, inquisitive hunger directed toward an unknown miracle. He stared at Paimon and Lumine, silently demanding an explanation.
Feeling the weight of the doctor's intense stare, Lumine quickly fabricated an excuse. She explained that Paimon had experienced a fortuitous encounter and obtained a divine wrench artifact capable of clearing impurities from both the human body and physical objects. They had simply wondered if it could cure diseases and came to Bubu Pharmacy to test it safely.
Fearing they would slip up and reveal the chat group if they kept talking under Baizhu's scrutiny, Lumine and Paimon quickly excused themselves. "We have to find Zhongli next. Let us talk later, Baizhu!"
Witnessing such miraculous effects firsthand, Baizhu desperately wanted to study the floating guide and her wrench further. But seeing that the two travelers genuinely seemed to be in a rush, he held his tongue. He watched them leave the pharmacy, adjusting his glasses. 'I will definitely ask them for a thorough demonstration when there is a chance in the future.'
As Paimon and Lumine walked down the bustling streets toward Xinyue Kiosk, they eagerly shared the morning's events in the multiversal group chat.
[Genshin Impact · Paimon]: "Hehe, I am just too strong! I cured a cold so easily!"
[Zenless Zone Zero · Belle]: "Paimon is so amazing! Since it really can cure diseases, are you not going to become a divine physician at lightning speed?"
[Genshin Impact · Paimon]: "Oh, I am not as great as you say."
[Genshin Impact · Paimon]: "Oh, right! If anyone needs Paimon's help, just let me know. As for the medical fee, just give me lots of good food."
The group members immediately showered Paimon with a barrage of praise and cheering emojis, making the little guide blush and scratch the back of her head in embarrassment.
Amidst the laughter and banter, Lumine and Paimon arrived at Wanmin Restaurant. The hostess at Xinyue Kiosk had mentioned she had not seen Zhongli today, leading them straight to Chef Mao's establishment.
Sure enough, sitting at a corner table with a steaming bowl of bamboo shoot soup, was the consultant of the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor.
Upon hearing their footsteps, Zhongli set down his chopsticks and looked up, his amber eyes calm and welcoming. "It has been a while, Lumine, Paimon. Please, sit and dine with me."
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