Gu Sanqiu quickly took on the role of a competent healer, distributing pills to those whose elemental energy and stamina had been significantly drained. Then, he approached Diluc and Kaeya, placing his fingers on their wrists.
"Don't bother checking," Gu Sanqiu said flatly. "We all know we're in no shape to fight. That much is obvious to us."
Kaeya let out a bitter laugh. "Walking normally shouldn't be a problem, but expecting us to do anything strenuous again? That's out of the question."
"I can tell that much myself," Gu Sanqiu replied, his tone laced with mild exasperation. "What I'm checking for are any hidden injuries."
He explained further, "The emergency treatment I used on you might have restored your combat capabilities temporarily, but it's unlikely to have addressed any underlying damage. Not to mention, you both threw yourselves into yet another high-intensity battle right afterward, pushing yourselves to this state. Honestly, I just want to make sure you aren't shaving years off your lifespans."
Gu Sanqiu straightened up. "You can thank your Vision-imbued bodies for enduring damage that would be life-threatening to others. Still, I'd recommend avoiding combat for the next two months."
He added, "If you need further treatment, I've got connections at Bubu Pharmacy. Either you come back to Liyue with me, or you fork out the cash to bring Baizhu here."
Diluc raised an eyebrow. "But I've heard that Baizhu never leaves Liyue for consultations. You're saying you can convince him?"
Gu Sanqiu gave a small, knowing smirk. "Ordinarily, no one could. But like I said, I have connections. Getting him to come check on you? Not an issue."
Standing up, Gu Sanqiu added casually, "Though, if that man does come, you'd best put away any strange texts or artifacts lying around. He's an absolute stickler for rules, and it's... unnerving."
Diluc and Kaeya exchanged glances, their expressions shifting subtly. Kaeya spoke first. "Are you saying he's comparable to the Doctor? The Fatui Harbinger?"
"More or less," Gu Sanqiu replied with a helpless shrug. "The guy's research is likely aboveboard, but let's be real—anyone dabbling in taboo fields of study is bound to think in ways that ordinary people can't comprehend."
"Then we'll pass." Kaeya was firm in his refusal. "Bubu Pharmacy might have a sterling reputation, but Mondstadt isn't lacking in skilled physicians. Worst case, we can always seek help from the Church of Favonius."
"Oh, right, that's a good point," Gu Sanqiu conceded. "Places of divine worship should have excellent medical facilities."
Diluc turned to Gu Sanqiu. "Doesn't your family specialize in something similar? Surely you have some advanced medical techniques to offer."
"Each profession has its specialization, my friend." Gu Sanqiu glanced at the sleeping Klee. "Medical expertise falls under Wangsheng Funeral Parlor's purview. People think they only handle funerals, but that's far from the full picture."
He continued, "That said, Liyue has flourished. Specialized medical expertise is less critical now. Everyone can access proper treatment these days, perhaps fulfilling the dreams of our predecessors and Rex Lapis."
In the past, certain families were tasked with managing specific areas of expertise due to the times' constraints. Resources were scarce, and the burden fell on those with existing knowledge. Now, while you won't find a medical clinic on every corner, seeking treatment isn't the ordeal it once was.
"Back then, the Hu family casually shared their medical knowledge, and the people of Liyue, with their tireless 'Stone Harbor Spirit,' naturally built a strong healthcare system over time," Gu Sanqiu explained.
At that moment, Albedo approached, his expression calm as always. "I've completed my preparations. We have about three minutes of idle time left. If you want to rest, make the most of it."
"Resting isn't something you can just rush," Eula quipped dryly while polishing her blade. "It's not exactly something you can multitask."
"Hmm, fair point." Albedo nodded thoughtfully. "In that case, you all remain here and continue resting. Gu Sanqiu and I will destroy the altars. Diluc and Captain Kaeya, you'll need someone keeping an eye on you. We'll leave that to you."
"I thought I was just here for babysitting duty!" Gu Sanqiu's mouth twitched. "Now you're giving me extra work. Forget overtime pay—you didn't even negotiate my basic compensation."
Albedo gave Gu Sanqiu a sidelong glance. "You already knew this was coming, didn't you?"
If not for his sense of professionalism, Gu Sanqiu might've flipped Albedo off right there.
"Let's move," Albedo urged. "I checked earlier—the remains of the elite monsters we defeated are gone."
"Are you sure they weren't reduced to ash?" Gu Sanqiu asked skeptically. "That was a lot of corpses. How can you tell?"
"They're not dead. I can still sense remnants of their elemental and mental energy. But most importantly, that lingering energy isn't inside this cavern anymore."
"Tsk. Don't tell me they've got some weird escape mechanism." Gu Sanqiu sighed and grabbed his spear, following Albedo out of the cave.
"Let's get this straight," Gu Sanqiu muttered. "When this is over, I expect you to provide at least five or six rare alchemical materials. Oh, and throw in a few Wind Core husks for good measure."
"Wind Cores? The Alchemist Guild doesn't have many of those in storage." Albedo crossed his arms, his gaze focused on the grotesque, unsettling altars ahead.
"Speaking of experiments," Albedo mused, "do you still use that odd summoning technique to call mysterious entities?"
"Not since I returned to Liyue," Gu Sanqiu replied. "Do you think there's a connection between this and our old experiments?"
"Nothing definitive. Seeing these altars just brought it to mind." Albedo unsheathed his blade. "Let's split up. The monsters have pulled back to the altars, which means something is still hiding behind the scenes. Destroy what you can."
"Got it."
Gu Sanqiu transformed into a streak of green light, his spear blazing with white flames as he tore into the crowd of monsters. The spear struck the altar's base with a resounding crack.
Splinters and tremors rippled outward, agitating the remaining creatures. They howled in frenzy, charging Gu Sanqiu in a suicidal frenzy, only to be shredded by his wind-infused attacks.
The chorus of wails seemed to grow louder, sending visible purple strands of malevolence toward Gu Sanqiu's ears, a crude form of psychic assault.
Gu Sanqiu turned, his gaze locking onto a bizarre monster with the head of a boar, the body of a leopard, and a rabbit-like tail. He spat out a razor-sharp wind blade, piercing the creature entirely.
But as the monster collapsed, the wailing intensified.