"Alright, just be back before sunset, Qiqi."

Baizhu watched as the little zombie ran off to collect herbs and explore, a fond smile gracing his lips. He thought of Qiqi as not only a helpful assistant, but also a daughter—an immortal little girl who had been through far too much for one so young. He was glad he could look after her and guide her, even if she would soon outlive him. It was just his job as a doctor.

With a slight cough, the sickly man went back to doing his work, settling down at the front desk, his ink pen running smoothly across the paperwork. He didn't mind—it was paperwork for a certain prescription for a client—but something felt off. He felt uneasy, Changshen slithering around his neck anxiously. The normally sassy, smart-talking snake was rendered to an almost worried reptile, as if she could sense something was going wrong. In response, Baizhu gave her a small, reassuring gesture, but it did little to ease his own discomfort.

Soon enough, while the pharmacist was about to close out for the night, after getting Qiqi to bed, Changshen slithered down his arm. His sharp ears caught the sound of a soft 'thud,' and when he turned, his golden eyes, usually holding charisma and composure, widened in shock; there, trembling in the doorway of the Bubu Pharmacy, was a small, broken figure. A child.