**Chapter 14: Some Talents Are Better Left Unacquired**
Hearing Qiqi's assessment of Hu Tao, Jingchen sighed and rubbed his forehead in exasperation.
Before learning about Qiqi's past, Hu Tao had indeed tried to bury her every few days, hoping to hasten her journey into the cycle of reincarnation.
But after discovering Qiqi's true history, Hu Tao only wanted to be her friend.
*Is this what you call "chasing after friendship"?!*
Seeing Qiqi's dislike for Hu Tao, Columbine smiled and gently stroked Qiqi's head.
"Qiqi, let Columbine-jie and Brother Jingchen take you back to Bubu Pharmacy."
Qiqi nodded innocently.
As the trio walked down the mountain side-by-side, they genuinely looked like a family of three.
Arriving at Bubu Pharmacy, Qiqi softly pushed open the door. A'Gui, the pharmacist, hurried over to take the newly gathered herbs from her.
"Qiqi, why don't you go rest for a while?"
Qiqi slowly pulled out her notebook. A'Gui smiled and flipped to the page about himself.
Qiqi carefully read the entry:
*A'Gui, Bubu Pharmacy, pharmacist, good person. Will help Qiqi.*
"A'Gui, thank you."
A'Gui looked up and noticed the man and woman standing behind Qiqi.
The man wore the white robes of a Fatui Harbinger, his handsome features framed by a high, silver-blue ponytail.
A'Gui recognized Jingchen instantly. Jingchen had been a frequent visitor to Bubu Pharmacy, often gifting them with precious Immortal Medicine formulas that allowed Doctor Baizhu to treat more rare and difficult illnesses, saving countless suffering patients.
"Huh?! Master Jingchen?! What brings you here today?!"
"I ran into Qiqi in the outskirts and thought I'd check in on Doctor Baizhu. By the way, A'Gui, where is Doctor Baizhu?"
A'Gui hurried inside to brew tea and serve it to Jingchen.
"Brother Jingchen, Doctor Baizhu is currently in Qiaoying Village delivering medicine and treating patients. He won't be back for a few days."
"Oh, I see. Even saving lives keeps him busy."
"Brother Jingchen, we're so grateful for those Immortal Medicine formulas. Bubu Pharmacy can now treat so many more rare and difficult illnesses."
Jingchen shook his head.
"My Master instructed me to share those formulas with Bubu Pharmacy so you could help more people."
Columbine yawned and leaned against Jingchen's shoulder, dozing off.
A'Gui noticed for the first time that Jingchen was holding the girl's hand tightly, never letting go.
The girl's eyes were tightly closed, her face radiant with natural beauty, untouched by makeup. Three pairs of ethereal wings adorned her head, making her appear like a celestial being.
"Brother Jingchen, who is this fairy?" A'Gui asked.
"This is my wife, Columbine," Jingchen replied.
A'Gui nodded in approval. They were indeed a perfect match, a match made in heaven. The contrast of black and red with blue and white was truly harmonious.
"Hello, Sister-in-law," A'Gui greeted.
Columbine smiled faintly whenever she heard the term "Sister-in-law," then nestled closer to Jingchen. She knew she had to hold onto his hand tightly, to secure his heart. After all, besides Hu Tao, there were many other girls who regretted their past choices.
"Hello, A'Gui," Columbine replied.
"Brother Jingchen, Sister-in-law, thank you for bringing Qiqi back. By the way, what brings you here today?" A'Gui asked.
"We'd like to take care of Qiqi for a while," Jingchen said.
"Huh?! Ah?! Take care of Qiqi for a while... This..." A'Gui hesitated slightly. Doctor Baizhu was away, leaving him without authority to make such decisions. But Brother Jingchen had done Bubu Pharmacy a great service and had been Doctor Baizhu's friend for years. Moreover, he was a descendant of immortals and the former acting Tianshu Star. His reputation in Liyue was second only to the Rock Archon and the adepti.
Even now that Brother Jingchen had become a Fatui Harbinger, he remained beloved by the people of Liyue.
It was indeed difficult to refuse him.
"Brother Jingchen, Sister-in-law, please wait a moment."
Columbine asked, her face full of confusion, "A'Chen, where is he going?"
"To send a message. Pigeon post—one of Liyue's traditional methods of communication."
"Ah?! Pigeon post?!"
"A round trip by pigeon between Liyue Harbor and Qiaoying Village should only take about half a day."
***
A'Gui entered with a smile after about ten minutes.
"Brother Jingchen, Sister-in-law, why don't you two take Qiqi around Bubu Pharmacy to familiarize her with the place? Doctor Baizhu's message should arrive shortly."
"That sounds good."
Inside the Herbology Room at Bubu Pharmacy, Qiqi stood on tiptoe, beginning to brew the herbs she had gathered.
Columbine and Jingchen watched her every move.
"Jingchen, why does Qiqi's movements seem so practiced yet so stiff?"
"Qiqi is a little zombie, after all. Her actions are governed by commands."
"Oh. I want to help her."
"Ah?! Brewing medicine is incredibly precise—the heat, the quantities of ingredients, the water content... even the slightest error can lead to disastrous results. Our good intentions might actually make things worse."
"Hmm?! You sound awfully familiar with this. You've had this experience before, haven't you?!"
Jingchen waved his hand helplessly. "Fine, I'll tell you.
"Once, when I was helping my Master refine medicine in her Immortal Abode, I miscalculated the amounts of a few Immortal Medicines.
*Boom!* The Alchemical Furnace exploded.
My Master and I were instantly covered in soot. She grabbed Senior Sister Shenhe's Calamity Queller and chased me halfway up Mt. Aocang."
"But we're just helping Qiqi brew ordinary herbs. It should be simpler, right?"
"Ah, Aya, we're just amateurs. Brewing herbs or crafting Immortal Pills—these things are beyond our capabilities."
"Over a decade ago, I even helped Baizhu brew medicine to save lives. He assumed that as a disciple of the immortals, I could do anything, including concocting remedies."
"But the medicine I brewed according to his instructions, while effective, had terrible side effects."
"What kind of side effects?!"
Jingchen frowned involuntarily. *Didn't Columbine claim to know everything about me?*
*Why make me relive these embarrassing memories?*
Columbine immediately sensed Jingchen's thoughts and quickly explained, "Ah?! Jingchen, don't misunderstand! I only know about your history of being rejected by girls. The rest is a bit hazy."
Seeing Columbine's sincerity, Jingchen reluctantly recounted the broad strokes of his dark history.
"Sigh, those side effects were truly disastrous—even more absurd than Doctor Baizhu's own concoctions..."
Upon hearing Jingchen's tale of brewing herbs, Columbine's tightly closed eyes snapped open, her ruby-like eyes widening in astonishment.
*This Jingchen of mine... he's utterly ridiculous when it comes to brewing herbs!*
......
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(End of Chapter)