He changed Tiwat

She glared at Han Fulai's face like a ferocious beast ready to devour him: "Listen, I know you may think you're helping Miss, but this is not something to joke about!"

Nilu quickly stepped between the two to soothe them: "Miss Dixia, please don't be angry. I think Mr. Jiang Xue meant well..."

Dixia scoffed, "What she needs now is a real doctor, not some self-righteous 'kindness'!"

She already didn't have a good impression of this "Han Jiangxue," and now hearing him speak so arrogantly made her even more disgusted.

"Demon Scale Disease" is a special disease that only Sumeru people can get. It's normal that outsiders like "Han Jiangxue" don't know about "Demon Scale Disease". Dixia wouldn't have gotten angry over such a small matter.

But if, because of the "good intentions" of such ignorant people, Dina Zede is unable to return home for treatment in time, causing her health to deteriorate further, or even leading to her death... then Dixia cannot guarantee that she will not do something even more "impulsive".

After all, to her, Dina Zede was not only a "Miss," but also "family."

She helped Dina Zede to walk out, but was stopped once again by Ying and Paimon.

"Wait a minute, Dixia, at least listen to him explain his treatment plan, right?" Ying offered a very pertinent suggestion.

Paimon chimed in, "Whether he can cure 'Demon Scale Disease' or not, there's no harm in just listening to him, is there?"

In fact, they were both quite curious about the treatment method Han Fulai mentioned.

Their best friend, Cole, also suffers from "Demon Scale Disease." If Han Fulai really has a way to cure Dina Zede, wouldn't that mean Cole can also be saved?

Dixia looked at Han Fulai with suspicion... She found herself feeling disgusted whenever she saw his face.

"Do you really think someone like that would know medicine?"

Ying and Paimon exchanged a glance and nodded in unison.

Ying's tone was unusually confident: "I guarantee he understands."

Paimon added in a low voice, "In fact, we don't even know what he doesn't understand..."

Han Fulai's past achievements have been so outstanding that his image as a "know-it-all civil servant of Liyue" is deeply ingrained in people's minds. It's not surprising that he knows medicine to Luminous and Paimon; rather, it would be strange if he didn't...

Their answers surprised Desia once again—the renowned adventurers of Teyvat were actually willing to vouch for this person... Just who was this person?

At this moment, Dina Zede also grabbed her hand, pleadingly saying, "Dishia... let Mr. Jiang Xue try it, okay? Anyway, even if I go back home, the doctors will only tell me to rest..."

"Moreover, I'm willing to believe him... I believe that anyone who likes the Little Lucky Grass King can't be a bad person. Perhaps my meeting with Mr. Jiang Xue was also guided by the Little Lucky Grass King?"

Dina Zede is a born patient with "Demon Scales". Since birth, she has always lived with the premise that she has "Demon Scales".

She knew that the disease would one day take her life, and she knew that day wouldn't be long... She had actually accepted it completely long ago.

What pains her more than the fact that she has "megaloblastic scathing disease" is the impact it has on her life.

It is certainly unfortunate to be born with a terminal illness, but fortunately, Dina Zedai was born into a wealthy family in Humayi, and the Humayi couple loved their only child dearly.

Compared to Cole, who was abandoned early on due to poverty and sent to the "missionary" of Winter as a last resort, Dina Zede was able to have the best treatment conditions and environment—

The sage of the "Life Theory School" personally came to her home to diagnose and treat her, prescribing "environmental therapy" designed with the most cutting-edge theories; the medicine she used to slow down her condition, the caregivers who took care of her daily life, and the "ecological ward" specially configured for her, which simulates a rainforest environment and is rich in the power of grass elements, are all unique in Sumeru City.

The Huma couple did everything they could to delay the progression of the disease, extending Dina Zedai's lifespan as much as possible... Patients suffering from "demon scale disease" usually only live for about ten years, but Dina Zedai lived past her twentieth birthday.

However, this "luck" was also her greatest "misfortune".

To slow down her illness, Dina Zede has been confined to the "ward" built for her at home since childhood, never allowed to step outside. Most of the time, she can only sit on her hospital bed, staring blankly at the world outside the window.

Before this "running away from home," Dina Zede had never set foot in the world outside that house, and there was never any trace of her living in that world outside the house.

She could only live and die silently, from birth to death, all within that house.

The hospital ward was her whole world.

She had asked herself countless times – could this kind of life really be considered a life lived?

Until recently, Dina Zede's "demon scale disease" had progressed to its terminal stage.

No matter how hard she tries to delay, there is a limit. Now, except for her head and the tips of her limbs, the rest of her skin, covered by robes and bandages, is covered with those grayish-black, scaly substances... Perhaps in a while, she won't even be able to walk anymore.

So, while these feet can still walk, while these eyes can still see, at least go and see the world outside that house... to live in this world like a human being.

Even if I die, I want to die in the outside world.

And so, for the first time in her life, Miss Dina Zede ran away from home.

Facing Dina Zede's sorrowful eyes, Han Fulai simply said two sentences: "Our medical skills in Liyue emphasize 'observation, listening, questioning, and palpation.' I already have a good understanding of your complexion and breathing, and Miss Deshia has already described your condition. Now all that's left is to take your pulse... Please come with me."

He led the group back to the theater backstage, cleared out a dressing table, and sat down in front of the stage with a professional air. He extended his hand to Dina Zede: "Miss Dina Zede, please allow me to feel your wrist pulse. If it is inconvenient to have contact with a man, you can use a silk thread to feel your pulse."

Dina Zede generously offered her wrist. Her family had also invited renowned doctors from other places to treat her. She had even met Dr. Bai Shu from "Bu Bu Lu" and was familiar with the "inspection, auscultation, inquiry, and palpation" method. In fact, there was a similar practice in Xumi, only with a different name.

Dixia stared intently at Han Fulai's hand, her muscles tense, ready to interrupt any action she perceived as malicious.

Han Fulai placed his hand on Dina Zedai's wrist and secretly channeled a wisp of immortal power into her—just as he had expected, Dina Zedai's pulse was weak, and most of her internal organs were showing varying degrees of failure... This feeling was more like "aging" than illness.

He certainly didn't know proper medical skills, but he was, after all, a "true god and immortal," and had truly learned the Liyue Immortal Arts. "Internal vision" like an immortal was not difficult for him. As long as he channeled his immortal energy into the other person's body and circulated it for one cycle, the other person's physical condition would be clear at a glance.

Especially Ye Lan and her lineage of Shen Yu Ling Bao, who originally focused on "Dan Ding" (alchemy), and whose "Wu Zhen Pian" (Awakening to Truth) has many connections to medicine, it wouldn't be an exaggeration to call them half doctors.

Although he couldn't prescribe medicine without formal medical training, Dina Zede's condition was beyond medical help, so whether he could prescribe medicine or not was irrelevant.

The real reason Han Fulai was "taking Dina Zedai's pulse" here was to verify one of his previous conjectures, a conjecture about "demon scale disease".

Now, he has confirmed that his previous guess was correct.

Dina Zede's "aging" is not reflected in her appearance, but rather in the loss of "vitality," which, in gaming terms, is like her "health bar" being almost empty.

Ying had previously told him about the "Dead Zone," including the "health deduction" state within it, and Tina's speculation that the "Demon Scale Disease" might be related to the "Dead Zone."

Based on this intelligence, he had already reached a conclusion—

"Demon Scale Disease" is actually a kind of "dead zone" inside the human body.

Ying also mentioned that the way to clear the "dead zone" is to use the power of the grass element to destroy the "lesions" or "dead zone tumors" inside the "dead zone".

Unfortunately, Han Fulai was unable to find the "dead zone tumor" in Dina Zedai's body, nor could he eliminate the "lesion" in her body by destroying the "dead zone tumor".

However, this result was not unexpected. Sumeru was not without the holder of the Eye of God who could use the power of the grass element to destroy the "lesion" of "Demonic Scale Disease". Tinari and the others should have already conquered "Demonic Scale Disease".

Furthermore, according to that Tinari guy, destroying the "Dead Domain Tumor" doesn't mean completely eliminating the "Dead Domain." The "Dead Domain" is a disease rooted in the Sumeru ley lines, and Tinari proposed a hypothesis that the "Dead Domain" might be a disease of the "World Tree"...

Han Fulai withdrew his hand and winked at Dina Zede: "Miss Dina Zede, please look into my eyes. I need to check the condition of your pupils."

Dina Zede opened her eyes wide in agreement.

At that very moment, Han Fulai's pupils turned a deep blue.

He activated his Mystic Eyes of Death Perception to search for the "death line" on Dina Zede.

—If Dina Zede's "cause of death" is "demonic scale disease", then the "death line" should be connected to the "lesion" of "demonic scale disease".

He saw the thick black lines on Dina Zede's body, lines that started from the top of her head and extended down along the blood vessels of her body, all the way to... the ground.

A second later, Han Fulai closed his eyes, then opened them again, and his pupils returned to normal.

This sudden change went unnoticed by the others, except for Dixia, who had been watching him intently and frowned.

In that instant, Dixia had a strange feeling—she felt that Han Fulai's eyes had become incredibly distant, like a god looking down on the mortal world.

She wondered if she was seeing things because she was too nervous.

Han Fulai spoke up at that moment: "Alright, the examination is over, and I understand the basic situation. Well, let's get straight to the conclusion: a complete cure for your 'Demon Scale Disease' is indeed impossible at this stage..."

Dixia clicked her tongue, almost blurting out "waste of time".

Fortunately, before she could speak, Paimon, who was very familiar with Han Fulai, had already interrupted her, saying, "Don't speak so slowly!"

Ying also complained, "Couldn't you have just said 'but' directly?"

Han Fulai began to feel that getting too familiar with these two wasn't a good thing, as it meant missing out on so many opportunities to shine in front of others!

He really wanted to see that unfriendly Miss Desia perform a "fawning at first, obsequious later" act for him...

He coughed lightly, but still went along with it: "...However, if it's just about suppressing the development of 'Demon Scale Disease' so that you can live like a normal person and participate in the 'Flower Goddess's Birthday Festival,' I can do that."

"Really?

Dina Zede was stunned.

To be honest, she didn't expect Mr. Jiang Xue to come up with any truly effective treatment... she just wanted to stay outside a little longer. Even just a few more minutes of breathing fresh air would have been enough for her.

But Mr. Jiang Xue actually said that he had a way to let her participate in the "Flower Goddess's Birthday Festival" like a normal person?

This is a miracle that could only happen in a dream!

Han Fulai took out a small butterfly made of a paulownia leaf from his waistband—perhaps calling it a "Xiao butterfly" would be more appropriate.

He handed the "Wind Crystal Butterfly" that faintly shimmered with a wondrous light to Dina Zede: "Miss Dina Zede, this is a talisman I obtained from the Liyue Celestials. It can ward off evil spirits, gods, and poisons. Please wear this close to your body; it will keep you safe for at least a few months."

The moment Dina Zedei's fingers touched the butterfly, she immediately felt a refreshing breeze caress her body, dispelling all the gloom in her heart.

A long-lost vitality flowed through her limbs; she had never had such a novel experience before—she wanted to shout, to run, to try everything she had never dared to or could not try before.

Hiking, mountain climbing, swimming... With a healthy body, there's nowhere in the world you can't go.

No, before that, there was one more thing she wanted to do!

Overjoyed and completely oblivious, Dina Zede even forgot to thank the "doctor." She skipped and hopped, grabbing Nilu's hand and exclaiming, "Miss Nilu, please teach me the 'Dance of the Flower Goddess'! I've wanted to learn to dance for so long!"

Seeing Dina Zede's energetic appearance, Dixia's doubts turned into joy.

Even if such vitality cannot last, seeing Dina Zede's happy smile makes it all worthwhile for Dishia.

She stepped forward and bowed deeply to Han Fulai: "Mr. Han Jiangxue, please forgive me for my previous attitude towards you—no, for my poor attitude. I can see that it is a very precious thing, and I know that its value cannot be measured by money… But please allow me to express some of my gratitude to you on behalf of Miss Dina Zede and Mr. Humayi…"

As she spoke, she began to take out her Mora bag. The bodyguard commission that the old man of Humayi had always paid her had always been quite generous, and she had accumulated some savings over the years.

In the world of mercenaries, money can buy life. If there's anything most precious about her, it's this "life-saving money."

Han Fulai smiled and declined Mora's offer: "This token of my appreciation... I'll send it to the 'Wangshu Inn' in Liyue. Tell them to send a bowl of almond tofu to the immortal on the rooftop."

Chapter 41 Friends in Dreams [4k]

It truly is an item from the immortals!

Desia grew up in the desert, and this was the first time she had ever left the desert for the bodyguard mission for Dinazede. Naturally, she had never met the Liyue immortals, but she had heard their stories.

The temperature difference between day and night in the desert is extreme. No matter how wild and untamed a lone wolf may be during the day, he must return to his pack at night to huddle together for warmth. Mercenaries are accustomed to gathering around campfires at night, relying on the flames and strong liquor to warm their bodies. And where there are campfires and fine wine, there are bound to be stories.

The man she once called "father" loved to tell her stories at times like these.

In the story, Liyue is a magical country. The Geo Archon who rules Liyue is known as the "Ancestor of the Immortals," and his retinue consists of "Immortals." The "Immortals" are like the "Spirit Guardians" in the desert. They can control the power of heaven and earth without the Vision of God, and their lifespan is as long as that of the "Spirit Guardians," making them almost immortal.

The story mentions that "immortals" usually live in seclusion in the mountains, but occasionally they will take in some mortals who catch their eye as disciples and teach them immortal arts. Those mortals who learn immortal arts are called "knights-errant" in Liyue, and they have left behind many legends of chivalry and justice—her father's favorite story was "the great knight fighting the evil dragon".

The story also says that "knights-errant" are taught by immortals and usually travel the world to punish evil and promote good. They believe in a very special principle... well, the original words are hard to remember, but Dixia remembers the general meaning, something like: "Every thousand miles you travel, you must kill a bad guy. After you kill him, you must change your blood-stained clothes so that no one knows that you killed him." In short, it's about "doing good deeds without leaving a name."

Let's look at this "Han Jiangxue" again—

Rugged appearance, highly skilled in martial arts, hmm, that fits;

Hiding one's identity and concealing one's abilities—hmm, that fits.

Rescuing people in danger without expecting anything in return—yes, that fits the description.

Moreover, he is very familiar with the Liyue Celestials and possesses treasures bestowed by the Celestials... a perfect match!

Dixia is certain: "Han Jiangxue" must be a disciple of a celestial being, a legendary hero of Liyue!

This also explains why Luminous and Paimon trusted him so much, and why he would lend a helping hand to Dina Zede, whom he had just met... The heroes in the story really do exist!

Dixia now felt that "Han Jiangxue" wasn't actually that bad-looking. If you looked closely, his eyes were bright, his nose was straight, and his messy beard... was quite manly.

Han Fulai didn't know what Dixia was thinking, but he could tell that her attitude had softened—in this way, the bodyguard from the Huma family would no longer be an obstacle to the plan.

In fact, his statement that he cannot cure "demon scale disease" at this stage is partly true and partly false.

Although he couldn't completely eradicate the "dead zone" and "demonic scale disease" within the entire Sumeru range, curing Dinazede's "demonic scale disease" was a piece of cake—he only needed to activate his "Mystic Eyes of Death Perception" and "kill" the connection between Dinazede and the "demonic scale disease".

From his perspective, there is a "thread" connecting the "Demon Scale Disease" and the Sumeru ley lines, or the "World Tree".

The "source of pollution" is underground, which is very likely the "pathological disease of the World Tree" that Ying mentioned, and the "Demon Scale Disease" is just a slight leakage of this huge "source of pollution" causing the effect.

To use an analogy, the depths of Mount Sumeru are buried with a massive amount of "nuclear material," the "dead zone" is an uninhabited area caused by nuclear contamination, and "demon scale disease" is a human illness caused by nuclear radiation. Living above this "contamination source" gives everyone a chance to win a big prize.

Depending on individual constitution, some people are unaffected by pollution, while others develop diseases over time. Dina Zede's mother was likely exposed to pollution during her pregnancy, which accumulated in the fetus, causing Dina Zede to be born with "devil scale disease".

He had witnessed similar things at Inazuma's "Evil Eye Factory." The villagers and miners of Hiki Village who were captured by "The Doctor's" henchmen and used as experimental subjects developed various physical ailments after being "contaminated by the evil spirit." Those utterly depraved scum even used pregnant women for experiments, studying the effects of the contamination on the fetus…

However, compared to Inazuma's "evil spirit pollution," Sumeru's pollution seems more complex. At least it doesn't have a physical source of pollution like the "Snake Bone Mine," and the pollution process seems difficult to detect with the naked eye. Only when the pollution accumulates to a certain level will it exhibit characteristics such as "dead zone" and "demonic scale disease."

Han Fulai even suspected that the "Evil Eye Factory" that "Doctor" set up in Inazuma might have been inspired by the pollution in Sumeru. Perhaps the "Evil Eye" was just a "byproduct" that "Doctor" obtained while researching the pollution in Sumeru. What he really wanted was the power of that pollution.

Unfortunately, only the "Doctor" himself can answer these questions; at this stage, he is only speculating.

Based on the information he currently has, the "Dead Zone" and "Demon Scale Disease" only appear within the borders of the Sumeru Kingdom, and are a kind of "special product" limited to Sumeru.