Chapter 11. Back on My Feet

!! Back to Yanfei's POV !!

Is this really happening? Am I really dead? If I am, then why I can hear these thoughts running through my head? I opened my eyes to see mountains everywhere, wait no, a pool, wait.. no! A... fallen windmill on fire?... I squeezed my eyes shut and opened them again to see Madame Ping beaming a crooked smile through her wrinkled face.

"Grandma? Y-you're..." I paused and looked around, my eyes windening as I sat up on whatever soft, extremely comfotable block I was laying on,"you're dead too?! Wha - how?"

Madame Ping only stretched her smile wider and laughed softly, "Maybe you should take a closer look at your surroundings, child."

I tried to clear my vision, and the familiar smell of medines filled my nostrils; the bright aesthetic ceiling also looked pretty familiar, but where did I see it...?  I saw Dr. Baizhu standing by the edge of whatever uncomfortable block-bed I was lying on. Wait... the Bubu Pharmacy! Memories starting to come in one by one, until the part where I saw a large blade made with wooden and iron planks fall on top of me. 

"Wait... why - what - where's Hu Tao?!" I desperately looked around. I realised that Monstadt is North-East from here; I was back in Liyue.

"Grandma, we need to - ow!" I grunted as I looked down at my bandaged waist. I also noticed that my left leg was bandaged too, not to mention my head which was also covered in bandages. I groaned as I loosened the stiffness in my body, realising that there was no way back to Mondstadt, no way back to Hu Tao.

I started to worry as I wondered, Is she's okay? What if she also got crushed and didn't have any medical help like I did? What if-

"Please, Qiqi is on her way to get the medcines. You should properly rest meanwhile." Dr. Baizhu said in a polite tone. I heard Changsheng's faint hiss from inside his sleeve as she revealed her long white scales. 

"Rest, Ms. Yanfei."she hissed softly as she stared into my eyes her her round striking red eyes. I flinched a little at the way she was staring at me and awkwardly laid back down. 

A while afterwards I saw a purple hat bounce up and down from the door to the side of my bed. I raised my head a little and looked over the edge to see Qiqi standing there, with a tray of medicines in her hands.

"Hello, Yanfei." she said. 

"Hi." I said slowly as Qiqi pushed the tray onto my bed and instructed to me,"You should eat these leaves here first, it helps to clear the bad taste of the medicine you're going to take."

"I thought I died back there..." I sighed as I picked the leaves from her tiny hand and put it in my mouth. How was I supposed to chew this paper-like leaf? 

"Your heart was just too shallow for anyone to hear it, so by extreme luck, you were still alive. You're also lucky Klee found you and Hu Tao under all that rubble." Dr. Baizhu smiled. I heaved a sigh of relief and picked the cup of green-coloured medicine and stared at it; my face melted into a look of disgust.

"Don't worry, your wounds will heal faster if you drink this." Changsheng hissed again. I closed my eyes and reluctantly dumped the medicine into my mouth, immediately swallowing it. I gagged so hard! The medicine tasted like rotten hilichurl flesh! I thought the leaves were supposed to make it taste good?!

"Whoops... Qiqi forgot that the leaves she gave you were supposed to help with the healing. These leaves are supposed to help with the taste..." Qiqi moaned as she slowly picked up the other leaves. I groaned impatiently as I picked the leaves and swallowed it hard.

"Ig thusn work anymoh." I muttered, my words muffled by the leaves in my mouth.

"Sorry, Qiqi is very forgetful... forgot to look at notes..." Qiqi moaned again. I watched as she walked out of the room all guilty-looking. I sighed and looked at Madame Ping.

"Grandma, please, can I just go? Hu Tao needs me-"

"She needs you more than you think, Yanfei. How would she react if she saw you recklessly running into the fire filled with monsters all bandaged up like this?" Madame Ping pointed out. She was reasonable, but... 

I looked down.

"I need her more than anyone thinks." I murmured before leaping off the bed and racing out of the pharmacy.

"Yanfei-" I heard the faint sound from her through the wind howling in my ears. The pain in my left leg was excruciating, it felt so unbearable; but Hu Tao needs me, so I have to be there for her!

When I finally reached the entrance, I tumbled onto the ground, grunting in pain as I squeezed my left leg. It was hurting more than my waist and head. At least I saw the fire die down, and no more enemies were in sight. That's a big relief to me...

"Yanfei!" I heard a pair of voices say together as overlapped footsteps were heard and I felt two pairs of arms wrap around me. 

"You're alive!" Xingqiu sighed in relief. 

"Everyone heard about it. We all think you're dead!" Chongyun said.

Both of their voices were shaking. I smiled and patted their heads gently.

"Where's Hu Tao?" I asked.

"She left through the back of Mondstadt not so long ago right after we cleared the Abyss Order. Mr. Diluc and Mr. Kaeya really saved us." Chongyun explained as the boys pulled away.

"Her heart was really badly broken, Yanfei." Xingqiu added sadly. Upon hearing that I looked down and wiped the tears attempting to escape.

"Where is she now?"

"At the funeral parlour." I heard a familiar deep voice. I looked up to see Zhongli's calm but extremely relieved smile.

"Mr. Zhongli!"

"Glad to see you alive, though that's not exactly what everyone thinks at the moment..."

"I know, Chongyun told me," I stood up with my right arm around Xingqiu's shoulder and my left arm around Chongyun's,"I'm going to get her-"

"Is that Yanfei?!" I heard a yell from above me. I looked up and gasped to see Bennett clumsily balancing on the edge of a roof. His wide cheery smile was shown on his face as he let out a gasp, "YANFEI'S ALIVE - wooaahh!" and tripped off the roof, only to be caught by Fischl who gave him a smug look.

"Be careful, your wounds won't just disappear like Oz when we were fighting." Fischl snapped but gently at him. Oz cawed, offended. 

"WHAT?!" I heard another yell from within the smoke.

"I thought she was dead!"

"Yanfei's alive...?"

"Yanfeeeeeeeeeiiiii!!"

"But I thought she died?"

"Ms. Yanfei's alive?! I wanna see her! Come on, Albedo!"

"Woah, K-Klee, slow down!"

"Mr. Albedo! Please be careful..."

I watched as more and more people revealed themselves from within the thick, pitch black smoke, they all had all sorts of injuries on them, even the civilians. I stared as more yells were heard. 

"Yanfei!"

"How-"

"That was a hard hit! She sure is a strong one."

"Yanfei's alive!!"

"Yanfei!" I heard that one voice as I saw Venti bump into me with a hug. Chongyun and Xingqiu grunted as they tried to keep me on my feet.

"Venti! Careful..." Xingqiu grunted at him. Venti pulled away and rubbed the back of his neck.

"Sorry..." he apologised. 

"I'm gonna go see Hu Tao. Are all of you coming?"

The crowd turned their heads at each other. Some shrugged saying,"Why not?"

Childe stepped out," I guess so."

He smiled and pointed straight past me at whatever was beyond the bridge,"To Liyue!"

"Shut up, 'child'!" Diona meowed from next to him and swung her hand at his leg. Childe groaned and wheezed as he held his leg tight.

"Alright then..." I moaned, suddenly feeling sleepy.

"Yanfei?" I heard echoed voices calling my name; my eyes went shut as I dozed off. It's probably just a side effect of the medicine I took, was my last thought.

I opened my eyes slowly and saw Madame Ping standing there, looking disappointed but relieved. I sat up. Literally everyone, and I do mean everyone, as they stared at me worriedly.

"I told you to rest, child." she said and walked off.

"Sorry!" I called out. 

"You good to go now?" Childe asked.

"Yeah, sorry..." I said as Dr. Baizhu smiled ad chuckled,"I've heard of your intention, and I'm coming along," he said,"go get her."

"Why does everyone keep taking my line?..." Zhongli murmured to himself as he followed me and the rest of the crowd to Wangsheng Funeral Parlour.

When we got there, Dr. Baizhu told me to sit down on the floor as he continued his treatment on me. Everyone crowded around to watch as Zhongli, Venti, Chongyun and Xingqiu walked up the steps to the big round door of the parlour.

"I know where she'll be, follow me." Zhongli said to the three as he reaced his hands out to open the door, not expecting Hu Tao already opening it for them. She looked tired and hand faint blue eye bags underneath her eyes. I watched from behind all the limbs of the crowd watching Dr. Baizhu treating me. Great, now her sleep schedule's been messed up all because of me.

"Why are there so many people here? Did another important person die?" Hu Tao groaned.

"Eh, no," Xingqiu said awkwardly,"you know... Yanfei-"

"Nope." Hu Tao said immediately as she slammed the door shut at their faces.

"Hu Tao, as the consultant of the parlour, I request you open the door and hear what we have to say." Zhongli said loudly.

"And as director of the parlour I say no." Hu Tao's muffled words from behind the door was heard. Chongyun and Xingqiu looked at each other and sighed. They looked back at the door and yelled,"YANFEI'S-"

"I said no!" Hu Tao called again.

"No, really, Yanfei is-"

"For the last time, no!"

"Please, Hu Tao, just listen-"

"Guys, we've fought the Abyss Order for two days... TWO DAYS-"

"Yeah I know but really, Yanfei!-"

"Not. Another. Word. About. Yanfei!"

"That's it I give up." Venti said as he rolled his eyes.

"You didn't even do anything!" Xingqiu raised an eyebrow as he watched Venti march down the stairs.

"It wouldn't work if I tried." he shrugged as he turned back to face them.

"That is true..." Chongyun sighed.

The four boys turned around with a loud sigh and groaned,"Yanfeeeeiiiiiiiii..."

I looked up at them. All four of their faces clearly showed that they wouldn't go any further. I stood up with the help of Dr. Baizhu and with the help of Klee and Qiqi, I limped up the steps of the parlour and knocked the door.

"Go away!!... the parlour is closed..."

"Then I demand it to open." I called out. But I think my voice was muffled through the thick doors so Hu Tao couldn't recognise it, or at least that's what I thought. I realised I was wrong when Hu Tao opened the doors, her face clearly filled with shock. I was so glad to see my girlfriend unharmed.

"What..."

"Hey, Tao Tao." I smiled and said softly. Hu Tao's eyes filled with tears as she let out a wail and threw herself at me, causing us to tumble down the stairs.

"Hey, be careful with her!" Chongyun warned. But I didn't feel any pain at all, not when Hu Tao was in my arms. She rested her head on my chest and continued sobbing as I patted her silky hair,"There there..."

"I thought you... I-I... I th-thought-" she stammered as more tears escaped.

"Calm down, Tao Tao... I'm here talking to you, aren't I?" I smiled and continued patting her head.

"Yeah I guess..." she sighed, finally calming down from her sobs. I felt her loosen comfortably as she cuddled me. I smiled happily as I joined in.

"Let's celebrate for finally defeating the Abyss Order!... unless they come back again..." Aether yelled from within the crowd, dropping to mutters at the last few words. Lumine sighed and rolled her eyes as she patted her brother's head repeatedly while he clenched his fist, cussing about the Abyss Order.