Many rumors swirl about Baizhu, though most of them are currently unknown the only one the player ever hears about is that his traditional herbal medicines are extremely bitter Despite the poor taste of his medicine, most Liyue citizens have complete faith in his medical skills, such as Keqing, who considers him the right person to visit when someone cannot identify their symptoms and Xinyan, who is grateful for his highly effective voice preserving medicines.
One of his patients, a sickly young girl named Hongdou, dislikes his medicine greatly and only agrees to visit Bubu Pharmacy because Baizhu is so kind to her, reasoning that just seeing him would make her feel better. She also believes he is very clever. Baizhu’s reputation is so great that even the isolated adeptus Xiao is aware of him, and his employee Herbalist Gui takes great care in his work to avoid sullying the good name of Dr. Baizhu and Bubu Pharmacy. Despite his great medical skill, Baizhu is not regarded as “a man of high caliber or great courage.”
After meeting her by chance in the hills, Baizhu took Qiqi in, despite her being a zombie with memory so poor she could barely sort herbs or remember his face. His acceptance of Qiqi was tied to his own personal pursuits, and Baizhu has grown increasingly more relentless in his pursuit of eternal life since meeting her. However, it is later revealed that Baizhu sought immortality in order to protect both himself and Changsheng, aware that those who made contracts with her would eventually die young and he does not want to have others suffer the same fate as them, while not wanting her to die either.
Despite having some ulterior motives in taking her in, he is able to make Qiqi cancel orders she has given herself by embracing her and speaking words such as “I love you the most.” However, the effect is greatly diminished because Baizhu speaks these words very lightly. At the same time, he quickly acquiesces to whatever she may request from him with no worry at all and affectionately refers to her as “my little Qiqi.
Qiqi, who is well aware of his intentions, does not mind staying with him because of his concern. Furthermore, he is very protective of Qiqi. Xingqiu, though interested in Qiqi’s story, finds it is impossible to have a conversation with her whenever Baizhu is around. Baizhu has also repeatedly intervened in Hu Tao‘s attempts to lay Qiqi to rest; something that Qiqi dreads and fears. Even after Hu Tao gave Qiqi an exception, she still holds a grudge towards Baizhu for his desire to live longer.
Despite the genuine efficacy of his medical practices, his business practices tend to be shady. Changsheng remarks he is pleased to have found new people to fleece after the sale of Everlasting Incense to the Traveler and Zhongli, although Baizhu does not appear to mind her warnings. Despite Changsheng’s suggestions of Baizhu’s own questionable conduct, he has also had dealings with the legal advisor Yanfei about charlatans selling ineffective remedies. To Paimon, his sly attitude during their first two meetings seemed strange, yet Yanfei brushed off her concerns and claimed that Baizhu has always acted that way.
Though he was widely known by the moniker “Mr. Bai,” Baizhu’s last name isn’t “Bai.” The origins of this misnomer can be traced back to his apprentice at Bubu Pharmacy, Qiqi, and her sieve-like memory.
When she first arrived at Bubu, her memory was even worse than it is now, and she would even forget to return to the Pharmacy at night after going out to gather herbs and ingredients during the day.
Fortunately, Baizhu is always patient when dealing with patients, and doubly so when dealing with Qiqi. At first, he attempted to have her stay at the Pharmacy and rest, but Qiqi was always resolute and could not be dissuaded from harvesting materials, saying: “My responsibility.” Helpless to stop her, Baizhu would personally go out to find her each and every time, and remind her of the fact she lived with him at Bubu Pharmacy over and over and over and…
With a memory like what Qiqi sported then, remembering anyone’s full name was beyond the realm of possibility. So for a long time, the names “Baizhu” and “Changsheng” were simply replaced with “that person” and “that snake.”
Ever one to prescribe just the right medicine for the disease, Baizhu prepared a notebook for Qiqi to write in and review whenever she had time. Finally, there came a morning when Qiqi saw Baizhu and did not cock her head and ask who he was, but said:
“Good, morning. Bai… Bai…”
Changsheng was ecstatic, and immediately extended her body outward, even more excited than Baizhu:
“Yes, yes, Bai-what now? And how about me? Don’t forget about me—”
“Mr. Bai.” Qiqi answered earnestly. “And, long… long, snake.”
“—Outrageous! My name isn’t ‘long snake’—”
“Remembering things is like curing an illness. One cannot be too greedy for progress, but be satisfied with gradual improvement.” Baizhu smiled slightly and nodded, as though having accepted the name “Mr. Bai.” In the days that followed, the phrases “Mr. Bai said” and “Mr. Bai won’t allow it” were never far from her lips, and the endless stream of customers asking after medicine soon brought the name “Mr. Bai” out of Bubu Pharmacy to every corner of Liyue Harbor.
Qiqi’s notebook has been filled to bursting and then some, and today she no longer needs to consult it before recalling Baizhu and Changsheng’s names.
But “Mr. Bai” had already found its home in the hearts of some, and it was too late to change it.
Leave a Reply