求方 The Formula for a Miracle

毒与药的界限已经模糊，生与死的边界也在动摇…问世间何处能求万全之方？ The boundary between medicine and poison seems to have blurred, as has the line between life and death... Where can one find a truly perfect remedy, or does it exist

返回轻策庄西郊 Return to the west of Qingce Village

白术：……

Baizhu：...

嘉良：唔…这种感觉…

Jialiang：Ugh... That strange feeling is back...

嘉良：跟那天迷路的时候一样…好像身体里有什么东西，要带我去什么地方…

Jialiang：It's just like the day I went missing... It's as if something inside me is trying to guide me somewhere...

白术：「本体」的影响越来越强烈了，究竟是因为距离变近，还是泄露更严重了…

Baizhu：The mother lode's influence is growing stronger... But is it because we're getting closer to the source, or because the leakage of Chi blood is growing more severe?

白术：嘉良，你能感觉到具体的方向吗？

Baizhu：Jialiang, can you sense which direction the source is in?

嘉良：应该是…这边！

Jialiang：I think it's... this way!

跟随嘉良 Follow Jialiang

嘉良：嗯…应该是这个方向。

Jialiang：Yes... I'm sure of it.

嘉良：…心脏，在隐隐作痛…方向没错。

Jialiang：...I feel a dull ache in my heart... This must be the way.

嘉良：这个地方…我好像来过。

Jialiang：This place feels familiar... I think I've been here before.

与嘉良等人对话 Talk to Jialiang and the others

白术：此地…似乎有不祥的气息，连我也能感觉到了。

Baizhu：Hmm... There is an inauspicious presence here. Even I can sense it.

嘉良：我对这里，有点印象…呃…！

Jialiang：I think I remember this place... Ugh!

派蒙：嘉良！你还好吧？要不然，你先在这里休息，我们下去找找？

Paimon：Jialiang! Are you okay? Maybe you should rest here while we continue the search?

嘉良：不行…江蓠她，一定还在等我…

Jialiang：No... I have to keep going. Jiangli is still waiting for me...

嘉良：呼…快点出发吧！

Jialiang：Phew... Then let's hurry!

前往地下 Head to the underground space

与白术等人对话 Talk to Baizhu and the others

派蒙：哇…好阴森的感觉，不知道前面会有什么…

Paimon：Uhhh... This place gives Paimon the creeps. Who knows what we're gonna find up ahead...

长生：这里的开凿痕迹很粗糙，年代也有些久远，看着像是个盗洞。

Changsheng：The digging marks here appear amateur, and rather old... I suspect it is a thieves' tunnel.

派蒙：盗洞？说起来，这附近确实有关于宝藏的传说，会不会是盗宝团的人挖的？

Paimon：A thieves' tunnel? Hmm, Paimon has heard rumors about treasure around these parts before... Maybe it was the Treasure Hoarders that dug this tunnel?

白术：看四处遗落的工具，确实有这可能。

Baizhu：Judging by the tools they left behind, it's certainly a possibility.

白术：…不过他们为什么连工具也不收拾，就将这里荒废了呢？

Baizhu：...But why did they abandon this place without even stopping to pack up their tools?

嘉良：…我想起来了，她带我来过这里，说是在洞里发现了救我的方子…

Jialiang：...I remember now. She took me here once and told me that she'd found a way to save me in this cave...

嘉良：但是…但是她说，这种方法会让我…可恶，怎么想不起来了！可恶…！

Jialiang：But she... She said that the method would cause me to... Ugh, curses, why can't I remember what she said? Argh!

白术：不必勉强自己，先往前探索吧。

Baizhu：Easy, Jialiang. Come on, let's keep going.

向更深处探索 Proceed deeper

与白术等人对话 Talk to Baizhu and the others

派蒙：哇，这里居然还有香炉？那伙盗宝团，还挺懂享受的嘛。

Paimon：Whoa, there's a censer here... Those treasure hoarders sure made themselves at home...

【选项1】

旅行者：（香炉表面没有灰尘…）

Traveler: (I don't see any dust on the censer's surface...)

【选项2】

旅行者：（内壁有新燃的痕迹…）

Traveler: (The burn marks on the inside are still fresh...)

旅行者：…这应该不是盗宝团留下的。

Traveler：...I don't think this was left here by the Treasure Hoarders.

白术：…香炉中点的，似乎是驱逐魔物用的熏香。

Baizhu：...I believe this censer was used to burn a monster-repelling incense.

派蒙：驱逐魔物？可我们刚刚不还遇到了一群吗？

Paimon：A monster-repelling incense? You sure? 'Cause we did run into that group of monsters just now.

白术：熏香已经燃尽多日。而方才遇到的魔物，恐怕，是被更深处的「某物」吸引而至的。

Baizhu：The incense was burned several days ago. If I had to guess, the monsters we fought just now were enticed here by some entity deeper inside the cave.

白术：想必当初开凿此洞的盗宝团，也是在深处与「它」不期而遇，才匆匆弃洞逃亡。

Baizhu：No doubt an encounter with the very same entity was what prompted the Treasure Hoarders to flee and abandon their designs on this cave.

白术：后来师姐又发现了这里，将「它」视作医治嘉良的救命稻草…

Baizhu：After them, Jiangli was the next person to discover this place, and what lies inside... But to her, it presented an opportunity to save Jialiang's life, albeit as a last resort...

嘉良：对了…这香炉…这香炉是江蓠的东西！…没错，就是在这里！

Jialiang：That's right... This censer — it belongs to Jiangli! Yes, this was the place!

嘉良：就是在这里…我让江蓠…是我让她…对我下了…咳！咳咳！

Jialiang：This is where... I told Jiangli to give me the poison... cough cough

派蒙：——嘉良！

Paimon：Jialiang!

嘉良：我没事…继续往下吧。我能感觉到，她…就在下面等我。

Jialiang：I'm fine... Let's keep going. I can feel it, s—she... is right below us... waiting for me.

向更深处探索 Proceed deeper

嘉良：我能感觉到…已经很近了…

Jialiang：I can feel it... We're getting close...

嘉良：就是在这前面，我和她立下了约定…呃…

Jialiang：We're almost there... It's right up ahead, the place where we made a pact together to... Ugh...

长生：……

Changsheng：...

嘉良：……

Jialiang：...

与白术等人对话 Talk to Baizhu and the others

嘉良：啊——江蓠！

Jialiang：Ah! Jiangli!

派蒙：喂，小心！她身边有魔物！

Paimon：Look out! There's a monster next to her!

白术：是被魔神残渣吸引来的吗…旅行者，背后就交给你了！

Baizhu：The god remains must have lured them here... Watch my back!

你们一同击退了魔物。

You defeated the monsters together.

嘉良：白先生，怎么样？江蓠她…

Jialiang：Dr. Baizhu, how serious is it? Is she...?

白术：还有脉象，但绝对谈不上乐观。

Baizhu：I can still feel a pulse, but her condition is quite grave.

白术：与你身上的毒素一样，盘踞此地的魔神残渣，已经侵蚀了她的神志…

Baizhu：The god remains here are encroaching on her cognition, much as the poison in your system did to you.

白术：若不尽快祛除，即使暂留一命，恐怕…也再难醒觉。

Baizhu：If we don't eliminate it soon, then even if we save her life... I fear that she may never wake up again.

派蒙：那我们还等什么？赶快把魔神残渣除掉吧！

Paimon：Then what are we waiting for? Let's destroy the remains right away!

长生：…事情没有那么简单，还记得白术在上面说过的话吗？

Changsheng：...It's not as simple as that. Don't you remember what Baizhu said?

长生：嘉良身上的毒，跟这里的魔神残渣遥相联系。

Changsheng：The poison within Jialiang's body is inextricably linked to the god remains here.

长生：…一旦祛除了魔神残渣，他身上的毒，也会一并失效。

Changsheng：...If the source is purged, the poison in his system will stop having any effect.

派蒙：唔…嘉良身上的毒，不是用来压制心病的吗？那要是失效的话…

Paimon：Ah... And the poison within Jialiang's body is keeping his heart condition under control. So, if it stops working...

派蒙：欸！难不成——

Paimon：Oh no! Are you saying...

白术：不错，如果祛除此地的魔神残渣，你的命数…也就到了尽头。

Baizhu：Indeed. If the god remains here are purged... then your life will come to an end.

嘉良：…果然，会这样吗…

Jialiang：...sigh I wondered when this day might come...

派蒙：等等！我们忙活这么久，不就是为了给嘉良治病吗！怎么能…怎么能这样！

Paimon：Wait, wait, wait! But we've all been working our butts off to save Jialiang's life! After all that... we can't just give up on him!

派蒙：白术你见多识广，一定还有别的办法…对吧！

Paimon：Baizhu, you're a great doctor, surely you've gotta know of some other way we can save him... right?

白术：…或者，你可以继续服用此毒，多争取一点时间。师姐的情况…我们另外再想办法。

Baizhu：...You could continue to take the poison, which would buy you some time. As for Jiangli... Maybe if we put our heads together, we can think of something.

长生：看江蓠的样子，恐怕一直到昏迷前，都一心在为你炼药吧——或许她也希望你这么做？

Changsheng：It appears to me that she was striving to concoct your medicine for you, right up until the moment when she lost consciousness... Maybe it's her greatest wish that you will continue to take it, and live...

嘉良：…白先生，请你如实告诉我，江蓠她…还能撑多久？

Jialiang：Dr. Baizhu, give it to me straight. ...How long does Jiangli have?

白术：魔神残渣已经侵入肺腑，正常来说，不足三日，但如果我以秘法施救…

Baizhu：The god remains have reached her internal organs. Under ordinary circumstances, I would give her less than three days. But if I were to treat her using a secret art...

【选项1】

旅行者：……！

Traveler: ...!

【选项2】

旅行者：你难道又想…

Traveler: You can't be thinking about that again...

嘉良：…可那又有什么意义呢？

Jialiang：...But what would be the point of that?

嘉良：白先生，来之前，已经有人向我说过魔神残渣的危害。

Jialiang：Dr. Baizhu... I'm all too aware of the dangers of god remains. You are not the first to mention it to me.

嘉良：如果继续靠这种东西活着，不仅江蓠要继续冒着危险给我炼药，将来要是失控，还会殃及周围，伤到江蓠跟阿雩…

Jialiang：If I continue to sustain my own life using this wretched substance, not only would Jiangli have to keep risking her life to make my medicine for me, but I would have to live with the looming threat of these remains breaking out and wreaking havoc not just upon me, but my entire family...

嘉良：…反正我这条命，十几年前就该交代了。能活到现在，看见阿雩长大，都算是岩王爷保佑！

Jialiang：...I know for a fact that I should have died over a decade ago. The fact that I've been around to see Ayu grow up is already a great blessing from Rex Lapis.

嘉良：如果最后能换江蓠回来…我就算是…就算是…

Jialiang：If my choice can bring Jiangli back... then even if I... even if I... die...

派蒙：嘉良…

Paimon：Jialiang...

嘉良：…哈，果然人该走的时候没走，就越来越贪心了啊。

Jialiang：...Hah, after cheating death for so long, it seems I've grown somewhat addicted to life.

嘉良：白先生、旅行者，请再给我一点时间，让我…多看江蓠一眼吧，一眼就够了。

Jialiang：Traveler, Dr. Baizhu... Could I have another minute with my wife? I just want to have... one final moment together. Just a moment, that's all.

白术：…好。

Baizhu：...Of course.

嘉良：谢谢…抱歉，各位的恩情…得来世再报了。

Jialiang：Thank you, everyone. And I'm sorry that... I won't be able to repay your kindness in this life.

派蒙：嘉良他…白术、长生，真的连你们也没有办法了吗？

Paimon：sniff Jialiang... Baizhu, Changsheng, is there really nothing else you can do?

白术：寻常手段，只怕师姐这些年里都已试遍了。别的方法，我也没有几成把握…

Baizhu：I am sure that over the years, Jiangli will have tried all the conventional methods known to humankind. As for less-conventional methods, I have little expertise besides Changsheng's secret art...

长生：生老病死，本就是凡人逃不开的宿命。若是轻易能救，江蓠也不必向非人之物伸手了。

Changsheng：Mortals are fated to grow old and pass on when their natural lifespan runs out. If it were so easy to combat the natural processes of aging and death, Jiangli would not have had to resort to unnatural methods.

派蒙：怎么会…江蓠好不容易才救了嘉良，嘉良又要牺牲自己去救江蓠…这、这到底有什么意义啊！

Paimon：What a crazy situation... Jiangli risked it all to save Jialiang's life, and now, Jialiang has to sacrifice himself to save Jiangli... Wh—What's the point of it all?

【选项1】

旅行者：眼下我们唯一能做的…

Traveler: All we can do right now...

【选项2】

旅行者：就是见证嘉良的觉悟。

Traveler: Is honor Jialiang's decision and bear witness.

白术：我还是习惯不了生离死别…不管见过多少次。

Baizhu：I've seen many final farewells in my time... but I can never get used to it.

长生：凡人之间终有一别，死得其所，或许也是个不错的落幕？

Changsheng：In the human realm, all things must come to an end... Is it not a fitting end to die for a worthy cause?

长生：…至少你的师父他们，都是这么想的。

Changsheng：...At least, that's what generations of masters before you have always believed.

白术：他们的选择确实令人动容，可那些「死得其所」的生命…

Baizhu：The path they chose was indeed a heroic one. But when I think of those who would willingly sacrifice themselves for others...

白术：…往往，才是最不该逝去的生命啊。

Baizhu：...I cannot help but think that theirs are the lives least deserving of death.

嘉良：…当初我们说好，只要阿雩长大到能帮你采药，就让我上路…

Jialiang：...When all this began, we agreed that once Ayu was old enough to help you gather herbs, it would be time for me to go...

嘉良：你看现在，他都能带我上璃月港看病了，还去帮你挂了委托…

Jialiang：If you could only see him now... He took me all the way to Liyue Harbor to see the doctor, and he even got the Adventurers' Guild to search for you...

嘉良：…就算我不在，你们俩，也能好好活啦。

Jialiang：...So I know that you'll both be okay without me.

嘉良：……！

Jialiang：...!

长生：……

Changsheng：...

嘉良：已经不需要更多时间了，请你们…送我上路吧。

Jialiang：I've said my goodbyes. My time has come... Do what you must.

白术：嗯。

Baizhu：As you wish.

随着「本体」的消散，一度被毒物压制的病痛与记忆一同涌入嘉良的心中…

As the source is dispelled, the suppressed pain of Jialiang's illness and memories flood into his mind...

嘉良：…唔…呃啊…

Jialiang：...Ugh...Arghhh...

江蓠：…你的心智、记忆都会被它侵蚀…到最后，就跟死了没有两样。

Jiangli：...It will eat away at both your cognition and your memories... In the end, you'll become little more than a shadow of your true self...

嘉良：…用吧，至少…我还能守着你们，看着阿雩长大。

Jialiang：...I'll take it. At the very least... It will allow me to stay with you, and watch Ayu grow up.

嘉良：…哈…哈！

Jialiang：...pained breathing...

阿雩：…妈！爹的样子不太对…

Ayu：...Mom! Something's really wrong with Dad...

江蓠：…没事的，没事的，妈妈这就去采药。我们一家人，谁都不会有事…

Jiangli：...Don't fret, Ayu. I will gather some medicinal herbs right away. I promise you, nothing will happen to our family...

嘉良：哈…都到这时候了，还想这些做什么…

Jialiang：groans... Why would these memories come to mind now...

江蓠：……！

Jiangli：...!

嘉良：人啊，真是越活越贪心…

Jialiang：sigh ...The longer we live, the tighter we cling to what we have...

江蓠：——！——！

Jiangli：...! ...!

嘉良：真想…再听听你的声音啊。

Jialiang：Oh, how I would love... to hear... to hear your voice one last time...

返回不卜庐 Return to Bubu Pharmacy

黑暗中响起模糊的声音…

A faint voice comes forth from the dark...

？？？：…良…嘉良…！

???：...Jialiang... Jialiang!

江蓠：——嘉良！嘉良！

Jiangli：Jialiang! Jialiang!

阿雩：——爹！你醒了吗？

Ayu：Dad! Are you awake?

嘉良：唔…江蓠…阿雩？

Jialiang：Uh... Jiangli... Ayu?

嘉良：…我不是…嗯？这些东西是…？

Jialiang：...Didn't I... Hm? What are... these?

嘉良在不卜庐内室醒转，身上贴满了符箓…

Jialiang wakes up in the back room of Bubu Pharmacy to find his body covered in sigils...

长生：——死而复生的感觉如何呀？

Changsheng：How does it feel to come back to life?

白术：若有什么不适或者异样…可否详细说与我听听？

Baizhu：Do you feel strange or different in any way? If so, could you describe it to me in detail?

嘉良：白先生！我…我不是应该…

Jialiang：Dr. Baizhu! I... I thought that I was going to...

白术：呵呵，你确实已经死过一回了。如今的你，比起人类，更接近一具僵尸。

Baizhu：Hehe, die? You did indeed. As things stand now, you're more akin to a zombie than a human.

嘉良：…僵尸？

Jialiang：...I'm a zombie?

白术：不错，在我们出发之前，我托七七准备了一帖…「不死之药」，将你的身体维系于生死的狭缝间。

Baizhu：That's right. Before we set off, I asked Qiqi to prepare an... Elixir of Immortality. With its help, you have been suspended in the space between life and death.

白术：虽然距离真正的仙家之术还差得远，估计只能为你延续一点寿命。

Baizhu：Of course, this is but a crude imitation of an adeptus art. I don't expect it to extend your life indefinitely.

白术：至于具体是几日、几月还是几年…我也想借此机会，再观察一下。

Baizhu：Whether it will keep you alive for a few days, a few months, or a few years... I am as interested as you to find out.

白术：但无论时间多久，应该都够你好好道完别，再安心上路了——不知胡堂主，可还接受这样的安排？

Baizhu：But however long you have left, I believe it should be more than sufficient time for you to say your final goodbyes before departing the world in peace. ...I hope that Director Hu finds this arrangement to be a satisfactory one?

胡桃：「不死之药」…你究竟在背地里鼓捣了多久？居然连这种东西都给炼出来了？

Hu Tao：An "Elixir of Immortality"? How'd you cook that up? Ugh, leave it to you to work on something like that behind my back...

白术：名不副实的半成品罢了，如果不是嘉良的意志坚定，恐怕也发挥不了几分效用。

Baizhu：It's a work in progress that hardly lives up to its name. And it would have had no effect were it not for Jialiang's iron will.

白术：说到底，我只是一名医师而已，不懂那么多生死循环、阴阳守常的大道理。

Baizhu：In the end, I am merely a doctor. I understand very little of the great principles governing life and death, and the perpetual cycle of yin and yang.

白术：只知道眼前既然有一条值得拯救的生命，就没有理由不去拯救。

Baizhu：All I know is that if I'm presented with a life that deserves to be saved, I will do everything in my power to save them.

白术：——何况在我们出发之前，不就是胡堂主，让嘉良来帮忙引路的吗？

Baizhu：And even this would have counted for nothing without Director Hu's assistance... After all, did you not tell Jialiang to show us the way before we set off for Qingce Village?

胡桃：——唔，果然暴露了吗。

Hu Tao：Oops, aaaand I'm busted.

白术：若非胡堂主特意提点，我们后来恐怕也不能及时找到师姐。

Baizhu：Without Director Hu nudging things in the right direction, we may not have found Jiangli in time.

【选项1】

旅行者：总觉得那时候还有人在…

Traveler: I KNEW someone was listening in on that conversation...

【选项2】

旅行者：原来是胡桃也在边上。

Traveler: So it was Hu Tao!

胡桃：难怪当时没提不死药的事，居然连那种时候都还在提防我…

Hu Tao：No wonder he didn't mention the elixir back then. Hmph, I thought he was being frank and transparent with me for once, but apparently not...

嘉良：呃…哈哈，胡堂主还嘱咐我不要随便乱说，结果，还是瞒不过白先生啊。

Jialiang：Ahem... Hehe, Director Hu told me to keep her suggestion a secret. But it seems nothing escapes Dr. Baizhu's attention.

长生：哼哼，可不要小瞧了我的鼻子啊！

Changsheng：Hehehe, never underestimate a serpent's sense of smell!

胡桃：…我不过是看嘉良一直记挂着失踪的家人，想让他了却心愿，尽早上路而已，免得回头徘徊不去，还得费心超度…

Hu Tao：...All I wanted was to help Jialiang find his missing wife as soon as possible, so that he could be on his way to the afterlife without any unfulfilled wishes making the journey more difficult than it needs to be...

胡桃：——就是没想到这单生意，最后还是被不卜庐截了胡！算了算了，就当作订单延期吧。

Hu Tao：Leave it to Bubu Pharmacy to snatch the perfect opportunity right outta my hands at the last hurdle! Never mind, I'll just have to put it down in the books as a deferred consideration.

胡桃：唉，原本有个七七就已经够头疼了，现在居然又多了一个…早知道一开始就把他拉去往生堂该多好…

Hu Tao：sigh One Qiqi was enough of a conundrum, the last thing I need's another one... If I'd known this was coming, I'd have whisked him off to the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor the moment I found him...

阿雩：我…我一定会成为比白先生和妈更好的药师，再治好老爹的！你…别再打我爹的主意了！

Ayu：Y—You stay away from my dad! When I grow up, I'm gonna become an even better doctor than Mom and Baizhu, and cure Dad for good!

嘉良：……

Jialiang：...

胡桃：哦？想跟往生堂抢生意的人，两个云来海都装不下，那你可得多多努力咯。

Hu Tao：Ooh, is that right? Well, you wouldn't be the first person who's tried to put Wangsheng Funeral Parlor out of business. If you're serious about it, you'll have your work cut out for you.

胡桃：旅行者，派蒙——我们改日再会啦！

Hu Tao：Traveler, Paimon, I'll catch you all another time!

七七：呼…终于，走了吗…

Qiqi：Phew... is she finally gone?

派蒙：总算告一段落了呢！为了难得的重聚，是不是该做点什么…

Paimon：All's well that ends well! If you ask Paimon, we should probably do something to celebrate this hard-earned family reunion...

【选项1】

旅行者：既然是派蒙提的…

Traveler: Such as...?

【选项2】

旅行者：我大概能猜到是什么。

Traveler: Paimon's idea of a celebration can only mean one thing...

派蒙：——嘿嘿，这种时候，就要做顿好吃的来庆祝一下！

Paimon：Hehe, at times like this, a grand celebratory feast is in order!

嘉良：哈哈，上次在饭桌上跟江蓠阿雩聊天，都好像是上辈子的事了。

Jialiang：Haha, it feels like it was a whole lifetime ago when I last talked with Jiangli and Ayu around the dinner table.

【选项1】

旅行者：来之不易的一餐呢。

Traveler: This was a hard-won meal.

【选项2】

旅行者：我也久违地露一手吧。

Traveler: Maybe I'll whip something up, too. It's been a while.

派蒙：哦哦——听上去很值得期待呢！

Paimon：Yaaay! Paimon can't wait!

派蒙：首先，得去集市上选最新鲜的食材——出发出发！

Paimon：Alright, first things first, off to the market for some fresh ingredients! Let's goooo~!

阿雩：大哥哥/大姐姐！我、我也来帮忙！

Ayu：Wait up! I'll come too!

江蓠：白术，这次…真是多谢你了。

Jiangli：Baizhu... Thank you so, so much for everything you've done for us.

白术：师姐哪里的话，我不过是做了该做的事而已。

Baizhu：Don't mention it, Jiangli. I was just doing my duty.

江蓠：该做的事吗…白术、长生，要是方便的话，我们到外面叙叙旧吧。

Jiangli：Just your duty, huh... Baizhu, Changsheng, would you mind if we took this conversation outside?

跟随江蓠 Follow Jiangli

江蓠：自从谷中一别，不知不觉，都已经过去这么久了啊。

Jiangli：Time flies... It's been so long since we bade each other farewell in Chenyu Vale.

江蓠：长生还是老样子，一点儿都没变。

Jiangli：Changsheng, you're the same as ever. You haven't changed one bit!

长生：你倒是变了不少呀。

Changsheng：You, on the other hand, have changed a lot.

江蓠：…是啊，当年的我，怎么都想不到，会有这么一天。

Jiangli：...You're right. My younger self would have never imagined that things would one day turn out this way.

江蓠：…也想不到，连白术你也会变成这样。

Jiangli：...Or that you'd turn out this way, Baizhu.

与江蓠对话 Talk to Jiangli

江蓠：…我已看过你的不死药，其中药理，与我所炼之毒，有几分相似。

Jiangli：...I've taken a look at your Elixir of Immortality. It's not altogether dissimilar from the poison I concocted in terms of the way it functions.

白术：…以毒素维系生前的状态，的确是个绝妙的构思。师姐不会是要怪我擅自效仿了吧？

Baizhu：...I have to say, Jiangli, it was a stroke of genius to use poison to maintain life. I hope you're not too upset at me for... copying your methods?

江蓠：怎么会，以你的资质，即便没有先例，假以时日，也能自行推演出来吧。

Jiangli：No, not at all. With your intellect, even if you'd never seen my poison, I believe you would have eventually arrived at the same approach.

江蓠：但从你与嘉良相遇至今，不过区区数日，就能将这毒研究得如此透彻…

Jiangli：But I'm still impressed by how quickly you managed to gain such a thorough understanding of it. Jialiang's still only been in your care for a few days.

江蓠：甚至还借它改进了原有的药方——这就不是资质可以解释的了。

Jiangli：Not just that — you even managed to improve upon the original formula. That cannot be explained by intellect alone...

江蓠：白术，你如实告诉我，你…可是亲自试过毒了？

Jiangli：Baizhu, be honest with me... Did you try out some of the poison on yourself?

长生：哈，我就说你藏不了多久。

Changsheng：Hah! Told you the truth would surface sooner or later.

江蓠：长生的契约，能转移的…恐怕不只是生机吧？

Jiangli：...Life force isn't the only thing that Changsheng's contract lets you transfer between bodies, is it?

白术：…果然还是瞒不过师姐啊。

Baizhu：...Nothing gets past you, Jiangli.

白术：不错，除了生机，长生的秘法，还能转移毒素与疾病。

Baizhu：You are correct. Besides life force, Changsheng's secret art also allows for the transfer of toxins and diseases.

白术：第二次为嘉良治疗时，我就向自己转移了部分毒素，聊以减轻他的负担，也利于深研其毒性…

Baizhu：When I treated Jialiang for the second time, I transferred some of the poison from his body into my own. Not only did this allow me to alleviate the burden on him, but it also gave me an opportunity to study its properties...

白术：不过眼下所有余毒，皆已随魔神残渣而去，师姐也不必再担心了。

Baizhu：There is no need to worry about any long-term consequences to my health, however. Now that the source has been destroyed, any remaining poison in me will have already dissipated.

江蓠：…这也太冒险了。如果那时候没有除掉魔神残渣，就连你自己的身体也——

Jiangli：...But you took such a huge risk. If we hadn't destroyed the gods' remains back there, then even you might have—

江蓠：…哈，我又有什么资格说你呢？

Jiangli：...Hah. What am I saying? I'm in no position to criticize you for this.

江蓠：当年我之所以远离师门、避而不见，就是不想让时日无多的师父继续折损寿命，来医治嘉良。

Jiangli：The reason I left our Master and went into hiding all those years ago was that he was getting old, and I didn't want him using up any more of his own life force to treat my husband.

江蓠：却没想到最后，我冒险炼毒，一样是以命换命。而你以身试毒…一个两个，全走上了师父他们的老路。

Jiangli：But in the end, how were my methods any different? I risked one life to save another. And then you tried the poison on yourself, too... It looks like both of us have ended up going the same way as our master before us.

江蓠：难道这就是我们这一脉的宿命吗？为了救人的执念短寿而终，执着于忤逆生死的奇迹…不可自拔。

Jiangli：Are all disciples of Chenyu Vale destined to turn out this way? To live a short life, having given away our own for the sake of others? To fight relentlessly against the natural course of life and death, whatever the cost? ...Maybe our fate is sealed the moment we decide to study medicine.

白术：…宿命一说，可不该从一名医者口中讲出来啊。

Baizhu：...We are doctors, Jiangli. We ought never say that anyone's fate is sealed.

江蓠：白术，我看得出来，这些年里，你已经用契约向自己转移了许多病与毒，其中有不少已经连我都看不透了…

Jiangli：Baizhu, I can tell that over the years, you've used the contract with Changsheng to transfer many diseases and toxins to yourself. There are so many, that some of them I don't even recognize...

江蓠：你…还可以收手吗？

Jiangli：Can you... still stop before it's too late?

白术：师姐，你是知道的，我们这一脉，个个都是这性格…

Baizhu：I think you know the answer, Jiangli. Every one of us from Chenyu Vale believes in the same thing...

派蒙：喂——开饭啦——

Paimon：Hey! Food's ready!

阿雩：妈！来吃饭啦！

Ayu：Mom! Come and join us!

阿雩：大哥哥/大姐姐教我做了好多菜，说是连爹也能尝出味道！你也来试试吧！

Ayu：Traveler taught me a load of new recipes, and said even dad'll be able to taste them! Come and try them out!

江蓠：好好好，妈这就来…欸，慢点跑！

Jiangli：Yes, darling, mom'll be there in just a second... Hey, slow down!

江蓠：…白术，我知道自己劝不动你，但…还请不要忘了，如果你不在…

Jiangli：...Baizhu, I know I won't be able to convince you, but... please don't forget that, if one day, you're not around anymore...

江蓠：七七、阿桂…所有亲近你的朋友，都会为你伤心的。

Jiangli：Qiqi, Gui, and all the friends who have grown fond of you... they will all miss you dearly.

白术：师姐不必挂心，我自有分寸。

Baizhu：There's no need to worry, Jiangli. I know what I'm doing.

江蓠：唉…但愿如此。

Jiangli：sigh... I can only hope so.

白术：……

Baizhu：...

派蒙：白术…江蓠她刚刚说，你不在了，是什么意思？你、你该不会有事吧？

Paimon：Baizhu... What did Jiangli mean by "not around anymore"? Are you gonna be okay?

旅行者：还有长生之前说的「宿命」…

Traveler：Also, when Changsheng was talking about "fate"...

旅行者：到底是怎么一回事？

Traveler：What did she mean, exactly?

长生：…包括他们的师父在内，我的历代契约者，无不短寿而终——

Changsheng：...Every single mortal I've ever contracted with, including Baizhu and Jiangli's Master, has passed away at a young age.

派蒙：怎——怎么会这样！长生你不是能让人延年益寿的吗！

Paimon：Wait, that doesn't make any sense! You said that the contract with you helps people live longer!

白术：这就是，一个很长、很长的故事了…

Baizhu：sigh ...It is a very long story...

往昔，一位药师与长生签下共生契约，以非人的力量逆转生死，治愈疾疠，自身却因散尽生机英年早逝…

而药师的遗志与长生的契约，则被其弟子继承，继续以秘法治病救人…一代如此，代代如是。

医者当以治病救人为己任，可代代因契约而早逝的医者，又何尝不值得拯救？这份契约于他们而言，究竟是毒是药？

——在临终之际，师父将这一问留给白术；而在师父墓前，白术已给出了他的答案…

A pharmacist once made a symbiotic pact with Changsheng to reverse death and cure harsh diseases with inhuman powers. However, this caused the pharmacist to pass away at a young age after burning up the pharmacist's own life...

The pharmacist's pursuit and the pact with Changsheng were inherited by the pharmacist's disciple. They continued healing the sick and saving lives with the mysterious power, generation after generation.

It is a doctor's job to heal the sick and save lives. However, are the healers bound by the pact and forced down a path to premature death not worthy of being saved? To them, is the pact a life-saving medicine, or a life-ending poison?

—In the last days of Baizhu's master, he left such a question to Baizhu. And now, standing in front of the master's tomb, Baizhu has given his answer...

长生：…继承契约，对心性也有要求。历代契约者，心性皆至纯。

Changsheng：...My contract has strict requirements on the host's natural temperament. All my hosts have been most pure of heart.

白术：然而至善之人得此秘法，却比常人，更容易被这忤逆生死的奇迹吸引。

Baizhu：But when one with an altruistic nature gains access to this art, they are more seduced than the average person by the miracle of overturning the laws of life and death.

白术：即便他们比谁都清楚结果会如何，但面对芸芸众生的悲呼哀鸣，至亲挚友的生老病死，终究还是会动用非人的力量。

Baizhu：Though they know better than anyone else the fate that awaits them, when faced with the sorrows of humanity and the pain of losing their nearest and dearest, they cannot help but reach beyond human means.

白术：…就如扑火的飞蛾，在众生皆苦的长夜中，追寻超脱生死的希望。

Baizhu：...They are like moths that throw themselves into the flame, seeking a glimmer of hope in a dark world filled with pain and suffering.

派蒙：那…白术你岂不是…

Paimon：So... Baizhu, does that mean...

白术：呵呵…至于我，大概就是那只既想追寻光明，又不想被烧着的蛾子了吧？

Baizhu：Heh... I suppose that would make me a moth that yearns for the light, but doesn't want to be burned to a crisp.

白术：长生的秘法，只是转移了病痛，却无法减少世间疾苦——就像嘉良会为师姐的危情慌乱，师姐也会为嘉良的牺牲悲恸。

Baizhu：Changsheng's art can transfer pain and suffering between people, but it cannot reduce the total amount of pain in the world. It's just like we witnessed: either Jialiang feared for Jiangli's life, or Jiangli grieved over Jialiang's sacrifice.

白术：…我尊敬那些为了理想献上生命的师长们，但我并不打算成为他们，也不希望这份契约，继续流传于后人。

Baizhu：I have nothing but the utmost respect for my predecessors who sacrificed their lives for their principles, but I do not wish to join their ranks... nor do I wish to pass on this contract to anyone else in the future.

派蒙：欸…可是，你都往身上转移了那么多病…

Paimon：Huh? But, didn't you already transfer a ton of diseases onto yourself?

白术：——毒是什么？病又是什么？本质上，不都是一种影响人体的方式吗？

Baizhu：What makes a poison, "poison"? And what makes a disease, a "disease"? When it comes down to it, are not both mechanisms that affect the operations of the human body?

白术：如果说不同于「平常」的表现，就能被称之为「病」。那么「不死药」…会不会也是一种「毒」呢？

Baizhu：If disease is defined as deviation from normal functioning, then who knows... perhaps the true Elixir of Immortality could in fact be a kind of poison?

白术：穷究百毒百病，以达不死之境…即便在常人看来有悖天理，但于我而言，这跟先人们遍尝百草，克服百病并无区别。

Baizhu：Many may view the notion of searching for immortality in poisons and illnesses as a flagrant violation of the natural order. But to me, it is no different from the way our ancestors tested the medicinal qualities of herbs by sampling each and every one.

白术：我既不想让后来者继续因契约而短寿，也不想让长生失去契约而逝…那么答案，不就只有一个了吗？

Baizhu：I don't want those who come after me to lose their lives to this contract, nor do I wish for Changsheng to perish from losing her host... This leaves only one solution, doesn't it?

【选项1】

旅行者：不死之药…

Traveler: The Elixir of Immortality...

【选项1】

旅行者：长生不老…

Traveler: You have to become immortal yourself...

白术：不错——我会成为最后一任契约者，让契约的传承，在我身上终结。

Baizhu：Precisely. I will be Changsheng's final host, and the tradition of passing down the contract will end with me.

长生：…真正的不死，就连当年的魔神们都难以企及。既想救人、又想救己，最后连我也想救，可真是太贪心了。

Changsheng：...Even the gods of old struggled to achieve true immortality. First you want to save others, then you want to save yourself. Now you even want to save me... You're getting greedy, Baizhu.

白术：呵，若不贪心，还是凡人吗？

Baizhu：Mmm... but isn't wanting to have it all what makes us human?

白术：…畏惧烛火，却又向往光明，如此自私的蛾子——就只能往月亮上飞了啊。

Baizhu：...For a selfish moth like me, who's afraid of the flame, yet yearns for the light, the only path forward is up towards the moon.

派蒙：欸…我都不知道该说你什么好了。

Paimon：sigh... For once, Paimon just does not know what to say.

阿雩：白先生！大哥哥/大姐姐！你们还在聊什么呢？快来吃饭啦！

Ayu：Dr. Baizhu! Traveler! What are you still chatting about? The food's about to get cold!

七七：还有，长生、派蒙，可以来喝，椰奶…

Qiqi：We also have coconut milk, for Changsheng and Paimon...

派蒙：唔唔…算了，还是吃饭要紧！别的事情，就等吃饱了再想吧！

Paimon：Ummm... Okay fine, let's go grab some food! Paimon has a bunch of burning questions, but they can wait till after we've eaten.

【选项1】

旅行者：你啊…

Traveler: Oh, Paimon...

【选项2】

旅行者：给我留点。

Traveler: Leave some grub for me.

长生：唉，有时候真羡慕派蒙，吃饱喝足，就能常乐知足…

Changsheng：Ah, I do envy Paimon sometimes. Eating her fill is enough to satisfy her body and mind...

白术：呵呵，教我们这些凡人贪恋一生的…

Baizhu：Hehe, true. And yet... although we call them simple pleasures...

白术：…不正是这些，渺小的幸福吗？

Baizhu：Are such things as these not precisely why we mortals cling desperately to the life we have?