At this point, Paimon finally noticed that Ono Yoko was actually being supported by Yin Kong, limping with every step.
After helping the popular idol sit on the sofa, Yin Kong immediately said, "Miss Yoko, you've really suffered today. Let me treat the injury on your foot first."
Ono Yoko nodded slightly. Though she looked a little shy, she still said, "All right. Sorry to trouble you."
Yin Kong smiled and shook his head. "You're being far too formal, Miss Yoko. This is for the plan too. How could I possibly find it troublesome?"
As they spoke, Ono Yoko had already carefully removed her shoes and socks.
Paimon immediately exclaimed, "Wow, it's swollen so badly!"
Ono Yoko's feet should originally have been fair, slender, delicate, and lovely.
Unfortunately, just as Paimon had said, her ankle was now badly swollen, utterly ruining that beauty.
Clearly, her sprain was much more serious than expected. On top of that, it had gone untreated for so long, naturally making it worse.
Fortunately, Yin Kong had come prepared. He immediately took a [Mushroom Chicken Skewers] from his backpack.
"This is—"
Looking at the fragrant grilled skewer that had suddenly appeared in Yin Kong's hand, Ono Yoko could not help but freeze for a moment.
She was no longer shocked by Yin Kong's ability to produce food out of thin air.
But weren't they treating her injury? Why had he suddenly taken out food?
And was this really the time to eat?
Grrumble~~
However, hearing the loud protest from her stomach, the popular idol's face immediately reddened.
After rushing around all afternoon, she had indeed been starving for quite some time.
Now that the aroma of the [Mushroom Chicken Skewers] had tempted her, how could she possibly hold herself back?
Seeing Ono Yoko's adorably mortified expression, as though she wanted to bury her head in the sofa, Yin Kong chuckled and explained, "Give it a try. It should help with your injury."
Only after hearing Yin Kong's voice did the idol raise her head.
Although she did not understand, she still curiously accepted the [Mushroom Chicken Skewers] and took a light bite—
Ono Yoko's eyes lit up.
This was far too delicious?!
She had attended plenty of high-end banquets and sampled the dishes of countless famous chefs, so her standards were naturally high.
Yet this grilled skewer was even more delicious than every delicacy she had ever eaten. It was simply unbelievable.
By the time Ono Yoko came back to her senses, the [Mushroom Chicken Skewers] in her hand had been reduced to nothing but a bare wooden skewer.
"How was it?"
Only when she heard Yin Kong's question did the idol snap out of it. She let out an adorable whimper, her face as red as a ripe apple.
This was so embarrassing. She had to have been starving out of her mind—otherwise, how could she have lost control like that?
Seeing this, Paimon asked in confusion, "Huh? Why is your face so red, Miss Yoko? Was the [Mushroom Chicken Skewers] too spicy? No, that can't be right. I clearly remember that [Mushroom Chicken Skewers] don't need chili peppers."
Seeing that Miss Yoko was practically looking for a crack in the ground to crawl into, Yin Kong shook his head with an amused smile before turning serious. "It's nothing. This should be a normal reaction. Miss Yoko, does your foot still hurt?"
Hearing Yin Kong's calm, steady voice, Ono Yoko finally managed to rein in her embarrassed thoughts, though she still did not dare look him in the eye.
Following Yin Kong's words, she tried gently moving her left foot. The instant she did, she sucked in a sharp breath from the pain.
Seeing Ono Yoko frowning in pain, with the redness and swelling around her ankle showing no signs of fading, Yin Kong frowned as well.
By his calculations, a healthy ordinary adult like Ono Yoko should only have around three hundred to five hundred HP.
A delicious [Mushroom Chicken Skewers] could restore one-tenth of a character's HP, plus an additional twelve hundred HP.
Theoretically, even if Ono Yoko had only one breath left, she should have been instantly full of life after eating the [Mushroom Chicken Skewers].
Could it be that these HP-restoring dishes only worked on him?
Or perhaps the dishes Yin Kong made through the system were not as miraculous as he had imagined?
Maybe the dishes themselves had no HP-restoring effect at all. Perhaps only the Traveler possessed the ability to recover HP by eating?
After all, even in Teyvat, it did not seem possible for a fried egg to bring someone back from the dead.
If that was the case, then this situation was rather awkward.
Whether before or after transmigrating, he had never learned how to treat someone's sprained ankle.
He had confidently declared that he would treat her injury, only to end up helpless? No way!
However, while Yin Kong was silent, Paimon finally could not help protesting, "Wait! Yin Kong, why is Miss Yoko the only one getting [Mushroom Chicken Skewers]? My stomach has been flat from hunger for ages too, okay? If you don't believe me, listen!"
Sure enough, Yin Kong and Ono Yoko soon heard cute rumbling sounds coming from Paimon's little belly.
With a smile, Yin Kong took out a fragrant [Fisherman's Toast] and waved it in front of Paimon. "Don't worry. How could I possibly leave you out?"
"Hmph, that's more like it."
Seeing Paimon's haughty little expression, Yin Kong could more or less guess that she was probably still heartbroken over the little fortune she had hidden in her shoe soles.
After all, that had been a full three hundred thousand Mora—every bit of the little fellow's private savings.
On the other side, Ono Yoko finally could not help laughing at Paimon's adorable behavior, and the shame in her heart quickly faded away.
Please help me, Mr. Zhongli!
As for Yin Kong, the instant he finished comforting little Paimon, he immediately called out to the respected old gentleman Zhongli in his heart.
"Treating bruises and sprains?"
Sure enough, the beloved Geo Archon never disappointed him.
After hearing Yin Kong's question, Zhongli thought for only a second before giving him a set of massage techniques for loosening tendons, setting bones, promoting circulation, and dispersing bruising.
What surprised Yin Kong was that the technique was very simple and easy to understand.
It was so simple that even Paimon could probably learn it with ease.
Once he was certain that he had grasped the basics, Yin Kong raised his head again and looked at Miss Yoko, who seemed lost in thought. "Miss Yoko, I'm going to begin treatment. It might hurt a little, so please bear with it."
Yoko nodded and said, "It's fine. Please go ahead. I can endure a little pain."
M's Big Hands (Not)
The technique Zhongli had taught him actually required Elemental Power or inner force to achieve the best results.
Unfortunately, Yin Kong had not yet mastered that kind of power. He could only take the brute-force route for now, which meant first figuring out the misalignment of the bones, as well as the distribution of the tendons and key acupoints.
However, Ono Yoko felt as though Yin Kong's palm carried an unusual warmth that burned all the way from her foot to her chest, then spread to her face.
Her face burned, and her heartbeat quickened.
"Here it comes."
What was coming?
While Ono Yoko was still dazed, Yin Kong's previously gentle movements suddenly changed—
Yin Kong sharply twisted the popular idol's ankle joint. Intense pain instantly consumed nearly all her thoughts, scattering every trace of her earlier tenderness.
And that was only the beginning. In Yin Kong's hands, her foot seemed to have become a lump of clay, kneaded and molded at will.
But this was, after all, a tendon-loosening and bone-setting technique personally taught by the Geo Archon.
Ono Yoko soon discovered that although the initial pain had been unbearable, once she gritted her teeth and endured it, it turned into a strange sensation that was both painful and pleasurable.
"Wow, Traveler, when did you learn how to do that?"
Watching Ono Yoko continuously cry out in pain as Yin Kong kneaded her foot, Paimon looked utterly astonished.
Just as Yin Kong was about to answer, his phone rang.
He paused his movements, took out his phone, and discovered in surprise that the caller was actually Takagi Wataru. "Officer Takagi, has there been new progress in the case?"
Takagi's tone was somewhat hesitant. "N-No, Yin Kong, you misunderstood. I'm not calling about the case. I... I just wanted to ask you about something..."
It was not related to the case?
Yin Kong was even more confused. He held the phone between his shoulder and ear and resumed what he was doing with his hands. "What is it? Just say it."
Takagi hesitated for a moment before quietly saying, "It's not anything major. I just wanted to ask whether there's any way to deal with the demon called Painted Skin that you mentioned during the day... Huh? Why do I think I can hear Miss Yoko's voice? It sounds kind of strange too?"
Yin Kong immediately understood. It seemed that his words during the day had truly frightened Takagi. He casually explained, "It's nothing. I'm treating the injury on her foot."
Takagi continued, "I see. In the legends from your side, are there things like protective charms or talismans? I want to get one for myself and Officer Sato..."
Hearing Takagi's awkward, hesitant words, Yin Kong raised an eyebrow. He had not expected this blockhead to finally get a clue today.
Still, he had only casually mentioned the Painted Skin story. Though this world also had tales like Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio, Takagi would most likely have a hard time finding such a thing.
After thinking briefly, Yin Kong said, "I understand. But I don't really know much about exorcising evil...
"If I had to say something, I have a few Imperial Coins here. They're said to carry a god's blessing and can turn misfortune into fortune. If you don't mind, I can give you two."
"Really? Then I'd be grateful."
Takagi was naturally overjoyed, but he soon asked in confusion, "But is Miss Yoko really all right? Her voice sounds like she's—Ow, ow, ow! Officer Sato, why did you suddenly hit me?"
"Takagi, meddling in other people's business will get you kicked by a horse. Got it?"
Sato glared at her subordinate in frustration, then snatched the phone from his hand. "Ignore this idiot, Yin Kong."
Hearing Sato's voice, Yin Kong could not help laughing.
He had thought that this blockhead had finally figured things out. Now it seemed that Sato Miwako was the one who had gotten scared, but had been too embarrassed to ask him herself, so she had called in Takagi's name.
Still, it was best not to expose someone when you saw through them. Yin Kong casually said, "It's nothing. Just come to Cunning Rabbit House and pick them up whenever you have time."
"Thanks. I'll treat you to a meal when I get the chance. I won't disturb you two anymore. Bye."
Amid Takagi's aggrieved voice, Sato Miwako decisively hung up.
Yin Kong shook his head and turned his attention back to the treatment.
About five minutes later, he released her foot and nodded in satisfaction at the ankle, whose swelling had mostly gone down.
Before you continue