Honkai Impact 3rd: Catching the Herrscher of Sentience at the Start

"Wait, why is there another one who looks just like Fu Hua?" Theresa pointed in the direction Fu Shi had disappeared, utterly baffled.

Mei and Bronya shook their heads and said, "We don't know."

"…Otto, what exactly are you planning?" Fu Hua instinctively began to suspect Otto.

"…"

Only Kiana stood silently to the side, watching Fu Lin vanish into the distance.

"Why would the Herrscher of Sentience show up at this time?" Kiana☆ disappeared behind the group, flying toward Fu Lin's direction, her curiosity about the Herrscher of Sentience's presence growing.

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"What happened to you? Feeling weak?" Fu Shi looked at Fu Lin, whose face appeared a bit pale, as if he had overexerted himself.

"....." Hearing Fu Shi's comment, Fu Lin could only stay silent, as he had been the last time when he was left speechless.

"And where did that mark on your back come from? Why is it flashing like that?" Fu Shi went behind Fu Lin and poked at the flashing mark on Fu Lin's back, looking puzzled as she asked.

"A mark? Could it be... Fu Shi, let's find a place where no one's around first." Fu Lin felt panicked and glanced around cautiously.

"Huh? Oh, okay." Fu Shi was somewhat confused but still followed Fu Lin's suggestion and flew toward the wilderness.

"Why the sudden change in direction?" Kiana☆, who was flying behind them, sensed the feedback from the mark and seemed surprised.

...

"This spot should be good, right?" Fu Shi asked Fu Lin, looking down at the untouched forest below.

"Not bad." Fu Lin jumped off the sword sheath he was standing on and gave Fu Shi a thumbs-up.

He then retrieved the spare body he had been compensated with from the system and, following the method provided, slowly transferred his consciousness into the new body.

With the system's help, Fu Lin gradually opened his eyes, looked at his former body in front of him, and decisively stored it in the system space.

"You came all the way here just to switch to such a weak body?" Fu Shi, having witnessed the entire process from above, seemed very displeased with Fu Lin's actions.

"That body has been marked. I'll switch back once I figure out how to remove it," Fu Lin replied helplessly, spreading his hands.

"Besides, I look quite handsome with purple hair too." Fu Lin narcissistically flicked his hair and struck a pose he thought was dashing.

"Hmph, I still think your original self was dashing, charismatic, breathtakingly handsome, naturally gifted, and practically invincible."

Fu Shi walked up to Fu Lin, pinched his face with one hand, and stroked his chin with the other, speaking bluntly.

"Are you sure you're not just complimenting yourself?" Fu Lin swatted away Fu Shi's mischievous hand and looked at her suspiciously.

"How could that be? I, the Herrscher of Sentience, am not that kind of person," Fu Shi replied confidently.

"Forget it, let's just get out of here," Fu Lin said, stepping onto the sword sheath and wrapping his arms around Fu Shi's slender waist.

"Let go..." Fu Shi blushed and muttered.

"No way. This is just an ordinary body—what if I fall? Right now, I can only rely on you."

With that, Fu Lin held on tightly, resting comfortably against Fu Shi's back.

'Fu Lin can only rely on me... This doesn't seem so bad.'

"Do... do as you wish, but don't disrupt my flying," Fu Shi turned her head away, her face flushing, as she stammered in response to Fu Lin's last comment.

"Hehe, long live Miss Herrscher of Sentience!" Fu Lin shouted cheerfully.

...

"Huh? The connection to the mark has disappeared?" Kiana☆, looking at where Fu Lin had been, finally realized the gravity of the situation.

"Fu Lin... you won't escape." Kiana☆ took a deep look into the distance before her figure disappeared above the forest.

...

"Fu Shi, who is this...?" Yae Sakura asked, looking at the unfamiliar man following behind Fu Shi with curiosity.

"This is Fu Lin," Fu Shi replied lazily, lying on the sofa and stuffing a dessert into his mouth.

"Mr. Fu Lin?" Yae Sakura rubbed her eyes, feeling as though Fu Shi was playing a prank on her. How could someone change so drastically? Even the stigmata marks on his hands were gone.

"Uh... it's a long story. Something unexpected came up." Seeing Yae Sakura's disbelief, Fu Lin figured it was a good opportunity to explain what had happened to Fu Shi, though he decided to omit any irrelevant details.