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

"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.

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"So, you weren't fooling around in other worlds, but instead, you got caught by a Kiana from another world?" Fu Shi widened her eyes in disbelief.

"Yes, yes! And she's so cruel (to be read as 'greedy'), constantly pressuring and tempting me to submit to her. But as a person of integrity and righteousness, of course, I could never agree to that." Fu Lin clenched his fist over his chest, gazing at the sunset outside the window as a tear rolled down his cheek.

"Oh? Is that so..." Fu Shi looked at Fu Lin suspiciously for a moment, then muttered under her breath, "Pah, knowing you, if you didn't have a way to escape, you'd probably have surrendered and enjoyed it already."

"...Ah! Fu Shi knows me too well." Fu Lin awkwardly scratched his nose, avoiding their gaze, but still shamelessly spoke those words.

"..."

"..."

"As expected of you, Fu Lin." Fu Shi crossed her legs, looking at Fu Lin and couldn't help giving him a thumbs-up.

"Thanks for the compliment."

"I wasn't complimenting you!" Fu Shi said, exasperated. "So what about that pocket watch? Should we snatch it back from her?"

"You can't beat her." Fu Lin didn't hesitate and said it outright in front of Fu Shi, knowing full well the outcome would earn him a good beating.

"How do you know I can't unless I try? I'm the Herrscher of Sentience—there's nothing I can't do!" Fu Shi said smugly, glaring at Fu Lin, who was now slumped on the ground.

"Weren't you almost sealed away by Fu Hua..." Fu Lin muttered under his breath, careful not to let Fu Shi hear.

But the Herrscher of Sentience wasn't ordinary. She could hear every word even if it was only thought.

"What. Did. You. Say!" Fu Shi smiled dangerously, her gaze piercing through Fu Lin.

"Long live the great Herrscher of Sentience!" Fu Lin quickly raised his hands in cheer, knowing full well his fragile body couldn't handle even a "small scuffle" from her without risking death.

"…Fine, let's not bother with that Kiana for now. Tell me about your new body first." Seeing Fu Lin's condition, Fu Shi decided to let it slide—for now. After all, it's hard to argue with someone who owes you a favor. She'd just get back at him later.

"Hmm, this body can transform into the appearance of someone else if I obtain certain things from them. It can even transfer damage onto others."

"But this body should feel very weak. Strangely, I don't feel uncomfortable at all. Instead, I feel perfectly healthy."

Fu Lin clenched his fist, realizing how different this was compared to his time in the other world.

"Really?"

"Let me take a look." Fu Shi ignored Fu Lin's protests and inspected his entire body with her mischievous hands.

Fu Lin clutched himself and asked, "Did you find anything?"

"Nothing much. It might be because of the Serenity Gem Gem inside your body that you're feeling fine," Fu Shi said while dusting off her hands, sounding a bit surprised.

"Serenity Gem? Oh, that special reward from before. So it ended up inside this body. Does that mean I can use Honkai energy with this body too?" Fu Lin touched the spot over his heart, suddenly realizing where the gem he'd been searching for had gone.

"Hmph, of course! But isn't my gem inside you enough? Why are you still after other random stones?" Fu Shi puffed her cheeks, clearly displeased.

"How can that be the same? Your core is in that body, but this one's still empty~" Fu Lin channeled Honkai energy into his hand, slicking back his hair dramatically. His entire demeanor shifted, transforming from an innocent, puppy-like boy into an unrestrained, roguish young master.

"What kind of sleazy talk is that? And how did you even managing to change your hairstyle with just a swipe of your hand?" Fu Shi retorted, unimpressed.