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

"As long as you like it, as long as you like it, ha ha ha…" Fu Lin chuckled awkwardly. He couldn't help but wonder how Fu Shi would react if she found out the outfit had originally been gifted to him by the shop sister.

"Big brother, Sirin wants new clothes too," Sirin said, tugging at Fu Lin's sleeve and looking at him pitifully as she eyed Fu Shi's new outfit.

"...Fine. I'll get you a set later," Fu Lin agreed, patting her head.

"You're the best, big brother!" Sirin threw herself at Fu Lin and kissed his cheek.

"Ha ha ha… huh? What are you two doing?! I knew I couldn't forgive this!" Fu Shi, laughing one moment, froze the next. She gritted her teeth, yanked Sirin away, and punched Fu Lin.

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"Hiss! That was way too hard!" Fu Lin said, rubbing his eyes.

"Hmph, didn't think to dodge when Sirin was hugging you?" Fu Shi tossed Sirin aside, glaring at Fu Lin, clearly annoyed.

"...Was that really necessary?" Fu Lin asked, looking confused at the furious Fu Shi.

"Of course it was! Men and women shouldn't casually touch each other. What kind of behavior is that in broad daylight?"

'Only I should be allowed to do that.' Fu Shi grabbed Fu Lin by the collar, her face flushed as she spoke.

Witnessing this, Sirin's expression grew thoughtful. She began to feel that the relationship between the Herrscher of Sentience and her brother wasn't quite what she had imagined.

'Does the Herrscher of Sentience want to become my sister-in-law?'

'No way, I must be overthinking. There's absolutely no chance!'

Sirin quickly dismissed her wild thoughts, finding them ridiculous. How could the Herrscher of Sentience, of all people, ever match her brother?

"Pack up and get ready to leave. We're heading straight for Mount Taixuan" Fu Lin said, facing the setting sun as he prepared to have Fu Shi fly him there.

"I've decided we're walking to Mount Taixuan! It's the perfect opportunity to enjoy the scenery and experience nature," Fu Shi exclaimed enthusiastically, pumping her fist with a bright smile.

To be honest, she hadn't had much chance to explore Shenzhou since her birth. This was the perfect time to travel with Fu Lin. The only downside was Sirin's presence—she just hoped Sirin wouldn't ruin her quality time with Fu Lin.

"That sounds exhausting..." Fu Lin pulled a long face, imagining his legs giving out from such a trek. He collapsed onto the sofa, looking utterly defeated.

"I'm not saying we'll hike all of Shenzhou, just explore the town near the foot of Mount Taixuan" Fu Shi said, hoisting Fu Lin by the neck as she signaled the group to take off.

"Hmph~" Sirin snorted coldly and followed closely behind.

"Wait a second, where's Fu Lin? Are they leaving without him?" Kiana panicked, watching Fu Shi take off and began pounding the ground of the consciousness space in frustration.

"Big Sis, how should we proceed?" Higokumaru asked in confusion, looking at the three figures flying away and turning to Yae Sakura for guidance.

Yae Sakura glanced at Higokumaru and asked, "...Can't you fly, Higokumaru?"

"...Big Sis, don't tell me you're planning to ride me?" Higokumaru shrank back and cautiously asked.

"Hmm…" Yae Sakura nodded without denying it.

"...Alright then, Big Sis, hold on tight." Higokumaru elegantly spun in midair, instantly transforming back into her fox form and sprinted toward Fu Lin's direction at full speed.

…

"Let's start exploring from here. Just follow the main road, and we'll reach Mount Taixuan" Fu Shi said, looking at the bustling town ahead with satisfaction.

"Let's wait for Sirin and the others while we're at it," Fu Lin suggested, leaning against a tree with a pale face. No one would have guessed the various "creative" sword-flying maneuvers Fu Shi had subjected him to—clearly an act of revenge.

"Brother, why don't we rest for a while?" Sirin appeared beside Fu Lin in a flash, asking with concern.

"Something like motion sickness from sword flying? It's nothing to worry about. Urk!" Fu Lin wiped his mouth dismissively, only to clutch the tree and vomit again.

"Big Sis, I'm also at my limit…" Higokumaru finally arrived, collapsing from exhaustion. She reverted to her smaller form and promptly fell asleep in Yae Sakura's arms.

Feeling better, Fu Lin noticed the tiny Higokumaru and curiously poked her soft cheek. When she didn't react, he lost interest and turned toward the bustling town ahead.

"This place doesn't have a single trace of modern technology!" Fu Lin looked at the crowds and the smoke rising from the tiled roofs, giving the town an ancient atmosphere. It felt as though he had traveled back in time, leaving him marveling in amazement.