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

"Let go of me☆!" Sirin pushed Wutong away in disgust. If her brother weren't watching, she'd have unleashed a few Void Spears by now.

'Who would've thought even Sirin could get clingy fans? Hahaha!' Kiana laughed, her grin wide as she watched Sirin's frustration.

"They seem to be getting along well," Fu Lin remarked, rubbing her chin as she observed Sirin and Wutong tangled together. Something felt slightly off, though.

"Totally. During the meal, Wutong kept serving food to Sirin… She's never been that nice to me, her master." Fu Shi chimed in, pouting enviously.

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"Burp~ It's getting late. Let's get ready to head up the mountain." Fu Lin patted Fu Shi's head, called the group together, and then took Fu Shi's hand as they walked toward the distant mountain.

...

"The atmosphere of Taixuan Mountain is truly enchanting~" Fu Shi marveled at the lush greenery surrounding them, darting excitedly from side to side, unable to stay still.

Meanwhile, Fu Lin and the others leisurely followed behind, walking up the stone steps and appreciating the scenery. From time to time, the dense forest echoed with the calls of unknown birds.

"Lin! Look what I found!" Fu Lin, entranced by the scenery, was snapped back to reality by Fu Shi's excited shout. He looked at the approaching Fu Shi, who seemed to be holding a white egg—though it appeared slightly oversized.

"Did you raid a bird's nest?" Fu Lin scratched his head as he eyed the egg in Fu Shi's hands.

"Do I look like that kind of person? I found this on the ground," Fu Shi proudly puffed out her chest.

"The egg's a bit big, but it doesn't seem enough to feed all five of us and a half."

"What nonsense are you spouting! This egg is fated to bond with me, the Herrscher of Sentience. From now on, it's my companion—not food!"

As Fu Lin sized up the egg and declared it insufficient for eating, Fu Shi became visibly agitated. Hugging the egg tightly, she guarded it as if afraid Fu Lin might turn it into stew.

"A companion?" Fu Lin pictured a baby dragon in his mind, his eyes gleaming as he stared at the egg in Fu Shi's hands.

"Exactly! A companion! As long as I nourish it with Honkai energy every day, when it hatches, I, the Herrscher of Sentience, will also have my own companion. Hahaha!"

"Ugh~" Sirin rolled her eyes in disdain from the side.

"Wait until I hatch something even more powerful than your baby dragon. Then we'll see who's smug." With that, Fu Shi began carefully infusing Honkai energy into the egg. The egg trembled violently with each infusion, and before long, a crimson cloud-like pattern appeared on its pristine white shell.

"Yes!" Fu Shi cheered, dancing in delight.

"Is this... a success? Can it really be this easy?" Fu Lin traced the red pattern on the eggshell, finding it hard to believe.

"Of course not," Sirin interjected. "When I created Bella, it took me a lot of time and resources."

The egg seemed to agree with Sirin's sentiment. After the first crimson pattern appeared, no matter how much Honkai energy Fu Shi infused, there was no further reaction. It was as if the egg had had its fill.

"Tsk, looks like this will take time." Fu Shi glanced around but couldn't figure out anything more, so she reluctantly stopped injecting Honkai energy and cradled the egg happily as they continued on their way.

"I told you it wouldn't be that easy. Hah~ And you," Sirin began, turning to Wutong with a threatening look, but her words were cut short by an unexpected interruption.

"Cluck, cluck! Cluck-cluck-cluck-cluck!" (Thief! Return my child!)

As the group prepared to move forward, an angry squawk echoed from the distance. A plump red chicken came hurtling toward Fu Shi with astonishing speed, flapping its wings furiously.

Before anyone could react, Fu Shi extended a hand and grabbed the red chicken by the neck, immobilizing it.

"Cluck?" The chicken's eyes widened in fear and confusion as it stared at Fu Shi, whose eyes glowed ominously red.

"Lin, looks like we've got dinner sorted. Food came to us on its own! And isn't this the 'Red Chicken' the restaurant owner mentioned?" Fu Shi grinned, shaking the captured chicken smugly.

"Haha... Whatever makes you happy," Fu Lin muttered, wiping the drool from the corner of his mouth as he looked at the unfortunate red chicken. For a moment, he wasn't sure whether to pity it or savor it.