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

Mei's eyes flickered slightly before curving into a beautiful arc. She softly said, "Mm, Dad, I... I want to..."

Before Mei could finish, Raiden Ryoma firmly refused, "No. You're still too young to take care of yourself."

Mei looked at Fu Lin, who was secretly listening in her arms, and pursed her lips. "But... but she bullied, Little Li..."

Hearing Mei's words, Fu Lin shrank her neck, feeling a little embarrassed.

Raiden Ryoma was taken aback. Then, realizing who "Little Li" referred to, he lightly tapped his fingers on the desk while looking at the maid's resignation letter on his computer, his mind racing with thoughts.

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Raiden Ryoma was brought back to reality by Mei's call on the phone. Deleting the maid's email, he spoke in a calm tone, "I see... then let's dismiss her. But you're still young. How could you possibly take care of yourself? I cannot agree to this."

Hearing her father agree to dismiss the maid, Mei softly responded with an "Mm."

Fu Lin struggled out of Mei's embrace, then jumped onto the shoe cabinet and took out a newly purchased electronic writing board. After scribbling on it, he held it up in front of Mei.

"Can't you just choose a servant yourself?"

Seeing Fu Lin hugging the electronic writing board on the shoe cabinet, Mei's eyes lit up,

"Then... can I find one myself?"

"...Alright. Do you already have someone in mind?" Raiden Ryoma was momentarily stunned. He got up and walked to the window, looking out at the bustling cityscape.

Mei hesitated. Seeing the words "Don't worry" from Fu Lin, she said, "Uh... yeah."

"Good. If there's nothing else, I'll hang up now. Remember to get some rest."

Raiden Ryoma hung up the phone, turned around, and opened a cabinet. From inside, he took out a yellow Homu-themed costume. Tomorrow was another day to practice swordsmanship with his daughter—just the right opportunity to see who she had chosen.

Meanwhile, Mei picked up Fu Lin and returned to her room, asking, "Dad agreed, but where should we find a servant?"

Fu Lin scribbled a few times, then held up the board and meowed, "Meow~"

"Don't worry, I have a way to handle it."

Mei nodded, somewhat understanding. Then, in front of Fu Lin, she slowly took off her clothes and said, "Oh, then let's sleep too."

"I'll sleep in my cage..." Fu Lin put away the writing board, closed his eyes, and walked towards the cage based on memory.

But after just a few steps, he suddenly felt weightless as he was scooped up into a warm embrace.

"I didn't say you could go back to your cage. You have to be my plush toy, or I won't be able to sleep."

Hearing Mei's words and smelling the fragrance from her body, Fu Lin kept his eyes tightly shut, caught in a moral dilemma—should he open his eyes or keep them closed?

After an unknown amount of time, Mei lay quietly on the bed, breathing evenly, clearly in deep sleep. The white moonlight outside cast a mysterious glow on her face, making her look peaceful and serene.

At that moment, Fu Lin slowly wriggled out of Mei's embrace, poking his head out. He then scratched his ear and pulled his entire body free, sitting at the head of the bed with his glowing eyes fixed on Mei.

But the peaceful atmosphere did not last long. Mei's brows furrowed slightly, revealing a trace of pain. A few drops of sweat formed on her forehead.

Sensing the Honkai energy emanating from Mei's body, Fu Lin was startled.

"So Mei had the Conquest Gem implanted in her at such a young age... What kind of father is Raiden Ryoma, unable to even protect his own daughter?"

Fu Lin cursed inwardly as he looked at the glowing light on Mei's chest and the faintly visible Honkai lines on her body, feeling indignant on her behalf.

As Fu Lin was pondering how to deal with the situation, Mei suddenly reached out and grabbed him, instinctively pulling him into her embrace as if clutching a lifeline.

Fu Lin initially wanted to struggle, but upon sensing the sudden increase in Honkai energy within his body, he slowly calmed down.

"So that's why I woke up this morning with extra Honkai energy... It turns out I absorbed it from her. But it's too little..."

As the Honkai energy in his body gradually increased, Fu Lin immediately chose to transform back into human form. In a flash of light, he lay sideways on the bed, propping his head up with one hand while silently circulating the Edge of Taixuan technique—only to quickly stop.

"This body has never trained in the Edge of Taixuan technique, so I can't absorb Honkai energy from my surroundings at all... But why is Mei's Honkai energy being absorbed?"

…

"Why...?"

Unable to figure it out, Fu Lin got up, intending to walk around, but Mei reached out and tightly hugged him, pressing her entire body against his, as if afraid he would leave.

Seeing this, Fu Lin sighed helplessly, gently massaging Mei's head while softly humming a lullaby.

In her dream, Mei found herself in an endless darkness, surrounded by eerie shadows slowly approaching. She sat frozen in fear, unable to react.

Just as the shadows were about to grab her, a faint light rose in the distance. Mei lifted her head, her empty gaze regaining a hint of brightness. She stood up and ran toward the light.

"Dad! Have you come to save me?!"

At some point, Fu Lin heard Mei murmuring in her sleep. Seeing the slight smile on her lips, he yawned and complained, "Coaxing a child to sleep is exhausting!"

But as time passed, Fu Lin gradually stopped. His eyelids grew heavy, his head started to nod, and finally, unable to resist the drowsiness, he slowly closed his eyes.

During the night, Mei groggily opened her eyes and saw the handsome young man sleeping beside her. Instinctively drawn to his presence, she snuggled closer into his embrace before drifting back into sleep.

As the long night passed, Fu Lin's already meager Honkai energy was depleted, causing him to revert to his cat form in his sleep.

Under the silent night sky, stars twinkled, and the moon hung high. In the quiet room, only the sounds of breathing and heartbeats could be heard as Fu Lin and Mei slept, nestled together.