Honkai's Thousand Laws, Kidnapping Kiana at the Start

A tragic cry emanated from the Honkai Beast's body, but no one cared about its death.

The white-haired girl jumped off the Honkai Beast's body, her toes lightly touching the ground with a soft sound against the concrete. Behind her, the massive Honkai Beast slowly fell, kicking up dust that swirled towards her but couldn't catch up to her pace.

She walked towards Su Jue. Seemingly noticing his daze, the girl instinctively tugged at her bangs, covering her golden right eye. However, her hair wasn't enough to hide it completely, so she pulled up the hood of her slightly dirty white hoodie to cover most of her face.

"Th-thank you." Su Jue's voice trembled, still immersed in the scene of the girl effortlessly killing the Honkai Beast. By the time she was close, he snapped back to reality, quickly crouching down to pick up the loose change he hadn't managed to collect earlier.

The change was scattered. In an era where online transactions were commonplace, such loose bills were becoming rare.

"Ten yuan, fifty..." Su Jue carefully counted his change, but his expression quickly turned anxious. "No, no..."

"Is something missing?" The girl standing in front of him had been silent until Su Jue recounted the money. She finally spoke.

"Yeah, 100 yuan is missing. I remember putting it in the innermost pocket." His voice trembled as he counted the change over and over.

The girl paused, then crouched down and gently felt the sole of her shoe, pulling out a crumpled hundred-yuan bill. "Ah, it seems I stepped on it. Sorry."

His anxious expression turned to surprise. Su Jue's eyes widened as he took the bill from the girl's hand. He looked at her; a faint smile played on her delicate face.

"Thank you!"

Carefully tucking the change into his inner pocket, Su Jue wiped the dust from his face before taking the time to examine the girl's appearance.

What met his eyes were blue irises like a lake reflecting the sky, though her left eye was obscured by her hair, making it unclear. The girl wore a hood, but her white hair, like fine silk clouds, still cascaded down to her waist. Her form-fitting clothes covered her fair skin, and even the hoodie she wore over them only slightly concealed her perfect figure.

However, Su Jue's attention wasn't on her appearance. He noticed dried bloodstains on her white hair and dust on her jacket, as if it hadn't been washed in a long time. There was also the matter of her partially covered arm, which seemed...

He twitched his nose and sniffed lightly.

"..." The girl's cheeks flushed slightly. She felt embarrassed. She had been wandering for over a month since waking up. Although she had tried her best to stay clean, she couldn't avoid sweating during battles with Honkai Beasts, so she hadn't showered in a long time. Perhaps he had smelled something strange, which was rather mortifying for her.

Frowning slightly, Su Jue looked at the girl with concern. "Are you injured?"

He had noticed a faint smell of blood from the arm she had been hiding. Upon closer inspection, small bloodstains had already soaked through her clothes.

"It was from just now." Su Jue realized the recent battle wasn't as simple as he had imagined. He reached out and grabbed the girl's wrist, seeing the fresh red bloodstains exposed. He immediately turned around, took out a roll of bandages from the inside of his half-torn backpack, but unfortunately, the alcohol had spilled during their escape. Su Jue could only carefully wrap the bandage around the girl's arm. His technique was skilled, as if he were accustomed to bandaging wounds.

The girl blinked. She watched the boy bandaging her arm, not telling him that the wound was caused by the Honkai energy corrosion from using her Herrscher powers just now, and that bandaging it would be useless.

As expected, even after being bandaged, bloodstains seeped through uncontrollably, dyeing the white bandage red.

Carefully removing the soiled bandage, Su Jue re-bandaged it, but the bleeding didn't stop even after he used up all the bandages. He looked bewildered, as if encountering this situation for the first time, but quickly reacted and pulled the girl's hand.

"It's okay, I have a first-aid kit at home. It's very effective, it will definitely stop the bleeding." Su Jue's eyes showed sincerity. Although he didn't know who the girl was, since she was injured saving him, he had no reason not to help.

Kiana instinctively tried to pull her hand away, but a wave of dizziness suddenly washed over her. She pressed her forehead, gasping for air.

The consciousness invasion from the Herrscher of Void had returned.

"Sirin..."

Chapter 2: Twin Consciousness

Sirin.

The moment this name appeared, the surrounding space seemed to tremble. Kiana pressed her forehead tightly, trying to suppress the frantic emotions that were crashing into her.

But no matter how she suppressed it, the gold beneath her hair grew brighter.

"Go quickly!" In the last moment before her consciousness was consumed, the girl shoved Su Jue away.

The next instant, the gentle smile on the girl's face was torn apart, replaced by a look of madness.

"Pathetic experiment. You thought that as long as you didn't sleep, my will wouldn't awaken? How foolish." Chaos and madness, yet tinged with an indescribable nobility, her glowing golden pupils flickered with strange crosses, emitting an eerie aura. "Sadness, self-blame, filled with such intense emotions, how long can you hold on?"

The blackened white-haired girl slightly bent her body, her loose hair falling down her shoulders. Su Jue stood in place, silently watching as her golden eyes, beneath the waterfall of silver hair, gradually turned towards him.

In an instant, a terrifying pressure from a superior being swept over him. Su Jue felt like prey in a garden, stared down by a ferocious beast.

"Heh heh, it seems there's another one who doesn't know their place. I wonder what expression she'll have after I tear you to shreds." A smile crept onto her lips. Sirin straightened up abruptly, her silver hair shimmering under the moonlight and firelight.

Her golden right eye blazed with brutality, her blue left eye held sorrow. She tilted her head, looking down upon a pair of...

Equally golden eyes.

"Huh?" Sirin's expression froze, then became even more frenzied. "How dare you look at me like that, you scum!"

She raised her hand, and the Spears of the Void instantly materialized. However, before she could swing, a hand pressed against her forehead.

"Herrscher of Void, it's not your time to appear yet." Su Jue's voice was calm but carried an irrefutable tone.

Sirin's eyes widened, her breathing becoming rapid. She noticed that the Honkai energy within her, which was so full it was almost overflowing, was actually dissipating. After all, she was a Herrscher. Even though she was forced to share a body with K423 now, the Herrscher core was still functioning.

"You... Who exactly are you?"

There was no response. The rioting space around them gradually calmed down, and the Herrscher of Void's interference with space was suppressed. In that instant, Sirin finally realized what kind of monster could absorb a Herrscher's power.

"So that's how it is, so that's how it is."

The Honkai energy that had been accumulating within Kiana for a long time was completely absorbed. Sirin, however, laughed even more madly. Using the last of her strength, she broke free from Su Jue's hand on her forehead and lunged at him, tightly gripping his neck.

"You lowly thing, how dare you insult your Queen!"

With her hand around his neck, Su Jue showed no reaction. Sirin's consciousness was rapidly fading, so he would just let her struggle for now.

The strength in the girl's hand gradually weakened, and she finally slumped down powerlessly. A gust of evening wind blew, and she collapsed against Su Jue.

The scattered change bag fell to the ground again. Su Jue sighed and crouched down once more to pick up the coins.

The largest denomination of change was only 50, the only unique item being that crumpled hundred-yuan bill.

The girl discreetly used her spatial powers to place money in the sole of her shoe, kindly replenishing Su Jue's missing 100 yuan. Unfortunately, she didn't know that Su Jue's change was all there, and this hundred was likely the last of the girl's funds after her long period of wandering.

Looking at Kiana slumped on the ground, a flicker of pity crossed Su Jue's eyes before he quickly hid it.

He rubbed his face fiercely, and only after the golden light in his eyes faded did Su Jue struggle to get up, help the girl up from the ground, and carry her on his back, walking step by step towards home.

"Mmm~"

A faint whimper escaped the girl's lips. The weakness from her dissipating consciousness gnawed at her mind like a persistent parasite. Her vision was blurry, but Kiana soon realized she was moving.

Who is this, carrying me?

Her mind was in a haze. The girl took a deep breath of the scorched air, quickly easing the discomfort in her body.

Her gaze traveled over her short, fine gray hair to land on a gaunt face.

It's that boy. He didn't leave...

The Herrscher of Void's consciousness was filled with destruction and ruin. When she awoke, any creature near her would be torn to shreds.

This boy was still alive.

Kiana suddenly felt a pang of fear, afraid that when her consciousness fully returned, she would see a mangled corpse.

"You're awake?" Just as Kiana was lost in thought, Su Jue's tired voice reached her. He stopped, shifting his arms supporting her legs higher to keep her in a stable position.

Even while being carried, Kiana could feel that Su Jue's strength was almost depleted. His slender arms couldn't properly support her weight.

"Where are we?" There were no ruins, no signs of Honkai Beasts rampaging. Only low eaves, out of place in this technologically advanced city, lined the road.

"Outskirts of Sky City. I live around here."

Kiana looked up at the distant skyscrapers twinkling with soft lights. That was the central district of Sky City, and it was probably five or six kilometers from here. Meaning this boy had walked this far carrying her while she was unconscious?

Her thighs felt weak. Su Jue took a step, his whole body trembling. As he tried to take another step, he could no longer support their combined weight. Stumbling, he fell to the ground.

Such a fall would have been easily avoidable for the well-trained Kiana, but her body, still recovering from being occupied by Sirin, had no strength. She could only fall with Su Jue, her forehead hitting the cement.

They lay on the ground for a while until their strength gradually returned. The girl got up and realized that she hadn't actually hit her head. Before she could, Su Jue had reached out to block her.

"Are you okay?" With her strength returning, Kiana quickly helped Su Jue up from the ground. The dim streetlight cast a glow on the boy's profile, his gray eyes reflecting her own image.

"I'm fine." Perhaps embarrassed by her gaze, Su Jue awkwardly turned his head. "Sorry, for a guy, I'm really weak."

Shaking her head, Kiana didn't mind. Instead, she carefully checked Su Jue's body. Fortunately, apart from a scraped palm from blocking her fall, there were no other injuries. She breathed a sigh of relief, but a question arose in her mind: when the Herrscher of Void awoke, the boy was right beside her, yet he wasn't harmed at all?

But now wasn't the time to dwell on it. She helped Su Jue stand up. With the aftereffects gone, the Valkyrie's strength returned, allowing her to punch Honkai Zombies and kick Judgment Beasts. If Su Jue hadn't insisted otherwise, Kiana would have carried him the rest of the way herself.

After navigating through old alleyways, the two finally arrived at a run-down residential area.

Compared to the city center, this place seemed like a defective product ruthlessly abandoned by the technological age. Sewage flowed through ditches, emitting an indescribable stench. An ugly-looking stray dog stepped into a puddle, its entire body submerged in the dirty water. Seeing them approach, it quickly got up and shook the dirty water all over the place from its fur.

"You live here?" Kiana wasn't surprised by the mess but was curious about the boy's living conditions.

"Yeah." Su Jue pushed open the outermost door of the row houses and stepped inside, crossing the high threshold.

Just as Kiana, following closely behind, stepped forward with one foot, a sharp cat's meow suddenly rang out.

Chapter 3: Tread Snow

"Tread Snow!" Su Jue's heart sank. Without time to call out to Kiana, he hurried home.

The old apartment buildings shared a common corridor. Perhaps due to disrepair, the light in the corridor was out, leaving it pitch black at night, like a dark den ready to devour its prey.

Just as she was about to follow Su Jue, Kiana stopped. She turned her head and noticed a girl peeking out from a window not far away, looking in their direction.

As if noticing Kiana's movement, the girl quickly withdrew her gaze and closed the curtains. Half a minute later, the light in the room also went out.

Retracting her gaze, Kiana then stepped into the corridor.

Meow!

The sharp cat's meow sounded again, accompanied by an angry male voice.

"Damn brat, get lost!"

The orange kitten's eyes widened as it watched the man's approaching foot.

Bang—!

A dull thud echoed. The kick landed on Su Jue's shoulder, and his body slumped. The kitten, Tread Snow, slipped from his arms.

Whimper!

Tread Snow, after rolling on the ground, gently licked its owner's cheek and arched its back, continuing to hiss at the man.

"Well, well, you little brat, coming back this late. That stinking woman won't open the door no matter what. She probably died inside." The man pulled Su Jue up from the ground. He was tall, but years of heavy drinking had hollowed out his body. "Where's the key?"

The pain in his shoulder made Su Jue grit his teeth involuntarily, but even as the man yanked him up, he remained silent.

"You think you're tough, you little punk? I'm your father! Without me, your mother and you would have long since died in some gutter. I saved up the money for this house." Seeing Su Jue looking half-dead, the man's anger flared. He raised his hand to slap Su Jue across the face.

Tap, tap.

Footsteps approached. The man frowned. Using the dim light from the doorway, he saw the appearance of the person coming.

"Yoho, no wonder this brat came back so late today, making me wait so long. Turns out he brought a woman home." He sized up Kiana, his eyes growing cloudy. However, the alcohol had long since numbed his nerves. To him, having money for drinks was more important than women. He glanced at her twice before turning his gaze back to Su Jue.

Slap.

He slapped Su Jue across the face, his eyes filled with rage. "And you still lied to me about not having money, huh? You have money for women but not to support your own father? I should have just smeared you on the wall back then."

He raised his hand high, intending to slap him again, but before his hand could fall, it was grabbed tightly by the wrist.

A chilling aura reflected in his blue eyes. The enraged man subconsciously swallowed, his imposing demeanor instantly deflating.

He slowly lowered his hand. Only after completely releasing Su Jue did Kiana, who had been holding his wrist, let go. Based on the man's words, he seemed to be Su Jue's father. Although Kiana disapproved of the man's actions, she was ultimately an outsider.

Interrupted, the man seemed to realize Kiana was not to be trifled with. He could only lean in close to Su Jue and whisper, "Xiao Jue, just give Dad a little more, okay? I promise, I won't come back again after this."

"I know you've had a hard time with your good-for-nothing mother. Don't worry, once I win it all back, Dad will take you with me, alright?" His voice dropped, even carrying a hint of pleading. Alcoholism and gambling had completely destroyed the man's will. He looked into Su Jue's eyes, but was met with a look of deep loathing.

As if sensing the meaning in Su Jue's eyes, the man's expression changed. He got up and lunged towards Kiana.

"Brat doesn't listen to his father, huh? Since you brought someone back, then I'll..."

Before he could finish speaking, his face was met with a heavy punch. But this time, it wasn't from Kiana; it was from Su Jue.

"This is our family's business." After punching the man in the face, Su Jue finally spoke. He glanced back at Kiana standing to the side and gestured for her to leave quickly.

"Oh? You know how to protect a woman now, looks like you've really grown up." The man didn't react much to the punch, knowing Su Jue didn't have much strength. This injury was much less severe than being cornered and beaten by debt collectors. "Since you want to protect someone, let's see if you have the ability."

As soon as the man finished speaking, his face was met with another punch. Su Jue, not knowing where he found the strength, landed a blow right on the man's nose, causing blood to stream down his cheek.

The man, gritting his teeth, preparing to beat the brat to death, suddenly had a bag thrown at his face. His expression froze, and he quickly opened the tattered backpack. It was filled with a large wad of change. Though not much, it was enough for him to mess around for a few more days.

"Take the money and get lost!"

His fingers trembling with rage, Su Jue turned around and actually pulled a hidden steel bar from a nearby pile of trash. Holding the steel bar, he advanced step by step towards the man.

Finally realizing Su Jue was serious, the man flinched. He quickly grabbed the backpack and scurried away in disgrace.