"Boss Han, we've finished reading Journey to the West! Where's our reward, where's our reward?!"
Paimon flew up to the counter, her eyes sparkling with anticipation as she looked at Han Feng.
Han Feng chuckled lightly and turned his gaze toward the system panel.
Just then, the system notifications refreshed.
[Customer Lumine has finished reading Journey to the West, and receives reward—Mini Golden Gourd.]F
[Mini Golden Gourd: A treasure of the Grand Supreme Elder Lord from Journey to the West. If you call out someone's name and they answer, they'll be sucked into the gourd. After an hour, they'll dissolve into pus.]
[Note: Due to the overwhelming power of this treasure, the system has placed restrictions on it, which will gradually lift over time.]
——
[Customer Paimon has finished reading Journey to the West, and receives reward—The Art of Transformation.]
[Art of Transformation: Allows the user to transform into any person or object they have seen.]
[Note: Each transformation consumes mental energy, and can last at most one hour.]
"Tsk tsk… one gets the Elder Lord's immortal treasure, the other a shape-shifting art. These two really have good luck." Han Feng couldn't help but sigh in admiration.
The Golden Gourd, even with restrictions, wasn't to be underestimated. Against tough opponents, it might produce unexpected results. After all, even Sun Wukong once fell for it. And the longer Lumine held onto it, the weaker the restrictions would become. Who knows—maybe one day it could swallow even the Archons.
But the flaw was obvious: the target had to respond when their name was called. That part, Lumine would have to figure out herself.
As for the Transformation Art, that was simple enough—she could change into anything or anyone.
Han Feng's lips curled into a subtle smirk. Hiss… in certain situations, this could lead to some… very stimulating results.
"Ahem, your rewards are here!" Han Feng broke off his wandering thoughts with a smile.
Two beams of radiant light descended, wrapping Lumine and Paimon.
Moments later, the glow faded. Lumine now held a palm-sized golden gourd, while Paimon had a new incantation lodged in her mind.
"This looks just like the gourd from the story!" Lumine's eyes lit up with joy.
She remembered clearly: even the mighty Sun Wukong had been trapped inside it by the Silver Horned Demon King. If not for his wits, he'd have been in big trouble.
"That's right, it's the very same Golden Gourd," Han Feng said with a smile. "Though for now it's suppressed—you can't use it against powerful enemies until it recovers."
"That's fine, a treasure is a treasure." Lumine happily tucked it away.
The strength was temporary; when it recovered, it would definitely become a deadly trump card.
"What about you, Paimon? What did you get?" she asked curiously, seeing Paimon still with her eyes closed.
"Hehehe, it's the Art of Transformation!" Paimon's smile was full of mischief.
She had admired Sun Wukong while reading—changing into bugs, houses, even other demons. It was just too amazing. And now, she had that same ability!
"You got that?!" Lumine was stunned, and more than a little envious.
Sure, it wasn't a direct boost in power, but in the right situation? Invaluable.
She immediately thought back to when she had stolen the Lyre of the Sky. If only she'd had this skill then! She could've turned into a regular Knight of Favonius—or even into Acting Grand Master Jean. She never would've ended up on Mondstadt's wanted posters.
This was the ultimate skill for doing shady business. No contest.
"Quick, try it out!" Lumine urged.
"Alright!" Paimon nodded eagerly.
But who should she transform into?
Her gaze swept past Lumine, then to Boss Han. Her eyes gleamed with mischief.
Closing her eyes, she pictured her target, whispered the incantation, and—poof!
A puff of smoke later, Paimon had vanished. In her place stood… another Lumine, identical in every way.
"Well? Do I look convincing?" Paimon—no, Lumine—stood with hands on her hips, grinning proudly.
The transformation even altered her voice. To anyone watching, this was Lumine herself. Even close companions would struggle to tell them apart.
"You… you actually look exactly like me?!" Lumine's jaw dropped.
She'd known what the skill did, but seeing another her right in front of her was shocking. It was like staring into a mirror that moved on its own.
Tentatively, she reached out to poke the clone's cheek. "Even the skin feels the same…"
"Hmph, if you pinch me, I'll pinch you back!" Paimon lunged forward for payback.
Before, her tiny body had left her at Lumine's mercy. But now they were equals—no reason to back down!
"You little Paimon, daring to rebel?!" Lumine gritted her teeth and launched a counterattack.
The two identical girls tussled like children in front of the counter.
"Tsk tsk, women really are terrifying creatures," Han Feng muttered, leaning back to enjoy the show with zero intention of breaking them up.
Two Lumine's meant double the fun, after all.
His mind wandered further—Inazuma's Raiden Shogun and Ei already looked identical. Add their sister Raiden Makoto into the mix, and you'd have triple the fun. Now, throw Paimon's Transformation Art into the equation…
Hiss—quadruple the fun!
Han Feng shook his head quickly. Nope, can't let the thoughts run that far.
Before long, the battle ended in Lumine's victory.
"Hmph, you always bully me!" Paimon rubbed her cheek in frustration. Even with a bigger body, she still couldn't win.
"Face it, you're doomed," Lumine said smugly with her hands on her hips. But staring at someone who looked exactly like her pouting so pitifully—it was just too weird.
No way am I that much of a pushover, she thought uncomfortably.
"Paimon, could you please change into something else? Or back into yourself? Having my own face look at me like that is seriously creepy!" she complained.
"Hehehe, nope!" Paimon stuck her tongue out defiantly. She couldn't win the fight, but she wouldn't give in here.
But when she saw the dangerous glint in Lumine's eyes, her confidence faltered.
Thinking fast, she darted to Han Feng's side, latching onto his arm and pouting.
"Han Feng, Lumine's trying to bully me! Help me, please?"
"Cough, cough!" Han Feng nearly choked on his tea.
He knew full well it was Paimon, but with Lumine's face, Lumine's voice, and that sweet tone of voice—this was… unsettling, to say the least.
Lumine, meanwhile, froze in disbelief.
(⊙_⊙) Who am I? Where am I? What's happening?
It finally clicked. That wicked little Paimon… using my face, my voice, and even acting coy with Boss Han? Unforgivable!
"Paimon! Get over here!" Lumine fumed, hands on her hips.
"Nope!" Paimon clung tighter. "Boss Han, can I stay with you tonight instead?"
Since she wasn't in her own body, she had no sense of shame.
Han Feng: "…"
Lumine, on the other hand, was seconds away from exploding. Her head lowered, dark energy seemed to radiate from her, and behind her, one could almost see fiery flames rising.
It was the textbook "anger about to erupt" look straight from anime.
Paimon took one glance and went pale. Trembling, she immediately undid the transformation.
But just before changing back, she leaned in close to Han Feng's ear and whispered:
"Boss Han, when Lumine's not around, I'll turn into her for you again~"
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