Runes • Rifles • Reincarnation

After their meal, Jin Shu followed Grand Elder Feng back to her room—a space that contained nothing but a massive bed, piled high with pillows and blankets, taking up nearly all of the available space.

He watched as she crawled onto the bed, grabbed a blanket, and settled onto a random stack of pillows. It seemed no matter where she lay, a pillow and blanket would always be within arm's reach, even if she tossed and turned at night.

Jin Shu wasn't sure what he was supposed to do now. With nowhere to sit and barely any room to stand, he lingered awkwardly. He had tried asking her about his cultivation technique earlier, but she'd waved him off, saying she was tired and would take a look before her nap—which was why he'd ended up following her here.

"You can join me for a nap if you'd like," Feng Lian beckoned him over. "I guarantee this bed is more comfortable than anything you've ever slept on."

"Uh… no. Thanks, though." He shook his head awkwardly and pulled the Body Inscribing Art from his earring. "This is what I wanted you to see. Xi Yue said it might be a dummy technique, and she thought you'd be the best person to know for sure."

Without moving from her nest of blankets, Feng Lian stretched out a hand. An invisible force pulled the scroll from Jin Shu's fingers and deposited it gently into hers.

He opened his mouth to explain how to activate it, but before he could speak, she had already unrolled the scroll and injected her qi into it. Words shimmered into view on its surface. From where he stood, Jin Shu couldn't see the contents, but judging by how long it took her to unlock them, he guessed she'd revealed far more than his cultivation base would allow him to.

She read through the scroll for a moment, then gave him a curious look.

"Where did you find this? …Or did someone give it to you?"

"No one gave it to me. I found it in a cave near my hometown. It was on a pedestal labeled as a one-of-a-kind cultivation technique."

She nodded slowly.

"It's one-of-a-kind, alright," she said with a teasing smirk. "Take a look at this."

She turned the scroll toward him and pointed near the bottom, where a line of tiny fine print sat almost hidden.

It should be known that I have never used this technique after theorizing it… I'm afraid of pain, and this technique is a tad too painful for me. Hopefully whoever picks this up will be more tolerant than I.

"Also, this." She pointed higher up, where the technique listed the runes meant for each cultivation realm.

Jin Shu blinked in surprise. The technique ended at the Spirit Realm—but instead of offering new runes, it instructed him to infuse his spirit, once awakened, into the dragon-tiger tattoo on his back to give the tattoos true life.

"This isn't a dummy technique," Feng Lian said, tapping a finger on the Spirit Realm section. "But it's untested… and possibly dangerous. Especially this part. Pouring your spirit into something is one of the quickest ways to lose it—and a piece of your soul—forever, if anything goes wrong."

"I see…" Jin Shu said slowly. "So… what do you think I should do with it?"

"You've already started cultivating it, haven't you?"

He nodded.

"Then do whatever you want." She gave a casual shrug that turned into a yawn halfway through. "Keep going, change it, throw it away—it's your choice. Now… I'm tired, so I'll be sleeping."

Her words had barely faded before she dropped her head onto a pillow and fell instantly asleep.

He stared at her incredulously.

She didn't give the scroll back!

With a sigh, he climbed onto the bed—which, as she'd claimed, really was the most comfortable bed he'd ever felt—and crawled over until he reached her side. Stretching across her, he reached for the scroll that had slipped to the far side.

"Master—!" Liu Hua's voice rang from the doorway, then cut off abruptly. "What… are you two doing…?"

Jin Shu glanced over his shoulder, freezing. Liu Hua stood there, giving him a strange look. From her perspective, it probably looked like he was on all fours over her sleeping master.

He tried to lift his hands in protest—to explain he was only reaching for something—but with one hand stretched for the scroll and the other pushing off the bed, he had nothing to hold himself up.

Bam!

"Argh!"

His forehead smacked straight into Feng Lian's. She didn't even flinch in her sleep. Meanwhile, it felt like he'd headbutted a steel plate. Honestly, he wouldn't have been surprised if his skull had cracked.

"Pfft!" Liu Hua snorted, covering her mouth as she laughed.

Jin Shu sat up, rubbing the forming bump on his head, and quickly snatched up the scroll. Then scrambled off the bed.

"I… just needed my scroll. She fell asleep before giving it back," he explained, holding the scroll up for proof.

"Uh-huh. I see." Liu Hua nodded solemnly—too solemnly. "If you need someone to do it with, you could've just asked."

He gave her a baffled look. What is this girl talking about?!

"I mean cultivating, dummy!" She grinned, pointing at the scroll. "Though I wouldn't mind if we did that either."

"…No. To both." He shook his head. "Well… actually, I do have something I want you to teach me. But that can wait."

"Sure. Just come find me whenever." She flashed him a grin sharp enough to crackle with static.

He wondered why she kept lightning charged in her mouth like that… then decided not to ask. Knowing her, she'd probably say something like, 'In case I have to bite someone.'

Honestly… that was probably the exact answer.

He shook his head. "Anyway, I've got to go. I promised to see my master this afternoon."

"Want me to take you?"

"Uh… no. I'll walk."

"Suit yourself." She shrugged, turning away. "I had to ask Master something, but I guess it'll have to wait…"

She shook her head, mumbling to herself as she walked off.

Jin Shu walked through the sect, heading toward his stepmother's mountaintop courtyard.

Being the only man in the sect—and having been the center of attention during the tournament—he naturally drew plenty of looks from passing disciples. Some were curious, others excited, a few indifferent… and more than a few either disgusted or openly hostile.

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As he passed, he caught bits and pieces of whispered conversations.

"So that's him? The man allowed into our sect?" one girl asked her companion, glancing his way.

"Yeah. You weren't here during the tournament, so you missed it. He was disguised as a woman," her friend replied. "I heard he planned to keep pretending, but the elders found out and forced the Sect Master to announce it. Honestly… I feel bad for her."

A third disciple joined in.

"Really? I heard they announced it because Jin Shu was getting too many fans… and they were afraid he'd take advantage of them. Like Ling Shi does…" she added in a hushed voice.

Two more disciples jumped into the conversation, their voices rising in protest.

"That's not true!" one of them snapped, jabbing a finger at the third girl. "Ling Shi doesn't take advantage of her fans! We gladly give her our yin energy!"

"Yeah!" the fifth girl chimed in. "And a ton of girls—me included—would do the same if Jin Shu asked. I mean, have you seen him? He is so dreamy! I've never seen a more handsome man in my life!"

"Oh, I know. He's just my type. Tall, dark hair, smooth skin without too much muscle, and that face? Mmh. I'd love to throw him on my bed and—"

Jin Shu's brow twitched as he listened to the chatter. With a sigh, he stepped into a ripple and vanished, traveling the rest of the way unseen.

He really should've done that from the start. But he'd wanted to see the parts of the sect he'd missed last time… obviously, a mistake.

When Jin Shu stepped out of the ripple, he found himself in front of his stepmother's residence.

A familiar voice caught his ear, and he glanced to the side, spotting Biyu, Tian Li, and Yin'er playing together. The sight instantly lifted his dampened mood and brought a soft smile to his face.

He considered going over to greet them — but with the sting of the earlier gossip still fresh, he decided it would be better to speak with his stepmother first. Regardless of what Feng Lian had said, he couldn't shake the feeling that his presence in the sect was harming her reputation.

He made his way through the winding halls until he found her seated behind the desk in her study, a scroll and brush in hand. The scene was almost identical to when he'd first come to see her before the sect tournament.

"Hello, Jin Shu," she greeted warmly, glancing up with a smile. "What brings you here?"

"A few things. But first…" He bowed his head. "I'm sorry. I've caused you trouble."

She frowned slightly, setting the brush aside. "And what, exactly, are you apologizing for?"

"For being here." He bowed even lower. "I've ruined your reputation… damaged your standing as the sect's leader."

"Pfft… ahaha!"

She burst into sudden laughter.

"I'm sorry," she said quickly, waving a hand. "I'm not laughing at you. It's just… if anyone should be blamed for ruining my reputation, it's your mother—certainly not you."

He hadn't even seen her move, but the next thing he knew, she was standing beside him, resting a hand gently on his shoulder.

"I'm sure you've heard the rumors," she said, giving his back a reassuring pat, "but trust me—a few whispers aren't enough to shake my position. If they were, I'd have lost my seat a long time ago."

"Then… why did I have to disguise myself?"

He didn't want it to sound like an accusation, but she had been the one to insist on it before the tournament.

"Ah… that." She sighed, rubbing gentle circles into his back. "At the time, I was worried about the Grand Elder's rumored hatred of men. I only realized—when I was forced to reveal your identity—that those rumors were false."

He wanted to say that her words didn't seem to add up. She didn't care about the rumors about him and the damage they would do to her. Yet, she was quite concerned about a rumor that ended up being completely false.

However, he didn't say anything in the end, not wanting to start an argument, since he didn't actually blame her for anything. He just found it strange.

She met his gaze, her expression soft with apology.

"I also know you have a childhood trauma… and I'm sorry if I caused it to resurface."

"…What?" He blinked. "What trauma?"

"The one from Sun Li. Didn't it come back when you fought Bing Hou?"

"Ah… yeah, it did." He nodded slowly. "But… how did you know?"

"About the trauma or that it resurfaced?"

"Both."

She nodded and gently guided him to a seat beside her.

"Xi Yue told me she noticed signs of mental trauma while treating you," she explained. "And I knew of only one such incident in your childhood—the one your mother told me about after she came back from spending time with you all those years ago."

"Oh… yeah…" Jin Shu muttered. He sat up straighter, taking a steadying breath. "I think I've worked that out now. It was just… a stupid mistake from a dumb kid. Still… I don't think I'll be dressing up as a woman again anytime soon. Or ever."

"I understand." Chen Ai Yun nodded solemnly. "Still… I'm glad your mother's plan worked in the end."

He tilted his head. "What plan?"

"Oh… she didn't tell you…?"

"She doesn't usually mention it when she's plotting against me. So, no. She didn't."

"I see…" Chen Ai Yun mumbled, looking away. "Well… I guess I might as well tell you. Mei'er arranged that 'chance' meeting with your cousin—the third prince—on your way here."

Jin Shu sighed, shaking his head. "I should've known."

"Should've known what?" came a familiar voice from the doorway.

Both Jin Shu and Chen Ai Yun turned as Sun Mei'er strolled in.

"That you're always plotting my downfall," Jin Shu said flatly. "Throwing psychotic women at me, vanishing without warning, endless teasing—all just to watch me suffer."

"No! I would never!" Sun Mei'er gasped in mock outrage. "I didn't do it to see you suffer! …Okay, maybe a little. But it's also for your future!"

"Uh-huh." He rolled his eyes.

In a flash of red, Sun Mei'er appeared sitting on Chen Ai Yun's lap, snuggling in with a playful whine.

"Sweeeety~ Tell our son I'm just preparing him for life~"

Jin Shu blinked at the scene. It wasn't the affection itself that unsettled him—it was the fact that it happened at all. He'd never seen his mother and father act like that. Honestly, it was bizarre. But… he was also a little glad. His mother and stepmother seemed genuinely happy.

Chen Ai Yun shoved Sun Mei'er off her lap, face burning red. "Don't," she said flatly.

"Boo~" Sun Mei'er stuck out her tongue, laughing. "I'm not leaving until you tell him~"

"Uh…" Jin Shu stood, rubbing the back of his neck. "I'll… leave you two to… whatever this is."

He turned to go, then paused, snapping his fingers as he remembered his original purpose here.

"Oh, right. I've got a few more questions, but I'll come back later." He gave them a wave. "You two have fun. Just… not too much fun."

And with that, he quickly ducked out of the study—before his mother decided to make things even more awkward. Which, knowing her, was probably only a breath away.