Runes • Rifles • Reincarnation
100. Strip

Jin Shu’s eyes flicked across the shelves, counting the bloodstained weapons.

One, two… twenty, thirty…

There were at least thirty weapons covered in dried blood. Meaning thirty kills.

And that was just the ones she’d kept.

A sudden, horrible thought struck him.

She wasn’t planning to kill him after he made her weapon… right?

Surely not.

…Right?

He stole a glance at Liu Hua.

She was already looking at him.

And grinning.

Nope. No reassurance there.

Then, without warning—

“Strip.”

Jin Shu blinked.

“Huh?”

Liu Hua tilted her head. “Strip. It’s time to sleep.”

She began to disrobe.

He panicked. Heart pounding in his chest. Absolute panic.

He whipped his head away. “Uh—no, I’d rather stay in this.”

No way in hell could he take this dress off.

If she saw his real body…

Not only would he be breaking sect rules and risking his mother and Aunt Chen getting in trouble—but worse, Liu Hua might not take it well.

He could practically see it now:

“Oh, you’re a man? That means I’ve been lied to. Time to die~”

Before he could say anything else—

A sudden, violent tug.

The dress was yanked over his head.

SHIT—

On pure survival instinct, he did the only thing that could save him.

A blinding silver light exploded from his body.

Liu Hua flinched back, shielding her eyes.

“Tch—What was that?” she asked, blinking away the afterimage. Her electric purple eyes crackled in irritation.

Jin Shu’s throat went dry.

Think. Fast!

“Y-you surprised me!” he blurted out.

And then winced.

Because his voice—

It was higher. Softer. Feminine.

The disguise talisman—the one pasted on the dress in her hands—his aunt gave him had only altered his appearance for others—but now, he’d actually used his dragon self’s transformation ability.

He wasn’t just appearing female anymore.

He actually was.

And he could hear it. Feel it.

It was unsettling.

It was humiliating.

But most importantly.

It was better than being dead.

“What are you wearing?” Liu Hua asked, staring directly at his underwear.

Jin Shu froze.

He glanced down at himself.

Right. This world doesn't have modern underwear.

Normally, people just wore an inner robe, like the sheer one Liu Hua currently had on. Or a dudou like Biyu and the other girls wore.

Instead, he was in Tian Li’s creation—a bra-like top and underwear that actually fit under a dress.

Jin Shu looked back at Liu Hua.

…Bad move.

Because now, he was really looking at her.

She was gorgeous.

Terrifying—but gorgeous.

Her midnight-black hair cascaded over her shoulders like a silky waterfall. Her skin was pale and smooth, untouched by blemishes. Those crackling purple eyes only added to the aura of power around her.

She was his height, and her proportions were perfect.

Not too big, just the right amount of—

Stop. He cautioned himself. 

He gulped.

Liu Hua tilted her head.

“I asked what you’re wearing.”

There was a hint of exasperation in her voice now.

Jin Shu forced himself to focus.

“Underwear.” He barely registered his own response, still trying to keep his gaze from drifting.

Liu Hua frowned. “Underwear? But it only covers your breasts and… down there.”

For the first time, he saw her blush—just slightly—as she motioned vaguely toward his lower half.

…Okay, that was unexpected.

He cleared his throat. “Yes, well, an inner robe would look strange under a dress like that. You need something thinner.”

Liu Hua glanced at the dress in her hands, then nodded. “Makes sense.”

Then she held up the dress, inspecting it critically.

“And what is this? It’s quite scandalous, isn’t it?”

Jin Shu blinked. “Scandalous?”

“It shows so much skin.”

He snorted. “Yeah, they were supposed to be longer, but Tian Li has a habit of making her clothes much shorter than necessary.”

“Oh, I know, right?!” Liu Hua suddenly burst out, throwing up her hands. “She’s always prancing around in those open robes, showing off her huge breasts—makes you want to grab her, throw her over your knee, and give her a spanking until she learns some shame!”

Jin Shu opened his mouth.

Closed it.

Opened it again.

“Uh… I guess…?”

He had no idea how to respond to that.

She flipped her hand. The ring on her finger lit up, and the dress vanished.

Jin Shu stared.

Did she… just steal my clothes?

He considered saying something—but after a glance at her lightning-filled eyes, he wisely kept his mouth shut.

"I'm tired. Let's sleep." Liu Hua climbed onto the bed and waved him over.

He hesitated.

This was another bad idea.

But the alternative was refusing, and he really didn’t want to test her patience again.

Steeling himself, he climbed onto the bed, lying stiffly beside her on his back, eyes locked on the ceiling.

Silence stretched between them.

Then she spoke.

"Turn over."

His body tensed.

He clenched his teeth and slowly turned.

They were now face to face.

His breath hitched.

Liu Hua's deep purple eyes bore into his, the ever-present lightning within them oddly subdued.

She was so close.

Close enough that he could feel her breath ghosting across his skin.

Close enough that her scent—rosemary, fresh and sharp—wrapped around him, sending an involuntary shiver down his spine.

He was so focused on her eyes, her closeness, that it took a moment for her words to register.

"The other way."

“Oh.”

Heat flooded his face.

"R-right."

He hurriedly flipped the other way, putting his back to her.

An arm draped over his waist.

Then—warmth.

Soft, unmistakable warmth pressed against his back.

His breath hitched again.

What—what is she—?!

"Ying doesn't let me hold her like this anymore."

Her voice was softer now, a whisper against the nape of his neck.

"Says she's too old to be sleeping with her sister now."

There was something wistful in her tone.

Something lonely.

"Sorry I hurt you."

The quiet words took him by surprise.

"But I can't let anyone hurt my baby sister… not again…"

A soft drip landed on his back.

Then another.

Tears.

Her grip tightened around him.

It was almost painful.

Jin Shu stayed silent.

Not out of fear, but because he understood.

Because right now, she wasn’t the terrifying, lightning-clad warrior who had nearly crushed his throat.

She was just a sister, holding onto the only warmth she had left.

The thought of turning around, of returning the embrace, flickered through his mind.

But he didn’t.

Because that would be too much.

Because he barely knew her.

Because, despite everything, this wasn’t about him.

So he let her hold on.

And slowly, her breathing evened out.

Until the only sound left in the room was the quiet hum of crackling lightning in her sleep.

Even in sleep, the lightning never ceased.

Soft crackles danced through the silence, filling the room with an ever-present hum.

Jin Shu lay there, listening.

To the lightning.

To the gentle breath still ghosting against the nape of his neck.

To the steady heartbeat behind him.

And—slowly, cautiously—he fell asleep.

Jin Shu half-woke in a blur.

His mind was foggy, barely functioning.

He wasn’t sure where he was.

All he knew was that his back was hot.

And his front was cold.

So naturally he turned over and pulled the warmth against his chest.

It was comfortable.

Soft.

Warm.

Just right.

Still, something nagged at the back of his mind.

Something important.

Like he was forgetting something critical.

Muffled voices flitted through his head.

This idiot’s going to get us killed.

Well… it was a nice life while it lasted.

…What are they talking about? he wondered vaguely.

His consciousness drifted away.

And he slipped back into the land of dreams.

Jin Shu’s eyes snapped open.

His heart pounded.

His body ached.

He had been having a nightmare.

A purple demon had been hacking him to death with a blunt cleaver.

It was horrible.

It was terrifying.

It was—

He froze.

Right in front of him, mere inches away, was a pair of deep purple eyes.

The same eyes as the demon in his dream.

"Ah—!"

Bang!

He flinched back.

His body jerked.

The next thing he knew—he was off the bed.

His back hit the floor.

Then his head.

Hard.

“Ow…” he groaned.

A beat of silence.

Then—

"Pfft… AHAHAHAHA!"

Liu Hua cackled.

She rolled on the bed, kicking her feet in glee.

"Oh my gosh! You—you just fell off the bed! That’s hilarious!"

Jin Shu lay there, staring at the ceiling.

Well… at least someone found it funny.

Because he sure didn’t.

Eventually, Liu Hua's laughter died down.

She sat up, still grinning, then swung her legs over the side of the bed and stood.

“Let’s go. Ying should have breakfast ready.”

She strode toward the door without a second glance.

Jin Shu hesitated.

Then he looked down at himself.

His only clothing was the underwear Tian Li had made.

Yeah… no.

“Uh… can I get my clothes back?” he asked.

Liu Hua paused, turning to give him a slow once-over.

Her gaze lingered a little too long.

Then she tapped her chin. “Hmm… you certainly can’t show that to Master…”

Her space ring flashed, and a purple robe materialized midair.

She caught it effortlessly, then tossed it toward him.

“Wear this.”

Jin Shu caught the robe, but he didn’t move to put it on.

Instead, he stared at her.

Then at the robe.

Then back at her.

“…What about my clothes?”

She blinked.

A beat of silence passed between them.

Then she answered, completely deadpan.

“You should be glad I’m lending you my clothes. I’ll have you know, those are my two-hundred thirtieth favorite robes.”

He stared.

Then, very slowly, he looked down at the robes in his hands.

They were identical to the ones she wore last night.

Same dark purple shade.

Same soft fabric.

Even the same cut on the sleeve where he had sliced her with his knife.

She’s using me as a trash can.

She literally took my clothes in exchange for her used ones.

And worst of all?

I can’t even complain… unless I want my throat crushed again.

He shuddered at the thought.

In the end, he reluctantly put on her old robes.

Liu Hua nodded in approval.

“Be grateful,” she said, crossing her arms. “It took everything I had to beg Tian Li to dye those robes to match perfectly with my custom purple lightning qi.”

Jin Shu glanced up.

His skepticism was palpable.

Firstly—he couldn't picture her begging for anything.

Secondly—she made it sound like she was the sole inventor of the purple lightning qi.

Which… now that he thought about it…

Did she?

Lightning wasn’t one of the elements Aunt Chen had taught him.

And while he didn’t have access to all of his dragon self’s memories, the ones he did recall never mentioned lightning qi.

His gaze flickered to Liu Hua, watching as faint sparks of purple danced over her fingertips.

A new thought crept into his mind.

…Just what kind of monster is she?