Runes • Rifles • Reincarnation
50. Tian Li

“I can do it. I will master this technique.” Jin Shu snapped his eyes open, fixing Chen Ai Yun with a resolute gaze. “But when I do, you have to let me leave.”

Chen Ai Yun blinked at his determination, her surprise quickly melting into amusement. “Oh? I’d like to see that.” She chuckled softly, her tone laced with disbelief.

Jin Shu could tell she didn’t take him seriously. The technique she had given him was considered impossible to master—a clever ploy to ensure he stayed. But he would prove her wrong. He would master it, and when he did, she would have no choice but to let him go.

“Well,” she said lightly, her teasing laugh filling the air like the tinkling of bells, “you have all the time in the world to try. But let’s set that aside for now. There are a couple of anxious girls waiting for you. I’ve kept you long enough.”

“Biyu and Yin’er?” Jin Shu asked, a note of concern creeping into his voice. “Are they here?”

Chen Ai Yun raised a brow at his question. “Biyu, is it? You seem close.”

He tilted his head, puzzled by her tone but still answered honestly. “She’s my mother’s disciple. I suppose that makes us like brother and sister.” He paused, a flicker of memory flashing through his mind—Biyu’s kiss on Sun Li’s ship. “Though... maybe we’re a bit closer than that.”

“Hmm…” Chen Ai Yun studied him with a faint smile. “And Yin’er? The little tiger cub? She calls you her father. Who is her mother?”

“Her mother?” Jin Shu repeated, startled. “I have no idea.” He shrugged, genuinely confused by the question.

Chen Ai Yun’s eyes widened, and she gasped in appalled outrage. “You don’t know?”

“No.” His frown deepened. “I found her egg and hatched it. How would I know who her parents are?”

“Oh…” Chen Ai Yun’s expression softened, though a faint blush crept across her cheeks. “I thought… well, never mind what I thought.”

Realization dawned on Jin Shu, and his jaw dropped. “Wait! You thought I… with her mother? How would that even work?!”

Chen Ai Yun coughed, clearly flustered. “Well, some spirit beasts can take on human form. It’s not unheard of…” Her voice trailed off, her blush deepening.

“I’ve never even…” Jin Shu waved his hands, shaking his head as though physically dismissing the thought. “No, never mind!”

The two stared at each other, their faces flushed, before quickly turning away in silence.

Inside Jin Shu’s soul, his two halves were locked in a heated argument.

“So, you’ve never done it?” Adult Jin Shu teased, his tone dripping with amusement.

“So what!? Have you?!” Kid Jin Shu shot back defensively.

Adult Jin Shu snorted, tapping his temple smugly. “Take a look in here.”

Kid Jin Shu hesitated, closing his eyes. A moment later, his eyes flew open, his face bright red. “What the hell are you showing a kid?!”

Jin Shu pinched the bridge of his nose, struggling to tune out their bickering.

A quiet laugh pulled him back to reality. He looked up to see Chen Ai Yun covering her mouth, her shoulders shaking with amusement.

She met his gaze and slowly composed herself, though a faint smile lingered on her lips. “Sorry,” she said lightly, “I just find it funny. Mei’er and you are the only ones who’ve ever managed to fluster me like this.”

Jin Shu nodded, a hint of mock pride flashing in his expression. “I always knew my mom had that effect on people. I didn’t realize I did too.”

She broke into laughter again at his prideful expression. “You look just like Mei’er when you do that.”

Jin Shu nodded, maintaining the same mock-proud look. “I thank the heavens every day that I inherited my mom’s looks.”

Her laughter stopped abruptly as she cleared her throat and glanced away. “Yes, thank the heavens…” she muttered, her tone oddly subdued.

Jin Shu blinked, taken aback by her sudden shift in mood.

Before he could say anything, Chen Ai Yun began walking toward the distant residences. “We’ve wasted enough time. Let’s go see those anxious girls, shall we?” She turned back briefly, her usual composure restored.

“Ah, right.” Jin Shu fell into step behind her, silent but curious.

As they walked toward the cluster of buildings in the distance, Jin Shu’s eyes lingered on Chen Ai Yun.

His first impression of her had been that of an untouchable goddess—radiant and flawless. Now, while he still thought she resembled a goddess, it was no longer her beauty that stood out most to him. It was her temperament. She was down-to-earth, maternal in a way that felt both comforting and commanding, like a motherly goddess watching over the world.

The thought brought him back to the moment he had woken up in her lap. A question nagged at him. Why had she allowed him to rest there? Why hadn’t she simply moved him to a bed and left him to recover on his own?

The only conclusion Jin Shu could come to was that Chen Ai Yun had been worried about her junior sister’s son.

“Or maybe she fell in love with our handsome face!” Kid Jin Shu’s voice chimed in, uninvited.

Bop!

Adult Jin Shu smacked the kid on the back of his head.

“Ow!”

Jin Shu sighed, shaking his head at the antics in his soul.

His thoughts were interrupted as he looked up and realized they had arrived. The large wooden buildings loomed before them, their intricately carved walls coming into full view.

A breathtaking mural of phoenixes soaring among clouds adorned the central wall. The details were so vivid it seemed as though the birds could take flight at any moment.

Noticing his gaze lingering on the mural, Chen Ai Yun turned to him and spoke. “This was personally carved by our founder,” she explained, her tone carrying a hint of pride.

“It’s beautiful,” Jin Shu replied absentmindedly, his eyes still fixed on the carving.

“And deadly as well,” she added cryptically.

He tore his eyes away from the mural, his brows furrowing in question.

“This is no mere carving,” she continued, her gaze reverent. “It’s a formation—a masterpiece with the power of a Saint Realm cultivator.”

Jin Shu opened his mouth to ask more about the mural, but a loud commotion from inside the building cut him off.

Suddenly, a tiny tiger cub flew out of an open window, her small wings flapping furiously. A frantic voice followed, ringing through the air. “Come back here and let me hug you!”

“Stay away from Yin’er, big boobie monster!” Yin’er shouted over her shoulder, her tone equal parts panic and indignation as she darted through the sky.

Jin Shu stared at the scene, utterly confused. Before he could process what was happening, a woman leaped out of the same window, chasing after Yin’er with surprising speed.

The moment he saw her, Jin Shu understood exactly why Yin’er had called her that.

The woman’s robes were... daring, to say the least. The front was open, held up by two thin straps on her shoulders, exposing far more than what was considered modest in this world. While such clothing wouldn’t have raised eyebrows on Earth, here it was undeniably provocative.

But what truly captivated Jin Shu wasn’t her attire—it was her beauty. He had thought Chen Ai Yun was the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen, but this woman was on an entirely different level. Her beauty was otherworldly, reminiscent of Aphrodite herself, exuding an aura of pure sensuality and grace.

Then he noticed her hair. Unlike most women in this world who either wore their hair straight or tied up, hers had a distinctly modern style. Long locks flowed behind her, but her bangs were parted and twisted into two elegant strands that framed her small, delicate face.

Finally, his gaze met her turquoise eyes. They were mesmerizing, glinting with a mixture of mischief and allure as they locked onto his. For a moment, Jin Shu forgot to breathe.

She froze mid-stride, her confused gaze locking onto Jin Shu. Slowly, she turned to Chen Ai Yun. “M-Master, is… is that a m-man?” she stammered, pointing a trembling finger at Jin Shu.

Before anyone could respond, Yin’er spotted Jin Shu and darted toward him at full speed. She slammed into his chest with such force that he staggered back, the impact knocking the air from his lungs.

“Daddy! Save Yin’er!” she cried, frantically clawing her way into his robes to hide.

Jin Shu doubled over, coughing as he tried to regain his breath. After a moment, he straightened, glaring down at the tiny tiger cub sticking her head out from his collar.

“What the hell is going on here?” he demanded.

Yin’er’s paw shot out from his robes, pointing indignantly at the young woman. “That boobie monster tried to suffocate Yin’er!”

The woman’s face turned a deep shade of crimson at the accusation. Realization seemed to dawn on her, and with a yelp of embarrassment, she darted behind Chen Ai Yun for cover.

“M-Master, w-why is there a m-man here?!” she asked again, her voice rising in pitch.

Jin Shu and Chen Ai Yun both sighed in unison, exasperation clear in their expressions.

Chen Ai Yun turned to her disciple. “Tian Li, this is Jin Shu. He is Junior Mei’er’s son.”

Tian Li peeked out from behind her master, her wide eyes flitting nervously to Jin Shu before darting to Yin’er’s head, which still poked out from his robes.

Chen Ai Yun gestured toward her. “And this is my disciple, Tian Li.”

Jin Shu straightened and offered a polite salute. “Pleased to meet you, Miss Li.”

Tian Li hiccupped, retreating further behind Chen Ai Yun as though his greeting was a personal attack.

“Daddy, give the bad boobie monster a spank!” Yin’er demanded with a dramatic pout.

Jin Shu pinched the bridge of his nose. “If you don’t stop calling her that, you’re the one getting a spank,” he threatened.

Yin’er looked up at him with wide, watery eyes and an exaggerated pout. “But Yin’er didn’t do anything wrong!”

Tian Li poked her head out from behind Chen Ai Yun, her turquoise eyes wide with concern. “D-don’t hurt my Yin’er!” she stammered, attempting to sound threatening. The cracks in her voice, however, only made her seem endearingly timid.

Jin Shu raised an eyebrow, his frustration slipping out. “Your Yin’er? Since when was my daughter yours?” His tone came out sharper than he intended, and he instantly regretted it.

Tian Li’s eyes brimmed with tears, her hiccups starting rapidly. Within moments, she was sobbing uncontrollably, her shoulders shaking as she tried to hide her face.

Chen Ai Yun sighed, rubbing her temples. “Jin Shu, please,” she said, her voice carrying a note of reproach. “Don’t raise your voice at Tian Li. She’s… sensitive. She has trauma from men yelling at her.”

Jin Shu froze, guilt washing over him as Chen Ai Yun reached out her hand. “I’ll take Yin’er for now, if you don’t mind,” she said, though her tone left little room for argument.

Before he could respond, Yin’er was plucked from his robes and deposited gently into Tian Li’s arms. The young woman immediately buried her face in Yin’er’s fur, the soft, warm bundle soothing her sobs almost instantly.

Yin’er, however, wasn’t as compliant. She wriggled and kicked, trying to escape, her tiny voice muffled against Tian Li’s chest. “Nooo—!” Her protest was cut off as Tian Li hugged her tightly, pressing her into her ample bosom.

Jin Shu groaned, running a hand through his hair. “Yin’er, you’ll survive,” he muttered.

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