Runes • Rifles • Reincarnation
62. Dragon’s Cry

Roar!

The dragon's cry grew deafening, reverberating through Jin Shu’s entire being until his ears began to ring. That was when he realized something was wrong. The sound wasn’t just in his mind—it was coming from the real world.

Snapping out of his soul state, Jin Shu’s sharp senses quickly pinpointed the source. The cry was emanating from his earring.

A sense of unease crept over him as he focused on the earring, sending his will into its spatial dimension. His perspective shifted to an aerial view of its interior, and the sight that greeted him left him stunned.

In one corner of the vast space, where Jin Shu had carelessly stored the bodies of the men from Sun Li’s ship, something unnatural was happening. Above the pile of corpses—and the body of the lone survivor, whom he’d all but forgotten in the whirlwind of recent events—a fang hovered ominously.

It wasn’t just any fang. It was the very same one Yin’er used to chew on as a cub, the one he had found inside the earring long ago.

The fang gleamed with an eerie white light, pulsating rhythmically as tendrils of blood were drawn up from the corpses. The crimson streams spiraled into the fang, absorbed completely, until the last drop vanished.

Jin Shu watched in stunned silence as the bodies crumbled into dust, their remnants scattering to the far reaches of the space before disappearing entirely.

Snapping out of his shock, Jin Shu felt an instinctive pull, an inexplicable compulsion to act. He reached out with his will, wrapping his energy around the floating fang. Even as a voice in the back of his mind screamed that this was a terrible idea, he couldn’t resist the urge.

In a flash, the fang materialized in the real world, landing in his palm with a solid, weighty plop.

Jin Shu stared at it, his breath catching in his throat. It fit perfectly in his hand, as though it had been crafted just for him. The eerie white light now shimmered faintly, a haunting glow that seemed to pulse in rhythm with his heartbeat.

“What… is this?” he murmured, his voice barely audible as a chill ran down his spine.

The fang floated suddenly, hovering inches from Jin Shu’s face. Its eerie white glow pulsated ominously, captivating his gaze. His mind raced with questions, but before he could react, the fang shot forward with blinding speed, striking the center of his forehead.

The pointed end pierced his skin, sending a shockwave of force through his body. He was thrown backward, his back slamming against the wall with a sickening thud. The impact sent Yin’er flying from his lap, tumbling across the bed with a startled squeak.

Jin Shu crumpled forward, his body limp and unresponsive.

“Daddy!? What happened?!” Yin’er cried, scrambling to her feet. Her tiny wings fluttered frantically as she rushed to his side, her small paws shaking his shoulder. But no matter how hard she tried, Jin Shu remained still, his face buried in the bedsheets.

“Daddy, wake up!” she whimpered, her voice trembling with panic.

When he didn’t respond, Yin’er’s fear turned into desperation. Without a second thought, she darted to the open window and flew out into the early morning air, searching for help.

Tears blurred her vision as she flapped wildly, her movements erratic. In her frantic state, she collided headfirst into something soft and elastic. The force sent her tumbling backward, head over tail, until she landed unceremoniously on the ground.

Dazed, Yin’er blinked up at the thing she had crashed into. Her eyes widened as recognition dawned.

“Boobie monster! Help Daddy!” she squealed, too panicked to bother picking herself up.

Tian Li raised a brow, crouching down to scoop up the flailing cub. “Yin’er? What’s wrong?” she asked, brushing dirt from the little tiger’s fur.

“Yin’er was asleep then she fell then Daddy wouldn't wake up!” Yin’er blurted, wriggling in Tian Li’s grip.

Tian Li frowned, unsure of what the cub meant. “Wait—did you fall out of bed?”

“No! Daddy’s hurt! He’s not moving! Go help!” Yin’er cried, flapping her wings and clawing at the air, desperate to break free.

Tian Li’s expression softened, though skepticism lingered in her eyes. “Alright, let’s go check on him.”

Despite Yin’er’s urgency, Tian Li moved at a measured pace, carrying the squirming cub back toward Jin Shu’s building.

“Faster! Daddy needs you!” Yin’er demanded, her voice high-pitched with frustration.

“Calm down,” Tian Li said with a hint of exasperation, though a flicker of concern crept into her tone as they entered the room.

The first thing Tian Li saw as she entered was Jin Shu lying face down on the bed, his bare back exposed. At first glance, it looked as if he had fallen asleep in an awkward position, his head near the foot of the bed. Her cheeks turned pink, and she was about to avert her gaze when something alarming caught her attention—a red stain spreading across the bedsheet beneath his head.

“Jin Shu…?” Tian Li’s voice wavered, concern replacing her initial embarrassment.

She gently placed Yin’er on the floor and moved closer. Her brow furrowed as she leaned over him, a growing sense of unease tightening in her chest. Something was horribly wrong.

Carefully, she flipped his motionless body over—and gasped.

A glowing fang was embedded in the center of Jin Shu’s forehead, blood trickling from the wound. The eerie light it emitted cast unsettling shadows across his pale face.

For a moment, Tian Li froze, her mind racing with panic. Was he dead? Her breathing quickened as her trembling fingers moved to check his chest. The rise and fall of his breathing, though faint, reassured her. He was alive—for now.

Her gaze traveled to the strange markings etched across his body, including a black rune over his heart. Placing her palm against it, she injected a small strand of her qi to check his heartbeat. It was steady but unnaturally slow, as if his body was struggling to keep functioning.

“Help,” she muttered through shallow breaths, her hands shaking slightly. Without hesitation, she lifted her other hand and formed a ball of flaming qi. With a swift motion, she hurled it out the open window.

The fireball streaked into the sky and exploded with a thunderous bang, bright enough to catch the attention of everyone in Chen Ai Yun’s courtyard and even a few nearby sect members.

Moments later, Sun Mei’er and Chen Ai Yun arrived outside Jin Shu’s building, their powerful qi rippling through the air.

“Master! Here, quick!” Tian Li shouted frantically.

The last word had barely escaped her lips before the two women appeared inside the room. Their sharp gazes scanned the scene, quickly locking onto Jin Shu’s bare chest. Both women raised their brows, misunderstanding the situation entirely.

“Oh my, am I getting a grandchild so soon?” Sun Mei’er teased, an amused smile tugging at her lips.

Tian Li blinked at her in disbelief, momentarily stunned by the comment.

“Big Sither Mei’er, Daddy hwut!” Yin’er interrupted, her small voice cracking as she rushed her words, accidentally biting her tongue in her panic.

Realizing the gravity of the situation, Tian Li stepped aside, revealing Jin Shu’s bleeding forehead.

The lighthearted atmosphere evaporated instantly. Sun Mei’er and Chen Ai Yun’s expressions darkened as their eyes fell on the glowing fang lodged in his skull.

“What in the heavens…?” Chen Ai Yun whispered, her voice barely audible.

Sun Mei’er’s casual demeanor crumbled as she stumbled toward the bed, her breaths coming in rapid, shallow gasps. Her trembling hands hovered over Jin Shu’s motionless form before clutching her chest as her breathing grew erratic.

“W-what happened to my son?!” she screamed, her voice cracking with anguish.

Her body jerked violently as a coughing fit overtook her, spraying blood from her lips. A sudden deviation in her qi wreaked havoc on her.

“Mei’er!” Chen Ai Yun cursed under her breath, rushing to steady the trembling woman. She turned to Tian Li, her tone sharp and commanding. “Take Mei’er and Yin’er out—now!”

Tian Li blinked, frozen by the chaos unfolding before her.

“Now!” Chen Ai Yun shouted, her voice cutting through the panic.

“Y-yes, Master!” Tian Li stammered, bowing deeply before stepping forward. She grabbed Sun Mei’er firmly by the shoulders.

“My son! My son!” Sun Mei’er wailed, her cries growing hoarse. Her weakened body sagged under Tian Li’s grip, unable to resist as her qi continued to spiral out of control.

“Forgive me, Aunt Mei’er,” Tian Li murmured as she guided the faltering woman toward the door, Yin’er nestled protectively in her other arm.

Yin’er squirmed, her small paws batting uselessly at Tian Li’s sleeve. “Daddy needs help! Don’t leave him!” she cried.

“I know,” Tian Li whispered, her heart heavy as she glanced back at Chen Ai Yun. “Master will take care of him. Trust her.”

Once they exited and the door clicked shut, Chen Ai Yun let out a shuddering breath. Her legs buckled, and she collapsed to her knees beside Jin Shu’s bed. She clenched her fists, forcing herself to focus despite the fear clawing at her.

Calming her breathing, she rose unsteadily to her feet and examined Jin Shu’s injury. The glowing fang was embedded deep in his forehead, its pointed tip disappearing further with every passing second. Its unnatural glow grew brighter, casting an eerie light over his pallid face.

Chen Ai Yun pressed her lips into a thin line, reaching out to grasp the fang with steady hands. She pulled, channeling the full force of her cultivation into her grip.

It didn’t budge.

Her brows furrowed as she increased her qi, her fingers trembling with exertion. Still, the fang refused to move. It felt like trying to uproot a mountain—unyielding and impossible.

“Damn it,” she muttered, releasing the fang. Her mind raced, searching for a solution. With no other options, she made a snap decision.

Kneeling by Jin Shu’s side, Chen Ai Yun placed one hand over his heart. Closing her eyes, she began channeling her own qi, wrapping it around his heart like a protective cocoon. Her focus sharpened as she took control of his heartbeat, forcing it to remain steady despite the unnatural strain on his body. Then with the other hand she formed a similar barrier around his brain. This one meant to keep the strange object from piercing any further. 

“Hang on, Jin Shu,” she whispered, her voice barely audible. “Whatever this is, I won’t let it take you.”

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