Runes • Rifles • Reincarnation
67. Drunken Dragons

Yanjiang dashed forward with reckless abandon, her hands snatching at the glowing fruit with lightning speed. Before Jinshu, Bing, or Yuetu could react—or warn her of potential dangers—she had already plucked four bundles of the pearlescent purple fruit from the tree.

Normally, earthly treasures of this caliber were jealously guarded by a lesser Spirit Beast, but the area remained eerily quiet. This particular tree seemed to have grown without such a protector, a rarity in their world.

Yanjiang returned triumphantly, the bundles cradled in her arms. Without hesitation, she tossed one to each of her siblings. Jinshu caught his bundle absentmindedly, his mind still swirling with thoughts of strawberries. Why had the name come to him so vividly? And why did it feel so familiar, despite never seeing or tasting them?

He tried to piece the fragments of his memory together. The word “strawberry” seemed to stem from his strange dreams—visions of other worlds and lives where he was human. They were disjointed and fleeting, yet vivid enough to leave impressions. Finally, he dismissed the thoughts as nothing more than the musings of his overactive imagination, fabricated in a dream.

Shaking his head, Jinshu turned his attention to the fruit in his hands. The translucent purple skin shimmered like polished pearls under the light, and the enticing aroma wafting from the bundle was enough to make his mouth water.

Curiosity outweighing caution, he plucked a single fruit from the bundle. It was small and round, fitting perfectly between his fingers. Without a second thought, he popped it into his mouth and bit down.

A crisp crunch echoed in his ears as the fruit yielded to his teeth, releasing a torrent of rich, juicy flavor. To his surprise, the taste was nothing like the sweet, berry-like aroma. Instead, it was complex, warm, and comforting, reminiscent of mulled wine infused with exotic spices. The juice spread warmth through his mouth and down his throat, leaving him momentarily stunned by the unexpected sensation.

Yanjiang, already on her second fruit, grinned at his reaction. “Good, right?” she said, her voice muffled by her chewing.

Jinshu nodded, savoring the lingering warmth. Whatever this fruit was, it was unlike anything he’d ever tasted—and it only deepened the enigma of the glowing tree.

“Hic!” A loud hiccup broke the relative quiet. Jinshu turned, his eyes landing on Bing. Her usually pale face was now flushed pink, and she was clumsily stuffing another handful of the fruits into her mouth.

He blinked in confusion. Her strange behavior distracted him enough that he absentmindedly popped another fruit into his own mouth. As he swallowed, the familiar warmth spread through his chest and rose to his head, heating his face until he felt a faint blush blooming across his cheeks.

“Hic!” Another hiccup echoed, this time from his other side. He turned to see Yuetu, her face equally flushed, but this time with a wide, happy grin—a rare sight from his usually serious sister. She seemed utterly carefree, giggling softly as she swayed slightly.

Jinshu paused, the heat in his body continuing to rise as he glanced at his sisters, both clearly affected by the fruit. His concern grew when Yanjiang, of all people, began tugging at her robes. She was wild, but not that wild. 

“Sooo hooot~” she slurred, her fingers fumbling with the knots of her outer robe.

“Wait, stop, stop!” Jinshu said quickly, reaching to grab her hands and stop her from disrobing further. His own body was growing uncomfortably warm, and—“Hic!”—he realized he wasn’t immune to the fruit’s effects either.

“Whyyy~?” Yanjiang whined, trying to shake off his grip, her voice thick and slurred.

“I think... we’re getting drunk,” Jinshu said, his analytical mind finally piecing the puzzle together.

“So?” Yanjiang asked with a defiant pout, still struggling to untie the belt holding her robes together.

“So?” Jinshu repeated, his tone incredulous. “What if we get attacked? We won’t be able to defend ourselves properly in this state!”

“Who’d attaaack ush?” she slurred, swaying slightly as she finally managed to yank the belt loose.

Jinshu groaned in frustration, his attempts to reason with her clearly failing. “Let’s leave, okay?” he tried again, hoping she’d listen this time.

“Nooo!” Yanjiang shouted, tossing his hands away with surprising strength and continuing to strip down to her inner robes.

“Can I get some help?” Jinshu turned desperately to his other sisters, only to feel his stomach sink. Bing was curled up in the grass, fast asleep with a bundle of fruit still clutched to her chest, while Yuetu had climbed halfway up the glowing fruit tree, presumably in search of more of the intoxicating fruit.

Turning back to Yanjiang, Jinshu’s headache only grew as he found her now standing in just her thin inner robe, completely unbothered by his protests.

Before he could scold her further, he felt a tug on his hand. Glancing down, he found Yuetu—at some point having descended the tree—plucking at the bundle of fruit he still held. Her rabbit ears twitched lazily, and her eyes gleamed with a mischievous, drunken glint.

“More… want more,” she mumbled, tugging insistently at the bundle, her flushed face making her look far more innocent than her actions.

Jinshu sighed, rubbing his temples with his free hand. This was going to be a long day.

“No more!” Jinshu said firmly, pulling the fruit bundle further from Yuetu’s grasp.

“Ah!” she cried out, her ears drooping as she protested. “Gibe dem!”

“Only if you let me pet your ear!” he blurted out without thinking. The words escaped before his brain could stop them, and he immediately regretted it. Blaming his slip on the alcohol-like effects of the fruit, he cringed internally, expecting her to refuse.

“Okie!” Yuetu replied with an enthusiastic nod, her rabbit ears bouncing wildly with the motion.

Jinshu froze, struggling with an internal battle. Should he follow through with his impulsive deal and finally get to pet her ears? Or should he hold his ground and keep the fruit away from her?

“Ah, screw it!” he muttered, tossing caution—and sobriety—to the wind. He thrust the bundle of fruit toward her.

Yuetu snatched it with a gleeful squeal and began shoveling the fruits into her mouth, her happy munching echoing through the clearing. True to her word, she tilted her head toward him, offering her ears for the promised ear rub.

With a mixture of nervousness and excitement, Jinshu extended his trembling hand, his fingertips brushing the velvety softness of her ears. A jolt of unexpected delight ran up his arm. He reached out further, letting his fingers sink into the plush fur as he began to rub them gently.

“So soft!” he exclaimed, his voice full of exaggerated, slightly drunken enthusiasm.

Yuetu let out a quiet hum, a contented sound that Jinshu couldn’t quite decipher. Was she enjoying the ear rub, or was it simply the effects of the fruit?

Without warning, she plopped down onto the ground, continuing to munch on the fruits. Jinshu crouched behind her, unable to resist the temptation to keep petting her ears.

As he did, his attention was drawn to Bing, who was stumbling toward them. She looked disheveled but determined, munching on the last few fruits in her hand.

“Jinshu,” she murmured, her voice surprisingly clear compared to the slurred speech of the others. “I’m tired... Can I lay on your lap?”

Before he could respond, Bing tilted forward, her body swaying. With a soft thud, she landed with her head squarely in his lap.

Jinshu sighed, glancing down at Bing’s peaceful face and back at Yuetu, who was still happily munching and swaying in place. Somewhere behind him, Yanjiang was likely causing even more chaos.

In fact, when Jinshu turned around, he found Yanjiang dancing. She had the belt she had taken off earlier and was using it as a streamer, twirling it around as she spun and pirouetted like a fiery fairy. Her red hair flared around her with every movement, catching the sunlight filtering through the trees.

It was an unexpectedly beautiful sight, and for a moment, he found himself watching in awe. However, the outlandishness of it all brought him back to his senses, clearing the haze of intoxication from his mind.

Shaking his head, Jinshu stopped petting Yuetu's ears, only to realize she had fallen asleep at some point. She tipped backward with a soft thud, still clutching the remnants of the fruit bundle in her hands.

With a sigh, he carefully laid her down against Bing, who was already snoring softly in his lap. He gently shifted Bing to rest against Yuetu, then made sure they were both sitting comfortably with their backs to the tree trunk.

Satisfied, Jinshu stood and turned his attention to the glowing fruit tree. With deliberate care, he collected the remaining fruit, tucking it securely into his robes. He knew that if his sisters found any more, they’d only make the situation worse—or attract some unwanted trouble.

When he returned from the other side of the tree, he found all three of his sisters now sleeping peacefully, nestled together. Yanjiang, who had danced herself into exhaustion, was leaning against Bing's shoulder, her head resting precariously on Yuetu's.

The sight of them made Jinshu laugh softly. Their faces were still flushed from the effects of the fruit, and Yanjiang’s loud snoring filled the clearing, breaking the tranquility. It was a far cry from their usual chaotic energy, and for a moment, he felt a warm fondness for his ridiculous siblings.

"What am I going to do with you three?" he muttered under his breath, settling down near them to keep watch.

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