Runes • Rifles • Reincarnation
81. Waking Up

Jin Shu blinked his eyes open, the simple act taking more effort than he expected. It felt as though they hadn't opened in years, like an old machine grinding back to life after years of neglect.

Where... am I? The thought slipped through his hazy mind. This isn’t... What? He couldn’t quite finish the thought. Wait. Who am I? Jin Shu? No... Jinshu? The name sounded familiar, but it didn’t sit right. His mind churned with fragmented memories, jumbled and incoherent, like puzzle pieces from different sets forced together. Even his own name seemed to slip through his grasp.

“You’re awake!”

The mechanical voice came from somewhere out of sight. Jin Shu tried to focus, his eyes scanning the room, but all he saw was unfamiliar furniture bathed in soft light. Before he could search further, the door creaked open, and a woman stepped inside.

Her crimson eyes shone with emotion, and she carried a basin of water and a small towel in her delicate hands.

The moment their eyes met, the basin slipped from her grasp, crashing to the floor with a splash that soaked her feet. Neither of them seemed to notice. Tears welled in her eyes, and to Jin Shu’s surprise, he felt his own well up as well, though he didn’t know why.

The woman smiled through her tears and stepped closer, her voice trembling with emotion. “You’re awake,” she whispered, her tone thick with relief. “I’m so glad.”

“Argh!” Jin Shu cried out, clutching his head as a torrent of memories crashed through his mind like a raging flood breaching a dam. The sheer force of it overwhelmed him, leaving him gasping for breath. Yet the memories were still fragmented and chaotic—three distinct lives tangled together, each fighting for dominance in the confined space of his mind.

The pain was unbearable. His body gave out, muscles slackening as he collapsed back onto the bed, completely immobilized.

“Jin Shu!” The woman’s voice was sharp with worry, trembling as she called his name.

With great effort, Jin Shu shifted his gaze to her, his vision blurred and swimming. Then, a spark of clarity cut through the confusion. Recognition dawned. This is... my mother. Sun Mei’er.

“M-Mom…” His voice was weak, trembling under the strain of the pain, but he managed to speak as he reached out a trembling hand toward her.

Sun Mei’er was at his side in an instant. She grasped his hand firmly yet tenderly, her touch grounding him as her other hand brushed soothingly over his hair. “Shh… It’s going to be okay,” she whispered, her voice gentle and comforting. “Momma’s here for you.”

Her words and presence eased the chaos in his mind, if only slightly. That small comfort was enough. Jin Shu exhaled shakily as the last remnants of his strength slipped away. His vision darkened, and his mind finally gave in, dragging him into unconsciousness.

***

Jin Shu blinked his eyes open again, the movement coming much easier this time. The first thing he saw, framed by the harsh sunlight streaming in, was his mother’s face hovering over him.

For a fleeting moment, another face—blue hair and piercing blue eyes—superimposed itself over hers like a ghost from another time. But with a blink, the image vanished, leaving Jin Shu to wonder if the woman was even real, or just a trick of his muddled memories.

“Good morning, Mom,” Jin Shu said, managing a small smile.

“It’s already afternoon, sweetie,” Sun Mei’er replied, her lips curving into a warm smile of her own.

With a soft grunt, Jin Shu shifted, pushing himself up to lean against the headboard. “How long was I out?”

“Do you mean since you woke up earlier? Or since we found you unconscious with a fang lodged in your head?” Her tone was light, almost teasing, but the worry in her eyes betrayed her casualness.

“Uh, the second one,” he answered, rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly.

“Oh, it’s been—”

Before she could finish, the door flew open with a loud bang, and a blur of silver rocketed toward Jin Shu faster than his eyes could track.

Thud!

“Ugh!” Jin Shu let out a groan as the force slammed into his chest, nearly knocking the wind out of him.

“Daddy! Daddy! Daddy!” a high-pitched, excited voice chirped as Yin’er—his beloved baby tiger—rubbed her fluffy head against his chest with an almost desperate affection.

Jin Shu glanced down, his eyes widening. The weight pressing into him wasn’t the dainty kitten he remembered. Yin’er was no longer the tiny bundle of fluff she had once been. Now, she was the size of a medium dog, like an overenthusiastic husky determined to smother him with love.

“Yin’er!” Jin Shu managed to wheeze, half-laughing despite the pressure on his ribs.

The massive spirit beast purred loudly, her tail swishing back and forth like a feathery whip. “Daddy, you’re awake! I missed you so much!”

Lifting Yin’er from his chest, Jin Shu held her up, staring into her big, round golden eyes. “Just how did you get so large?” he asked, his voice filled with genuine surprise.

Yin’er opened her mouth to respond, but Jin Shu’s attention was drawn to the sound of footsteps approaching from outside the open doorway. A moment later, three figures stepped into the room—Fan Biyu, Chen Ai Yun, and Tian Li. Their presence made the spacious room feel suddenly crowded as they all gathered near his bed.

“How are you feeling?” Chen Ai Yun asked, her voice soft with concern.

“Are you okay now?” Tian Li followed up, her eyes scanning him as if looking for hidden injuries.

“We were so worried about you,” Fan Biyu added, her tone both relieved and slightly reproachful.

Jin Shu glanced at the women surrounding his bed, their concerned expressions overlapping with phantom images in his mind. Faces he didn’t recognize—faces that were nothing like these women—briefly flickered over theirs. Though the images vanished with a blink, the emotions they stirred lingered, raw and persistent.

“Are you okay? Do you hurt anywhere?” Sun Mei’er’s voice broke through his thoughts, her concern sharpening his focus.

“Hm? No, I don’t think so,” Jin Shu replied, his brow furrowing in confusion as warm tears suddenly trailed down his cheeks. The salty taste touched his lips, bittersweet and unexpected. Wiping at his eyes, he added, “You still haven’t told me how long I was unconscious.”

The women exchanged uncertain glances, their hesitation making his heart sink. Finally, Sun Mei’er turned back to him, her expression carefully controlled. “It’s been three years.”

Jin Shu blinked, his tear-streaked face tightening in disbelief. “I’m sorry, I think I misheard. Did you just say three years? As in a thousand days?”

“Oh! I know this!” Yin’er interjected excitedly, bouncing in Jin Shu’s lap with the enthusiasm of a child eager to share a fun fact. “It’s been one thousand and ninety-five days!”

Her excitement nearly crushed his ribs again, and Jin Shu groaned, half from the pain and half from the overwhelming weight of her words. “Three years…” he whispered, his voice trailing off as the reality sank in.

“You should really think about giving me some grandchildren before you go getting yourself knocked out for years again,” Sun Mei’er teased with a playful smile. “In fact, there are a couple of girls right here who’d make excellent mothers.”

“Mei’er!” Chen Ai Yun scolded, a hint of exasperation in her tone.

“I don’t want children yet,” Fan Biyu said absentmindedly, only to freeze as her words registered. Her face flushed, and she quickly covered her mouth. “Um… I… I mean…” she stammered, trailing off awkwardly.

Sun Mei’er turned to her with a knowing smile, then shifted her gaze to Tian Li, who blinked back at her, looking almost startled.

“What?” Tian Li said with a shrug. “I haven’t… er… I don’t date men.” She added the last part matter-of-factly, her expression unapologetic.

Jin Shu let out a strained chuckle, feeling the conversation veering into territory he wasn’t prepared to navigate. “Anyways, I’ve got to sort through my foggy mind, so… let’s rain check this discussion.” His tone was polite but firm, subtly hinting that he needed space.

Chen Ai Yun caught on immediately. “Alright, everyone, let’s give Jin Shu some room. We can chat later when he feels up to it.” She ushered Fan Biyu and Tian Li toward the door.

The two girls nodded and left without complaint, while Chen Ai Yun turned back to Sun Mei’er, grabbing her arm. “You too, and Yin’er, come along. We haven’t finished your lesson.”

Yin’er pouted, her ears drooping slightly. “Bye-bye, Daddy,” she said meekly, her voice tinged with disappointment.

Jin Shu gave her a warm smile. “Bye-bye. I’ll come find you in a little while, okay?”

His reassurance worked like a charm. Yin’er’s ears perked up instantly, and her tail wagged happily. “Okay!” she chirped, practically bouncing as she followed the others out of the room.

With everyone gone, Jin Shu let out a long sigh, allowing himself to relax slightly. He turned his focus inward, ready to sort through his foggy memories and uncover what had happened three years ago to bring him to this point.

He began by centering his attention on the space he believed represented his soul—the core of his being. It was where everything had started, where his psyches had once resided, and where the two elements he cultivated were now housed.

What he found left him speechless.

Where there had once been two small, colored motes of light—each representing one of his elements—there now existed something far more powerful. One was a swirling tornado, fierce and untamed, while the other was a vast pool of water, so expansive it bordered on becoming a lake. The energy emanating from them was almost overwhelming, their presence a testament to the transformation he’d undergone during his years of unconsciousness.

But before Jin Shu could examine them further, his mind shuddered violently, like a gong struck deep within his soul.

An apparition appeared before him, its sudden presence freezing him in place.

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