Runes • Rifles • Reincarnation
84. Reunion

Jin Shu sat beneath the same plum tree he had first seen upon arriving at the Immortal Phoenix Sect, its branches now heavy with blooming pink blossoms. Time seemed to blur as he stared at the delicate flowers swaying gently in the breeze. It felt like only yesterday he had stepped into this place, yet so much had transpired. He had embarked on a quest to find his mother, endured trials that seemed impossible, and finally, against all odds, reunited with her.

As a soft petal drifted down, Jin Shu caught it between his fingers, absentmindedly rolling it back and forth. His thoughts wandered through the memories of everything that had brought him to this moment—until a familiar voice cut through his reverie.

“Jin Shu!”

“Hm?” He blinked and turned to see his mother approaching.

“Everyone is gathered and waiting for you,” she said, her tone lightly reproachful.

“Oh, right. Sorry, I got lost in thought,” he replied, rising to his feet.

As he stood, his gaze shifted to the three women who had joined her.

Tian Li was the first to catch his eye, her dark hair swaying gently in the wind. Her turquoise eyes sparkled with amusement, and her outfit was an intriguing mix of modern and traditional styles—a design born from their collaborative lessons. She wore a cream tank top beneath an open teal-green robe, the sleeves adorned with intricate flower patterns, and her hair was tied back with red ribbons that fluttered lightly.

Next was Fan Biyu, dressed in her usual green robes. He couldn’t remember a time he’d seen her wear anything else. Each shade of green seemed chosen to complement her jade eyes and evergreen hair. Jin Shu often wondered if her preference had roots in her past, but he never dared to ask, not wanting to risk stirring painful memories.

His eyes finally fell on the third woman, and for a moment, he hesitated. Clad in a pristine white sangfu with a hooded headdress to match, she looked as though she had stepped out of mourning rites. The contrast between her attire and the others was stark and when his eyes met hers, he froze.

“Li Xue?” he asked, startled. “What are you doing here?”

Li Xue didn’t answer. Instead, she stepped forward, her lips curving into a bright smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes. Her aura, however, carried an unmistakable menacing edge, one that made Jin Shu instinctively wary.

Jin Shu instinctively backed up until the rough bark of the plum tree pressed against his back, his body tensing in anticipation of the blow he felt certain was coming. He raised his hands defensively. “Haha… um, Li Xue, I know you think I forgot about you—”

“I don’t,” she interrupted, her voice calm and even. That bright, unsettling smile never left her lips.

“Oh, good,” he said, exhaling in relief.

“Instead,” she continued, her tone sharpening like a blade, “I know you did.” She clapped her fist into her palm with a resounding smack. “And for that, you should willingly accept this beating.”

“What? No! I didn't, I swear!” Jin Shu waved his hands in frantic denial, his voice edging toward panic. His eyes darted to the others for help, pleading silently. Yet Tian Li, Fan Biyu, and even his own mother turned their heads away, pretending not to know him. Betrayed on all sides, his heart sank.

With no other options, Jin Shu made his decision—the only decision.

Run.

Summoning his connection with the elements in his soul, he called upon the Water element. The air shimmered as a rippling passage formed before him, its surface glinting like liquid glass. He dove through it without hesitation, the Wind element lending its strength to propel him forward.

He reappeared in the air above the others, his robes fluttering as he made a desperate attempt to stay aloft. But he quickly realized his grave mistake: he was no longer a dragon. The natural ability to soar effortlessly in the skies was gone. For humans, true flight required a cultivation at the Master Realm or rare, specialized techniques—neither of which he possessed.

The ground loomed below as he began to plummet, a mix of panic and disbelief flashing across his face. Instinctively, he called upon the Water element again. A shimmering portal opened beneath him just in time, swallowing his fall.

He re-emerged moments later above a stone table nearby, but his uncontrolled momentum sent him hurtling toward Chen Ai Yun.

“Waa! Watch out!” Jin Shu yelled, flailing wildly in midair as his trajectory aimed straight for her.

With a graceful wave of her hand, Chen Ai Yun barely glanced up. A carpet of flames materialized beneath him, catching his fall with a softness that defied all expectations. The fiery cushion radiated none of the searing heat one might expect; instead, it was as gentle as a warm breeze.

Jin Shu blinked, wide-eyed, as realization dawned. This wasn’t Aunt Chen’s Qi—it was the Fire element responding to her call.

A moment later, the carpet of flames dissipated, dropping Jin Shu onto the stone table with a soft thud. He landed awkwardly, still trying to process how close he’d come to serious injury.

Chen Ai Yun giggled, her amusement evident as she folded her arms. “Maybe don’t try to escape to the sky when you can’t fly, yeah?”

He laughed awkwardly, scratching the back of his neck. “Yeah… I kind of forgot.”

“Forgot?” Her brow arched, curiosity flickering in her silver eyes.

Before he could explain, the sound of rushing footsteps interrupted. The others arrived, each wearing a mix of worry and exasperation on their faces.

“Are you okay?”

“You didn’t get hurt, did you?”

“What was that? How’d you end up in the sky?”

“Don’t think you can escape me that easily... but, you’re not hurt, are you?”

Their overlapping voices created a chaotic chorus of concern, though Tian Li’s voice carried a curious edge compared to the others’ worry.

Jin Shu raised his hands to calm them. “I’m fine, really,” he said with a faint smile. His gaze flicked upward to the morning sun, steadily climbing toward its zenith. “Anyway, let’s sit and talk before the day’s over.”

The group exchanged glances before nodding. One by one, they took seats around the table. Li Xue hesitated, a lingering frown on her face as though she wanted to press the issue further. In the end, she huffed softly and sat down as well.

“I’d like to hear what you’ve all been up to in the three years that I… slept through,” Jin Shu said, his tone laced with curiosity.

“Ooh! I’ll go first!” Tian Li said, bouncing to her feet with a burst of excitement.

Jin Shu turned toward her, only to look away again as her boundless energy made him feel slightly dizzy and unsure where to place his eyes. “Alright, Tian Li, what is it?”

“Look here!” she exclaimed.

Risking a glance back, Jin Shu caught sight of her spinning gracefully, her long sleeves billowing in the air like flowing ribbons. For a moment, she looked like a celestial maiden from a divine painting, radiant and ethereal.

“How do my new clothes look?” she asked, stopping mid-spin in a playful pose with a delighted smile.

“Wow! So beautiful!” Li Xue clapped her hands, her eyes sparkling with admiration. “I don’t mind giving up my position to you.”

Tian Li tilted her head in confusion. “What position?”

Li Xue blinked, snapping out of her daze. “No! Nothing, never mind!” she said quickly, waving her hands in denial.

“Alright...” Tian Li shrugged before turning to Jin Shu with an eager look. “What about you, teacher? What do you think?”

Jin Shu blinked, caught off guard. “Teacher? Since when was I a teacher?”

“You taught me all about those lovely clothing styles! So of course, you’re my teacher.” she declared with a grin.

“Sure, whatever you like,” he said with a wry smile, shaking his head, already he was starting to miss the shy Tian Li. “Anyway… you look beautiful. I mean—the clothes do. Well, you and the clothes…” He trailed off, rubbing his neck awkwardly as he stumbled over his words.

Tian Li beamed at the praise, but Jin Shu quickly cleared his throat to continue. “You did a great job mixing modern and traditional styles. But, uh, you might want to cover up a bit more if you’re going outside the sect.”

Her smile dimmed slightly, and she pouted. “Why? Isn’t it pretty like this?”

“It is,” he admitted, his tone softening, “but… not everyone out there has good intentions. Better safe than sorry, right?”

Tian Li huffed but didn’t argue further, though her disappointed expression lingered.

“Tian Li, he’s saying that for your own good. And I agree—you should dress more conservatively,” Chen Ai Yun said gently, her tone firm yet kind. Then, with a small smile, she added, “But while you’re here in the sect, you can wear whatever beautiful clothing you like.”

Tian Li nodded timidly, her enthusiasm slightly tempered. “Okay, Master.”

Li Xue cleared her throat dramatically, drawing all attention to herself. “Well, I’ll go next,” she declared, standing with an exaggerated flourish.

A tragic expression settled on her face as she began her theatrics. “It was three years ago when I was abandoned by my husband—uw!” She clutched her chest as if struck by an invisible blow, her expression one of exaggerated melancholy. “He left me in search of his mother, accompanied by his other wife!” She turned to Jin Shu with a pointed, accusing look before continuing, her tone heavy with melodrama. “He promised he would return soon, but deep down, I knew the truth. He was abandoning me to my lonely, desolate fate, with only the hollow echo of his empty promise—a kiss upon his return.”

Her solo performance continued as she moved about the courtyard, clothes billowing around her, gesturing as though on stage.

Jin Shu groaned and facepalmed, dragging his hand down his face in exasperation. “I didn’t—”

“Shh!” Li Xue cut him off with a finger pressed to her lips, silencing him with all the flair of an experienced performer.

“As the days and months dragged on,” she said, her voice rising with melodramatic despair, “each moment more excruciating than the last, I waited and waited. Oh, how I waited for my beloved to return and grace me with the kiss he promised! But alas! My cruel husband had abandoned me for good, choosing instead to bask in the company of the thousands of women in the Immortal Phoenix Sect!”

At this, she dropped to her knees, clutching her robes as though they were the source of her torment.

“I haven’t even left this courtyard since the day I arrived,” Jin Shu interjected, his tone flat, though he wasn’t sure why he felt the need to defend himself. After all, they weren’t actually husband and wife.

His words fell on deaf ears as Li Xue continued her dramatic lament.

Her eyes glistened with unshed tears, her voice trembling as she continued. “I was at my lowest, plagued by the agonizing question: would my husband ever return to me? Deep down, I knew the truth. He had long forgotten this lowly wife, captivated by the phoenix beauties that surrounded him.”

Li Xue paused for dramatic effect, stepping to the other side of the table with all the grace of a tragic heroine. “But then, in the depths of my despair, a light pierced through the darkness—a light so radiant and beautiful it stole my breath away.”

Without missing a beat, she wrapped her arms around Sun Mei’er’s shoulders, leaning into her as if drawing strength from her presence. “That light was none other than the very woman my cruel husband abandoned me in search of. My savior, my beloved mother-in-law! ‘Come with me, my cute daughter-in-law,’ she said. And like a moth to a flame, I reached for her outstretched hand.”

Her voice softened, taking on a wistful tone as she stared into the distance. “With a flash of red light, we traveled thousands of miles from our home. There, in that unfamiliar land, I found the one I had been searching for… my husband.” Her gaze shifted to Jin Shu, a flicker of pain dancing in her eyes. “But alas, he was so far out of reach.”

Li Xue sighed deeply, resting her head on Sun Mei’er’s shoulder with the air of someone burdened by endless sorrow. Her pained expression was so heart-wrenching that it nearly brought tears to the eyes of everyone present.

And then, as if on cue, her demeanor flipped in an instant. She straightened up, a bright smile lighting up her face, and her bubbly energy returned as if her previous anguish had been a mere illusion.

“And that’s my story!” she declared cheerfully, clapping her hands together. “Well, I stayed here for a year after that, but honestly, nothing too exciting happened.”

Li Xue skipped back to her seat, a happy-go-lucky expression plastered across her face, as if she hadn’t just delivered an over-the-top emotional performance moments ago. She plopped down and turned to Fan Biyu. “Your turn!”

Fan Biyu gave a small shrug, her tone nonchalant. “I just cultivated for the past three years and recently reached the 9th stage of the Core Realm. Nothing exciting.”

A brief silence followed before Chen Ai Yun spoke up, a faint smile tugging at her lips. “Mei’er and I taught Yin’er—”

“No! No more lessons…” Yin’er mumbled in her sleep, her small legs kicking out from her spot under the table.

“Pfft, sounds like she had fun,” Jin Shu joked, barely containing his laughter.

Chen Ai Yun chuckled lightly. “Yes, about as much fun as a three-year-old tiger cub can have while learning to read, write, and other such basics.”

“I bet.” Jin Shu’s eyes shifted to his mother. “What about you, Mom? Did you do anything special?”

Sun Mei’er glanced at him, her eyes sparkling with a mischievous glint. “Nope, just the same as Ai Yun,” she said, her voice teasing. Then she leaned forward slightly, her gaze narrowing. “But now it’s your turn. Start with why you had a Spirit Beast fang lodged in your forehead.”

Jin Shu winced, rubbing the spot on his forehead reflexively. He nodded, exhaling slowly as he collected his thoughts.

“All right,” he began, his tone shifting as he prepared to recount his tale. “I’ll tell you everything. Though, fair warning—it’s even more absurd than having memories from another world.”

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