Over the course of two weeks, Jin Shu inscribed three new runes onto his body: the Body Strengthening Ruhe Qi pression Rune, and the Qi Gathering Rune.
The Qi pression Rune, as its name suggested, pressed his qi, temporarily l his cultivation by two stages, back to the 4th stage. However, this pression made his qi twice as potent as that of someo the same level.
The Qi Gathering Rune allowed him to absorb qi at twice the normal rate, accelerating his cultivation speed. While impressive, it wasraordinary—his mother had once expihat the signature cultivation teique of the Immortal Phoenix Sect allowed disciples to cultivate four times faster. Unfortunately, only women could practice that teique; otherwise, she would have given it to him long ago.
Jin Shu was now searg for his father. He wao craft a special on as a gift for his mother wheurhough he wasn’t certain how effective a modern on would be against someo her level of cultivation, the thought of her having another means of defense—especially something uo this wave him peaind. Even if it only caught an enemy off guard, it would be worth the effort.
As he walked through the winding paths of the Jin manor, servants bowed quickly as he passed, calling out, “Young Master Jin!” He found their fttery odd. He didn’t particurly like it, but he couldn’t say he disliked it either.
The dual memories from his two lives ofte him in fliost matters, they aligned seamlessly, but on others, they cshed, stirring up a fusing mix of emotions.
Pushing those thoughts aside, Jin Shu focused on his current task: finding his father to gain access to the family's ste for the materials he needed.
Yet, for some reason, his father was o be found. Jin Shu had checked all the usual pces—his parents’ courtyard, his father’s personal workshop, and evedoor fe. Each time, he came up empty-handed. If his father wasn’t out of the manor, there was only oher pce left to check: his grandfather’s throne room.
Uhers, who would face execution for possessing a throne, Jin Shu’s grandfather was an exception. The throne had been a gift from the te emperor himself, and the current emperor—a man Jin Shu called "uncle"—would never dare object. After all, Jin Shu’s mother, beloved by nobles and oners alike, was the emperor’s doted-upon sister. She was untouchable, a living legend in her ht.
When Jin Shu finally arrived at the throne room, he found his father—or what was left of him. Lying in a puddle of blood at the ter of the hall was his hulking figure.
For most, the sight would have been horrifying. For Jin Shu, it was an all-too-familiar se. His father cultivated a bizarre teique that tempered his body like a bde—through relentless beatings. Normally, his mother hahis grueling task, but with her absent, the responsibility fell to someorohe only suitable didate iy was Jin Shu’s grandfather, a cultivator at the 1st stage of the Spirit Realm.
At the far end of the throne room, seated atop a grand, orhrone, was the very man iion. Jin Shu’s grandfather exuded an imposing aura, his hulking frame resting against the carved armrests as if the throself were barely sturdy enough to support him.
“Greetings, Grandfather.” Jin Shu bowed deeply, his voice clear and respectful.
Looking at his grandfather was like seeing an older version of his father. Their resembnce was uny—both stood over two meters tall, with bulging muscles that called to mih’s stro bodybuilders. They shared the same rugged features and bushy beards, though Jin Shu’s grandfather’s was streaked with light gray, trasting with his father’s jet-bck whiskers.
Jin Shu couldn’t help but feel a pang of gratitude that he had ied his mother’s appearance. While his father and grandfather were undeniably handsome in a hulking, brutish way, Jin Shu stood apart. Tall and lean, his fair skin carried only a light tan from tless hours at the fe. His features were sharp, refined, and striking—far more remi of his mother’s beauty than the rugged, almost primal looks of his male retives.
The only simirities he shared with his father and grandfather were his height and to a lesser degree, his skin toherwise, he couldn’t have been more different—a fact for which he was quietly thankful.
Jin Shu was waiting for a response, but none came.
“Big guys are sleepies,” Yin’er said softly from her per his shoulder, her voice carrying a mix of curiosity and amusement.
He g his grandfather and noticed the old man’s eyes were shut, his chest rising and falling in time with the faint sound of sn. As for his father, he remained sprawled on the floor, clearly unscious—no doubt due to the sizable lump on the back of his head.
“Well,” Jin Shu muttered, “let me just get the key to the ste. I’m sure they wouldn’t mind.”
He crouched beside his father and carefully rummaged through his robes. After a moment, his fingers brushed against a set of keys. Pulling them free, he stood and turo leave—only to hear the faint creak of wood shifting behind him.
“Big guy wakie,” Yin’er whispered from her per his shoulder.
Before Jin Shu could react, something hard struck the back of his head.
Whack!
A sharp pain exploded as Jin Shu saw stars. He stumbled forward, colpsing onto his hands and khe keys slipping from his grasp.
“Where are you off to, little thief?” A booming voice echoed through the throne room, carrying both authority and irritation.
Jin Shu shook his head, blinking away the dizziness. As his vision stabilized, he looked up to see a massive shadow looming over him. His grandfather, t and imposing, stood with pierg eyes locked on him. In one hand, he held a dragon-headed wooden e, still raised and ready to strike again.
“Oh, it’s you.” The older man lowered the e, his expression softening. “What are you doing here, grandson?”
Jin Shu rubbed the sore spot on his head as he rose to his feet, careful to maintain a respectful toe his irritation. “I came to ask for permission to access the ste,” he expined. “I need special metals for a on I’m crafting for Mother.”
His grandfather's stern expressioed into approval. “A gift for your mother, eh? Admirable. You have my permission.” He turo retrieve something from beside the throheured toward the keys now lying on the floor. “But no sneaking arouime. Speak up like a man. If you’re caught skulking, I’ll assume you’re up to no good.”
“Yes, Grandfather.” Jin Shu bowed, suppressing a sigh as he picked up the keys. He should have known his grandfather wouldn’t let anything slide.
“Here.” The older maended his hand, a rope holding a key dangling before Jin Shu’s eyes.
Jin Shu frowned slightly, taking the key with uainty. “What is this?”
“It’s the key to my personal ste. You ask the chief steward for its location.”
Jin Shu bowed deeply. “Thank you, Grandfather!” He turned, eager to leave, but paused when he felt his grandfather’s gaze still locked on him.
“Hold on a moment.” His grandfather stepped closer, eyes narrowing. “Your qi... It feels different.”
Jin Shu straighteilting his head. “Different how?”
The older man’s eyes sharpened further as he evaluated his grandson. “You’ve advanced,” he said after a moment. “You’re at the 4th stage of the Qi Realm.”
Jin Shu nodded. “Yes, I made a breakthrough a little less than two weeks ago.”
“Two weeks ago?” His grandfather’s brows shot up in disbelief. “You’ve reached the 4th stage in just two weeks since breaking through to the Qi Realm from the Body Realm? That’s...” He trailed off, astonishment evident. “That’s unheard of.”
Jin Shu hesitated. He hadn’t po reveal the runes inscribed on his body, knowing his grandfather might react with skepticism—or worse, disapproval. But uhe weight of his grandfather’s intense gaze, he felt pelled to expin at least part of the truth.
“I stumbled upon a fortuitous enter,” he said cautiously. “And I’ve been using some... uhods to enhance my cultivation.”
“Uhods?” His grandfather raised a bushy eyebrow. “What kind of methods?”
After a moment of deliberation, Jin Shu said, “I discovered a cultivation teique that requires me to inscribe runes on my body. Namely, the Qi Gathering Rune and the Qi pression Ruogether, they help me cultivate faster and strengthen my qi.”
His grandfather stroked his beard thoughtfully. “Runes, hmm? Iing. That’s not a path I’ve heard of. But use caution—rushing ahead without uanding the risks be dangerous.”
“I know,” Jin Shu said, meeting his grandfather’s gaze with determination. “But it’s effective. And if I want to protect Mother—and this family—I ’t afford to be ordinary.”
The older man studied him for a long moment before nodding. “Good,” he said simply. “You have ambition, and you’re willing to take risks. But be careful, Jin Shu. Ambition without discipline is a bde without a hilt—it’ll cut you down just as easily as your enemies.”
Jin Shu bowed again. “Thank you for yuidance, Grandfather.”
“Go on, then. Colleaterials. But e back when you’re done—I want to see how you’re progressing.”
“Yes, Grandfather,” Jin Shu said, stepping babsp;
“Wait!” his grandfather called out again, making a grasping motion with his hand.
To Jin Shu’s shock, Yin’er suddenly appeared in the old man’s open palm. She was too stuo protest, her fur bristling as she looked around in fusion.
“Grandfather?” Jin Shu asked cautiously, worry tightening in his chest.
“Hmm?” The older man g him and chuckled at his expression. “Ah, don’t worry, I won’t harm your little pet.”
“Thank you,” Jin Shu said, relief washing over him.
“Was this the fortuitous enter you spoke of?”
“Um, partially, yes.”
“I see. I heard her talking. What an iing little creature.”
“Yin’er not a little creature! Yin’er is Yin’er!” she growled, puffing up indignantly.
His grandfather’s booming ugh filled the room. “Ahahaha! Fierce, isn’t she? I like her!”
Yin’er puffed out her chest proudly, her tiny face alight with satisfa.
“Alright, go on now.”
Jin Shu turned ahe throne room, Yin’er quietly chittering her approval as she settled bato his shoulder.
As he walked, Jin Shu felt a flicker of pride. His grandfather’s aowledgment wasn’t given lightly, and it strengthened his resolve. There was much to do, and little time to waste.
