Over the course of two weeks, Jin Shu inscribed three new runes onto his body: the Body Strengthening Rune, the Qi Compression Rune, and the Qi Gathering Rune.
The Qi Compression Rune, as its name suggested, compressed his qi, temporarily lowering his cultivation by two stages, back to the 4th stage. However, this compression made his qi twice as potent as that of someone at the same level.
The Qi Gathering Rune allowed him to absorb qi at twice the normal rate, accelerating his cultivation speed. While impressive, it wasn’t extraordinary—his mother had once explained that the signature cultivation technique of the Immortal Phoenix Sect allowed disciples to cultivate four times faster. Unfortunately, only women could practice that technique; otherwise, she would have given it to him long ago.
Jin Shu was now searching for his father. He wanted to craft a special weapon as a gift for his mother when she returned. Though he wasn’t certain how effective a modern weapon would be against someone at her level of cultivation, the thought of her having another means of defense—especially something unique to this world—gave him peace of mind. 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 flattery odd. He didn’t particularly like it, but he couldn’t say he disliked it either.
The dual memories from his two lives often left him in conflict. On most matters, they aligned seamlessly, but on others, they clashed, stirring up a confusing mix of emotions.
Pushing those thoughts aside, Jin Shu focused on his current task: finding his father to gain access to the family's storage for the materials he needed.
Yet, for some reason, his father was nowhere to be found. Jin Shu had checked all the usual places—his parents’ courtyard, his father’s personal workshop, and even the outdoor forge. Each time, he came up empty-handed. If his father wasn’t out of the manor, there was only one other place left to check: his grandfather’s throne room.
Unlike others, who would face execution for possessing a throne, Jin Shu’s grandfather was an exception. The throne had been a gift from the late 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 commoners alike, was the emperor’s doted-upon sister. She was untouchable, a living legend in her own right.
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 center of the hall was his hulking figure.
For most, the sight would have been horrifying. For Jin Shu, it was an all-too-familiar scene. His father cultivated a bizarre technique that tempered his body like a blade—through relentless beatings. Normally, his mother handled this grueling task, but with her absent, the responsibility fell to someone stronger. The only suitable candidate in the city 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, ornate throne, was the very man in question. Jin Shu’s grandfather exuded an imposing aura, his hulking frame resting against the carved armrests as if the throne itself 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 resemblance was uncanny—both stood over two meters tall, with bulging muscles that called to mind Earth’s strongest bodybuilders. They shared the same rugged features and bushy beards, though Jin Shu’s grandfather’s was streaked with light gray, contrasting with his father’s jet-black whiskers.
Jin Shu couldn’t help but feel a pang of gratitude that he had inherited 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 countless hours at the forge. His features were sharp, refined, and striking—far more reminiscent of his mother’s beauty than the rugged, almost primal looks of his male relatives.
The only similarities he shared with his father and grandfather were his height and to a lesser degree, his skin tone. Otherwise, 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 perch on his shoulder, her voice carrying a mix of curiosity and amusement.
He glanced at his grandfather and noticed the old man’s eyes were shut, his chest rising and falling in time with the faint sound of snoring. As for his father, he remained sprawled on the floor, clearly unconscious—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 storage. 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 turned to leave—only to hear the faint creak of wood shifting behind him.
“Big guy wakie,” Yin’er whispered from her perch on his shoulder.
Before Jin Shu could react, something hard struck the back of his head.
Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel.
Whack!
A sharp pain exploded as Jin Shu saw stars. He stumbled forward, collapsing onto his hands and knees, the 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, towering and imposing, stood with piercing eyes locked on him. In one hand, he held a dragon-headed wooden cane, still raised and ready to strike again.
“Oh, it’s you.” The older man lowered the cane, 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 tone despite his irritation. “I came to ask for permission to access the storage,” he explained. “I need special metals for a weapon I’m crafting for Mother.”
His grandfather's stern expression melted into approval. “A gift for your mother, eh? Admirable. You have my permission.” He turned to retrieve something from beside the throne, then gestured toward the keys now lying on the floor. “But no sneaking around next time. 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 man extended his hand, a rope holding a key dangling before Jin Shu’s eyes.
Jin Shu frowned slightly, taking the key with uncertainty. “What is this?”
“It’s the key to my personal storage. You can 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 straightened, tilting 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 planned to reveal the runes inscribed on his body, knowing his grandfather might react with skepticism—or worse, disapproval. But under the weight of his grandfather’s intense gaze, he felt compelled to explain at least part of the truth.
“I stumbled upon a fortuitous encounter,” he said cautiously. “And I’ve been using some... unique methods to enhance my cultivation.”
“Unique methods?” His grandfather raised a bushy eyebrow. “What kind of methods?”
After a moment of deliberation, Jin Shu said, “I discovered a cultivation technique that requires me to inscribe runes on my body. Namely, the Qi Gathering Rune and the Qi Compression Rune. Together, they help me cultivate faster and strengthen my qi.”
His grandfather stroked his beard thoughtfully. “Runes, hmm? Interesting. That’s not a path I’ve heard of. But use caution—rushing ahead without understanding the risks can 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 can’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 blade without a hilt—it’ll cut you down just as easily as your enemies.”
Jin Shu bowed again. “Thank you for your guidance, Grandfather.”
“Go on, then. Collect your materials. But come back when you’re done—I want to see how you’re progressing.”
“Yes, Grandfather,” Jin Shu said, stepping back.
“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 stunned to protest, her fur bristling as she looked around in confusion.
“Grandfather?” Jin Shu asked cautiously, worry tightening in his chest.
“Hmm?” The older man glanced at 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 encounter you spoke of?”
“Um, partially, yes.”
“I see. I heard her talking. What an interesting little creature.”
“Yin’er not a little creature! Yin’er is Yin’er!” she growled, puffing up indignantly.
His grandfather’s booming laugh filled the room. “Ahahaha! Fierce, isn’t she? I like her!”
Yin’er puffed out her chest proudly, her tiny face alight with satisfaction.
“Alright, go on now.”
Jin Shu turned and left the throne room, Yin’er quietly chittering her approval as she settled back onto his shoulder.
As he walked, Jin Shu felt a flicker of pride. His grandfather’s acknowledgment wasn’t given lightly, and it strengthened his resolve. There was much to do, and little time to waste.