13. Crafting

Jin Shu carefully arranged the rare materials he had retrieved from his father’s and grandfather’s storages. Each metal was so valuable that it could buy a mansion in Black Mountain City on its own, and together they were worth more than the entire city. But for what he intended to craft, only the finest would do.

Each of the four metals held unique properties that would ensure the weapon's superiority. Black Iron would serve as the base, providing unmatched durability. Black Gold, known for its natural qi absorption, would enhance the weapon's ability to harmonize with its wielder. Rose Gold, chosen for its vibrant hue—his mother’s favorite color—also had a rare ability to strengthen other metals. Finally, Quicksilver would act as a perfect conduit for the intricate runes he planned to inscribe.

A fond memory surfaced as he prepared the materials. He recalled the day he gifted his mother a pair of rose gold earrings, years before his memories of his past life returned. She had fallen in love with the color, insisting that any future gifts from him include it. Jin Shu couldn’t help but smile; this weapon wasn’t just a tool—it was a tribute to her.

He activated his Nanophone, summoning a holographic blueprint of a weapon he had admired in his previous life: a Glock 19. It was simple, reliable, and effective—everything a weapon meant for self-defense should be. But before crafting his mother’s gift, he would test his skills on a personal project. Swiping to another blueprint, he revealed the design of an M110A1 CSASS Sniper Rifle.

The blacksmithing process began with a stirring of Jin Shu's qi as he sat cross-legged in front of a forge powered by spiritual flames. Channeling his qi through his dantian, he extended his hands over the materials. A faint glow surrounded him as his qi connected with the metals, analyzing their essence and binding their energies together.

He began with Black Iron, heating it until it glowed white-hot under the spiritual flames. His qi infused the metal as he hammered it, reinforcing its structure and ensuring its durability. Each strike resonated with his cultivation, the force tempered by precise bursts of qi that spread evenly through the metal.

Next came Black Gold, its molten state shimmering with a dark luster as he poured it over the Black Iron core. Manipulating his qi, he guided the metals to merge seamlessly, their essences intertwining. The resulting alloy pulsed faintly with a natural rhythm, proof of Black Gold's qi-conducting properties.

Rose Gold followed, its vibrant hue reflecting in the forge’s glow. As he worked, Jin Shu carefully balanced the infusion of his qi to amplify the strengthening effect it imparted on the alloy. However, as the Rose Gold spread over the weapon, its distinctive coloration began to dominate the surface.

Jin Shu paused, holding the partially formed weapon aloft. A realization struck him: while Rose Gold was perfect for his mother’s gift, a pink-tinted sniper rifle would be… less than ideal for his personal use. His face reddened slightly at the thought of unveiling such a weapon in battle.

“I can’t believe I didn’t think of this,” he muttered, shaking his head.

He quickly reached for another ingot of Black Gold and heated it to a molten state. This time, he infused it with more qi, ensuring it would fully bond with the Rose Gold and overtake its coloration. Pouring the enriched Black Gold over the weapon, he channeled his cultivation to guide the merging process, layering the darker alloy over the bright surface.

As the hues blended, Jin Shu focused intently, ensuring the qi flow within the metals remained harmonious. Gradually, the sniper rifle took on the sleek, dark sheen of Black Gold, with only the faintest hints of Rose Gold peeking through in subtle, decorative streaks.

He exhaled in relief. “Much better. A sniper rifle should look intimidating, not like a gift for a princess.”

Finally, he added Quicksilver in thin, flowing channels, creating an intricate lattice within the weapon’s core. These channels would serve as conduits for the runes, allowing them to activate with minimal qi expenditure. Jin Shu’s cultivation surged as he etched the pathways, the spiritual energy within him vibrating in harmony with the alloy.

Once the base structure was complete, Jin Shu moved to inscribe the runes. The Inscribing Needle in his hand glowed faintly with concentrated qi, humming as he guided it over the weapon’s surface. Each stroke demanded unwavering focus, the patterns needing to align perfectly with the flow of energy embedded within the alloy. As the runes took shape, they pulsed faintly, signaling their successful activation.

First, he carved a Durability Rune, designed to further enhance the weapon’s tenacity, ensuring it could endure prolonged use without fail. Next came a Silence Rune, crafted to muffle the sound of bullets firing, allowing him to remain hidden during ambushes or stealth missions.

He paused, momentarily satisfied, but an absurd thought began to form in the back of his mind. What if he added an Explosion Rune to the firing mechanism? Would it propel the bullet with greater force, increasing its power and range? The idea seemed reckless—potentially dangerous—but curiosity quickly overpowered caution.

“Well, there’s only one way to find out,” he muttered with a small smirk.

Carefully, Jin Shu etched the Explosion Rune into the firing chamber, channeling his qi meticulously to avoid disrupting the delicate balance of the other runes. When he finished, the sniper rifle gleamed with a muted, otherworldly sheen.

He held it up, inspecting the craftsmanship. The weight felt perfect, the energy within the weapon flowed seamlessly, and the runes glimmered faintly in the dim light. Yet as he admired his creation, a sudden realization struck him.

“Hmm? It doesn’t have a scope…” He furrowed his brow. “Uh, I’m not sure how to forge glass, so I guess I’ll have to make do with iron sights for now.” With a wry smile, he shrugged. “Well, at least the structure is perfect. Although I won’t know if it works until I try it.”

Jin Shu set the rifle aside, his expression calm but tinged with satisfaction. The first step was complete. Now came the true challenge—perfecting the weapon that would one day protect the woman who had always protected him.

Crossing his legs, Jin Shu began to meditate, restoring the qi he had expended during the forging process. His breathing slowed as he sank into a trance, energy flowing smoothly through his meridians.

I’ll make the structure of Mother’s gun first before I test the rifle. Then, if the runes work as intended, I’ll inscribe them onto her weapon, he thought, his resolve solidifying as he focused on replenishing his strength.

The time it takes for an incense stick to burn passed before Jin Shu reopened his eyes, his qi fully restored. Without hesitation, he rose to his feet and returned to the forge, ready to begin again.

He started by heating the Black Iron, his qi surging through his hands as he stoked the spiritual flames. The metal glowed white-hot, and Jin Shu’s hammer struck with rhythmic precision. Each strike was imbued with his qi, molding the iron into shape while enhancing its strength. Slowly but surely, the foundation of his mother’s gun began to take form.

Hours passed as Jin Shu worked meticulously, each step executed with unwavering precision. He wasn’t in any rush—what he sought was perfection, and only perfection would suffice. Anything less was unacceptable.

Just as he began putting the finishing touches on his work, a sudden, deafening crash echoed through the workshop, shattering his focus. It sounded like a cascade of metal objects colliding violently, followed by a pained yelp.

“Daddy! Help!!”

His heart clenched at the sound of Yin’er’s voice. Forgetting the forge entirely, Jin Shu whipped around, his gaze locking onto the far corner of the workshop. His blood ran cold as he saw Yin’er pinned beneath a fallen shelf, her small body trapped under its weight.

“Hold on!” he shouted, already sprinting across the expansive workshop. He cursed himself for keeping such a large, cluttered space, the distance between them feeling unbearable in that moment.

Reaching her, he grabbed the heavy shelf and, with a surge of qi-fueled strength, heaved it off her. The shelf crashed into the wall, shattering into splinters from the sheer force of his throw.

Dropping to his knees, Jin Shu gently cradled Yin’er in his arms, his hands trembling as he examined her for injuries. His stomach twisted when he noticed her wings bent at unnatural angles, blood staining her delicate feathers. His breath hitched as he spotted the faint glint of bone peeking through.

“I’m so sorry, Yin’er,” he whispered, his voice breaking. “Hold on, I’ll get you help.”

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Without a second thought, he moved to carry her out of the workshop. But before he reached the door, her wings twitched weakly. He froze, watching in stunned disbelief as the jagged bones realigned themselves, feathers regrowing over the wounds. Her injuries began to heal right before his eyes, just as they had when her tooth mended days prior.

Jin Shu let out a shaky exhale, relief washing over him like a wave. “You’re healing… just like before,” he murmured, cradling her closer. Though the immediate danger had passed, his hands didn’t stop trembling. The sight of her hurt—even briefly—was something he never wanted to experience again.

14. Emergency

Boooom!!

An ungodly noise echoed through the mountainous forest, reverberating off the cliffs and weaving through the trees. A moment later, a massive three-meter-thick tree groaned and collapsed, its trunk blasted apart by a Honda Civic-sized hole.

“Haha! I love this thing!” Jin Shu shouted, though his ears were still ringing from the deafening report of the sniper rifle. He grinned but let out a resigned sigh. “I just wish the Silence Rune had worked… Then again, the noise might be useful for surprising and disorienting enemies.”

“You may need to inscribe the bullets with the Silence Rune for it to be effective," Nano chimed in.

“Yeah, I figured as much,” Jin Shu muttered. “Still, that’s going to take a lot of work…”

He heaved another sigh as the rifle in his hands began to glow softly, vanishing in an instant. In its place appeared a pink-and-black Glock 19, which he turned over in his hands thoughtfully.

His shoulders sagged as he remembered the circumstances of its creation. While crafting the pistol, Yin’er had hurt herself, and he’d left the weapon in the forge to go help her. By the time he returned, one side of the gun had been scorched black. With the last of his rose gold, he’d made adjustments, carving his mother’s name—Sun Mei'er—into the blackened side and inlaying it with the precious metal. He hadn’t had enough material to reforge it entirely, so he’d done the best he could.

As his mind wandered, Yin’er darted through the foliage of distant trees before landing lightly on his shoulder. “Daddy, no more loud noises?” she asked, her tone tinged with a not so subtle hint of boredom.

Jin Shu snapped out of his thoughts at the sound of her voice. “No, there’s going to be one more. Go back, I don’t want you hurting your ears, okay?”

“Boo! Stinky Daddy!” she cried out, puffing up her cheeks in mock anger. Still, she flew off, flitting through the trees. On her way, she spotted a horned squirrel and immediately started a scuffle with it.

Jin Shu chuckled as he watched her chase the poor creature through the underbrush. “Don’t go too far,” he called out, concern creeping into his voice.

She glanced back at him but gave no response, neither agreeing nor refusing to stay close. He shook his head, a wry smile forming on his lips. He wasn’t too worried, though—he could sense her location through the bond they shared.

For now, he let her be. Shifting his focus back to the task at hand, Jin Shu glanced down at the pistol in his hand. He had come here to test the weapons he’d forged weeks ago.

He raised the gun, his mother’s future gift, and prepared to test it. Aiming down the sights, he took a deep breath, letting the rustling of the wind through the trees guide him. The cool breeze brushed against his skin, the earthly scents from the forest relaxing his body as he noted the direction the winds carried them, adjusting his aim accordingly.

Exhaling slowly, he squeezed the trigger.

Bang!

The pistol recoiled in his grip as the bullet shot forward. A soft thunk followed, marking its impact against a nearby tree trunk. Unlike the sniper rifle, there was no earth-shaking boom or oversized hole. Those effects were the result of the runes he’d painstakingly inscribed into the larger weapon.

For now, his mother’s gun had no runes. He was waiting until he could master more advanced inscriptions. Weapons could only support so many runes before the strain caused them to break, and this pistol needed to last. He wanted it to be perfect—he’d already botched the forging process once. He couldn’t afford to make another mistake with the runes.

Just as he prepared to test the weapons further, a piercing scream carried on the wind reached his ears. Dread gripped his heart, and his first thought was Yin’er. But as he focused on their connection, relief swept over him. She was safe and in the opposite direction of the scream.

Still, he tugged at their bond to call her back. He couldn’t send her thoughts, but he could push emotions and subtly manipulate the thread that linked them.

Moments later, Yin’er appeared, darting through the trees. She came flying toward him, a squirming squirrel clamped tightly in her jaw.

“Whaf’s wwong?” she mumbled through the struggling animal.

Jin Shu stifled a laugh. “Let the squirrel go first.”

Her furry face scrunched up in reluctance, but after a moment of contemplation, she spat the squirrel out. The poor creature scrambled off, chittering angrily as it disappeared into the foliage.

“What?” she huffed, irritation clear in her tone as her little whiskers twitched in annoyance.

Jin Shu almost laughed again but managed to keep his composure. “There was screaming—something bad might’ve happened nearby.” His tone grew serious as he explained the situation.

Aah!!

Another scream pierced the air, this one much closer.

“Wait… I think I recognize that voice…” Jin Shu murmured, his brow furrowing. He couldn’t place it yet, but something about the scream felt familiar.

“Based on speech recognition, that is the voice of your mother’s disciple, Fan Biyu,” Nano informed him.

“What? Are you sure?”

“99% certain.”

“Shit! Let’s go!” Jin Shu barked, taking off in the direction of the scream.

Yin’er fluttered after him, her small wings beating frantically. If it really was Fan Biyu, that meant his mother couldn’t be far. And judging by the desperation in her voice, Fan Biyu was in serious trouble.

As Jin Shu sprinted through the forest, weaving between trees and vaulting over rocks and tangled roots, memories of the last time he’d run through these woods surfaced. “It can’t be a Winged Tiger,” he thought. Surely, a beast like that wouldn’t push Fan Biyu to scream so desperately.

He refused to believe it. He’d seen her training with his mother. He’d even sparred with her once. Fan Biyu’s cultivation was leagues above his, and her combat techniques were, at the very least, on par with his own.

The memory of their sparring session flashed through his mind—her hands igniting with a vivid red fire as she struck his chest with a blazing palm. If she hadn’t held back at the last moment, he might still be recovering from the injuries. Just the thought of it sent a shiver racing down his spine.

Shaking the memory from his head, he pressed onward. The forest suddenly thinned, giving way to a clearing. There, three men stood over the prone form of a young woman. Her face was obscured, but Jin Shu’s gut twisted. Fan Biyu.

He crouched at the edge of the clearing, his breathing steadying as he focused on the men’s conversation.

“Hehehe! We’ve finally caught you, pretty little lady. You really gave us a run for our money, didn’t you?” sneered the man on the right, his voice dripping with malice.

“You didn’t actually think you could get away, did you?” mocked the one on the left, grinning cruelly.

The man in the middle leaned forward, his voice low and twisted with glee. “Now that we’ve caught you, we can return in time to enjoy both master and disciple. Ahahaha!”

Boom!!

A deafening crack shattered the tension as the middle man’s head erupted in a spray of blood and brain matter. His body crumpled to the ground, lifeless.

Jin Shu lowered the sniper rifle, as the bullet continued traveling, shattering a few trees in the distance, his breathing still calm as the remaining two men froze, drenched in the gore of their companion. His mind had been composed, focused on assessing the situation. But when they mentioned his mother, he snapped. Killing the man had brought him a flicker of calm, but he wasn’t done. If he’d started killing, he might as well finish the job—after getting some answers.

In a blink, the sniper rifle vanished, replaced by an M17 pistol in his hand.

The two surviving men, still stunned, hadn’t even registered what had happened before Jin Shu fired.

Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!

Four shots rang out in rapid succession. The bullets tore into the men’s knees with precision, shattering bone and cartilage. They collapsed to the ground with strangled screams, writhing in pain as they clutched at their ruined legs.

Jin Shu stepped into the clearing, the faint smell of gunpowder mingling with the metallic tang of blood in the air. His voice was cold as ice. “Time to talk.” He spat the words out through his grit teeth.