Jin Shu climbed through the narrow hole in the wall, stepping over the pool of yet to dry blood. He shuddered at the sight, “hey Nano, I don't think I thanked you yet. So, thanks for saving me here.”

  “We were only saving ourselves.”

  “Regardless, thank you.”

  “You're wele.”

  The early m light filtered through the trees, and in the foliage of one of those trees his eyes spotted a squirrel perched on a branch, its small paws and snout smeared with berry stains. The creature seemed to be watg him, its bright eyes glinting with an odd intelligehey reized each other instantly.

  He reflexively reached for his pistol, ready to deal with the little devil. But he hesitated, gng at the adorable little tiger cub on his shoulder. Before he could decide, Yin'er leaped off his shoulder, barreling toward the squirrel in a blur of silver fur.

  The two animals cshed in a fierce flurry of cws and squeaks, Yin'er's small but sharp cws swiping as the squirrel scrambled to dodge, Yin'er's cws cut small swaths of fur from the squirrel's body. Jin Shu watched in a mixture of and amusement as Yin'er mao nd a blow that clipped off a small horn protruding from the squirrel's forehead. With a screech, the now partially naked and hornless squirrel leaped to another brand scampered off, disappearing into the foliage.

  With a swish of her wings Yin'er bounded ba, looking quite pleased with herself as she held the broken horn in her mouth like a trophy. Jin Shu chuckled, scratg her behind the ears. "You’re a real little warrior, aren’t you?"

  With Yin'er safely ba his shoulder, he made his way home, his clothes dusty, bloody and nearly ripped to shreds from the night’s advehe first rays of dawn were lighting the city as he approached his home. He spotted his mother waiting anxiously by the manor's entrance.

  Her eyes widened as she took in his appearance, from his dirt-streaked face to his barely held together clothes and wild hair. But her gaze quickly nded oiger cub perched proudly on his shoulder.

  "Shu!" She rushed over, her expression a mix of shod dismay. "Where have you been all night!? Why are your clothes ripped!? Is this blood!!? And what is that!?"

  Jin Shu opened his mouth to expin, but she cut him off, waving a hand dramatically at Yin'er. "Don’t tell me you’ve joihe Beastmaster Sect! You know I was hoping you’d join my sestead." She pced her hands on her hips, feigning a disappointed sigh. "I even had pns to make it your personal harem!"

  “Pftt!” Fan Biyu had just stepped out when she heard what Sun Mei'er said. She tried and failed to stifle her ughter.

  "Mother!" Jin Shu blurted, face flushing. "It’s not like that! And Yin’er isn’t from the Beastmaster Sect…she’s just… a pet I found on the road. And besides, I 't join a female-only sect."

  His mother narrowed her eyes pyfully, smirking as she crossed her arms, pletely ign his protests. "A pet, huh? Well, if you’re bringing home tiger cubs now, maybe you’ll start bringing home a few women, too. Just remember, I’ve got plenty of lovely disciples in my sect who’d be more than willing to dote on you."

  Jin Shu groaned, his face turning even redder as he tried to steer the versation away from his mother’s matchmaking. "I think I’ll stick to the path I’m on. Besides, I’ve got plenty to hah just this one."

  His mhed, shaking her head as she pulled him into a hug. "Fine, fine. But you’ll have to tell me all about your adveer." She g Yin’er, her expression softening. "And make sure this little os a bath. She looks like she’s been through a battle already."

  Jin Shu let out a ugh, feeling a warmth he hadn’t realized he missed. "Sure, Mom. And thanks."

  “Ah!” His mothers shout startled everyone.

  “What? Why are you shouting suddenly?”

  Tears formed at the ers of her eyes. “You called me mom!” She hugged him even tighter, refusing to let go, while he struggled to break free.

  ***

  Jin Shu climbed into the warm bath, a relut tiger cub held firmly in his arms.

  Spsh!

  “Mew!!” Yin’er filed wildly as the water engulfed her small body.

  “Calm down, it’s just a quick bath,” Jin Shu said, his tone firm but amused. Holdiill with one hand, he thered shampoo into her fur with the n her attempts to escape.

  The moment he rihe suds from her coat, Yin’er sprang from the tub in a blur of wet fur, shaking water in every dire. Settling a safe distance away, she instinctively began to lick herself dry, only to recoil in horror at the lingering fragrance of the shampoo.

  Jin Shu couldn’t help but ugh at her antics. His amusement earned him a sharp gre from the drippi furball, her small form radiating e despite her drenched appearance.

  After finishing his bath, Jin Shu headed to his mother’s courtyard, towel draped over his shoulders. His robes hung loosely around his waist, leaving his chest bare as he absentmindedly dried his hair—a habit carried over from his previous life. Ba Earth, he’d hought twice about going shirtless after a bath. Fabric ging to damp skin had always been more trouble than it was worth.

  “Whatever are you doing, son?”

  His mother’s teasing voice broke through his thoughts, prompting Jin Shu to gnce up. He froze as her expression came into focus—ughter dang in her eyes, a hand lightly c her mouth. But what truly caught his attention was Fan Biyu.

  The young woman was staring at him, her cheeks burning with a blush so deep it spread down her neck. Her wide-eyed expression seemed torween mortification and something else entirely.

  Before Jin Shu could piece it together, his mother’s amused voice filled the silence.

  “Are y to seduce my sweet disciple?” she asked, her tone ced with mischief.

  It took Jin Shu a moment to process her words. Then he gnced down at his bare chest and realization hit. He was no longer Jin Shu of Earth. This world had its own s and culture, and here, walking around bare-chested was far from casual. It was sdalous.

  Awkwardly, he clutched the towel tighter, his cheeks warming as he muttered, “It’s not what it looks like...”

  Jin Shu quickly dressed, pulling on his robes with an urgenore of embarrassment than y. As he tied the sash around his waist, he thought he heard a soft sigh behind him, but dismissed it as a trick of his imagination.

  Eager to ge the subject, he retrieved the earring he had found iiger’s ir and held it out for his mother to see.

  “Hmm? A spatial artifact, isn’t it? Something that stores items?” Sun Mei'er remarked, her eyes lighting up with curiosity as she exami. “Look, I have ooo.” She held up her hand, dispying a silver ring with a striking red gemstone.

  Jin Shu blinked in surprise. He had always assumed the ring was a wedding band, only now realizing that such traditions did in this world.

  “Well, I know what it is,” he said, his toeady. “I was actually w if y.”

  His mother tilted her head, a small frown f. “Reize it? No… should I?”

  “Uh… I guess not,” Jin Shu replied, a flicker of disappoi crossing his features before he brushed it aside.

  Sun Mei'er seemed not to notice. g her hands together, she beamed. “Anyway, I was about to teach Biyu some teiques. How about you join us?”

  Despite his initial hesitation, Jin Shu agreed. The three of them moved to the training area, where his man her instru with practiced ease.

  For Jin Shu, however, it was a different story. Having rained in the fighting styles of cultivators before, he struggled to keep up with the rigorous exercises and unfamiliar teiques. His body ached, and his pride took a beating, but he persisted heless.

  This routine tinued for the few days, with Jin Shu pushing himself to adapt to the demanding practices. Though the progress was slow, each sessiht him closer to uanding the world—and the people—he had been reborn into.

  Fan Biyu, ever amused by her master’s exuberance, often shot Jin Shu a sympathetic smile wheruggled to keep up with the exercises his mother demanded. Meanwhile, Yin’er, his loyal panion, basked iention she received, either trotting alongside him through the estate or curling up to nap on his shoulder. The little spirit beast had taken a particur liking to his mother, who delighted in pying with her whenever Jin Shu reoccupied with his rune practice.

  It was te iernoon a week ter when an urgent message arrived for Sun Mei'er. She pulled out a fshing talisman from inside her robes. Her expression turned serious as she pced the talisman to her head, allowing the information to transmit into her mind. She rose quickly, tug the talisman away.

  “Mother? What happened?” Jin Shu asked, seeing the ge in her demeanor.

  She hesitated, gng back at him with a hint of worry. “Some of my disciples have entered a group of demonic cultivators. I o go to them immediately.”

  He opened his mouth to protest but stopped himself. He knew how strong she was, but still, he felt a pang of worry. “Be careful, okay?”

  She nodded, giving him a reassuring smile. “Of course. I’ll be back soon.” With a final wave, she left, leaving him to watch her retreating form until it disappeared over the estate wall.

  Later that evening, Jin Shu sat in his workshop, Yin'er curled up at his feet. His thoughts kept drifting back to his mother and the dangers she might be fag right now. If only he had been able to create a on to protect her. He had the skills to craft powerful firearms, but after the fight with the horned squirrel and seeing how iive ordinary ons could be here, he wondered if they would be enough.

  Then, his gaze fell on the book—the pendium of Runes and Their Crafting. An idea formed, and his hand moved instinctively to grab the book, flipping through its pages. Mixing runes with his ons could be the answer, he realized. He didn’t know yet what would work best in this world, but he’d learn. For his mother, and for everyone he wao protect.