Tattoos

Argh!

A guttural scream ripped through the silent workshop as Jin Shu began cultivating the Body Inscribing Art.

Searing pain tore through his body, the qi within him burning like molten lava as it coursed under his skin. His entire frame trembled, sweat pouring from his brow as his vision blurred. Every nerve in his body screamed in protest, urging him to stop.

Each stroke of qi felt like a blazing blade carving through his flesh—searing not just his skin but his muscles, nerves, and even his bones. The intricate lines of the dragon's serpentine body, the tiger's fierce stripes, and the swirling clouds demanded precision and finesse. This wasn't mere craftsmanship; it was a grueling battle of will against unbearable agony.

Jin Shu gasped for air, his hands clenched into fists so tightly that his nails pierced his palms. Blood dripped to the floor, pooling beneath him. The faint glow of the design on his body taunted him, its ethereal radiance a stark contrast to his suffering.

"I... can't," he whispered, his voice trembling. The pain threatened to overwhelm him, a wave of nausea rising in his stomach. His resolve faltered as despair crept into his thoughts.

Then, a memory flashed before his eyes—his mother’s determined smile as she left to fight against demonic cultivators. Her fierce resolve ignited something within him. Jin Shu clenched his jaw, forcing his trembling body to steady.

"No," he growled through gritted teeth. "Power isn’t a luxury—it’s survival."

The image of his past life surfaced—the battles he’d fought, the monsters he’d slain. Though the enemies of his previous life were absent here, the challenges were no less daunting. Mythical beasts and immortals would demand strength beyond his current limits. His mother was out there, fighting an enemy he had never seen. The thought of her being hurt fueled a rage that burned hotter than the qi in his veins.

He slammed his fist against the worktable, shattering it into splinters. A roar tore from his throat as the dragon’s claws took shape on his skin, fierce and unyielding. The tiger’s fangs gleamed with latent strength. The mountain stood tall and unbroken, surrounded by ethereal clouds. Each stroke of qi carved a piece of his soul into the design, binding his will to his craft.

The agony was indescribable, yet Jin Shu pressed on. With each completed line, a new surge of power coursed through him. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, the last stroke was carved.

Jin Shu collapsed to his knees, gasping for breath. The tattoos on his body glowed faintly, their intricate details shimmering with latent power. He traced a trembling hand over the designs, feeling the residual heat radiating from his skin.

He had done it.

Qi began to gush into the room, whipping up a small dust cloud. It poured into his body, settling in his dantian. His cultivation quickly grew from the 4th stage to the 6th stage of the Qi Realm.

Through the haze of exhaustion, a faint smile crept across his lips. The pain had been unbearable, but the power etched into his being was undeniable.

“This is just the beginning,” he whispered hoarsely. “I’ll endure whatever it takes... to protect everything I hold dear.”

The tattoos pulsed, as if answering his resolve. Jin Shu gritted his teeth and forced himself to his feet. This was only the foundation. Next would come the runes, a task that would demand even more from him.

But for now, rest was essential. His flesh burned as though it were on fire; he doubted he could survive another attempt. He picked up the snoring Yin'er, who had somehow slept through his screams, and left the workshop.

***

Over the next few days, Jin Shu refrained from inscribing more runes, waiting for the burning pain of his tattoos to subside. Instead, he immersed himself in studying the runes detailed in the compendium. Mastery would be crucial if he wanted to engrave them onto his body.

The Body Inscribing Art only provided a specific set of runes for each realm of cultivation, limiting him to two sets at his current level. To access more powerful or unique runes, Jin Shu would need to learn and perfect them separately.

Fortunately, the runes from the Body Inscribing Art came with detailed instructions, unlike the compendium’s runes, which required painstaking practice to master. With the aid of Nano and the Nanophone, Jin Shu could accelerate the learning process significantly.

***

“It only took me a week to master six new runes and four older ones. That’s got to be a record,” Jin Shu mused, admiring the ten perfectly inscribed holographic runes before him.

Taking a deep breath, he sighed heavily. “Time to inscribe the first set of runes.”

He activated his qi, letting it flow through his meridians. Slowly at first, then faster, the qi grew hotter until it seared every part of his body it touched.

“Aah! It burns—like fire in my veins!” Jin Shu’s screams echoed in the workshop. He bit his lip so hard that blood dripped down his chin, but it did little to suppress his cries.

“Would you like me to temporarily suppress your pain receptors?”

“You can do that?” Jin Shu rasped, his voice strained.

“Yes, but it is risky. Prolonged suppression could harm your body.”

“Do i—no!” he interrupted, shaking his head. “If I can’t handle this, I’ll end up relying on your help. I won’t let myself become weak.”

Nano momentarily suppressed the pain, but Jin Shu immediately regretted it. He had seen people grow addicted to such relief, their willpower eroded. He couldn’t allow himself to follow that path.

The pain returned with vengeance, eliciting a guttural roar as Jin Shu pressed on. His qi carved deep black grooves into his flesh, shaping the foundational Life-Giving Rune. This rune would not only bring life to the tattoos on his back but also empower every rune that followed.

Compared to the tattoo’s intricate details, inscribing runes was a less taxing process. In a fraction of the time, Jin Shu completed the Life-Giving Rune.

This time, no tables were broken. The memory of having to order a new worktable after his last outburst had been embarrassing enough.

Jin Shu stood back, inspecting the glowing rune in a mirror he had placed to the side so he could observe the runes. A smile tugged at his lips despite the lingering pain. “One down,” he muttered. “Though this is only the beginning.”

The next rune was a Body Strengthening Rune. It would strengthen his entire body, mainly his flesh and bones so they could hold up against subsequent runes. Without this rune the normal human body would eventually give out under the strain of the runes inscribing process. Though Jin Shu didn't need to worry as much as others due to having nanobots to continuously heal his strained body.

Jin Shu slumped against the wall of his workshop, the glow of the Life-Giving Rune on his back slowly dimming as it settled into his flesh. His breath came in ragged gasps, his entire body trembling from the ordeal. For now, the pain was manageable—just a dull throb compared to the earlier torment.

A faint yawn broke through the silence.

Jin Shu’s gaze shifted to Yin’er, who was stretching her tiny paws as she blinked sleepily. She rubbed her eyes with her fluffy tail, whiskers twitching. She tilted her head, regarding him with a mix of curiosity and concern.

“You’re awake,” he muttered, his voice hoarse.

Yin’er scampered closer, sitting her small body on his lap and sniffed the air, wrinkling her nose. “Daddy smell like… burning?” She said in a childish voice.

Jin Shu let out a tired laugh. “I do, don't I?” It took him a moment, but he freaked out a second later. “Wait! You can talk!?”

She tilted her head, staring up at him with confusion covering her furry little face. “Yin’er can talk? Oh! Yin’er can talk!” She laughed and flapped her little wings in excitement.

Nano, how is she speaking? Jin Shu asked with his thoughts.

“Unknown. Insufficient data.”

You could have just said ‘I don't know.’

“We believe it may have to do with the connection you two share, however we will need to do more research to find the exact cause of her accelerated speech.”

Settling down a moment later, Yin’er tilted her head, her whiskers twitching as she shifted in his lap. “Daddy look super tired. Daddy fight a scary beastie?”

“No beasties,” Jin Shu replied, leaning his head back against the wall. “Just me... pushing myself.”

Yin’er tapped his arm with her tiny paw, her wide eyes sparkling with curiosity. “Yin’er see Daddy’s glowy back! It so shiny! Did hurt? Did Daddy cry?”

“Cry?” Jin Shu huffed, managing a faint smile despite the exhaustion. “No. But it wasn’t fun.”

“Yin’er think Daddy look like he want to cry now,” she said, her voice softening as her ears drooped. “Why Daddy hurt himself? Yin’er not like it.”

Jin Shu glanced down at her, her innocent concern cutting through his fatigue. “I have to, Yin’er. To get stronger. So I can protect the people I care about.”

Yin’er frowned, puffing out her cheeks. “But if Daddy get too hurty, who will protect Daddy? Yin’er can’t do all by herself!”

Her words made him pause. He reached out a trembling hand to pat her head, his fingers brushing against her soft fur. “Don’t worry, Yin’er. I’ll be fine. I’ve been through worse.”

Yin’er tilted her head again, her tail swishing as she studied his face. “Hmm… Yin’er think Daddy being silly. Daddy should take nap! Nap make everything better!”

He chuckled weakly. “A nap does sound good right about now.”

“Yin’er is smart, huh?” she said proudly, her ears perking up. She crawled up onto his shoulder and curled around his neck like a tiny scarf. “Yin’er stay here and keep Daddy safe while he nap. No beasties get past Yin’er!”

Jin Shu couldn’t help but smile. “Thanks, Yin’er. I’ll rest for a bit.”

As her soft breathing settled into a gentle rhythm, Jin Shu closed his eyes, allowing himself a rare moment of peace. Yin’er’s child-like curiosity and unwavering loyalty reminded him of why he endured this pain. With her by his side, the weight of his burdens felt just a little lighter.