To Anyone confused about if Shu is a woman or guy. Look at her in the last panel of the last page.
Those are boobs. Based on the fact that we can see them, we can assume a gender identity that's okay with having boobs like that and not binding them so that the chest is flat. Therefore. Woman.
Oh, I think I'm pretty sure that that core already bit back. I think it belonged to the ancient cultivator whose dream/memories her brother was stuck in.
Since, it is what A-ting used against the sickly evil guy. And the sleep her brother fell in followed immediately after her attack iirc.
I was nosy and i went to check when the next story featuring her was released. And it was around 13 years later. Missed opportuinty of not having that story take place 3 years earlier giving it an anniversary feel.