Unconventional [Rebirth] - Chapter 102

After spending a considerable amount of time messing around with Rong Jingtang in the Secret Realm’s hot spring, Jiang Rui finally composed himself. He picked up the manual he had snatched earlier and began to flip through it.

The descriptions in the book were sparse. There was a reason why this particular method of Dual Cultivation was so uncommon in the cultivation world.

The human heart is the most unpredictable thing of all. It is said that once a cultivator reaches a certain level of power, they can, to an extent, sense the timing of their own death. Under the shadow of such a threat, few can resist the birth of wicked thoughts. Stealing another’s Inner Core to supplement one’s own cultivation and force a breakthrough is hardly a rare occurrence. Consequently, while this method is envied by all in the cultivation world, it is also deeply feared.

Progress through Spiritual Cultivation is unparalleled, but in such a complex world, finding a partner who would never sacrifice your life to save their own is an arduous task. The existence of such a manual is a double-edged sword—a blessing and a curse entwined.

As for himself and Rong Jingtang, Jiang Rui naturally hoped they would last forever, but no one could guarantee against future upheavals. He looked down at his ring finger; the red thread had long since vanished, replaced by a soft, red glow emanating from within the finger, making it look incredibly translucent.

The idea of betrayal between them felt absurd. Jiang Rui found it almost laughable—if the day ever came where Rong Jingtang had to take Jiang Rui’s life to prolong his own, Rong Jingtang would likely view it as an insult to his own character. Both he and Rong Jingtang were beings who existed outside the established rules of this world; therefore, the future was unknowable.

Living in the moment was better than anything else. With a bright smile, Jiang Rui glanced through the window at the lush greenery outside before stepping out of the Secret Realm.

At that moment, Huai Qing was feeling incredibly frustrated.

Ever since he had nervously knocked on the expensive-looking door in front of him, nothing had gone according to his expectations. Based on Jiang Rui’s descriptions, he had imagined this scion of the Bernardo family to be a man of immense coldness and calculation—how else could he establish such a firm foothold in the cutthroat environment of the capital?

But now…

With a face full of dark lines, Huai Qing slapped away the hand resting on his waist. He watched as Bernardo stood to the side, hanging his head with a wounded expression. Huai Qing’s lip twitched; he never could have imagined that the young master of the Bernardo family would have such a flighty, eccentric personality. He was the polar opposite of the “composed gentleman” Huai Qing had envisioned.

Huai Qing sighed and turned back to the massive electronic screen in front of him. He was currently serving as a dealer in the casino. While he appeared to be an ordinary dealer on the surface, he was actually the final disciple of the reigning Gambling King, Jiro.

Huai Qing had seen the Gambling King on the news before. Jiro gambled for a living but was never addicted to it; his skills were so transcendent that Huai Qing had never once beaten him. Much like Huai Qing, the Gambling King was “different”—he was missing his pinky finger. Yet, he stood at the very center of the gambling world’s pantheon. Huai Qing knew that such a position was built on blood and sweat, not just the “talent” the public spoke of.

Before him was a video his master had recorded. He had three days to discern the trick used in the clip and then use that same method to defeat him. It was a nearly impossible task, but Huai Qing would not back down—provided he could get rid of the weirdo standing next to him.

When a knock sounded at the door, Huai Qing’s first thought was: I’m saved.

Bernardo sullenly straightened his clothes, watching Huai Qing rush to open the door with a momentary daze before regaining his usual irreverent mask. When he saw the visitor, Bernardo’s eyes lit up. He threw his arms open to embrace the newcomer. “Oh, Ah-Rui! I haven’t seen you in forever!”

Jiang Rui touched faces with him in a friendly greeting. After a few brief pleasantries, Jiang Rui expressionlessly cut the man off as he tried to push his luck. “Mr. Bernardo, Huai Qing and I have matters to discuss.”

Bernardo looked heartbroken, clutching his chest like a tragic heroine before running out of the room wailing.

Jiang Rui: “…”

“Ahem.” He cleared his throat and patted Huai Qing’s shoulder. Seeing the other man’s look of lingering shock, he said, “He’s just like that.”

Huai Qing nodded blankly, then smiled. “I understand.” He realized that if Bernardo could maintain such an open and cheerful mindset under such heavy pressure, his life would be much easier. Many entrepreneurs weren’t defeated by their rivals, but by the crushing weight of the stress they put on themselves. This young master was, in his own way, very wise.

“I came to show you something,” Jiang Rui said, sitting down. Knowing Jiang Rui loved tea, Huai Qing had already brewed a pot. Jiang Rui took a refreshing sip before tapping the air in front of Huai Qing.

An image appeared before Huai Qing’s eyes. He stood up abruptly, staring at the wretched state of Wang Chenghui. After a long pause, his lips trembled. “He… he’s like this?”

“Wang Chenghui is finished,” Jiang Rui said. “I’ve taken care of your greatest enemy. Therefore, I leave Ye Wenbin to you.”

While Wang Chenghui had been a threat worth dealing with personally, Ye Wenbin was a mere ant. Due to the rules of karma and his own fortune, Jiang Rui found it inconvenient to kill people directly—but more importantly, he simply had no interest in dealing with a man like Ye Wenbin. Ye Wenbin wasn’t stupid; he had enough low cunning to handle Wang Chenghui and the “previous” version of Jiang Rui, but not everyone would fall for his act.

Huai Qing laughed, a sound that was both cruel and stiff. “Ye Wenbin is an idiot. I planted a few people by his side who have been leading him into certain ‘dark’ clubs. He isn’t actually gay; he only followed Wang Chenghui for the status. Now that Wang is gone, he’s still used to a lavish lifestyle and needs a new ‘golden thigh’ to cling to.”

Huai Qing took a deep breath. “I was wondering why he hadn’t returned to the villa Wang gave him. I didn’t realize Wang Chenghui was already…”

Jiang Rui sipped his tea in silence, listening to the story. Without Wang Chenghui’s financial backing, Ye Wenbin naturally couldn’t handle the drop in his living standards. It was expected that he would go out looking for a new patron, but Jiang Rui hadn’t realized he had become so desperate.

“His new patron is an old man who is a gambling addict and henpecked by his wife,” Huai Qing said tonelessly. “I was the dealer that night. I watched that man lose everything down to his underwear. He was dragged out of the casino, and Ye Wenbin… was handed over as a gambling stake to a known sexual sadist.”

Jiang Rui frowned.

Huai Qing didn’t seem to care. “I know you don’t like these things. Before that day, I would have felt uncomfortable too. But when the moment actually came, I realized it was just… like that.”

Jiang Rui knew he was right. He felt zero sympathy for Ye Wenbin. In his previous life, Ye Wenbin had looked down on him and hooked up with Wang Chenghui for power and money. For those two things, Ye Wenbin would give himself to anyone.

“Since it’s turned out this way, let it be,” Jiang Rui shrugged. He changed the subject. “Do you plan to stay here forever?”

For a moment, Huai Qing looked lost. “It’s good here, but—”

“Ah! Rui-rui! A-Jing is calling you home for dinner!” The door was slammed open. Jiang Rui turned back expressionlessly to see a blond, innocent-looking Bernardo holding out a phone. He then looked piteously at Huai Qing. “Darling, you can’t do this to me! You ate me up and wiped your mouth just a few days ago, you can’t just leave and be irresponsible! Waaah!”

After reading the text message, Jiang Rui silently tossed the phone back to Bernardo. He looked at Huai Qing, whose cool face was now flushing bright red as he tried to cover Bernardo’s mouth.

Well, they seem harmonious enough, Jiang Rui thought. He nodded and vanished, teleporting back to the Rong estate.

The scent of food wafted through the courtyard, and Jiang Rui felt a sudden sense of relief. He walked into the hall to find Rong Jingtang idly playing with the tablecloth. Seeing him return, Rong Jingtang merely looked up and pointed to the chair opposite him.

Jiang Rui raised an eyebrow at Rong Jingtang’s sluggish demeanor but said nothing, beginning to eat quietly. Occasionally, Rong Jingtang would place pieces of his own favorite food into Jiang Rui’s bowl—usually fish, which he expected Jiang Rui to de-bone for him.

Jiang Rui chuckled inwardly, obediently picking out the bones for “Lord Rong.” After a peaceful meal, Rong Jingtang turned and headed for the bedroom. He had been quite idle lately, yet he seemed perfectly adjusted to it.

Jiang Rui followed him like a little tail. Eventually, Rong Jingtang sat on the bed and patted the spot beside him. He opened the secret compartment in the wall and pulled out the small box containing Jiang Rui’s childhood mementos.

Jiang Rui smiled. “I kept all your things too, you know.” He was referring to the items Rong Jingtang had left behind years ago. His mother had kept them, thinking the two boys were simply very close. After Jiang Rui’s high fever and subsequent memory loss, she had assumed he had thrown them away and never brought it up to avoid upsetting him. He hadn’t realized his spirit beast, Miao Xuan, had collected them for him.

Jiang Rui pulled the items out of his storage bag—various toys from their childhood, and even a “Tiger-Head” shoe.

Each of them had kept one shoe from the pair. Rong Jingtang’s was slightly yellowed with age, but Jiang Rui’s—kept in a storage bag where time stood still—looked brand new. Placed together, the shoes looked like two people finally reuniting after years apart. They were a perfect match.

As Rong Jingtang stared at the shoes, Jiang Rui felt a sudden impulse. His face flushed slightly. Before Rong Jingtang could react, Jiang Rui leaned over and “stamped a seal” onto his lips with a kiss.

He didn’t pull away immediately.

Thirteen years ago, he had “stamped a seal” on a thirteen-year-old Rong Jingtang’s mouth, claiming him as his own. Thirteen years later, what would this new seal represent?