Unconventional [Rebirth] - Chapter 36

Having not seen him for over a month, Rong Jingtang looked much better. His already rich complexion now made him look even more captivating, drawing one’s gaze and holding it.

Jiang Rui walked over and sat down beside him, joking: “How does Master Rong have time to come to a small place like Qingshi?”

Rong Jingtang raised a hand towards Yang Feng. The latter immediately understood, picked up the documents and files, and carefully withdrew.

“I came to see you.”

Jiang Rui raised a brow, smiling faintly: “Is there anything you can’t solve?”

Rong Jingtang glanced at him and said, “My health has improved a lot recently, and I’m not as sensitive to cold as before.” At least he no longer needed to be wrapped in a thick trench coat, wearing a scarf, and covered by a blanket when others wore short sleeves.

“That’s a good thing. Why do you sound unhappy?”

Rong Jingtang said, “I’m not unhappy. I just hope you aren’t keeping anything from me.” Such as the cause of his illness.

Jiang Rui didn’t have to keep his condition a secret, but it concerned the ‘elder’ who gave him the jade Guanyin. Jiang Rui, as an outsider, could see how much Rong Jingtang valued and cared about that person. Rashly revealing the truth would likely only displease him. Jiang Rui did not want any friction with Rong Jingtang over this matter.

Most importantly, he did not want to see Rong Jingtang’s expression after learning the truth. He might still maintain that expressionless look, but his heart would certainly not be as unmoved as his face suggested.

This matter couldn’t be concealed from him for too long. Jiang Rui knew he would have to tell him eventually, but he couldn’t bring himself to say it now.

“What could I possibly hide from you? Even if I did, I couldn’t hide it for long,” Jiang Rui said with a laugh.

Rong Jingtang looked at him for a long time and said blandly, “That is true.”

Jiang Rui: “…”

“Speaking of which, I made an appointment with Yang Feng today. Call him back quickly, now,” Jiang Rui urged, recalling the purpose of his visit.

“He takes orders from me. You might as well tell me what you need,” Rong Jingtang said carelessly.

It was a small matter, and Jiang Rui didn’t want to bother him. However, thinking of Rong Jingtang’s actions in Yidian and seeing the way Yang Feng was reporting to him earlier, it was possible that this person also wanted to do something in their Lu’an Province.

Qingshi couldn’t yet be called Yang Feng’s territory, but with Rong Jingtang’s intentional support, it was only a matter of time.

Jiang Rui originally planned to cooperate with Yang Feng. After all, a mountain cannot tolerate two tigers, and Wang Chenghui would certainly clash with Yang Feng. But with Rong Jingtang’s intervention, he no longer had the standing to negotiate cooperation with Yang Feng. To Yang Feng, Rong Jingtang was the master. Jiang Rui couldn’t compare to that.

After carefully considering his words, Jiang Rui said with some hesitation, “You checked my background before, so you should know I have a third uncle, right?”

Rong Jingtang nodded, signaling him to continue.

“That third uncle of mine… was recently incited by someone to start loan sharking. The person behind my third uncle is not easy to deal with. If I don’t help my third uncle, I’m afraid my parents will also get implicated later…”

“So you want Yang Feng to confront that person while you reap the rewards?”

Having his thoughts laid bare, and in such a direct manner, made even Jiang Rui’s thick skin feel a little awkward. He instinctively scratched his face with his finger.

Rong Jingtang’s eyes fixed on his face, unmoving, until Jiang Rui’s face slowly flushed red. Only then did he mercifully state: “I’ll handle this matter.”

Jiang Rui quickly said, “No need. I can resolve this myself.”

“You know that person,” Rong Jingtang did not argue, simply stating a seemingly unrelated fact.

Jiang Rui’s face changed.

“And you don’t want to get involved with him. In fact, you don’t plan to show your face to that person at all. Otherwise, you wouldn’t be doing this through Yang Feng… You don’t want to see him, do you?”

Jiang Rui was at a loss for what expression to make.

“Rong Jingtang, has anyone ever told you that you are terrifyingly perceptive?” Jiang Rui asked very seriously.

Rong Jingtang’s gaze deepened, and he said, “Yes.”

“Who was it?” He and that person must have shared similar experiences of having their minds read.

Rong Jingtang seemed to hesitate, pausing before speaking. His tone was not as bland and indifferent as usual, carrying an inexplicable quality: “My uncle.”

Uncle.

Jiang Rui silently repeated the title in his mind.

For some reason, he recalled the jade Guanyin Rong Jingtang wore close to his neck.

“It was specifically sought out by the elders in my family when I was young because I was weak, to protect me. I’ve worn it all these years.”

“Change it. That one is no good.”

Jiang Rui suddenly lost the desire to continue the conversation, changing the topic with a laugh: “My third uncle’s matter is just family business and a small, insignificant issue. I don’t need to trouble you.” Although he wasn’t proficient in illusion arts, he had recently been able to start refining elixirs. Coincidentally, among the low-level elixirs, there was an Illusory Form Elixir that could temporarily change one’s appearance. Once he refined it, he could simply take one before interacting with Wang Chenghui.

Rong Jingtang frowned upon hearing this.

Jiang Rui knew his intention had been rejected, making him displeased, so he shifted the topic…

It was evening when Jiang Rui left Taibai Tower.

Perhaps it was due to Jiang Rui, but Rong Jingtang didn’t bring Sui Ming with him this time to Qingshi, only Uncle Cheng.

Before Rong Jingtang could offer a ride, Jiang Rui hailed a taxi and returned home.

Rong Jingtang stood where he was for a moment before turning to enter his car.

“Uncle Cheng.”

“Yes, Sir.”

“I think I made him angry again today.”

Uncle Cheng: “…”

“Young Master Jiang is not a person who holds grudges, Sir, you needn’t worry too much.”

“Incorrect.”

“Sir, what is incorrect?”

“The part about him not holding grudges.”

“…” Alright. He was getting old and increasingly unable to understand the minds of young people. Wasn’t the Sir trying to seek comfort from him? With this ‘I understand everything’ attitude, how can I even begin to comfort him?

Since Miaoxuan’s minor advancement, some rooms in the wooden building had been opened up for Jiang Rui’s use.

The Elixir Refining Room was one of them.

Jiang Rui possessed both Fire and Wood spiritual roots, making him most suitable for the path of alchemy. It was only a mystery why Miaoxuan hadn’t given him the jade slip for the Nine-Layer Elixir Clarity Scripture earlier.

Jiang Rui himself was more interested in the sword path, so he hadn’t asked much about it.

Jiang Rui practiced daily with the Spirit Marrow Jade Tree in the secret realm. As a person with a Spiritual Bone, his control over his spiritual essence was already very precise. Refining elixirs was twice as effective with half the effort, and his success rate was very high.

The Illusory Form Elixir was only an ordinary Level One spiritual elixir. Jiang Rui only tried two or three times before successfully refining a complete batch of Illusory Form Elixirs.

One batch yielded a full one hundred pills. There were no spoiled pills.

This achievement surprised Jiang Rui himself. Although it was only a Level One spiritual elixir, the success rate was beyond his imagination. However, the Nine-Layer Elixir Clarity Scripture mentioned that a minor attainment in the Nine-Layer Elixir Technique could raise the elixir grade by one to two levels, while medium attainment could raise it by three to four levels. As for major attainment… major attainment is rare in the world; even the great Daoist alchemist who created the Nine-Layer Elixir Technique failed to achieve it.

Although Jiang Rui was highly gifted, he was only a beginner, having learned just the basics. To reach minor, medium, or even the legendary major attainment, he still had an incredibly long road ahead.

Having successfully refined the Illusory Form Elixir, Jiang Rui was not in a hurry to find Jiang Jianlin. He would only make his appearance as the ‘oriole’ when the ‘mantis’ was preparing to catch the ‘cicada.’

Jiang Jianlin felt he had met his benefactor.

Otherwise, why would CEO Wang value him, find him a way to make money, and even continue to support him and open doors for him?

During this period, his loan sharking in Huidu had already multiplied his capital several times over. In all of Qingshi, only he, Jiang Jianlin, dared to lend money here in Huidu; everyone else had to be wary of CEO Wang.

Jiang Jianlin watched the bosses and wealthy merchants gambling away fortunes at the tables, calculating whether he had enough liquid cash to join in the fun.

In the past, people had invited him to gamble, but he didn’t have much money then and couldn’t afford to play. Now that he had money and was in a “small gambling city” like Huidu, he was naturally tempted.

Just as Jiang Jianlin was about to join the game, he suddenly spotted an extraordinarily dressed young man entering the doorway. The young man had an ordinary appearance but exuded the aura of a wealthy young master unfamiliar with the ways of the world. After entering, he curiously looked around, and even had to be guided by the staff to exchange chips. He clearly looked like a newcomer to this kind of place.

Such a rich and ignorant novice represented a large “business opportunity” for Jiang Jianlin.

Jiang Jianlin immediately abandoned his urge to play and quickly walked towards the young man. He didn’t approach him directly but observed his every move from the side, waiting for the right moment to step forward.

Jiang Rui’s peripheral vision caught Jiang Jianlin, and a slight smile played on his lips. The chips in his hand were placed down as if they were worthless.

Jiang Rui was playing Sic Bo, betting on the total of the dice. He acted exactly like a first-time gambler, betting without rules or skill, seemingly relying only on luck. However, his luck was decent, winning a few times out of ten.

Soon, the chips Jiang Rui exchanged were spent. He called the staff to exchange chips a few more times. However, after that, his luck was terrible, and he quickly lost everything.

Jiang Jianlin watched the young man. Seeing that he couldn’t exchange any more chips, his face showed a look of unwillingness, as if he felt that with just one more chance, he could win back all the money he had lost.

Jiang Jianlin determined that the time was right. He squeezed through the crowd and patted the young man’s shoulder.

Jiang Rui turned his head, looking at him with suspicion and vigilance.

“Who are you? What do you want?” His tone was not good because he had lost a large sum of money.