Unconventional [Rebirth] - Chapter 44

Including the pair of bracelets, Jiang Rui had only given Cao Yuke seven pieces of “Aura-Deriving Jade.” Cao Yuke had even managed to pocket a Guan Yin pendant and a thumb ring for himself under the guise of “employee benefits.”

When Cao Xingjian found out, he gave his son a thorough scolding, insisting he return the items. Cao Yuke had lost his mother at a young age and was quite precocious; no matter how he acted toward outsiders, he was always filial and obedient to his father. Despite the “heartache” of losing the jade, he didn’t dare cross his father, planning instead to ask Jiang Rui for a piece or two once the boy emerged from his secluded cultivation.

Jiang Rui had been in seclusion at the greenhouse for several days. Because he had coordinated his story with Yang Feng beforehand, his parents suspected nothing.

He had been in frequent contact with Yang Feng recently. Most of the top-tier jade pieces produced by Lianyu Villa had been purchased by Yang. In return, Jiang Rui had helped Yang Feng arrange several Feng Shui layouts. Yang Feng had started his career in “shady” businesses and, as a native of Hong Kong, was deeply superstitious. Initially, he hadn’t fully trusted Jiang Rui due to his youth, but after a few successful results, he became a firm believer.

In Hong Kong, a Feng Shui master with true skill is treated as an honored guest and held in the highest regard. While Yang Feng’s initial friendliness toward Lianyu Villa was out of respect for Jiang Rui’s connection to Rong Jingtang, his current efforts to befriend Jiang Rui were entirely due to the boy’s own formidable abilities.

Before his seclusion, Jiang Rui had discussed the supply of Aura-Deriving Jade with Cao Yuke. Setting up the “Triple-Aura Array” wasn’t difficult, and “nourishing” the jade simply involved placing existing stones into the array. If he wanted to, Jiang Rui could produce these in bulk. However, doing so would devalue the items and invite unnecessary trouble. Therefore, he never told Cao Yuke the true “cost,” letting him believe the items were incredibly rare.

While Cao Yuke handled the business side, Jiang Rui entrusted his properties in Beijiang to Xiao Jinnan’s people. With Mo Zhao nearing her internship and acting as a capable assistant, Xiao Jinnan was able to breathe a sigh of relief.

This time, Jiang Rui’s seclusion lasted for the equivalent of three months in the Secret Realm. He successfully broke through from the Great Circle of Foundation Building to the initial stage of Origin Transformation.

Perhaps because the tribulation lightning had tempered his body during the breakthrough, his physical cultivation unexpectedly jumped two levels, reaching the sixth level of Bone and Sinew Forging!

Upon emerging, the ethereal and elegant aura of a cultivator was so prominent that he could no longer hide it with ordinary clothes. He had to take a Shapeshifting Pill to mask his appearance. However, as it was only a Level 1 spiritual pill, its effect on an Origin Transformation cultivator was limited; it could change his features, but it couldn’t fully suppress his cultivation aura. To an observant eye, Jiang Rui still seemed slightly “different” from ordinary people.

A few days after the winter break ended, his homeroom teacher, Yao Jilan, approached him to ask his thoughts on “skipping grades.”

In the past, Jiang Rui would have preferred to stay in high school longer to watch over Wang Xiaorui and use his student status as a shield against unwanted attention. But now, his perspective had changed. After speaking with Teacher Yao and the school leadership, he met with Principal Fang.

Principal Fang, a stern man in his fifties, was momentarily stunned by Jiang Rui’s appearance despite having seen his file.

“I heard from Teacher Yao that you intend to skip grades? Do you want to go straight to the eleventh grade?”

Jiang Rui shook his head. “No. I want to go straight to the twelfth grade and catch this summer’s National College Entrance Examination (Gaokao).”

Principal Fang was taken aback. “Let’s not talk about that yet. Do a few test papers first so I can see your level.”

Jiang Rui was placed in a private room and completed a full set of exams for nine subjects in record time. After the teachers graded them, the principal said nothing, but gave him two more sets of Chinese, Math, and English papers. For an entire day, save for lunch and dinner, Jiang Rui did nothing but take tests—over twenty papers in total.

After the final paper was graded, Principal Fang stared at him. “When did you start learning the high school curriculum?”

The first set of papers had covered the eleventh-grade material. The subsequent papers ranged from ordinary twelfth-grade exams to the Gaokao itself, then to the most difficult provincial problems from previous years, and finally, even Mathematical Olympiad problems.

Regardless of the difficulty, Jiang Rui’s speed never wavered. This meant one thing: his knowledge already far exceeded the high school level.

“Probably around the ninth grade,” Jiang Rui replied.

Principal Fang’s astonishment grew. In decades of education, he had seen high-IQ students and provincial top-scorers, but no one could reach this level in a single year.

After finalizing the grade skip, Jiang Rui requested a long-term leave of absence, effective until the Gaokao. He humbly claimed he needed to earn money to support his family. Knowing his background, the principal didn’t stop him, only warning him not to neglect his studies and requiring him to return for monthly exams. If his grades slipped, the leave would be revoked.

Jiang Rui’s parents were shocked when he returned home with a stack of textbooks. After he explained, they were torn between pride and the fear that self-studying at home would lead to poor Gaokao results. They even visited Principal Fang in person and only settled down after receiving his personal assurance.

Jiang Jianjun had been busy recently trying to transfer the family’s household registration (hukou) from rural to urban and looking for a house in the city. Coincidentally, Yang Feng had a newly completed villa district. Hearing Jiang Rui wanted to buy a house, Yang Feng told him, “Pick whichever one you like, and I’ll have the paperwork handled immediately.”

Jiang Rui knew the price of those villas was high and refused to take one for free. He had Cao Yuke transfer the funds to Yang Feng to buy it at cost.

Jiang Jianjun and He Fulan had never seen a villa in their lives. The next day, they accompanied their son to Yang Feng’s real estate company. Despite their “rustic” appearance, the staff treated them with extreme politeness—even fawning over them—likely on Yang Feng’s orders. After viewing the properties, they paid and closed the deal. The price was so low it was practically a gift.

After the paperwork was finished, Jiang Rui sent his parents home first, claiming he had flower business to discuss with Boss Yang. His parents wanted to thank Yang Feng in person, but Jiang Rui smiled and dissuaded them. “It would be rude to thank him empty-handed. Let’s buy a proper gift and visit another day. Besides, he’s a busy man; showing up unannounced might trouble him.”

Once they left in a taxi, Jiang Rui headed back into the building. He found Yang Feng in his office, just finishing a phone call.

“Paperwork all done?” Yang Feng asked, gesturing for Jiang Rui to sit.

“All done. Your people are very efficient,” Jiang Rui thanked him. “By the way, Cao Yuke is tied up. I might need your help with my family’s hukou transfer.”

“A small matter. I’ll arrange it right away,” Yang Feng agreed readily.

Jiang Rui looked at him and added, “I saw the news about you in the papers a few days ago.”

Yang Feng’s expression stiffened. Two days ago, he had been ambushed on the road and nearly injured. He still hadn’t found the culprit.

“That group won’t give up easily,” Jiang Rui noted.

Yang Feng sneered. “A bunch of cowards and rats. Do you think I’m afraid of them?”

“They are in the dark while you are in the light,” Jiang Rui said. “An arrow from the shadows is hard to defend against.”

Jiang Rui then reached out his hand. Yang Feng was confused. “What? Need to borrow money?”

Jiang Rui laughed softly. “Where is that Guan Yin pendant I gave you? Give it to me for a bit; I’ll return it in two days.”

Yang Feng guessed what Jiang Rui was intending to do. He handed over the pendant immediately. “Young Master Jiang, I owe you one. If you ever need anything in the future, just ask.”

Jiang Rui shook his head. “It’s a simple favor, just like you helping me with the house and registration. It’s nothing.”