Unconventional [Rebirth] - Chapter 49

As Old Master Wei’s health continued to decline, Secretary Wei cast aside his hesitation and decided to meet with Xiao Jinnan.

The meeting was arranged by the fifth Wei brother, Wei Kerang. As the child of Old Master Wei’s later years, Kerang was only a few years older than Xiao Jinnan—not yet thirty and significantly younger than his elder brothers. Having been shielded by his father and siblings since childhood, he had grown into somewhat of an unreliable rogue, a stark contrast to the Wei family’s otherwise rigorous reputation.

When Jiang Rui first asked Xiao Jinnan to contact the family, he had carefully considered the Old Master’s condition. His immediate instinct was that the cause of the persistent coma and physical decline might not be a “sickness” at all. Given the Old Master’s high status, those capable—and bold enough—to strike at him were few and far between, and none of them were simple opponents.

If possible, Jiang Rui would have preferred to avoid such trouble. However, with Secretary Wei’s current term nearing its end and the political landscape of Jinlin shifting, the Beijiang faction had to choose a side immediately. Missing this opportunity would mean that Beijiang, still in its early stages of development, might be wiped out in the upcoming reshuffling of power.

Jiang Rui remembered that in his past life, the Wei family’s faction had emerged as the victors. At that time, precisely when the Old Master passed away, the eldest brother, Wei Keli (Secretary Wei), had faced a crucial promotion. The Wei family had won that battle, but the cost had been exceptionally high.

Jiang Rui had calculated the Old Master’s fate: his life path contained a “Death Calamity” that had severed his three vital energies—Life, Fortune, and Spirit. It was a forced reduction of his lifespan that had even begun to bleed into the overall fortune of the Wei clan.

In this life, however, the Wei family had encountered Jiang Rui. The Old Master’s calamity now contained a glimmer of life. Furthermore, because this death sentence was the result of malicious external interference, Jiang Rui decided to intervene.

Out of caution, Secretary Wei did not meet them in public, choosing instead to invite Xiao Jinnan and Jiang Rui directly to his home. Since female members of the household were present, they brought Mo Zhao along as well.

Upon arriving at the Wei residence, Secretary Wei received Xiao Jinnan and Jiang Rui in his study, while Mo Zhao and Madam Wei chatted in the living room.

Perhaps weighed down by the burden of his father’s illness, Secretary Wei appeared weary, with fatigue etched into his brow. The moment he saw Jiang Rui, he was visibly startled. Despite prior reports that the “master” Xiao Jinnan knew was young, seeing it with his own eyes was a different matter entirely.

How could this youth—who looked no older than eighteen, younger even than his own son—be a renowned Master of Metaphysics?

Secretary Wei politely gestured for them to sit and got straight to the point. “I heard from Xiao Wu that Mr. Xiao has a capable person at his side who might be able to save my father… is this true?”

Xiao Jinnan glanced at Jiang Rui. Seeing that his friend had no intention of speaking yet, he replied, “To be honest, Secretary Wei, the Old Master’s situation is unique. Whether he can be saved can only be determined after a personal examination.”

Secretary Wei was silent for a moment before asking, “And is this ‘capable person’ the… young man beside you?” He found it impossible to address an eighteen-year-old as “Master.”

Xiao Jinnan nodded. “Exactly. This is Master Jiang.”

Jiang Rui met Secretary Wei’s gaze and nodded with a faint smile. As the Secretary observed that smile, a seed of belief began to grow. Though the youth wore ordinary clothes, he carried the ethereal, detached aura of someone clad in Taoist robes. Simply sitting near him, Secretary Wei felt his inner turmoil subside, replaced by a sense of calm and clarity.

When he spoke again, the Secretary’s address was more natural. “I hear Master Jiang possesses many extraordinary talents. Might I have the honor of witnessing them today?”

“What would you like to witness?” Jiang Rui asked.

“What is Master Jiang’s specialty?”

Jiang Rui smiled. “I know a bit of everything. How about this: I shall read your fortune by observing your countenance.”

Secretary Wei’s brow furrowed imperceptibly. To many, “physiognomy” or face-reading was synonymous with the tricks of street swindlers. His favorable impression of Jiang Rui dipped, and he began to wonder if he was wasting his time.

However, out of courtesy, he replied, “Then I shall trouble Master Jiang.”

Jiang Rui smiled but said nothing more. He stared at the Secretary for a few seconds, then suddenly stood up and patted Xiao Jinnan on the shoulder. “Let’s go.”

The two men looked at him, bewildered. Wasn’t he supposed to read his face? Why was he leaving? Could it be that he saw nothing and was making a quick exit to avoid being exposed?

As if reading the Secretary’s thoughts, Jiang Rui said, “Your countenance tells me that you do not believe in me. If there is no trust, it matters not if I can judge life or death.”

“Master Jiang, those words…” Secretary Wei began to protest with a hollow smile.

Jiang Rui interrupted him. “As I understand it, your son is currently pursuing his doctorate at Yingchang University of Science and Technology? If you believe me, call him back immediately. Otherwise, a fatal calamity will befall him.”

Secretary Wei froze, his face flushing with sudden anger. He had only one son, Wei Ruize. No matter how refined his upbringing, he could not tolerate someone “cursing” his only child.

Before he could lash out, Jiang Rui continued, “If you don’t believe me, then give him this string of jade beads. Tell him to keep them on his person at all times; they can block one great disaster for him.” He slid a bracelet of jade beads from his wrist and placed it on the desk.

Secretary Wei let out a cold laugh. “Master Jiang is indeed skilled. To see my son’s fate through my face—and to claim it is a ‘fatal calamity.’ I wonder if you even believe your own words.”

Jiang Rui was not offended. He simply said, “When it concerns your son’s safety, it is better to believe it might be true than to dismiss it. Even if you truly don’t believe, consider the jade beads a gift. Their quality is top-tier; they won’t bring shame to your son’s status.”

He had said all he needed to say. The choice now lay in Wei Keli’s hands.

After the trio departed, Madam Wei entered the study to find her husband sitting in contemplation, looking conflicted.

“What’s wrong? What did you talk about to make you look so troubled?” she asked.

The Secretary remained silent, his gaze fixed on the jade beads. Madam Wei followed his eyes and smiled. “These beads are of excellent quality. What are they for? Those people didn’t look like the type to try such a small bribe.”

Having been married for years, the Secretary did not hide Jiang Rui’s warning from his wife. He recounted the conversation.

Madam Wei, who loved her son more than life itself, made an immediate decision. “It’s just a string of beads. Send them to Ruize and have him wear them. That Jiang Rui was right—when it comes to our son’s safety, we should be safe rather than sorry.”

The Secretary agreed, though he was more concerned with the political implications of accepting a “gift” from Xiao Jinnan’s associate. However, since he hadn’t refused it outright, he followed his wife’s lead.

Back at their residence, Xiao Jinnan told Mo Zhao about the conversation. Mo Zhao looked at Jiang Rui with disbelief. “For real? Jiang Rui, can you really see a son’s disaster through a father’s face?”

“I can,” Jiang Rui explained, “but it requires a specific method. I won’t go into detail; the intricacies are too complex to explain in a few words.”

Xiao Jinnan added, “Even if you explained those mystical things, we wouldn’t understand.”

Mo Zhao couldn’t help but ask, “Then can you read mine?” She glanced at Xiao Jinnan for permission.

Xiao Jinnan didn’t mind, but Jiang Rui teased, “My fee for a reading isn’t low. Are you sure you can afford it?”

Mo Zhao huffed. “You didn’t charge the Secretary! Why charge me?”

Jiang Rui winked. “Well, he’s the Secretary. You can’t compare.”

Mo Zhao let out a small snort. “We don’t even know if you’re accurate yet. If you actually turn out to be right, you’ll probably be bragging to everyone.”

Jiang Rui chuckled softly. “There’s no need to brag. ‘Good wine needs no bush’—quality speaks for itself.”

Three or four days passed with no word from the Wei family. Mo Zhao grew anxious and approached Jiang Rui. “Do you think the Secretary failed to give the beads to his son?”

“Unlikely,” Jiang Rui replied. “He has only one son. Even if he were cold-hearted, Madam Wei is there.”

“That’s true,” Mo Zhao agreed. “Madam Wei dotes on that boy. She’d worry for half a day if he just had a headache, let alone a life-threatening danger.”

“So we just wait here?”

Jiang Rui waved a hand dismissively. “What else? Rushing to the Wei house would only get us kicked out. Don’t worry, it’ll happen within the next day or two. They’ll be coming to find me very soon.”

Exactly one day after Jiang Rui spoke those words, Secretary Wei arrived at his door, accompanied by his wife and their son, Wei Ruize. Ruize had just survived a horrific car accident—he was the sole survivor out of a dozen people.

When the family arrived, Jiang Rui was in the middle of solving an endgame on a Go board. He wasn’t in his usual clothes; instead, he wore a cultivator’s robe taken from the wooden tower. The moon-white fabric made him look more gentle and refined than ever—the very image of a dignified gentleman.

Seeing them approach, Jiang Rui unhurriedly cleared the board. Secretary Wei did not dare interrupt, waiting until the last stone was put away before speaking.

“Thanks to Master Jiang’s warning, my son was able to escape that accident yesterday,” the Secretary said with deep gratitude. “It’s only a pity about your jade beads… they shattered on the spot the moment the disaster was blocked.”