Unconventional [Rebirth] - Chapter 50

Dressed in his spiritual robes, Jiang Rui was enveloped in an aura of spiritual energy. Though ordinary people could not see this energy, they could sense his otherworldly temperament—he truly looked like a figure possessed of “Daoist bones and immortal winds.”

He smiled at Secretary Wei. “It was merely an object. If it is broken, then it is broken. It is enough that Young Master Wei is unharmed.”

Wei Ruize, who spent most of his time isolated in university research, had never encountered someone like Jiang Rui. From the moment he entered, his eyes remained fixed on the youth, unable to look away.

Madam Wei, knowing her son well, found the situation quite awkward. She privately whispered a warning for him not to be so rude, but she still couldn’t pull Ruize’s gaze away from Jiang Rui.

“Since I broke your thing, I’ll just replace it with another one,” Wei Ruize suddenly declared.

As soon as he spoke, Madam Wei yanked her son’s sleeve, signaling him to be quiet. Secretary Wei also glared at his son. That piece of jade had blocked a fatal calamity; how could such a thing be easily replaced? Where would the Wei family even find such a treasure to give back?

Jiang Rui looked at Wei Ruize and smiled.

“I’m not wrong. It’s just a piece of jade; if it’s broken, we pay for it,” Wei Ruize insisted, dissatisfied with his parents’ reproachful looks.

Secretary Wei turned to Jiang Rui with an embarrassed expression. “Ruize rarely socializes with people. Please don’t let his behavior make a joke of us, Master Jiang.”

Jiang Rui shook his head. “He is right.”

Secretary Wei and Madam Wei were stunned. What did that mean? Was he actually demanding compensation?

It makes sense, they thought. How could such a treasure be given away for free? Even if we can’t find an identical one, the Wei family must compensate him with other benefits.

It was a pity; this Master Jiang looked like he was untainted by the mortal world, but deep down, it seemed he was just another commoner after all.

“We cannot afford to replace the jade Master Jiang gifted us, but we can offer something else,” Secretary Wei said, glancing at Xiao Jinnan, who had remained silent. “Master, please consider it. As long as it is within our power, the Wei family will not hesitate.”

Madam Wei nodded in agreement. She hadn’t expected her son’s careless remark to test the “Master’s” true intentions so effectively.

“No, I don’t want anything else,” Jiang Rui said, waving his hand.

The couple didn’t react for a moment. What did “don’t want anything else” mean? Was he insisting they replace the exact same broken jade?

Secretary Wei’s expression shifted slightly, though he maintained a polite smile. “Master Jiang, we truly cannot replace that specific piece of jade.”

He didn’t believe that if they simply couldn’t produce it, Jiang Rui could force them to.

“It’s just a piece of jade, what’s the big deal?” Wei Ruize interjected, completely unbothered. “I memorized the texture and pattern. I’ll just have someone make an identical one.”

Xiao Jinnan, observing the family’s shifting expressions from the side, felt a cold sneer forming in his heart. Mo Zhao, whose personality was not yet as composed as it would be in the future, couldn’t help but speak up: “Secretary Wei, your family broke the jade, yet now you make it sound as if it’s Master Jiang’s fault?”

Madam Wei looked at her and said calmly, “How could it be Master Jiang’s fault? It is, of course, ours.”

Despite her words, there wasn’t a trace of apology on her face. Her attitude was far less courteous than when they had first walked through the door.

Jiang Rui spoke again: “He is right.”

Who? Who was right? Mo Zhao? Madam Wei? Surely not Wei Ruize?

“I shall wait for your jade,” Jiang Rui said, looking directly at Wei Ruize.

Wei Ruize smiled and took a few steps closer. “A small matter. Once the jade is carved, I’ll have someone deliver it to you.”

“I carved that jade myself,” Jiang Rui noted. “You likely won’t find anyone else capable of reaching that level of skill. You will need to find Master Xue Hening in Qingshi, Lo’an Province.”

Xue Hening?

Secretary Wei was startled. He had heard of Xue Hening from friends; commissioning a piece from him was no easier than finding a jade that could block disasters. He was about to scold his son, but Ruize spoke first.

“Understood,” Wei Ruize nodded. Then, ignoring everyone else, he added, “The jade is a small matter. Now, let’s talk about the big matter.”

Jiang Rui adopted an air of attentive listening.

“I know Master Jiang has extraordinary abilities,” Ruize said. “My grandfather is currently suffering from a strange illness and is in a coma. Our only hope now is that Master Jiang has a way to cure him.”

Hearing this, Secretary Wei swallowed the scolding he had prepared. Compared to the Old Master’s illness, the jade was indeed a small matter. Madam Wei also stared intently at Jiang Rui, waiting for his answer.

Jiang Rui looked at each of the three family members in turn, then shook his head.

Secretary Wei managed to hide his disappointment, but Madam Wei’s eyes immediately reddened.

“Does this mean Master Jiang has no way to help?” Ruize asked, frowning.

Jiang Rui shook his head again. “The illness is a small matter.”

Wei Ruize blinked, confused.

“Our Old Master’s illness is a ‘small’ matter? Then what is a big matter?” Madam Wei snapped, her patience fraying. “Is that piece of jade the only ‘big’ matter to you?”

The sarcasm in her voice made Xiao Jinnan and Mo Zhao frown, both ready to defend Jiang Rui. Unexpectedly, Jiang Rui replied with total gravity: “Madam Wei is correct. The jade is the big matter.”

At this, Madam Wei abandoned her refined composure and laughed coldly. “I see now. Master Jiang has no intention of helping at all. You simply don’t hold the Wei family in any regard!”

That last sentence was a sharp accusation. Even Secretary Wei had to step in to smooth things over. “Qiuxian, what are you saying? Master Jiang is not the type to be arrogant about his talents. Quickly, apologize to him.”

Wei Ruize seemed not to hear his parents. Upon hearing Jiang Rui’s words, a look of joy actually appeared on his face. “Master Jiang, do you mean that if I replace the jade, you will be willing to save my grandfather?”

Jiang Rui looked at him but didn’t answer directly. He simply said, “The illness is a small matter. Your previous death calamity was also a small matter. The jade is the big matter.”

This time, even Wei Ruize was lost in the fog, dazed by Jiang Rui’s talk of big and small matters. Secretary Wei sensed that Jiang Rui was speaking in riddles with a hidden meaning, but before he could ask further, Jiang Rui picked up a black Go stone and began resetting the board.

Madam Wei, unwilling to let it go, moved forward to demand an explanation, but Xiao Jinnan reached out to block her. “Madam Wei, Master Jiang has important business to attend to. Please, all of you, see yourselves out.”

Madam Wei pointed at Jiang Rui, who was leisurely placing stones. “He has ‘important business’? This is his important business?”

What could be more important than their father’s life?

“Let’s go, Qiuxian,” Secretary Wei told his wife.

“I’m not going! I want a clear answer!” she cried.

Secretary Wei grabbed her arm and hissed, “Let’s go!”

Madam Wei, usually gentle and submissive to her husband, shoved him away. “No! we took time out of our busy schedules to come here. We didn’t come to chat with Master Jiang or watch him play Go. We can’t just leave!”

Secretary Wei gave her a look. “You won’t leave? Fine. Ruize, we’re leaving! I won’t stay here just to be part of a joke!”

Madam Wei stiffened. She was only demanding an answer for the sake of the Old Master’s health; how had she become a “joke”? Was she, the wife of a Provincial Party Secretary, not even allowed to ask a question?

Xiao Jinnan blocked her path again. “Please, leave.”

“Master Jiang,” Madam Wei said, ignoring Xiao Jinnan and speaking in a heavy tone, “can you save our Old Master or not? Give me a straight answer.”

Jiang Rui looked up. “Madam Wei, do you think I can save him?”

“I am asking you! What does it matter what I think?”

Jiang Rui offered a slight smile. “It matters a great deal. If you think I can save him, and I say I cannot, you will think I am making excuses. If you think I cannot save him, even if I truly do save him, you won’t believe it was my doing.”

“Just like your son’s calamity.”

“Madam Wei, do you believe I was the one who saved your son?”

Madam Wei froze. Like Wei Ruize’s calamity… was it him? Yes or no? No, it was impossible. How could it have been him?

Wei Keli believed in metaphysics, but she did not. She had only come today to appease her husband.

Looking at the expression on her face, Jiang Rui said, “It seems Madam Wei already has her answer.”

Her expression shifted. Wait—if she believed Jiang Rui didn’t save Ruize, then it followed that he couldn’t save the Old Master either. How could that be?

“If you can save the Old Master,” Madam Wei said, “I’ll believe you’re a literal immortal.” She figured he was just trying to force her to “believe” in his craft.

Jiang Rui let out a light chuckle. “Madam Wei…”

“I never asked you to believe in me.”

Anger flared in her heart again. If he wasn’t the one making her believe, then who was? Was she supposed to just believe on her own?

What a joke!