Unconventional [Rebirth] - Chapter 54

Jiang Rui was left utterly speechless by that single remark.

The car drove steadily until it reached the secluded courtyard where Rong Jingtang spent most of his time. Due to the Pi Xiu carvings and the spiritual arrays Jiang Rui had previously set up, the negative influence of the environment on Rong Jingtang had lessened significantly. However, observing Rong Jingtang now, he looked even more pallid than before.

Jiang Rui frowned, surveying the courtyard which looked much the same as when he had left.

After stepping out of the car, Rong Jingtang didn’t say a word to Jiang Rui. He walked straight toward the courtyard, his pace deliberate and steady. Had Jiang Rui not known that this man always walked with such elegant slowness, he might have actually suspected… that Rong Jingtang was waiting for him.

Feeling deeply that he was overthinking things, Jiang Rui gave a self-deprecating smile. He climbed out of the car and followed obediently behind Rong Jingtang.

The one who falls in love first, loses first.

Though he felt his feelings for Rong Jingtang had not yet reached the level of true love, in this particular regard… he had undoubtedly lost completely.

Lost in thought, Jiang Rui was startled when Rong Jingtang suddenly came to a halt. Standing tall and straight, Rong Jingtang tilted his head slightly and said softly, “Keep up.”

Jiang Rui: “…” He really was waiting for me?

Stunned by this sudden wave of “happiness,” Jiang Rui—whose actual soul was old enough to be Rong Jingtang’s uncle—felt that his decades of life experience from his previous incarnation must have been eaten by the Rong family dog.

Wait! Where did a dog come from?

Jiang Rui’s pupils contracted as he spotted a Tibetan Mastiff standing rigidly at the entrance of the courtyard. It was a purebred; its muzzle was square with a yellowish tint, and there was a slight protrusion on its head. Likely due to being raised outdoors, its chest was as wide as three adult palms—clearly a hound of great endurance and cardiovascular strength.

Jiang Rui frowned slightly, watching Rong Jingtang walk past the beast as if nothing were amiss. Sighing at his own suspicious nature, he followed. Despite his dismissive thoughts, he remained vigilant. As he crossed the threshold, he caught the muffled growl of the mastiff in his peripheral vision and saw the sharp, shearing teeth in its slightly parted maw.

It’s targeting me.

Jiang Rui raised an eyebrow but did not falter. He followed Rong Jingtang directly into the study.

The two Pi Xiu pieces he had placed in the study were still there. Not a speck of dust touched them; they looked brand new. After a quick scan, Jiang Rui found nothing unusual. Rong Jingtang settled himself onto a chaise lounge and actually began to rest with his eyes closed right in front of Jiang Rui.

Jiang Rui looked at him with amusement. This “Master” certainly didn’t treat him like a stranger.

Just then, his phone vibrated in his pocket. It was a message from Xiao Lunan. After reading it, Jiang Rui’s spirit jolted.

He had assumed that even though he had treated Old Master Wei, given the elder’s condition, it would take at least seven days for him to recover enough to wake up. Even then, he should have been extremely frail and bedridden. Yet, in just a few short days, the Old Master was actually able to visit Xiao Lunan’s home to express his gratitude in person.

Now, the Old Master had brought the entire family for a formal visit. Xiao Lunan, unable to handle the pressure alone, had made an excuse to go to the bathroom just to text Jiang Rui. Jiang Rui checked his call logs; there were already two or three missed calls.

Earlier in the car, he had been too busy watching Rong Jingtang, and his phone had been on silent… not that he was making excuses for his own distraction.

Jiang Rui silently tucked the phone back into his pocket. Seeing that Rong Jingtang had opened his eyes, he subconsciously explained, “…It’s Xiao Lunan’s side…”

Halfway through the sentence, he suddenly remembered: he hadn’t done anything to betray Rong Jingtang, so why was he explaining himself? He immediately fell silent. Whenever he faced Rong Jingtang, he felt as though his IQ was being trampled underfoot; it was utterly useless.

Rong Jingtang was clearly very pleased by Jiang Rui’s attempt to explain. He nodded slightly, and though his expression remained indifferent, Jiang Rui felt he could see through the facade to the delight buried beneath. Jiang Rui opened his mouth to speak but eventually closed it in frustration.

When dealing with Rong Jingtang, the more one says, the more mistakes one makes.

When Jiang Rui arrived at Xiao Lunan’s house and knocked, Xiao Lunan showed no surprise. Jiang Rui didn’t explain how he got there so quickly either; he simply walked side-by-side with Xiao Lunan into the house.

Old Master Wei’s complexion wasn’t great, but it was significantly better than Jiang Rui had anticipated. Beyond marveling at the Wei family’s powerful fortune (Qi), he had to admit that Old Master Wei was a man of incredible willpower.

The Banishing Array at the Wei residence and the Soul-Confusing Array at this courtyard were nearly identical. That bone-chilling cold was something even a healthy young man couldn’t withstand, let alone an elderly man. For the Old Master to personally get out of bed and come here, Jiang Rui gave him high marks in his heart.

Because the Old Master had brought the female members of the family, Xiao Lunan did not ask Mo Zhao to return to her room. He intended for her to start interacting with his social circle, which would benefit both of them.

As Jiang Rui entered, Old Master Wei turned as if sensing his presence. Upon seeing Jiang Rui, even with all his prior mental preparation, the Old Master froze for a moment. Secretary Wei had told him Jiang Rui was “young,” but the Old Master had naturally assumed “young” meant twenty-five to thirty-five.

The… child before him looked no more than eighteen or nineteen.

The air around Jiang Rui was crisp and clear. In this season, anyone sitting near him felt their spirits lift, shaking off any lingering lethargy. Jiang Rui noticed the Old Master’s thoughtful look but hid his own reactions well.

Old Master Wei deliberated for a moment before speaking, expressing deep gratitude for Jiang Rui saving his life. Having long passed the age where one “knows the mandate of heaven,” the Old Master’s belief in metaphysics was evident even in the furniture placement of the Wei ancestral home. Thus, Jiang Rui accepted the thanks with a smile.

Suddenly, Old Master Wei shot a glare behind him. Jiang Rui looked calmly at the humiliated expression on Madam Wei’s face, understanding exactly what the Old Master intended.

“There is no need for this, Old Master,” Jiang Rui said. “Metaphysics is a matter of faith—it exists for those who believe and not for those who don’t. It is only natural that Madam Wei is skeptical.”

His words subtly implied that Madam Wei was merely a “common person” lacking vision. How could the high-and-mighty Madam Wei not hear the irony? But with the Old Master present, she didn’t dare lose her temper; she couldn’t even show a hint of attitude. She glared hatefully but didn’t dare challenge him directly.

Before coming, Old Master Wei had heard from Xiao Lunan that Jiang Rui had saved two lives in their family. Originally, he hadn’t intended to help with the matter Xiao Lunan requested, but now, it seemed his plans needed to be overhauled.

The Old Master’s expression was heavy with thought, yet he wore a smile as he observed Jiang Rui. All previous reports described this boy as ordinary—just a youth who knew a few talented people. But that was exactly what made everything so extraordinary. Seeing Jiang Rui’s composure, the Old Master couldn’t help but sigh. The children in his own family were successful, but compared to this boy from the countryside—who felt as refined as fine jade—they were all lacking something.

The Old Master rose to take his leave. At that moment, Wei Ruize, who had been standing silently by his side, suddenly spoke: “Jiang Rui, do you attend the Thirteenth High School?”

Jiang Rui nodded with a smile, watching as Wei Ruize’s single sentence drew various meaningful looks from the rest of the Wei family.

Once Xiao Lunan saw the Wei family out, Jiang Rui poured a cup of tea to moisten his throat. It was nearly dinner time. Mo Zhao had already gone to the kitchen. Xiao Lunan slapped Jiang Rui on the shoulder. “Not bad, kid. You had that old man spinning in circles with just a few words.”

Jiang Rui’s smile was profound. “I was only stating facts.”

But he was the only one who knew the full truth. Well, he and Miao Xuan—though Miao Xuan wasn’t human. In his past life, the Jinlin region faced a tense crisis, yet the Wei family had managed to emerge victorious. In this life, with Old Master Wei still alive and having bypassed his “death calamity,” the Wei family’s fortune would not be depleted by his premature passing. They would only go further.

Jiang Rui had no desire to be enemies with the Wei family. If Xiao Lunan wanted to thrive here, he would need their help. It is always better to have the Wei family as a friend than an enemy.

After a brief chat, Jiang Rui took his leave. By the time he returned to the Rong Residence, it was nearly dusk. A cool breeze blew, and Jiang Rui closed his eyes to steady his heart before entering.

A black car was parked at the entrance. Jiang Rui knew little about cars, only recognizing common brands, but he realized Rong Jingtang must have a visitor. He wondered what kind of guest was allowed into the Rong Residence.

The dog was gone. Jiang Rui headed inside. The main hall was empty; Rong Jingtang was likely on the second floor. Jiang Rui rubbed his temples. Sometimes Rong Jingtang seemed like a predator who could swallow someone whole without leaving a trace; other times, he seemed as temperamental as a child.

As expected, when he went upstairs, Uncle Cheng was standing outside the door with a tray of food, looking like he was on the verge of tears. Jiang Rui’s lip twitched; the scene felt strangely familiar.

Uncle Cheng handed the tray to Jiang Rui with an expression of immense gratitude. He whispered, “The Third Master was here. Every time he visits, the Master becomes unhappy…” He seemed about to say more, but hearing a cough from inside, his face wrinkled with worry. He patted Jiang Rui’s shoulder and, before Jiang Rui could react, knocked loudly and—very “helpfully”—opened the door.

Jiang Rui: “…” Uncle Cheng, I really “thank” you for this.

Watching Uncle Cheng scurry downstairs, Jiang Rui felt that everything had turned strange since he entered the house. He pushed the door open and saw Rong Jingtang lying wearily on the chaise lounge, his brows knit in discomfort.

Jiang Rui bit his lip and walked over. Rong Jingtang opened his eyes briefly, saw it was Jiang Rui, and closed them again. However, Jiang Rui didn’t miss the flash of disdain in his eyes when he saw the food.

Jiang Rui sighed. The meal was full of medicinal herbs; even with the lid on, the heavy scent of medicine was obvious. At this moment, Rong Jingtang felt less like an untouchable master and more like a person.

“Get up and eat your medicine,” Jiang Rui said, placing the tray down while carefully avoiding the Pi Xiu jade.

Rong Jingtang… simply rolled over, turning his back to Jiang Rui and refusing to speak.

Jiang Rui was almost moved to laughter. Looking at the medicinal meal, he said, “Eat this, and I’ll give you something good afterward.”

The “something good” referred to the spirit pills he had refined earlier. He hadn’t intended it at the time, but after finishing them, he realized they were all beneficial to Rong Jingtang. In the few days he had been gone, Rong Jingtang’s condition had deteriorated significantly. This “Master” refusing to take his medicine was clearly a primary reason.

Rong Jingtang shifted into a sitting position. He pulled the blanket up, folded his hands over his stomach, and said slowly, “Feed me.”

Jiang Rui felt his ears must be failing him. Did Rong Jingtang really just say that?

Jiang Rui blinked, looking “stupid” for the first time in front of the man. He cleaned his ear with a finger and asked, “…What did you just say?”

Rong Jingtang remained calm, maintaining his aristocratic poise. He looked at Jiang Rui holding the tray and repeated, syllable by slow syllable:

“Feed—me.”

Jiang Rui: “…”

I really didn’t mishear him.

Jiang Rui turned to look out the window. Outside, the sunset was at its peak, staining half the sky a brilliant, beautiful crimson.