Unconventional [Rebirth] - Chapter 58

After serving “Lord Rong” that fish—the one Uncle Cheng swore the Master would never touch—Jiang Rui finally departed with a sense of accomplishment.

His destination: an underground gambling street frequently visited by the jade-carving master, Xue Hening. He couldn’t be certain if the Master still frequented the place before becoming the renowned leader of the Jade-Carving Sect, so this trip was a gamble in itself. Though Xue Hening’s current fame was negligible compared to the peak of his previous life, that was exactly why he would be easier for Jiang Rui to “hook.”

Jiang Rui vividly remembered his past life as the old man’s primary disciple, and how the “Old Playful Child” Master would drive away wealthy socialites who tried to buy their way into his tutelage.

Before leaving, Jiang Rui meticulously refined his appearance. The elderly master favored silk Tai Chi robes, and though this suited Jiang Rui’s own taste, he added a few touches to cater to Master Xue—such as a brocade satchel containing small tools used for jade carving. He remembered that before the Master became famous, his favorite pastime was carving small trinkets for merchants who couldn’t afford professional jade-carvers.

The moment Jiang Rui stepped into the venue, his ancient, ethereal aura—as if he had stepped out of a classical painting—left the greeters stunned. He walked in with a gentle smile, unaware that to ordinary people, he already appeared to be a completely different class of being.

Luck was on his side. Shortly after entering, he encountered an elderly man arguing with a shop owner until they were both red in the face. The old man had white hair and a ruddy complexion, his face flushed with the heat of the debate. To an onlooker, he might have seemed like a troublesome old man, but to Jiang Rui…

It was a familiarity that felt like a lifetime away.

In his past life, the Master had been strict, yet he would cover the exhausted Jiang Rui with a blanket late at night. He had protected Jiang Rui fiercely against outsiders. Even on his deathbed, the Master had tearfully urged Jiang Rui to find peace and live well.

Looking back, Jiang Rui realized the Master had seen through the murky, treacherous waters surrounding him. Even if the Master had wanted to pull him out then, he had been powerless to do so, and could only offer constant warnings. It wasn’t until the moment Jiang Rui was thrown into prison that he truly understood the old man’s painstaking efforts.

It had been too late.

Jiang Rui exhaled a deep sigh, a wave of sorrow nearly causing his composure to crumble. After several deep breaths, he steadied his heavy footsteps and walked toward the old man. A crowd had already gathered to watch the spectacle.

The argument had reached a fever pitch. Master Xue had apparently spotted a piece of jade and wanted to carve a pattern for the owner, but he had forgotten his jade-master credentials. The owner was refusing to let this “unprofessional-looking” old man touch his stock.

Jiang Rui approached and inspected the stone. It wasn’t particularly remarkable, save for a deep crimson hue that had led the owner to label it as “Blood Jade.”

Reaching into his bag, Jiang Rui pulled a piece of genuine, high-quality blood jade directly from his spiritual space. He stepped forward and patted the old man’s back. Under Master Xue’s huffy gaze, Jiang Rui scratched his head like an innocent young nobleman.

“Master, I’ve seen you before. My… father wishes to commission a master to carve a piece personally. Do you happen to be free?”

Master Xue scrutinized this child who had appeared out of nowhere. His anger dissipated mysteriously as he grumbled, “I am no ‘Master’ yet.”

“You jest,” Jiang Rui smiled, leaning into the persona of a young gentleman. He helped the old man up and subtly stroked the Master’s knees. Having crouched for so long, the old man likely couldn’t stand without falling; Jiang Rui’s touch sent a wave of soothing energy into his joints.

Master Xue breathed a long sigh of relief and stood up. His eyes instantly lit up when he saw the exquisite jade stone Jiang Rui had “happened” to pull from his bag.

“Is this your stone?!” Master Xue snatched it, cradling it like a treasure, completely ignoring the shop owner whose face was now as black as coal.

“Yes, my father said this blood jade was an ancestral heirloom…” Before Jiang Rui could finish his fabricated story, Master Xue was already dragging him through the crowd by the hand.

“Boy, why didn’t you come sooner! Making an old man waste his time on a piece of dyed junk!” The Master grumbled, but his grip on Jiang Rui’s hand never loosened.

Jiang Rui smiled and followed, focusing his Qi into his fingertips to cool the old man’s sweat-soaked back.

Upon returning to the workshop, the Master was immediately surrounded by a group of “old children.” Jiang Rui recognized many of them as Master Xue’s friends from his past life and maintained a perfectly obedient demeanor. Master Xue, feeling a sudden surge of pride, brandished the jade stone and then “BAM!”—slammed the door shut on his protesting peers.

The Master finally relaxed. Jiang Rui’s expression turned serious as he stood by the table.

“You want to learn jade carving?” Master Xue sat down, toyed with the blood jade, and lost his playful smile.

Jiang Rui’s expression mirrored his, though he felt an urge to laugh with joy. “Yes.”

“Not many young people want to learn this anymore…” Master Xue mused to himself.

Jiang Rui nodded. “I only do it for myself.”

For my heart, for my spirit.

It was an arrogant statement, but it was exactly what Jiang Rui had told the old man in his previous life. Back then, he simply wanted to find his own center. That answer had suited the old man’s palate perfectly.

“Carving jade is a bitter path,” Master Xue said finally. Those words allowed Jiang Rui’s heart to finally settle.

“Yes… Shifu (Master).” Calling him Shifu brought tears to Jiang Rui’s eyes. He owed the old man so much; in this life, he would do everything to repay him.

After leaving the jade market, Jiang Rui remained immersed in a sea of joy. As the saying goes, “Good fortune brings a refreshed spirit.” He was so happy that he felt he could cook an entire school of fish for Rong Jingtang if asked!

With a major burden lifted from his heart and the debt of a lifetime partially addressed, he felt a sudden clarity of spirit.

Sensing that Miao Xuan was about to emerge, Jiang Rui clutched his heart, which was beating with abnormal speed. In that moment, the trees around him began to grow wildly, shooting up several inches in minutes. Jiang Rui’s gaze sharpened; he cast a spell to erase his presence from the minds of any onlookers and vanished into his spiritual space.

“Miao Xuan! What is happening?”

He rushed back into the room, his thoughts a chaotic swirl yet clearer than they had ever been.

“Congratulations, Master,” Miao Xuan said, his voice sounding more real than ever before. “You have reached the threshold of advancement.”

“Advancement?” His heart raced faster. Before he could respond, he was forced into a state of deep meditation (Ding).

He saw visions of his life: from being a tiny infant in his mother’s womb to the moment of his death. The bloody image of his end resurfaced, more vivid than a memory. Even after living a new life for over a decade, Jiang Rui bit his lip and trembled. Then, the scene shifted. In a void, a force pulled him back to reality…

The timelines of his two lives flashed before him like a galloping white horse—fast and elusive. He had been reborn for revenge and stepped onto the path of cultivation for revenge. But now, those enemies who once seemed like insurmountable mountains were utterly pathetic. He could turn them to ash with a flick of his finger. If his decades of obsession were erased, what was he left with?

Unbeknownst to him, the environment of the spiritual realm was transforming rapidly. He saw the truth of what happened after his death in the previous life: his father, broken-hearted, had spent the family fortune taking Wang Chenghui to court, eventually losing everything. His uncle-in-law, who had once hated him, spent his life trying to dismantle Wang Chenghui’s empire after learning of Jiang Rui’s death.

He had thought he was alone. He hadn’t realized that the father who disowned him and the relatives who despised him had fought for him until their bitter ends.

When Jiang Rui opened his eyes, his face was drenched in tears, and his eyes were bloodshot. Looking at the storm clouds gathering in the sky of his spiritual space, he felt no fear. Lightning flickered above with a world-crushing pressure, waiting for the right moment to strike.

Miao Xuan had vanished, but Jiang Rui felt a profound sense of liberation. His resentment from his past life was finally quelled.

He closed his eyes again. Auras of green and red light flashed around him, forming a protective barrier. Finally, a bolt of purple-black lightning tore through the sky, striking directly at the crown of Jiang Rui’s head.

After the strike, the green and red light flickered but became even more resilient. Dozens more bolts followed, yet Jiang Rui remained motionless, lost in thought.

When he finally opened his eyes, the sky was bluer and the clouds whiter than ever before.

Miao Xuan’s ethereal voice echoed through the vast realm: “Congratulations, Master, on your successful Core Formation. You have entered the early stage of the Golden Core Realm.”

Jiang Rui’s expression remained calm, his eyes deep.

“The reason I lingered at the peak of Foundation Establishment for so long… was it because of a Heart Devil?” Jiang Rui touched his heart; it was beating normally again, confirming his success.

“Yes,” Miao Xuan replied.

Jiang Rui looked at Miao Xuan, who also seemed to have advanced. “It is beautiful here.”

After a pause, Miao Xuan replied, “Thank you.”

Jiang Rui smiled, feeling a weight lift from his soul. Previously, a layer of mistrust had existed between him and Miao Xuan due to his own inner turmoil. Now that the knot was untied, he could truly feel Miao Xuan’s emotions.

Miao Xuan was a “Tool Spirit” with his own consciousness. In the cultivation world, such spirits were often suppressed as slaves by their masters, leading to resentment and eventually “backlash” against the cultivator. But Jiang Rui no longer sought to control or guard against him. He saw Miao Xuan as a friend.

Freed from his shackles, Miao Xuan no longer had to act with trepidation. Hence, his sincere “thank you.”