Unconventional [Rebirth] - Chapter 64

Jiang Rui entered the grand, ancient residence with a whirlwind of conflicting thoughts. Watching Rong Jingtang walk ahead of him with such poise, he couldn’t help but feel a sudden, awkward sensation—as if he were a young bride following her husband back to his ancestral home.

Shaking the thought from his head, Jiang Rui stepped through the main gate, noticed the visible excitement on Uncle Cheng’s face.

The house seemed devoid of elders, and Jiang Rui saw no traces of other people living there. Though the grounds were pristine, the estate lacked the warmth of human presence.

“Young Master, Li Sao gave the place a thorough cleaning yesterday,” Uncle Cheng said, looking at the crabapple trees in the courtyard with a sigh of nostalgia. “We are finally home.”

Rong Jingtang gave a soft “mhm.” Under the watchful eyes of Uncle Cheng and Jiang Rui, he walked toward a side courtyard and pushed open the door. He dismissed Uncle Cheng, choosing instead to lead Jiang Rui through the estate himself.

He wasn’t exactly conversing with Jiang Rui; it felt more like he was talking to himself. “This is my home…”

“Thirteen years ago, the Rong family fell into chaos. My parents were both killed in that conflict. Afterward, I was sent to Xiangcheng, where I remained for thirteen years.” Rong Jingtang pushed open a door with a hint of uncertainty, but the room inside was free of dust.

He scanned the room, a faint smile touching his lips—one tinged with profound melancholy. “I’m finally back.”

It was a bedroom built for two. Jiang Rui noticed a photo frame on the nightstand; the picture inside was somewhat faded, but it clearly showed a man and a woman embracing, looking very intimate. They were smiling happily. Jiang Rui did not see a young Rong Jingtang in the photo, and indeed, there wasn’t a single family portrait to be found in the entire house.

Rong Jingtang sat on the edge of the bed and patted the mattress beside him. “Come here.”

Jiang Rui hesitated. Sensing that Rong Jingtang was in a fragile state, he complied and sat down. As soon as he did, Rong Jingtang grabbed his hand and pulled him down onto the bed.

It was a testament to the caretaker Li Sao’s diligence that the bedding smelled fresh. While Jiang Rui was busy overthinking the situation, he suddenly sensed a strange Yin energy—not malicious, but unmistakable.

He furrowed his brows and swept the area with his spiritual sense, discovering a small Yin-Gathering Array in the backyard. Such an array, if used correctly, allows ghosts to accumulate merit and blessings to ensure a better reincarnation in the next life. However, if the souls had been wicked in life, this formation would turn into a site of great omen.

With a slight flick of his fingers, a subtle fragrance began to waft through the room. The grip on Jiang Rui’s arm loosened as Rong Jingtang drifted into a deep sleep.

Once he was sure Rong Jingtang was out, Jiang Rui slipped away to the backyard.

There stood two peach trees, eerily in full bloom despite it being September. In front of them were two modest burial mounds with simple inscriptions. Jiang Rui confirmed they were the graves of Rong Jingtang’s parents. He was curious as to why they weren’t buried in a proper cemetery, but he knew that keeping Yin energy in a bustling, sun-drenched Siheyuan would eventually lead to the souls being purified out of existence.

Jiang Rui felt fortunate for his habit of reading the esoteric texts in his Secret Realm. While this was a task better suited for a ghost cultivator, he had yet to encounter another practitioner in this world.

He performed several hand seals and pointed toward the graves. Before long, a pale green mist gathered, slowly forming two blurred, humanoid shapes. Jiang Rui frowned; even at night, they couldn’t fully manifest. If he had arrived any later, Rong Jingtang’s parents would have vanished into smoke.

“What are you doing?”

The voice startled Jiang Rui so much he nearly jumped out of his skin. He looked back to see Rong Jingtang standing only two or three paces behind him. He hadn’t sensed his approach at all.

Jiang Rui twitched. “Just… taking a walk.”

Rong Jingtang didn’t press him on his strange movements. Instead, he took Jiang Rui’s hand, led him to the graves, and said, “Kneel.”

Jiang Rui blinked but obeyed. One must respect one’s elders and the deceased. Besides, if he actually succeeded in pursuing Rong Jingtang, these two would be his father and mother-in-law.

Rong Jingtang said nothing. After Jiang Rui had knelt for a while, Rong Jingtang stood up and pulled him to his feet.

“They died to protect me,” Rong Jingtang said suddenly.

Jiang Rui was stunned.

“When the family internal war broke out, as the only legitimate eldest son, I was first sent to Li Family Village in Qing City…” Rong Jingtang paused meaningfully before continuing, “With the help of the then-clan leader, I was moved to Xiangcheng, where I lived until now.”

Jiang Rui’s eyelid flickered.

“That was when my parents died,” Rong Jingtang concluded. “Their deaths were inextricably linked to my youngest uncle. Of the main Rong lineage, only my uncle and I are left.”

Jiang Rui’s heart began to race. Rong Jingtang was being uncharacteristically open today, sharing things he probably shouldn’t.

“Ruirui,” Rong Jingtang said softly, looking at him. “Do you remember…”

Suddenly, a violent Yin wind erupted.

Jiang Rui’s expression shifted instantly. He pulled Rong Jingtang behind him and glared at two blue orbs of light that had suddenly flared up. “What ghost is this? Show yourself!”

A small blue cluster seemed timid, hiding behind two larger clusters. Jiang Rui frowned. “Rong Jingtang, did you have a sibling? A twin?”

Rong Jingtang frowned. “Yes.” He didn’t ask how Jiang Rui knew; he could feel the unnatural, bone-chilling cold in the air.

Among the mist was a tiny glimmer—a bright, singular point of light. Jiang Rui gasped. It was an Infant Spirit with a mutated fire-attribute spiritual root that had become a vengeful ghost.

He couldn’t fathom how the child had died, but infant spirits were notoriously difficult to pass on. Because Rong Jingtang was present, Jiang Rui didn’t want to forcibly exorcise the child, as such an act could create a “heart demon” in his own cultivation path.

“Rong Jingtang, can you see the three blue clusters in front of us?”

“I can,” Rong Jingtang whispered.

Jiang Rui sighed, deciding not to hide the truth. “The largest is your father. The one in the middle is your mother… and the smallest one is your younger brother.”

Silence followed. Jiang Rui bit the tip of his tongue and sprayed a mouthful of “essence blood” forward. The three clusters swarmed the blood as if it were a priceless treasure. The blood split into three, merging into their forms.

Their outlines became clear: two adults and a small child. Jiang Rui stepped back to give them space. With the nourishment of the essence blood, the infant spirit fell into a peaceful slumber in the arms of the woman wearing a cheongsam.

Jiang Rui noticed something strange—the child only had half a soul—but he didn’t have time to dwell on it. He retreated toward the gate, only to be yanked back by Rong Jingtang.

“A-Jing… you’ve grown so much,” a muffled voice came from the green mist. Jiang Rui applied a strengthening charm so they could hear more clearly.

Rong Jingtang remained silent.

A-Jing? Jiang Rui felt the name was strangely familiar.

The parents spoke to Rong Jingtang of mundane family matters, but finally, they said solemnly: “Live well. Do not go looking for your uncle.”

Jiang Rui’s expression grew serious. If Rong Jingtang didn’t seek out his uncle, would he still be the Rong Jingtang he knew?

A silence fell between the son and his parents. Seeing the mist beginning to fade, Jiang Rui asked, “…Do you wish to be reincarnated?”

Rong Jingtang looked up.

Jiang Rui remained calm. “You both possessed great merit in life and died by… accident. In the next life, you will surely be born into good circumstances.” He glanced at the sky—no sign of divine lightning. “And you will be husband and wife again.”

The couple hesitated. Rong Jingtang suddenly turned around and walked out of the backyard. With his back turned, he let out a nearly inaudible whisper: “Send them on.”

Jiang Rui smiled and nodded. “Please, close your eyes.”

After they departed, Jiang Rui stood looking at the half-soul infant still floating in the air, surrounded by a faint black aura. He was speechless. This child was bizarre. Given the state of the soul, the child technically shouldn’t be “dead” in the traditional sense.

However, the infant was too small to communicate. Jiang Rui hesitated, then reached out and gathered the one-year-old child into his arms.

His own pure aura caused the child’s black energy to recede. The infant’s distorted features softened the moment it touched Jiang Rui. Unlike most ghosts, which are ice-cold, this child felt scorching hot in his arms.

Jiang Rui stroked his chin, a realization dawning on him. He turned and walked out of the backyard. Behind him, the two blooming peach trees suddenly withered, their petals carpeting the ground in a final, silent shroud.