Unconventional [Rebirth] - Chapter 82

Military training wasn’t particularly long, and the busy yet relatively happy days quickly reached their midpoint. The instructors and students gradually grew familiar with one another. With An Le’s lively personality, he had even managed to become well-acquainted with the instructors from other classes.

The training became much easier during the final few days, but there was a new development: the student body was split into two major groups. One group was responsible for the formal marching formations during the opening ceremony, while the other group would serve as the audience. The latter only had to walk through a simple rehearsal before being tasked with sitting in the stands, applauding, and creating an impressive atmosphere of a “large student body” for the school’s public image.

Whether by luck or fate, all four roommates in Jiang Rui’s dorm were selected for the formal formation. Jiang Rui and Zhao Jinyan were chosen as flag bearers at the very front, leading the way.

The position of flag bearer was the most grueling. Jiang Rui was fine, but he was surprised to see that the refined and scholarly Zhao Jinyan possessed such stamina. Having seen the man’s abs back in the dorm, Jiang Rui—who only possessed a singular, soft “ab”—felt a slight blow to his self-esteem.

Because the formal formation was aimed at the media, many people had been desperate to get a spot just to show their faces on camera. However, the selection was so indisputable that those left behind could only grumble and hope the cameras might catch a glimpse of them in the back of the massive crowd.

The two flag bearers were issued special uniforms, which the school allowed them to keep as souvenirs. After discussing it with Zhao Jinyan, Jiang Rui decided to accept the gift.

On the day of the parade, Jiang Rui watched the uncontrollable excitement and joy on the faces of the new students. The atmosphere was electric. In this moment, Jiang Rui truly felt, in every sense of the word, that he had officially stepped into the world of Beijing University.

He took a deep breath and, as expected, spotted Rong Jingtang on the rostrum. The man sat with his chin propped in one hand, his eyes indifferent as if nothing in the world mattered to him. The sight made Jiang Rui want to laugh. He wondered in what capacity Rong Jingtang was attending the opening ceremony.

Jiang Rui smiled slightly. When his gaze collided with Rong Jingtang’s, the latter’s eyes seemed to flash with a suspicious brightness. Though it lasted only an instant, it left Jiang Rui stunned.

Behind him, An Le gave Jiang Rui a tiny poke in the waist and whispered, “Hey, Jiang Rui, that’s your ‘brother’ up there.”

Jiang Rui’s lip twitched as he gave an agonizingly slow nod.

On the rostrum, Rong Jingtang suddenly sat bolt upright as if he’d been injected with adrenaline. The University President and Secretary beside him were speaking to him incessantly, but he didn’t seem to hear a word, his gaze fixed intently on the parade formation.

A large projector screen faced the rostrum, and an even larger display hung above the athletic field. Rong Jingtang’s face was broadcast clearly for all to see. Hearing the girls behind him whispering about how handsome the man was, Jiang Rui felt a mix of pride and a strange, inexplicable annoyance.

The announcer’s voice boomed over the speakers, declaring the commencement of the entry. Jiang Rui and Zhao Jinyan raised their flags high, leading the entire square formation around the field.

A tracking camera on a slider followed them. Jiang Rui maintained a perfect smile, looking straight ahead without a single flaw in his posture. After circling the field three times, the students in the second formation erupted into thunderous applause. Once they cleared the field and were dismissed, they were finally free to return to their dorms to rest. All their grueling preparation had been for those few minutes of glory.

Jiang Rui exhaled, handed his flag to a staff member, and unbuttoned the top two buttons of his collar, which had been choking him. Only then did he feel a bit more comfortable.

“Let’s go to the back! The instructors are going to demonstrate some combat techniques,” An Le said, pouncing on them from behind. He threw an arm around each of their necks, practically dragging them toward the back field.

Jiang Rui was interested as well, so he let An Le pull them along.

The second floor of the library overlooking the field was the best vantage point. It was shaded from the sun, air-conditioned, and offered a close-up view of every instructor’s movement. Very few people were there; it seemed most students were so exhausted they had rushed back to sleep.

Jiang Rui watched Wei Ruize leading the demonstration. In such a short time, the man seemed to have become an entirely different person. Did the military really have such a profound effect on one’s character?

Memories of the man who had insisted on compensating him for a piece of jade flashed through his mind. Jiang Rui smiled. Back then, he had simply wanted to play the role of a mysterious mystic to the end. Although he had dropped many hints to Mrs. Wei, she hadn’t caught on at all. In contrast, Wei Ruize had been able to follow his lead, proving himself even sharper than Secretary Wei.

The Wei family had been a scholarly and political dynasty for generations. Even in his past life, Jiang Rui had never heard of a Wei family member joining the military. It seemed the gears of fate had truly shifted because of his presence.

As he snapped out of his thoughts, the combat demonstration below was nearing its end. An Le was full of admiration for the instructors’ sharp, fierce movements, while Zhao Jinyan watched silently.

Just as the demonstration concluded and the freshmen began to disperse, a sudden change occurred.

Three or four men dressed in black with headwraps suddenly appeared on the second floor of the library, brandishing firearms.

Jiang Rui frowned, instinctively shielding An Le and Zhao Jinyan behind him. His eyes shot toward Rong Jingtang below. The man stood up from his chair without a hint of panic, adjusting his sleeves. Sui Ming, whom Jiang Rui hadn’t seen in a while, appeared out of nowhere to guard him as they moved toward a black car.

The phone in Jiang Rui’s pocket vibrated. He rolled his eyes silently, pulled it out, and checked it.

The name “Rong Jingtang” occupied the screen. The message read: Come home for dinner tonight.

Jiang Rui: “…”

Did this man think he was a personal chef, or did he already consider him a permanent member of the Rong household? Jiang Rui smiled helplessly and tucked the phone back into his pocket.

The three gunmen were carrying black cloth bags. Jiang Rui’s nose twitched; he smelled morphine. It seemed they were drug traffickers.

Below, the instructors who were about to dismiss the crowd immediately moved with practiced order. They surrounded the library and began advancing toward the building.

When the gunmen first appeared, most students on the second floor had already left, but a few remained scattered about. Two girls near the door were paralyzed with fear, clutching each other and unable to move. Jiang Rui cast a “Quickening Charm” on them; both girls shuddered as if struck by lightning, screamed, and scrambled down the stairs.

Within minutes, the only people left on the second floor besides the three criminals were Jiang Rui and his two roommates.

After a brief, hushed exchange, the three criminals moved toward Jiang Rui in unison.

Seeing that there were no other students nearby who might be caught in the crossfire, Jiang Rui took a slow step back, his expression calm. Beside him, An Le and Zhao Jinyan were silent, though Zhao Jinyan instinctively shifted to stand in front of An Le.

“Don’t move!” a man with drooping, triangular eyes shouted, pointing his gun at Jiang Rui. “Get over here!”

Jiang Rui’s fingertips flickered almost imperceptibly as he cast a protection seal on the two behind him. He then walked slowly toward the gunman.

When he was within two paces, the criminal lunged forward, seized Jiang Rui’s hands, and pressed the muzzle of the gun against his temple. Jiang Rui offered no resistance as he was bound. He watched as the other two criminals followed suit, tying up An Le and Zhao Jinyan. He took the opportunity to gauge their equipment; through his divine sense, he saw they only carried the three handguns.

Jiang Rui lowered his eyes, listening to the trio communicate in low voices. Having reached an agreement, each criminal grabbed one hostage and hauled them downstairs.

“Tell everyone to get back!” the leader shouted in the ground-floor lobby. The three criminals stood back-to-back, using the three students as human shields, perfectly eliminating any chance of being targeted by long-range snipers.

Jiang Rui’s brow furrowed. These three had exceptionally strong anti-terror capabilities. Even as they moved, they were deliberately seeking cover and minimizing exposure.

The lobby was empty of civilians, but dozens of instructors and a tactical police unit had surrounded the building. Jiang Rui hadn’t heard about such an incident occurring at Beijing University in his past life. As the nation’s top university, a hostage situation here would have dominated every headline.

Therefore, this event wasn’t “supposed” to happen.

Jiang Rui pursed his lips. His eyes caught sight of Wei Ruize, now wearing a bulletproof vest. Suddenly, it clicked.

He had performed a reading for Wei Ruize before. Although the jade gift had helped him survive one fatal disaster, the man was destined for three “tribulations.” This was likely the third. If Wei Ruize survived this, given the Wei family’s power and the noble “azure aura” hidden beneath his current dark energy, he would likely secure a legendary standing in the Jinlin region.

Countless thoughts filtered through Jiang Rui’s mind in an instant, finally settling on one conclusion: Wei Ruize cannot die.

…He had apparently forgotten that he was currently the one being held at gunpoint.