Unconventional [Rebirth] - Chapter 86

The chaotic mess of thoughts in Jiang Rui’s mind was pulled back to reality by the sudden vibration of his phone. He glanced down at the floor before pulling the device from his pocket.

It was a new text message. Upon seeing Rong Jingtang’s name, the corners of Jiang Rui’s mouth curved upward. The simple words on the screen instantly cleared the lingering gloom in his heart. He gripped the phone tightly for a moment before tucking it away.

“Come home for dinner.”

Those four simple words kept the smile on Jiang Rui’s face as he walked out of the hospital. He let out a long breath and straightened his clothes.

His natural temperament was calm and steady, the kind that made passersby turn their heads. Standing near him felt like being in a healing field where even the saddest thoughts could be soothed. Today, because Jiang Rui was happy, the “Qi” surrounding him was almost tangible—like a cluster of flower buds ready to burst, filled with a longing for the world.

When Jiang Rui arrived at the Rong residence, he walked straight to the hall. As expected, Rong Jingtang was sitting in the primary seat, waiting for him.

Jiang Rui couldn’t help but feel curious. In the past, whenever he saw Rong Jingtang, the man always had piles of work at his side. Lately, however, he lived like a pampered young master of an ancient manor; every time Jiang Rui saw him, he was either at the dining table or… in bed.

Jiang Rui’s sharp eyes noted the abundance of meat dishes on the table. For Rong Jingtang, who usually disliked meat, this was quite a change. Jiang Rui glanced at the extra seats and asked, “Who else is coming?”

“My young uncle and Jia Shi,” Rong Jingtang said, propping his chin on his hand as he watched Jiang Rui. “They plan to go abroad to register their marriage.”

Jiang Rui paused while picking up a napkin to clean his hands. “So soon?”

Laughter drifted in from outside. Jiang Rui turned to see Rong Anchen entering first, followed by Jia Shi. The two were walking hand-in-hand.

To Jiang Rui’s eyes, the red threads of fate between them were dense and inseparable, yet they were no longer a tangled, chaotic mess—they had a clear beginning and end. He offered a warm, sincere smile. “Congratulations to you both.”

Rong Anchen nodded with a smile, his eyes finally moving from Jia Shi to Jiang Rui. “It’s not soon. I’ve been waiting ten years for this day.”

Jiang Rui smiled but didn’t speak. Jia Shi looked up at Rong Anchen, a doting smile playing on his lips, though he remained silent as well.

As the meal began, Jiang Rui noticed Rong Anchen frequently placing meat into Jia Shi’s bowl. He eventually asked, “Jia Shi, have you returned to secular life?”

Jia Shi paused and set down his chopsticks. “I have.”

“I have already returned the Gamosuo to Putuo Temple,” he continued. “The title of ‘Yuan Jue’ has been removed from the temple registry. From this day forward, I no longer have any ties to the Buddhist order.”

He lowered his head to continue eating. The ordination scars on his head were gone, replaced by a fine layer of short black hair. This “shadow” of hair against his features gave him a distinct, restrained, yet alluring aura.

Jiang Rui laughed, speaking to Jia Shi directly for the first time on the matter: “The bond between you and the Young Uncle should never have been severed (Yuan Jue)… Your master meant well back then, but he forgot that the laws of affinity in this world are predestined. If the Little Peach Blossom hadn’t intervened, I’m afraid your only end would have been a meditative death.”

Jia Shi nodded calmly. Noticing Rong Anchen’s complicated expression, he consoled him softly: “It’s all in the past.”

“Yes, it’s all in the past,” Jiang Rui added, pulling Rong Anchen back from his thoughts. He tilted his head slightly. “I don’t have much to give as a wedding gift, but Xiao Bai gave me a pair of ‘Life-Bond Rings’ recently. They seem fitting for the occasion.”

Jiang Rui reached into his pocket and produced two rings that glowed with a faint, flowing red luster. They looked ordinary in his palm, but the moment Jia Shi reached out for them, they emitted a soft pulse of light. Jia Shi felt a slight warmth where the rings sat, a sensation that was incredibly comforting.

“This is…” Jia Shi paused, examining the rings closely. Beneath a shell that looked like fine jade, thread-like crimson veins moved within, looking almost alive.

Jiang Rui let out a low chuckle. “It’s quite a coincidence, actually.”

He had previously taken the branch given to him by the Peach Blossom Tree and placed it near the Spirit Pith Jade Tree in the Secret Realm. At the time, he thought that keeping two natural spiritual objects together would allow them to nourish each other. He hadn’t expected the peach branch to unexpectedly take root. By the time Jiang Rui noticed, it had already grown a small sapling.

He hadn’t mentioned this to the Little Peach Blossom yet; Miao Xuan had told him to wait a bit longer before revealing it. Recalling Miao Xuan’s odd, expectant expression, Jiang Rui felt the spirit was simply waiting to watch a good show.

Even more coincidentally, the Spirit Pith Jade Tree—which only produces a drop of “nectar” once in a thousand years—happened to drip a single drop right as the peach branch was maturing. The sapling absorbed the spirit-rich jade pith, instantly growing into a sturdy small trunk. The falling peach blossoms then condensed with that drop of pith to form these two Life-Bond Rings.

Jiang Rui had read in ancient texts that these rings, when worn by lovers, signify an eternal bond. The jade would nourish the body, which was perfect for Jia Shi, whose physical health was still recovering.

Jia Shi did not refuse. He took the rings and, without hesitation, slid one onto Rong Anchen’s finger.

Jiang Rui smiled and returned to his food. Suddenly, Rong Jingtang tapped the table and tilted his chin slightly. Jiang Rui followed his gaze to a plate of boiled fish.

Seeing how Rong Jingtang was mimicking the “attention-seeking” behavior of the couple, Jiang Rui’s lip twitched as he stifled a laugh. He picked up a piece of tender fish and placed it in Rong Jingtang’s bowl.

“Eat slowly,” Jiang Rui said, his smile widening as he watched Rong Jingtang tackle the fish with the intensity of a puppy with a bone. This childish side of Rong Jingtang gave him a strange sense of familiarity, as if he had seen it countless times before.

Across the table, Jia Shi finished placing the ring on Rong Anchen’s finger and looked at Jiang Rui solemnly. “Jiang Rui, I want to thank you.”

Jiang Rui blinked, listening intently.

Jia Shi smiled. “I looked through many jewelry stores but couldn’t find a single ring that was worthy of Anchen. These two you gave… they truly satisfy my heart.”

Jiang Rui waved a hand dismissively. “It was just a small gesture, no need for such thanks.” The fact that the rings glowed in their hands meant the “affinity” was truly there.

Jia Shi nodded, but still produced a very ancient-looking sutra. The characters were unintelligible to Jiang Rui, but the book radiated a profound Buddhist aura that seemed to repel all impurities. Jiang Rui felt a sense of peace wash over him as he touched it. He smiled and stored the sutra in the Secret Realm.

After the meal, Rong Anchen and Jia Shi headed out. Jiang Rui felt a sense of relief seeing Rong Jingtang return to his room to finally attend to some actual business. He had started to believe that the man truly had nothing better to do than wait for him to come home for dinner.

Amused by the thought, Jiang Rui headed to the backyard.

The Little Peach Blossom was in human form, sitting in a chair and playing with tea sets. Spirits like him had long lives, but their “intelligence” often seemed focused on simple joys. He could play with a mundane object for hours without getting bored.

“Why are you in such a good mood today?” Jiang Rui asked.

The Little Peach Blossom hopped up and skipped over to him. “I don’t know! I woke up this morning feeling… strange. Like something is about to happen.”

“Something bad?”

“No.” The spirit frowned and pointed to the left side of his chest, where a human heart would be. “I was born without a heart, and there’s no record of it in my demon core—Peach Spirits have never been like me. But this morning, I felt a thumping here. I don’t know why.”

He pouted for a moment before returning to watch the ripples in his teacup.

“If you don’t know, just wait peacefully. There will be an answer eventually,” Jiang Rui said. “How about I take you somewhere?”

“Okay!”

Jiang Rui brought him into the Secret Realm. Rong Jingsheng (the Little Peach Blossom) stood in awe of the comfortable, serene landscape. “It’s so wonderful here…”

Jiang Rui walked ahead while the spirit skipped behind him. Jiang Rui had once asked his age. The spirit had paused before saying, “I’m over seven hundred years old. But by human standards, I think I’m seven.”

Jiang Rui: “…” Even seventeen would have been better than seven.

He led the spirit to the Spirit Pith Jade Tree and stopped, pointing toward a small tree trunk that was swaying slightly as if sensing its original source. “We’re here.”