Journey to the West: The Immortal Clan Begins by Feeding Monkeys at Five Elements Mountain

Chapter 107 Expanding the Cultivation of Cold Grass, The Fortune Teller

Jiang Yi merely raised his hand slightly to avoid the bow, his tone indifferent yet measured:

"The lord of the manor is sincere and rushed to the rescue upon hearing the cries. He is willing to risk his life for a complete stranger. How many people like him are there in this world?"

"As for the fox demon's scheme... it's nothing more than good intentions being misused, and that beast using them as bait. If you doubt your own conscience because of this, you'll fall into its trap."

Upon hearing this, Master Liu simply smiled, his expression humble.

It is a family motto that has been passed down for generations. It is not a matter of gratitude or praise.

At this point in his speech, the tone suddenly shifted. The smile on his face slowly faded, and his voice became more serious, carrying a subtle hint of solemnity.

"Brother Jiang, I wonder if you could... allocate some more land to plant more Illusionary Yin Grass?"

Upon hearing this, Jiang Yi remained silent, neither raising his eyebrows nor rushing to reply. He paused briefly, waiting for Jiang Yi to finish speaking.

Master Liu sighed softly, his fingers tracing the fabric of his knees, as if trying to soften his words before speaking:
"The creatures in those mountains have become increasingly troublesome in recent years. They still look like animals, but their behavior is becoming more and more 'human'—cunning, persistent, and with an inexplicable evil aura."

"Sometimes I even feel like they're learning something... techniques, footwork, methods of concealing one's breath, they've got it all."

"I don't know what kind of opportunity I got, but I feel like I'm getting stronger every day."

As he spoke, he raised his hand to rub his temples, a layer of weariness appearing in his eyes, and his voice lowered even further:

"We can keep things under control for now, but who knows if that beast will fall into our trap again next time? If we make a wrong move, it could be a disaster."

He paused, his tone softening, but every word was filled with certainty:

"So... I plan to distribute that book, 'The Treatise on Sitting in Oblivion,' as well."

"If we can use the Illusionary Yin Grass to refine our minds, and add a few Tranquilizing Pills, I don't expect everyone to become a master, I just hope that there will be a few more people in the village who can keep their composure."

"Even if it's just a little more defense, it's still better than being on tenterhooks like this right now."

These words weren't harsh, but rather seemed to have been weighing on his mind for days, tossed and turned, before finally being spoken.

Jiang Yi listened, but his expression remained largely unchanged. He simply poured him a cup of tea.

He tucked his sleeve in, lightly blew away the foam, and asked casually:

"The ancestors of the Liu family have guarded the mountains and fields for generations, protecting the people and livestock of this area. Why didn't they ever think of passing on some of these techniques and methods to the villagers before?"

His voice wasn't loud, but his questions were sharp and direct.

Upon hearing this, Master Liu paused slightly, then gave a bitter smile, a hint of regret flashing in his eyes. He slowly shook his head and said:

"To my shame, my ancestors settled on this mountain. For over a hundred years, the weather has been favorable, so we've come to think that this mountain forest is nothing special, and those monsters are just wild creatures that have become spirits, unable to cause any trouble. Over time, our wariness of others has diminished somewhat."

"When it came to my generation, I realized that we had been living in comfort for too long, and that's why we ran into this mess."

As he spoke, his voice lowered, and his gaze fell on the tea lamp on the table.

The flames flickered, casting indistinct shadows, seemingly reflecting the slight guilt in his heart.

"It's also my fault for being incompetent and unable to control the situation. I'm afraid those beasts in the woods have already seen through the flaws. They'll find a crack today and tear the house down tomorrow."

"Now, we have no choice but to bring out our most treasured skills. It's not about having a broad mind, but we hope that the villagers can have more basic skills so that if something really happens, they won't be left without anyone to protect them."

Jiang Yi listened quietly, but a turbulent undercurrent was already stirring in his heart.

In truth, this matter cannot be blamed on Master Liu.

It wasn't that he hadn't been diligent in his guard, but rather that the winds in the mountains had picked up in recent years, and the things hidden in the shadows were no longer what they used to be.

It looks like a beast, but its aura is impure, heavy with bloodlust, and its actions are elusive. Yet it probes at every step, as if a human heart has burrowed into the animal's skin, lurking with ulterior motives.

It lacks the wildness and ferocity of wild animals, but possesses a more cunning and ruthless nature, making it difficult to defend against or attack.

If what I remember is true, then the things deep in the forest will have a much more complex future.

When the tide turns in the future, relying on just a few people to hold the pass might not be enough to hold the line.

Thinking of this, he said no more, only nodded lightly, but that was his consent.

Seeing that he had agreed, Master Liu's brows immediately relaxed, and he bowed repeatedly in thanks, saying:

"Regarding the acquisition, the price will remain the same, and we will certainly not let Brother Jiang suffer a loss."

Jiang Yi simply waved his hand, turned his teacup, and softened his tone: "You're being too polite."

"It's said to be for our two families, but in reality, it's to find a stable place for the village to live."

"Since I, Jiang, reside here on this mountain, how can I stand idly by?"

It was a simple sentence, yet it left no room for rebuttal.

After a few more words of polite refusals, the two finally agreed on the rules.

The Liu family, as usual, purchased the newly planted Illusionary Shadow Grass, but only took half the price.

Even if the Jiang family contributed their share, the remaining half added a sense of security to the village.

With the matter settled, Master Liu's expression relaxed somewhat. He raised his hand to pick up the tea froth in his cup and asked casually:
"I wonder how Brother Jiang sensed that the demon was coming?"

His tone was calm, but his words took a roundabout way; his eyes showed no sharpness, but rather a probing intent.

Jiang Yi heard it clearly, but showed no emotion on his face, only smiling as he said:
"My family has some divination and fortune-telling skills passed down from our ancestors. They are sometimes accurate and sometimes not, and we usually just treat them as a joke."

"The other day I suddenly felt a jolt in my heart. My dream before I fell asleep was hazy, and I felt uneasy when I woke up. I thought it was better to believe it was true, so I made some arrangements, and who would have thought it would actually happen."

He spoke in a nonchalant tone, making no mention of danger or anything supernatural.

I thought this evasive excuse would be enough to gloss over the topic.

To everyone's surprise, Master Liu's eyes lit up, and he replied with a hint of seriousness:

"What a coincidence!"

“My ancestors were guided by a fortune teller who carried a load of tumbleweeds, and that’s how they found out this mountain was a good place to live.”

As he spoke, he leaned forward slightly, his eyes revealing a hint of scrutiny and probing:
"May I ask Brother Jiang, what school of teachers did your ancestors follow? Perhaps our two families have a long-standing connection and are of the same lineage."

His expression didn't seem feigned, and the hope in his eyes wasn't hidden deeply; it was as if he genuinely wanted to follow the clues, find a reason, and establish a connection.

Jiang Yi hadn't expected him to take it so seriously, and for a moment he couldn't quite figure out what to do or come up with a plausible story.

He could only smile faintly and say in a vague tone:
"It's just some local tricks, unorthodox methods passed down from our ancestors. It doesn't even have a proper name. It's not worth mentioning."

His voice was mild, and his words were light and casual, quickly silencing any further probing.

Only then did Master Liu seem to realize that he had asked too hastily. His expression changed slightly, and he quickly stood up, cupped his hands, and apologized.

"It was Liu who was presumptuous. Brother Jiang, please don't take offense."

Although he was offering an apology, his face still held a hint of lingering thought, his eyes wandering, as if he were pondering some mysterious idea.

(End of this chapter)