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

Chapter 120 Engagement
Jiang Yi listened intently, and the teacup in his hand trembled slightly. The foam in the cup swirled twice before settling down.

In this world, dreams are not simply a matter of "what you think about during the day, you dream about at night," as people say.

That is when the thought has not yet dissipated, the soul has not yet departed, and the person remains on the other side of the Yellow Springs with a lingering obsession.

If there truly is someone who can appear in dreams across generations after death, not to mention achieving immortality, they have at least taken a half-step out of the cycle of reincarnation.

From this perspective, the "opportunity" that the Liu family has been guarding for generations doesn't seem like a castle in the air; rather, it seems to have some merit.

As Master Liu spoke, a slight smile appeared on his lips, as if he were slowly unearthing an interesting anecdote from a pile of old stories.

He turned his head to look at Jiang Yi, his eyes holding something, and spoke as if it were casual conversation:
"Brother Jiang mentioned before that your ancestors were also skilled in divination. This made me think of something..."

His tone softened, but his eyes brightened slightly.

"Could it be that the senior who divined for my Liu family and bestowed upon us this opportunity is of the same lineage as your family?"

He paused here, a subtle expectation creeping into his smile:
“It’s even possible that the divination from back then was left by Brother Jiang’s ancestor.”

The words were not harsh, yet the intention to test the waters and to open up to each other were perfectly concealed.

As Jiang Yi listened, he thought about it carefully and realized that it was no wonder the man had such suspicions.

Since the fortune teller could say there was an opportunity in Zhongshan, it was perfectly reasonable for him to follow that lead and settle his family there.

If it weren't for the fact that the "fortune teller" he mentioned was just something he made up to scare people, he probably would have believed the deductions by now.

His mind raced, but his expression remained impassive. He simply tapped the teacup lid slowly and deliberately, his tone flat:

"Over the years, the younger generation knows little about the affairs of their ancestors."

Neither accepting nor refuting, it simply lets people speculate.

Master Liu didn't delve into the fortune teller's background, but simply picked up the conversation, bringing the topic back to the main point:
"In the end, it's still that girl Xinyue Xi'er."

He spoke slowly and deliberately, as if he were just saying something casually, yet it carried a hint of sincerity and a careful assessment.

"Brother Jiang, you can see that the two of them grew up together since they were little. They even share a piece of meat with each other when they have a treat. If there's no reason, you can't fake that kind of affection."

At this point, he took a small sip of tea before continuing:
"If we could truly become family, that would be wonderful. My son may be useless, but he is sincere. If he ever benefits from her, he will certainly not treat her unfairly."

While not mentioning the opportunity, every sentence revolved around the "future".

Jiang Yi listened, but only smiled, neither nodding nor shaking his head.

But in his heart he thought: Your family's "opportunity" sounds mysterious, but if it really comes to fruition, it will probably take another three or four hundred years before we see any signs of it.

However, the thought had barely formed when he slowly withdrew it.

The fact that the Liu family ancestors have been able to send messages to us in dreams generation after generation suggests that there must be some secret to it.

This work of protecting the mountains and people, doing good deeds and accumulating virtue, is not about being one step ahead; it can actually be accumulated generation after generation, eventually leading to a great achievement.

However, Jiang Yi didn't really take that opportunity to heart.

Looking at Liu Zian, he saw that he was upright, had a bright look in his eyes, and possessed a certain shrewdness typical of young people. He was quite satisfied with him.

If Xi'er is truly interested, he naturally won't stop her.

But some things still need to be made clear.

He gently set the teacup down, his smile unwavering, revealing his true intention:
"It's not that I'm making excuses, but... my daughter is still young, and her cultivation has only just begun. It's probably too early to talk about marriage now."

Upon hearing this, Master Liu immediately understood the underlying meaning in his words, and quickly waved his hand, smiling naturally:

"No rush, no rush! It's better to arrange a marriage early for peace of mind, and it's more reliable to wait until it's settled. My son is still too green, so it's time to put in some more hard work."

As he spoke, his tone softened, revealing a touch of tact and maturity:

"Let's settle this matter first, as a set of rules. Once the two little ones have cultivated themselves to a certain standard, we can choose an auspicious day and time to hold the formal ceremony."

These words were spoken so naturally and eloquently, allowing for both advancement and retreat. Jiang Yi listened without showing the slightest change in expression, but inwardly he sighed slightly.

Having said all that, he finally nodded almost imperceptibly.

By agreeing to this matter, I can bring this conversation to a peaceful conclusion.

Master Liu glanced at it and felt a sense of relief, as if a long-held tension had finally been released. His smile brightened, and he stroked his beard, saying:
“Then so be it. Let’s arrange a marriage first. Once the two young ones have reached the stage of spiritual prosperity and mental stability in their cultivation, we can choose an auspicious day to hold the wedding. Only then will they be worthy of this affection.”

As he spoke, he glanced into the courtyard, his expression relaxed.

My son is very perceptive; he spread the word about his plan long ago.

That girl has a good foundation and a calm temperament, so he wasn't worried at all.

Jiang Yi listened, but just smiled faintly, remaining silent, neither agreeing nor refuting.

At this moment, Master Liu was overjoyed and did not bother with these trivial matters.

He simply sent someone to the back to invite the two children and the lady over.

The two children entered the hall one after the other, and in front of everyone, Master Liu asked them about their feelings again.

At the age of fourteen or fifteen, one cannot hide one's thoughts; a glance from the eyes reveals the meaning on one's face.

We glanced at each other, then stole a look, and blushed as we each murmured "Mmm."

Madam Liu watched from the side, her eyes shining with delight.

He immediately went back to his room, rummaged through his trunk, and took out a set of jewelry that he had only worn when he got married. He gently placed it in Jiang Xi's hand and smiled:
"There's nothing special about it, it's just a betrothal gift. A young lady should at least have something to show for it."

Master Liu nodded in agreement, saying that he would prepare all the betrothal gifts and personally visit the manor to finalize the engagement on another day, ensuring that no formality was overlooked.

Having spoken eloquently and reached an agreement, Jiang Yi did not linger any longer, rose to take his leave, and left the hall with his daughter.

Before leaving, Jiang Xi glanced back at Liu Zi'an, her eyes flashing, her lips slightly upturned, and she subtly gave him a wink.

Liu Zian knew what was going on, and ran back to the house.

He reappeared shortly afterward, this time with two small white porcelain bottles in his hands. The bottles were smooth and tightly sealed.

"This is a newly refined mind-stabilizing pill. When used together with the 'Supreme Method for Eliminating the Three Corpses and Nine Insects,' it is most effective."

Although the tone was soft, there was an undisguised joy in the last words, as if he had been asked for a compliment.

Upon hearing this, Jiang Xi simply hummed in response, said nothing more, reached out and took the bottle, then slipped it inside her sleeve.

Master Liu, watching from the side, nodded with delight and quickly chimed in:
"I'll refine another batch later. Tell Xi'er to come and get more if she needs more. Don't be shy."

Now he desperately wants her to practice more diligently and faster; he couldn't ask for that even if he begged.

Jiang Xi smiled, turned around and thanked him again, then followed Jiang Yi out of the manor gate at a leisurely pace.

Upon returning home, Jiang Yi recounted the entire incident in detail, pouring tea twice before he finished speaking.

The people inside the room weren't particularly surprised.

Ultimately, these two children grew up together, one running ahead and the other chasing behind, crying together and laughing together.

Now that this matter is settled, it's simply a natural progression.

After hearing this, Jiang Ming specially called Jiang Xi over and whispered something to her by the window. It's unclear whether they were talking about the breathing technique.

The days slipped by amidst laughter and jokes, like sunlight in the corner, moving inch by inch.

Summer is almost over and autumn is just beginning. The wind blowing through the bamboo forest at night carries a dry and refreshing scent.

Meanwhile, Li Wenya's belly grew rounder day by day, and it was finally time for her to give birth.

(End of this chapter)