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

Chapter 128 Bronze Five Rings, Stick Walks Through Yin and Yang

Seeing that the boy had made up his mind, Jiang Yi said no more.

He only gave a few words of advice: be careful in everything you do, and prioritize your safety.

The eldest son, Jiang Ming, who had been silent for a long time, finally spoke up. He didn't say much, but his question was direct and to the point:

When do we depart?

Jiang Liang answered readily: "The higher-ups are pressing me hard, and I've already handed over my duties at the county command. I won't have to delay for more than three to five days before I have to set off."

Jiang Ming hummed in response, his tone flat, and didn't press the matter further.

However, those usually clear eyes swept over his younger brother with a casual look, as if trying to see through him from head to toe.

A moment later, he reached out and patted Jiang Liang on the shoulder, his tone calm:

"Then take advantage of being at home and rest for a few days."

The next morning, before the sky was fully bright, the air was still chilly and frosty.

As usual, Jiang Ming told his story in the cold ground, sleeves rolled up, voice raised, each word delivered with measured precision.

Today's classes ended earlier than usual.

After finishing his lecture, he didn't linger any longer and turned to go up the back mountain.

This time, however, they did not wait until the sun was completely dark before descending the mountain, as was the usual practice.

Before noon, the man returned to the village, carrying a bulging bag that made his front of his shirt bulge.

He walked briskly, without saying hello to anyone, and went straight to Tang's blacksmith shop at the entrance of the village.

When I saw him again, the sun was already setting.

The smoke from the cooking fire has dissipated completely, and the family is sitting around the table, enjoying hot soup and rice, the aroma filling the air.

As soon as the door opened, Jiang Ming strode in, carrying a heavy burlap sack.

As he moved around, the bag made a clinking sound, like copper and iron clashing. Although it wasn't very loud, it was right under the ears of everyone in the room.

Instantly, several pairs of eyes turned to look in that direction.

Jiang Ming didn't beat around the bush; he simply smiled and waved to Jiang Liang.

"Come on, give it a try."

As he spoke, he put the sack on the ground, pulled the rope, and with a "clatter," pulled out a row of copper rings from inside.

There is one large one and four small ones, all in subdued colors, without any fancy designs.

The shape is not exquisite, and the edges are a bit rough. It is obvious at a glance that it was hastily made and rushed.

Yet its bronze color was understated yet elegant, and its weight was substantial enough to make one feel a sense of dread just by holding it in one's hand.

Upon closer inspection, it bears a striking resemblance to the copper band on Jiang Liang's long staff, only more restrained in style and more delicately crafted.

Two bracelets, two anklets, and a choker—one large and four small, all perfectly matched, one at the top and one at the bottom.

Jiang Liang now has some knowledge of goods, and his eyes lit up. Although he didn't say anything, his expression became more serious.

Without any hesitation, he reached out and took them, then deftly put them on one by one.

The copper rings felt cool against my skin, but not prickly or tight. There was plenty of room around my wrists and ankles, so I could move around freely without feeling any hindrance.

However, when he occasionally raised his hand or stretched his leg, the bright yellow copper light at the cuffs and hem of his trousers was still too conspicuous and somewhat glaring.

Liu Xiulian saw this but didn't say anything. She turned around and went back into the house, where she found a piece of brown cloth that had been pressed down for many years.

That was the fabric she had prepared as part of Jiang Xi's dowry. It was sturdy and had a fine texture hidden beneath its rough surface. She was reluctant to use it, and hadn't even cut it up for winter clothes.

Without hesitation, I swiftly cut the barbed wire into thin strips.

Then he took the copper rings and sat under the lamp, winding them around and around them, making them neat and precise.

When it was put on again, the copper ring that had been shining was now completely covered, its color subdued, and it looked like an ordinary protective gear.

Even if outsiders stumble upon them, they would simply say it's a local custom, something to ward off evil and bring good fortune, which wouldn't be considered unusual.

Jiang Liang looked down, then bent his elbows and kicked his legs. His movements were steady, and the copper rings felt warm and smooth against his skin, just right.

His heart warmed, and he was about to say something to express his gratitude when Jiang Ming raised his hand to stop him.

"Alright, between brothers, why bother with all that formalities?"

He spoke calmly and casually, without offering even a glance.

As he spoke, he bent down and felt around in the worn burlap sack, his fingers rummaging around inside, making a rustling sound.

A moment later, he simply poured out the remaining bits and pieces with a "clang".

They were all small items like rings and pendants, scattered all over the table with a clattering sound, splattering the table with a coppery sheen.

"There are some scraps left over, it would be a shame to throw them away."

He brushed the copper shavings off his hands and said casually, "I just made a few at random, one for each person, to be used as amulets."

He spoke casually, but his actions were anything but.

The same items were distributed to each person, with no duplicates and no omissions, clearly indicating that it had been planned in advance.

When it was Jiang Yi's turn, he was handed a thumb ring.

It is made entirely of bronze, polished to a smooth and rounded finish, with a calm and unassuming color. It looks plain, but it feels heavy and substantial in the palm of your hand.

Jiang Yi took it, weighed it in his hand for a moment, and then casually slipped it onto his thumb.

It fits perfectly, not too loose, not too tight, as if it were measured specifically for him.

Seeing the ring gleaming on his knuckles, he curled his lips slightly, stretched out his hand, waved it in front of everyone, and looked smug.

The whole family benefited and were very happy. Jiang Liang rested at home for three days, eating well and sleeping soundly, and even the long-standing fatigue on his brows faded considerably.

On the fourth day, before dawn, he quietly got up, quickly tied up his bundle, and tiptoed out the door.

Once the person left, the house returned to its usual quiet and serene state.

Amidst the crowing of roosters and barking of dogs, the firewood burns as usual, the sun rises and sets as usual, and life goes on at its own unhurried pace.

Every few days, Jiang Yi would take Jiang Xi to the back of the house.

The little treehouse built in the woods has now become a proper place for spiritual practice.

Located at the confluence of water and wood, the area is so rich in spiritual energy that it's almost as if you could wring water out of it. When cultivators get close, they feel comfortable in their hearts and clear their minds.

Jiang Yi knew that it was a good place.

If Jiang Xi's visualized Soul Image Tree can be nurtured there until it takes deep root and flourishes, it may be able to develop extraordinary potential in the future.

However, while the spiritual energy is good, it is also a bit too "overpowering".

Although Jiang Xi has outstanding physical attributes, she is still young and her mind is not yet stable.

Even with the Qi-boosting pills keeping the Qi channels alive, it would only take the time it takes for an incense stick to burn before the soul felt shaken and the Qi reversed.

At that moment, the soul is pulled away, and the person often goes limp, feeling light and airy, as if they are about to be thrown out of the house by that reverse force.

Jiang Yi was still worried.

Each time, we would go into the forest together and quietly wait outside the house.

They neither urged nor disturbed us.

Just like back then, when he squatted beside the Illusionary Shadow Grassland and watched Jiang Liang suffer through the Soul Trial, he remained calm and surprisingly composed.

Jiang Feng, on the other hand, was in high spirits.

Every time his aunt came out from behind the house, her face was pale, her legs were weak, and she seemed to be floating on the wind.

He eagerly stepped forward, one hand on his chest, the other patting his chest, his voice so resounding it seemed to shake three leaves off the tree:
"Aunt, don't worry! Once I've mastered the alchemy, I'll make sure you don't have to suffer like this! The spiritual medicine I refine for you then will be a hundred times better than this Qi-boosting pill!"

These few words, though not grand pronouncements, were spoken with an air of overwhelming power and resounding force.

As Jiang Xi listened, she couldn't help but roll her eyes. Somehow, the ripe fruit she had just picked and was still warm was stuffed into his arms.

She even curled her lip and whispered, "You're only good with words."

Jiang Feng was overjoyed, munching on the fruit while chuckling, his front teeth practically flashing.

Jiang Yi is still the same as always.

Once he finished his work in the fields, he picked up the old stick and, as usual, got into position in the open space in the yard, lowering his waist and shoulders, and began to walk one move after another.

But ever since he conjured up the "image" in his mind, the stick in his hand seemed to come alive, and its flavor was completely different.

Now that you've grasped this stick, you feel as if you've become the axis of the universe.

With the shoulders as the pivot and the waist as the rudder, every inch of movement brings a sharper wind, and the shadow of the stick cleaves through the air, carrying a powerful and oppressive aura.

Or it may be like a rushing river, rolling in with great force and momentum, leaving no way to avoid it;

Or it may resemble a stream winding around a rock, neither too fast nor too slow, concealing its sharpness within its turns, combining softness with strength, and striking unexpectedly.

Between each breath, there was a sense of yin and yang complementing each other.

When the sound is called "yang," the staff's stance opens up like tearing silk, as if piercing the sky.
The essence of the staff is yin, yet its intent is as subtle as the moon entering the clouds, cleanly and decisively withdrawn without revealing any sharp edges.

Movement gives rise to stillness, stillness conceals power, and emptiness and fullness transform into one another, as if one's whole being is integrated into the stance of the staff.

The eldest son, Jiang Ming, occasionally strolled out of the study, stood under the eaves for a while, and even showed a hint of unexpected admiration in his eyes.

Finally, he couldn't help but say, "Father, you've really mastered the art of using the stick..."

"It's no longer a person wielding the stick, but rather the qi (vital energy) pushing the stick forward."

Time is something that passes by very quickly.

The old locust tree in the yard used to be bright green, but now its leaves have turned yellow, and in a flash, they have scattered all over the ground, making a crisp crunching sound when you step on them.

In the blink of an eye, more than two months have passed.

That afternoon, everyone sat around the dinner table at home as usual.

There were a few simple dishes of vegetables and a pot of hot soup on the table. There were no delicacies, but we ate in peace.

Li Wenya had just picked up a piece of green vegetable with her chopsticks and brought it to her lips when her brows suddenly furrowed.

He paused with his chopsticks, then turned his face to the side and gagged softly twice.

"what happened?"

Liu Xiulian, with her sharp eyes, put her chopsticks in the bowl and quickly patted her back, her voice tinged with panic, pressing lightly and quickly.

Li Wenya shook her head, indicating that she was alright.

But her usually aloof face was now flushed with an uncontrollable blush, as if she had something to say to herself.

After a long pause, she spoke softly, "It's alright, Mother... I know what I'm doing."

She was a doctor herself, and when she said this, while others were still puzzled, Jiang Yi paused in his chopsticks, a glint in his eyes.

Looking at Liu Xiulian again, the anxiety that had been on her face suddenly vanished, and her eyes and brows instantly lit up with an unconcealable joy.

Jiang Ming also coughed lightly, a smile hidden in his eyes.

There were only Jiang Feng and Jiang Rui, one on the left and one on the right, looking at this and then at that.

Two pairs of bright black eyes darted back and forth, their expressions full of bewilderment.

(End of this chapter)