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

Chapter 132 The Source of the Ghostly Shadows, the Spirit Chicken Awakens

The area around the school was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

The wind blew from the fields, carrying wisps of dust and a hint of blood, swirling around the nose and making one's eyes sting.

No one knows which god returned first.

Suddenly, a Qiang follower kicked away the bench and dashed out of the village as if a ghost was chasing him, tumbling and crawling all the way.

The remaining few, seeing this, immediately panicked and scattered in all directions, not uttering a sound, each one as if their feet were greased.

"stop!"

Jiang Yi gave a low shout and pushed off with his feet, trying to chase after him.

His blood and qi surged suddenly, his chest tightened, his vision went black, his legs went weak, and he almost collapsed.

Fortunately, someone nearby was quick-witted and helped him up.

The group of members from the ancient and modern gangs who usually practiced swordsmanship and boxing only then came to their senses.

With a whoosh, they drew their weapons, shouted, and surrounded the crowd, creating a chaotic scene of blocking people's way.

But those few close followers were people who could wield knives and kill on a regular basis.

Although they have lost their leader and their faces are filled with anxiety, the murderous aura has not yet dissipated and the bloodlust in their eyes has not faded. How could they easily give up?

Every move was made with utmost ferocity, fists and feet flying everywhere, so ruthless that he didn't even hold back his own strength.

In the blink of an eye, several more farmers who were blocking the road were knocked down, lying barefoot in the mud and blood, leaving the ground in a mess.

The wind was still blowing, scattering the scattered weapons, figures, and curses into a chaotic mess.

Fortunately, some commotion finally started at the village entrance.

Liu Zian, accompanied by two attendants, one tall and one short, rushed from his own estate to offer assistance as soon as he heard the news.

Seeing this scene from afar, without asking why, the three of them rolled up their sleeves, put their feet down, and pounced on it together.

They completely sealed off that village road.

In the courtyard, Jiang Xi had already picked up the locust wood stick without making a sound.

His face remained expressionless, but his body leaned slightly forward, taking a half-inch step. The gust of wind from his stick, carrying a stench, swept through the air and charged straight into the crowd.

Those few henchmen were quite skilled; if they were ordinary peasants, they might have been able to turn the tables a few more times.

But this time, the Liu family villagers stirred things up, and he was immediately entangled.

Just as he was in a flurry of activity, Jiang Xi rushed in again, her staff striking with such force and power that it was impossible to dodge.

Their formation faltered, and their morale crumbled.

Seeing that they had nowhere to retreat, the group exchanged glances, their eyes filled with a ruthless, deathly light.

Without saying a word, almost simultaneously, they both clenched their teeth and jaws, as if something was hidden deep within their jaws.

The next moment, several streaks of dark blood slowly trickled down from the corners of his lips, as black as ink, with a pungent, fishy smell.

The light in their eyes dimmed inch by inch.

Like a puppet with its strings cut, it fell straight to the ground without a sound, dying a very quick and decisive death.

As the dust settled, the murderous aura gradually subsided.

Jiang Yi finally breathed a sigh of relief, the breath that had been hanging in his throat since the beginning of the chaos.

Like a pebble sinking into water, it creates a few ripples, but eventually returns to stillness.

He raised his hand and called over his eldest son, whispering a few instructions in a low voice, his tone not loud, but even lower, almost a whisper.

As he finished speaking, his expression became solemn, and he slightly nodded his chin, pointing to the right hand of the headless corpse on the ground.

Jiang Ming nodded, asked no further questions, and turned to call on his men to tidy up the scene.

Jiang Yi said nothing more, bent down to pick up the old hoe, leaned on his body, and turned to leave.

With a limp, I walked around the old house wall, stepping on the wet mud, and went up to the foot of the mountain, returning to the first plot of medicinal herbs that had been turned over next to the house.

He found a clean spot, sat down, crossed his legs, closed his eyes, and began to regulate his breathing.

The wind blew from the other side of the field, carrying the scent of earth and a hint of bitter herbs.

The fishy smell was suppressed, leaving only a few wisps of fragrance lingering in the night, swirling around the hem of my clothes.

Until the last glimmer of light faded completely, the night, like ink spilled from an inkstone, slowly spread out.

Jiang Yi then felt that the turmoil in his heart had finally subsided.

He then got up, dusted off the corners of his clothes, and slowly strolled back into the house, as if nothing had happened.

The lamps inside the room have been lit.

Jiang Mingzao was waiting in the hall. Hearing the footsteps, he hurriedly came forward and whispered his reply.

They said the bodies had all been cleaned up.

The rest of the people were given medicine as needed and rewards as appropriate.

Jiang Yi responded softly, trusting his eldest son's arrangements, and didn't ask any further questions.

His gaze naturally shifted and landed on the oil lamp on the table.

The lamplight, small as a bean, flickered slowly, spreading out layers of dim yellow light and shadow, swaying and illuminating the three objects on the table.

The first thing that caught my eye was that curved sword inlaid with silver and gold.

The scabbard was jet black, with a coiled dragon relief and clearly defined scales. Under the lamplight, it exuded a chilling aura, conveying a sense of killing intent without making a sound.

One glance is enough to tell that it has an extraordinary origin and is by no means an ordinary product.

Several tokens were partially obscured by pieces of old cloth, which weighed them down heavily.

That was something Jiang Yi had instructed them to keep earlier.

He said that if there was an opportunity in the future, he would give it to that boy, who might be able to earn some military merit in return.

The last item, however, was a severed hand.

The tiger's mouth is deeply cracked, but the palm is smooth as if washed. The fingers are long and slender, and the fingertips are extremely thin, yet there is not a trace of calluses.

It was my right hand that was bewildering me.

Jiang Yi walked slowly closer, without touching her, but looked down and stared at her for a moment before giving a barely perceptible nod.

Sure enough, that chilling, malevolent aura hidden deep within has not dissipated to this day.

The source of the ghostly shadows lies within this severed palm.

Jiang Ming, who had been watching closely, remained silent and slowly drew the curved blade.

The knife was still new, its power untamed, and its cold gleam suddenly shone through the lamplight, casting a faint blue glow.

His eyes were lowered, and he remained silent. With a single stab, the flesh was torn open without making a sound.

One knife, two knives, three knives...

With each stroke of the knife, precise and accurate, it cuts along the joints, thread by thread, inward.

The hands were still the same, steady as an old well with calm water, but the blade was extremely cold, making the atmosphere under the lamplight tense up a bit.

As the knife cut towards the little finger, it suddenly stopped, as if it had hit something awkward.

Jiang Ming raised an eyebrow slightly and exerted a little force.

The father and son then went closer to take a look.

The little finger joint was completely black.

The bone was shiny and had a cold, dull luster, as if it had been soaked in molten copper. A chilling, deathly aura emanated from the crevices of the bone.

It was also incredibly thick, even larger than the ring finger next to it, and the flesh and bone didn't fit together properly, making it look awkward no matter how you looked at it.

It doesn't seem like something that was born with; it's more like an unusual bone that was forcibly inserted from somewhere.

“The barbarians and Qiang people, with their crooked ways, always resort to such insidious methods.”

Jiang Ming spat under his breath, his tone cold and hard, so disgusted that he didn't even bother to hide it.

But he didn't move much, only put down the knife, looked up at Jiang Yi, and waited for his father to explain the plan. Jiang Yi stood to the side, the lamplight casting a dim light on his face, making it difficult to discern his true feelings for a moment.

He simply stared intently at the severed finger bone, his gaze so intense it seemed he could see through the lingering death energy within it.

After a moment, he spoke in a low voice:
"This thing is of dubious origin and should not be kept around for long, nor should it be disposed of casually."

His tone was ordinary, yet it carried a hint of coldness.

"Tomorrow morning, take it to that cold spot behind the old house and bury it somewhere deep. Remember to seal it tightly so that it is airtight."

He paused for a moment, then continued:
"When your brother comes back, have him write a petition and send it to the Celestial Masters Sect or the imperial court... Maybe you can get some real benefits in return."

Jiang Ming nodded without saying much, then bent down and took the piece of black finger bone, wrapping it tightly in an oilcloth.

Halfway through wrapping, he suddenly hesitated, took off a copper bracelet from his wrist, placed it on top of the oilcloth, and then wrapped another layer of old cloth around it.

"This thing is too sinister. Perhaps using this bracelet to suppress it can help."

His voice wasn't loud, but he controlled it perfectly.

Jiang Yi glanced at him sideways, his expression unchanged, but a faint sense of satisfaction appeared in his eyes.

The eldest son is meticulous and sensible, and he's becoming increasingly composed.

After Jiang Ming carried the things down the mountain, the house immediately fell silent.

Jiang Yi turned around and walked back to the table, reaching out to pick up the curved knife.

I ran my fingertips along the scabbard a couple of times. The gold and silver inlay, the coiled dragon and crouching scales, were extremely fine. It felt solid in my hand; it was indeed a fine piece of material.

He drew it out about an inch, its cold light shimmering like autumn water just beginning to break, making a sliver of cold starlight flicker gently in his eyes.

It's a fine knife, indeed a fine knife.

He stared at the blade, and after a long pause, softly uttered a sentence:
"What a pity... there's really no one in the family who's easy to use."

……

The next two months were neither long nor short.

The patrols of the Gujin Gang are becoming increasingly intense, almost impenetrable, to guard against the return of the barbarian Qiang.

But the two ends of Liangjie Village were unusually quiet.

It was as if after that night of blood rain, the entire mountain wilderness fell silent, and even the sparrows sang less.

Outside the village, however, news of such events would occasionally drift in.

It is said that the imperial court was furious and mobilized troops, with large armies pressing on the border time and time again, even the high-ranking priests of the Celestial Masters sect leaving their mountain gates.

Advancing from multiple directions, they gradually suppressed the flames in the Qiang region and are now reclaiming their former territory inch by inch.

When the news reached them, the tension that had been running high in the village finally eased a little.

The sun set faster, but the sounds of laughter and conversation gradually increased.

Jiang Yi was even more eager for this battle to end as soon as possible.

It's not for the country or the people, it's just that my good daughter-in-law hasn't visited me even once since she left that night.

Counting the days, Wenya is already seven or eight months pregnant.

That was the first offspring of the Jiang family, born with a strong constitution and a robust physique.

Jiang Yi felt an unbearable itch in his heart, like being scratched by cat claws, and he just wanted to see how much potential the baby would have after it was born.

Can one inhale air with an open mouth and exhale with closed eyes?

After all, let alone people.

The third-generation spirit chickens behind his house now wander around the orchard, only stopping to nap in places with strong spiritual energy.

Unfortunately, the current situation is unclear, and he still has to protect this fortune.

Even with a thousand thoughts swirling in my mind, I could only wait anxiously, hoping that some good news would drift in.

Before we knew it, the New Year was approaching.

Although things are still chaotic outside, the small area of ​​Liangjie Village is relatively peaceful, and the festive atmosphere of the New Year is slowly emerging.

That evening, the door creaked open, and Jiang Xi, radiating a chill, strode in.

The tip of his nose was red from the cold, and there were still a few strands of snow clinging to the soles of his shoes.

As soon as he entered the door, he started shouting, "I'm craving meat. It's the New Year, so we have to kill a sacred chicken to satisfy this craving."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Yi's lips twitched, and he only said one sentence: "Of those 360 ​​days you mentioned, wasn't it a day when you were craving food?"

Despite his words, he still shook his head and sighed softly, resigned to his fate, put down his woodworking, put on an old coat, and walked into the yard.

In the courtyard, several third-generation spirit chickens were leisurely strolling around.

Some squatted on the eaves with their eyes closed, resting; others fluttered about on the branches, their postures steady and their expressions solemn.

These spirit chickens have pure bloodlines and have long lost much of the temperament of ordinary birds.

It's not unusual for someone to leap onto the rooftop in a flash; if they really wanted to fly, perhaps even the mountain outside the village couldn't stop them.

But they wouldn't leave, as if they were still thinking of the sacred land at the foot of the mountain.

They scurried about in the orchards, herb gardens, and rooftops every day, enjoying themselves immensely, and none of them ever flew away.

Jiang Yi, hands tucked into his sleeves, stood in front of the steps, cleared his throat, and gave a deep shout:

"Back to my nest."

As soon as he finished speaking, a commotion broke out in front of and behind the house.

A few of the more nimble chickens flapped their wings and took flight, heading straight for the bamboo shed at the back, disappearing inside without their feet touching the ground.

It seemed to understand the shout and recognize the words "return home".

The remaining large group, however, still looked bewildered, babbling incoherently around the orchard and herb garden.

While absentmindedly flapping its wings in a pretentious manner, it also lowered its head to peck at the remnants falling from the spirit fruit tree.

They ate with gusto, oblivious to the approaching dusk and the biting cold wind.

One of the larger ones even tilted its head back and mumbled twice, as if complaining about who had disturbed its dinner time.

Jiang Yi stood with his hands behind his back on the steps, observing coldly for a while. He then raised a slight brow, pointed towards the orchard, and calmly instructed Jiang Xi:

"You can pick any of these that haven't returned to their nests."

Jiang Xi was delighted to hear this, rubbed her hands together and went down the steps, her gaze lingering on the group of bewildered spirit chickens.

While grinning and searching for prey, he muttered to himself:

"Don't blame me, it's because you guys are greedy and disobedient, no wonder I'm craving food."

Jiang Yi had already vaguely noticed it a few days ago.

Among this brood of spirit chickens, a few have already begun to show some extraordinary qualities.

It's not that it actually became some kind of demonic bird capable of turning the world upside down.

It's just that it's vaguely like it's gained some insight, can understand some human speech, and has a bit of a human-like quality.

If you call out to it, it will understand most of what you say. When you call it back to its burrow, it will not rush or get angry, but it will still slowly stroll over, as if it knows the rules.

Such spirituality would surely amaze anyone who sees it.

But in Jiang Yi's view, it was nothing unusual.

After all, the mountain beasts in front of the mountain, under the tutelage of the three demons, were all able to obey commands and recognize people, and their intelligence was beginning to emerge.

The chickens in our flock are better fed and raised more skillfully than those wild animals from the mountains.

From the moment it broke open, it pecked at spirit fruits and gnawed on spirit vines, and even lived on the edge of the fruit forest, soaking in the spiritual energy every day.

Even if they can't ascend to immortality, they're at least more agile than ordinary birds.

A few days ago, I was blessed with a spiritual rain that cleared my mind and nourished my spirit. Every drop of it seeped into my soul and soothed my spirit.

With such a blessed foundation, it's not uncommon for a few spirit birds with good aptitude to have their intelligence awakened.

(End of this chapter)