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

Chapter 133 Twins, Using Evil to Subdue Evil

In the blink of an eye, another March has passed.

Rumors circulated in the village daily, and with more and more news coming from outside, the situation became increasingly complicated.

Yesterday I heard someone say "the Qiang bandits have retreated", and today someone else is shouting "the city has fallen".

One thing after another, one sentence after another, truth and falsehood mixed together, it was so confusing that no one could explain it clearly.

Jiang Yi ultimately failed to live to see his third grandson's birth and could only wait anxiously in the village for news.

Until the afternoon of that day, a clanging sound of armor plates suddenly rang out at the village entrance.

A troop of soldiers filed in, their armor gleaming and sword hilts reflecting light. Their steps were neither hurried nor slow, yet remarkably steady, and they remained untouched by the dust of the journey.

Upon closer inspection, the leader turned out to be Jiang Liang.

This kid has changed completely. He's dressed lightly, with a straight back, sharp eyes, and a confident stride.

Even the old scar at the corner of his eye now looked somewhat iron-like.

Upon entering the village, without exchanging pleasantries or stopping, he walked straight through the village road and headed directly for the Jiang family's house.

Inside the courtyard, Jiang Yi was standing with one hand on his hip and the other holding a vine, slowly and methodically training the few newly awakened clever chickens.

Suddenly he heard a noise outside the courtyard. He looked up slightly and saw his youngest son, whom he had not heard from for more than a year, standing at the door.

A wisp of mountain chill still clung to his nose; his eyes shone like cold stars; his shoulders and back were like pine trees; and his lightly dressed body gleamed in the sunlight.

Jiang Yi's eyelids twitched slightly, and the vine snapped down with a "snap".

The young man in front of me hasn't changed his features, but his aura has.

His body was still covered in blood and evil spirits, and his bones carried the aura of a sword and a horse, as if he had walked out of a mountain of corpses and a sea of ​​blood.

Even though Jiang Yi was usually calm and collected, he felt a tightness in his chest and a slight constriction in his throat.

However, he didn't say much in the end, just gave a soft "hmm", turned his feet, and led the person into the house.

The soldiers outside the courtyard were also very disciplined. When they reached the foot of the mountain, they stopped in unison, their feet not crossing the line. They stood tall and straight like pine trees, as heavy as mountains.

"How many days can you stay?"

As Jiang Yi stepped over the threshold, he asked casually.

Jiang Liang answered readily: "I have military duties to attend to, I'm just passing through to let you know I'm safe. I won't be able to rest for more than a few hours before I have to leave."

As soon as he said this, Jiang Yi remained expressionless and didn't even lift his eyelids.

Judging from their attire and the group of people outside the door, their arrival and departure were expected.

He simply nodded, turned around and called into the house, "Xiulian, come out and see who's back."

Inside the house, Liu Xiulian was wiping the stove, her sleeves rolled up to her elbows, vigorously wiping it with a gray cloth in her hand.

Upon hearing this, he threw down the cloth with a "whoosh," didn't even utter a sound, and rushed out in three steps at a time.

Upon seeing her son, she slowed her pace by half a beat, as if afraid she might be mistaken.

She rushed forward and grabbed his arm. Before her hand could even warm up, her eyes welled up with tears.

"You've lost weight...you've gotten darker...why are your hands so cold?" Her throat was dry and hoarse, like it had been scraped by sandpaper.

Jiang Liang opened his mouth as if he wanted to smile, but his lips only moved slightly and he ultimately didn't smile.

Just stand there, letting her hold it.

The murderous aura that had been lingering in his eyes faded away at that moment, like a knife being sheathed and iron falling to the ground.

Jiang Yi didn't interrupt, but turned around and went into the kitchen.

The tea was dried in the sun earlier, and the pastry was jujube cake made by Liu Xiulian a few days ago.

After quickly selecting a few items and arranging them properly, he personally carried them down the mountain.

At the foot of the mountain, the soldiers were still wearing their armor, covered in dust, and chilled to the bone; the dust on the soles of their boots had even formed a crust.

Jiang Yi didn't say much, he just handed over the food one by one.

The young men remained silent, but when they received the gifts, they all straightened their backs, their shoulders taut, and bowed in unison.

After he turned around and went back into the house, Liu Xiulian was still holding Jiang Liang's hand, sitting there talking incessantly.

They talked about fighting as children, and then about the rain that fell this spring when they planted beans.

Seeing Jiang Yi enter, she seemed to snap out of her daze. Her eyes welled up with tears as she wiped them away, standing up quietly and muttering to herself:

"I'll go see what's left in the kitchen and prepare some dry food for you to take on the road."

The words had barely left his mouth when he was already out the door.

His steps were neither hurried nor slow, and he never looked back.

She knew that this child was no longer the little boy who used to chase chickens and dogs at the village entrance.

Donning armor and leading troops, they embarked on a different path.

A few words of nagging from the mother are enough; as for serious matters, they should ultimately be discussed by the father and son.

The hall was dimly lit, and the tea smoke from the stove was still rising, swirling and lingering among the beams and pillars.

Jiang Yi took his seat in the main seat and remained silent.

Jiang Liang carefully poured himself a cup of tea, placing it gently before speaking:

"Wenya gave birth to twins last month, a boy and a girl, and both mother and children are doing well. The third boy is named Jiang Qin, and the fourth girl is named Jiang Jin."

He spoke calmly and without any inflection, but the smile in the corner of his eye couldn't be contained and kept overflowing.

Upon hearing this, Jiang Yi's eyes flickered slightly, and the pent-up anger that had been weighing on his heart for many days seemed to finally dissipate.

He hummed in agreement, his brows relaxed slightly, and a hint of a smile flickered across his eyes.

Without saying much, he simply continued the conversation:
Where have you been for the past year or so?

Jiang Liang, naturally, had nothing to hide in front of his father and answered frankly:
"First, we went to Heming Mountain. Later, we followed the Celestial Masters and traveled to Zhangye, a vassal state, to clear out a place for raising corpses."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Yi frowned slightly, tapped his teacup lightly with his fingertips, and his tone became a bit more serious:

"The Celestial Masters Sect now... even needs outsiders to handle such matters?"

Jiang Liang quickly waved his hand, explaining clearly:
"It's not that they can't do it, it's just that the place is too big, and you can hardly see any strangers."

"If we rely entirely on talismans and incense ash to brew it, it will probably take one or two years, which will not only be very costly, but we may not even be able to stop it."

As he spoke, he pulled the long stick from behind his back, tapped it on the ground, and made a soft sound.

The person laughed easily and said:

“Father knows that my stick is good for that kind of work... quick and ruthless, and it doesn’t cost any money.”

His tone was nonchalant, but there was a hint of smugness hidden in his eyes.
Jiang Yi didn't respond to his question, only nodded, his tone unreadable:
"How is the result?"

Jiang Liang paused, his eyebrows twitched slightly, before he spoke:
"I haven't failed in my mission. After struggling with the Celestial Masters sect for almost half a year, we finally managed to seal off that place..."

He spoke lightly, but paused slightly at the end, a hint of gloom flashing across his eyes:
"However, among them, there was a most ferocious and malevolent black corpse... that was moved first, and the mastermind behind it has not been found."

These words were spoken plainly, but there was a hint of resentment in their tone.

He knew that such matters were not suitable to be discussed in detail, so he changed the subject slightly, and his expression softened:
"Later, I returned to Liangzhou to report back and was appointed as the Right School Assistant with a rank of 400 shi... When I heard that the Qiang people were causing trouble, I quickly rode back."

When Jiang Yi heard him mention the words "black corpse," his eyebrows did not twitch, but his eyes darkened.

She suddenly stood up and said in a flat voice, "You sit here and don't go anywhere."

As soon as he finished speaking, he strode out without looking back. His steps were quick, though not hurried.

The courtyard was utterly silent for a moment, with only a wisp of tea smoke swirling beneath the beams, sometimes slow, sometimes fast.

Jiang Liang stood at the doorway, his gaze sweeping over the tiled roofs, orchards, and medicinal gardens below the mountain. His expression was one of contentment and nostalgia.

Before long, Jiang Yi returned carrying a cloth bag, his shoulders shrugged and his eyebrows twitching as he sat down heavily.

He casually placed the cloth bag on the table, flicked his finger, and untied the outer cloth covering.

It was tightly wrapped in layers of oiled paper, pressing down on a copper bracelet.

Jiang Yi flicked his finger, and the bracelet had barely left the paper when a chill rushed out, so cold it seemed to seep into the very bones.

He wasn't in a hurry; he peeled off the layers of oil paper one by one, his technique as meticulous as peeling bamboo shoots, without the slightest hesitation.

Only at the very back did a section of pitch-black finger bone come into view.

The bone was jet black, as dark as ink and lacquer, lying quietly on the paper, motionless and silent, yet chilling to the bone.

It's as if if you stare at it for too long, even your soul will feel a chill.

When Jiang Liang first saw the severed finger bone, his eyelids twitched involuntarily, and his voice tightened:

"Where...did Father get this?"

Jiang Yi didn't answer immediately, but instead picked up the bronze bracelet and gently placed it next to his finger bone.

The chill that had initially rushed towards them seemed to have encountered an ancestor, and it suddenly receded.

He then slowly began to recount the attack on the village a few months ago, speaking in a calm tone, yet every word he uttered was chilling.

After saying that, he stood up and went to the corner of the room to find an old, broken box.

When the lid of the box was lifted, several old tokens inside were covered in dust.

He raised his hand and blew, sending dust flying. With a snap, several tokens landed on the table, their bronze sound crisp and carrying a hint of solemnity.

Jiang Yi pushed the token forward:
"These people are probably not simple. Take them back and see if you can exchange them for some merit points. It won't be in vain that they died."

As Jiang Liang listened, he tucked in his sleeve and put all the tokens into it with a swift and decisive motion, but his face remained solemn.

His fingers were still tapping on the table, not too fast, not too slow, but his eyes never left the broken finger bone.

His brows were furrowed, as if he himself was somewhat unsure.

After a long pause, Jiang Liang finally spoke, his tone carrying a hint of hesitation:

"After I rushed back to Longxi, I heard some rumors."

"Speaking of the Qiang people over there, this time they're causing trouble more than usual, as if they've actually figured out some tricks of exorcising evil spirits. Otherwise, the border defenses wouldn't have been breached so easily."

"We haven't met yet, so it's hard to say whether we're connected to that corpse-raising site."

As he spoke, he ran his fingers back and forth across his chin, his brows furrowing and relaxing as if he were mentally reviewing accounts.

Jiang Yi didn't respond, but simply leaned back in his chair with his teacup in hand, his eyelids slightly lowered, listening to him speak slowly.

The room fell silent, with only the lingering chill from the severed finger bone clinging to the corner of one's clothes, like a persistent mist.

Suddenly, Jiang Liang's eyes flickered, as if he had been unexpectedly prompted by some idea, and he whispered:
"If this thing is truly from the same lineage as that black corpse, there might actually be some connection between the bones."

At this point, Jiang Liang sat up straighter, his eyes brightened, and his voice lowered slightly, as if afraid of startling something:
"If that is indeed the case, implanting this item into the body may allow us to possess the body and retrieve the soul, trace back to its owner, and find the mastermind behind the Qiang tribe."

Before he could finish speaking, he slapped his thigh, his eyes practically brimming with joy.
It was as if that pile of white military merits was already at his feet, just waiting for him to bend down and hug it.

People would avoid the topic if they heard the words "ghosts and gods".

He remained expressionless, though a hint of excitement shone through his eyes.

The old stick in his hand was something he had been accustomed to using for beating corpses and chasing away ghosts for many years. Now, it was also wrapped with five copper rings, which served to both ward off evil spirits and protect his life.

Far from being afraid, he was actually rubbing his hands together, looking eager and ready to fight. Jiang Yi looked at him without raising an eyebrow or rolling his eyes.

She raised just one finger and tapped it on his forehead with a soft, crisp sound.

"Nonsense."

His voice was not loud, but it carried an undeniable weight of emotion.

"This thing exudes a chilling aura, and we haven't even figured out its details yet, and you're already trying to plant it on yourself?"

Jiang Liang felt a sharp pain from the tap of that finger, his forehead throbbed, and the heat in his body vanished instantly, as if splashed with cold water, making him a bit more sober.

He touched his temple, his eyes darting around, still unwilling to give up, and whispered a question:
"Then...what if we find someone else to try?"

Before he finished speaking, he felt his father's gaze fall upon him, heavy as an anchor, fixed straight on his face, without wavering.

Jiang Liang shrank back, swallowing his words, only daring to steal a glance at the severed finger bone out of the corner of his eye, and dared not utter another sound.

After a few moments of silence in the room, Jiang Yi slowly withdrew his gaze.

She raised her cup and took a sip of cool tea, her expression calm and composed, though a subtle ripple stirred within her heart.

After years of hard work both at home and outside, we've finally seen some light at the end of the tunnel.

Although the eldest son did not have a clear lineage or teacher, he was steady and upright in his actions.
The young lady has betrothed to that boy from the Liu family; perhaps she can borrow some of his good fortune.

Seeing that we've just turned our luck around, how can we allow this kid to be greedy for quick success and do such despicable things that would ruin his lifespan?

However, Jiang Liang's words just now served as a reminder to him.

This finger bone, though heavily imbued with evil energy, is precisely what allows it to attract things of the same origin.

If used correctly, it might actually be possible to find the mastermind behind it all.

Furthermore, Liang'er possesses the ability to subdue evil spirits.

If we can follow the clues and capture the target in one fell swoop, it would be an unparalleled achievement.

Jiang Yi pondered for a moment, gently tapping the teacup between his fingers, the sound as soft as raindrops on green tiles, his eyes deepening.

The thought had barely formed halfway when a series of rooster crows suddenly rang out from outside the courtyard, clear and crisp, penetrating straight into the house.

His brow twitched, as if he sensed something.

Without saying anything more, he stood up and went straight to the chicken coop behind the house.

A moment later, Jiang Yi returned, his steps still unhurried, but his expression now held a hint of unfathomable depth.

Behind him, the old hand from the chicken coop also stepped out.

A large, glossy black rooster, its tail feathers brushing the ground, its comb standing tall, and its eyes gleaming.

This rooster was the one he liked the most among the several intelligent birds in the yard.

He doesn't like to fight for food, but prefers to squat on the stone stool and listen to people talk. He often nods his head as if he is agreeing with them.

At this moment, they followed closely behind, displaying a rather imposing manner as if they were escorting the emperor.

Jiang Liang was stunned, his eyes filled with doubt.

But the old man remained unmoved, only raising his hand and pointing at the table.

The black chicken actually flapped its wings and flew up, its steps steady and its body perfectly aligned, landing beside the severed finger bone.

His chicken eyes were dark and bright, staring at Jiang Yi as if they could understand what he was saying.

Jiang Liang opened his mouth, but couldn't close it for a long time.

Without saying much, Jiang Yi rolled up his sleeves, flipped his wrist, and cleanly and neatly grabbed the black chicken's right claw.

With fingers like pincers, and with a little force, one of the toes was firmly pried off.

His movements were surprisingly swift, without any pauses or hesitations.

Although the black chicken was in pain and flapped its wings twice, it stubbornly endured it, neither squawking nor struggling, and didn't even move its head.

It was as if they had given clear instructions before entering the house, knowing that they couldn't avoid this today.

Jiang Liang stood to the side, his neck slightly hunched, his eyes twitching, and he thought to himself that this chicken might be sentient.

Before the bleeding stopped, Jiang Yi lifted the finger bone and, without hesitation, pushed it back into the broken end.

It's really strange.

The moment the black finger bone touched the chicken blood, it seemed to be awakened by a living creature, trembled slightly, and then crawled into the chicken claw on its own.

The blood was sucked out completely, and somehow the cut began to heal slowly.

Skin and flesh intertwined, bones and blood perfectly aligned, without a single seam to be seen.

Looking at the chicken feet again, they were completely black, and if you didn't look closely, they looked like they were born that way.

Even more strangely, the previously persistent chilling aura had subtly receded.

Even someone as perceptive as Jiang Yi had to get extremely close to barely detect anything.

Jiang Yi didn't bother to wipe his hands. He wiped his palms and gripped the copper thumb ring even tighter. Then he slowly bent down and looked at the big black rooster.

The chicken stood on the table, the bloodstains under its claws still wet, yet its black feathers remained perfectly still, resembling an exquisitely carved ebony statue.

But those eyes, dark and bright, gazed at him intently, neither flinching nor avoiding his gaze.

Whether it was my imagination or not, ever since that finger bone was embedded, the rooster's eyes seemed to have gained an indescribable gleam.

"Cuckoo..."

The black chicken made two soft, guttural sounds, not quite like a rooster's crow, but more like an old man clearing his throat before coughing, a dry, guttural sound.

Jiang Yi frowned slightly, stared at it for a moment, and then spoke in a low voice:
"...Can you sense something that comes from the same source as your new toe?"

After saying that, fearing that it might not understand, he raised his hand and pointed to the newly attached, jet-black toe bone.

The chicken remained motionless, tilting its head as if listening to the wind.

A moment later, its eyes darted around, then suddenly froze. It then raised its head and pointed its sharp beak straight southeast.

Immediately following, a series of clear cries burst from its throat, sharp and crisp, with a rapid rhythm like a death knell, continuous and unending.

Jiang Liang was leaning against the table with his arms crossed and a smile in his eyes, as if he were watching his father perform a chicken dance to invite the gods, looking like he was enjoying the show.

But as soon as he started crying, his smile seemed to be wiped away by someone's hand, freezing on his face without leaving a trace.

He stared in the direction the black chicken was pointing, his eyelids twitched slightly, and his voice lowered by half an inch:

"Southeast... is the valley mentioned in the scout report."

The valley was steep and shrouded in miasma. Recently, there have been many rumors in the army that a main force of the Shaodang Qiang tribe was hiding there, very well concealed.

This time, he led his troops out precisely towards that area.

Jiang Liang didn't say anything more, just stared at the chicken quietly, his eyes gradually darkening.

Seeing that there were indeed some promising signs, Jiang Yi was delighted. Without saying anything more, he turned and went into the house.

He rummaged through half the cabinet, picked out a few items from several packets of medicinal herbs and dried fruits that even he himself was reluctant to touch, held them in his hands, and placed them one by one in front of the black chicken.

The movements were very solemn, as if they were offering sacrifices to someone.

"The hunting dog in Liujiazhuang that can find mountain spirits is called Xiao Hei."

He spoke in a calm tone, raising his finger slightly: "From today onwards, you shall be called Big Black."

After saying that, he called Jiang Liang to go to the back of the house and pick some ripe fruit for "Big Black" to have a treat, and also to make sure that the brothers at the foot of the mountain got some too.

After the child stepped over the threshold, Jiang Yi slowly sat down.

He reached out and gently stroked the black feathers twice, his movements extremely light, his voice even softer:
"If you can truly achieve merit this time, I promise you that you will be the first to eat the spiritual herbs and fruits from the front and back of the mountain in the future."

The black chicken was pecking happily when it heard this, it clucked twice, and the last syllable of its clucking sounded rather triumphant.

Jiang Yi watched as its feathers shone brightly, full of energy. Without saying a word, he simply tucked his sleeves into his pocket, turned, and left the house.

The orchard behind the house was thriving, with sunlight filtering through the leaves, neither too hot nor too cold, falling just right on people.

Jiang Liang was picking fruit with his clothes tucked in, his arms bulging with a large handful, and he was still picking out the ripe ones.

Jiang Yi walked up to him without stopping and spoke simply:
"You saw that chicken too; it might actually be of some use."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Liang nodded vigorously, his eyes still showing lingering surprise.

Jiang Yi, however, was in no hurry. He glanced at him first before slowly and deliberately continuing:

"Take it with you on this expedition. As for whether it will be useful, how to use it, and whether to keep it or release it afterward, that's entirely up to you."

At this point, his voice paused, but his tone lowered, carrying a hint of coldness:

"There is only one thing you must remember. Whether alive or dead, you must never let it set foot in this village again. Do you understand?"

The words were not harsh, the tone not loud, but they fell like a stone into water. There was no wind in the forest, the fragrance of fruit lingered, but the atmosphere suddenly turned a little colder.

Although Jiang Liang didn't know the reason, he trusted his father, so he immediately composed himself and nodded solemnly in agreement.

Seeing that he answered quickly and efficiently, Jiang Yi's expression softened. He reached into Jiang Yi's arms and rummaged through them, picking out the two reddest fruits.

Jiang Liang carried the fruit out of the courtyard gate and parted ways with the group of weary travelers. The aroma of the fruit filled the air, and laughter began to rise.

Jiang Yi then went back into the house, holding the two glowing red spiritual fruits in one hand, and offered them to the black chicken's beak.

Big Black knew its stuff; it opened its mouth and pecked at it, eating even more happily than before. When the tip of its beak pecked at my finger, it brought a slight tingling sensation.

Jiang Yi sat down to the side without saying a word, just quietly watching the sip and drink, his expression gentle, but a hint of thought floating in his eyes.

This time, borrowing the power of evil is merely using evil to control evil.

On a smaller scale, it's so that the child can walk more steadily in the future;
On a larger scale, it was to ensure that the people of Longxi County could make a living in peace for a while.

Jiang Yi considered himself to have a righteous motive, a conscience that was not extinguished, and a clear conscience.

But the path the Jiang family is on is ultimately one of light and uprightness.

Even when you occasionally need to borrow help, you should know your limits.

Ultimately, we must draw a clear line between ourselves and such sinister entities, maintaining a distinct distinction.

Jiang Liang rested at home for three or four hours. He greeted his older brother and younger sister. His mother had prepared his luggage early and packed a bag of food very carefully.

As dusk fell, with the light of day fading, he led his men out of Liangjie Village.

Dust rose again at the village entrance, and footsteps landed, just as they had on the way there.

The long stick behind him was still the same, slung diagonally across his back.

This time, however, there was a living creature on the tip of the stick.

The rooster named "Big Black" stood perfectly still, its claws gripping tightly together.

The feathers were slightly spread, and when the wind blew, the edges looked like they were about to explode, but then they were abruptly brought back in place.

The rooster's comb was a bright red, like a blazing fire.

Those big, beady eyes remained fixed on the distant mountains in the southeast, motionless, as if the mountains held what it was looking for.

(End of this chapter)