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

Chapter 135 Internal Refinement of Divine Qi, Mountain and Wild Medical Prescriptions

Jiang Liang had anticipated this question, and before even putting down his teacup, he smoothly continued the conversation:

“I have been very discreet on this trip. Apart from a few old acquaintances and superiors, no one else knows anything about it.”

He spoke calmly, but his voice was lowered, as if he didn't want the wind outside to hear.

"However, the root of the Qiang chieftain's calamity has not been eradicated, and his remains still retain the power of perception. Within a radius of hundreds of miles, even the slightest disturbance of wind or grass cannot be concealed."

"Therefore, on my way to Luoyang to report on my duties, I found a deserted mountain and settled there first."

At this point, he stopped speaking, and the room fell silent.

Jiang Yi's fingertips lightly tapped the edge of the chair. After a slight pause, he asked softly:
"...Won't it go out of control?"

Upon hearing this, Jiang Liang simply chuckled.

"Father, please rest assured."

He spoke calmly and confidently:

"Over the past few months, Dahei has been quite docile and has not shown any unusual behavior."

"However, I don't completely believe it. That piece of evil bone embedded in the claw has too much yin energy, and I'm afraid it will disturb my mind if I stay there for too long."

"So he went to find an old acquaintance from the Celestial Masters sect and asked for several talismans to ward off evil, which he has already tied to its claws."

As he spoke, he pulled out a neatly folded, bright yellow talisman from his pocket.

The paper is fine and tough, with a slightly rough feel. The cinnabar-drawn runes meander and spiral, as red as blood, and seem to still carry a trace of warmth.

“If it truly harbors ulterior motives, the moment its Yin energy stirs and slightly crosses the boundary, I will be able to sense it immediately.”

"At that time, all we need to do is guide the Qi into the talisman, and even from a distance of thousands of miles, we can shatter its soul and break it on the spot."

His words were spoken in a gentle, unhurried manner, yet they carried a chilling undercurrent of military experience, a quiet, ruthless energy that spoke volumes.

Upon hearing this, Jiang Yi was truly relieved. He paused slightly in his teacup and reached out to take the talisman.

Looking closely in the slanting sunlight streaming through the window, the vermilion runes were twisted and contorted, resembling scribbles, yet they also exuded a certain righteousness.

He gently stroked the talisman's corner with his fingertips and casually asked, "How...how do I activate this talisman?"

"Just infuse it with your Qi," Jiang Liang replied readily.

Jiang Yi paused, the talisman still in his palm, but he didn't look at it again.

But those usually lazy eyes suddenly lit up for a moment.

Jiang Liang saw this and couldn't help but smile with a hint of smugness. He nodded.

Upon seeing this expression, Jiang Yi confirmed his suspicions.

This talisman requires the guidance of Qi and the concentration of intention to be activated.

In other words, my son has now truly stepped into the threshold of "spiritual prosperity and mental stability".

He was no longer an ordinary martial artist who relied on sheer grit to fight his way up.

He was a real person who could cultivate his inner spirit and project his thoughts outwards.

More importantly, once he had focused his mind, he could also subdue the murderous aura he was contemplating.

If you can control it, you can use it.

From now on, he will no longer have to worry about the backlash of his malevolent energy causing mental breakdown.

That's a relief.

Jiang Yi nodded, his expression seemingly ordinary, but a hint of joy still inadvertently showed in his eyes, which then quickly faded.

He didn't say much, only handed the talisman back and said, "Keep it safe."

"Now that you're back, take a good rest at home for a few days."

The tea was still warm, and the conversation was gently dropped.

He glanced at the corner of the corridor and saw a small figure peeking out and looking in his direction with longing eyes.

"Rui'er, come here."

Jiang Rui had been staring at this place for a long time, looking at it intently without making a sound, but in reality, his little ears were perked up.

Upon hearing Grandpa's call, it immediately scurried over, its steps quick, and it arrived in just a few steps.

"Have your skills improved in the past year or so?"

Jiang Yi, holding a cup of tea, said casually, "Come, let Grandpa take a look."

As soon as he finished speaking, two points of light immediately lit up in the little guy's eyes.

He dashed into the courtyard in a flash, lifted the hem of his robe, shook his sleeves, assumed a horse stance, and began his battle.

He is now a little over six years old, and he has lost much of his childishness. His chubby face and robust appearance have truly given him the physique of a teenager.

At this moment, a set of stance training exercises is performed, with the starting move and the step landing perfectly executed.

Then, changing his punches, he swung his arms and legs with great force, the wind from his punches making a slight sound. Though the blows weren't heavy, he was full of energy.

Jiang Yi watched with a broad smile, and the whole family chatted and laughed until dusk.

Night fog quietly descended upon the mountaintops, leaving only a dark silhouette of the distant mountain ranges.

Jiang Ming then slowly returned from the back mountain, stepping on the last embers of the sunset.

Smoke rose from the kitchen at the other end, filling the air with the aroma of food. Turning the corner under the porch, one would then venture into the courtyard.

Today's meal is a rare reunion for the Jiang family.

Homemade fruit wine was poured into a rough porcelain bowl; the wine was pale yellow and had a slightly sweet aroma.

There were only a few snacks on the table to go with the drinks, plus a pot of simmering chicken soup, but the taste was surprisingly good.

One sip, and the soup is fragrant and the wine is warm, making it more comforting than a feast with ten or eight delicacies.

After finishing the remaining wine in his bowl, Jiang Ming paused lightly, put down the bowl, and pointed towards the newly renovated training ground in the corner of the courtyard.

"Second brother, your 'Longxi Stick' is now quite famous in Liangzhou."

His tone carried a hint of amusement and a touch of teasing:

"What? When you have some free time, would you deign to give those village brats a little pointers?"

"So that they don't practice blindly, their skills don't improve, and they're all just good-for-nothings."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Liang laughed heartily, tilted his head back and gulped down the remaining wine in his bowl, turning the cup upside down with a swift and decisive motion, more refreshing than anyone else's.

"What's so difficult about that?" The words had barely left her lips when her eyes darted around, and her tone revealed a hint of calculation and shrewdness.

"Perfect timing. Those lads who trained with me back in the county command have also come back this time."

"I brought a few of them over to be my deputies. I wouldn't say I'd copy all of the Liangzhou Prefecture Army's rules and regulations, but I can manage about 70-80% of them."

Having said that, he patted his chest, grinned so wide his eyes disappeared, raised an eyebrow, and gestured towards Jiang Ming with his chin:

"Brother, don't worry, I guarantee you'll train a whole bunch of outstanding young talents."

Jiang Ming smiled at him, then filled his glass with wine and drank it heartily.

The next morning, the first rays of sunlight slanted through the window.

Behind the old house, on that cold patch of land, the sound of reading aloud still rises as usual.
Jiang Ming sat upright at the head of the table, his clothes neatly arranged. His voice was not loud, but each word was like the tolling of an old bell, steady and measured.

Now that Jiang Rui can read, he can't escape being dragged into the school to study.

However, this child has a strong martial spirit and a restless nature. He even learned to doze off while reading, just like his father.

His little head bobbed and swayed, his eyelids drooped, and he would twitch from time to time, as if he were still playing with a stick in his dream.

Jiang Yi, leaning against a pillar under the eaves, glanced at it but didn't move an inch, pretending not to see it.

Having had the experience of raising Jiang Liang, he no longer insists that his children and grandchildren be reasonable and well-mannered.

I only hope that I can master the methods of calming the mind in the "Treatise on Sitting in Oblivion" and be able to control my wandering thoughts, and that will be enough.

About half an hour later, the sound of reading gradually subsided.

Jiang Liang stretched, and his bones cracked a few times.

He picked up the long stick, which was now quite famous in the area, patted the corner of his clothes, and led Jiang Xi and Liu Zi'an toward the newly built training ground.

Over there, all the members of the Ancient and Modern Gang, big and small, were already craning their necks and waiting.

When that familiar figure, who had somehow acquired a hint of menace, appeared, the crowd froze for a moment, then erupted into a chaotic uproar.

The name "Longxi One Stick" has been making headlines lately, and now that the person is alive and well, who wouldn't want to take a closer look?
The shouts and commotion over there rose in waves, making the area in front of this house seem even quieter.

Li Wenya did not join the others to watch the excitement. Instead, she gathered her sleeves and tiptoed to find Jiang Yi, who was about to turn back into the house.

"Father," she called softly, "do you have any tranquilizing pills left at home?"

"A calming pill?"

Jiang Yi stopped walking and casually replied:

"I remember there are still some left. They were made when Feng'er was practicing. The heat was a bit too rough, but the medicinal properties are still acceptable."

Li Wenya nodded slightly, her voice calm and steady as always:
"I won't be home for more than a few days. Once the transfer order comes, I'll be going to Liangzhou with A-Liang."

At this point, she paused slightly, a hint of thought flashing in her eyes:

"Upon arriving in the prefecture, I still wished to seek out a renowned teacher. The more I studied medicine, the more superficial I felt, yet I was unwilling to err by taking lives."

"It just so happens that things have been a bit quieter lately, so I thought I'd practice that calming exercise again. If I can calm my mind, my hands won't tremble, and I'll be more reliable whether I'm taking a pulse or adjusting medicine."

Jiang Yi listened, only smiling slightly, a hint of amusement in his eyes:

"You don't respect the prestigious reputation of your Li family, but instead you're thinking about finding some famous teacher outside?"

This question was asked lightly; it was just a casual remark.

Li Wenya's face remained calm, her expression even, and her voice indifferent:

"Father is joking."

His tone was gentle, yet carried a profound depth:
"The Li family's secret acupuncture and medicine techniques have always been passed down only within the direct line in Luoyang. We, the collateral branches, have only learned the basics."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Yi's smile immediately faded.

After thinking for a moment, he simply nodded without saying anything more, turned around and went back into the house to look for medicinal pills.

Under the eaves, Jiang Ming was putting away his books and bamboo slips, heading towards the back mountain.

Hearing this conversation, I unconsciously slowed down my movements.

His gaze lingered briefly on Li Wenya, his expression indifferent, showing no change.

He carefully arranged the scrolls, rolled them into a single volume, tucked it under his elbow, and then, as usual, drifted away along the mountain path.

In the days that followed, the Jiang family home became quite lively.

Inside the house, the sounds of reading and practicing martial arts never ceased, from dawn till dusk.

Outside, sticks flew about, commands were given like bells, and the wooden sticks and swords stirred up dust and flattened the grass, turning the newly cleared land into a steaming hot spot.

This small village of two realms seems to have come alive.

Among them, Jiang Xi is the busiest.

As soon as the sky begins to lighten, one must yawn and hurry to the cold land to listen to the elder brother recite scriptures;
The sound of morning reading was still on his lips when he had to rush to the training ground to continue his second brother's rigorous training.

When people are exhausted, they wilted as soon as they lay down, but their appetite remained strong, and they ate two extra bowls of rice every day.

Li Wenya has been quiet these days, guarding a secluded corner in the cold land, sitting quietly amidst the illusory light and shadow.

Using that illusion to temper one's mind and refine one's will, it gradually becomes gentle and nurturing.

The days passed by in the blink of an eye.

That night, the moon was high in the sky, casting a cold and clear light on the mountain shadows.

Jiang Ming returned from the back mountain as usual, covered in dew, his clothes still carrying the dampness and green scent of the forest.

But today, he had an extra thin booklet in his hand.

The cover was plain, hastily sewn together with coarse hemp thread. The paper was brand new, the ink was not yet completely dry, and it faintly exuded the lingering fragrance of pine smoke.

He walked at a leisurely pace to Li Wenya, who was coaxing her second son to wash up.

He handed over the notebook, his tone as calm as ever:
"A few days ago, when I had nothing to do, I casually jotted down some folk remedies while flipping through a book."

He spoke casually, as if he were just casually tearing off a page: "I don't know if it will be useful, but you can take a look when you have some free time."

Li Wenya didn't take it seriously at first, thinking it was just a folk remedy circulating in the village, and casually accepted it.

Who knew that after flipping through a few pages under the lamp, his gaze slowly changed.

A pair of eyes that were originally calm and peaceful suddenly rippled with emotion, and a look of surprise appeared.

(End of this chapter)