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

Chapter 139 Transferred to Luoyang, Changsun Returns Home

The Jiang family excels at prolonging life and cultivating vital energy, and their superior spiritual practice emphasizes the internal cultivation of the spirit and the natural circulation of essence and energy.
The Liu family, on the other hand, has accumulated good deeds and virtues, built a solid foundation, and followed a steady and righteous path.

Although the two companies have different backgrounds, they can benefit each other.

The marriage went through a long and winding road, but the blessings piled up in layers, truly living up to the saying "a match made in heaven".

Seeing that the future was bright and the path was right, the urgency that Master Liu felt for his son to get married early gradually faded away.

Instead, as if a heavy burden had been lifted from his shoulders, he stroked his beard and earnestly gave Liu Zian some advice:
"Right now is the crucial time to lay a solid foundation; worldly affairs should be put aside for the time being."

“The eldest brother of the Jiang family speaks of scriptures and doctrines, and every word he says is full of profound meaning. You must not be impatient or miss the opportunity.”

These words are spoken clearly and logically.

The initial hesitation and awkwardness in my heart simply dissipated.

They chatted casually for a while longer about local gossip, until it got dark, before finally saying goodbye with smiles.

Today's visit was not only a pleasant exchange of gifts, but also a delightful occasion for both host and guests, with everything going smoothly.

Time is like water dripping from the eaves, falling steadily and ceaselessly, yet without seeming to rush.

Before we knew it, the New Year holidays had passed, and spring was quietly peeking out.

The old willow tree at the village entrance has sprouted a few tender yellow leaves. When the wind blows, its branches tremble gently, like a child who has just woken up, still sleepy.

Jiang Yi waited anxiously for more than two months before finally receiving a letter from his son.

The handwriting on the cover was familiar, but the postmark in the corner made him raise an eyebrow.

This is not the "Liangzhou Prefecture" of ordinary times.

Instead, it features two cool, elegant seal characters: "Luoyang".

His heart sank, and his hand unconsciously moved faster as he opened the letter.

The letter paper was laid out, and the familiar handwriting jumped out onto the page.

Fortunately, the opening line, "Father is well, and I am doing well," eased the tension in his heart a little.

The letter, though short, clearly explained the ins and outs of the past few months of travel.

It turns out that a concubine in the palace contracted a strange illness while pregnant.

Medicine was ineffective, talismans were useless, the Imperial Medical Academy tried several times, and the high-ranking Taoist priests they invited were all helpless, saying that fate was hard to defy.

Coincidentally, Li Wenya had just made a name for herself in Liangzhou with her outstanding medical skills.

Somehow, the sound of the wind drifted to the Luoyang Palace.

After the transfer order was issued, the Li family used some connections to invite her into the palace as a trial.

Unexpectedly, she stumbled upon a stroke of luck.

The strange ailment that the lady suffered from could be found in a few words in the book of folk medicine prescriptions that her elder brother Jiang Ming had given her.

Li Wenya followed the prescription and the medicine worked wonders.

The Empress's complexion gradually improved, her pregnancy became stable, and a month later, she gave birth to the Dragon Prince smoothly.

The Emperor was overjoyed, and Li Wenya was immediately promoted to the rank of Female Imperial Physician, which also boosted the Li family's status.

However, this meant she would have to stay in Luoyang for a long time, making it difficult to be with her husband again.

That girl was quite ambitious; she struck while the iron was hot and went to beg the lady herself.

The Li family wasn't idle either; they fueled the flames from behind and made thorough arrangements in front, finally securing a transfer order in return.

Jiang Liang, the former Sima of the Protectorate of the Qiang, was transferred to Luoyang and appointed as the Right Commander of the Imperial Guard.

His official rank remained at 600 shi (a unit of grain measure).

But the difference in importance between going from the wind-swept frontier of Liangzhou to stepping into the capital city under the emperor's nose and being transferred to the position of Commander of the Imperial Guard stationed in the capital region is like heaven and earth.

The letter also mentioned that the only drawback was that it was further away from Liangjie Village, and it would be difficult to come back even once every few years.

For the past two months, I've been running around, busy with handover and settling in. Only after settling down in Luoyang did I finally find the time to write this letter home.

At the end of the letter, he added a few more words.

He said he took a detour on his way to take up his post and went to the desolate mountains to see Big Black.

The black rooster is now even more magnificent, impervious to yin energy, clear-headed, and no longer agitated when it sees people.

They steadily occupied a mountaintop, living a more comfortable life than anyone else.

Jiang Yi read the letter over and over again to make sure it was safe before tucking it into his pocket and going back to his room to let his family know he was alright.

At dinner time, he specifically instructed Liu Xiulian to add two more dishes and also opened the jar of old wine that Master Liu had sent.

The whole family beamed with joy upon hearing this good news.

The happiest of all was Jiang Rui, who was just over six months old.

Ever since he could remember, this kid has been single-mindedly thinking about honing his skills so that he can join the army and defend the border, just like his father, and make a name for himself.

Now, upon hearing that his parents had been transferred to Luoyang, his eyes immediately lit up.

Although he was young, he understood that Luoyang and Liangzhou were worlds apart.

The swallows in front of the hall came and went, and the locust leaves in the courtyard turned green and then yellow. In the blink of an eye, another three years had passed.

Ever since it was confirmed that Jiang Ming was on a path that led to immortality and longevity, the entire Jiang family, including Liu Zi'an, kept their minds at bay.

No longer seeking quick results, but simply immersing oneself in the scriptures.

Although I am far from reaching the state where "the thought moves and the energy follows".

But as the three years passed by, drop by drop, they all developed an intangible calmness and composure.

With the nourishment of the spiritual spring behind the mountain, the Jiang family's land became increasingly extraordinary.

The spiritual energy grew stronger day by day, completely enveloping the Jiang family's ten and a half acres of land.

Even the wild grass growing wildly along the edge of the field is greener and taller than the surrounding area, as if even the wind carries a hint of medicinal scent.

The group of young men from the Ancient and Modern Gang practiced martial arts in the morning and evening, their shouts shaking the heavens, and their breathing became more confident.

The few with exceptional talent have already reached the threshold of mastery; their eyes have changed, shining as if they're about to radiate light.

Among that group of young men, the most eye-catching was naturally Jiang Rui.

This kid has the makings of a martial arts master. He's naturally strong and has a unique bone structure. Plus, he's single-minded and focused. He's been practicing his fists and feet for three years straight without taking a break.

At just over nine years old, his bones were as hard as a mountain monkey's, his blood and qi flowed like a dragon and a pearl, and his muscles and bones were like a taut bowstring, already showing signs of being full of energy and vitality.

The book "On Sitting in Oblivion" in his hand was also his daily homework.

Although at first, he would drift into a trance while chanting the scriptures, his mind was actually working on the moves of the boxing.

But he couldn't resist taking calming pills every day, and as time went on, he eventually developed a calm and collected demeanor.

However, this child's temperament is just like his father's.

Asking him to sit down and read books to understand principles is probably more difficult than making him stand in a horse stance all day.

Jiang Yi even made a special trip to the Liu family to personally visit Master Liu, hoping to pass on the "Predetermined Method" he learned back then to this grandson.

That method was exceptionally passed down once before, and it ended up in Jiang Liang's hands.

Now that the two families are related by marriage, their relationship has become increasingly close, and the Liu family's future path is no longer confined to the narrow path of the past.

Upon hearing this, Master Liu not only readily agreed but also personally prepared two batches of pills and sent them to the Jiang family, saying it was to add fuel to the fire so that Jiang Rui could quickly establish a firm foundation. In this way, the Jiang family had done everything they could to guide and teach Jiang Rui along the way.

Jiang Liang and his wife, one working in the Imperial Guard and the other serving as a physician in the palace, have been busy for the past three years.

The letters came frequently, filled with rambling messages and greetings, but the person in question was nowhere to be seen for a long time.

Following the usual practice, Jiang Yi wrote another letter, mentioning some recent events at home, and had it sent to Luoyang.

I'll also ask a question while I'm at it.

This child has grown a few more points and his martial arts skills have become quite impressive. Which path should he be taken on?

The reply came quickly; in less than a month, a carriage bearing the Li family emblem stopped in front of the house.

The cart wheels had barely stopped moving, and the horse was still exhaling white breath from its nose, when the coachman dismounted, took out a letter, and handed it to Jiang Yi.

The letter was written very frankly.

The young couple couldn't get away, but if their child was willing, they could have him come with them to Luoyang. Everything had been taken care of, so they had no worries.

Upon hearing this, Jiang Rui started jumping around that afternoon, saying goodbye to everyone in the village, his little face beaming with a smile as sweet as honey.

Jiang Yi, on the other hand, seemed to have already figured things out. He didn't say a word and just kept his head down, carrying basket after basket of spiritual fruits and herbs onto the carriage.

The aroma of the medicine was so strong it was almost cloying. The burly man driving the cart sneezed loudly, and the horse pulling the cart snorted and nearly let out a wild snort.

Although the Li family is a family of doctors, when it comes to these rare and precious medicinal herbs, they can't compare to the Jiang family now.

Jiang Yi carefully divided the medicinal herbs into two portions.

One portion was sent to his son and daughter-in-law, and it contained some qi-boosting items to help Jiang Rui improve his boxing skills.

The other one, however, had specific instructions given.

When Jiang Liang has some free time, he will send it to that desolate mountaintop, away from eyes and ears.

It's for that black chicken that hasn't shown up for years.

If it weren't for that opportunity back then, Jiang Liang wouldn't be where he is today.

Jiang Yi had said before that he would get a share of the harvest from the area in front of and behind the house.

Although it has now become a demon, and it's not advisable to get too involved according to the rules, there should still be some affection between them.

As dawn broke and the mist lingered, a hazy atmosphere enveloped the foot of the mountain, and the first chirping of cicadas could be heard from beneath the locust trees in the distance.

Jiang Rui carried a small bundle on his back, hopped down the steps, and said goodbye to his family members one by one.

There were no red eyes, and not much sadness at parting.

Those eyes, so bright and sparkling, held a burning desire to ignite a fire within them.

He nimbly leaped onto the carriage, found a soft spot among the pile of spiritual fruits and medicinal herbs, and sat down cross-legged.

Before leaving, he waved to the courtyard, his smile revealing his teeth.

The wheels creaked and groaned as they rolled along the stone-paved road of Liangjie Village, swaying and wobbling all the way, carrying a cart full of fragrance and the burning passion of youth, disappearing into the misty, deep mountains.

With the departure of his second grandson, the Jiang family enjoyed a period of peace and quiet.

However, it only took about two months.

On this hot afternoon, the sun beat down relentlessly on the ground, making even the bluestone slabs on the village road seem to steam.

It was the hottest time of day, when even the cicadas had fallen silent, when a figure suddenly appeared in the distance.

I walked slowly and steadily, swaying as I stepped through the heatwave.

It turned out to be Jiang Feng, who hadn't returned for many years.

This kid has been cultivating alchemy at Crane Cry Mountain for several years now.

Now, when I see him again, he has grown several inches taller, and the childishness in his eyes and brows has faded, giving him a vaguely youthful appearance.

His Taoist robe, though worn and not brand new, was covered in dust, and beads of sweat rolled down his forehead, clearly indicating that he had rushed back during a short break.

A palm-leaf fan gently sways under the eaves as Jiang Yizheng leans against a bamboo chair, dozing off.

Hearing footsteps approaching, he paused, opened his eyes, and was slightly taken aback at first, then raised an eyebrow and smiled.

Without asking any questions, he slowly got up, took a few steps toward the door, and led the person into the house.

Hearing the commotion, the people inside quickly gathered around, chattering and asking after each other's well-being.

Jiang Feng remained calm, cheerfully placing the cloth bag on the ground, lifting a corner of the bundle, and magically producing a pile of bottles and jars.

Some were as black as ink jade, while others were as white as ice cream, their wax seals still radiating fresh warmth.

He said this bottle was for strengthening the body and that pill was for nourishing qi and calming the mind, and he spoke very eloquently about it.

Even the two younger siblings who hadn't met yet each received a small bottle of sweet and fragrant nourishing pills that melted in their mouths and made their mouths water.

The two little ones smacked their lips and giggled, filling the room with a joyful atmosphere.

While wiping his sweat, she frowned and complained:
"Why did you come back in such a hurry? You didn't even send a message. How many days will you be able to rest after this trip?"

Jiang Feng tilted his head back and gulped down a large bowl of cold tea. With a "glug," he put down the bowl, wiped his mouth, and chuckled, panting.
"This time, I followed my commander to the Western Sea to collect herbs for training. The main group was moving slowly, and I figured I wasn't far from home, so I asked my master for leave and broke away from the group. I rode as fast as I could to catch up and take a look back."

As he spoke, his voice lowered, and his expression became somewhat embarrassed, as if he were a thief with a guilty conscience, whispering:

"I can only rest for one night at most. I have to set off to catch up with them first thing tomorrow morning."

As soon as he finished speaking, the room fell silent for a moment.

Liu Xiulian's newly warmed sense of relief hadn't even had time to unfold before it was suppressed again by the bitterness in her heart.

She sighed softly, asked no more questions, and walked towards the courtyard while wiping the hem of her apron, muttering as she did so:

"Wait here, Grandma is going to slaughter a rooster. We'll make sure to give you a good meal today."

He spoke calmly, but his steps were swift.

Jiang Yi remained silent, standing to the side without fanning himself, but his eyes were slightly narrowed as he sized up his eldest grandson whom he hadn't seen for a long time.

As for his physical constitution, it's neither outstanding nor bad; it's the kind of steady, unremarkable material.

Fortunately, with the Jiang family's breathing technique as a foundation, my breathing has become smooth and controlled over the past few years, without any stagnation.

But if you really look deeper, his ability to calm his mind and concentrate is still a bit immature. His expression is fluctuating, and although his eyes are clear, they are ultimately unstable. He is not calm enough, and he has not reached a deep understanding.

However, the Celestial Masters sect has its own set of rules and regulations, and as a bystander, he couldn't speak recklessly.

The thought crossed his mind, and he stopped dwelling on it. He patted Jiang Feng on the shoulder, a smirk playing on his lips, and said with a smile:

"Come on, let's take a walk behind the house. Those fruit trees have borne fruit again recently, and every single one is so sweet it's dripping with juice. I'll let you eat your fill today."

He spoke lightly, but his steps were steady; he turned and stepped out first.

Jiang Feng responded, wiped the sweat from his forehead, and followed after him, sleeves rolled up.

With a light step, I treaded through dappled sunlight, just like when I was a child chasing chickens out of the yard, and a lingering smile unconsciously appeared in my eyes.

The orchard behind the house is lush and green, with the shadows of the trees spreading out at an angle. The branches are laden with fruit, which hangs and gleams in the sunlight.

But Jiang Feng didn't rush to pick it. Instead, he turned and went around a few old trees, heading straight for the back of the crooked jujube tree.

Back then, he hadn't even grown taller than a table, and the treehouse he built is still crooked there.

(End of this chapter)