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

Chapter 143 Celestial Master's Edict, King Wujiao

Upon hearing the words "Pearl of Dinghai," Xiaobai's body trembled almost imperceptibly.

That layer of frost, which had been stubbornly maintaining its distance, shattered instantly, like a sudden downpour striking ice.

She gritted her teeth, her eyes reddening, tears welling up, and finally, unable to hold back, her voice trembled.
"I...I just...don't want to watch the aquatic creatures be slaughtered one by one by those demons..."

"So you just ran out on your own, and with your mediocre skills, you think you can imitate the ancient sages and put on a show of single-handedly holding off the demon tide and turning the tide?"

Uncle-Master Chongxu stroked his beard, his tone languid, like someone who had just woken up from an afternoon nap, making it impossible to tell whether he was praising or criticizing him.

"It's rare to find someone with such a kind heart."

He paused, then abruptly changed the subject, a hint of amusement in his half-closed eyes revealing a sense of schadenfreude:

"What a pity. You only have the 'courage' in your courage and strategy, and it's just the courage of a common man."

As he spoke, he slowly took out a jade talisman from his wide sleeves, held it up with his thumb, and handed it to her.

The talisman was no bigger than the palm of my hand, and its surface was as smooth and warm to the touch as fine mutton fat. The patterns on the talisman were like living snakes, with faint lightning crackling around it, flickering unpredictably.

"The Celestial Master's Mansion's craft, the 'Tranquility Talisman'."

The old Taoist priest didn't even bother to lift his eyelids:
"With your small frame, your qi is disordered, your spiritual energy is running wild, and you're already injured on top of each other. If you keep going like this, you might even lose the very foundation of your dragon clan. Take this and find a quiet place to rest for the night. Nothing will collapse then."

He waved his hand casually, as if shooing away an eyesore, or perhaps genuinely unable to bear looking at her disheveled state any longer:
"The storms outside are not something a little girl like you should be able to handle."

Having said all that, Xiaobai finally raised her pale face and stopped arguing.

Seeing her fingertips tremble slightly, Jiang Feng silently took a step forward, took the jade talisman from his master's hand, and without asking or inviting her, bent down and placed it in her palm.

"Take it."

His voice was low, as if afraid of disturbing the night wind, yet it carried a hint of unreasonable self-righteousness.

“My master’s talismans are not given away often. They are very precious, and once this opportunity is gone, it’s gone forever.”

He paused, then slowly added:
"Take the previous pills as well. No matter how important the matter is, we'll talk about it when you can stand up straight again."

The tone wasn't exactly gentle, but the tact and certainty in the words had a calming power.

Xiao Bai looked down at the jade talisman in his palm, where a trace of the warmth from his fingertips seemed to still linger.

She gave a very soft "hmm," a sound as delicate as a gentle breeze on the sea—silent, yet capable of stirring a subtle emotion in one's heart.

Those eyes, which had always been frosty, finally showed a hint of warmth.

The coldness in the eyes of Uncle Lingwei, who had been quietly observing, seemed to have melted a little.

However, her lips remained pressed into a cold line, making it impossible to discern whether she was happy or sad.

She glanced at the disciples, her voice soft yet clear to everyone: "Go back now. It's windy tonight."

Having said that, he didn't say anything more. With a flick of his sleeve, his figure vanished like a wisp of smoke into the Tingchao Pavilion behind him.

Uncle-Master Chongxu lazily yawned behind him, his hands clasped behind his back like an old countryman who had just finished drinking, and strolled after him, muttering to himself:

"Alas, old age is no good... This night wind blows, and it feels like my bones are shivering..."

The other fellow disciples also bowed and quietly withdrew.

The sea breeze swept by, making the departing figures even fainter.

On the rocky outcrop, only Jiang Feng and Xiao Bai remained, standing still without moving an inch. In a flash, they bumped into each other in mid-air.

The wind swirled fine sand, sweeping it obliquely across my face. It didn't hurt; rather, it felt like a silent urging, bringing me back to my senses from my daze.

Jiang Feng glanced at her sideways. Her already aloof face was now as pale as paper, losing its usual sharp edges and stubbornness, and instead showing a hint of fragility.

He opened his mouth, those comforting platitudes rolled around on his tongue, but ultimately felt they were too sentimental and couldn't bring himself to say them.

He simply raised his chin and gestured towards a rock about half a person's height in front of him.

"That's sheltered from the wind, and it's close by. Let's rest there."

He paused, then added in a low voice, his tone slightly muffled by the wind: "I... will keep watch for you."

Xiao Bai glanced at him, her gaze still somewhat unfocused, as if she hadn't fully recovered from the emotional turmoil she had just experienced.

But she nodded in the end, turned around without saying a word, walked behind the reef, flicked the hem of her skirt, and sat down cross-legged.

This time, she didn't force herself. As he instructed, she swallowed the pill first, then took out the "calming talisman" and gently pressed it between her eyebrows.

As soon as the talisman was applied, it transformed into a cool sensation, like a secluded spring in a valley, flowing slowly along her meridians.

First, it suppressed the deep, bone-chilling pain, then slowly guided the chaotic spiritual energy within the body back to its original state.

Even the dragon's power that was on the verge of collapse was gently smoothed into ripples and slowly gathered into the dantian.

She closed her eyes, her long eyelashes drooping down, casting a small shadow on her cheek, like a small fan framing the moon, quietly hiding all her weariness and sorrow.

The whole person was like a jade statue submerged in the night, the dust gradually washed away by the sound of the tide. Sitting there, silent and motionless, no longer struggling.

Jiang Feng didn't leave.

He simply held his sword, leaning against another reef not far away, like a shadow that appeared out of nowhere in the night.

The figure remained motionless, not even glancing in that direction, simply gazing quietly at the distant sea.

The moonlight washed the sea a bright white, and wave after wave surged tirelessly, only to retreat silently.

The wind is strong, and the waves are high.

Just like his heart at this moment, it was not at peace either.

The words "Dragon Girl" were like a heavy stone, quietly dropped from a great height, crashing straight into his heart.

Ripples spread across the water's surface, and it took a while for them to calm down.

So that's what her background was like.

He stared at the crest of the wave, gleaming coldly in the moonlight, his emotions churning. There was a hint of unexpected surprise, a sense of relief at the revelation of the mystery, and a wisp of concern that he himself had never spoken aloud.

The night deepened little by little.

……

As dawn broke and the first rays of sunlight pierced through the clouds and mist, they painted the gently rippling sea with a pale gold hue.

Xiao Bai slowly opened her eyes.

After a night of breathing exercises, the paleness on her face had faded considerably, and the melancholy between her brows had dissipated, replaced by a radiant glow.

Those eyes were clear and bright, no longer frosty, as if they had truly been washed clean by the sunlight and sea.

Turning my gaze, I saw Jiang Feng still holding his sword, leaning against the rock not far away.

Her temples were damp with morning dew, and the hem of her clothes was slightly wet. She looked as if she hadn't changed her posture from last night to this morning.

She stood up gently, walked up to him, and said in a softer, lower voice than the night before, "Thank you."

This thank you, without any wariness, seemed like a touch of warmth emanating from the sound of the tide.

Jiang Feng opened his eyes upon hearing the sound, first looking at her, then glancing at the increasingly bright sunlight, a faint smile appearing on his lips: "You're too kind. Feeling better?"

"Much better." She nodded, took the now dull jade talisman from between her eyebrows, and handed it over with both hands. "Please return this to the senior on my behalf."

Jiang Feng took it, casually stuffed it into his pocket, and then reached into his sleeve with his other hand and pulled out an oil paper package.

"Here, I bought it at the market down the mountain."

He handed over the oil paper package: "This is the only place where the flatbread is edible. Have something to eat first, don't try to endure the hunger pangs on an empty stomach."

Xiao Bai paused, staring at the still-warm flatbread haphazardly wrapped in rough oil paper, then looked up at the person opposite him.

The face was half-lit and half-shadowed in the morning light, its features distinct, somewhat unfamiliar, yet... indescribably familiar.

Seeing that she didn't move, Jiang Feng didn't try to persuade her further. He simply opened the paper package, broke off a piece, and took a bite, the sound of his chewing slightly indistinct.

"Not eating? Then there won't be any left."

Xiao Bai's gaze lingered on his face for a moment before she finally extended her slender white fingers and picked up a piece.

The bread was a bit hard, with slightly charred edges, making a soft "crunch" when bitten into. The coarse aroma of wheat mixed with the saltiness of a few grains of salt slowly melted on the tip of the tongue.

In all these years, she had never eaten such ordinary food. The taste was unfamiliar, but... she didn't dislike it.

So the two of them stood there, one in front of the other, silently munching on their flatbreads in the morning light and sea breeze.

As the sunlight gradually climbed onto the sea surface, golden lines flowed across the horizon, tinging the sounds of the tide and the reflections of the waves with warmth, as if gilding this world with a layer of soft, understated light.

The atmosphere was unusually quiet, with only the sound of the sea breeze and waves echoing in my ears.

Finally, Xiaobai spoke first, her voice low, as if asking herself:
"You...know everything?"

Jiang Feng grunted in response, swallowed the last bite of the flatbread, and casually patted the crumbs off his palm, his tone as indifferent as if he were talking about someone else's business:
"My martial uncle mentioned it a few times. The Pearl of Dinghai."

Xiao Bai's eyes dimmed, like the light that had just appeared on the horizon, only to be obscured by drifting clouds. "My father, my brothers... are already overwhelmed with worry about stabilizing the Dragon Palace and repairing the Pearl, leaving them no time for anything else. But those demons have taken advantage of the situation, slaughtering my people on the shores of the Western Sea and forging evil treasures... I simply... cannot bear to watch."

As she spoke, her tone became filled with barely suppressed hatred and urgency.

Jiang Feng glanced at her sideways, his tone remaining calm and unhurried, revealing no anger:
"So, you ran away all by yourself?"

These words sounded light and casual, but they weighed a ton in Xiaobai's ears.

"Do you know that by running away, you might not be able to help at all, but instead, you'll just be adding another worry to your father and brothers?"

Xiao Bai was speechless after hearing his words; her lips were pressed tightly together, and she couldn't utter a single word.

She lowered her eyes, and after a long while, she whispered:
"I know……"

His tone revealed a stubborn resentment mixed with a sense of grievance stemming from his own guilt.

Looking at her appearance, Jiang Feng couldn't help but sigh softly.

This girl's temperament hasn't changed at all; she's still as stubborn as ever. She's seething with anger inside, but her face doesn't betray a single word of it.

He didn't utter another word of blame, but instead looked up at the small pavilion hidden behind the rocks, his tone returning to calm:

"Let's go."

He paused after speaking, as if afraid she wouldn't listen, and added a deliberately stern, unyielding tone to his voice:
"My superior officer probably has something to ask you."

His words weren't harsh, but every sentence carried weight.

“Your injuries are not yet healed and your spiritual power has not recovered. If you run out alone and charge recklessly, you will only be throwing your life away. The waters of the Western Sea are very murky and very deep, far beyond what your current level of cultivation can handle. At least, not right now.”

These words sounded like advice, yet also like a reprimand.

But to Xiaobai, for some reason, it didn't sound particularly jarring.

She remained silent for a moment, then finally nodded.

As the sun rose, its rays pierced through the cracks in the rocks, casting long shadows of the two people on the beach.

One walked steadily and calmly, while the other followed silently.

In a daze, it felt as if I had returned to many years ago, to that old forest where the sun never shines.

Inside Tingchao Xiaozhu, the light is dimmer and it's much quieter than outside.

Several pots of green bamboo were placed under the windowsill. I don't know what kind they are. They were not moved by the wind, and not even a single leaf swayed.

Uncle-Master Chongxu sat upright in the main seat, holding a rough porcelain teacup in his hands, sipping it casually. His manner did not resemble drinking tea, but rather savoring some kind of celestial dew.

Uncle Lingwei sat to the side, his robes neatly arranged, his expression as indifferent as ever.

She still held the small jade ruyi between her fingers, wiping it inch by inch with a plain handkerchief.

As Xiaobai followed Jiang Feng inside, the cool and calm aura emanating from the room immediately made her subconsciously suppress the remaining dragon energy on her body.

He paused slightly, his sharpness softened, and he appeared much more composed.

Following Taoist etiquette, she curtsied, her posture impeccable.
"Junior Xihai Aoyu greets the two seniors."

Upon hearing this, Uncle-Master Chongxu paused slightly in his hand, holding the rough porcelain teacup. He glanced at her with his eyelids and gave a nonchalant "hmm."
"The branch of the Dragon King of the West Sea..."

The old Taoist priest placed the teacup on the table beside him, rested his hands on his knees, and lowered his eyelids. It was unclear whether he was looking at her or at the still-warm tea stains. He slowly said:

"If we're really talking about the bond of kinship, it's my Crane Cry Mountain that owes you, the Western Sea, a favor."

His sudden change of topic was completely unexpected, as if he were just making a casual remark:

"Back in the day, before our ancestor established his own school, he asked your family's old Dragon King to send down several rains, bringing three years of favorable weather to that land."

Upon hearing this, Ao Yu was stunned and looked at Jiang Feng beside him, somewhat at a loss.

The latter, however, remained calm and composed, only giving her a barely perceptible nod and a "don't panic" look.

At this moment, Martial Uncle Lingwei suddenly spoke, his voice as clear and cold as ever, like an ice cube gently tapping on a jade plate, carrying an undeniable chill:
"Elders have their own relationships, and juniors have their own rules."

She glanced up and swept her gaze across me; her eyes were like an ice blade hidden in its sheath, its sharpness already intimidating even before it was drawn.

"Leaving the palace without permission violates filial piety; it is like throwing an egg against a rock, disregarding one's own safety, and is unwise."

"Tell me, did you have any sense of 'reason' in your actions?"

Every word he said hit the nail on the head.

Ao Yu's pretty face, which had finally regained some color, turned pale again in an instant. She lowered her head, almost burying her chin in the fabric of her clothes.

Her lips twitched as if she wanted to offer some explanation, but she couldn't find a single plausible statement to say.

The atmosphere in the room froze instantly, as if the air itself had solidified.

At this moment, Senior Uncle Chongxu gently waved his hand and chuckled, breaking the silence.

"Lingwei, don't always have such a stern face and scare this little girl."

As he spoke, he turned to Ao Yu, his tone softening slightly:
"We knew about the current situation in the West Sea before we came down the mountain. That group of demons who appeared out of nowhere occupied the shores of the West Sea, slaughtering sea beasts, refining their essence, and forging evil magic weapons. They were doing things that were against heaven and reason."

“We have come down the mountain this time on the orders of the Celestial Master and at the request of your Dragon King, to settle this old score.”

Ao Yu suddenly raised her head, her eyes shimmering with intense light, and as if she hadn't heard clearly, she blurted out:

"My father...invited Zhang Tianshi?"

"good."

Senior Uncle Chongxu nodded slightly, his tone revealing a rare hint of respect:
"Your Western Sea's Sea-Stabilizing Pearl is damaged, and the Dragon Palace's fortune is unstable. You are barely able to take care of yourself. But if you allow these evil spirits to grow stronger, the disaster will not only affect your dragon clan. How could our ancestor... possibly stand idly by?"

As these words were spoken, Ao Yu froze on the spot.

Surprise, emotion, relief, and a hint of lingering fear welled up in his eyes like a tidal wave, yet he didn't know where to express it.

In the end, it all boiled down to a barely audible sentence:

"Thank you... for your mercy, Celestial Master..."

"All right."

Uncle-Master Chongxu picked up his teacup again, took a small sip, as if his mouth was dry from talking, or as if he felt it was time to get to the point.

"Enough of this small talk. Since you are a member of the Dragon Palace, you must know more about those demons than we outsiders do. Tell me, which faction does their leader belong to?"

Xiao Bai pursed her lips, her expression turning serious.

She took a deep breath, suppressing all the grievances she had felt from being startled by the cold words.

When he spoke again, his voice was as flat as a line, without any unnecessary fluctuations.

"The leader of that group of demons called himself 'King Black Dragon'."

She paused, her gaze lowered, as if she were carefully choosing her words, or perhaps unwilling to elaborate.

"It's not a common mountain spirit; it's an old demon that has been around for a long time. I don't know which dark cave or deep ravine it crawled out of. It's full of evil energy and legend has it that it obtained some unorthodox opportunities."

"This demon took advantage of the damage to the fortune of my Dragon Palace and its preoccupation with its own problems, and actually tried to refine a 'fake Sea-Stabilizing Pearl' in order to seize the energy vein of my West Sea."

Before he could finish speaking, Uncle-Master Chongxu, who had been stroking his beard, suddenly paused.

She, however, was unaware of the commotion on the other side and continued talking to herself.

"In order to refine the fake pearl, the demon set up a blood sacrifice altar on the west coast, attracting a group of desperate demons to accompany him. They wantonly slaughtered my sea creatures and took their essence and blood as a catalyst."

His voice was clear and cold, yet it concealed a growing resentment that deepened with each word.

"Actually, my Dragon Palace already knows all about the location of the demon's lair and the setup of the altar."

At this point, she paused, lowering her gaze for a moment.

He finally spoke, his tone no longer as calm as before, but revealing a hint of helplessness:

"However, the Pearl of Dinghai is in turmoil, and my father and several uncles and brothers all have to stay in the palace to guard it. They are too busy to move around easily."

Ao Yu raised her eyes, a hint of indescribable emotion flashing across them.

Anger, regret, and hatred are all present, yet they are not expressed openly.

"And that black dragon... is extremely sensible."

She paused, as if enunciating each word:
"He never crossed the line, and the blood altar was set up outside the Western Sea. His henchmen only operated on the shore, targeting those races that were affected by the tide and could not return to the sea for the time being."

She gritted her teeth, her eyes slightly red.

"In this case..."

Before I could finish speaking, I already felt embarrassed.

After a moment, it was as if he was forcing these words out from between his teeth:
"Bearing the imperial decree of the Western Sea Dragon Clan of the Water Tribe... he lost the right to take action."

(End of this chapter)