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

Chapter 146 Returning to the Mountain
It was as if his soul was rising inch by inch from the deepest, coldest seabed.

At first, there was a sound, the intermittent sound of the tide lapping against the reef, with a slightly fishy and salty murmur, like someone whispering in your ear.

Even the light, though it's just light, shines through my eyelids, warm and bright, as if someone is gently holding a lamp and approaching me in the darkness.

Jiang Feng's eyelashes trembled slightly, and after a moment, he slowly opened his eyes.

Before me was a bamboo house with a mottled, slightly yellowed roof. A talisman for exorcising evil spirits hung upside down from the beam, its corners curled up, as if it had weathered several storms, struggling to stay in place.

Besides the salty smell of the sea breeze, the air was also filled with a faint medicinal fragrance, cool and quiet, like camellias soaked in night dew.

He felt weak all over, as if some black energy had drained his bones.

It was just an empty shell, so light it seemed it could be blown away by the wind, yet so heavy it felt like cotton wool soaked in water, and even the slightest movement was difficult.

Just as things were in this state of half-illusion and half-reality, a voice suddenly rang in my ears.

"Junior brother, are you awake?"

Her voice carried a hint of surprise, but also a touch of caution.

Jiang Feng slowly turned his head and saw that Senior Brother Zhou was guarding the bedside.

She had been dozing off, but when she saw him open his eyes, she was startled for a moment, then her eyes lit up and her whole face showed a hint of joy.

Before long, a series of footsteps came from outside the small building. They were light and even, coming from the other end of the stone path. They were not loud, but they had an indescribable sense of composure.

The curtain was lifted slightly, and Uncle Lingwei stepped inside.

She was still wearing that plain, faded Taoist robe, her hair was neatly tied up, spotless, and her eyes remained as calm as autumn water, without a ripple.

Without exchanging pleasantries, she went straight to the bedside, her slender fingers gently resting on Jiang Feng's wrist.

The fingertips felt slightly cool, like jade that had not yet warmed.

A moment later, she withdrew her hand, her eyelids half-closed, her movements neither forceful nor weak, showing neither joy nor sorrow.
"It's good that you're awake. Your soul energy is somewhat depleted, but fortunately your Dao foundation is intact. After a few weeks of recuperation, you'll be fine."

Jiang Feng opened his mouth, only to find his throat felt like it had been sprinkled with ash and charcoal, dry and astringent. He could only manage a few breaths before coughing until his throat ached terribly.

He struggled to swallow the little saliva in his mouth and managed to squeeze out a sentence:
"Xiao Bai... Ao Yu, how is she?"

These words were spoken very softly, yet they carried a stubborn streak that refused to yield.

His eyes were fixed on his Uncle Lingwei, filled with a mixture of anxiety and determination, as if even if the world turned upside down, he would still need to find out the truth about this matter first.

Lingwei glanced at him.

His gaze was indifferent, yet it held an unfathomable meaning, a mixture of helplessness and amusement, but it only flashed by for a moment.

"You still have the leisure to worry about other people."

His voice was calm, revealing no hint of praise or criticism.

“She was injured even more severely than you; her soul was almost devoured by the demonic energy. Fortunately, she was strong enough and had dragon blood, so she managed to pull through.”

"Furthermore, due to the Celestial Master's decree to suppress it, he woke up even earlier than you, which was several days ago."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Feng's heart, which had been hanging in his throat since he woke up, finally settled down.

He let out a long sigh, as if the heavy burden that had been weighing on his chest had finally been lifted.

The deathly pallor in his eyes faded, replaced by a touch of color.

Martial Aunt Lingwei took in every subtle change in his expression, her eyebrows slightly raised, but ultimately only her expression shifted, her lips remaining unchanged:

"Now, she has returned to the West Sea Dragon Palace with your Uncle-Master Chongxu, carrying that pearl, to report back."

"It's good that you're back, it's good that you're back..."

Jiang Feng murmured to himself, and only now did the weight on his heart finally lift.

He relaxed completely, leaned against the pillows for a while, and finally his eyes regained some life before he remembered to ask some other questions:
"What is the situation in the Western Sea now?"

Master Lingwei replied:

"During the days you were unconscious, we set up an altar for the soul in the bead and helped it pass on to the afterlife. At least we have given them a chance to clear their minds."

"As for that pearl, once the resentment dissipated and the bloodlust was completely eliminated, what remained was the purest essence of the underwater spiritual veins. It is connected to the damaged Dinghai Pearl and may be able to provide some benefit."

At this point, her voice paused slightly, and a subtle hint of sharpness and coldness appeared in her eyes:
"So just rest peacefully and stop worrying about these things."

As soon as she finished speaking, some commotion arose outside the courtyard.

The faint sound of disciples relaying messages, their tone tinged with joy and respect, swirling along the stone path, through the bamboo shadows, in the morning mist.

"Master Uncle is back!" "Welcome, Master Uncle Chongxu!"

Before the echo had even faded, the curtain suddenly moved, a large hand lifted the corner, and Uncle-Master Chongxu strode in.

He was dressed in a plain robe that fluttered in the wind, the hem still bearing the salty tang of the sea, yet his eyes still shone brightly.

His gaze swept across the room and landed on Jiang Feng, who was lying on the couch.

Seeing that he was able to sit up, although his face still showed some signs of illness, his eyes were clear and his breathing was more steady. The solemnity in his eyes had finally eased a bit.

Senior Brother Lingwei stepped forward: "Senior Brother, is everything settled?"

Uncle-Master Chongxu raised his hand, stroked his short beard which was half an inch long, pondered for a moment, and then couldn't help but smile.

"That's it."

He spoke each word clearly and deliberately, his voice booming like a bell:

"That fake pearl is actually a branch of the West Sea Pearl, sharing the same origin and essence."

"Now that the wronged souls have dispersed, only the pure sea essence remains, which is just right to heal old wounds."

“I believe that if the altar is used to nurture it day and night, it will be restored to its original state in ten to twenty years at the shortest.”

Upon hearing this, Uncle Lingwei simply nodded slightly, and the furrowed brows finally relaxed.

Uncle-Master Chongxu did not stop talking and continued:

“I have passed on all of the ancestor’s wishes to that West Sea Dragon King.”

"If he truly understands the gravity of the situation, he will choose a day to go to the Heavenly Court, report to the Jade Emperor, apologize, and settle this matter cleanly."

"So good."

Master Lingwei nodded slightly and finished writing the chapter:
"Now that this calamity has been averted, our Celestial Master's Mansion can rest easy. Since the matter is settled, we should choose a day to return to the mountain."

After he finished speaking, the room fell silent.

As Jiang Feng listened, his brows, which had just relaxed slightly, furrowed again, like leaves gently swayed by a breeze.

With the past unresolved and the future unsettled, hearing the words "returning to the mountain" now fills me with a sense of emptiness, as if I've lost something.

Although he remained silent, the slight change in his expression did not escape the keen eyes of his experienced senior uncle, Chongxu.

This senior brother, despite his thick eyebrows and big eyes and seemingly carefree demeanor, is actually incredibly meticulous.

He had just walked to the window with his hands behind his back to look at the scenery.

Out of the corner of his eye, he kept glancing at the person on the bed, in the dim light, with a hint of teasing.

Sure enough, seeing Jiang Feng's expression shift slightly, a mischievous smile flashed across his eyes, but he deliberately didn't expose it, instead casually saying to himself:

"But..."

These few words were drawn out for a long time, just like an old storyteller in a teahouse, whetting people's appetites.

"The commotion at the West Sea Dragon Palace this time was too great, and the spiritual veins were severely damaged. It is no longer suitable for cultivation until the pearl is restored."

“Those dragon sons and grandsons, those with shallow cultivation, are just wasting their time staying there.”

He changed the subject, deliberately pausing, glancing at Jiang Feng out of the corner of his eye, a faint smile playing on his lips:

"I thought it was a pity, so I mentioned it to the old Dragon King. I said that the spiritual veins in the West Sea are now desolate and can't nurture any good seedlings, so it would be better to send them to Crane Cry Mountain."

As soon as he said that, the smile on his lips could no longer be hidden:
"After hearing this, the Dragon King thought about it and agreed."

Just then, the corner of the curtain moved with a "whoosh," and someone lifted the curtain and entered.

It was Xiaobai, dressed in a simple dress, carrying a bag, her face still showing signs of paleness.

But he couldn't suppress the concern that emanated from his very bones, and with a glance, he looked towards the bed.

Jiang Feng had been sitting properly, his expression showing a hint of illness and weakness.

But upon meeting her, his expression immediately changed.

It was as if the morning frost had met the rising sun and melted away completely in the blink of an eye.

The light in his eyes was so bright that it made anyone who looked at him feel radiant. He didn't speak, he just smiled, a smile that seemed to have been held back for a long time, with a gust of wind in his eyebrows and eyes.

(End of this chapter)