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

Chapter 147 Hometown Specialties, a Treasure Trove

In Liangjie Village, in the Jiang family courtyard.

Liu Xiulian stood in the shadow of the eaves under the corridor, her hands behind her back.

In the courtyard stood two little figures, Jiang Qin and Jiang Jin, who were just reaching their childhood age. They had small topknots on their heads and were standing in a proper horse stance, shaking their fists and arms.

It's more like two baby tigers stretching in the morning light than boxing.

But this yawning is stretched in a very methodical way.

With a flick of the fist, the wind howled softly, yet it exuded an indescribable smoothness.

These two children were born with some unusual traits.

The bones are soft yet resilient, and the air vents are even. At only four and a half years old, the body is firmly planted in the ground, neither swaying nor tilting, like two small saplings that have just taken root.

Between each breath, one could faintly hear the rhythm of breathing.

Liu Xiulian continued to mutter softly, "Straighten your back, focus your breath, focus it even more..."

But the smile in his eyes was even warmer than the sun in the courtyard, and he couldn't hide it no matter what.

The summer heat wafted across the fields outside the courtyard.

Jiang Yi, wearing a faded old short-sleeved shirt and trousers rolled up to his knees, stood with one foot on the edge of the field. He pointed and gestured at several sweaty young men in the field.

Although he is now half-buried in the pile of Taoist scriptures, he can't stay idle and always likes to burrow into the mud.

He said he wanted to "get some fresh air," but he was mostly itching to get his hands dirty. Seeing the group of guys sweating profusely, he felt a surge of excitement himself.

With a flick of his sleeve, he began to speak eloquently about the "root properties of the medicinal herb" and the "path of the earth's energy."

Hearing this, the boys' eyes lit up, and they swung their hoes with incredible speed, digging with remarkable skill.

The Jiang family's ten mu of land is no longer considered "poor land".

After the spiritual energy seeped in, at night, the entire field seemed to be covered with a thin layer of light, the soil was warm and moist, and the atmosphere was misty.

Using it to grow grains would be a waste of resources.

Jiang Yi simply became a hands-off manager, handing over the land to the gang members to manage, so that he could have some peace and quiet and focus on reading and comprehending the Dao.

Incidentally, it also helps cultivate some young people in the village who understand medicinal herbs and local products.

The spiritual energy is growing stronger every day. If it continues to be nurtured for several more decades, the entire Two Realms Village could become a blessed land.

When the land becomes fertile but the people become barren, wouldn't that be a cause for regret?
Those kids in the fields are shrewd too.

This land is now filled with spiritual energy; even the slightest breath carries the coolness of herbs. The more you inhale, the more relaxed your muscles and bones feel, and the more your blood surges, better than drinking three bowls of ginseng soup.

Those with even better insight started to have their own plans.

If one could gain the favor of Elder Jiang and be able to dedicate oneself to managing this medicinal herb field, immersing oneself in the spiritual energy of nature every day, that would truly be an immense blessing.

Just as I was lost in thought, the sound of wheels creaking and groaning came from the village road.

Jiang Yi was standing on the ridge of the field. Hearing the sound, he raised his eyelids, glanced over there, and his lips curled up almost imperceptibly.

It's the Li family's car.

He could recognize the driver's energetic cracking of the whip from a distance.

As he strolled leisurely back into the courtyard, the carriage creaked and came to a stop outside the gate.

The old steward from the Li family jumped out of the car.

Despite his age, he moved with surprising speed, jogging all the way with a perfectly measured smile on his face—a smile that never revealed his teeth, yet remained respectful and unpretentious.

The old butler presented a wax-sealed letter with both hands.

The driver didn't hesitate; he raised his hand and steadied the half-person-high wooden box on the cart onto the ground.

Jiang Yi was too lazy to say anything more. He casually took out a few coins from his sleeve and tossed them over as a way of getting rid of him.

The old steward said a few polite words with a smile, and the coachman had already turned the horse around. With a creak, the carriage bumped away.

Jiang Yi then held the letter in one hand and lifted the heavy wooden box with the other, making it seem effortless, without even his clothes fluttering, and turned to enter the courtyard.

In the courtyard, Liu Xiulian was wiping the sweat from her two grandsons' brows. Seeing him like this, she smiled and took a few steps to greet him, then casually accepted the letter.

The couple leaned against the pillars side by side, one removing the wax and the other unfolding the paper and opening the letter.

The letter was sent by that kid Jiang Feng from Heming Mountain.

It was just a few lines, written here and there, full of phrases like "the sea and sky are clear and blue, and the shadow of a fish skims the waves," simply saying that everything was fine and that the family should not worry.

The letter mentioned Xiaobai again, saying that they had met by chance.

But at the end, seemingly casually, a sentence was added:
"Her reputation will shock you!"

Upon seeing this, Jiang Yi's lips curled up, and a faint smile appeared in his eyes. He had already planned this matter in his mind, so it wasn't surprising at all.

At the end of the letter, he went on and on, saying that the girl Xiaobai, remembering the care she had received in the village back then, had specially asked him to bring some "local specialties" as a token of her affection.

"specialty?"

Liu Xiulian smiled, her eyes crinkling as her gaze fell on the wooden box.

Jiang Yi folded the letter and casually lifted the lid of the box.

Upon lifting the lid, a refreshing, non-pungent, and non-sticky dampness surged out, carrying the salty smell of the sea, as well as a unique freshness from the surrounding air.

In an instant, the heat in the courtyard dissipated, as if a cool breeze was blowing on my face, and even my brow relaxed.

What's in the box isn't some ordinary local product; it's clearly a box of flowing moonlight.

A pearl the size of a pigeon's egg lies quietly within, its luster subdued and its texture as smooth as water;
Several blood-red corals were about half a foot tall, their branches twisted like dragon horns, and their red color was deep.
There were also several unidentified crystals and seashells, each a different color, which, when illuminated by sunlight, appeared either blue or purple, shimmering with a subtle, ethereal glow.

The spiritual energy was so concentrated that it almost seemed to condense into water, dripping from the box; it surged forth even before being touched, its fragrance subtle yet lingering.

It truly seems as if a corner of the Western Sea, along with its moonlight and dragon breath, has been captured and placed into this seemingly ordinary wooden box.

Jiang Yixin picked up a pearl, walked up to Liu Xiulian, and compared it to the pearl at her temple.

She was always plain and simple, and she didn't even bother to wear a silver hairpin, let alone such a luxurious item.

Her face flushed instantly, and she turned slightly to the side, giving him a reproachful look, but with a hint of a smile hidden in the corner of her eyes, showing no real annoyance whatsoever.

"How old are you? Still doing this kind of thing? Aren't you afraid your grandchildren will laugh at you?"

Jiang Yi chuckled, offering no explanation, and tossed the bead back into the box with a clink.

His expression suggested that he thought she looked even better than the beads.

The lid clicked shut, and the fresh, damp air that filled the box seemed to be pulled away by the wind, instantly returning to silence.

Without saying much, he picked up his suitcase with one hand and headed straight for the depths of the orchard behind the house.

As evening approached, the summer heat gradually subsided.

Jiang Xi returned from the martial arts arena with a thin layer of sweat on her forehead, but her steps were light and quick.

Seeing that it was still early before dinner, he took out a yellowed Taoist scripture from the bookshelf as usual, intending to while away the time in the treehouse under the old locust tree behind the house.

The treehouse is now her little world. As her cultivation deepens, she can walk up and down as if on flat ground. It's the perfect place for her to read and meditate, in peace and quiet without being disturbed.

As Fang rounded the corner of the house, a figure strolled out from under the eaves.

"I'll see you off," Jiang Yi said slowly, his hands behind his back.

Jiang Xi paused, raised her eyes, and a strange look appeared between her brows.

She had been able to get to that treehouse for years, so she didn't need her father to take her.
Although he was thinking to himself, he didn't show it on his face, and just nodded slightly.

She walked familiarly to the tree, touched the gnarled roots of the old locust tree with her toes, and her body, like a wisp of smoke, fluttered slightly as she silently swept up the tree, without even knocking a single leaf over.

Jiang Yi stood under the tree, not approaching, but simply looking up with his hands behind his back.

The smile at the corner of his mouth wasn't deep, but it made him look like a cunning old fox waiting to see what would happen.

A moment later, a very soft gasp came from inside the treehouse, as if they had stumbled upon something unexpected.

Immediately following was another muffled groan.

The next instant, the figure, as slender as a leaf, swayed and leaped backward out of the house, its footing faltering as it was about to fall.

Jiang Yi, however, was not in a hurry at all. He simply raised his hand and gestured, his wide sleeves billowing as he drew a smooth, rounded energy in front of him.

The strong wind was not fast, but gentle yet resilient, and it was also extremely accurate, just right to catch her falling body.

With a gentle spin, she landed without even stirring up a speck of dust.

Jiang Xi steadied herself, took a deep breath, and managed to calm the slight panic in her heart.

But when she looked up, she was met with her father's ambiguous smile.

Her cheeks flushed slightly, her blush lingering. She pursed her lips and asked softly, "Where... did those come from?"

The room had been filled with many new decorations, and the air was thick with moisture, making it feel much more spiritually rich, clearly unlike anything ordinary.

Jiang Yi chuckled and said, "Didn't your eldest nephew make a fuss about refining elixirs for you when he was little?"

As he spoke, he glanced up at the treehouse hidden among the leaves, and his smile deepened.

"The elixir hasn't even been refined yet, but I've already created a treasure trove for you."

After saying that, he casually added:
"Well, it wasn't all for nothing that I spoiled him."

(End of this chapter)