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

Chapter 148 Xiulian's Divine Prosperity

As dusk settled, the lights in the main room of the Jiang family's house were lit early on.

A warm, yellow lamp illuminates several dishes of simple, home-cooked food, steaming and fragrant, as if adding a touch of warmth to the night.

The bowls and chopsticks clinked softly, the sound so faint it was almost ethereal, filling the room with an indescribable tranquility.

Jiang Qin and Jiang Jin sat side by side, eating in a very proper and orderly manner, even their rice shovels were done with discipline.

Jiang Xi seemed to be in a good mood today, with a smile in her eyes and a softer tone than usual.

She first added some greens to Jiang Jin's bowl, then turned to look at Jiang Qin and asked lazily, her tone like she was teasing a cat:
"Qin'er, Jin'er, tell your aunt, what do you want to be when you grow up?"

Upon hearing this, Jiang Qin's face turned serious, she straightened her chest, slammed down her chopsticks, and answered firmly:

"I want to be a general, just like my father, to protect the country and its people!"

Jiang Jin was softer and sweeter, with a fair complexion and bright, sparkling eyes that darted around under the light.

"I want to learn medicine from my mother and save many, many people."

The two little ones spoke seriously, but the childishness in their voices was still undeniable.

Although the brother and sister rarely saw their parents, their elders often talked about them. In their hearts, their parents, who were far away, had long become figures higher than the sky.

Jiang Xi listened, but only shook her head slightly.

The bamboo chopsticks tapped against the rim of the bowl with a clear sound, and the smile on his lips spread out, adding a touch of indescribable, ambiguous flavor, a smile that was not quite a smile.

“Being a general, studying medicine… are all good,” she said slowly, as if rambling on, or perhaps jokingly, “but they’re just a bit too ordinary.”

His tone shifted abruptly, a slight glint in his eye, a hint of nonchalant seriousness in his eyes:

"If you ask me, the most prestigious person in the world is the one who stays in Two Realms Village and becomes the leader of our Ancient and Modern Gang."

Upon hearing this, the two little ones looked at each other, their eyes darting around, clearly lacking interest.

Gang leader?

Nothing compares to Father's majestic warhorse, and Mother's amusing medicine chest.

Jiang Xi was not annoyed, but smiled slightly, her upturned lips revealing a sense of composure as if she had been prepared all along.

She slowly raised the hand that had been hidden under the table, flipped her fingers, and without any apparent movement, presented a spiritual fruit in her palm.

The fruit was entirely crimson, with a skin as thin as a cicada's wing, through which a faint shimmering light seemed to emanate. A sweet, exotic fragrance wafted into one's nose.

"Anyone who says they want to be the gang leader..."

She drew out her words, her fingertips holding the spirit fruit, slowly swaying it in front of the two little ones, just like the old candy seller at the alleyway corner:
"This fruit is now up for grabs."

Before the words were even finished, Jiang Qin's little hand was already raised high, her voice clear and loud:
"Auntie, I want to be the gang leader!"

Jiang Jin was a beat slow, her face flushed, and she quickly followed suit:
"I want to be the gang leader too!"

The dining table suddenly became lively, with chirping sounds like chicks rising and falling, and the old lamp seemed to be startled, swaying slightly.

Jiang Yi, who was standing to the side, watched all of this, but only lowered his head to scoop up a mouthful of soup and remained silent.

The rising steam made his brow twitch slightly, but in the end, he simply shook his head inwardly.

Jiang Ming, that kid, became a hands-off manager years ago, pushing all the mundane affairs of the gang onto this younger sister.

He held several volumes of Taoist scriptures, striking a pose of "quiet inaction."

At first, Jiang Xi worked very hard, managing everything inside and out in an orderly manner, with a hint of pride in her eyes.

But in recent years, as my cultivation has improved, my mind has become clearer and more transparent. The complicated matters of gang affairs have ultimately become a mundane burden that wears down one's character.

Today's "patient and persuasive" approach is probably due to mental exhaustion; he's truly tired of sitting in that leader's chair.

Just as this thought was swirling in his mind, the cotton curtain in the kitchen was gently lifted, and a rich aroma wafted out first.

Liu Xiulian gracefully emerged carrying a plate of golden-brown scrambled eggs, topped with fresh, tender scallions, steaming hot, which warmed her very being.

Jiang Yi looked up, his hand holding the soup cup paused slightly, his gaze lingered on her face for a moment, and he was unconsciously stunned.

I don’t know from which year it started, but the weathered look on her body faded a lot, and her expression became more and more clear.

The faint trace of dust from years past in the corners of her eyes seemed to have been washed away stroke by stroke by time, leaving only a gentle grace.

It was as if time had turned back on her.

Whether it was due to her own deepening cultivation or the youth-preserving pill concocted by that kid Jiang Feng, it was clear that it was actually quite effective.

"Eat it while it's hot."

Liu Xiulian placed the scrambled eggs on the table, speaking casually, but her hand was still there, her gaze still fixed on him, as she smoothed out the wrinkles on his collar.

The movements were extremely natural, as if they were habits formed many years ago and had never been changed.

Jiang Yi hummed in agreement, but didn't pick up his chopsticks.

His eyes darkened slightly, and his tone held a hint of unintentional inquiry:
"How's your visualization going lately?"

Liu Xiulian sat down opposite him, remained silent for a moment, and then whispered:
"It's still the same. It's like there's a veil in front of me, indistinct and vague, I can see it but can't touch it, it's just a breath away... always just a little bit short."

He spoke lightly, but his tone carried a hint of resentment and frustration.

Upon hearing this, Jiang Yi simply smiled. The smile was subtle, yet it carried a hint of understanding and a touch of relief.

"Not urgent."

He spoke slowly and deliberately, and with a flick of his chopsticks, he broke apart a few pieces of the scrambled eggs on the plate, making the aroma of the eggs even stronger.

"You have to eat one bite at a time, and you have to walk one step at a time. Visualizing is not much different from cooking. If you're too eager, it's easy to burn. If you're too anxious, it's even worse."

He paused, then slowly added:
"I'll help you regulate your breathing tonight. Just relax and immerse yourself in it."

Jiang Yi hasn't lived in vain all these years.

In the Jiang family, apart from the eldest son Jiang Ming, who was born with a predestined affinity for Taoism.

The first person to truly grasp the significance of the phrase "studying for knowledge" was his father.

In his early years, he would dabble in books during his spare time, managing to thoroughly understand the dry and abstruse Daoist canon.

Later, he followed his son to listen to scriptures and study metaphysics. Over time, whether it was through constant exposure or divine intervention, he actually managed to figure out some of the secrets.

In recent days, he has been able to regulate his breathing with his mind and circulate the Qi in his body, no longer limited to the rise, fall, and transition of sticks, fists and feet.

In retrospect, I've finally crossed the threshold from "technique" to "principle".

While it's a mysterious matter like spiritual contemplation that others can't really help with, he does have some expertise in that area.

The image he perceives is a yin and a yang, intertwined like twin flowers, which is most adept at harmonizing qi and calming the spirit.

I used it to help my wife organize her thoughts, soothe her mind, and help her enter into meditation with a clear mind, so that she could walk more steadily and faster.

After hearing what he said, Liu Xiulian looked up at him.

The faint sorrow that had been in his eyes seemed to be blown away by a spring breeze, rippling slightly before dissipating.

A gentle warmth appeared in her eyes and brows, her gaze moist, and she simply responded with a soft "Mm."

As night falls, the darkness deepens, washing away the daytime hustle and bustle.

Only the faint chirping of insects and the gentle murmur of the wind remain outside the window, softly singing to themselves.

In a quiet corner of the room, the incense burner was half full, and the sandalwood incense burned very steadily. A thin wisp of smoke rose straight up, then dispersed at the top, blending into the tranquility of the room.

Liu Xiulian sat cross-legged with her palms facing upwards, her eyes gently closed, having entered a meditative state.

However, the faint "川" character between his brows had not yet been smoothed out, as if there were still ripples on the surface of his heart.

Jiang Yi sat cross-legged three feet behind her, his palms cupped in the air, his breath long and even. His expression was calm, his breathing even, and he was like a stone that had fallen into the night, motionless, even his shadow was well-behaved.

A moment later, a faint light appeared in his palm.

Two streams of energy, one black and one white, intertwined and circled halfway in front of him before silently entering her body.

Silent and still, yet like spring water flowing into a field, though no sound is heard, the ripples are already moving.

That was the image he saw in his soul—"Yin and Yang in perfect harmony".

Two beams of light, one black and one white, entered the body without rushing in or out of control, but rather like a silent spring rain, nourishing things without being seen.

The blackness was deep and still, like autumn water flowing into a well, quietly probing downwards to calm her restless spirit.

The white hair floats gently, like morning mist brushing against branches, slowly flowing through her meridians, gently combing away the stagnation and knots inch by inch.

Liu Xiulian's breathing, which had been slightly rapid, gradually calmed down as her breath flowed.

The character "川" (river) hidden between the eyebrows seemed to be steamed by a hot spring, quietly unfolding.

She was like a piece of raw jade that had just fallen into a hot spring, its rough edges and worldly sharpness being gradually smoothed by the water's gentle touch.

What sinks is worldly desire; what rises is clarity.

Jiang Yi remained seated behind her, his face calm and his palms still. However, his mind had already transformed into a sliver of light, gently guiding the wisp of Shuanghua Qi and calmly managing the mysterious Qi that concerned her soul.

The moon rose high in the sky and then slowly sank in the west.

The chirping of insects outside the window had ceased at some point, and a faint glimmer of dawn appeared on the horizon.

As the first rays of morning light shone through the window and illuminated the dust motes floating in the air, Liu Xiulian's long eyelashes trembled slightly.

Then, he slowly opened his eyes.

At that moment, a glimmer of light seemed to flash in her eyes, but it disappeared in an instant.

Only a clear and tranquil scene remains, as deep as a pool of water just washed by autumn rain.

Her breathing was steady, but a trace of lingering joy remained on her face. Her expression was serene, yet her eyes shone with light.

Jiang Yi withdrew his palm, regulated his breathing for a moment, and looked at her with an undisguised expectation.

Liu Xiulian paused, as if still immersed in the observation she had just made.

After a long while, he gently exhaled, and the corners of his lips unconsciously turned up.

She looked at him, her voice light and cheerful, like a breeze brushing against the willow branches in the early morning: "I...saw it."

"What did you see?"

“…a ripple on the water.” She spoke softly, as if afraid of disturbing the dream, recalling it carefully:

"Right in front of me, clear and bright, spreading out in circles... It's very quiet and comfortable."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Yi was taken aback at first, then clapped his hands and laughed. The laughter was not loud, but it carried a sense of relief and satisfaction.

It's like a burden that's been weighing on my mind has finally been put to rest.

“Okay,” he nodded, his tone as gentle as a spring breeze, “Very good.”

It suited her just like she wanted.

Tranquil, unassuming, and unassuming, yet capable of subtly influencing and nurturing others.

The first wisp of divine insight revealed a pool of water.

Clear, gentle, and tranquil—just like the person she is.

Even more coincidentally, the orchard and treehouse behind this house, along with the Jiang family's meager spiritual resources, are all connected to the water vein behind the house.

A ripple stirred within her heart, and the water veins seemed to respond to her thoughts, secretly rising in tides.

From then on, she cultivated in this courtyard, just like a fish returning to water, neither hurried nor slow, and was able to go far.

Jiang Yi looked at the undisguised gleam in his wife's eyes, and a faint smile appeared on his lips, like the barely perceptible shimmer of water under the moonlight.

All the effort put in that night was ultimately worthwhile.

Jiang Yi was overjoyed. Such things are better said than done; they need to be put into practice.

He didn't say much, just smiled at his wife.

A smile flashed across his eyes, and he turned and strolled into the courtyard, his gaze lingering on the chickens pecking at the ground.

Firstly, it's to congratulate her.

Secondly, having just broken through to a higher realm, and with his spirit and soul only now settled, he should replenish himself with good things.

The blood, flesh, and essence of the spirit chicken are the most nourishing.

While the current is still fresh, we must strike while the iron is hot and solidify the foundation.

Jiang Yi stood in the courtyard, his expression calm, but his invisible divine will had already swept through the front and back courtyards like ripples on water.

After going through this round, I felt more confident.

The three generations of chickens in my family are now reduced to just a few scattered individuals, no longer a significant force.

Mixed in among them were those three precious little creatures that had begun to develop sentience.

One is red like fire, one is gold like sun, and one is green like jade.

The luster of its feathers was different from others; it was understated, and its bone structure was also rounded.

Unlike ordinary chickens, it behaves with restraint and is more understanding. It can even listen to a few words when it calls out occasionally.

When they see him, they don't avoid him; instead, they tilt their heads and look him up and down a few times, their eyes revealing a shrewdness like that of an acquaintance.

Jiang Yi had never been willing to touch these three.

As time went by, they seemed to have developed a certain friendship.

He stood in the courtyard with his hands behind his back, but his mind was already racing with thoughts.

It seems it's time to start preparing for the incubation of the fourth generation.

He had already planned this in his mind.

After raising them for three generations, it's time to follow some rules. We can no longer just pick up any eggs randomly and let them grow however they want, like before.

We must select the best from the best, and choose the finest from the finest.

From then on, they only hatched the eggs laid by the three chickens that had become sentient.

In this way, the foundation of one's character can be preserved, preventing the spiritual energy that has been painstakingly cultivated from fading with each generation.

Thinking of this, a subtle, almost imperceptible smile appeared on his lips.

The principles behind raising chickens and raising people are actually the same.

Ultimately, it all boils down to the word "inheritance".

Once you've settled this matter in your mind, you won't hesitate to act decisively.

He glanced around, avoiding the three precious little creatures that were leisurely strolling about.

With a casual wave of his hand, a surge of energy shot out, and a plump chicken that was pecking at its food flew involuntarily into his palm.

The chicken flapped its wings twice, but was then subdued by a clever trick.

It's fitting that this is part of tonight's celebration banquet.

(End of this chapter)