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

Chapter 156 Jiang Family Ancestral Hall, Soul Returns Home

At the western end of Liangjie Village, between the old Jiang family residence and the new courtyard at the foot of the mountain, lies a slightly secluded spot.

It used to be covered with medicinal herbs, lush and delightful, but now the scene has changed.

The autumn sun was just right, the scorching heat of midsummer gone, leaving only a lazy warmth, shining brightly down.

In the play of light and shadow, a group of shirtless men, their bronze backs glistening with sweat, stood out.

The muffled thuds of ramming the earth, one after another, interspersed with a few rough and casual remarks, stirred up the tranquility at the foot of the mountain, making it bustling with activity.

Several of the best-growing medicinal herbs had been carefully dug up, roots and all, with freshly turned wet mud still clinging to their roots.

The crisp, medicinal fragrance mixed with the earthy smell was casually piled up in the corner, a lush, green patch that looked incredibly tempting.

On the vacated ground, the beams and pillars of a new house have been erected with mortise and tenon joints, forming a complete framework.

This was the intention of the old master of the Jiang family, so the subordinates naturally dared not be negligent in the slightest.

Besides, who among those who can swing a hammer and pass wood here is an ordinary farmer?
Looking around, one sees hall masters and protectors who are well-known figures in the ancient and modern gangs.

With skills like that, anyone outside would be a renowned bodyguard or instructor.

At this moment, however, they had all changed into short-sleeved clothes and were doing the work of bricklayers.

To outsiders, it looked like hard labor, but to them, it was a lucrative job that brought them immense benefits.

The ground beneath my feet is the sacred soil of Lingtian, and the air is filled with the fresh fragrance of grass and trees.

Grandpa Jiang was very generous, giving each person a Qi-boosting pill. Holding it under their tongue, a warm current flowed through their limbs and bones.

This work not only doesn't make me feel tired, but it also makes my blood and energy flow smoothly and my muscles and bones feel relaxed. It's even more enjoyable than spending a whole day working in the yard.

Not to mention that the old master had given the word that the medicinal herbs cleared from the ground would be the payment for this job.

What used to be something you couldn't even dream of, now grows piled up like radishes and cabbages in the field. Whoever sweats the most gets the most in return.

Such a good thing is something people would fight tooth and nail to get.

So some dug the soil, others tamped it down, and everyone worked as diligently as if they were building their own new house.

In addition, each of them was exceptionally skilled, able to climb beams and roofs with the agility of a cat.

Within a few days, the framework of the new house was erected, and it already looked quite impressive.

Unfortunately, such comfortable days of getting something for nothing are ultimately short-lived.

Grandpa Jiang didn't seem to care much about the house. It had blue bricks and gray tiles, and the four walls were square. As long as it could keep out the wind and rain, that was enough for him.

The house had barely been closed when the men were urged to clean up the mess.

Once the mud and tile furniture was removed, a row of black lacquered altar tables was brought in, solemn and dignified, stretching all the way to the back wall. Seeing this, one's steps immediately became lighter.

Just as everyone was wondering what was going on, a plaque covered with red cloth was hung above the door.

With a single tug, the red cloth fluttered down from the ground.

"Jiang Family Ancestral Hall".

The four characters are bold, heavy, and archaic.

Everyone then realized that after all that fuss, it wasn't about building a new house, but about setting up an incense burner.

Inside the ancestral hall, rows of black lacquered altars stretched from the entrance to the back wall, giving it an air of unfathomable depth.

The table was completely empty, without even a speck of incense ash, making it seem even more desolate.

In the complete silence, Jiang Yi slowly stepped in.

A black lacquered memorial tablet had appeared in his hand without him noticing. It was brand new and shiny, and also heavy, as if it weighed down some unspeakable worries.

He gazed at it for a moment, then reached out and swept the table with his sleeve, wiping it carefully three times in a row.

The table was spotless to begin with, yet he seemed to be able to brush away the dust of the past.

Then, taking a deep breath, he steadily placed the memorial tablet upright.

The ancestral hall was so quiet you could hear your own heartbeat. The words carved on the memorial tablets, in the dim light, carried a chilling aura:
"The spirit tablet of Lord Jiang, whose given name was Liangfu".

Once the ancestral hall was completed, Jiang Yi turned around and cupped his hands in a gesture of respect to the men who had helped him.

He raised his chin again, pointed to the pile of medicinal herbs in the corner, and said to the leader of the oxen, "You divide them up, don't let your own brothers suffer."

The tone shifted abruptly, signaling their departure: "No unauthorized personnel are allowed in the ancestral hall. Please leave now."

Everyone knew the proper etiquette, so they clasped their hands in farewell, received their tangible benefits, and dispersed with smiles on their faces.

The last murmur in the courtyard faded away.

Jiang Yi then turned around and summoned all the members of his family to the ancestral hall.

Liu Xiulian was half-supported and half-carried by him as she stepped across the threshold. These days, she felt as if she had lost half of her soul, her feet felt light and unsteady.

The heavy wooden door slowly closed with a creak, shutting out the last ray of sunlight and human voices from outside.

The ancestral hall was dimly lit and silent, which made it seem even more somber.

"Kneel down," Jiang Yi said to his two grandsons.

Jiang Qin and Jiang Jin dared not ask any more questions, and kowtowed three times firmly before the newly erected memorial tablet.

He then walked to the offering table and lit two incense sticks.

This is the custom in his hometown: when elders offer incense to younger generations, they only burn two sticks, no more and no less.

Two incense sticks were carefully inserted into the newly placed incense burner.

Wisps of smoke curled upwards, making the black lacquered memorial tablet appear somewhat unreal.

Just then, the memorial tablet on the offering table suddenly showed a very subtle tremor.

This slight movement is naturally invisible to the naked eye.

Only those with a clear and vigorous spirit can, by concentrating their attention, "see" with their spirit a point of spiritual light quietly gathering amidst the swirling incense smoke.

The light, initially no bigger than a grain of rice, gradually unfolded and coalesced into a blurry human figure as it was nourished by the incense and the power of prayers.

His features became increasingly clear, his eyebrows, eyes, and figure gradually becoming distinct... It was Jiang Liang.

However, its figure looked somewhat ethereal, as if a gust of wind could blow it away.

As soon as the illusory image solidified, Liu Xiulian seemed to be woken up from a dream, and her whole being suddenly came to life.

Her eyes, which had been dim for so long, suddenly lit up. She let out a suppressed cry and rushed forward, opening her arms to embrace the figure she had longed for day and night.

However, when she tried to hug him, she missed.

Both hands passed directly through the phantom without touching any solid part, only bringing up a wisp of swirling green smoke.

Jiang Yi's eyes twitched. He first opened the door of the ancestral hall and said to the two still bewildered children:
"Go, go play by yourself."

Once the two children, whose cultivation was insufficient to perceive this divine vision, had gone far away, he closed the heavy door again. Inside the ancestral hall, only the three of them remained once more... or rather, the four of them.

Only then did he speak, slowly explaining to his still-stunned wife:
“When Liang’er left, his cultivation was still a bit shallow. He only managed to get a lucky encounter by taking shortcuts and barely touched the edge of divine power. Therefore, his soul was not very stable. Now that he has just entered the path of divinity, his incense offerings are still shallow, and he is not yet able to condense that golden body.”

As soon as he finished speaking, the illusory figure trembled violently and knelt down.

His head slammed heavily to the ground, revealing his guilt and excitement.

A faint thought arose in Liu Xiulian's mind:
"Your unfilial son has caused your parents so much worry..."

The bond between mother and child is not heard, but it resonates clearly in the heart.

Liu Xiulian could no longer hold back her tears, which streamed down her face. She quickly wiped them away with her sleeve, forcing a smile as she carefully examined the illusory figure, as if trying to etch every inch of its features into her very bones.

Her hand unconsciously reached out, wanting to help him up, but she grasped at empty air.

Jiang Yi sighed, stepped forward, gently pressed his hand on his wife's shoulder, and comforted her:

"Don't be impatient. Liang'er has now embarked on the right path. As long as he protects the people in his area and receives their offerings, it's only a matter of time before he develops a golden body. At that time, you two will have plenty of time to be together."

After saying that, he stepped aside to make room for the mother and daughter to have a private conversation.

The questions were nothing more than "Are you getting used to it over there?" and "Is it lonely?" Jiang Xi chimed in from the side.

Jiang Liang's illusory figure naturally chose to say the nicest things, only saying that he was more at ease than when he was alive.

His colleagues at the City God Temple in Chang'an were all kind and benevolent deities. Seeing that he was new, they treated him with extra courtesy and took good care of him.

After hearing what was said, Liu Xiulian's tense nerves finally relaxed a bit, and some color returned to her face.

Seeing that the cooking time was about right, Jiang Yi waved his hand and said calmly:

"Now that we have this ancestral hall, we can meet again at a moment's notice, so it's not a big deal if we wait a little longer. You all go out and rest first; Liang'er and I have some important matters to discuss."

Liu Xiulian finally agreed, but her eyes still held a deep reluctance as she looked back every few steps. In the end, she was helped out of the ancestral hall by her daughter, Jiang Xi.

The door closed gently, and the hall returned to silence.

In the lamplight, Jiang Liang's ethereal form turned towards his father, a hint of confusion in his eyes:
"Father, where is my eldest brother?"

Jiang Yi stood with his hands behind his back, gazing at the memorial tablet, and slowly said:

"Your elder brother has incurred many favors because of your appointment as a deity. The letter says that he must repay all these favors before he can return home."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Liang's illusory figure swayed violently, his face a mixture of guilt and gratitude.

Jiang Yi, however, didn't want him to think too much about it, and changed the subject, asking about his situation over there:

"Is everything alright at the City God Temple in Chang'an? Is there anything your family can help you with?"

"Don't worry, Father," Jiang Liang quickly replied, "I'm really doing quite well over there. All my colleagues, from the City God to the officials in various departments, are very polite to me, even... even to the point of being somewhat ingratiating."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Yi understood the situation but didn't reveal it, only nodding subtly.

He stopped asking about these trivial matters and instead looked at the memorial tablet, as if he could see the distant city of Chang'an through it. He then asked in a deep voice about the real issue:
"In your city of Chang'an, do you see a main street? On that street, is there a local temple?"

Jiang Liang's illusory figure lingered for a moment, a hint of doubt arising in his mind.

My father has never left Longshan County in his entire life, so how could he know about the situation in Chang'an City, which is thousands of miles away?
I don't know why, but this question was asked in particular.

Despite his doubts, he still answered respectfully:

“Father is right. There is indeed such a street in Chang’an. There is also a small temple on the street. The local earth god in the temple came to pay his respects to me some time ago, along with the other earth gods.”

He was a deity appointed by the emperor, and he was considered a prominent figure in the City God Temple of Chang'an.

It was only natural for the local spirits and land deities under his jurisdiction to come and pay their respects to the new official.

Jiang Yi nodded secretly after hearing his confirmation.

Over the years, through his spiritual practice and reading, his spirit has become increasingly vibrant.

Not only was his mind clear and agile, but even those memories of his past life that had gradually faded with the years were becoming clear again, little by little.

He didn't explain much, but simply looked at the memorial tablet and said in a deep voice:
“Remember, you must make sure to have a good relationship with the landowners in that main street.”

Jiang Liang's expression showed even greater confusion, but Jiang Yi didn't give him a chance to speak. After a pause, he asked, seemingly casually:
"Can you righteous gods also have other duties? For example, mountain gods, earth gods, and the like?"

Jiang Liang laughed and said, "Of course. Many of my colleagues, in addition to the divine positions conferred by imperial deities, also serve as the local gods of their hometowns. Not to mention those great deities who have temples in various places. As long as a statue or tablet is erected, their spirits can respond to their prayers, just like my son."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Yi's voice deepened, and his eyes grew even more profound.

"In that case... while you befriend him, you can also make some plans... if the opportunity arises, take his place."

Upon hearing this, the atmosphere in the ancestral hall seemed to be momentarily stifled.

He seemed to realize that this was inappropriate, and quickly added, "Of course, all of this must be done on the premise that the relationship is solid, and we must not force it."

He paused for a moment, as if carefully choosing his words, and then slowly said:

"For example...you could find a reason to help him out another day and see if he's willing to move."

"If you're willing to take action, then we'll go with the flow, and you can take over that small temple. If you're not, then let's just maintain the current peaceful relationship."

Jiang Liang has never been one to lose his temper in front of his father.

Although they are now separated by the realms of Yin and Yang and have become deities, those rules seem to be engraved into their very souls, unchanged in the slightest.

Although he didn't understand why, he didn't ask any questions. He simply nodded slightly in the illusory image, which was considered his agreement.

Seeing that he agreed so readily, Jiang Yi's serious expression softened, and he asked casually, as if in a casual conversation:
"Are you still managing to handle things at the City God Temple? When do you have any free time on weekdays?"

The illusory figure bowed slightly: "I am now the Chief of the Senses Division, with a team of ghost messengers under my command. They handle most of the trivial matters, and most of the time, I just assign tasks and check results. The timing is all set by me. If you want to find some free time, it's not difficult."

"Oh?"

Jiang Yi nodded noncommittally, then changed the subject, his tone softening with a subtle tenderness:
"It's been a long time since I've seen those two kids, Qin'er and Jin'er. You must miss them, right?"

The ethereal figure, already fleeting, dimmed further upon hearing these words.

He did feel guilty towards those two children.

Let alone fulfilling his responsibilities as a father, I've barely seen him a few times in recent years.

Looking at him like this, Jiang Yi couldn't help but smile faintly, as if he had expected him to do so.

“Alright,” he said slowly, “we can see each other every day from now on.”

Having said that, he slowly and deliberately recited the plan he had already devised:
“From now on, the place where my Jiang family holds lectures and classes will be moved to this ancestral hall.”

“You come home promptly at the crack of dawn every day. First, to spend time with your mother and the baby; second, well…”

Jiang Yi drawled out his words, gazing at his son's illusory figure, a hint of undeniable amusement in his eyes:
"...Listen to the scriptures and learn the principles as well; it will also help you to concentrate your spirit."

Jiang Liang's face, which had remained solemn and calm ever since his soul returned to his hometown, finally broke down, revealing a look of bewilderment that was hard to describe.

It seems that he never expected that even after his own people died, he still couldn't escape the matter of studying.

(End of this chapter)