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

Chapter 158 Re-exploring the Back Mountain, Jiang Ming Returns Home

Another ten days or so passed.

For the first time in many years, the Jiang family courtyard in Liangjie Village was adorned with lanterns and colorful ribbons.

The color wasn't particularly bright; it looked like an old item casually unearthed from the bottom of someone's trunk, exuding a sense of detachment that had been there for many years. Yet, it couldn't suppress the joy that emanated from inside and outside the courtyard.

The sun was just past noon when two figures appeared on the bluestone path at the village entrance.

Jiang Feng was still wearing an ordinary blue cloth robe, but the sharpness of the young man in his eyes had been smoothed out by something, turning into a gentler, more refined look.

He was accompanied by a woman in white, walking slowly and steadily.

That woman was the new bride, Ao Yu, who was also the little white girl that everyone had seen back then.

She wore no gold or jade, no makeup, and dressed in a simple white gown that fit her perfectly.

As she walked, her clothes fluttered slightly, as if the path beneath her feet was not a bluestone road, but rather a gentle ripple on the water.

He possessed a faint aura, clear and pure like a deep pool or secluded spring, an innate dragon energy within him, unassuming yet possessing its own inherent order.

The villagers, watching from afar, thought the bride was incredibly beautiful, as if she had stepped out of a New Year's painting, so pure and untouched by worldly affairs.

But in the eyes of people like Jiang Yi, they could see that there seemed to be clouds and smoke flowing in her sleeves, and that her steps seemed to follow the tides.

Upon entering the courtyard, Grandpa and Grandma were already waiting in the main hall.

Liu Xiulian held her granddaughter-in-law's hand, looking her over from left to right. Her eyes were brimming with joy, almost overflowing, but she didn't know where to begin, so she could only nod repeatedly.

Ao Yu was gentle and showed no trace of the arrogance of the legendary dragon maiden. After greeting each of the elders, she presented them with gifts according to etiquette.

She looked at Jiang Qin first.

The young man's muscles and bones had matured, and a sharp edge, honed through experience, was faintly visible between his brows.

Ao Yu simply smiled faintly, pulled out a long, narrow black lacquered wooden box from his sleeve, and handed it over.

"This is the 'Mysterious Scale Ironwood Arrow.' The shaft is made from ironwood that has sunk thousands of feet below the Western Sea, and the fletching is made from a hundred-year-old mysterious scale. When you draw the bow, you may hear the sound of a dragon's roar, which will help you temper your character."

Turning to Jiang Jin, the little girl was staring at her with wide, curious eyes, making no attempt to hide her gaze.

A jade-colored brocade pouch slid out from her sleeve, its opening strung with nine pigeon-egg-sized beads. It felt warm to the touch, yet subtly cool.

“This ‘Azure Dragon’s Shedding Pearl’ can distinguish the toxicity of hundreds of herbs and can also clear the mind. My aunt is interested in practicing medicine and helping the world, and this item may be of use to her.”

Jiang Jin followed instructions and wore the beaded pouch around her waist. She felt a cool breeze seep into her mind through her fingertips, and the names of the herbs that she usually found difficult to memorize became clearer than ever before.

When it was Jiang Xi's turn, she was straightforward and simply smiled and said congratulations.

Ao Yu seemed to see through her aunt's cold exterior but warm interior, knowing that beneath her sassy demeanor lay a hidden charm.

He then took out something from his sleeve—a finely folded piece of gauze. With a gentle shake, it shimmered with a rosy light, like a cloud that had come to life.

"This is the 'Rainbow Silk' spun by the Weaver Girl of the Dragon Palace. When Aunt wears it, it can change color at will and can also hide her whereabouts. Just consider it a novelty."

The silk was so light it seemed to float on nothing, landing on Jiang Xi's shoulder. At first, it was a crimson color like the rising sun, which made her look even more spirited.

But as her thoughts stirred, she remembered the old locust tree in the courtyard, and a serene green slowly emanated from the gauze, a truly wondrous sight.

Finally, Ao Yu walked up to Jiang Yi and presented him with an object that was neither gold nor stone.

Half jet black, half milky white, perfectly natural.

“Grandpa, this is the ‘Yin-Yang Twin Fish Iron,’ a rare treasure from the bottom of the Western Sea. It is warm and moist in the sun and cold in the shade, which perfectly embodies the concept of the rotation of Yin and Yang. As you comprehend the Great Dao, I can only express my heartfelt feelings with this item.”

Jiang Yi reached out and took it. He felt his left hand was as warm as the blazing sun, while his right hand was as cold as a frozen pool. The two auras converged in his palms, subtly harmonizing with the Daoist energy within his body.

A glint flashed in his eyes, but he nodded calmly, accepting the substantial gift.

With everything finished, Ao Yu walked to Liu Xiulian's side, took her hand, and said softly:
"Grandma, your gift... is slightly different."

He took out a bright pearl from his sleeve. It was the size of a longan and completely translucent, with what appeared to be clouds slowly swirling around its center.

"This is the 'Ren Water Cloud Soul Pearl,' formed from a strand of Ren Water essence condensed from ten thousand feet below the Western Sea."

As she spoke, she led Liu Xiulian to the well in the courtyard and gently dropped the bead into the well.

The beads dissolve silently upon contact with water.

But in the next instant, something unexpected happened!

The ancient well, which had been used for countless years, suddenly emitted a deep hum, and a stream of clear spring water rose up against the current.

The water line was crystal clear, as if it had come to life, and fell precisely into Liu Xiulian's brow!
Liu Xiulian felt a chill between her brows, and her eyes involuntarily closed.

In a daze, it seemed as if I was no longer in my own courtyard, but in a vast ocean.

The waters in his mind surged, and a blue dragon shadow broke through the vast waves, its scales and armor gleaming, its body agile and powerful.

The dragon's shadow circled her soul three times, letting out a clear and melodious roar. Its tail swayed gently, scattering countless crystalline points of light that all disappeared into the depths of her soul sea.

The people in the courtyard saw Liu Xiulian tremble slightly, and a very thin layer of water vapor enveloped her body.

A few strands of white hair at her temples had turned slightly bluish-black, and the fine lines etched at the corners of her eyes by hard work were gently blurred by a thin layer of mist.

When he opened his eyes again, there was no trace of weariness in them. Instead, they were like a long-parched deep pool that had received a refreshing rain in the morning light, and they were very clear.

Liu Xiulian closed her eyes for a long time, her expression changing several times, seemingly surprised and delighted, as if she were carefully pondering something.

Ao Yu stepped forward and asked softly, "Grandma, do you feel any difference now?"

Liu Xiulian slowly opened her eyes, the clarity in them deepening, tinged with uncertainty, and slowly said:
"I can't quite put my finger on it... In the past, when I closed my eyes, my heart felt like it was filled with a bowl of water, which would sway in the wind. Now, when I look at it again, that water... seems to have come alive."

She paused, as if savoring that initial novelty:
"There's something sinking down there, you can't see it clearly, but just thinking about it makes your heart feel at peace, and no matter how strong the wind is, it won't move you."

Before the words had even finished, Jiang Yi, who had been silent for a long time, spoke up. His voice was unreadable, as if he were simply stating a fact:
"Ordinary ripples on water are nothing more than reflections in a mirror or the moon's reflection in water; they may look lively, but they will eventually dissipate. The current state of affairs is an omen of a hidden dragon in the abyss."

He glanced at his wife indifferently, "It will greatly benefit your soul."

Liu Xiulian was taken aback at first, but then she realized the weight of those words, and the smile in her eyes could no longer be hidden, spreading out little by little.

She grabbed Ao Yu's hand, patted it affectionately, and turned to Jiang Yi, saying:
"What are you standing there for? Go to the backyard and catch the fattest chicken. I'll cook a good meal for Feng'er and Xiaobai."

After saying that, he turned around and went to the kitchen with a happy smile.

Jiang Yi shook his head, but the corners of his lips unconsciously curved into a smile. He picked up his knife and walked towards the backyard.

The two younger children in the yard were already captivated by the new toy.

A man crouched in the corner of the courtyard, holding an empty bow, aiming repeatedly at a cloud drifting across the sky, making some indistinct whistling sounds.
One of them was holding the string of Azure Dragon Shells, staring intently at an inconspicuous weed by the wall, muttering something under his breath, seemingly trying to discern some kind of medicinal properties.

Amidst the commotion, Jiang Feng and Ao Yu exchanged a smile, the meaning in their eyes understood only by the other.

The two remained silent, walking one after the other around the house towards the orchard.

The forest path was secluded, and sunlight filtered through the leaves, scattering golden fragments on the ground beneath our feet.

Deep in the orchard, the crooked treehouse still perches among the branches of the old locust tree, its vines covered with a layer of new green, making it look even more like a carefully arranged landscape than before.

This place was where their story began.

Jiang Feng reached out and parted the drooping branches and leaves, then joined hands with Ao Yu to step onto the simple wooden ladder.

The things inside the room remained unchanged, but this small space seemed to be imbued with a rich, moist atmosphere, and every breath was different from back then.

The two stood side by side by the window, watching the dappled sunlight filtering through the trees, neither of them speaking for a moment.

The boy and girl from back then are now a married couple.

The mountain is still the same mountain, the tree is still the same tree, but the people who look at the mountain and the tree have long been separated by thousands of miles in their hearts.

Things have changed, but people are no longer the same; this is perhaps the feeling it evokes.

Standing still for a moment, the light and shadows outside the window rippled, casting a warm glow on the silence.

Jiang Feng spoke first, his gaze sweeping over the familiar woods outside the window, as if talking to himself, or perhaps to someone beside him:

"When I was a child, I always thought the orchard on the back hill was nothing special. Now, looking at it again, the spiritual energy in this forest is truly excessive."

Upon hearing this, Ao Yu's lips curved slightly, and a mischievous glint appeared in her clear, watery eyes:
"You're only just noticing? I smelled it as soon as I entered the village."

Her words piqued Jiang Feng's interest.

A thought suddenly struck him, and he said, "When I was a child, I often ran to the back mountain, and I would get lost eight out of ten times. Now that I've become more skilled, I'd like to go and see what's hidden there."

Which of the younger generation of the Jiang family hasn't ventured into the back mountains to explore? But most of them, like Jiang Feng, returned with only a few cuts from thorns, a body covered in mud, and a scolding, without actually catching any monsters.

Unexpectedly, Ao Yu shook his head slightly upon hearing this, his tone gentle yet carrying an undeniable air of authority:
"It's better not to go. When my elder brother came to pick me up back then, he specifically told me that anywhere else was fine, but this back mountain was the one I should not set foot on casually."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Feng was slightly taken aback, but the curiosity in his eyes did not diminish; instead, it intensified.

Although he hadn't caused any major incidents in that back mountain, he had ventured there a few times, and had even taken Jiang Rui with him.

The deepest one was just a bit denser in the forest and foggy; nothing went wrong.

I never expected that the brother-in-law of the West Sea True Dragon would be so wary of this mountain.

Just as he was lost in thought, a loud and energetic shout suddenly came from in front of the house: "Feng'er, Xiaobai, time to eat!"

It was the old woman's voice.

The two exchanged a smile, and the tension from before dissipated.

Jiang Feng casually picked a few plump spiritual fruits from the branch and returned to the front yard with Ao Yu.

At the dinner table, Ao Yu, after many years, tasted Liu Xiulian's cooking again.

Now that he could speak, he made up for all the praise he hadn't had a chance to say back then, and he said it cleverly without sounding flattering at all.

Liu Xiulian listened with a smile, and kept adding food to the small white bowl.

After the meal, the family members went back to their respective rooms to rest.

Liu Xiulian closed the door early, saying she was tired, but in reality she was thinking about the "hidden dragon in the abyss" spirit image and was eager to carefully comprehend it.

The next day, as soon as it was dawn, Jiang Yi got up early as usual and practiced a set of boxing exercises in the courtyard at a leisurely pace.

The family members left one after another, but Jiang Feng and Xiao Bai were nowhere to be seen.

It wasn't until breakfast was cooked and served steaming hot that the two of them emerged from the orchard one after the other, their clothes still damp with the morning dew.

It's unclear whether the two went to pick fruit in the woods before dawn, or if they spent the night in that little treehouse, reliving the old days.

The whole family's gaze was hotter than the fire in the stove, and they all looked over in unison.

Ao Yu's usually aloof and pretty face was now flushed with two blushes, as if it had been scorched by flames. She hurriedly hid behind Jiang Feng, not daring to show her face.

After breakfast, Jiang Yi still took his two children, Jiang Qin and Jiang Jin, to the ancestral hall to talk about his scriptures and his philosophy.

Liu Xiulian and Jiang Xi then led the young couple, prepared some thank-you gifts, and made a trip to Liu Family Village.

The debt of gratitude for being saved back then must be properly expressed by a formal visit to express thanks.

When the group returned from Liu Family Village, Jiang Yi's lesson also came to an end.

The ancestral hall door was ajar; the two younger children had already slipped away to the training ground, leaving only a faint scent of sandalwood in the room.

Jiang Yi stood in front of the door and waved to Jiang Feng.

Jiang Feng understood and walked over.

When Ao Yu saw this, she smiled and took Liu Xiulian's arm, saying that she wanted to learn a few signature dishes from the old lady. She went straight into the kitchen, leaving the space to them.

With a creak, the wooden door closed, dimming the light.

Only the grandfather and grandson remained in the room, along with the increasingly solid, earthen-yellow phantom of the spirit on the altar.

Jiang Yi spoke, his voice still calm:

"Feng'er, have you ever thought about where and how you will raise your children when you have them in the future?"

The question was asked calmly, but Jiang Feng was taken aback, clearly not thinking about such a distant matter.

He pondered for a moment before saying, "I haven't thought about it in detail yet... It's probably in Crane Cry Mountain or the Western Sea."

Jiang Yi nodded, already understanding the situation.

Over the years, my family has accumulated some foundation in the world, but if we can't find the way to the back mountain, our foundation will ultimately be too weak.

Compared to colossal structures like the Dragon Palace of the West Sea and Crane Cry Mountain, they are still worlds apart.

At this moment, Jiang Liang's voice suddenly came from the shadowy figure beside him:

"Where to raise him is up to you. But since the child has dragon blood, he cannot escape the rules of the dragon race. The right path for him is to obtain a position as a deity in the Water Palace in the future."

Jiang Feng clearly hadn't expected that his grandfather and his own father had planned things to this extent.

Jiang Yi chimed in from the side, his tone resolute:
“Listen to your father. He works in Chang'an now, and the Jinghe Dragon King is a relative. If the child is really pregnant, send him to the Jinghe Water Palace to get some water treatment, it won't be bad.”

Jiang Feng still had some doubts. The Jinghe Dragon Palace didn't seem to be any extraordinary place.

Besides, by the time the child grows up, the West Sea should have already returned to peace.

Seeing the elder's solemn expression, he nodded, but didn't rule out the possibility entirely, only saying:
"This matter must be discussed with Xiaobai, and we also need to ask what the West Sea thinks."

Jiang Yi didn't try to persuade him any further, but patted him on the shoulder and said with a smile, "Then be more diligent and try to have two children in three years."

For the next few days, Jiang Feng and his wife stayed in the village.

In the end, Jiang Feng couldn't hold back.

He prepared stacks of talismans and pills, including those for improving eyesight and calming the mind, as well as those for removing afflictions and warding off evil spirits.

He then obtained several protective treasures from Ao Yu and ventured alone into the back mountain.

Ao Yu remembered his elder brother's instructions and didn't even step into the foot of the mountain, waiting outside with his family.

Upon hearing the news, Liu Zian from Liu Family Village also made a special trip over. He stood side by side with Jiang Xi at the gate of the courtyard, as if waiting for a play to begin.

Over the years, he has taken over the farm work and lost the wildness he had when he was a child, but the curiosity buried deep in his heart has not diminished in the slightest.

The family wasn't in a hurry. They set out some fruit and snacks in the yard, eating and chatting as if they were waiting for the sun to set.

After waiting for several hours, as the sun began to set, a shadow finally emerged from Linkou.

It's Jiang Feng.

His appearance was rather strange, with a blank stare and a dazed look, as if his soul had been stolen away.

The talismans and magical treasures on his body had not lost a single trace of spiritual light, as if he had simply taken a peaceful nap in the mountains and had a long dream.

Seeing his appearance, Liu Zian's expression was somewhat complicated.

It's hard to tell whether they were relieved that the mountains remained mysterious or disappointed that even someone like Jiang Feng returned empty-handed.

The Jiang family, however, were already used to it.

Liu Xiulian greeted him with a smile, brushing the mud, ash, and grass seeds off her grandson's clothes, while slowly murmuring:

"Look at you, you're back looking like this again. Come on in and have some hot tea to calm yourself down."

Jiang Feng's trip to the back mountain didn't have a perfect ending, but it did put his mind at ease.

The next morning, he took his wife and headed straight out of the village toward Heming Mountain.

The Jiang family courtyard has returned to its former tranquility.

It's less bustling and more peaceful.

Spring goes and autumn comes, plants wither and flourish, and before we know it, another half a year has passed.

It was a warm afternoon.

Jiang Yi was busy in the medicinal herb garden next to the house, with an old burlap cloth under his knees, pruning a half-dead aconite plant in his hands.

Footsteps came from outside the door. He moved slowly and deliberately before finally raising his eyelids.

At the entrance of the hospital, stood a familiar figure.

The eldest son, Jiang Ming, who had disappeared for over a year, had a few specks of dust on his shoulder.

A girl with her hair in two buns stood next to her.

The girl had ordinary features and ordinary clothes; the kind of ordinary that you would easily lose in a crowd.

It just stood there quietly, like a fallen leaf blown to the door by the wind.

(End of this chapter)