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

Chapter 165 The Demon-Subduing Vajra, the Medicine Goddess

This meal, made even more lively than usual, was made warmer by the addition of a great-grandson whom the family had never met.

Liu Xiulian's wrinkles around her eyes smoothed out with a smile, and she kept babbling on and on, but all she talked about was the baby in her arms.

Jiang Yi didn't say much, but his chopsticks were busy, and most of his eyes were on his daughter.

Jiang Xi has indeed lost some weight recently.

The line of his jaw became increasingly sharp, making his eyes appear like two black stones resting in autumn water, both serene and bright.

She ate politely, more like drawing flowers in her bowl with her chopsticks. Most of the time, she just listened quietly, occasionally a faint smile appearing at the corner of her mouth, just to get by.

Jiang Yi remained silent, reached out with his chopsticks, picked up a thoroughly braised chicken leg from the earthenware pot, and placed it steadily into her bowl.

"Cultivation is a process of gradual refinement, but don't wear your bones down too much."

His tone was neither warm nor cold, making it impossible to tell whether it was praise or criticism.

Jiang Xi looked up and casually tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear.

This ordinary movement, for some reason, revealed a sharpness rarely seen in the past.

“Father, my cultivation is making my soul clearer every day. Even if my elder brother doesn’t return, I’m sure I can eventually reach the point where I can live and die.”

At this point, a cold glint flashed in her usually somewhat nonchalant eyes, like the tip of a needle that had been tempered by fire, disappearing in an instant.

Jiang Yi sighed silently in his heart.

This girl, though she doesn't say it, still remembers the blood debt of the three old demons outside Liangjie Village.

However, in the path of cultivation, the most taboo thing is to have murderous thoughts in one's heart.

Once that energy arises, the path one takes is easily skewed.

Moreover, the fact that those three demons were able to entrenched themselves in the mountains for so many years suggests that there might have been some connection to favorable circumstances.

Even her older brother compromised; how could she be eliminated by ruthlessness alone?

But he never voiced these truths.

Some truths, no matter how many times you hear them, are less effective than hitting a brick wall yourself.

He simply picked up another piece of bamboo shoot with his chopsticks and placed it in her bowl, his voice flat:

"You've lost weight. Eat more to replenish your body."

……

A month or so passed in the blink of an eye.

Jiang Yi still spends his days in the ancestral hall explaining scriptures to a few younger generations.

As the sun began to set, the mischievous children dispersed, and the futons still retained warmth. Only a wisp of sandalwood incense remained in the hall, barely dissipating.

Before the incense table, Jiang Liang's illusory soul gradually solidified amidst the wisps of green smoke.

The father and son, as usual, talked about all sorts of random things, from the heavens to the earth.

Although Jiang Yiren was in the mountains and wilderness, he could still glean some of the overall picture of the world from the time it took to burn an incense stick each day.

"Is there any progress on that local deity in the main market?"

Jiang Yi casually brushed the incense ash off his sleeve, his voice calm.

Jiang Liang's illusory figure shook his head:

“I am nominally his superior, and in recent days, I have tried to get close to him a few times outside of official business. He is polite and considerate in his words, but his true nature is shrouded in a fog, and I can never figure him out. There is no mention of promoting or transferring him.”

His speech already displayed a degree of discretion typical of those in official circles.

Upon hearing this, Jiang Yi merely nodded slightly, without even lifting his eyelids:
"Act according to your ability, and don't force things. If the time is not right, you can't rush it."

"I understand."

Jiang Liang responded, his divine presence fading slightly, as if he were about to dissipate.

Suddenly remembering something, she paused, then lowered her voice and said:
“Father, there have been some rumors circulating in Chang’an lately, that an epidemic may be brewing. While you are in the mountains, please be careful in all matters.”

Jiang Yi did take his son's words to heart.

The safety of an entire village is no trivial matter.

It's always good to be cautious.

The moonlight that night was as clear and cold as water.

When he found Jiang Jin, the girl was squatting in the herb garden next to the house, sorting the newly picked herbs by the moonlight.

"There are rumors in Chang'an that an epidemic has broken out."

Jiang Yi stood outside the fence with his hands behind his back, his voice neither loud nor soft, but clearly conveyed his message.

Upon hearing this, Jiang Jin paused almost imperceptibly in her hand movements, then looked up.

The moonlight reflected on her usually spirited face, which remained calm and serene, like an ancient well, without the slightest ripple.

"Grandson understands."

She only replied with those few words and didn't ask any further questions.

Jiang Yi nodded, said nothing more, and turned to walk back into the house.

He knew in his heart that if these words reached her ears, it would be as if they had reached the very core of the entire Two Realms Village.

Now, the entire Ancient and Modern Gang, including its medicines and medical personnel, is in this girl's hands.

One sentence from her is more effective than ten sentences from this old man.

as predicted.

The next day, the village had some smells that weren't there on ordinary days.

At the village entrances and alleyways, the pungent smell of mugwort and atractylodes mixed together made people's noses itch.

A thick layer of lime was sprinkled on the corner of the wall and the roadside, giving off a dry, earthy smell.

In addition to the aroma of cooked rice, there was also an indescribable medicinal smell on the stoves of every household.

Although strange, it was a recipe that the gang had ordered to be drunk every day, saying that it could strengthen the body and ward off evil.

The village road leading to Liangshanji was also fenced off, and guards were stationed day and night.

Upon returning from afar, one should not even think about stepping into the village without first washing one's hands with strong liquor and then drinking a large bowl of herbal medicine to prevent infection.

This action seems like making a mountain out of a molehill.

But a few days later, the news came back.

An epidemic has indeed broken out in Liangshanji.

The momentum was fierce; within three to five days, dozens of people had fallen.

He had a fever, vomiting, and convulsions; he didn't look like he could survive.

Because Liangjie Village took precautions early, it remained unharmed.

However, the social interactions were severed, adding a touch of desolation.

Once the road at the village entrance is blocked, the hustle and bustle of Liangshanji is kept at bay.

Life seemed to slow down, so quiet that you could hear the faint sound of pine needles falling on the moss on the back hill.

News of the village had been cut off, but news of the Jiang family was still circulating.

At night, a wisp of incense smoke rises from the ancestral hall, like an invisible thread connecting this small mountain village on one end, Chang'an on the other, and the divine capital Luoyang on the other.

The news Jiang Liang brought back wasn't good.

The situation in Luoyang was relatively stable, after all, it was under the emperor's nose and was protected by the imperial aura.

But once you leave the capital region, the scenery changes drastically.

In some prefectures and counties, the official roads were so deserted during the day that one could hear ghosts wailing. Even in the City God Temple in Chang'an, newly arrived souls would sob at the foot of the steps every night.

The government notices changed three times a day, and the prescriptions changed faster than a revolving lantern, but none of them were truly effective.

"Such a momentous event, and you who live off offerings are just going to stand idly by?"

After hearing this, Jiang Yi asked a question indifferently.

Jiang Liang's illusory figure remained silent for a long time before revealing a hint of helplessness.

“Minor disasters and epidemics can be suppressed by the City God and the Earth God. But something that sweeps across the world like this is beyond the reach of a mere Earth Immortal like myself.” He paused, then added, “I also wrote to Feng’er of Crane Cry Mountain to inquire about it.”

Feng'er replied that the Celestial Master's Mansion's duty is to slay demons and monsters, not to heal the sick. The talisman water might have some effect on the plague, but it's just a drop in the ocean. It can save one person, but not the whole city.

He paused briefly, lowering his voice:
"Unless one can produce solid evidence to prove that this is the work of demons, the Celestial Master's Mansion can take action with a legitimate reason. Otherwise, it is not in its duty to interfere in politics. At most, it can only take care of some disciples and relatives in private."

Jiang Yi listened quietly, understanding dawning on his mind, but he couldn't help but sigh.

Under the rule of Heaven, everyone has their own duties; this saying is true.

But to the ears of ordinary people, it ultimately sounded rather cold.

He then stopped asking about the Celestial Master's Mansion and changed the subject: "How is Wenya doing in Luoyang?"

My youngest daughter-in-law lives in Luoyang and comes from a family of doctors. Now, she must be in the eye of the storm, and her days are probably not easy.

When his wife was mentioned, Jiang Liang's expression dimmed.

"What can she do?"

He gave a wry smile: "Even the Imperial Hospital is helpless against this kind of epidemic. Fortunately, Feng'er visited us beforehand and left some talisman water, which protected several key areas in the palace."

"Right now, she and her elders are staying at the pharmacy day and night, searching through ancient books and even testing medicines on themselves, all in an effort to find a cure. They are so busy that they don't have a moment to spare. I haven't spoken more than a few words to her in days."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Yi nodded slightly and hummed in agreement, then stopped asking questions.

Natural disasters and man-made calamities are never something that can be averted by the efforts of one person alone.

Gods have their rules, and mortals have their fates.

Life went on like this, neither exciting nor dull.

Liangjie Village is nestled against the mountains and has accumulated wealth over the years. Although not wealthy, each household is certainly well-off.

Living behind closed doors may be a bit lonely, but it's also peaceful.

However, the world outside is getting worse day by day.

Gradually, more and more migrants with their families appeared on the mountain roads outside the village.

They were all pale and sickly, their clothes were barely covering their bodies, and their eyes were vacant, as if their souls had been drained by the suffering along the way.

At first, some people, driven by hunger, saw that the village was intact and did not seem to have suffered a disaster, so they tried to rush in and grab some food.

But little did they know what Liangjie Village was like today.

Those guarding the village entrance were the most solid young men in the Gujin Gang, skilled in martial arts and tough enough to have seen blood.

Ordinary soldiers would not fare well, let alone these starving refugees whose legs were weak.

After several clashes, the troublemakers were tied up by the arms and legs and left on the roadside.

The thought of forcing one's way through died.

They managed to stop the people from starving to death, but they couldn't just stand by and watch them die.

In the end, the Gujin Gang stepped in, felling trees and building a shed by the official road, setting up two large pots.

Twice a day, porridge is served from the open tent, and the porridge is also mixed with the anti-epidemic herbs brewed by the Jiang family.

The days went by like this.

The thatched roof of the porridge shed was ravaged by the autumn rain, and after being replaced with new thatch, it gradually withered and turned yellow again.

The epidemic outside, however, shows no sign of ending.

The news brought by the wisp of smoke rising from the ancestral hall grew heavier with each passing day.

According to Jiang Liang, even Luoyang, the capital city, which was once an impregnable fortress, is now gradually becoming vulnerable.

Inside the palace, several bodies of nobles, whose lives could not be exposed to the light, had already been quietly carried out.

In the imperial court, the incense offerings for the sacrifice to Heaven were more abundant than in previous years, and the emperor led his officials in kneeling in the Imperial Ancestral Temple until their knees were red and swollen.

The imperial edict at the city gate was posted and torn down repeatedly.

The reward offered was so high that it could provide for three generations of a poor family, all in the search for a person with extraordinary abilities who could ward off disasters and epidemics.

It's a pity that the notices are posted again and again, the sky is still the same sky, and the disease is still the same disease.

If Luoyang was in such a state, the devastation in the other prefectures and counties was even more dire.

Even worse, some with ulterior motives took the opportunity to spread prophecies in the countryside, distributing talismans of dubious origin, claiming that a great calamity was about to befall the country, all because of the court's moral failings.

His words already carried a sinister intent to seduce and manipulate people.

This situation was not unexpected for Jiang Yi.

After all, even outside Liangjie Village, similar trends were gradually emerging.

Ever since Gujinbang started distributing porridge and medicine outside the village, its reputation has spread like wildfire.

Today, the migrants gathered on both sides of the village road are a dense, dark mass, stretching as far as the eye can see.

Fortunately, the gang members took turns patrolling and maintained order with ruthless methods.

At first, there were always some fools who wanted to take advantage of the chaos to cause trouble and gain some benefits.

Without exception, they were all publicly dismembered and thrown out as an example.

After several such encounters, the remaining refugees only dared to gaze at the village from afar, their hearts filled with nothing but respect and fear.

As time went by, and with all hope lost, this reverence gradually changed its meaning.

The refugees' morale gradually waned, but they turned to the Gujin Gang as their last hope.

The most eye-catching among them were the twin brother and sister.

Every day, Jiang Qin, with his men standing ramrod straight, patrolled the village entrance with an iron fist, maintaining order—this was the only "rule" in this chaotic world.

Jiang Jin personally distributed porridge and medicine, treating the sick and saving lives. Every bowl of soup and medicine he handed out was a hope for survival, the only remaining "lifeline" in this chaotic world.

Over time, the way the refugees looked at the brother and sister changed.

It is said that deep inside that shack, someone has secretly sculpted a small statue out of mud and worships it morning and evening.

Secretly, one is called "Vajra the Demon Subduer" and the other is called "Medicine Goddess," who are deities sent from heaven to save people from suffering.

Even in the worst years, we still have to get by.

Before you know it, it's the New Year again.

Although the village of Liangjie was not as bustling with music and drums as in previous years, every household had replaced their old door charms with new ones, adding a touch of liveliness to the village.

Even the shacks outside the village got some meat, so they managed to celebrate the New Year.

On the second day of the Lunar New Year, following tradition, the head of the Liu family estate and his family came to pay their respects.

Jiang Xi rarely left the treehouse. She changed into simple clothes and sat side by side with Liu Zi'an, whispering some key points about cultivation.

Inside the main room, Jiang Yi and his prospective in-law, whom he had known for many years, naturally couldn't help but talk about the escalating epidemic outside.

The Liu family has a long-standing tradition of helping others, and in the past six months, they have provided a lot of money and food to the migrants outside the village, which can be considered a great help to the Gujinbang (a local charity organization).

After chatting for half a day, Master Liu took a sip of tea and suddenly changed the subject, saying that he wanted to pay a visit to the Ganying Dusi, who was granted an imperial decree and protected the region.

Upon hearing this, Jiang Yi's hand, which was holding the teacup, paused almost imperceptibly in mid-air for a moment.

He immediately realized that something was amiss.

Although Jiang Liang received an imperial decree and a divine position, he was still, in the end, his own junior.

Master Liu was not only a guest, but also an elder.

If this bow were to actually be performed, it would disrupt human relations.
If one does not worship, it seems as if one is disrespectful to the gods.

Moreover, the ancestral hall is the private property of the Jiang family, and it is not proper for outsiders to disturb it at will.

He hesitated for a moment before slowly speaking:
“Brother Liu is very kind. However… it’s inconvenient to do so at the ancestral hall. Perhaps it would be better to let Zi’an handle it for them. It’s always easier for them to speak and act among peers.”

Master Liu was a shrewd man. Upon hearing this, his eyes flickered, and he immediately understood and nodded.

He then called Liu Zian over and whispered a few words of advice to him.

Liu Zian respectfully agreed and then turned around to give Jiang Xi a wink.

The two then walked side by side toward the ancestral hall at the foot of the mountain.

(End of this chapter)