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

Chapter 167 The Supreme Being Shows Mercy, Offering Sacrifices to the Living
Life in Liangjie Village continued as usual.

However, this sense of stability has recently taken on a bitter taste.

The rice bins in every household were empty, and the pickle jars were filled with only half a pool of salty water.

Life is still bearable, but the little bit of food in my belly can't withstand the winds of change.

Fortunately, the villagers' morale remains high.

Just then, news from outside the mountains drifted in like dandelion seeds carried by the wind.

At first, they were scattered here and there, but later they appeared in large numbers, all telling the story of a strange event.

It is said that in the Imperial Medical Academy in Luoyang, there was a kind-hearted female imperial physician who could not bear to see the people suffer, so she used herself as a medicine pot and tested the medicine on herself.

As a result, after taking a strong dose of medicine, he collapsed on the spot.

Later, the rumors became increasingly bizarre.

It is said that Imperial Physician Li was not eating or drinking, was on the verge of death, and was barely clinging to life.

Unexpectedly, just as she was dying, she slowly woke up and said that she had a great dream.

No one can say who they saw in their dreams.

All that is known is that once she opened her eyes, no one could stop her; she insisted on going to Laojun Mountain outside the city to offer incense and pay homage.

Her family thought it was just a final burst of energy before death, and in accordance with her last wish, they prepared a carriage and sent her there with great anxiety.

Strange things happened on Lao Jun Mountain.

It is said that when Imperial Physician Li arrived at the Laozi Temple on the mountaintop, he dismissed everyone.

Alone, he knelt down before the clay-and-golden statue of the Dao Ancestor.

No eating, no drinking, no sleeping.

From the setting sun, I knelt until the moon was high in the sky, and from the starry sky, I knelt until the first light of dawn.

Those accompanying him did not sleep all night, having already clearly planned out their affairs.

When it was fully light, and guessing that the person was probably dead, I mustered up my courage and pushed the door open.

When I saw it, I almost lost my mind.

Not only did the imperial physician Li not fall, but he had already stood up and stood in the morning light.

Their ashen faces and sickly appearance had all vanished.

Instead, she had a rosy complexion like peach petals, and her eyes shone like two pools of autumn water.

He looked radiant and full of life; there was no trace of illness in him.

Humans are just that good.

Such a miracle, in a world ravaged by war, was particularly inspiring and quickly spread throughout the city.

The Li family was overjoyed and wept tears of joy, rushing to take the person back to their home to recuperate.

But that Imperial Physician Li did something that no one could have expected.

In front of everyone, she bowed three times again to the clay statue with gold, and then said loudly:
The Daoist Ancestor's grace is boundless, saving her from the brink of death. Her body is no longer an ordinary one, so she should renounce worldly riches and honors and be ordained as a nun on this mountain.

When these words were spoken, everyone in the hall was shocked.

Despite the earnest pleas of her relatives and friends, who wept uncontrollably, she simply shook her head with a smile.

Three days later, the abbot of Laojun Mountain personally presided over the ceremony.

Li Wenya changed into hempen clothes, burned incense and bowed again before entering the mountain gate, taking the Taoist name "Lingsu".

It is derived from the ancient medical classics "Ling Shu" and "Su Wen", which not only do not forget the duties of a physician, but also conform to the principle of purity and tranquility.

From then on, there was no longer a physician named Li from the Imperial Hospital, only a female Taoist priest named Lingsu on Mount Laojun.

After entering the temple, Master Lingsu did not spend his days burning incense and reading scriptures like others.

She found the most secluded alchemy room, wiped away the bottles and jars of herbs and medical books she had brought from Luoyang, and then put them away again.

The mountains were quiet, with only the sound of the wind rustling through the pines.

Whether it was divine mercy or the tranquility that truly calmed the mind, I do not know.

The formula that was once impossible to develop despite all our efforts has now become a success in the furnace of Lao Jun Mountain.

That day, the fire of alchemy went out, and the fragrance of medicine filled the mountains.

The Li family treasured the prescription and sent it back to Luoyang overnight by fast horse.

The recipe wasn't anything mysterious; it was just a few common herbs, with adjustments made to the cooking time.

But this bowl of herbal soup, once taken, actually had a miraculous effect, turning stone into gold.

The prescription was presented to the palace, but the veteran physicians were skeptical and first sought out several seriously ill prisoners to test the medicine.

After three bowls of herbal medicine, the person, who was barely clinging to life, managed to sit up and ask for some thin porridge.

When the news reached the dragon throne, the emperor, whose brows had been furrowed for half a year, finally relaxed somewhat.

A single imperial edict, delivered by express courier over 800 li (approximately 400 kilometers), spread throughout the prefecture and county.

In an instant, smoke from boiling medicine rose from every city and town, both inside and outside the city walls.

The bitter smell of medicine, for the first time, didn't evoke despair; instead, it smelled like freshly cooked wheat, offering a glimmer of hope for survival.

The epidemic, which had raged for more than half a year, was like a raging fire whose fuel had been removed, and its momentum waned day by day.

The coughing in the streets and alleys gradually subsided, and the entrance to the coffin shop became deserted.

The deathly pallor on people's faces was slowly replaced by vitality.

With peace restored to the realm, the emperor was overjoyed and naturally decided to reward those who had contributed.

Gold, silver, silk, fiefdoms, and titles were compiled into a long scroll and sent to Lao Jun Mountain in a flowing stream.

Unexpectedly, the newly appointed Taoist priest Lingsu bowed his head upon seeing the imperial edict and refused to accept a single penny.

He simply said, "Heaven cherishes life, and this is all thanks to the compassion of the Dao Ancestor. It is not the work of one person alone. I dare not claim credit for it."

When these words reached the palace, the emperor, being a perceptive man, remained silent for a long time after hearing them.

Since the true person is not attached to worldly things, then let this merit be returned to the gods.

So another imperial edict was issued.

Lao Jun Mountain, which originally consisted of only a few small temples, has been transformed into a site of massive construction in the blink of an eye.

The government allocated silver, wealthy merchants contributed their money, and skilled craftsmen came from all directions.

In just six months, a magnificent Laozi Temple rose from the ground.

Glazed tiles, vermilion walls, and golden dragons coiling around pillars create a magnificent spectacle, no less impressive than the palaces in the imperial city.

Beside the main hall, another shrine was erected.

The statue enshrined in the shrine is not a deity, but a stone statue of a female Taoist priest in white robes, with gentle features and holding a medical book in her hand; she is exactly like the Taoist priest Ling Su.

From then on, people all over the world felt grateful for the merit, and the incense at Laojun Mountain in Luoyang flourished.

Carriages, boats, peddlers, laborers, princes, and nobles all flock to this mountain.

Everyone says: The Taoist Ancestor has manifested his power, the True Man is compassionate, and the incense here is the most efficacious.

Master Lingsu, however, remained dressed in simple clothes and cloth shoes, guarding that small alchemy room.

He lived on the mountain, diagnosing and treating patients with his miraculous healing skills.

Gradually, more people came seeking his medical expertise than to burn incense and worship gods.

She never charged a penny for treating patients, and those who received her kindness would not leave empty-handed. Instead, they would light incense in the temple and collect money and goods to repay her kindness and accumulate merit.

Over time, the Lao Jun Mountain became shrouded in smoke and fragrant mist.

Later on, it actually became one of the top places for praying for blessings in Luoyang, and its reputation was extremely high.

……

Liangjie Village.

The courtyard of the Jiang family's old house was rather lively today.

A dozen or so of the most respected elders in the village brought out benches and sat down under the old locust tree.

Each person held a rough earthenware teacup in their hands, took a sip of cool tea, and their conversations slowly began as the sun rose.

Half a year has passed since Master Lingsu, also known as Li Wenya, the daughter-in-law of the Jiang family, concocted that life-saving prescription.

Thanks to the miraculous power of the ancestral hall in Liangjie Village, news spread faster than a post horse. Before the people on the outskirts of Luoyang City could even smell the medicine, the epidemic in Longxi had already quietly dissipated.

Once the illness is cured, people's hearts will be revived.

Some of the disaster victims who had gathered outside the village packed their belongings and returned home along the old route.

But many more are families torn apart, fields left barren and beyond repair, pitiful souls who cannot go.

There's no turning back, so I've decided not to go on at all.

They then came up with the idea of ​​finding a hillside near Liangjie Village to build sheds and cultivate the land, so that they would at least have a place to settle down.

The elderly people have gathered here today to discuss this matter.

Jiang Yi didn't care about this matter at first.

He leaned back in the bamboo rocking chair, half-closing his eyes, ignoring the buzzing voices around him as if they were just idle chatter.

Liangjie Village is surrounded by barren hills, with plenty of land.

Whether these people stay or leave, whether they clear land or hunt, is really of no concern to the Jiang family.

Until an old man with white hair and beard slowly uttered:
"...Among those people, there were a few prominent figures who sent someone to inquire yesterday. They said that they not only wanted to stay, but also felt grateful for the kindness of our village's 'Demon-Subduing Vajra' and 'Medicine Goddess,' which is why they were reluctant to leave."

"They also said that they wanted to learn from Luoyang and gather some manpower and resources to build a shrine at the entrance of the village to worship these two living bodhisattvas."

As soon as he finished speaking, Jiang Yi slowly lifted his half-closed eyelids.

His face, which was usually expressionless, now showed a hint of radiance.

Having followed his son, who became an immortal, for so many years, my horizons have naturally broadened.

He knew perfectly well that "establishing a shrine for the living" and "gathering incense offerings" was not just a matter of laying a few bricks.

That is merit recognized by Heaven and Earth, and the benefits are worth real money.

He cleared his throat, his voice not loud, but like a chess piece being placed on a plate, instantly silencing the chattering discussions in the courtyard:
“Heaven cherishes life. Those people have barely escaped death and survived the pain of separation and separation. How can we just stand by and watch them suffer outside?”

Jiang Yi's importance in the village needs no further explanation.

As soon as he spoke, everyone knew what was going on. Several old men nodded and bowed, echoing his sentiments without any further objections.

Jiang Yi hesitated for a moment, then changed the subject: "As the saying goes, you should see a Buddha off to the West. Just letting him stay isn't enough."

"In that case, my Jiang family is willing to use the spiritual herbs and fruits from our herb garden as wages to hire the young men of the Gujin Gang to build houses and clear wasteland for these villagers who remain. We must first provide them with a place to shelter from the wind and rain, and a stable meal to eat."

No sooner had the words been spoken than another round of applause and praise erupted in the courtyard:

"Old Jiang truly has the heart of a bodhisattva!"

"How rare! This is what you call a family that accumulates good deeds!"

They expressed their admiration verbally, but were also secretly pleased.

After all, in the ancient and modern gangs these days, which family doesn't have a young man making a living in the gang?
The Jiang family is willing to use the medicinal herbs as wages, and as long as the meat is cooked, everyone will get a share.

Jiang Yi simply smiled, waved his hand, and said no more.

But the next day, the news spread like wildfire, first in the village and then to the refugees outside the village.

It is said that the brother and sister Jiang Qin and Jiang Jin, who saved countless lives during the plague, were the blood relatives of Daoist Lingsu.

As soon as the news spread, a large group of people knelt down on the newly reclaimed wasteland outside the village.

Cries and shouts, mixed with hymns of gratitude, drifted from afar, lingering in the peaceful valley.

With the spiritual energy spreading from the back mountain, and the medicinal herbs provided by the Jiang and Liu families to strengthen the body, the Ancient and Modern Gang is gradually taking shape.

There are many skilled fighters among them, and the rest are also quite good.

These people are far more capable of working than ordinary farmers.

Carrying the beam is like picking up grass, tamping the earth is like beating a drum, each sound is even and steady, and it sounds so pleasant to the ear.

As a result, within a month, new houses began to rise one after another outside the village.

The houses are neat and orderly, yet not rigid, and from a distance they resemble a chessboard.

In the very center, a new shrine has been erected.

With its blue bricks and black tiles, the courtyard is not grand, but it is extremely clean. A few patches of moss were deliberately left in the cracks of the stone steps, giving it an ancient and quaint feel.

The one enshrined in the main hall is naturally that Daoist Lingsu.

The clay sculpture has gentle features and holds a medical book in its hand, as if looking down at a prescription or gazing down at all living beings.

Interesting things are on both sides of her.

Instead of a boy and girl, there were two children who still looked very young.

The boy on the left has a heroic look in his eyes, and there is a bow and arrow at his feet. He is none other than the "Vajra Subduer".
The girl on the right, with her hair in two buns, holding a medicine gourd, and looking serious, is none other than the "Medicine Master Goddess".

No sandalwood is burned in the shrine; only mugwort is burned year-round.

The medicinal fragrance, slightly bitter, mingled with the scent of fresh earth and wood, slowly spreading out.

Upon hearing it, a passerby felt a sense of peace in his heart.

On the day the shrine was completed, the village held a grand ceremony.

The firecrackers crackled and popped, and the smoke carried the fresh scent of mugwort, drifting away on the wind.

Jiang Yi was surrounded by people on a grand chair, holding a cup of lukewarm tea in his hands.

The courtyard was bustling with noise and the incense was burning brightly, but he was too lazy to interrupt and just looked around.

The villagers, their faces filled with piety, kowtowed and burned incense before the three clay statues, all with utmost respect.

As for the feelings he had, even he himself couldn't explain them.

The excitement faded quickly.

Returning to the Jiang family ancestral hall, only the acrid scent of sandalwood remained, adding a touch of calm.

The two little ones, Jiang Qin and Jiang Jin, were wiping the memorial tablet when they saw their grandfather come in, and they quickly straightened up.

Jiang Yi sat cross-legged on the prayer mat in front of the offering table, not looking at them, but staring at the swirling incense smoke, and said slowly:

"You two are now receiving offerings from others."

The children were startled and held their breath.

Jiang Yi's tone remained indifferent:

"This is a blessing, an immense blessing. With this merit, one can avoid many detours on the path of cultivation. But it is also a shackle."

He paused for a moment before continuing:

"From now on, your words and actions will no longer belong to yourselves alone. There are eyes watching from below, and perhaps gods are watching from above as well."

“One wrong step will not only ruin you, but also the entire family's ancestral worship, and even the merits your mother has accumulated will be lost. Do you understand?”

The two children naturally lowered their heads and agreed.

Jiang Yi waved his hand: "Go down and get back to your work."

As the footsteps faded into the distance, the wisps of smoke rising from the offering table flickered, and Jiang Liang's figure slowly materialized.

He couldn't suppress his smile, and his eyes were full of smugness.

"Father, the matter of Wenya has finally been settled."

He bowed slightly, his words light and cheerful.

He had often worried that his wife was of ordinary birth and, despite her family's learning, she might not be able to grasp the secrets of immortality, and that their relationship might not last.

Unexpectedly, a devastating epidemic became her ladder to heaven.

Saving the common people is a great act of merit.

With the shrine erected, the incense offerings and prayers have been continuous, and her future divine status is almost guaranteed.

A hundred years later, when he dies peacefully, his soul, through his merits, transcends the cycle of reincarnation and can accompany him for a long time.

And the benefits don't stop there.

Jiang Liang's smile deepened, carrying a hint of triumphant composure:

"Through this incident, our family has formed a good karmic connection with the Supreme Dao Ancestor. And with that celestial relative of the Liu family acting as matchmaker..."

The meaning was clear even before the words were finished.

In the future, it is not impossible to use this incense offering to knock on the gate of the Tushita Palace and go further.

(End of this chapter)