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

Chapter 168 Store up grain and read more books

Jiang Yi looked at his smug youngest son and his brows furrowed almost imperceptibly.

He knew that his son had gained merit through his elegance, and he felt happy today.

But such open display of joy and unrestrained speech ultimately reveals a shallow nature.

A piece on the chessboard, having won by a mere half-step, harbors ambitions of the player and even dares to extend its thoughts to the tutelage of Laozi.

Little did he know that in the eyes of that being who looked down upon the mortal world, his little scheme was nothing more than a child getting a new piece of clothing and showing it off to everyone he met—utterly laughable.

If this continues, we're probably not far from collapsing.

A few words of admonition rose to his throat, but Jiang Yi swallowed them back down.

Ultimately, it was his family's financial situation in his early years that hindered his development.

The child's cultivation of sexual energy was mostly brought about by elixirs and techniques. He took shortcuts and lacked the hard work and perseverance required.

I have never purified my mind through books, nor have I seen my true nature in worldly affairs.

Ultimately, it comes down to not reading enough books.

Jiang Liang was no fool after all. Seeing that his father's expression was off, the warmth in his heart seemed to be blown away by the wind, and he immediately felt cold.

The smile vanished completely from her face, and she cautiously inquired:

"Father, what's wrong with you?"

Jiang Yi sighed softly, but didn't say anything. He simply turned his gaze away from the swirling smoke and casually inquired about everyday matters.

"I heard that Wenya is currently on Mount Laojun and is quite busy. I'm afraid you two will have few days together in the future."

The establishment of a shrine to receive incense is both a blessing and a shackle.

Having received this merit of transcending reincarnation, Li Wenya's remaining life no longer belonged entirely to herself; she had to toil and struggle for the sake of all living beings.

There are gains and losses; Jiang Yi understands this clearly.

Jiang Liang, without suspicion, nodded upon hearing this:
"Exactly. People from all over the country flocked there for her treatment. After this incident, the Li family was favored in the palace again. When nobles were unwell, they would specifically ask her to treat them. She was much busier than before."

Jiang Yi simply hummed in response, his tone revealing neither joy nor anger.
"You are meant to be together for a long time, so why should we only meet for a short while?"

Jiang Liang didn't understand at first, wondering why his father brought this up out of the blue.

Jiang Yi, however, changed the subject, his tone becoming calm:

"Now that you have more free time, that's perfect. Starting tonight, every night when you return to the ancestral hall, I will personally add a night lesson for you."

As soon as he finished speaking, Jiang Liang felt a jolt in his soul, as if he had been doused with well water.

But he didn't dare say much, and could only respond with a bitter face and a sullen expression.

Over time, Jiang Yi gradually figured out some tricks of the trade by answering people's questions and giving lectures.

To explain a logic clearly, you must first break it down in your mind, dissect it, and then slowly reassemble it into a coherent whole.

Over time, his knowledge became even more profound than if he had simply buried himself in books.

Although it wasn't as enlightening as listening to my eldest son preach, it was still like seeing the mountain through the fog.

That evening, the whole family sat around the dinner table, the clinking of bowls and chopsticks filling the air.

Jiang Yi put down his bowl, his voice low but just loud enough to drown out the noise at the table: "From now on, there will be a new rule in the Ancient and Modern Gang."

His gaze slowly swept over his children and grandchildren, "Besides martial arts, they should also learn literature."

Seeing that everyone's eyes were on him, he continued:

“Everyone in the family, from your grandmother to Qin’er and Jin’er, has to take turns going to the school to teach. What they teach is up to them.”

She paused here, her gaze falling on her youngest grandson, a faint smile playing on her lips:
"As for Jun'er, he is still a bit young, so let him just listen for now."

No one at the table had any objections after hearing this.

Liu Xiulian nodded with a smile, while Jiang Qin and Jiang Jin looked eager and huddled together, whispering to each other about what they wanted to say.

Jiang Yi looked at him and simply nodded slightly.

The Ancient and Modern Gang originated from the village middle school. Now that its military capabilities have grown, it would be a perfect end to rebuild the foundation of education.

After going around in circles, we've returned to where we started, proving that Master Cen's hard work was worthwhile.

After saying that, he picked up the bowl and ate the last few mouthfuls of rice.

Looking at the glistening white rice grains at the bottom of the bowl, as if remembering something, she turned to Jiang Qin and said, "There's one more thing."

His voice wasn't loud, but Liu Xiulian's hand, which was about to clear the bowls and chopsticks, stopped in mid-air.

"Go and inform the disciples in the gang that in the coming days, they should clear more wasteland, plant more grain, and store more grain."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Qin was slightly taken aback.

Jiang Yi remained calm and continued, "If anyone finds it troublesome, or if they can't keep the goods at home, let them bring them to the Jiang family and exchange them for medicinal herbs and spiritual fruits."

He examined the empty bowl in his hand as if looking at a map of mountains and rivers, pondered for a moment, and then added:
"It's best to keep this matter private and not spread it around."

Jiang Qin didn't understand why his grandfather suddenly valued ordinary grains.

However, having been influenced by his uncles and aunts since childhood, he always regarded his grandfather's words as gospel and immediately nodded in agreement.

After thinking for a moment, he hesitated and said:
“Grandpa, if we really want to stockpile grain on a large scale, we’ll probably have to build another granary outside the village. The land near our house is full of spiritual herbs and fruits. If we demolish it to build a house and a granary, it would be a waste of resources.”

After pondering for a moment, Jiang Yi concluded that with the current strength of the Jiang family and the growing lads of the Gujin Gang, guarding a few granaries shouldn't be too difficult.

So he nodded and said, "I'll do as you say, whatever you think is best."

The family members dispersed, some to prepare for tomorrow's lecture, others to stockpile grain.

Jiang Yi was the only one left in the courtyard. He sat with his hands behind his back, gazing at the cold moon in the sky, his expression growing increasingly serene.

In recent years, first there was the Qiang rebellion, then the epidemic; the world has truly been far from peaceful.

Although he seemed to have caught his breath, he was perfectly clear-headed.

If I remember correctly, this is just a small appetizer.

Natural disasters followed one after another, which would eventually lead to man-made disasters.

When that seemingly sturdy mansion collapses, it will likely be a catastrophe for the world.

Taking advantage of this brief period of calm, it's always good to have a few extra options.

Starting from the second day, evening classes were added to the Jiang Family Ancestral Hall, and the Ancient and Modern School also added literature classes.

Those most robust and energetic members of the gang, having removed their training gear, returned from the martial arts arena to their old school, where they listened to the Jiang family, young and old, take turns explaining the principles from the books.

Besides these overt changes, the core group of disciples of the Ancient and Modern Gang quietly accelerated their pace of land reclamation and farming.

Several inconspicuous warehouses have quietly sprung up in the newly cleared woodland.

To the outside world, they only said that Liangjie Village had taken in many new villagers and that with a large population in the future, they needed to make plans for it early.

That wasn't entirely an excuse.

Over the years, Liangjie Village has indeed changed every day.

Especially after accepting that group of refugees, the village has grown to a size comparable to that of small towns outside.

With more people around, the atmosphere becomes more lively and bustling.

A small wine shop has recently opened at the entrance of the village. It doesn't sell much wine each day, but there are always three or five men who can drink from midday until the moon rises above the willow tree.
A sesame seed cake stall has been added by the roadside. When the fire in the oven is burning brightly, the aroma of dough mixed with the fragrance of sesame seeds can make the children on half the street drool.

Occasionally, a peddler would come by carrying a load on his shoulder, and with a "dong dong" shake of his rattle drum, a group of children would gather around, begging to buy sugar figurines.

Even the fruit from Grandpa Yu's family is no longer sold at the market; they've set up a small stall at the village entrance.

However, Liangjie Village is not located on a main thoroughfare, and the people coming and going are mostly from the surrounding villages, which is not enough to attract merchants from other places. Otherwise, the bustling atmosphere would probably be even more intense.

Several elderly people in the village, now in their twilight years, would occasionally mumble incoherently after drinking too much.

Our village, back in the day, was a well-connected place, with carriages and horses constantly traveling between east and west.

But later, the mountain behind the village suddenly collapsed, like a huge boulder blocking the road. The young man chuckled and handed over a bowl of hot tea, assuming the old man was just rambling on, that he was getting old and liked to spout nonsense.

……

Three years have passed in the blink of an eye.

That day, Jiang Yi accompanied Jiang Qin to visit the newly built granaries at the entrance of the village.

Liangjie Village now has a large group of strong and capable young men, all of whom have trained in physical skills. When they get to work, even several oxen and horses can't keep up.

For them, clearing land and farming was simply another way to toughen up their bodies.

With just one sentence from Jiang Qin, the group of men put all their brute force into the plowshares and hoe handles.

After three years, the grain was so plentiful that every household's granary could not hold it all. So they carried it to the Jiang family in baskets to exchange for medicinal herbs and spiritual fruits, which they then took back to refine their bones and flesh.

This cycle continued, and people grew stronger and the land became more fertile.

Jiang Yi casually grabbed a handful of fresh grain, held it in his palm, and sniffed the warm, dry aroma of the grain. Seeing that there was no musty smell, he nodded secretly.

On his way back to the village, he passed by Lingsu Temple, paused, and walked inside.

The incense in the ancestral hall is burning even more brightly than it did three years ago.

A heavily pregnant woman was holding her back and murmuring a prayer.

A family next to them, holding their newborn baby, kowtowed in front of the statue to make a vow.

In recent years, the weather has been favorable, and thanks to the "selfless" help from Old Master Jiang, the newly relocated villagers have settled down and have no worries about food and clothing.

As life became more comfortable, more children were added to the family.

These children, from the moment they are in their mother's womb, have heard the stories of the Goddess Lingsu, the Demon-Subduing Vajra, and the Medicine Master Spirit Maiden; they are born to be the most devout incense offerings in this shrine.

Jiang Yi stood in the fragrant mist, watching quietly for a long time before turning around and going home.

The Jiang family's courtyard and surrounding area looked much the same as before, except that the spiritual trees and medicinal herbs were growing more luxuriantly.

Only the lingering spiritual energy had already stopped, seemingly unable to gain much more.

Jiang Ming, the eldest son, who was promised to return within a year and a half to three to five years, has been nowhere to be found.

I wonder if the Eastern Continent of Divine Victory is truly separated by countless mountains and rivers.

As time went by, a hint of bitterness eventually seeped into that tranquil tea soup.

Only the eldest daughter-in-law, Jin Xiuer, continued to spin yarn, weave cloth, and sweep the courtyard every day.

Her eyes were filled with certainty, as if her husband had only gone to a distant place and would return sooner or later.

Jiang Yi paced around the house, inside and out, and sure enough, Jiang Jun was nowhere to be seen.

Since last year, this kid has been following in his father's footsteps, going to the back mountain every day and only returning with a body covered in dew when the moon is high in the sky.

Jiang Yi had no idea what he was doing in the mountains.

All I know is that this grandson's aptitude isn't actually top-notch because his mother's cultivation level was insufficient during her pregnancy.

Whether it was studying to understand principles or strengthening their bodies, their progress was astonishingly rapid.

Even his two more talented cousins, at the same age, were far inferior to him.

As dinnertime approached, the lights were dim, and several steaming dishes were served.

Jiang Yiju did not touch his chopsticks, his gaze slowly sweeping across the table, his eyes concealing something he was unwilling to let surface easily.

Apart from Jiang Jun, his daughter was still nowhere to be seen today.

The treehouse behind the house has had its wooden door tightly shut for more than three years.

Xi'er plunged in and disappeared without a sound.

That threshold of divinity, however, refused to loosen its grip even slightly for her.

The initial high spirits have probably been worn down by the monotonous sitting day after day, turning into anxiety.

As a father, he hadn't had a proper conversation with his daughter in ages.

Liu Xiulian came out of the kitchen carrying a plate of freshly stir-fried vegetables, her hands still steaming from the pot.

As soon as my gaze fell on the empty chair on the table, the warmth from the stove fire vanished.

All that remained in his eyes and brows was a somber expression almost identical to that of his own old man.

"If Xi'er continues like this... I'm afraid it's not a good solution."

She put down her chopsticks, and couldn't help but whisper, her eyes full of concern, before finally looking at her husband.

"How about we ask around? Whether it's Crane Cry Mountain or the West Sea, we should be able to find a way."

Jiang Yi picked up a piece of green vegetable with his chopsticks, chewed it slowly, and didn't say anything immediately.

How could he not be anxious?
However, in the path of cultivation, it is most taboo for outsiders to interfere.

Each method has its own way of overcoming obstacles; how can outsiders casually reach out and interfere?

At this moment, Kim Soo-ah, who had been engrossed in eating, suddenly raised her eyes.

The voice was soft, like talking to oneself, yet also like speaking to the people at the table:

“I remember someone saying that to cultivate that divine clarity, it’s not enough to just understand and comprehend things on your own. The final step requires a sufficient amount of spiritual energy to drive it... Only with spiritual clarity can one have a chance to succeed in one fell swoop.”

Jiang Yi's chopsticks paused in mid-air, his gaze falling on his eldest daughter-in-law, his expression shifting between light and shadow.

This daughter-in-law entered the Daoist path very late, her aptitude is ordinary, and her cultivation level may not be comparable to that of some of the younger generation.

However, her origins are strange, and her words often carry a hint of otherworldly significance, yet she has a deep connection with the back mountain.

It wouldn't be surprising if she knew some secrets that others didn't.

Thinking back, it must have been in the place with the most abundant spiritual energy in the back mountain that my eldest son broke through the barrier and entered the realm of perfect health and longevity.

But what can you do even if you know it?
The spiritual energy in our home has long since reached a bottleneck.

The treehouse, nurtured over the years, has become the place with the most abundant spiritual energy in the entire house.

Even though Xi'er was trapped inside and couldn't open the door, what methods could others possibly use?

Upon hearing this, Liu Xiulian's eyes suddenly lit up, and she quickly looked at her husband, her voice filled with urgency:

"Father... could you let Xi'er stay on Crane Cry Mountain for a while? The spiritual energy there is more abundant."

Jiang Yi remained silent, but his expression grew even more serious.

If it were a few years ago, when Feng'er was at the height of his fame on the mountain, he might have been able to say such a thing.

But after that epidemic, Feng'er on Heming Mountain gradually lost his former glory.

Although it still carries the title of being a direct disciple of the Celestial Master.

According to what Jiang Liang brought back, he said that he was being neglected for some reason and that life was not easy for him.

Speaking now would only add to the burden.

The people at the table fell silent, and the atmosphere in the main room seemed to freeze.

Jin Xiuer fiddled with the rice in her bowl for a long time before finally looking up and saying softly:

"Father, mother."

Her voice wasn't loud, but it drew the attention of both Mr. and Mrs. Jiang.

She met their gazes, and slowly began to speak:

“My husband once mentioned that the spiritual energy of our family line originally came from the clear spring in the back mountain.”

As soon as he finished speaking, Jiang Yi and Liu Xiulian's eyes both sharpened.

Kim Soo-ah paused, seemingly considering her words, before continuing:
"If that's the case... why not try to properly bring that spiritual energy into the house?"

(End of this chapter)