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

Chapter 170 Jiang Rui Returns Home, Re-explores the Qiang Land

Jiang Yi originally thought that since his daughter had received such a great blessing of "both life and death", there should be some kind of commotion after she came out of the treehouse.

Even if we don't immediately seek out the three demons and wreak havoc on them, we should at least show some of our unstoppable sharpness.

Unexpectedly, after breaking through the barrier, Jiang Xi found herself in a state of extraordinary peace.

The lingering melancholy between his brows seemed to have been washed away by mountain spring water, leaving only a clear and serene expanse.

These days, she sits quietly by the newly dug pond in the backyard, drawing in the pure water and wood energy to solidify her foundation.

He would brush away the dust from the old books in the study and teach the children in his family to recognize characters and read texts.

Occasionally, when the mood strikes, he'll even give them a few pointers on basic breathing techniques.

That leisurely air truly resembled that of a recluse living in the mountains, detached from worldly affairs.

Jiang Yi saw this and couldn't help but feel uneasy.

I wonder if this girl has truly reached a new level of maturity and has already regarded old grudges as nothing more than passing clouds.

Or perhaps they have other plans and strategies in mind.

Upon learning of her success, Liu Zi'an remained silent the next day and went directly to the treehouse as arranged by the Jiang family.

He visualized his spirit forming a majestic mountain range, following a profound and weighty path.

The abundant spiritual energy of water and wood in the treehouse didn't quite match Jiang Xi's.

It seems that we will have to put in a lot more effort.

The two families were even more eager than the couple themselves, and had already started discussing the marriage arrangements in private.

Once Liu Zian emerges from his seclusion, they will proceed with the long-awaited celebration.

Time always passes slowly and steadily in a place like Liangjie Village.

Another half month has passed in the blink of an eye.

There has been no movement from Liu Zi'an's side yet.

Instead, a dusty horse-drawn carriage drove into the village entrance first.

Before the carriage could stabilize, a burly figure nimbly tumbled off.

It stirred up a little dust upon landing, but its body remained as steady as a mountain rock.

The newcomer was in his early twenties, tall and strong, with solid muscles. Even in ordinary clothes, he couldn't hide the murderous aura he had honed in the military.

With a bronze complexion and a sharply defined face, his most striking feature was his eyes, which shone with a chilling light, as if they had seen blood on the battlefield.

It was Jiang Rui, the second son of the second branch of the Jiang family.

"Grandpa, Grandma!"

He strode into the courtyard, his voice booming, and gave a crisp military-style fist salute to Jiang Yi and Liu Xiulian who came out to greet him.

After the ceremony, he turned around and walked a few steps to the carriage, lifted the curtain and slipped inside, carefully taking out a little girl who looked two or three years old.

Just moments ago he was full of fierceness, but now he was all smiles, his hands supporting that small body with surprisingly gentle movements.

The little girl was exquisitely beautiful, and her features bore a resemblance to Jiang Rui's daughter, Jiang Han.

Then, a woman in a plain dress also got off the car. She had delicate features and a very steady gait, clearly indicating that she was also a trained martial artist.

This woman was Zhao Qiqi, the daughter of the Protector of the Qiang and the wife of Jiang Rui.

Jiang Rui took his wife's hand and led her to the front of the crowd.

Zhao Qiqi was gentle and graceful. As her husband introduced her, she bowed and greeted everyone, calling them "Grandpa," "Grandma," and "Auntie" without any awkwardness.

The two got married in Luoyang. At that time, only Li Wenya was present from the Jiang family side, so this was the first time she had met all the elders.

Liu Xiulian's eyes lit up with joy, and she rushed forward to take her granddaughter-in-law's hand.

Without a word, she slipped a jade bracelet that had been prepared beforehand onto her wrist, muttering to herself:

"Good boy, you must be tired from the journey."

Jiang Yi smiled and approached his great-granddaughter, not in a hurry to hug her, but instead stretched out a finger to tease her little chin.

The little girl was shy and her eyes darted around. She pouted, clutched her father's sleeve, and hid behind Jiang Rui.

Everyone in the courtyard burst into laughter upon seeing this.

Jiang Yi wasn't annoyed at all; he stroked his beard and chuckled.

With a quick glance, the old man could tell that the young girl had a good foundation and was in no way inferior to the two grandsons, Jiang Qin and Jiang Jin.

That makes sense. The granddaughter-in-law comes from a military family and naturally has some talent, while Jiang Rui is a product of battlefield experience. Naturally, their child would be exceptional.

Just as he was about to reach out and coax her again, a very light footstep sounded in the courtyard.

A person emerged from the orchard.

Jiang Xi, dressed in a simple cloth dress and without any makeup, stood quietly under the old locust tree.

Sunlight filtered through the leaves, casting dappled shadows on her figure and making her face appear exceptionally clear.

She was already thirty-four years old, but she looked even younger than Jiang Rui, who was twenty-one.

If outsiders saw them, they might mistake them for siblings.

As soon as Jiang Rui saw his aunt come out, his face lit up with a smile, and he quickly pulled his wife aside to introduce her:

"Qiqi, this is the aunt I often mention to you, who has been the kindest to me since I was little."

Zhao Qiqi looked in that direction and couldn't help but pause in surprise.

I had heard my husband mention that there was an aunt in our family who had achieved great spiritual cultivation, but I never imagined that she would be so beautiful and charming.

Coming to her senses, she quickly curtsied and softly called out, "Auntie."

Jiang Xi smiled and returned the greeting, but her gaze had already fallen on the exquisitely beautiful little figure behind Jiang Rui's arms.

She bent down, extended her hand to the little girl, and smiled without saying a word.

Strangely enough, Xiao Han, who had been timid just moments before, suddenly let go of her father's clothes and rushed straight into his arms.

It seemed like an innate affinity, or perhaps I was drawn to the fresh, natural scent emanating from her.

Seeing the child's affection, Jiang Xi couldn't help but show a warm smile in her eyes.

She easily held her grandniece in her arms with one hand, while her other hand seemingly casually stroked the little girl's fluffy head all the way down to her waist and back.

Jiang Yi stood to the side, stroking his beard, his hand pausing slightly, a glint of shrewdness flashing in his eyes.

He didn't even need to consciously perceive it to sense a vigorous and pure life force, which was silently flowing into Jiang Han's body like a gentle spring breeze and nourishing rain, following his daughter's movements.

He gently and slowly regulated and nourished her still-developing bones, muscles, and internal organs.

He knew in his heart that the wood elemental energy contained within the precious tree in his daughter's soul was the most gentle and enduring, without a trace of fire. It was truly the most suitable gift to use it to cultivate the character of such a young child.

Jiang Rui, now at a level of full energy and tranquility, could naturally perceive the tremendous changes taking place within his daughter's body.

He secretly marveled at his aunt's unfathomable cultivation level, and quickly patted his daughter's bottom, smiling as he greeted her:
"Han'er, quick, thank your great-aunt."

Little Jiang Han didn't understand any of this; she only felt warm and comfortable all over, so comfortable that she just wanted to sleep, being held by this beautiful aunt.

Upon hearing this, she simply replied in a childish voice, "Thank you... Auntie."

After a lively exchange of pleasantries, Liu Xiulian went into the kitchen with a beaming smile, saying she wanted to show off her skills to her grandson and granddaughter-in-law who had returned from afar.

Jin Xiuer smiled and led Zhao Qiqi around the house, introducing the scenery of the house.

As the daughter of the Protector of the Qiang, Zhao Qiqi came from a prominent family in Liangzhou and considered herself to have seen a bit of the world.

But now, following his aunt, looking at the seemingly ordinary farmhouse courtyard of the Jiang family, and the seemingly randomly planted plants and trees, he couldn't help but feel secretly alarmed.

What was climbing on the corner of the wall was clearly the "purple jade vine" described in the book, a small section of which could be exchanged for a hundred taels of gold.
Under that fence grows a kind of calming herb called "Spirit-Calming Grass," which looks quite old.
Not to mention the orchard in the backyard, where the fruit, though not yet ripe, already exudes a spiritual aura, its refreshing fragrance wafting from afar...

This is no ordinary farmhouse; it is clearly a hidden paradise in the countryside.

The women in the courtyard had their own lively atmosphere.

Jiang Yi led Jiang Rui, one in front and one behind, into the ancestral hall where incense burned year-round.

He first took three incense sticks and handed them to his grandson, indicating that he should light incense for his deceased father and kowtow.

Jiang Rui respectfully accepted the incense, lit it over the candle flame, and bowed three times solemnly before placing the incense stick into the burner.

Wisps of smoke curled upwards, merging into the fragrant incense smoke.

After he finished, Jiang Yi sat down on the old futon and patted the empty seat next to him.

He spoke slowly, asking only ordinary questions: "Is life in the army going well?"

Although on ordinary nights when it was quiet, he could still learn some news about his family members from his youngest son Jiang Liang's spirit.

But ultimately, there's a layer separating us, like looking at flowers through fog—you can see the outline, but you can't grasp the reality.

It would be more reassuring to ask face-to-face in person.

Jiang Rui knelt down on the prayer mat beside his grandfather, his back ramrod straight, and replied:
"Everything is fine. My father-in-law treats me like his own son, and Uncle Dong and Uncle Ma in the army also take good care of me."

The Uncle Dong and Uncle Ma he mentioned were two scions of prominent families who participated in the Liangzhou general election with his father, Jiang Liang, and were both ranked first class.

Back then, the three of them were selected by Commandant Zhao to be his trusted confidants and trained together. They lived, ate, and practiced martial arts together, and they even risked their lives on the battlefield to forge a bond.

That relationship was unlike that of ordinary comrades.

After Jiang Liang's early death, both men made outstanding contributions in the army and now hold important positions.

As for Jiang Rui, the son of an old friend, one should naturally lend a helping hand if possible.

Upon hearing this, Jiang Yi merely nodded noncommittally, his cloudy old eyes fixed on the flickering embers in the incense burner, and then asked:
"I heard from your father that you're being transferred soon to guard the Liangqiang border?"

Jiang Rui nodded first, then shook his head. A maturity beyond his years appeared on his face, roughened by wind and sand.
"Yes and no."

He paused, as if organizing his thoughts:
"This transfer is nominally to guard the border, but in reality... it's to lead a team deep into the Qiang territory to have a proper 'deal' with those Fa Qiang tribes."

Jiang Yi raised an eyebrow slightly, but remained silent, slowly settling into a cross-legged position on the futon.

Jiang Rui then continued:
“Grandpa also knows that although the Shaodang tribe was wiped out last time, the Qiang tribe has surrendered and then rebelled again, and it has always been a major threat to Liangzhou.”

"The Qiang region is too vast, with countless tribes emerging amidst towering mountains and deep valleys. No one can say for sure how many tribes are hidden within. Those who dared to invade the border last time were, in the end, just the boldest and most foolish among them."

His voice was not loud, but it was exceptionally clear in the quiet ancestral hall.

"My grandson's trip to Qiang this time is for two reasons. First, he is ordered to investigate how many Qiang tribes are still hiding in those continuous mountains and to find out their background."

"Secondly, we also need to deal with those tribal chiefs and see if we can find a way to appease them in the long run, whether it's to fight or appease them, or both."

After listening, Jiang Yi remained silent for a long time, quietly looking at the memorial tablet in front of him.

After a long silence, he nodded, his tone flat:

"This is indeed a good opportunity to make a name for ourselves. If we can succeed, it will be a great achievement for the country and the people."

The tone shifted abruptly, and a hint of concern finally emerged from his otherwise calm voice.

"However, dealing with those unreasonable barbarians is always dangerous, so you should be careful."

A slight smile finally appeared on Jiang Rui's serious face, and he nodded emphatically: "Grandson understands."

Inside the ancestral hall, incense burned quietly, and the grandfather and grandson remained silent for a moment.

After a long while, Jiang Yicai stood up from the prayer mat without saying a word, and walked to the altar table at the back of the ancestral hall, which was covered with some dust.

He bent down and rummaged under the table for a while, then took out something wrapped tightly in oil paper.

Unwrapping the oil paper revealed a kraft paper envelope inside, which looked quite old, with its edges worn and soft.

He turned the envelope upside down, gave it a gentle shake, and a yellowed old talisman fell into his palm.

The cinnabar marks on the talisman paper have become somewhat blurred and indistinct due to the erosion of time.

Jiang Yi took the talisman, walked back to Jiang Rui, and handed it to him.

Jiang Rui took it and found it rough to the touch. The spiritual energy on the paper had mostly dissipated, and he couldn't make out anything. He couldn't help but look puzzled.

Jiang Yi then sat down again on the futon, and said slowly in a voice that was neither too loud nor too soft:
"You should know that when your father was fighting in the Qiang region, he had a big black chicken by his side."

Jiang Rui nodded quickly and solemnly said, "Grandson understands."

Although he hadn't witnessed it himself, he'd heard about it since he was a child, and his ears were practically calloused from hearing it so often.

Jiang Yi hummed in agreement, his gaze seemingly passing through his grandson and landing on distant memories:

"Its name is Big Black. In a way, it saved your father's life; it's a benefactor."

He paused, then pointed to the talisman in Jiang Rui's hand.

“And this talisman is the method your father used to ‘reason’ with it back then.”

As Jiang Yi spoke, his gaze fell on the talisman, and he continued:

"However, this talisman has been sitting for a long time, and its spiritual energy has almost dissipated. Moreover, that chicken is probably not the same as before, so there is no hope of using it to control it again. But if it is just used to find a trace and sense something, it should still be of some use."

He gestured for Jiang Rui to put the talisman away, his words carrying a hint of entrustment.

"When you go to the Qiang region, take this talisman with you. In your spare time, keep an eye out and see if you can find any trace of Dahei."

After Dahei sent the seriously injured Jiang Liang back to the camp, he lost contact with him.

Over the years, I have never heard any news related to it.

Jiang Yi had always suspected that the old hen that had gained sentience might not have gone far and might still remain in that vast Qiang land.

(End of this chapter)