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

Chapter 179 The Unlucky Water God, the White Dragon in the Ravine

When the old man heard Jiang Yi introduce himself, the smile on his face was genuine and not feigned.

Mountain gods and land gods, though names of deities, ultimately eat the food of this land and its rivers.

They excel at understanding human relationships and the complexities of cause and effect.

Seeing his attitude, Jiang Yi also adopted a more relaxed demeanor.

After exchanging a few pleasantries, he turned his gaze to the still surging stream, his voice soft:

"To be honest, Your Excellency, I have come here to explore Eagle's Sorrow Gorge."

The words were not fully spoken, nor were the names revealed, yet those in the know understood almost everything upon hearing them.

The old man, indeed knowledgeable, chuckled and stroked his beard, nodding in agreement.

"I see. Given this kinship, it's understandable. But..."

His tone suddenly shifted, his gaze deep and unfathomable, like the clouds and mist in the mountains, "Right now, it's not very convenient."

The moment the four words were uttered, it seemed to fulfill a certain promise.

"Boom!"

The entire Eagle's Sorrow Gorge suddenly trembled!
The previously turbulent black water at the bottom of the ravine suddenly roared, its turbid waves soaring into the sky and crashing against the sheer cliffs on both sides, its power more than ten times greater than before.

It was as if an ancient behemoth was writhing in agony in a sunless abyss.

At the same time, Jiang Yi's mind was slightly shaken, and he vaguely caught a faint dragon's roar.

The breath was short and shrill, suppressed to the point of suffocation, full of pain and resentment.

Before it could even spill over, it was firmly suppressed by an even stronger force and submerged in the sound of crashing waves.

Jiang Yi raised an eyebrow slightly, a glint of understanding flashing in his eyes, and he already understood.

At this moment, it was the time for that Third Prince of the Western Sea to be tortured.

Just as he was beginning to appreciate the flavor, the old man looked over with a smile, his expression clearly conveying a sense of "See, it's really not bad."

"It seems we'll have to wait a while longer."

The voices were casual, as if the earth-shattering noise in the ravine was nothing more than a common quarrel behind the neighbor's courtyard wall.

"If the immortal master does not mind, why not come to my humble abode for a short while, have a cup of coarse tea, and wait for me?"

Jiang Yi wasn't in a hurry to travel, so upon hearing this, he smiled and cupped his hands in greeting, saying:
"In that case, I'll be troubling you."

"It's not at all like bothering you."

The old man's smile deepened, and before he finished speaking, his feet silently floated up, and his body soared into the air.

Jiang Yi remained unhurried, his sleeves fluttering slightly as he took a step forward, his shadow disappearing with the wind.

The two transformed into faint shadows, bypassing the front of Eagle's Sorrow Gorge, and in a short while, they landed on a mountain ridge.

But the ridge was not an ordinary rock formation; it was a stone flying fish with its head held high and its back broad.

Its entire body is dark and weathered by wind and rain, yet it shows no signs of decay; instead, it adds to its ancient and majestic appearance.

On the back of the flying fish stands a small temple, with green tiles and stone walls, blending seamlessly with the stone beast.

If you don't look closely, you might mistake it for part of the mountain rocks.

The temple is small, with a slightly worn wooden plaque hanging above the entrance, bearing three simple, ancient characters that are clearly visible:
Lishe Temple.

Jiang Yi followed the old man into the courtyard.

The courtyard of the Lishe Temple is not large, but it is kept clean and tidy.

The scattered items at the four corners conveyed an indescribable meaning.

Several animal hides of unknown origin hung on the bamboo rack, timber and tools were stacked in the corner, and a half-finished job lay on the stone table.

It resembles an unfinished saddle.

The leather gleamed with a warm, rough luster under the sunlight, making it clear at a glance that it was no ordinary product.

Jiang Yi's gaze lingered on the saddle for a moment.

The old man followed his gaze and laughed, completely unconcerned:

"I loved riding horses when I was born. Astride a horse, I always felt that the world had become a little wider. Although I don't need to ride them now, my hands still itch. When I have nothing to do, I just tinker with them randomly. I hope the immortals will laugh at me."

The tone of his voice suggested that he was referring not to the past, but to yesterday.

Jiang Yi's heart stirred slightly, but he didn't say much, only nodded solemnly.

When he took another step to catch up, his expression became even more respectful.

The old man led him to the porch in front of the house, said "Wait a moment," and then turned and went inside.

A moment later, a light tea aroma wafted out.

Before the teacups were even served, hurried footsteps suddenly echoed outside the courtyard.

Immediately afterwards, a figure stumbled in.

He was a fair-skinned young man with a still-childish face, but his figure was somewhat ethereal, and his body was faintly surrounded by water vapor.

He looked disheveled, his hair was messy, his light blue robe was mostly wet, and a few strands of water plants were still hanging from the hem.

He looked anxious and, as soon as he entered the courtyard, he tried to rush straight into the house.

However, this reckless momentum was abruptly halted when he caught sight of Jiang Yi sitting calmly under the eaves.

His scattered gaze briefly touched Jiang Yi before shifting away, his panic subsiding and replaced by a look of caution.

Although he didn't speak, he subconsciously held his breath and simply nodded slightly to Jiang Yi as a greeting.

Only then did the old man leisurely walk out of the house, carrying a rough pottery tea tray.

Seeing the young man's disheveled appearance, he didn't even lift his eyelids, but just smiled casually, as if it were the most ordinary thing for a cat or sparrow to run into the yard after being soaked by the rain.

He placed the tea tray on the stone table, poured a cup for Jiang Yi, and pushed another cup in front of the young man before slowly speaking:
"This is the water god of Eagle's Sorrow Gorge."

With just a few words, he revealed the young man's origins.

When it came to Jiang Yi, he only said vaguely, as if afraid of wasting words: "This is my guest."

During their conversation, neither his surname nor his origins were mentioned.

Jiang Yi understood, and simply bowed to the water god from afar, smiling but saying nothing.

The young water god was clearly not one to stand on ceremony. He returned the greeting briefly, then dragged a stone bench to sit down, picked up the cup of hot tea, and drank it all in one gulp.

As the scalding tea entered his stomach, he exhaled a long breath of stale air, as if he were expelling all the bad luck in his body.

The anxious look between his brows faded, leaving only a hint of weariness and complaint:
"They're making a ruckus again. I can't stand being there, so I've come here to get some peace and quiet."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Yi merely chuckled and did not interrupt.

With a flick of his sleeve, several items appeared out of thin air on the stone table.

It wasn't fresh fruit, but rather dried spiritual fruit that had already been prepared.

Its color is crystal clear, its aroma is sweet and refreshing, and its spiritual essence is subtle, making it more unique than ordinary spiritual fruits.

"I'm sorry to bother you two, but I've prepared some simple snacks to accompany your tea."

The old man remained calm, simply nodding with a smile and saying, "You're thoughtful."

Clearly, he has seen the world.

The young water god's eyes lit up. His gaze swept over the dried fruit twice, then he glanced at the old man without making a sound.

Seeing that he showed no sign of surprise, she took out a few pieces of dried fish and water vegetables from her bosom and placed them on the table as a return gift.

Then he chuckled and casually picked up a piece of dried spiritual fruit. "Then I won't be polite."

As he spoke, he put the food in his mouth, and as he chewed, the surprise in his eyes deepened.

After eating a few dried fruits, a warm feeling gradually arose in his stomach, and the young water god began to talk more freely.

He poured himself another cup of tea, tilted his head back and drank it all in one gulp, as if trying to use the heat to wash away all his resentment.

"To be honest, I was really unlucky to come to Eagle's Sorrow Gorge."

Jiang Yi smiled and asked gently, "Oh? What do you mean?"

The young water god seemed to have caught someone's ear to confide in; he immediately waved his hand, lowering his voice, but unable to suppress his disgust:
"What else could it be? At the bottom of this black pool lives a wicked dragon, punished by heaven! Every now and then, when the heavenly punishment falls, it wreaks havoc in the water, turning the world upside down and eclipsing the sun and moon. Tell me, how can anyone live like this? It's incredibly annoying!"

The old man coughed lightly twice, the sound not loud, but it hit people's eardrums perfectly, as if to remind them.

But the young man was engrossed in his speech, or perhaps filled with resentment, and genuinely didn't hear a word, continuing to complain to himself:
“Originally, I guarded this stream. Although life was simple and hard, it was peaceful. On ordinary days, I would ferry people and their livestock across the stream, and pray for the well-being of the people below the mountain. I accumulated some good karma through incense offerings.”

"Who would have thought that the evil dragon would come? It not only disturbs the neighbors, but also often comes up to scare them and steal their livestock. It even tries to destroy my raft for ferrying people, just to steal and devour those animals! It shows no mercy and clearly treats me like a decoration."

Seeing that he couldn't stop him from talking, the old man could only steal a glance at Jiang Yi.

The guest remained calm, with a half-smile, as if he were only listening to the wind and rain in the mountains and didn't care about it.

The old man breathed a sigh of relief, picked up a dried fruit, and began to chew it slowly, letting the young water god chatter on and on.

The water god grew increasingly melancholy as he spoke, and in the end, gazing at the drifting clouds on the horizon, he let out a heavy sigh:
"Alas, if this continues, forget about accumulating good karma, the people down the mountain might not even recognize my little bit of incense offerings. In that case, I'm afraid even the temple will be demolished."

After speaking, he looked distressed, and even the tea in his hand seemed to have lost its flavor.

Seeing the young water god's resentful expression, Jiang Yi became somewhat interested.

He poured more tea for him, his voice gentle and warm:

"Hearing these words from the Venerable Deity, I wonder what fate has brought you to guard this land?"

The young water god was clearly caught off guard.

Perhaps he enjoyed the spiritual fruit, or perhaps he had been suppressing his anger for too long; upon hearing this, he merely sighed, a hint of melancholy creeping into his expression.
"It's a tough life, really..."

He waved his hand, his gaze vacant, as if unwilling to touch upon the past:

“In my early years, I was just an ordinary mortal from the foot of the mountain. I lost my footing and fell into this ravine, where I was dragged by a water ghost to become his substitute.”

"After becoming a ghost, I soaked in that cold, black water every day, hoping to catch another unlucky person so that I could remove these shackles. But... in the end, I just couldn't bring myself to do it."

At this point, he chuckled, but the laugh was bitter: "I can't hurt anyone. On the contrary, when I see someone fall into the water, I can't help but give them a push and bring them back to shore."

"Over the years, the people at the foot of the mountain, perhaps having heard some rumors, actually built a small temple by the stream to burn incense and pray. As the incense gathered, the spirits solidified, and that's how, in a daze, he transformed from a down-on-his-luck water ghost into a water god."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Yi suddenly realized what was happening.

It turned out that his disheveled appearance, the steam rising from his hair, and the damp patches on his clothes were not caused by the evil dragon earlier.

Rather, his divine status stemmed from his origins as a down-on-his-luck water ghost.

Jiang Yixin pondered this matter, but showed no sign of it on his face.

He simply raised his cup to drink with the two local deities, and then casually chatted about old stories of the mountains and rivers.

The steam from the tea rose in the air, and before we knew it, half an hour had passed.

The roaring waves of Eagle's Sorrow Gorge gradually subsided, leaving only the dull echo of the flowing water.

The young water god listened intently for a long time, and seeing that things had indeed calmed down, he finally let out a heavy sigh of relief, as if a great burden had been lifted from his shoulders.

He stood up, bowed to the two of them with a gesture of apology:

"Now that the commotion is over, I need to go to the shore and see if there are any areas that have been washed away. I won't keep you two any longer."

Having said that, without waiting for anyone to stop him, he vanished from the courtyard in a flash, disappearing without a trace.

Watching the young water god's figure disappear into the distance, the old man finally withdrew his gaze and turned to Jiang Yi, letting out a soft sigh:
"This young friend, though he has no extraordinary background, is ultimately a kind-hearted person, which is why he received this divine favor. However..."

He changed the subject, his tone becoming somewhat unspeakable.

"It really is true... a bit of bad luck on my side."

As she spoke, she glanced at Jiang Yi sideways, seemingly unintentionally, her gaze gentle yet unfathomable.

"If the immortal master has some free time in the future, he can take care of him and help him get out of this evil water as soon as possible. It would be a good deed."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Yi merely smiled faintly, a smile that was peaceful yet distant:

"Everyone has their own destiny. I am but a passerby; how could I possibly have such thoughts and methods?"

The old man wasn't annoyed by his watertight reply; instead, he chuckled twice.

"Whether it's fate or not, who can say for sure?"

As he spoke, he slowly picked up his teacup and cast his gaze into the depths of the valley.

"The same event can be a godsend for some, but for others, it might be the seed of trouble. Ah, who knows, who knows..."

His voice was muffled, as if he were talking to himself, or as if he was intentionally leaving room for Jiang Yi to maneuver.

A moment later, he finished the remaining tea in his cup in one gulp, stretched out his body, and stood up.

"Let's go, this old man will take you to the stream."

He took the lead and walked ahead, his steps seemingly leisurely, yet his feet seemed to shrink the distance between them, leading Jiang Yi to a cliff edge in just a few steps.

This is the end of Eagle's Sorrow Gorge.

The cliffs rise straight up, as if cleaved by a knife and axe, with a bottomless abyss below.

The black water surged, and a fishy wind, carrying a damp chill, swept over us, making us tremble with fear, as if even our souls were about to be blown away.

As soon as the two stood still, a sound rolled out from the bottomless ravine.

The voice carried a hint of impatient irritability, but its foundation was weak, like a remnant of resilience left after long suffering.

"Old man, what are you doing here again?"

Upon hearing this, the old man laughed heartily, stroked his beard, and replied loudly:

"Third Prince, please don't be angry. This old man has brought a relative with him today."

"relative?"

The voice from the bottom of the ravine suddenly turned sharp, carrying a cold mockery:
"I have committed heinous crimes. Who in heaven and earth doesn't avoid me like the plague? We've already severed all ties. What kinship are you talking about? You old man, are you here to make fun of me?"

Upon hearing this, the old man looked slightly embarrassed and didn't know how to explain, so he could only turn his head to look at Jiang Yi.

Jiang Yi remained calm, seemingly unconcerned about his deep resentment.

He didn't speak, but with a thought, the yin and yang energies within his body flowed slowly like streams returning to the sea.

The seemingly ordinary linen clothes she wore gradually lost their plain and elegant appearance, revealing their true nature.

On the shimmering silk, a faint yet pure divine charm emanated from the hem of her garment.

That was not Jiang Yi's own aura, but a mark personally engraved by Ao Yu, the former owner of this garment.

Its spirit is light as a feather, yet it carries an unyielding will, passing through layers of mist and seeping quietly into the deepest part of the ravine through the heavy black water.

In an instant, the entire valley became eerily quiet, as if even the sounds of wind and water had been suppressed.

However, this tranquility lasted only a moment. The next instant, Eagle's Sorrow Gorge surged violently, like an iron pot suddenly overturned!

"Wow!"

The turbid waves surged skyward, and an enormous white dragon's head burst forth from the water with a thunderous roar.

Water droplets flew everywhere, and the oppressive force was like a mountain, rushing straight towards the two of them. In an instant, the sky and earth seemed to shrink.

(End of this chapter)