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

Chapter 181 Underworld Lawsuit, Friendship Between Relatives

Jiang Yi, too lazy to waste words, calmly stepped forward and dealt with each of them cleanly and efficiently.

The stench and demonic aura gradually dissipated, leaving only a few corpses, now restored to their original forms, lying scattered on the ground.

With a flick of his sleeve, he added several more sources of income to his business.

Peeling away the skin and tendons, removing the bones and extracting the essence—every single item is made from the finest materials.

After tidying up, he shook his clothes and turned back to the local earth god temple.

As the local deity, how could the landowner not know the affairs of his territory?

But at this very moment, he knelt upright before the shrine, banging his head against the ground repeatedly, his face streaked with snot and tears, his cries deafening.

"Immortal, spare my life! It was those beasts who coerced this old man! When I refused, they threatened to destroy my temple and cut off my incense offerings! I had no choice..."

Jiang Yi simply watched quietly, his eyes showing no emotion.

The vague plans made on the way here have become clearer now because of this unexpected event.

He didn't answer, but simply picked up a talisman and gently stuck it on the earth god's forehead.

The wailing stopped abruptly, the body stiffened, unable to move, only the eyes darting around in terror.

Jiang Yi, carrying the suppressed evil god, did not linger. He determined the direction and went straight back to Yingchoujian.

This time, before even reaching the village shrine, the figure of the old village god appeared on the mountain path, as if he had been waiting there for a long time.

The local official, who had been subdued, saw his colleagues and immediately felt as if he had seen a savior. He frantically gestured with his eyes, made "woo-woo" sounds in his throat, and twisted his body like a dead snake.

The old man saw this but remained unmoved, only glancing at it indifferently without uttering a single word.

Although they are both local earth gods, their identities can be vastly different.

The deity who waits quietly for destiny in the main hall is naturally not the same as the grass god who barely gathers some incense in the thatched temple.

Jiang Yi casually threw the piece of land on the ground, letting him roll around in the dirt.

Then, unhurriedly, he recounted the entire story of how he stopped to rest, was tricked, and fought back against the monster, in a calm and ordinary manner.

Finally, he looked up at the old man, his voice still gentle:
"Your Excellency, according to the rules, how should this kind of local deity who colludes with demons and harms travelers be dealt with?"

The old man merely glanced at him indifferently, his expression unchanged, neither agreeing nor disagreeing with his words.

Ultimately, his relationship with Jiang Yi was nothing more than a chance encounter, a mere acquaintance formed over a cup of tea.

How can one fully believe something based solely on words spoken out of thin air?

He hesitated for a moment before slowly speaking:
"According to the rules, such injustices must be reported to the local day and night patrol gods. Only after the Underworld Commander investigates the cause and effect can a judgment be made, which is in accordance with the Heavenly Laws."

As he said this, his cloudy eyes shifted slightly, landing on Jiang Yi, and a hint of interest crept into his tone:

"However... according to the immortal, since those beasts have been completely killed, there are no human witnesses. A few demon corpses can't be considered physical evidence. This matter has become just empty talk."

At this point, a glint of light flashed deep within his old eyes, then disappeared back into their cloudiness:

"If you insist on pursuing this matter, I can certainly submit this petition on your behalf. However, without any evidence, it will be difficult to determine who is right and who is wrong when the gods descend. It might even cause you unnecessary trouble."

After speaking, he fell silent.

A pair of old eyes, seemingly cloudy, subtly swept across Jiang Yi's face, as if waiting for him to make a decision.

Jiang Yi naturally understood.

Making a accusation without evidence is something even a powerful outsider would have to consider carefully, whether he can defeat this local bully.

If things really escalate to court, it's hard to say whether the deity will believe in this outsider or the local spirit.

They might even turn around and accuse you of killing the mountain god without cause and harboring ulterior motives.

Looking at the old man's expression, it seemed less like he was trying to dissuade him and more like he was testing him.

They wanted to find out more about their own family's background and see if the Jiang family really had the confidence to fight a lawsuit in the underworld.

But now, the two strokes of the character "retreat" are no longer in Jiang Yixin's heart.

Thinking of this, a smile appeared on his face. He cupped his hands in greeting to the old man and said:

“Since there are rules, we should abide by them. I humbly request that Your Majesty convey my message: I am willing to confront this evil god face to face. In this bright and clear world, how can we allow such a villain to corrupt this land?”

His words were open and honest, and his demeanor was as steady as a mountain.

A knowing glint flashed in the old man's eyes; he wasn't surprised and chuckled.
"Since the immortal has such a wish, this old man will gladly oblige."

As he spoke, he raised his hand and gestured for the other person to enter.

As soon as he finished speaking, his figure transformed into a wisp of shadow and faded away, still using the technique of shrinking the earth to an inch.

Without hesitation, Jiang Yi lifted the writhing earth with one hand, leaped up, and followed.

When we landed again, we were back in the familiar courtyard of the Lishe Temple.

The courtyard remained as serene as ever. An old man stood in the courtyard with his hands behind his back, seemingly having sent out a message through some unknown means.

Seeing Jiang Yi arrive with him, he smiled and gestured with his hand:
"Please wait a moment, Immortal Master. The Underworld Commander's inspection has reached this point and will require some time."

This time, however, he no longer mentioned fragrant tea or fine tea. Instead, he stood side by side with Jiang Yi, hands behind his back, gazing calmly at the sky, waiting quietly.

After waiting quietly in the courtyard for a short while, without a breeze or a rustling leaf, a figure suddenly stood in the courtyard.

The newcomer was dressed in official robes, with a token of unknown material hanging from his waist. His figure was half-real and half-ethereal, as if he could vanish at any moment.

His face was indistinct, as if shrouded in the lingering smoke of cooking fires, or like the haze of a drunkard who hadn't yet sobered up, obscuring his features.

Only the chilling, murderous aura emanating from the depths of one's soul, like icicles in the dead of winter, made one dare not look up.

Jiang Yi's heart stirred slightly.

For some reason, a faint, familiar aura could be detected deep within the Yin spirit's energy.

The moment the spirit appeared that day, his gaze was like two knives that sliced ​​through bone, first sweeping over Jiang Yi, then fixing on the old man's face, his voice as cold as iron:
"What are you calling me for?"

The old man, however, showed no restraint before this deity. He simply chuckled, cupped his hands, and explained the situation.

His words were impartial and unbiased, neither exonerating the land nor vouching for Jiang Yi, appearing entirely to be an official and businesslike person.

Jiang Yi was about to step forward and recount in detail how the evil god colluded with monsters to block the road and kill people...

But the wandering deity had no patience for listening. He raised his hand and flicked it, causing the restrictive talisman affixed to the earth god's forehead to fall lightly, like a withered leaf.

His gaze was like lightning; he didn't look at Jiang Yi, but fixed his gaze on the earth for a moment, and his shout was like thunder:
"As a local deity who receives offerings from the local community, how dare you collude with evil spirits and harm travelers! What is your punishment?"

The landowner, now free, was pondering whether to cry out for justice or to turn the tables and accuse the landowner.

The shout landed right on his head, leaving him stunned and his throat felt like it was being choked by iron clamps, unable to utter a single word.

The Shepanshan She deity, who had originally intended to watch the show from the sidelines, couldn't help but stiffen slightly upon seeing the scene before him.

This... doesn't seem to be in accordance with the rules, does it?
Logically speaking, the plaintiff should present their case, the defendant should confront them, and then the underworld deities should make a judgment; only then can the procedure be followed.

How can you start by immediately accusing someone of a crime?
But the deity seemed not to notice their expressions that day, and did not give them any leeway.

His imposing aura pressed down, chilling as iron, as he continued to demand:

"I will ask you one more time, do you know your crime?"

This oppressive aura, unlike the directness of a collapsing mountain, was chilling to the bone, as if it could freeze one's very soul.

That land was already shallow in foundation, barely surviving on the help of a few sticks of incense.

At that moment, I felt my soul tremble, and I couldn't even squeeze out half a word of "injustice".

Finally, he knelt down with a thud, prostrating himself on the ground, his forehead thumping, and he stammered incoherently: "This humble god knows his sin! This humble god was bewitched, colluded with evil spirits, and plotted to harm the passerby... Please, God, spare my life! Spare my life!"

Throughout the entire process, Jiang Yi simply stood quietly by with his hands in his sleeves, without uttering a single coherent word.

They won the lawsuit effortlessly.

The old man from Snake Coil Mountain finally came to his senses and subconsciously turned his gaze to Jiang Yi, his eyes showing a hint of seriousness.

He pondered to himself, wondering where the Jiang family came from, that they could be so influential even in the underworld.

No wonder they were able to form this marriage alliance with the Dragon Palace of the West Sea.

With a flick of his sleeve, without even a gesture, the earth god's soul, which had been limp as mud on the ground, was lifted up by an invisible hand, turned into a wisp of green smoke, and disappeared straight into his sleeve.

“It’s not too late to take him back to the underworld, hand him over to the judge for trial, and then send him to hell.”

Having finished this matter, he turned around, his eyes, still hazy with the smoke of cooking, returning to Jiang Yi. His demeanor remained dignified, his voice unwavering.

"Expelling such an evil deity is a meritorious deed. When I return to my abode, I will inform the Lord of the Abode and have this act of good deed recorded for you. May I ask your esteemed name and where you reside in the celestial realm?"

Although Jiang Yi hesitated somewhat, he showed no sign of it on his face. He simply cupped his hands in greeting and replied softly:
"I dare not. I am Jiang Yi, from Liangjie Village in Nanzhanbuzhou."

The words had barely left his mouth when a thought involuntarily shifted in his mind.

Could it be that my son, who works at the City God's Office in Chang'an, has some connection with this Yin Marshal?
Unexpectedly, the wandering deity opposite him paused slightly upon hearing the name "Jiang Yi," especially the words "Liangjie Village."

The smoky aura that enveloped his features seemed to ripple slightly, and an indescribable meaning flashed in his eyes.

The snake-coiled mountain god standing to the side was a seasoned old fox.

Seeing that the atmosphere had suddenly become subtle, he was already nervous and dared not stand still.

He immediately chuckled and slapped his forehead:
"Oh dear, what a forgetful thing I am! I was so busy talking that I forgot to serve tea. Please wait a moment, I'll be right back."

Having said that, without waiting for the two to reply, he darted into the back house and disappeared without a trace.

Once the snake-coiled mountain deity knew it was time to slip away and disappeared behind the house, the cold, businesslike atmosphere in the courtyard finally subsided somewhat.

The smoky haze that had enveloped the Sun God's face seemed to dissipate by half, and he slowly spoke:
"Speaking of which, you and I are not strangers. My surname is Liu, and my hometown is Fuzhuang, which is not far from Liangjie Village."

Upon hearing this, a glint flashed in Jiang Yi's eyes.

His surname was Liu, and he lived near Liangjie Village... The doubts in my heart vanished instantly, like snowflakes meeting the morning sun.

They were actually ancestors of Liu Family Village.

Now that the Jiang and Liu families have become related by marriage, they are certainly not outsiders.

Jiang Yi understood the situation and immediately bowed again, his expression showing more genuine respect than before.

"Junior Jiang Yi greets Senior."

The Day-Roaming God accepted the greeting without hesitation, but returned the greeting with a half-bowing and a slight nod. He did not acknowledge the title of "senior," which instead suggested a friendly relationship between equals.

Now that he recognized them as family, Jiang Yi became less reserved and asked:
"Since you didn't recognize me before, why did you..."

The meaning was implied even before the words were fully spoken.

The wandering god of the day smiled, his voice gaining a touch of humanity:
When you first met me, didn't you feel a sense of familiarity?

Jiang Yi nodded and said frankly, "I do feel that way."

However, the doubt in his expression did not dissipate.

The Day-Wandering God then continued:
"The cultivation method practiced by my in-laws is of the same origin as that of my Liu family. Our spirits and energy are naturally close, and we can be considered as fellow disciples."

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

The reason he was able to break through the barrier of the soul and cultivate to the state of spiritual prosperity was because of the "Taishang Laojun Shuo Chang Qingjing Jing" given to him by Liu Jiazhuangzi.

The spirit and soul are connected, and the vital energy is naturally sensed.

So, that sense of déjà vu came from here.

With a sudden change of heart, Jiang Yi understood everything.

No wonder there was that thorough "trial" just now, without asking any questions or going through the motions.

Those who can study this book, "The Classic of Constant Purity and Tranquility Spoken by Laozi," and use it to understand the path of the soul and spirit.

Regardless of whether they were born into mortal or immortal sects, tracing back to their origins, they all belonged to the "Supreme" lineage.

They may not be direct disciples or grand-disciples, but if you trace back a few generations, they must have worshipped the same patriarch.

Ultimately, we're all family.

The ancestral masters of each family may still be sitting and drinking tea in some palace in heaven, never to meet again.

The younger generation should also be aware of this bond of kinship.

In comparison, what is a wild god emerging from a rural temple?
Although he won the lawsuit, Jiang Yi felt a mix of emotions.

He won not justice, but human favor.

Just then, the shrine deity of Snake Coil Mountain emerged from the house carrying a wooden tray.

His smile remained unchanged, as if the previous twists and turns had not affected him at all.

"Gods and immortals, please moisten your throats."

He offered two freshly brewed cups of tea.

The tea soup was emerald green, and its rising steam carried a hint of ethereal beauty, clearly making it far more precious than the cup from the day before.

The Day-Wandering God held a cup in his hand, said nothing, tilted his head back and drank it all in one gulp, then immediately stood up.

He merely nodded slightly to the two of them, without uttering a single word, and then vanished like smoke, leaving without completing his mission.

With the departure of the deity, the invisible chilling atmosphere in the courtyard dissipated completely.

The local deity of Snake Coil Mountain still greeted Jiang Yi with a smile and invited him to sit down. His expression was not obsequious, but it showed more genuine enthusiasm than before.

"To my shame, I've been here so long that I've almost forgotten my name. I only remember that my surname was Gui, and my colleagues call me 'Old Ghost' because of my age. If you don't mind, please call me that too, Immortal Master."

This statement can be considered a gesture of sincerity.

Jiang Yi naturally understood and immediately cupped his hands in greeting, saying:

"How could I dare? This time, we were able to bring that evil god to his knees thanks to Brother Gui's timely report. Just now, before that god left, I also mentioned it briefly. Brother Gui should certainly have a share in this record of merit."

Their words already conveyed a sense of reciprocity.

Upon hearing this, Lao Gui's smile lines deepened, and he waved his hands repeatedly.

"Brother Jiang, you flatter me. I have only done my duty and dare not take credit for it."

The two understood each other implicitly, declined a few times, and the previous estrangement and probing were completely eliminated in these few words and a cup of hot tea.

After chatting for a few more minutes about interesting things in the mountains and countryside, Jiang Yi gently put down his teacup after drinking only half a cup of tea.

With this, the atmosphere subtly shifted.

He mentioned it casually, but his tone carried a hint of inquiry:

"Brother Gui, now that the landowner in that area has been executed, what will be the next course of action?"

Seeing that Lao Gui was simply listening with a smile and his expression remained unchanged, he then clarified his words further:

"A casual chat in the mountains, I don't know if I should say this... Is there any way to relocate the water god of Eagle's Sorrow Stream at the foot of the mountain to that other place?"

(End of this chapter)