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

Chapter 184 Another Encounter with Loss of Control
The wooden door of the watchtower creaked open, and the morning light squeezed in first.

As the sun rises over the plateau, its light still carries a thin layer of frost. When it falls on your face, it is not scorching, but rather adds a refreshing coolness.

Smoke is rising from the village chimneys, carrying the scents of hay and the pungent smells of cattle and sheep—a unique aroma of this plateau, rough yet vibrant.

Jiang Rui, with his copper cudgel slung across his back, strolled out and slowly descended the well-trodden dirt road.

The Qiang people he encountered on the road, regardless of age, would stop and bow with their hands on their chests when they saw him from afar.

In their eyes, there was awe and curiosity, which ultimately subsided into a cautious and submissive demeanor.

Jiang Rui simply nodded slightly as a return gesture.

But a sigh escaped his lips.

When I first entered the Qiang region, I was met with cold stares and suspicion from every tribe I visited, just like the omnipresent cold wind of the plateau, which made my bones stiff and numb.

When I first arrived at the White Horse tribe, the scenery was exactly the same.

Until that day, relying on the old talisman given to him by his grandfather, he went to the back mountain to pay homage to the "Clan Guardian Eagle"...

Overnight, the winds shifted.

The Qiang people, who once regarded him as nothing, now treat him with the utmost respect, as if he were a living Buddha.

A faint smile appeared at the corner of Jiang Rui's lips, whether it was self-deprecation or a sigh of emotion was hard to tell.

Deep within this Qiang land, these mythical beasts are far more effective than any laws or principles.

Jiang Rui had walked the path to the temple countless times in his mind over the past two months.

Since that brief meeting, he had repeatedly sent messages, hoping to see the "divine eagle" again, but all his attempts were like throwing a stone into the sea, without receiving any response.

This morning, I finally received a short message with just four words: "Summoned by the Divine Eagle."

The guide was an elderly Qiang priest with dark skin, a solemn expression, and a steady gait.

Speechless all the way.

The entrance to the temple on the back mountain is nothing special.

But the further you go in, the more you feel a serene tranquility that cannot be trifled with.

There are no pavilions or towers, no gold or jade carvings, but every blade of grass, every tree, every stone, and every path is meticulously maintained, as if even the sound of the wind carries a touch of solemnity.

The priest stopped in his tracks when he reached an open area outside the temple.

Dozens of Qiang people knelt in the crowd, some with blood-stained cloths wrapped around their bodies, others with withered faces and barely breathing.

They bowed their heads, murmuring to themselves, their expressions so devout as if they had resigned themselves to life and death.

The priest remained unperturbed, simply turning to bow to Jiang Rui and gesturing for him to proceed deeper into the area.

The stone corridor is not long, but it is extremely secluded.

Footsteps echoed softly within, as if even the sunlight and noise outside were shut out of the corridor.

Upon reaching the end of the path, the priest paused before the door, bowed silently, and then stepped aside to make way.

Jiang Rui knew what was going on and went in alone.

The stone chamber was spacious, so spacious that it could almost echo.

In the center stands a black eagle statue, its wings slightly spread as if about to take flight, its expression sinister.

Beneath the statue, in a nest, lay a dark figure.

It was that "divine eagle".

After two months, its appearance has changed dramatically.

The previous chaotic and struggling appearance is no longer there; now its aura is restrained, and its wings are glossy black.

The sinister aura was so well concealed that, unless one had seen it with their own eyes, it would be difficult for anyone to associate it with that ferocious evil creature.

Hearing footsteps, the Divine Eagle slowly opened its eyes and its gaze fell on Jiang Rui.

He did not stand up, but merely nodded slightly. His demeanor was not that of a guest, yet he still maintained a certain level of respect for elders.

Jiang Rui knew what was going on, so he quickly stepped forward, bowed, and called out:

"Uncle Black".

This is the form of address that Father specifically instructed me to use in his letter.

Dahei fought alongside his father in the past and even saved his life in a dangerous situation. The Jiang family has never forgotten this kindness.

He called out "Uncle" not reluctantly, but willingly.

Upon hearing this, the eagle's scrutinizing reserve subtly diminished.

The corners of her mouth twitched slightly, revealing a hint of enjoyment.

"It's good that you've come." It spoke, its voice calm, and pointed with its wing, "Sit."

Their attitudes have become a little closer than before.

The stone chamber was sparsely furnished, with only a stone table and two stone stools, making it seem even more spacious and desolate.

In the end, it was Jiang Rui who broke the silence first.

He sat upright, his expression calm, and his tone respectful as a junior should:
"Uncle Hei, that 'Ten Thousand Feathers Transform into Phoenix Technique' I presented last time, I wonder... did it lend you a hand?"

The so-called "Ten Thousand Feathers Transform into Phoenix Technique" is precisely the breathing technique for birds in the Bird Taming Method.

My father wrote to me, instructing me to use a more impressive-sounding title, one that would carry more weight.

The big black dog at the head of the table paused almost imperceptibly for a moment.

After a moment, he slowly spoke, his gaze unconsciously sweeping over the black eagle statue behind him, as if seeking some confidence from his own cold, hard stone appearance:
"Tribal affairs are numerous and too busy... The laws and regulations are profound and difficult to understand, and I have not had time to study them carefully lately."

His voice was slightly more hesitant than before, not as if he were truly flawless, but rather as if there was something stuck in his throat that he couldn't say.

Upon hearing this, Jiang Rui's still somewhat immature face suddenly lit up, and he nodded repeatedly as if he had found a kindred spirit:
"Uncle Hei is absolutely right! That incantation is indeed strange, and I only seem to understand it halfway."

As he spoke, he leaned forward slightly, his tone full of sincerity, without the slightest hint of probing:

"However, this is just right."

A glint flashed in his eyes, as if he had thought of a brilliant idea, and his whole being radiated a certain brilliance:
"Please, Grandpa, help Uncle Hei solve this problem yourself."

As soon as the words were spoken, the already chilly atmosphere in the stone chamber seemed to have lost even more warmth.

Dahei sat upright as usual, but the scrutiny and composure in his eyes had been completely concealed.

"you say……"

When it spoke, its voice was relatively calm:
"Your grandfather...is here too?"

Before she finished speaking, her pair of black jade-like wings fluttered gently, without leaving a trace.

A very subtle vibration rippled out from the wingtip, like a wave.

Behind the stone chamber, a hidden door, seamlessly integrated with the mountain wall, silently slid open.

Immediately afterwards, a group of Qiang people in magnificent fur robes filed in, their footsteps so light as to be almost silent, without even stirring up a speck of dust.

In the blink of an eye, the long table carved from rosewood, the gilded Boshan incense burner, the brocade cushions, and even a screen painted with snow-capped eagles were all arranged in order.

Smoke curls from the hearth fire, filling the air with fragrance, washing away the chill and desolation of the mountain rocks.

Several Qiang women, with slender waists, holding silver pots and jade cups, carrying fresh fruits and candied fruits, moved gracefully and quietly stood by the table, heads bowed and eyes closed, like a painting.

In an instant, the empty and simple stone chamber suddenly gained a sense of the magnificence and grandeur of a royal tent.

The initial surprise and doubt that arose hastily have been completely obscured by this arrangement.

Big Black straightened its wings, its posture leisurely, as if the cold stone wall from before was just an illusion, and the current arrangement was the true nature of its hospitality.

A moment later, it produced a five-colored feather cloak from who-knows-where, casually draped it over its shoulder, and its divine aura became even more imposing.

Once the weather stabilized, Dahei glanced sideways at the maid beside him and said indifferently:
"Go and greet the distinguished guests."

Just as the Qiang women were about to respond, Jiang Rui hurriedly waved his hand and spoke first.

"Uncle Black has misunderstood."

He had a hint of apology on his face, as if afraid of offending someone, and spoke gently, showing great care.

"My father is very busy and did not come here in person this time."

Having said that, he didn't say anything more and took out a jade talisman from his pocket.

He is now a master of the half-step Divine Prosperity and Determination stage, so controlling such talismans is a piece of cake for him.

Fingertips together, true energy flows in.

The once ordinary talisman suddenly emitted a warm, jade-like light. As the light shimmered, a half-illusory, half-real figure slowly rose from the talisman and settled before the long sandalwood table.

He stood upright in his blue robe, hands behind his back. Though his features were indistinct, he exuded an aura of profound composure and unwavering strength.

If it's not Jiang Yi, then who is it?
When it first appeared, the illusory figure of the divided spirit was still somewhat stagnant, as if it were separated by thousands of mountains and rivers, and was calibrating the scenery here.

In the blink of an eye, those half-real, half-illusory eyes returned to their clear, normal state.

With a casual glance, the room's opulent splendor came into view.

His eyes showed no surprise or astonishment, but rather a hint of interest.

Jiang Rui hurriedly stepped forward, whispered "Grandpa," and briefly described the scene before him.

After listening, Jiang Yi slowly shifted his gaze to the enormous figure at the head of the table.

We meet again after years of separation.

He saw through it in just one glance.

The "divine eagle" before him possessed a powerful aura, no less than his own.

However, within that grandeur lay a mottled, sinister undertone.

Big Black, who was being stared at, was momentarily dazed.

The figure in the blur before my eyes gradually overlapped with the man in my memory who practiced boxing in a rural courtyard.

All the memories of the past surged into my mind like a tide.

For a moment, he was completely unaware.

Should he face his former master as the "Clan's Guardian Eagle" or the "Guardian Chicken"?

Finally, it slowly stood up and stepped down from the magnificent main seat that symbolized the altar.

His pace was unhurried, yet as steady as a mountain.

His head remained held straight up.

It stopped when it reached the foot of the hall, no more than three steps away from Jiang Yi.

Those deep, dark eyes churned with unfathomable emotions, which ultimately culminated in a deep, resonant address:

"Master of the house."

Jiang Yi came here with the intention of asking for a favor, so there was no need for him to put on airs.

His illusory, split-person spirit smiled and raised his hand, effortlessly dispelling some of the imposing aura that filled the room.

"I should be the one thanking you first."

His voice was gentle, as if he were chatting casually with a younger neighbor, without any sense of distance.

"If it weren't for you back then, my good-for-nothing son would probably be buried in the sands of the battlefield long ago."

Upon hearing this, Dahei said calmly:

"The head of the family has raised me for many years, and Jiang Liang and I are comrades-in-arms, having shared life and death on the battlefield. This is only right."

His words were casual, but the hint of reserved wariness in his eyes eventually dissipated somewhat.

Jiang Yi's gaze, however, subtly drifted downwards.

Where chicken feet should have been, more than ten pieces of pitch-black, evil bones now grow, intertwined and clustered like thorns, so that when they step on the ground, even the light seems to be swallowed up.

Upon being stared at by that glance, Dahei's expression, which had just eased slightly, tensed up again.

Before Jiang Yi could speak, it began to speak to itself, its tone deliberately calm:
"Back then, I fought alongside Jiang Liang. He received military merits and rewards, and I received these dozen or so pieces of bone. It was... a distribution on the battlefield."

As Jiang Yi listened, the expression on the illusory figure remained calm, but he already understood in his heart.

These words, on the surface, are meant to clarify, but in reality, they are protecting that hard-won sense of self-respect.

What it is so eager to prove is nothing other than this.

It owes the Jiang family nothing and has never wronged anyone.

Today's achievements were earned through hardship and struggle, and are ultimately not the same kind as the ordinary spirit chickens raised by the Jiang family since childhood in the backyard.

Most importantly, it aims to demonstrate one point.

It is not a vassal, but an independent entity.

Upon hearing this, Jiang Yi's illusory figure merely smiled faintly and nodded slightly.

"That's naturally your skill."

Dahei seemed unwilling to linger here any longer. It slightly raised its wings and made a "please" gesture, no longer mentioning the past, and only invited Jiang Yi and Jiang Rui to sit down.

Immediately, the Qiang women flitted about like bees and butterflies, placing platters of delicacies on the long table in a continuous stream.

The butter tea exuded a rich aroma, the roasted lamb leg sizzled with oil, and several exotic fruits rarely seen in the Central Plains were piled high on the table, making it shine.

The sound of the Qiang flute then rose, melodious yet carrying the desolation unique to the plateau.

Several musicians retreated to a corner, and on the Persian carpet in the center of the stone chamber, several graceful Qiang women stepped in.

Colorful sleeves fluttered, waists swayed gently, and springtime beauty was captivating.

Jiang Yi held the wine cup, smelled the aroma of the wine, his expression was peaceful, but his heart was clear.

This elaborate setup appears to be for entertaining guests.

Deep down, however, he's like a junior who has finally made it after years of hard work and is eager to show off his family's wealth in front of his parents, hoping for a compliment like "not bad."

Jiang Yi certainly wouldn't spoil the fun.

Once the dance music ended, he put down his wine cup and praised him with a smile, saying a few words about everything from his cultivation level to his pomp and circumstance.

The praise was neither perfunctory nor superficial, but rather perfectly timed.

Sure enough, his dark eyes lit up for a moment, like a tiny spark of starlight in the night.

His expression remained composed; he merely adjusted the feather shawl slightly and said calmly:
“In this desolate land, a few crude gadgets are nothing compared to the family head’s profound knowledge and resources.”

After several rounds of drinks, the atmosphere was in full swing.

Jiang Yi was already thinking about how to subtly steer the conversation toward his grandson's job.

Unexpectedly, the big black dog at the head of the table suddenly stiffened.

The excitement just now seemed to have exhausted its energy.

The previously well-concealed evil energy suddenly surged forth from within him like spilled ink, shattering the fragrance and warmth that filled the room.

A painful struggle surfaced on his face, and his feathered cape fluttered and rustled even without wind.

As if they had a premonition, the Qiang female musicians scrambled out one by one, leaving only a mess of cups and plates and a deathly silence in the stone chamber.

Jiang Yi's heart suddenly tightened.

He is now merely a barely formed "divine spirit," very weak, seemingly impressive but actually unable to withstand even a gust of wind.

If Dahei really went berserk, a single sneeze could blow him away into nothingness.

Jiang Rui, on the other hand, appeared much calmer than his grandfather.

This was not the first time he had seen such a scene.

The same thing happened when I spoke with this black man last time.

After exchanging only a few pleasantries, things got out of control, and I quickly "invited" him out.

Just then, a sudden, urgent commotion erupted outside the door.

Though the sounds were muffled by the thick stone wall, a sense of panic could be discerned, interspersed with shouts of "offerings!" and "prepare quickly!"

Immediately afterwards, there were several dull clicks of the mechanisms turning, and the heavy doors of the temple were pushed open with a creak.

Although Jiang Yi's divided spirit was weak and lacked magical power, its perception was still very sharp.

Almost as soon as the door opened, he sensed dozens of chaotic energy streams rushing in.

Whether disabled or injured, their breathing was broken and leaky, like fish and shrimp trapped on the beach at low tide, dragging their bodies and rushing eagerly into the hall.

Upon entering, they all knelt down, their foreheads pounding the ground.

Jiang Yi's brows twitched, and before he could fully grasp the intricacies of the situation, the dark figure in the hall suddenly lost his balance.

That pent-up evil energy, which had been suppressed for so long, finally found an outlet.

In an instant, the black mist, as dark as ink, surged forth from the giant black body, tumbling down and descending directly upon the prostrate "sacrifices."

(End of this chapter)