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

Chapter 188 A Letter from the Eldest Son, Peach Blossoms of Flower and Fruit Mountain

Since returning from Yingchoujian, the life in Liangjie Village has remained unhurried and unhurried.

At dawn, the sounds of roosters crowing and dogs barking can be heard; at dusk, wisps of smoke rise from chimneys.

Jiang Yixin had learned several talisman techniques, but after handling them repeatedly, they had long lost their initial novelty.

In the end, they're just some basic self-defense techniques; once you're proficient, they're nothing special.

In my spare time, I make a few spirit-dividing talismans and keep them on hand, just in case.

The rest of the time was spent on cultivation.

Or sit quietly in the room, concentrate on introspection, and repeatedly caress that spark of inspiration deep within your soul, as if wiping a bright mirror and brushing away the dust.

Or perhaps they would stand side by side with Xiulian, practicing breathing exercises by the Lingquan spring.

Breathing in a rhythmic manner allows vital energy to enter the body, like tea being simmered over a gentle fire, slowly circulating throughout the limbs and bones, gradually dissolving years of accumulated stagnation.

Each time a wisp of turbid air dissipates, I feel my body and bones become lighter.

The subtle sense of hindrance between the divine soul and its mastery had also faded considerably.

It was as if the stagnation accumulated over decades of wind and rain had been washed away by the spring water, and the years had vanished into thin air.

This should have been a great thing.

However, Jiang Yi felt far from lighthearted.

This kind of painstaking, meticulous work is ultimately too slow.

Decades of worldly toil have accumulated into deep-seated ailments that may not be completely eradicated even after three to five hundred years.

He knew that his foundation was shallow, that he had no lineage to rely on, and that he had no Dharma to inherit.

He rose from a humble farmer to where he is today through the most ordinary breathing techniques, a feat that others can only dream of.

Since that's the case, I don't expect anything more, I just put in more effort every day than before.

Jiang Liang also sent a message back.

With the blood offerings secured, Eagle Sorrow Stream has been relatively peaceful lately. Apart from a few turbulent surges during torture, there have been no further incidents of it intentionally harming anyone.

The villagers and merchants who had been terrified earlier would rather take a long detour than approach.

Now that he has gradually regained his courage, when he saw Qin'er's small boat, he even dared to sit on it shakily and ask for help to cross the river.

Qin'er ferries people across the river, never taking money.

The villagers have their own scales of justice. They may not say it, but they remember it in their actions.

After crossing the river, people would always go to the dilapidated water god temple to burn some incense or throw in a few copper coins.

Over time, the dilapidated water god temple gradually gained some popularity among worshippers.

There is no deity in the temple, so the incense and prayers accumulate on their own and linger in front of the altar.

If Qin'er is so inclined in the future, she could refine it a little, which would be a great merit.

Jiang Yi nodded upon hearing this and casually asked, "Is Qin'er settling in well over there?"

"Good."

Jiang Liang smiled and said, "Especially after Granddaughter Gui came, the two of them are about the same age and are both cultivators. They often talk together and get along quite well."

"Have you seen that girl? What's her character like?" Jiang Yi asked again.

Jiang Liang smiled and replied.

I've seen him twice from a distance; he has regular features and acts quite generously.

Hearing that his grandson had found companionship in that desolate mountain stream, Jiang Yi's worries finally subsided.

As for what Old Gui was up to, he couldn't be bothered to investigate.

Fate is something that cannot be stopped when it comes, nor can it be kept when it goes; just let it go.

……

On this day, Jiang Yi was practicing breathing exercises by the spiritual spring pool behind the house, surrounded by tranquility.

Suddenly, a very slight fluctuation of divine power emanated from the ancestral hall at the foot of the mountain.

A thought stirred within him, and he dared not delay. With a leap, he reached the ancestral hall in a few bounds.

The spirit of the young boy, Jiang Liang, was already standing beside the offering table, a smile on his face.

Seeing this, Jiang Yi's tension eased slightly, and he stepped forward slowly, casually asking:

What brings you such joy?

Jiang Liang smiled and said, "Father, the Li family in Luoyang received a letter from my eldest brother."

Upon hearing these words, the relaxed expression on Jiang Yi's face was instantly replaced by a layer of concern.

That eldest son left home for Dongsheng Shenzhou when Jun'er was still an infant.

We agreed back then that I would return in a year or two at the earliest, or three to five years at the latest.

Who knew that he would disappear without a trace until now, when the child is seven or eight years old, able to run and fight, finally sent a letter home.

How could he not feel a pang of sadness?
He composed himself slightly and asked, "How did the letter end up in Luoyang?"

"It is said that several small countries in Dongsheng Shenzhou paid tribute, and a group of people in the delegation happened to find the Li family in Luoyang."

Jiang Liang explained, "He said it was my elder brother who entrusted me to send two letters and a package. The Li family didn't dare to neglect it and sent it to Lao Jun Mountain overnight, so I just picked it up."

As he spoke, he lightly flicked his sleeves.

On the offering table, two letters and a square box appeared out of thin air.

Jiang Yi's gaze fell on the two letters.

One letter was addressed to "Dear Father," while the other was addressed to "Dear Wife, Ms. Kim."

He reached out and took the letter written to himself; a faint aura swirled around the envelope.

This is a common practice among spiritual practitioners to prevent their practice from falling into the hands of others.

Jiang Yi sent a wisp of his own aura into his fingertip, and the aura dissipated silently.

He opened the letter and read it quickly, his expression remaining calm and composed.

Jiang Liang stood by, waiting quietly without making a sound.

After Jiang Yi folded the letter and slowly put it back in the envelope, he finally asked:

"What did my elder brother say in his letter?"

Jiang Yi said in a flat voice, "It was just to let you know I'm safe and sound. He also said that things over there are a bit more complicated than expected, and he can't leave for a while, so we don't need to worry."

Seeing the child's still curious eyes, clearly finding his words too vague, Jiang Yi had no choice but to explain in more detail:
"When your elder brother first went to Dongsheng Shenzhou, he thought he was just dealing with some mountain hunters. With his current cultivation level, it was just a matter of lifting a finger. That's why he told the family that he would definitely be back in a year or two, or at most three to five years."

Jiang Liang was not surprised to hear this, as if he had already heard it before.

Jiang Yi continued, "But when we got there, we realized that those people were not ordinary hunters, but soldiers from Aolai Kingdom, who were extremely well-trained."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Liang raised an eyebrow slightly.

Jiang Yi then said slowly:

"When your elder brother saw that things were not going well, he thought of going to talk to the King of Aolai face to face as a cultivator. Who knew that the king didn't even care about the longevity fruits and pills, and only talked about important military and national affairs, not allowing outsiders to have any say."

"He became suspicious, feeling that there was another cultivation force behind it all. But after searching for a long time, he still couldn't find the person behind it, so the matter stalled and could only be left there."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Liang's relaxed expression immediately vanished, replaced by a look of worry:
"Is my elder brother in any trouble over there...?"

Jiang Yi shook his head, his tone calm:
"It's alright. Since the other party is being so secretive, it means they have their own concerns. Nothing serious is likely to happen in the short term."

He didn't finish what he was saying.

Such certainty suggests that there is another plan in mind.

Although his eldest son did not explicitly state the reason for his trip in his letter, Jiang Yi knew the answer in his heart.

Although we do not yet know the details of our opponent.

But anyone who dares to have the idea of ​​attacking Flower Fruit Mountain while the Monkey King is away... is definitely not a truly formidable character.

Most of them are just small, upstart forces who got lucky and came to join the fun.

After all, who among those who truly have some connections and connections would dare to act recklessly on Flower Fruit Mountain?

Let alone invading caves and slaughtering monkeys, they wouldn't even dare to lay a finger on a single blade of grass or tree in the mountains. Jiang Yi trusted his eldest son's character and methods, so he stopped arguing.

He simply put the letter back into the pot and then reached out to open the package.

Inside, however, was a small wooden box about a foot long.

He carefully lifted the lid of the box, and as soon as it was opened half an inch, an intense spiritual aura rushed out, giving him a jolt.

Three peach branches lay quietly in the box, looking somewhat withered, yet nourished by a refreshing warmth.

Jiang Yi focused his attention and probed deeper, only to discover that deep within the seemingly withered branches lay a thriving life force.

It was many times more vigorous than the most flourishing spirit tree behind the house.

In the letter, the eldest son also mentioned that he had casually broken off a branch in the mountains and asked his father to try propagating it at home.

If it survives and bears fruit, it will be a good way for the family to have something different to eat.

Jiang Yi knew perfectly well that the origin of this "peach branch" was extraordinary, and he dared not be negligent.

After briefly parting with the child, he personally carried the wooden box and hurried to the Spirit Spring Pool behind the house.

He found the spot with the most spiritual energy and inserted the three peach branches one by one.

He then carefully nurtured his own wisp of Yin and Yang energy, daring not to slacken in the slightest.

After all this work, it wasn't until night fell that he felt the energy of the three branches gradually stabilize, and he breathed a sigh of relief before turning back into the house.

He handed another letter to his eldest daughter-in-law, Jin Xiuer, and gently instructed her:
"Take a good look at it. As for your private conversations as a couple, don't let others see them."

A blush crept across Jin Xiuer's face. She nodded gently, then clutched the letter and went back to her inner room.

As he watched his daughter-in-law's retreating figure, Jiang Yi's gaze drifted into the distance.

Ultimately, this matter is perhaps far more important than those three pieces of peach branch.

He didn't believe that his eldest son had gone through all this trouble just to reminisce with his wife.

After all, this eldest daughter-in-law, along with the eldest grandson, are very likely to have direct contact with the person in the back mountain.

Aside from the words between husband and wife, this letter most likely contains important information meant for that person.

Thinking of this, Jiang Yi felt a surge of unspoken anticipation.

Whether the eldest son acted intentionally or unintentionally.

The purpose of this letter is quite similar to that of their own propaganda about the "threat from the Qiang region".

On the other side of Huaguo Mountain, the more difficult the situation becomes, the more serious the matter becomes.

The person on the back mountain was more likely to personally pass on several truly powerful supernatural techniques to Jiang Jun.

Otherwise, does he expect others to protect the monkeys and their offspring all over the mountain?

Life goes on, one day at a time.

Aside from lecturing at the ancestral hall, Jiang Yi spent most of his remaining time by the Lingquan Pond.

While breathing in and nourishing her energy, she tended to the three newly planted peach branches.

The peach branches are delicate; even with the irrigation of a sacred spring, their growth is still so slow it makes one's heart itch.

It seems that even the Jiang family's proud heritage might not suit the tastes of those few branches.

Fortunately, things are starting to look better every day.

One of the trees had already sprouted tender buds, their green leaves glistening with moisture, which reassured people's hearts.

In the blink of an eye, Jiang Jun turned eight years old.

He would still get up before dawn, go to the orchard to pick some spiritual fruits, and then deliver them to the back mountain alone.

Jiang Yi often cultivated by the pond until dawn, and he would often see the little figure of the eldest grandson, busy at work.

Ever since Jin Xiuer read that letter, Jiang Yi felt that his grandson's cultivation was already quite fast, but it seemed as if he had suddenly climbed to a higher level.

Often, after a day apart, their aura becomes more solid, and their breathing gradually develops a certain indescribable rhythm.

His grandson didn't mention it, nor did he ask; he simply felt happy for him in his heart.

That morning, as usual, Jiang Yi went to the ancestral hall to give a lecture, and while he was at it, he prepared the spiritual fruits and blood offerings to be sent to Yingchoujian.

Before long, Jiang Liang's spirit appeared from the offering table and casually put the items away.

After collecting the items, he did not leave immediately, but instead slowly spoke:
"Father, I would like to trouble you to prepare some more Soul-Gathering Grass and Green Soul Fruit."

Jiang Yizheng paused as he was about to turn around, glancing back at the boy's spirit with a scrutinizing look in his eyes:

What do you need these for?

Although the words were spoken casually, a sudden unease had already set in my heart.

I'm afraid it was some younger member of the family who accidentally injured their spirit.

Unexpectedly, Jiang Liang pondered for a long time before saying:
"It's about Qin'er... Yesterday, I was free and sparred with Old Gui's granddaughter, intending to stop short of defeat. But during the exchange, the bronze bracelet on my wrist accidentally touched her..."

He paused at this point, as if considering his words, before continuing:

"His physical body is fine, but his soul seems to be injured. Old Gui spent the night at the village shrine with incense to warm him, but he is still drowsy this morning."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Yi was momentarily taken aback.

He knew exactly what that bronze bracelet was.

It comes from the same place as the thumb ring on my thumb, both being the work of that person in the back mountain, and are extremely effective at suppressing evil spirits.

However, it is no different from ordinary iron for ordinary people and things, and will not cause any damage.

It was just an accidental touch; the other person's physical body is safe, but their soul has been damaged.

Then, thinking about the old man Gui's unclear and ambiguous background.

Old Gui... Old Ghost...

Jiang Yi's heart was suddenly stirred like a stone thrown into a still lake, creating ripples.

This matter is probably not that simple.

Jiang Yi's face remained expressionless; he simply nodded slowly, indicating that he understood.

He turned back into the house, prepared the two spiritual items for nourishing the soul, carefully wrapped them in oiled paper, and then returned to the ancestral hall to hand them to Jiang Liang.

"Take these things with you first."

The tone shifted abruptly, the voice becoming flat and indifferent:

"But you need to be extra careful over Eagle's Sorrow Gorge."

Jiang Liang was about to reach out when he paused slightly and looked up at his father.

"That old Gui... doesn't seem like a simple person."

Jiang Yi's gaze fell on the oldest memorial tablet on the offering table, his voice soft, as if he were speaking to himself:

"It's hard to say whether Qin'er's close relationship with his granddaughter is a good thing or a bad thing. You should keep a close eye on him and make sure he doesn't suffer any losses in secret."

"Father is worried..."

“It’s not necessarily a bad thing.”

Jiang Yi interrupted him:

"It's always good to think one step ahead. When you have some free time, go and find out which local deity is worshipped in this Snake Coil Mountain area, and what his origin is."

Jiang Yi knew in his heart that Old Gui had no evil aura and was able to claim this merit in advance, so he was probably not a vicious person.

But people's hearts are unfathomable, and matters of gods and ghosts are even more unpredictable.

Since it involves their own grandson, no amount of caution is too much.

Upon hearing this, Jiang Liang's expression turned solemn. He carefully put away the oil paper package and replied in a deep voice:
"My child understands."

"Go."

Jiang Yi simply waved his hand and said nothing more.

As the smoke rose, Jiang Liang's figure quietly disappeared, leaving only a faint sandalwood scent that mingled with the incense smoke in the ancestral hall, making it indistinguishable from the rest.

(End of this chapter)