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

Chapter 195 Performing Good Deeds by Giving Water, Taking Office at Jinghe

The sun on the horizon remains unchanged.

It hung there, scorching hot, as if it wouldn't stop until it had baked away the last wisp of cloud in the sky.

The moon waxes and wanes, and the solar terms turn page after page in the book.

Unfortunately, the heavens seemed to have covered the clouds tightly, so stingy that they wouldn't let a single drop of rain fall.

Given the weather, the few seedlings in the field had long since turned into withered, yellow weeds, which would crumble into dust with a gust of wind.

Fortunately, the old well outside Lingsu Temple is an exception.

Every day, a pool of clear spring water still bubbles out steadily, just enough for the whole village.

With water, one has a root in their heart, and will not be at a loss.

In addition, during the land reclamation a few years earlier, the weather was relatively favorable, with good weather and abundant harvests, and every household still had some old grain stored in their granaries to last through the winter.

Those families with children working in the Gujin Gang, in particular, stand even straighter.

The Jiang family quietly built a large granary and then silently filled it with grain.

The villagers may not say it, but they all have their own judgment.

They couldn't understand the intricacies of the matter, but they trusted the Jiang family's judgment.

So, they also diligently stored up grain, following suit.

Today, those half-new, half-old mud-brick warehouses contain the confidence to survive in this chaotic world.

There is water to drink and food to eat.

While things outside were probably in complete chaos, life in Liangjie Village continued at a leisurely pace, in an orderly manner.

This kind of stability seems somewhat glaring and luxurious in today's times.

On this day, the sky was just beginning to lighten, and the surrounding fields were still shrouded in the deepest darkness before dawn.

The roots of the old peach tree behind the house trembled slightly, then returned to normal.

The earth swelled slightly, and a figure silently emerged, the sleeves of his robe still carrying a hint of the coolness of the ground.

The task of filling the well with water has now become Jiang Yi's routine every few days.

A figure was already waiting by the peach tree, and only when he approached did the figure speak softly:
"father."

Jiang Liang kept his voice very low, afraid of disturbing the village's still-sleeping dreams.

Jiang Yi hummed in response, without stopping, and casually asked, "What is it?"

"It's news from Rui'er's side."

Upon hearing this name, Jiang Yi slowed his pace by a fraction.

Jiang Rui went to the Qiang region, using the name of the imperial court, and conspired with Da Hei to pacify the area.

However, the Qiang region is remote and treacherous, making it difficult for the imperial court to reach. Therefore, it must be dealt with gradually.

Such strategies are not something that can show results in one or two years.

If, within one or two decades, the situation can be made to show some improvement, then it will be considered a great achievement.

"How is it?" Jiang Yi's voice was devoid of emotion.

Jiang Liang walked side by side, his tone unhurried:
"The Qiang region is also suffering from a severe drought, and life is not easy. However, some good news has come."

He paused for a moment before continuing:

"Dahei's territory is located deep in the Qiang region, giving it a geographical advantage. Now, it happens to hold several abundant water sources in its hands."

Jiang Yi paused almost imperceptibly, a hint of interest flashing in his eyes.

What's the most precious thing these days?

It wasn't gold or silver, but water.

Whoever controls the water is the boss.

That big black rooster was ambitious and restless, and it was eager to expand its territory and gather more worshippers.

Now that the time is right, it's the perfect opportunity.

Seeing this, Jiang Liang added:
"It's a pity that the riverbeds along the way have long since dried up and cracked into muddy ditches. We're holding a golden bowl, but there's nowhere to put our chopsticks."

He said calmly, “Big Black sent word that if we can get the water out, it won’t be difficult for it to expand its territory several times over, given its capabilities.”

Jiang Yi had no doubt about Dahei's abilities.

He survived by having more than a dozen pieces of evil bone, and then obtained the righteous breathing technique of birds. His cultivation level is now incomparable to what it used to be.

If it weren't for the copper rod he had in his hand that could ward off evil, he probably wouldn't have been entirely confident in suppressing it.

The meaning is now clear.

Jiang Yi stopped, turned his head, and glanced at his son out of the corner of his eye.

"You mean, you want to borrow that lotus pond ceramic vase?"

Jiang Liang looked up, and his usually calm eyes revealed a rare hint of eagerness.

How could Jiang Yi not see through his youngest son's thoughts?
The second grandson, Jiang Rui, inherited his father's temperament but lacked some of his wisdom and couldn't concentrate on reading.

The path of saving both life and health seems unlikely to be successful.

In that case, the only option is to pave another path early on, accumulating more merit and virtue on the road to becoming a god through incense offerings.

Jiang Yi's mind raced.

Although the lotus pond pottery vase was exquisite, its interior was a self-contained universe, and ultimately it had no power to kill.

As for Big Black, it was already bound by copper hoops, and now that it has mastered the breathing technique of the Bird Taming Method, it has an even greater restraint, so there is no need to worry that it can cause any trouble.

Once this section is understood, there's nothing left to hesitate about.

On a whim, he flipped his palm and the palm-sized ceramic bottle was already in his hand, which he then casually handed over.

"Just go."

The voice remained calm, except for the addition of one sentence:
"This matter should be handled as soon as possible. Tell Rui'er to keep a close eye on it. If we delay for a few more days, our village will run out of water."

"Understood, Father!"

Jiang Liang was overjoyed and readily agreed.

Without further delay, his spirit body vanished into a wisp of green smoke, along with the pottery bottle.

Days slip by like that, through our fingers.

Jiang Yi's method was also simple: he spent most of his time under the peach tree, moving the spiritual spring water vapor, calmly and patiently refining the turbid energy in his body.

The village was peaceful, but the outside world was becoming increasingly tense day by day.

Legend has it that many disaster-stricken areas have gone mad, daring to smash even the Dragon King Temple and the Rain God Shrine.

On the fifth day, Jiang Liang's soul condensed again under the peach tree.

Holding the pottery bottle in his hand, he urged his father to hurry up and go to Lingsu Temple to fill the well with water so that he could make another trip to the Qiang region.

"Things are going very smoothly over there now."

He couldn't hide his excitement as he spoke.

"Dahei was already quite well-known in the neighborhood for his miscellaneous knowledge of healing and saving lives. Now, with the added merit of bringing timely rain during a drought, the surrounding tribes almost worship him as a living bodhisattva."

He paused and then said:
"Although the time is short and we haven't reached the point where the clan's guardian beast can command a hundred responses, given the current momentum, it's not difficult to establish a few temples dedicated to the divine eagles."

"At that time, Rui'er, bearing the title of Divine Eagle Protector, will be able to receive some incense offerings and protection to stabilize his soul."

Jiang Yi felt a little relieved that his grandson had benefited.

Without another word, he took the pottery bottle, lowered his body, and disappeared into the ground.

In a short while, the ancient well at Lingsu Temple, which was almost empty, was refilled with clear spring water. Reappearing under the peach tree behind the house, he handed the bottle back to Jiang Liang, casually dusted off any non-existent dust from his clothes, and asked casually:

"With so many Dragon King temples smashed outside, is there any movement from the West Sea?"

Jiang Liang took the ceramic bottle and nodded in agreement:
"The Western Sea is naturally very busy these days. The main lineage governs the vast ocean and has a deep foundation, so it's not too bad. It's just that the dragon sons and grandsons scattered among the rivers, lakes and marshes are having a much harder time."

He paused, then changed the subject, his voice adding a hint of meaning:
"This matter seems troublesome, but it may not be all bad for Xihai."

"The Dragon Palace and the Three Seas, where water gods were worshipped in the wild, all suffered collateral damage, and countless water god positions were left vacant."

"So while protecting his own descendants, Xihai also had to spare time to scheme for these ancestral temples, keeping him extremely busy."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Yi simply nodded slightly, his expression remaining calm.

The Western Sea is busy, but who in the world isn't busy?
He turned to look at his youngest son and then revealed his true plan:

"Have you sounded out whether it's possible to take advantage of the chaos to send Hong'er to work in Jinghe?"

As soon as he finished speaking, Jiang Liang paused for a moment.

After a slight hesitation, he said tactfully:
“Father, although Hong’er is not a pure-blooded dragon, he is quite favored by the old Dragon King in the Dragon Palace because of Ao Yu.”

"According to Jiang Feng's letter, the old Dragon King's idea is to let him remain in seclusion for a few more years until his cultivation is more profound, at which time he will find a better place for him."

"A good place?" Jiang Yi shook his head upon hearing this.

Being favored is one thing, being given important responsibilities is another. As for succession... that's out of the question.

His tone was calm, as if he were stating a common truth:
"The throne in the main hall of the West Sea belongs to the Ao family, and it can only fall into the lineage of the eldest prince, Ao Moang."

He paused, but his gaze had already crossed the courtyard, as if piercing through thousands of mountains and rivers.

“Apart from that throne, no other water palace that the Dragon King of the West Sea could create could compare to the position of the Jing River God.”

Jiang Liang's face still showed some confusion.

He stood silently for a moment, then finally asked in a low voice, "Father, I don't understand, why do you value the Jinghe Water Palace so much?"

He now works at the City God Temple in Chang'an, and because of Ao Yu, he is quite familiar with the Dragon King of the Jing River.

But in his eyes, the Jing River was nothing special.

Compared to the nearby waterways, it is not superior.
Compared to the Wei River, which is the main site of worship in Chang'an, it is far inferior.

Upon hearing this, Jiang Yi found it difficult to explain the situation in detail to his youngest son.

The status of deities, seemingly detached from worldly affairs, is actually intertwined with the major trends of humankind, changing with the times, with one rising and another falling.

He stood with his hands behind his back, his gaze distant, as if he could see the situation hundreds of years later through the small courtyard in front of him.

Chang'an is currently just a large city, but at a certain juncture, it will become the "center point" of the world's chessboard.

At that time, the Jing River will surpass the Wei River and become the most important waterway in the Celestial Empire.

At that time, apart from the Four Seas Dragon Palace, there will be no more revered Water Palace God.

If we wait until then, even the Dragon King of the West Sea might not be able to easily intervene.

If I remember correctly, Xi Hai actually lost a relative in this whole affair.

These key points are interconnected, involving both timing and human affairs, but it's best not to reveal them too clearly at the moment.

After a moment's thought, Jiang Yi had made up his mind.

"So be it." His voice was calm, yet carried weight. "In my name, send a letter to the West Sea explaining this intention. Whether it is approved or not is up to the Old Dragon King to decide."

Having said that, he turned and returned to the edge of the Spirit Spring.

He walked around the peach tree that was shrouded in the glow of the sunset, but instead reached out and casually plucked a leaf from an ordinary peach tree.

The veins of the leaves are green, and they look ordinary.

He handed the leaf to Jiang Liang, adding casually:
"Put it in the letter. The old Dragon King will understand when he sees it."

Jiang Liang took the peach leaf, still completely bewildered.

At this moment, he did not ask any further questions, but bowed and said "Yes".

Then, carrying the pottery bottle and leaves, it turned into a wisp of green smoke and dissipated.

The courtyard returned to tranquility.

After his son left, Jiang Yi looked up at the back mountain.

Some things are indeed difficult to say outright.

However, for the sake of his great-grandson's future, it's not entirely unreasonable to occasionally use a monkey skin as a flag.

The days passed by uneventfully.

The world outside, however, is on the verge of becoming even more chaotic.

True and false news, like summer catkins, drifted everywhere.

Occasionally, it would drift to this quiet corner of Liangjie Village, becoming a topic of conversation among the neighbors.

Some say that the imperial treasury is already empty, and not to mention disaster relief, even the palace's meager expenses have to be barely covered by selling official positions.

Some say that in the heart of the Central Plains, hundreds of thousands of miles away, some unknown sects have secretly taken root.

It's said to be incredibly miraculous that once you join the religion, you'll not only have water and food to eat, but even divine talismans can cure your illnesses.

However, such rumors are ultimately just circulating in the streets and alleys and should not be taken seriously.

Even Jiang Liang, who now works at the City God Temple, only heard a jumbled mess of information and couldn't find a single definite clue.

While rumors circulating outside are best ignored, news from the Western Sea has been sent back in detail.

He obeyed his father's orders and delivered the letter with the peach leaf inside. Not long after, he received a reply from Jiang Feng.

The letter said that the Dragon King father-in-law agreed to the matter immediately upon seeing the grandfather's handwriting.

We have already spoken with my uncle-in-law in Jinghe, and Jiang Hong will be sent there soon for training.

Upon receiving confirmation, Jiang Liang returned to the village immediately.

The doubt on her face had not yet dissipated, but the look in her eyes as she looked at her father silently added a touch of awe and reverence.

After reading the contents of the letter, he couldn't help but add:
"Of course, such mobilization of personal connections cannot be done without expecting people to put in the effort for nothing."

"In exchange, the Jinghe Dragon King's usually useless sons have managed to gain some benefits in this chaotic situation."

His voice paused slightly, carrying a profound meaning.

"I heard that even the most useless alligator dragon, which used to just wallow in the mud all day, has now been sent to the Blackwater River and given a proper position as a water god."

Upon hearing the words "Blackwater River," Jiang Yi's usually calm eyes narrowed slightly.

But he couldn't help but chuckle to himself.

This world, though vast in some ways, is also small in others. No matter how you wander, you can never escape those familiar faces from your memories.

Now that we've stepped into this murky water, we'll inevitably have to deal with those so-called bigwigs in the future.

The thought had barely formed when a rustling sound suddenly came from the woods, mixed with a few childish laughs.

He looked up and saw Jiang Jun, carrying little Han'er on his shoulder, swaying as he walked out of the orchard.

The little girl clutched a wild fruit, bouncing up and down on her uncle's shoulders, laughing loudly.

The moment this lively scene came into view, all the complicated thoughts that had been lingering in my mind were blown away by the laughter.

Even the wrinkles at the corners of her eyes were filled with warmth.

Thinking back, if I hadn't stumbled onto this path by chance back then, I would probably have turned into dust on the mound by now, and how could I have seen this lively scene of four generations living together?

With this thought in mind, the slight doubt he had about the road ahead settled down.

To preserve this little bit of everyday life, no matter how difficult the road ahead, we have no choice but to grit our teeth and keep going.

(End of this chapter)