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

Chapter 196 Extraordinary Talent, Heaven and Earth Sensing

The orchard behind the house, nourished by the spring water year after year, is now growing ever more lush and deep, with its branches and leaves overlapping, almost completely blocking out the sky above.

Jiang Yi sat cross-legged by the Spirit Spring Pool, his eyes half-closed, his expression serene.

The breath was steady, long, and soft, as if it had merged with the vitality of the plants and trees, becoming one with the world.

In this small world, no human voices are heard, yet it does not feel desolate.

If you listen closely, you can hear rustling sounds in the soil; it's several spirit chickens, who have been given orders, working diligently under the roots of the fruit trees.

Its claws moved swiftly, loosening the hardened soil and pecking away even the sprouting weeds.

Bound by the regulations governing poultry management, these chickens worked even more efficiently than the most diligent farmhands.

At the top of the branches and leaves, another dynamic scene unfolds.

The mixed-feathered birds I tamed when I first learned the art of bird taming have now acquired some of its spiritual energy and are all busy with their own tasks.

Sparrows and thrushes are small creatures that flit among dense leaves, pecking at newly hatched insects.

The larger ones, however, hold onto the branches and carefully remove some of the poorly growing small fruits and withered branches, making room for a bountiful harvest next year.

The sound of fluttering wings, interspersed with a few crisp pecking sounds, was interspersed in a staggered pattern.

The peach tree by the pond, nourished by the willow branch dew, has grown increasingly elegant in its branches and leaves, with a faint glow of rosy light flowing among them.

Although it is far from flowering and bearing fruit, there is no sign of it yet. However, the pure and refreshing energy it breathes in day and night is truly nourishing the owner of this place.

Cultivating in such a spiritually vibrant place is like sailing with the wind, achieving twice the result with half the effort.

Jiang Yi felt that his old body was becoming lighter and lighter, and the turbid energy in his body was being dissipated smoothly. When he used his most treasured techniques, he felt less sluggish and more fluid and unrestrained than before.

For decades, the old farmer toiled in the fields, but who could have imagined that he would end up like this?

Hands no longer need to get muddy, feet no longer need to tread the soil.

Simply sit quietly beside the tree and concentrate on moving away the stagnant air.

He could easily spare a few thoughts to manage the unpaid "workers" in the medicinal garden and orchard, keeping them in perfect order.

This composure, this leisure, truly carries a resemblance to the legendary celestial beings.

Jiang Yi slightly raised his eyelids and happened to see a gray sparrow skillfully cutting off a piece of diseased branch. A very faint smile involuntarily appeared on the corner of his mouth, but he quickly suppressed it.

These days, they're not so bad...

That tranquility, in the end, could not last long.

The fallen leaves rustled underfoot, the footsteps were rapid and energetic, carrying a sense of swift and fiery spirit.

Jiang Yi didn't even bother to lift his eyelids, but he knew who had come.

As expected, Liu Xiulian walked around the peach tree, carrying a large pile in her arms, with several cloth bags dangling from her arms and fingers, their contents unknown.

Upon closer inspection, there were a few everyday items, but the rest were mostly odds and ends for new mothers during their postpartum period and for unborn babies.

"Honey, quick, make room."

Before the person could even stand firmly, the words had already been spoken.

A few smile lines appeared at the corners of Jiang Yi's eyes; he had long since gotten used to it these days.

With a casual flick of his hand across the mountain-like object, it vanished without a trace.

Liu Xiulian wasn't lacking in the means to create her own world, but her own little space was already completely full, leaving no room for even a needle to fit in. So she had no choice but to "occupy" her husband's territory.

All this commotion was, of course, for the sake of the granddaughter-in-law in Eagle's Sorrow Gorge who was about to give birth.

Counting the days, Gui Ning will give birth in another month or two.

Eagle's Sorrow Gorge is said to be a place of beautiful mountains and clear waters, but in other words, it is a place rarely visited by people.

On ordinary days, apart from Old Gui who guards the mountain, the two newlywed couples, and Jiang Liang's daily trips carrying spiritual fruits and supplies, there are hardly any outsiders to be seen for a day or two.

No matter how you look at it, it's not a safe place to give birth and raise a baby, let alone provide childbirth and postpartum care.

With both sides having been informed, the Jiang family was naturally still worried.

The elderly couple discussed it and decided to go over and lend a hand.

Regardless of anything else, the priority is to ensure that the granddaughter-in-law has a peaceful postpartum period.

Since the date was set, Liu Xiulian has been spinning like a top, spending her days either shopping or tidying up.

They prepared a huge amount of food, clothing, and daily necessities—everything imaginable and even things they couldn't imagine.

Jiang Yi had also advised her several times to pile the food up in the ancestral hall first, and then have Jiang Liang deliver it to her on the way when the time came.

Liu Xiulian answered very quickly, but as soon as she turned her head, even though she had everything ready, her feet still unconsciously walked into the orchard.

Jiang Yi knew her thoughts but didn't point them out. He simply smiled and accepted the gift, storing it all in his pot.

Everything that needed to be organized has been organized, and everything that needed to be prepared has been prepared.

Jiang Yi then slowly strolled to the old tree and looked up at the treehouse nestled among the branches and leaves.

Inside the treehouse, it was still as quiet as ever.

He explained all the village affairs to Jiang Xi, and finally gave her a word of advice:
“Your mother and I will be gone for two or three months at the shortest, and half a year at the longest. In this year of severe drought, who knows what trouble might arise. You and Zian should not go into the mountains together. Take turns and keep an eye on the village. We must leave someone behind who can keep things in order.”

Jiang Xi naturally agreed readily:

"Don't worry, Father and Mother, I will be careful on the journey."

After saying this, he took a package from inside the house and handed it down:

"This is a gift prepared by the family in the village; it's a small token of my appreciation as their aunt."

Jiang Yi did not refuse and immediately put it into his sleeve.

He then gave a few more instructions on various matters, and seeing that the sun was beginning to set, he and Liu Xiulian went out.

The couple, one in front and one behind, followed the familiar mountain path towards Eagle's Sorrow Stream.

Now that both of them have cultivated their skills, their speed is incomparable to what it used to be.

What would take ordinary people two or three months to trek through the mountains, they accomplished in just a few days.

Jiang Yi paused slightly as he stepped into the territory of Snake Coil Mountain.

All five senses and consciousness seemed to be gently wrapped in an invisible membrane, suddenly becoming dulled by half.

The world behind me, which I had walked through for several days, suddenly seemed distant and faded away.

The feeling came suddenly, but only for a moment.

Immediately, a familiar divine sense, like warm water, swept over the two of them, and the faint barrier quietly dissipated.

Jiang Yi glanced at Liu Xiulian, both of them looking puzzled.

Before he could speak, the ground three feet in front of him suddenly shifted.

With a gentle surge of soil, a figure emerged, dressed neatly without a speck of dust.

The newcomer was none other than Old Gui, his face beaming with a warm smile. Upon seeing the two, he bowed and greeted them.
"Oh my, in-laws! We've been waiting for you! You must be tired from your journey. Come in and rest, everything is ready!"

He kept saying "thank you" with such enthusiasm that it lessened the strangeness from before.

I put aside my doubts for the time being.

Since we're already here, it wouldn't be right to start asking all sorts of questions about their territory.

Polite greetings are always necessary.

Jiang Yi nodded and stepped aside to let Liu Xiulian step forward: "This is my husband."

He then turned his head and said, "This is Old Gui, Gui Ning's grandfather."

After exchanging greetings, Lao Gui led the way, and the three of them passed through a quiet grove of trees and arrived at the familiar village shrine.

The ancestral hall is still the same ancestral hall, only it looks a bit larger now.

The ancestral hall still resembles a temple, with green tiles and flying eaves. The scent of incense mixed with the fragrance of grass and trees adds to its solemnity.

Going around to the back, you'll find a few mud-brick houses, bright and clean, with clothes hanging in the yard, adding a touch of homey warmth.

Although Gui Ning is the granddaughter-in-law of the Jiang family, she still lives in the ancestral hall and rarely goes to the Jiankou Water God Temple.

This is quite a helpless situation.

With her half-human, half-ghostly origins, it's perfectly fine for her to enjoy some incense offerings.

But after all, they are flesh and blood, and it's not good for them to just wander around in their own temple all day long.

If passing pilgrims were to see that the temple keeper's wife looked exactly like the statue of a deity in the temple, the rumors would be endless.

The couple entered the side room and immediately saw their granddaughter-in-law, Guining, reclining on the couch.

Her abdomen is prominent, indicating she is about seven or eight months pregnant.

Perhaps it was the warmth of incense that gave her a rosy complexion, but her eyes and brows had lost some of the aloofness of a deity and gained more of the gentleness of an ordinary woman.

Upon seeing her in-laws, she struggled to get up.

Before she could even exert any force, Liu Xiulian had already taken three or four steps forward and pinned the person down.

"Hey, child, what time is it? Why are you still bothered by these formalities?"

His words carried a hint of reproach, but he instinctively pulled her to sit still, asking her a series of questions.

After a few words, her eyes swept around the room, and her brows furrowed.

They complained that the window paper wasn't pasted tightly enough, fearing it would let in drafts at night;
They also complained that the calming incense by the bedside had too strong a smell, which was not suitable for pregnant women.

These are details that Jiang Yi and Lao Gui, two grown men, would never have thought of.

Liu Xiulian kept talking and her hands were also busy, moving things around and tidying up. Before long, the room was much more tidy than before.

Old Gui, watching from the side, felt somewhat embarrassed, rubbing his hands together with a mixture of guilt and gratitude.

"My dear in-laws, you've really been a great help..."

"We're family, saying these things would make us seem distant."

Jiang Yi smiled and responded, then flipped his wrist to take something out.

First came the gifts prepared by several aunts and uncles, followed by a pile of odds and ends that Liu Xiulian had forced into Hutian before her departure.

Food, household items, baby clothes—all sorts of things piled up quickly in the corner of the room, forming a small mountain.

Everything, inside and outside the house, was taken care of perfectly.

Liu Xiulian then took out a spirit chicken from her bag, which she had already cleaned up at home, and turned to go to the kitchen.

Although that chicken was not of the main lineage of the Red, Gold, and Green sects, it had been foraging for food by the spiritual spring for many years, drinking spring water and pecking at fallen leaves of immortal peaches. Its flesh and bones had long since transcended the mortal realm.

As smoke began to rise from the kitchen, Jiang Yi didn't linger. He strolled out of the ancestral hall and headed towards Yingchou Ravine.

Since we've entered their territory, it's only right and proper to greet the person in charge.

Eagle Sorrow Gorge is still the same gorge, but it has suffered from a severe drought, and its once turbulent and surging momentum has been greatly reduced.

The stream had receded most of its length, exposing the rocky beach. It had lost its ruggedness but gained a sense of desolation.

Jiang Yi stood by the pool and called out, neither too loudly nor too softly, "Third Prince."

As the water rippled, Ao Lie rose from it, his brows still haughty, but now with a touch more seriousness.

Upon seeing Jiang Yi, his expression softened slightly, and he nodded in acknowledgment.

Jiang Yi didn't say much, but took out the freshly picked spiritual fruit from his sleeve and offered it to the recipient. He exchanged a few pleasantries and then mentioned the recent situation in the Western Sea.

It's nothing more than idle gossip about the Dragon Palace being busy seizing the position of the Water Palace deity and being short-handed.

When he returned to the Lishe Temple, the kitchen was already filled with the rich aroma of chicken soup.

The courtyard was quiet, and Old Gui was nowhere to be seen.

Jiang Qin returned from the Water God Temple as dawn gradually faded.

Upon seeing his grandparents, he bowed respectfully, then his nose twitched, and a childlike smile appeared on his face.

"It's been so long since I've tasted Grandma's cooking, it still smells so good."

Liu Xiulian couldn't hide the smile in her eyes. She lovingly took her grandson's hand, looked him up and down carefully, and kept asking about his recent situation. Finally, she couldn't help but give him a few more instructions on the important matters of taking care of the pregnant woman.

As they spoke, the sky had already darkened.

At the entrance of the courtyard, Old Gui's figure finally appeared slowly.

He was carrying several items: a palm-sized brocade banner and several smooth jade plates, intricately engraved with runes, which looked like tools for setting up formations.

Jiang Yi glanced at it out of the corner of his eye, and a thought stirred in his heart.

When I stepped into Snake Coil Mountain today, the sense of being isolated from the outside world probably originated from these things.

Old Gui, however, casually tossed a few ordinary farm tools to the corner of the wall, clapped his hands, and laughed:
"Gui Ning is about to give birth, and I'm worried that some minor troubles might arise. It's better to be prepared than not."

After saying this, he dusted off his sleeves, his expression calm, and then greeted them warmly:

"Come, come, father-in-law and mother-in-law, please take your seats."

The words "minor trouble" made Jiang Yi's heart skip a beat.

trouble?

With Gui Ning's half-human, half-ghost immortal background, what trouble could she possibly encounter when giving birth?
In an instant, scenes from those stories I'd read in my past life flooded my mind.

What about the incompatibility between humans and ghosts, the clash between yin and yang, the sudden arrival of divine punishment, and being struck by lightning...?

But looking at Lao Gui's calm and collected demeanor, he didn't seem to be dealing with any major calamity at all.

The turmoil in Jiang Yi's heart finally subsided quietly.

Well then, since we're here, we might as well make the best of it.

His expression remained calm as he followed Lao Gui into the house.

During the meal, people toasted and exchanged pleasantries, mostly talking about how their children and grandchildren had lived up to their expectations.

After the meal, the couple settled down at the Lishe Temple.

Life was peaceful.

Old Gui still goes out early and returns late, tinkering with his formations in the mountains.

Jiang Qin had to go to the Water God Temple to work during the day, waiting for the pilgrims and travelers crossing the stream.

As a result, the responsibility of taking care of Gui Ning's daily life naturally fell on the shoulders of the elderly couple.

Fortunately, Liu Xiulian was an experienced woman, and she knew better than anyone else how to take care of a new mother and pregnant woman during her postpartum period.

Jiang Yi only lent a hand and moved some heavy objects, so he wasn't tired at all.

The days just slipped by uneventfully.

In the blink of an eye, a month is coming to an end.

Finally, there was some movement from Guining's side.

The Eagle's Sorrow Gorge is located in a remote area. There is hardly any human habitation, let alone a ghost, much less a midwife or woman in labor.

For such a major event as childbirth, Liu Xiulian and Jiang Qin had to take charge of the arrangements inside.

Jiang Yi and Lao Gui, the two in-laws, could only wait outside.

In an ordinary household, things would probably be in complete chaos by now, with chickens and dogs running wild.

However, both of them remained relatively calm.

Especially Lao Gui, whose family has countless connections and relatives in the underworld.

What others see as a life-or-death crisis, he probably sees as no different from going back to his hometown.

Either way, we're just waiting.

Jiang Yi picked up the iced tea beside him, took a sip, and began to speak as if in casual conversation:

“Father-in-law, about that ‘minor trouble’ you mentioned the other day…is it convenient to talk about it now?”

This thought lingered in his mind for almost half a month, but he couldn't quite settle on it.

Now that we've reached a critical juncture, it's good to get to the bottom of things so we can have a clearer understanding of the situation.

Upon hearing this, Lao Gui's face first showed a slight smile, and he waved his hand, saying:
"It's alright, it's really alright."

At this point, he changed the subject, his gaze becoming somewhat inscrutable as he scrutinized Jiang Yi:

"Father-in-law, have you ever heard of a child with extraordinary talent whose birth causes a response from heaven and earth?"

He paused, then continued on his own:

"For example, auspicious purple clouds coming from the east, or a strange fragrance filling the room and lingering for a long time. Or, a hundred birds coming to pay homage, circling the beams for three days, and such scenes."

(End of this chapter)