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

Chapter 205 Jiang Chao Returns to the Village, Earth Dragon Turns Over

Some things are best left unsaid.

Jiang Yi didn't press the matter further, and Lao Gui didn't say much either.

The two of them simply finished off the remaining wine in the jar with a few light dishes, leaving not a single drop.

The wine was finished, and the night was deep.

Staying in a guest room in the temple, with the constant sound of the Eagle's Sorrow Stream as my pillow, was quite peaceful.

The next day, as dawn broke, a thin mist began to rise from the ravine.

There weren't many words exchanged when we parted. We were all in-laws who knew each other well, so being polite would have made us seem distant.

Jiang Yi simply bowed slightly in front of the temple, his sleeves fluttering, and clouds naturally arose.

He lifted his still sleepy great-grandson onto the cloud and settled him in front of him.

The little child yawned, nestled obediently in his arms, found a comfortable position, and squinted his eyes again.

The clouds rose slowly, the temples grew smaller, the mountains and rivers lay below, and only the sound of the wind remained, carrying the old man and the child back to the horizon.

With a little one by my side, the journey home was not as smooth as the journey there.

The little one in my arms slept soundly at first, but as the sun rose higher and the warmth enveloped him, he woke up, his eyes darting around, full of energy.

One moment she'd point to the river below, so thin it looked like a ribbon, and ask questions in a babbling voice;
A moment later, he reached out to pluck a wisp of cloud drifting across the sky, but missed, and giggled.

Jiang Yi wasn't annoyed; he just found it amusing.

So I simply lowered the clouds further and flew more slowly, letting the little man point out the landscape.

When the journey reaches its peak, choose a scenic mountain peak, descend from the clouds, and rest your feet.

The child rolled around on the soft grass a couple of times, chasing after the startled butterflies;
Jiang Yi found a blue stone to sit on, smiling as he watched the time pass by.

Just as I was lost in thought, my clothes were suddenly tugged gently.

"Great-grandfather, I'm hungry."

A childish, innocent sentence pulled him back from his profound thoughts to the mundane realities of life.

Jiang Yi chuckled, reached into his sleeve, pulled out a still-warm cake, and handed it over.

The sun was shining brightly, and a gentle mountain breeze was blowing.

Just as he was enjoying his leisure time, Jiang Yi suddenly frowned.

It wasn't the rocks beneath our feet that were shaking, but a deeper, more muffled tremor that came from the depths of the earth.

The tremor was fleeting, so fast it was almost like an illusion.

However, the spiritual energy between heaven and earth was disrupted and became somewhat disordered.

Jiang Chao, who was on the grass, was completely unaware of what was happening. He suddenly felt his feet slip and fell to the ground with a thud. He blinked, looked at the sky and then at the ground, seemingly wondering why the grass was moving.

Jiang Yi suddenly stood up, his earlier leisurely mood completely washed away.

He gazed in the direction of Liangjie Village, his expression becoming more solemn.

An ordinary earth dragon turning over would not have such power, nor would it disturb the spiritual energy.

Without further hesitation, he called out in a deep voice, "Chao'er, come here."

Although the little child didn't understand what was going on, he noticed that his great-grandfather's expression was strange, so he immediately ran over obediently and was picked up in one go.

"Great-grandfather?"

"Hurry home."

With just a few words, Jiang Yi flicked his sleeves, and the clouds gathered faster than when he arrived.

He placed his great-grandson in his arms, and with a thought, the auspicious cloud beneath his feet suddenly lost its leisurely momentum, rose sharply, transformed into a white rainbow, and sped away.

The mountains and rivers on both sides of the river turned into retreating ink lines in my peripheral vision, and the wind howled in my ears, urgent as a knife.

Even with Jiang Yi's protective true energy, the baby in his arms was still unable to open his eyes due to the wind, and could only bury his little face tightly in his arms.

During this journey, Jiang Yi's mind was like the flowing clouds beneath his feet, never able to stop for even a moment.

Fortunately, when the familiar outline of the village finally appeared on the horizon, the weight on his heart slowly lifted.

Looking into the distance, wisps of smoke rise from the village chimneys, just as they always have.

Farmers were working in the fields, while people were chatting and laughing under the big locust tree at the village entrance, creating a peaceful scene.

Jiang Yi finally breathed a sigh of relief, his anxiety subsided, and he slowly lowered the cloud, stopping it on the dirt road outside the village.

"Okay, we're home."

Jiang Yi softened his voice and gently patted the little guy's back in his arms.

Jiang Chao poked his head out and rubbed his sleepy eyes.

Upon seeing the scenery before them, their dark, bright eyes immediately lit up.

In a desolate place like Yingchoujian, all you see are mountains and water; you've never seen such a lively scene of human life.
Beside the village road, several mother hens led a string of fluffy chicks, pawing at the ground.

On the fence, newly blooming morning glories climbed densely, their petals still glistening with morning dew.
The distant sounds of children's laughter and dogs' barking, along with the aroma of cooking food wafting from the chimneys, filled the air.

All of this was rare for Jiang Chao.

He struggled to get down, and his great-grandfather held his little hand, turning back every few steps, wanting to see everything.

One moment she'd be looking at the big yellow dog wagging its tail, the next she'd be staring at the lazy cat sunbathing in the corner. Her two short legs moved unsteadily, and she couldn't walk very fast.

Jiang Yi didn't urge him, but slowed down and let him look around.

"Old Jiang, you're back!"

A villager carrying a hoe saw him from afar, stopped, and greeted him respectfully.

"Yes, you're back." Jiang Yi nodded with a smile, and asked casually, "Has the village been peaceful these past few days?"

The man scratched his head and chuckled sheepishly:

"Everything's fine, everything's alright. It's just that the earthworks turned over a few days ago, shaking quite a bit and knocking off a few roof tiles from some houses, but otherwise nothing's wrong."

"An earth dragon turning over?" Jiang Yi's heart skipped a beat, but his face remained expressionless. He simply asked, "Did it injure anyone?"

"How could that be!" Brother Wang waved his hand, his tone revealing a certainty of certainty. "Our Liangjie Village is protected by the Goddess Lingsu and Lord Lao. This little disturbance won't hurt anyone. Don't worry, Elder Jiang, everything in the village is fine."

Jiang Yi hummed in agreement and asked no more questions. He then led his great-grandson, whose eyes were darting around and whose curiosity was practically overflowing, slowly toward his own courtyard.

Not far along, after turning a corner paved with bluestone slabs, you can hear shouts of "Hey!" and "Ha!" in childish voices, yet extremely earnest.

Jiang Chao's little head peeked out.

On the open ground to the west of the village, which is now the training ground of the Ancient and Modern Gang, Master Liu was leading seven or eight children in training.

Dressed in short, tight-fitting clothes, with his hands behind his back, he exuded an imposing aura without being angry, and his eyes swept over the row of children of varying heights.

Those kids were all promising talents he had selected from the village over the past two years.

The older ones were only five or six years old, while the younger ones looked about the same age as Jiang Chao.

At a command, seven or eight little ones simultaneously assumed a horse stance.

Some had stern faces, looking very serious, with their little fists clenched tightly;
Some of them were already leaning to one side, their little bodies swaying back and forth like reeds in the wind, and they were even muttering to themselves.

Even more mischievous ones, taking advantage of Master Liu's turn around, secretly reached out and poked the buttocks of the person in front, earning a silent eye roll in return.

Jiang Chao's small body involuntarily stopped.

His eyes were wide open, staring intently at the scene.

Although Eagle Sorrow Gorge is vast and its landscape is desolate, he had never seen so many tiny people who were about the same age as him before.

Not to mention, they were making strange yet synchronized movements together, shouting in unison, which was quite amusing.

All of this was a hundred times newer to him than the talking black bear or the wagging tail wolf.

Holding her great-grandfather's little hand, she unconsciously tightened her grip a little.

Seeing his focused expression, Jiang Yi smiled and took his hand, walking over slowly.

"My in-laws are very busy, aren't they?"

Master Liu was frowning as he was about to correct a disciple's posture, which was almost reaching the sky while doing a split.

Turning around at the sound, he saw Jiang Yi and the stern look on his face immediately disappeared, replaced by a hearty smile.

"My father-in-law is back!" He quickly stepped forward, clasped his hands in a fist and bowed, "I've just been messing around here."

Jiang Yi patted the back of the baby in his arms and said gently, "Chao'er, call him Grandpa."

Jiang Chao tilted his head back, curiously examining the dignified old man in front of him.

Hearing his great-grandfather's words, he obediently called out in a childish voice:

"Hello, Uncle."

"Okay, okay!"

Master Liu responded loudly, his gaze falling on the child, a barely perceptible hint of approval flashing in his eyes.

He bent down, reaching out to rub the little head, but then seemed to remember the calluses on his palms, afraid of hurting the delicate skin of the child. His hand paused in mid-air, and he finally withdrew it, leaving only a hearty laugh.

Jiang Yi's gaze swept over the row of crookedly dressed junior disciples in the arena, and he smiled faintly:
"You've taught them well. These little rascals are starting to take shape."

Upon hearing this, Master Liu shook his head with a wry smile, lowered his voice, and spoke in a self-deprecating tone:
"Please don't make fun of me, my dear in-laws. They're all mischievous kids. It's a wonder I've managed to get them to stand still. They're nothing compared to your son. Just standing here, he exudes a cleverness."

Jiang Yi smiled but did not answer, and then casually made a joke:
"In that case, once this little guy is a bit more resilient, I'll send him here to help him toughen up."

Although the words were spoken in jest, Master Liu took them seriously.

His gaze swept over Jiang Chao almost imperceptibly.

From top to bottom, one doesn't look at the appearance, but rather at the skeleton, vitality, and spirit.

With just one glance, I knew what was going on.

He has above-average physical attributes and a long, steady breath. Although he doesn't have the astonishing talent of his own grandson, he is still a truly promising talent.

The thought flashed through his mind, but his face remained cheerful as he waved his hands repeatedly.

"My dear in-law, you flatter me! It's my honor that you're willing to send your child here. How could I refuse? Come anytime, anytime!"

The enthusiasm in his words did not seem feigned.

After exchanging a few pleasantries, Jiang Yi took his great-grandson's hand and walked along the village road towards his own courtyard.

Before long, the familiar fenced courtyard came into view.

The courtyard gate was ajar, and even before we got close, a wisp of herbal fragrance mixed with the aroma of cooking food wafted over.

In the corner of the courtyard, Liu Xiulian was sitting under the eaves, a small winnowing basket on her lap, carefully picking through the newly dried herbs.

The curtain to the main room was half-lifted, perhaps to let in some air.

Jiang Yi was about to lead Jiang Chao inside when he stopped abruptly at the sight of him.

At the table, seven-year-old Jiang Han was kneeling, her little face focused intently.

She pulled a foxtail grass from somewhere, dipped it in the red from the rouge box, and carefully applied it to the chubby little face opposite her.

The object she used as a canvas was her two-and-a-half-year-old cousin, Liu Chengming.

At this moment, this "elder" in name has a small wildflower pinned to the side in her hair, and the red dot between her eyebrows is drawn more beautifully than a copper coin.

With half a piece of malt candy dangling from his mouth, his lips sticky and shiny, he seemed oblivious, his big, innocent eyes staring blankly as he was manipulated.

Hearing the noise at the door, Liu Xiulian, who was standing under the eaves, looked up and saw her husband leading her great-grandson back. Her wrinkles immediately blossomed into a smile as bright as a flower.

She quickly put down the winnowing basket, brushed the dregs of medicine off her hands, and hurried forward to meet them.

"Oh, my dear grandson, you're finally back!"

Before he could finish speaking, he had already taken Jiang Chao and held him tightly in his arms.

He pinched her cheeks, touched her little hands, and kept muttering:

"Look at your little face, it's all rough from being out in the mountains. Are you tired from the journey? Are you hungry? Your great-grandmother saved some good food for you..."

After a round of warm greetings and seeing that the child was in good spirits, they finally felt relieved.

Liu Xiulian was reluctant to let go, so she still held Jiang Chao in her arms and went into the main room with a smile.

The two children at the table stopped playing when they heard the commotion.

Jiang Han quickly threw away the foxtail grass, a hint of embarrassment at being caught doing something wrong appearing on her face, and her little hand unconsciously rubbed against the hem of her skirt.

Liu Chengming, dressed like a little girl, was the one with half a piece of malt candy in his mouth, looking over in a daze.

"Han'er, come and see, this is your trendy little brother."

Liu Xiulian introduced with a smile, then pointed to Liu Chengming's comical appearance, and said to Jiang Chao in her arms:
"Chao'er, this is your sister Han, and this is... your cousin Chengming."

When the words "cousin" were mentioned, Liu Xiulian couldn't help but smile. Her gaze swept over the crooked little wildflowers and the coin-sized red dot between her eyebrows, and she almost burst out laughing.

Jiang Chao, nestled in his great-grandmother's arms, peeked out and called out "Sister" in a clear voice. He then looked at the chubby "Uncle" with hesitation in his eyes, before finally obediently calling him "Uncle."

Jiang Han hummed in agreement, her smile tinged with curiosity.

Liu Chengming took the candy out of his mouth and mumbled an "oh" in response.

After recognizing all the children in the room, Liu Xiulian still wasn't satisfied. She picked up Jiang Chao and turned to head into the inner room.
"Come on, let's see your aunt and your great-aunt again."

His expression was full of joy, as if he were holding not a child, but a rare treasure, and he couldn't feel at ease until he could show it to everyone in the courtyard.

Although the courtyard wasn't large, she made it lively and bustling.

The baby was held by his wife like a treasure, chattering excitedly as he went to greet his family.

Seeing this, Jiang Yi was happy not to interfere.

He stood in the courtyard for only a moment before turning around and leaving, heading towards the ancestral hall at the foot of the mountain.

The ancestral hall remained silent, with only half a stick of incense burning in the incense burner on the table, its embers glowing faintly.

Jiang Yi, familiar with the place, took two sticks of incense from the side, lit them by the flame of the ever-burning lamp, and gently inserted them into the burner.

With a flick of his fingertips, two wisps of green smoke slowly rose, swirling and intertwining in mid-air, lingering for a long time.

In a short while, the smoke thickened, and a figure emerged from the mist—it was Jiang Liang.

Father and son had met like this for many years, and there was no need for formalities anymore.

Jiang Yi asked directly, "The other day, did the earth dragon turn over?"

Jiang Liang's mind sharpened slightly, and the relaxed smile on his face faded somewhat. After a moment of silence, he nodded.

He looked at his father, his eyes filled with weariness, and his voice was very low:

"Father, what you're asking about probably isn't just about the little commotion in the village."

After he finished speaking, he sighed softly, the smoke trembled slightly, and his figure swayed somewhat.

"Our Liangjie Village is remote, so we only experienced the aftershocks. Although we felt the tremors, we were not seriously injured. But outside, it was a completely different story."

Jiang Liang's voice deepened:

"Luoyang has suffered a great disaster. Houses in the city have collapsed, and the number of dead and injured is countless. Even Chang'an has been affected and has suffered heavy losses. In recent days, both the underworld and the City God's Palace have been extremely busy, comforting the souls of the dead and sorting out the earth's veins, with almost no rest."

As Jiang Yi listened, his brows furrowed even more. He looked up at his son's translucent face and slowly spoke:
"The earth's upheaval concerns countless lives. You, a mere deity, surely had no sign whatsoever?"

Upon hearing this, Jiang Liang paused slightly, a strange look appearing on his face, as if he were confused or hesitant.

"This... I can't figure it out either."

He gave a wry smile:
"Logically speaking, if there were such a major change in the earth's veins, the mountain gods, local deities, city gods, and underworld officials should have sensed it long ago, and the Heavenly Court should have given a warning as well. But this time, it was as if a thunderclap came out of nowhere, arriving suddenly without any warning."

He paused abruptly, as if remembering something, and lowered his voice, adding a touch of admonition:

“I once secretly went to investigate and asked the City God. But the City God was very evasive, saying that the secrets of heaven are chaotic and beyond the comprehension of us minor deities. He instructed us to do our jobs and not to presume to seek answers.”

After hearing this, Jiang Yi didn't press further, but simply nodded slowly and offered a few words of advice:

"When working away from home, be careful and don't try to stand out."

After Jiang Yi finished speaking, he didn't say anything more, turned around and left the ancestral hall, heading home on his own.

Before even entering the courtyard, the sounds of children laughing and playing could be heard, as clear and crisp as birds newly released from their cages.

Jiang Yi took a stroll and glanced at it, and couldn't help but smile.

Under the old locust tree, Jiang Han solemnly took on the role of referee.

The little girl held a bamboo skewer with a sugar figurine, half its head gnawed off, stuck it solemnly into the mud, cleared her throat, and called out in a crisp voice:

"Whoever wins gets to keep it!"

Opposite them were Jiang Chao and Liu Chengming, two little ones.

The two of them, forehead to forehead, with their little bottoms sticking out, their faces flushed red, were having a strength contest.

Logically speaking, Jiang Chao, who is several months older, should have some advantage.

Unfortunately, his body was not yet properly tempered, and his breathing was weak.

On the contrary, Liu Chengming was born with excellent physical strength and energy. At a young age, his lower body was as stable as a stone pillar.

With a low growl from his uncle's throat, Jiang Chao kicked off with his two fat legs, and cried out "Ouch!" as he lost his footing and landed on his bottom first.

"Chengming! This is ridiculous!"

A slightly annoyed rebuke came from the courtyard gate.

Liu Zian and Jiang Xi had just returned when they saw their son push their grand-nephew to the ground. Liu Zian's face immediately darkened.

Jiang Xi quickly stepped forward, pulled up the still dazed Jiang Chao, gently brushed the mud off his clothes, and said softly with a smile:
"You must be Chao'er? Let your auntie check if you hurt yourself."

Her voice was gentle and soft, carrying a reassuring warmth.

Jiang Chao looked up at his smiling aunt with his little face upturned, and the slight grievance of losing the competition just now immediately disappeared.

He shook his head and called out in a clear, crisp voice, "Auntie."

"Hey, you're so good."

Jiang Xi smiled and agreed, then casually tidied his slightly messy hair.

Meanwhile, Liu Zian had already dragged his troublemaking son in front of him and was scolding him with a stern face:
"How could you be so reckless? Chao'er is your cousin, and yet you use such force right from the start!"

Liu Chengming hung his head, twisting the hem of his clothes with his little hands, his lips pouting, but he dared not say a word.

After reprimanding his son, Liu Zian turned around and carefully examined his grand-nephew whom he was meeting for the first time.

Previously, he was just an ordinary child, with no extraordinary talent or aura.

But as soon as he focused his mind, his expression changed slightly.

Using his inner energy to probe, he saw that within that small body, the soul was solid and pure, far beyond that of an ordinary child.

Especially deep within the ancestral aperture between the eyebrows, a faint golden halo floated, like the rising sun, slowly swirling.

Although it was only faint, it possessed an indescribable nobility and majesty, as if it were innate and not to be violated.

Liu Zian's breathing unconsciously became lighter.

This... is definitely not ordinary bone.

Just as he was filled with suspicion, the curtain to the inner room was gently lifted, and Liu Xiulian poked half her body out, calling out:

"Don't just stand around in the yard, dinner's ready!"

The sound of his voice, like the gong in the army, immediately brought the standoff in the courtyard to an end.

Jiang Han, who had just been acting as a serious referee, immediately cheered, stuffed the half of the sugar figurine into her mouth, and quickly darted into the house.

(End of this chapter)