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

Chapter 221 The Nanhua Lineage, the Granary is Empty

"The Old Immortal of Nanhua..."

Jiang Yi repeated the name to himself, his tone not harsh, but with a hint of consideration.

After a long silence, he finally added:
"Could it be that esteemed senior who wrote the Zhuangzi?"

The ancestral hall was extremely quiet, with wisps of incense smoke rising gently.

The ever-burning lamp swayed gently in the wind, its flame flickering and reflecting in his slightly squinted eyes.

He had already thoroughly mastered the classics of the three religions.

This wasn't the first time I'd heard of this name.

Jiang Liang's soul image solidified, and he nodded solemnly.

"It is that one."

He paused, then, as if remembering something, added in a low voice:

"I've heard that this old immortal has a very deep connection with the Tushita Palace. If Father really wants to find out, he might as well ask the ancestor of the Liu family. Perhaps he can find out something."

Jiang Yi did not answer, only gave a slight "hmm" and then fell silent.

His expression revealed neither joy nor anger; he seemed to be pondering something, or perhaps he had already kept everything to himself.

After a long pause, he changed the subject and calmly asked:
"How much weight does this Old Immortal of Nanhua hold in Heaven?"

Upon hearing this, Jiang Liang's soul trembled slightly.

After a long silence, he whispered:
"This person is extremely carefree and his whereabouts are unpredictable. He usually doesn't concern himself with the affairs of the Heavenly Court, nor does he care about the causes and effects on Earth. He is considered an extremely quiet and idle person in Heaven."

His voice lowered, as if afraid of startling something, carrying a hint of respect that dared not speak directly:
"But there are also rumors..."

"Within the lineage of the Tushita Palace, his status is perhaps only second to that of the Supreme Dao Ancestor."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Yi simply nodded slightly and did not ask any further questions.

The sectarian disputes of that day were no longer of any concern to him.

He turned to Jiang Liang, said "Wait a moment," and then left the ancestral hall.

The morning light was faint, the dew had not yet evaporated, and the distant crowing of roosters could be heard intermittently.

About fifteen minutes later, Jiang Yicai turned back.

He was carrying four or five mixed-feather spirit chickens in his hand. Their feathers were bright and their aura was restrained, indicating that they were carefully selected top-quality chickens.

In her other hand, she was carrying a cloth bag containing several spiritual fruits and medicinal herbs, their roots and stems plump and exuding a faint spiritual energy.

He handed these items to Jiang Liang, then spoke in a normal tone:

“Take these to Rui’er. Have him stew these spirit chickens and take the richest broth to give to Han’er and Ji’er to help them recover.”

Jiang Ji is now almost a year and a half old.

Although Jiang Rui had not yet returned to the village due to being away on business, Jiang Yi had never neglected his great-grandson.

Jiang Liang took the package, his soul trembling slightly, and said repeatedly:

“Father, there are quite a few people in the family now, you should keep more for yourself. Such spiritual items are hard to come by even if you have money.”

Seeing his expression, Jiang Yi simply waved his hand dismissively, his expression indifferent:

"It's alright, we have plenty of these at home now."

Jiang Liang was taken aback, his expression still showing some confusion.

Jiang Yi smiled slightly and spoke casually:

"You know about the Blood Bird Pills that Jin'er and the others refined."

"If a person takes this pill directly, its medicinal effect will be greatly reduced, and it is very drying, which will harm the body instead of nourishing it."

He pointed to the spirit chicken on the table, his tone slowing slightly:

"But the villagers discovered that if they fed the spirit bird first, letting the bird's body neutralize the medicinal properties, and then used the meat to make soup after the flesh had warmed up, the medicinal effects would be much milder."

"When blood and qi enter the body, they can replenish yang and transform essence, lasting even longer than the original flavor of elixirs."

His voice was not loud, but it carried an indescribable composure.

"Now that we have the 'Locust Valley' as our base, we have a constant supply of elixirs and a plentiful supply of spirit birds."

"Not to mention our Jiang family, every household in these two worlds villages would never lack this spirit chicken soup."

Jiang Liang then realized what was happening, his expression relaxed, and a smile appeared on his face.

He bowed deeply, his voice so soft it was almost inaudible:

"My child understands."

As soon as he finished speaking, the ghostly figure slowly dissipated amidst the rising incense smoke, leaving only a wisp of smoke that circled the ever-burning lamp twice before vanishing without a trace.

……

Time slips by unnoticed, and another year has passed in the blink of an eye.

On this day, Jiang Yi returned from his usual rounds through the Locust Valley.

The boundless swarm of insects in the valley is no longer as overwhelming as it once was.

They devoured each other and consumed each other in alchemy. Although few remained, each one exuded a fierce aura, its shell gleaming like iron, and a demonic intent was already faintly brewing within them.

Jiang Yi swept his thoughts across the area and sighed softly in his heart.

As time went on, these wicked insects became more and more cunning, and the selection process became more and more careful, with no room for error.

On the way home, the wind blew from the other side of the mountain, carrying a hint of the sweet scent of grass and trees.

Taking a deep breath, I felt my chest expand and my internal organs relax.

Liangjie Village today is certainly not what it used to be.

Everywhere is filled with vitality, flowers and trees flourish in front of every house, and even chickens and dogs are full of energy.

The chickens and ducks that had eaten the Blood Bird Pill walked with their heads held high and their feathers glossy. They didn't hide from people; instead, they huffed and puffed as they came closer.

On the ridge of the field, the young men were wrestling and competing, falling and getting covered in mud, but they were all laughing unrestrainedly.

The energy he possessed seemed inexhaustible.

Even the elderly people basking in the sun in front of their doors all had rosy complexions, squinting as they chatted, their eyes revealing a sense of peace and contentment in the good year.

The liveliest spot is under the old banyan trees in front of Lingsu Temple.

The dense shade of the trees has worn the few blue stones beneath them until they gleam, making them the "court" for gossip in the village.

The room was filled with idle men and women, each fanning themselves with palm-leaf fans and chattering away.

Recently, the conversation has been going around in circles, but it has finally come back to those three words: "Taiping Dao" (the Way of Peace).

"Hey, you guys didn't see it!"

A peddler returning from the market took a sip of iced tea, his voice loud and clear, his eyebrows dancing with excitement.

"The talisman water from Taipingdao is more effective than any medicinal soup in a prescription! I saw it with my own eyes. Someone who was burning up and screaming was able to walk after just one bowl of talisman water!"

A woman sewing shoe soles nearby pursed her lips, her needle and thread trembled, but her tone carried a hint of conviction:

"Isn't that right? I've heard that even high-ranking officials in the imperial court now treat people from the Way of Peace with utmost respect and address them as 'Taoist Master'."

Jiang Yi listened to the old woman and the peddler talking loudly, and his heart sank slightly.

Taiping Dao...

At first, he was just promoting talismans in a corner of Jizhou, and he didn't even have a proper Taoist title.

Who would have thought that in just one year, he would be famous throughout the country.

From the princes and nobles of Luoyang to the common people of Liangzhejie Village, everyone knew the name of that "Great Teacher of Virtue".

He looked up and saw a bustling crowd in front of the Lingsu Temple, laughing and talking.

Just then, someone with sharp eyes spotted him and quickly stood up and bowed, saying, "Elder Jiang!"

Everyone fell silent, their expressions respectful, and the atmosphere suddenly became quieter.

The peddler was the most agile; he grinned and approached.
"Old Jiang, you are a man of great knowledge and experience. In your opinion, what is the secret behind the Way of Peace?"

As soon as he finished speaking, everyone pricked up their ears and even lowered their breathing.

Jiang Yi, however, remained as amiable as ever, a smile playing on his lips as he gently waved his hand.

"I've only heard a little about it. I'm old, my eyesight and hearing are failing, and I don't feel any enthusiasm for these exciting things."

One sentence, like a bucket of cold water, made everyone retreat in embarrassment.

The heat of the conversation dissipated somewhat, and only the chirping of insects remained under the shade of the trees.

Jiang Yi said no more and slowly walked into the Lingsu Temple.

Before the naturally formed blue stone statue of the Daoist patriarch, three sticks of incense were lit respectfully.

After offering sacrifices to the statue, he turned and left, his steps calm and his expression composed.

Following the familiar route home, the entire way was filled with peaceful village scenery.

However, as he walked past his ancestral hall, without stopping, his divine sense, as usual, swept into it.

In that instant, my heartbeat, which had been as steady as a normal person's, paused almost imperceptibly for half a beat.

The lingering incense smoke in the hall suddenly took on a slightly acrid smell.

The spirit that should have been traveling far away in Luoyang was now standing silently before the offering table, looking conflicted. There was no need to speak, not even to ask.

Just by looking at the appearance of that ghostly figure, Jiang Yi knew what was going on.

Sure enough, as he approached, Jiang Liang's illusory figure moved closer.
His expression seemed to want to say something but hesitantly stopped, and finally he whispered:

"father……"

He paused, then, like a child who had done something wrong, swallowed hard.

“Rui’er’s side…sent another message, saying that they want some more grain.”

He has said this countless times over the past year.

Jiang Rui, that kid, has been like a quagmire ever since he got involved in disaster relief, the more he struggles, the deeper he sinks.

They asked for food and medicine again and again.

Jiang Yi's brows furrowed slightly, finally indicating a change in his expression.

"That half-capital allocation from last time, is it gone so quickly?"

Jiang Liang was speechless for a moment when asked the question, and his soul swayed for a moment.

The voice was full of helplessness and bitterness:

"In Liangzhou and Bingzhou... there was another earthquake recently."

He spoke with difficulty, as if each word weighed a ton.

"After the earth dragon turned over, a locust plague swept across the land. Fields were destroyed and houses collapsed, and countless families were left to wander in the wilderness. Many families, along with their children, all went to Rui'er's place."

He gave a bitter laugh, his voice growing softer.

“Not only the half-granary at home… the grain that was transferred from the Qiang region and the Li family earlier is also almost gone.”

The faint "川" character between Jiang Yi's eyebrows slowly disappeared.

I had previously heard that in the Qiang region, the area controlled by Dahei had not suffered from the locust plague, and had even set aside some surplus grain to send to Rui'er for relief.

He was secretly relieved at the time, thinking that he could hold on for a while.

But to their surprise, that huge hole could never be filled.

The hall was so quiet that only the soft crackling of burning incense and candles could be heard.

Jiang Yi lowered his eyes and pondered, his expression unmoving, as if even the candle flame had been frozen in place by him.

After a long while, a very soft sigh was heard:

"That's it, that's all."

His voice was flat, whether from helplessness or exhaustion, it was hard to tell.

"We've already gone this far to help, we can't let that child's heart be broken over this last granary of grain."

As he spoke, he looked up at Jiang Liang.

"Go and take the last granary of grain to him as well."

Jiang Liang received the order, but showed no sign of relief.

The phantom trembled slightly in the candlelight, appearing even more heavy.

Seeing this, Jiang Yi's tone softened a bit.

“However,” he said very slowly, “you also need to make it clear to him…”

He paused for a moment before continuing:
"This grain in the granary is the last bit of food we have left. We'll have to wait until the new grain is stored in the granary this autumn. This is all the family can do to help him."

Jiang Liang lowered his head, his expression solemn.

“I understand, and I will definitely explain it to him.”

After speaking, he bowed deeply to Jiang Yi.
Its figure gradually faded in the flickering candlelight, and finally drifted away to the granary outside the village.

Jiang Yi watched quietly for a moment, then gently shook his head and turned back to his own courtyard.

Outside the courtyard, Liu Xiulian was rolling up her sleeves and deftly picking up a rooster. Its feathers had already been plucked, and its skin was glistening with oil.

Two boys were squatting by the door.

Jiang Chao and Liu Chengming, one with a blade of grass in his mouth and the other swatting ants in a crack in the ground, both had oil bottles hanging from the corners of their mouths.

"Great-grandmother, why is it chicken again..."

Jiang Chao muttered listlessly.

Ever since the locust plague subsided and the use of insects to refine elixirs began, this spirit chicken has become a frequent guest at the Jiang family's dining table.

At first, I was very interested in it. I could make all sorts of delicious dishes, from steamed and braised to boiled and medicinal cuisine.

But after more than a year, I can even smell chicken soup in my dreams. Even though my stomach is strong, it's starting to feel a bit tired.

Liu Xiulian listened without getting angry.

He wiped his hands with his apron, turned around and smiled:

"Don't worry, today we'll just make a simple stew, without any of those bitter herbs. It'll be light and refreshing."

Upon hearing this, the two boys perked up a bit.

The corners of her mouth, which had been drooping just moments before, slowly turned up, and her face regained some life.

As night fell, Jiang Xi and Liu Zi'an went back to Jiang Xi's parents' home for dinner.

The lights in the hall flickered, and on the table sat a stewed chicken, its broth clear and bright, with a few scallions floating on top, emitting a fragrant aroma.

After a few rounds of drinks, the idle chatter gradually subsided.

Liu Zian put down his wine glass and looked up at Jiang Yi.

There was a hint of hesitation in his eyes, as if a thousand words were hard to express.

“Father-in-law,” he said slowly, his voice low, “the Taiping Dao that you asked me to inquire about… is indeed a disciple of that Old Immortal Nanhua.”

He paused, then added,
"However, the current situation is not what the old immortal intended."

Jiang Yi picked up a piece of chicken with his chopsticks and slowly and methodically picked out the bones, his expression calm.

He merely raised the corner of his eye slightly, signaling Liu Zian to continue.

Liu Zian straightened his clothes slightly and said in a low voice:
"That old immortal was by nature easygoing and averse to worldly affairs. He met the young man surnamed Zhang by chance and, seeing his extraordinary bone structure, casually gave him some pointers and passed on three volumes of his self-compiled 'Essential Techniques of Peace'."

He chuckled at the thought and shook his head slightly.

After transmitting the scriptures, the old immortal simply said, "Do more good deeds and help the world," and then turned and left. He didn't even leave me the title of a disciple.

He paused, raised his glass, took a sip, and a slight smile appeared on his lips.

"But who would have thought that Zhang Jiao would actually comprehend the secret? The three incomplete scriptures in his hands were transformed into talismans and incantations, which could drive away locusts, cure diseases, summon wind and rain, and were all effective."

"Taking advantage of this chaotic world of years of natural disasters and displacement of people, they stirred up this upheaval under the guise of 'peace'."

Jiang Yi listened quietly, his expression unchanged, but a fleeting undercurrent seemed to appear in his eyes.

Liu Zian put down his cup and lowered his voice.

"As for that Old Immortal of Nanhua..."

He sighed softly, "Although he is carefree and unrestrained, he is still a celestial being. Seeing the fate I casually pointed out has now deteriorated to this point, if I still pretend to be deaf and dumb, wouldn't I become a laughing stock?"

"So he simply accepted the lineage and gave Zhang Jiao his official title. He also stepped in from heaven to stop all the overt and covert obstacles."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Yi paused slightly with his chopsticks.

A fine ripple appeared on the surface of the soup. His eyes flashed in that shimmering light, and he asked in a calm voice:

"So, according to you, that Old Immortal Nanhua wasn't actually that familiar with the Zhang brothers? He didn't even bother to observe their temperaments and personalities?"

Liu Zian hesitated for a moment, then finally nodded.

"It seems that this is the case now."

He changed the subject, his expression becoming more serious.

"However, the Way of Peace has now become quite influential. After all, it has inherited the lineage of the old immortal and is known for its benevolence and charity. Its merits and virtues are obvious."

After he finished speaking, he picked up his wine glass, lowered it by half an inch, and gently clinked it against Jiang Yi's glass.

“No matter how well they cultivate in the future, even if they die and their cultivation dissipates, based on this merit, they should rightfully be accepted into the old immortal's sect.”

At this point, he lowered his voice even further, with a hint of conjecture:

"Therefore, our ancestor recently sent word that if any of us mortals have the opportunity, it would be best if we could form a good relationship with the Zhang brothers."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Yi's expression faltered slightly, and the faint lines between his brows appeared.

However, he ultimately didn't say much in front of the younger generation.

After a long silence, he said softly:
"In all things, one must stay true to oneself and take good care of the mountains and forests first; that is more reassuring than anything else."

Liu Zian nodded in agreement, then refilled the glass, raised it in a toast, and smiled respectfully:

“Father-in-law is absolutely right. If it weren’t for your great abilities, that locust plague would have wiped out all the vegetation in this mountain. Our family’s tradition of bringing prosperity to the mountain would probably have ended long ago.”

Jiang Yi listened, then calmly finished the remaining wine in his cup.

His expression was calm, but his gaze was fixed on the window, where the night was as dark as ink, and the lamplight flickered slightly in the wind, unable to illuminate the thoughts in his eyes.

(End of this chapter)