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

Chapter 223 Shared Ideals, the Locust Mission

Jiang Liang's departure lasted for another half month.

Until dusk that day, his spirit reappeared and drifted into the hall.

The lights were just coming on inside, the food was still warm, and the family sat around the table, talking about nothing more than daily necessities, their laughter gentle and warm.

Amidst the rising steam, Jiang Liang's ghostly figure solidified in the smoke, seemingly imbued with a touch of human warmth.

This time, his expression was even brighter than before, and his eyes were filled with barely suppressed joy.

"Reporting to Father and Mother, the matter of Rui'er's reward has been settled!"

Before anyone could even react, he smiled and continued:

"He is promoted to Protector-General of the Qiang and will continue to be in charge of pacifying the Qiang region!"

"Protector of the Qiang, Sima..."

Liu Xiulian's hand, which was about to pick up some food, paused, and the oil on the tip of her chopsticks glistened under the light.

That was Jiang Liang's former position.

He earned this official title by risking his life on the battlefield.

Amidst galloping horses and a bloody mist that obscured the sky, he drew his sword and beheaded several Qiang generals before exchanging his official hat for this official robe.

Now, the grandson has no battlefield achievements, but with an imperial edict in hand, he can rise through the ranks without difficulty, and his superior is his own father-in-law... The implications of this are self-evident.

There was a moment of silence in the hall, followed by a soft laugh, as if a spring breeze had dispelled the stuffiness.

"Okay, okay!" Liu Xiulian reacted, her eyes already slightly red, and she responded repeatedly, her smile revealing a hint of barely suppressed excitement.

That evening, the Jiang family hosted a grand banquet.

Liu Xiulian personally cooked, adding several more meat and vegetable dishes.

Under the lamplight, steam rose and the aroma of wine filled the air. A few bowls of clear soup and a few cups of light wine added a touch of joy.

There was no one else at the table except for the whole family.

Jiang Yi drank little, just watched quietly.

Laughter rose and fell in his ears, and the flickering lights made the white at his temples appear even brighter.

When the banquet ended, it was already late at night.

The cups and plates lay scattered about, and a few wisps of steam still lingered in the aroma of the wine.

The voices gradually faded away, and the younger generation, still slightly drunk, returned to their rooms, leaving only the dimly lit hall with the soft crackling of candle wicks.

Jiang Yi and his son Jiang Liang sat facing each other in silence.

The festive atmosphere from the banquet has completely vanished.

Jiang Liang's ghostly figure flickered slightly in the candlelight, the smile on his face completely gone.

"Father was truly farsighted."

He spoke in a low voice, his tone tinged with bitterness.

"Rui'er's trip to the palace this time... almost caused trouble. If it weren't for the old imperial physician from the Li family who stood by and stopped him, I'm afraid..."

Before he finished speaking, his voice was already deep and resonant.

Upon hearing this, Jiang Yi showed no surprise whatsoever, and simply raised his eyes and asked softly:

"What did he see in the palace?"

Jiang Liang remained silent for a long time, then sighed, a sigh that seemed to emanate a chill from his very soul.

“Rui’er said that the new emperor did not hold court.”

Even the bestowal of titles and honors took place in a warm pavilion within the inner palace.

He paused, his expression turning somewhat bitter.

"In that warm pavilion... the palace maids and concubines all wore thin gauze underpants so that they could receive the emperor's favor at any time."

"Beside the throne, several dogs and pigs were squatting, all dressed in official robes and wearing court hats."

As soon as he finished speaking, the hall fell silent.

Jiang Yi remained silent.

The candlelight flickered, casting his long shadow on the wall.

After a long while, he could only let out a slow sigh.

The sigh was slight, yet it seemed as if the speaker had already known, only to have it confirmed by reality once again.

After a long silence, Jiang Yicai raised his eyes and asked:
"How is Rui'er doing?"

Jiang Liang's soul shadow swayed slightly, as if he was considering something.

After a moment, he slowly said:

"The person is safe."

"But... I'm afraid I'm not entirely at ease."

He paused, his gaze lowered.

"Rui'er had previously told me that he wanted to take advantage of the opportunity of being granted a title to petition the court to open the granaries for disaster relief, even if it was just to distribute more grain, it would still be of some benefit."

"After seeing the scene in the palace, he didn't say another word."

"After receiving the imperial edict, he turned and left."

At this point, Jiang Liang's voice softened, carrying an indescribable quality.

It felt like a sigh of relief, yet also like a choked feeling.

"It seems that he has completely lost faith in this court."

Jiang Yi lowered his eyes and remained silent, staring at the teacups on the table.

The tea in the cup swayed slightly, with a few tea leaves floating and sinking, much like the myriad beings in this world—those that float are unstable, and those that sink are silent.

This is what is meant by "the greatest sorrow is the death of the heart."

It wasn't anger, nor resentment, but a chilling stillness.

Jiang Yi knew in his heart that this grandson had been chivalrous and sincere since childhood.

From now on, I'm afraid I'll never have any hope for that magnificent Luoyang again.

Thinking of this, Jiang Yi frowned slightly and suddenly spoke:
"You, as a father..."

“At this time, I should be by his side.”

Upon hearing this, Jiang Liang's conjured face stiffened slightly, his expression becoming somewhat strange.

"That was originally my plan too."

As he spoke, his voice betrayed a hint of helplessness and grievance.

"However... as soon as Rui'er left the palace, he met the younger brother of the Great Teacher of the Way of Peace, named Zhang Bao."

“This man is currently traveling around Luoyang on behalf of his elder brother, trying to persuade people.”

He paused briefly, seemingly feeling ashamed.

"At first, the two were just chatting and exchanging pleasantries, but they hit it off immediately and found they got along very well. Later, he accepted Zhang Bao's invitation to meet some new friends who shared his interests... He didn't even go home."

"what?!"

The teacup suddenly jolted and hit the wooden table with a crisp sound.

The sound wasn't loud, but it was like a sudden clap of thunder, shattering the night into pieces.

A rare hint of sternness appeared on Jiang Yi's usually calm and composed face.

His eyes flashed like lightning as he stared at Jiang Liang's ghostly figure.

That gaze contained not only surprise, but also barely suppressed anger and reproach.

Such an important matter has only been brought up now.

Jiang Liang trembled slightly and his face turned deathly pale when his father glared at him.

He hadn't seen his father with such an expression for many years. That invisible aura permeated his body, and even though he was just a remnant soul, he felt a chill run through his body, and even his features seemed to fade.

After a long pause, Jiang Liang steeled himself, lowering his voice even further, as if pleading for his son:

"Father, actually, based on what I've seen and heard over the years, the Way of Peace..."

He paused, as if to clarify his words.

"Although I serve in Chang'an, I often travel between Luoyang, Liangqiang, and other places because of the memorial tablet. What I have seen and heard is that the Way of Peace is indeed helping people and saving lives. They provide talismanic water and medicine, saving countless lives."

"While the methods may be crude, they are more practical than those temples and monasteries that sit high on the clouds and only know how to exploit the people. They are also more respectable than... and more respectable than the current court."

His words carried an urgent desire to defend his son:

“Rui’er is straightforward and has witnessed the depravity of the palace firsthand. It’s not hard to understand why he would find someone like Zhang Bao so compatible with him…”

Before he could finish speaking, Jiang Yi coldly interrupted him, his voice not loud, but each word resounding:

"Go and find Wenya immediately. By any means necessary, you must get Rui'er away from those people."

Jiang Liang paused slightly under the lamplight, hesitated for a moment, and finally replied in a low voice:

“Father’s command is above all, and I will do my best. But… but Rui’er is no longer a child, and is now the Protector-General of the Qiang, appointed by the court…”

"If he insists on not returning, I'm afraid my relationship with the Li family... will be uncertain."

Before he finished speaking, the atmosphere in the hall suddenly turned cold.

Jiang Yi's expression grew even more somber, as if the night itself had become even heavier.

"I said, whatever method you use." After a moment, as if afraid the child wouldn't understand the gravity of the situation, he added:
“If you can’t persuade him and he insists on not returning, I will go to Luoyang myself.”

He spoke again, his tone even more somber:

"Even if we have to break his legs, we have to bring him back."

Seeing his father's cold and stern tone, Jiang Liang knew that he was truly angry.

Startled, he stopped trying to argue, quickly bowed, and whispered his agreement.

The ghostly figure said no more. As the lamplight flickered, the illusory figure slowly faded away, leaving only a wisp of smoke dissipating in the air.

As the child left, the hall fell silent once more.

Jiang Yi then suppressed the fierce look on his face and let out a long sigh, exhausted both physically and mentally.

How could he not understand what a child is saying?
In these turbulent times, the slogans of the Way of Peace resonate more deeply with people than imperial edicts.

But he also knew that if the fire burned too brightly, it would eventually consume him, and his reputation for saving the world would ultimately become the cause of its destruction.

As the head of the Jiang family, how could Jiang Yi bear to watch his own flesh and blood embark on a path destined to be shattered to pieces?
Unfortunately, this matter involves past memories, which cannot be spoken of or explained.

At present, the only option is to use the authority of the family head to forcefully suppress it.

The hall remained silent, with only the flickering lamplight.

Jiang Yi couldn't calm down for a while, as if his soul was stagnated.

Jiang Yi knew that if he tried to practice breathing exercises with such a mindset, he would not only fail to cleanse himself of the impurities, but would also add to his depression.

After a moment of contemplation, I decided to put aside my spiritual practice.

With a slight turn of his body and a gentle flick of his sleeves, he transformed into a fleeting shadow, drifting out of his house and heading towards Locust Valley.

The Locust Valley at night felt even more eerie than during the day.

The chirping of insects had ceased, and the sounds of birds were gone; only the wind among the rocks howled like a ghost, carrying a lingering fishy smell.

The cold, white moonlight cast long, slanted shadows on the rocks, stretching across the valley floor.

Every dark corner seems to hide a pair of eyes, silently watching people.

Jiang Yifang settled down, and his divine sense silently spread out, like mercury spilling onto the ground, seeping into every inch of mud and stone.

In a short while, the focus was locked onto the palm-sized green locust.

At the same time, a chilling aura was creeping in from the shadows, approaching inch by inch along the cracks in the rocks.

It was a jet-black locust demon, its carapace so dark it almost blended into the shadows, its stealth skills were quite masterful.

The green locust, however, seemed oblivious, hopping and leaping about, its antennae gently probing, displaying an innocent demeanor.

As if unaware, death was imminent.

Jiang Yi's divine sense gently descended, but the corners of his lips had already slightly curled up.

That little guy may seem to be jumping around randomly, but in reality, every step he takes is methodical.

Without a sound, they had already entered the warning zone of a golden-feathered spirit rooster.

Upon approaching, the green locust suddenly lay still, as silent as a stone.

This ambush is precisely the "invitation into the trap".

The earth and rocks trembled slightly, and a dark shadow suddenly rose.

The pitch-black demonic insect shot straight at you like a poisoned arrow.

But it was fast, and that old bird with its half-closed eyes, as if sculpted from metal, was even faster.

There was only a soft sound, nothing more than a "poof".

The golden shadow moved like lightning, arriving first despite being the last to strike.

The black locust demon was still in mid-air when it was pecked down on the head by an iron beak.

His body stiffened, then he fell to the ground, smashing into a puddle of mud, without even a twitch.

The old bird was already used to this. It lowered its head and pecked away the most exquisite flesh and blood from the body in a few bites.

It shook its feathers again, straightened the base of its feathers, and slowly strolled back to its original spot, half-closing its eyes and pretending to sleep again.

The valley returned to silence, with only a faint fishy smell remaining.

After a long while, the green locust finally poked its body out, twitched its antennae, and cautiously approached.

It gnawed away the empty shell and scraps bit by bit, not even leaving behind the broken wings.

Jiang Yi stood on the edge of the valley, a gentle breeze ruffling his clothes, but a hint of sternness appeared deep in his eyes.

To use someone else's knife to kill someone, to leverage someone else's strength to turn the tide.

This tiny thing, no bigger than the palm of my hand, actually calculated his previous divine command and the situation in the valley.

It's likely that it sensed the black locust's presence when it was sneaking around, but simply pretended not to know, luring it into its trap.

What a... wicked creature that understands human nature.

With a slight thought, Jiang Yi gracefully landed on a boulder in the valley.

As soon as he stood still, the green locust that had been munching on its food suddenly froze.

With the shell still intact, it stopped eating and slowly turned around.

With its two front legs together, it prostrated itself on the ground as if in worship, its head almost touching the earth.

A moment later, a wisp of divine thought traveled across the void.

Gone was the awkwardness and fear of half a month ago; instead, there was more orderliness, and a hint of respect and submission.

Jiang Yi sensed this and was slightly surprised.

In just half a month, this little thing has probably devoured many of its kind in the valley by using the technique of killing with borrowed knives.

With a thought, he gently placed his hand on the green locust, like a guiding thread, without any pressure.

This time, the thought did not hesitate and condensed into two distinct characters, which slowly imprinted into Jiang Yi's sea of ​​consciousness.

"Owner."

Sure enough, he got it.

Jiang Yi's thoughts resurfaced, but his tone remained calm:
"Whom do you serve? Where do you originate?"

Bi Huang's divine sense trembled slightly, as if he were searching through his memories.

After a long while, an echo came:

"Black Locust Child".

“It comes from deep underground.”

...Black locust seed.

Jiang Yi's heart skipped a beat.

This was the second time he had heard this name.

I felt a little relieved.

If the answers match, then you haven't lied.

"And what is the origin of that black locust?"

Jiang Yi urged again with his divine sense, his tone becoming even more urgent, "Is there anyone else behind him? Tell me everything you know."

Bi Huang's thoughts faltered, as if he were struggling to find something within that pitiful legacy.

After a long pause, he finally uttered four words:
"The ancestor of all locusts".

When asked about anything else, all that remained was a state of confusion.

With its shallow understanding, that's all it can remember.

Jiang Yi sighed inwardly.

After asking around for a long time, all I got were some vague and unsubstantiated questions; I couldn't even get a decent clue.

So I casually asked, "Then what brings you to the surface?"

He hadn't really had any expectations to begin with.

When locusts pass through, they are simply looking for food.

This principle holds true throughout history.

Unexpectedly, the moment that wisp of divine thought touched it, the green locust seemed to have been stung, and its entire aura surged like a tidal wave.

The echo suddenly became clear, its meaning almost terrifyingly simple, carrying an instinctive obsession, reverberating again and again in Jiang Yi's mind:

"Get to the ground..."

"Searching for Jin Chanzi..."

"Eat the golden cicada..."

"Searching for Jin Chanzi..."

"Eat the golden cicada..."

"Searching for Jin Chanzi..."

"Eat the golden cicada..."

The sounds were like incantations, and the eerie wind seemed to echo them.

(End of this chapter)