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

Chapter 245 Chang'an Undergoes Change, The Method of Medicine

Jiang Yi stood with his hands behind his back, his gaze sweeping over the two of them, and he sighed inwardly.

He didn't know why Jiang Jun was hesitant to take that step, but he understood that the boy always had his own plans.

Thinking of this, Jiang Yi didn't ask any more questions.

He smiled and reached out, taking his granddaughter and grandson by the hand on either side, and followed the aroma of food towards the front yard.

Today is truly a day of double happiness.

It was Jiang Jin's thirtieth birthday, and also the day she was granted both life and immortality, so this dinner should be lively.

As the sun set, the afterglow on the horizon turned into a pale gold, and the lights in the courtyard began to illuminate one by one.

Before long, Jiang Liang's spirit also returned from outside.

The table was laid out, and the aroma of wine and food filled the air.

The whole family sat together, the aroma of food and wine mingling with laughter, creating a scene reminiscent of the old New Year.

During the meal, the conversation naturally revolved around Jiang Jin's achievements.
Your "How rare!" and his "How delightful!" create such a lively atmosphere that even the window paper seems to glow.

Only Jiang Liang remained calm amidst the noise.

He looked at his daughter with a gentle smile in his eyes, but he never asked her a single question about her cultivation level or supernatural abilities.

After several rounds of drinks, he slowly put down his cup and asked in a gentle voice, "Jin'er, have you neglected your medical skills these past few years?"

This question surprised Jiang Jin slightly.

She immediately put down her chopsticks and answered seriously:

"Father, I dare not. I have read through all the medical books my mother sent, and I usually take care of minor illnesses and pains in the village."

"That's good then." Jiang Liang nodded and smiled upon hearing this.

He pondered for a moment and said:

"Now that your foundation is solid and you have established your own lineage, you should stay at home for a while longer to practice the methods your grandfather taught you. Then it's time to go to Luoyang and see your mother."

His gaze lowered slightly, and his tone became more serious.

"Follow her and learn her medical skills."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Jin's eyes showed a hint of surprise.

These words came out of nowhere, and she was puzzled as to why her father would bring them up at this time.

But upon further reflection, the doubt in my heart was overshadowed by a deeper emotion.

After all, although they often corresponded and her mother frequently sent books through others, they had not actually met for many years.

As she thought about it, she nodded gently, her voice clear and bright:

"My daughter listens to her father."

After a few rounds of drinks, the noise gradually subsided.

The wind has died down in front of the hall, and the moonlight is cool.

After Liu Xiulian and Jiang Jin finished cleaning up the dishes, the sound of water was soft and gentle, just like in previous years.

Jiang Yi had already summoned his son Jiang Liang and gone to the main hall.

Inside the hall, a charcoal fire glows red, and a pot of freshly boiled spring water is slowly being brewed.

Before long, the aroma of tea, with its slightly bitter notes, began to spread, rising in wisps of steam.

Jiang Yi personally poured a cup for his son, speaking solemnly and getting straight to the point:
"What was the intention behind those words at the banquet?"

Jiang Liang picked up the teacup, and the steam rising from it blurred his features.

He remained silent for a moment before letting out a soft sigh:
"Indeed, nothing can be hidden from Father."

As he spoke, he gently set down the teacup, his expression turning serious.

"This matter is still undecided, and I shouldn't say too much."

"But Father only needs to know that things are likely to get chaotic in Luoyang, and Chang'an... may be in turmoil."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Yi simply smiled faintly.

He raised his cup and blew away the floating tea leaves, causing the tea surface to ripple gently, and the lamplight to flicker.

His tone remained flat: "Are you referring to the matter of Chang'an being moved to a new capital?"

Counting the days, four or five years have passed since the Yellow Turban Rebellion began.

The world has changed dramatically, and the country has been rebuilt; it is indeed time to reach this point.

A single sentence, spoken very lightly, yet hitting the nail on the head.

Upon hearing this, Jiang Liang paused slightly in his teacup, his expression changing drastically.

A moment later, he suddenly chuckled, a bittersweet expression of respect.

He recalled that back then, the Taiping Dao was as powerful as a tsunami, sweeping across the nine provinces and eight wastelands, and even the old ancestor who sat high on the clouds in the Tushita Palace could not fully predict its changes.

Only their own father made a decision early on, allowing the whole family to avoid that earth-shattering calamity.

Thinking of this, Jiang Liang's initial surprise turned into admiration.

Yes.

Even destiny cannot be hidden from him, let alone human affairs.

He nodded slightly, which was his way of agreeing.

Jiang Liang's initial surprise subsided, and his expression returned to normal.

He picked up his teacup, took a small sip, seemingly to organize his thoughts, or perhaps to calm his mind with that bitter aroma.

"There's been some news coming from the City God Temple lately," he said, his voice unhurried, as if he were talking about everyday matters, or as if he were weighing the pros and cons.

"That fierce general from Xiliang who controls the court is being besieged by the feudal lords on all sides. He may not be able to withstand the pressure and may be secretly preparing to move the capital to Chang'an with the young emperor."

He paused slightly, glanced at his father, and continued:
"Didn't Father previously instruct me to keep a close eye on the land in that main market town, and if the opportunity arises, to take it over?"

He paused, his gaze darkening, and continued:
"If Chang'an truly becomes the new capital, the arrival of the imperial aura will inevitably cause both the Yin and Yang realms to move in unison. The underworld in the city will inevitably have to adapt and change, with the underworld officials being replaced and the divine positions being transferred, creating countless lucrative positions."

"I have already begun preparations in secret. When the time is right, I will find a better place to settle that landowner in the main market."

He pointed, his smile hidden, but his words were crisp and clear:

"In this way, that spot will be vacant."

He spoke casually, as if it were just a routine task, but the light in his eyes was surprisingly calm.

Jiang Yi looked at him and remained silent for a moment.

Recalling the few words exchanged between the father and daughter at the dinner, the whole story became clear.

"According to you," he said calmly, his voice as still as water, his demeanor serene, "you intend to have Jin'er take over the position of landowner in the main market?"

Before he finished speaking, the seriousness on Jiang Liang's face had dissipated, replaced by a faint smile.

"No one knows a son better than his father." He said it more casually, as if his previous seriousness was just a formality.

He set down the teacup, and the tea swayed gently in it, reflecting the firelight.

“I have four children. The first three have been well taken care of by their families and have had smooth lives. Only Jin’er has stayed in the village. Now that there is a real opportunity, how can I, as her father, not find a stable path for her?”

At this point, his expression softened slightly, and his tone became gentler.

“But…” he sighed softly, “In my opinion, the position of the local earth god in this great market is still too small, and I’m afraid it is a disservice to her.”

He looked up at Jiang Yi, his eyes filled with a mixture of expectation and speculation.

"However, Father once said that there might be an opportunity in this place in the future. I thought... perhaps this move is not necessarily a bad one."

His voice trailed off, his sharpness faded, and the last syllable fell softly.

The hall fell into complete silence.

With a soft pop of the charcoal in the stove, a tiny spark flickered, illuminating the two men's expressions, one bright and one dim.

Jiang Liang stopped talking and just quietly looked at his father.

Jiang Yi sat upright in the main seat, but his gaze was indifferent.

He naturally understood the implied meaning, but he hesitated for a moment.

After all, in his memories of his previous life, the Earth God Temple on Dashi Street was just a place that Guanyin randomly chose to stay when she first entered Chang'an.

As for what happened to that unknown landowner later, did he or she rise to prominence, or did he eventually return to normalcy?

It is not recorded in history, it is unknown in the world, and no one can say for sure.

Jiang Yi's mind was racing, but his face remained calm.

After a long while, he looked up and saw that the trace of hesitation in his eyes had completely sunk to the bottom of the tea, leaving only clarity.

"This matter," he said very slowly, his voice flat, like the wind rustling through pine branches, "you can go ahead and handle it." His own granddaughter was, after all, different from others.

Although the connection between the Gui family and the South China Sea is faint, it is still quite significant.

If one can truly take advantage of this opportunity to form even the slightest connection with that Bodhisattva, one might be able to serve under his tutelage in the future.

Even mundane tasks like serving tea and water, or delivering messages, were considered a stroke of good fortune to her.

Such things are worth fighting for as long as there's a glimmer of hope.

……

The next day, as dawn broke, the courtyard was no longer as tranquil as it used to be.

The casual conversation of the previous night has now transformed into a real practice.

Jiang Yi didn't call anyone else, nor did he put on any airs. He simply stood by the orchard in the backyard, tucked his hands in his sleeves, and muttered a spell under his breath.

In an instant, the soil beneath his feet softened as if it were spring water, and he slowly sank down, disappearing into the ground in a flash.

A moment later, it silently emerged from the roots of a fruit tree ten steps away, its robes as before, without even a speck of mud on them.

"This method is an earth-based technique," he said calmly. "The body merges with the earth, and one moves like the wind. With diligent practice, one can travel a thousand miles in an instant."

Jiang Jin tried to imitate her grandfather, making hand gestures and chanting incantations, but she only sank up to her ankles and could not sink any further.

Beads of sweat rolled down his forehead, but the soil beneath his feet remained stubbornly steadfast.

Jiang Yi watched from the side, a smile in his eyes, but he didn't say anything. He simply reached out and flicked his hand, changing the spell, and a faint light flickered at his fingertips.

"The method of the Pot Heaven will be learned again."

He slightly unfolded his sleeve, and a gentle breeze arose in his palm. The smoke in the courtyard condensed and did not dissipate, and a wisp of spiritual light swirled in his palm.

"Let's look at the art of taming birds."

Then a clear whistle rang out, startling the birds in the treetops and under the eaves. They chirped and scattered across the branches, tilting their heads as if listening to the old man's admonition.

In addition to these supernatural abilities, Jiang Yi also took out a stack of old boxes from the bottom of the cabinet.

Wrapped in layers of yellow silk, when opened, it faintly exuded a medicinal fragrance and the scent of aged ink.

Those were the finest talisman papers he had accumulated over many years.

From the most common talismans for purifying the mind and warding off dust, to the slightly more complex ones for gathering spirits and protecting the home, they are all listed one by one.

He spread out yellow paper, dipped it in cinnabar, and wrote with a steady, deliberate stroke.

With each stroke, the runes glowed faintly, like silkworms spinning silk, their spiritual energy flowing as if they were born of themselves.

Jiang Jin watched intently from the side, holding a fine brush and meticulously copying each stroke with a focused expression.

If she made a mistake, her grandfather would not say anything, but would simply brush it away gently and say softly, "Try again."

To outsiders, such a skill that could conjure light with a mere gesture was already considered divine magic.

Yet, between this grandfather and grandson, the teaching was mediocre, and the learning was steady.

Ultimately, it's nothing more than the ability to make a living and establish oneself in this world.

This instruction took only a few days.

The sun's shadow had barely shifted a few times when familiar footsteps echoed again along the bamboo path behind the mountain.

Jiang Jun came from the forest, his expression calm and unhurried.

In recent years, he has often lived on the mountain, staying for more than a month at a time, and rarely comes down the mountain so frequently.

Passing through the bamboo fence outside the courtyard, he saw Jiang Jin bent over her desk practicing calligraphy, so he gently called out:
"Sister Jin."

His voice was gentle, with a hint of a smile.

He took a book from his pocket and handed it over.

The book's cover was made of ordinary blue cloth, the edges worn white by time, and there were a few mold spots on the pages.

“I found this book by chance on the mountain,” he said, his tone somewhat casual. “It seems to be related to medicine. I know nothing about this field, so I thought I’d bring it over and let my sister take a look.”

Upon hearing this, Jiang Jin looked up, slightly surprised.

She put down her pen, took the book, and brushed away the dust from it.

The ink on the cover has faded, but it is still faintly discernible.

Two words: simple and unpretentious.

"medicine".

Jiang Jin casually flipped open the old book.

The paper has turned slightly yellow, but the ink remains as deep and clear as ever, carrying a medicinal fragrance mixed with the scent of wood.

Jiang Yi stood to the side, hands in his sleeves and eyes lowered, a wisp of his divine sense quietly separating to observe closely with her.

At first, both grandfather and grandson thought it was just an ordinary medical book.

After all, before her eldest son Jiang Ming left home, he had given Li Wenya several prescriptions that he had obtained from who-knows-where, so they must have been similar medicines.

However, after turning only a few pages, Jiang Jin's delicate eyebrows furrowed slightly.

Jiang Yi's expression also gradually hardened.

The book contains not a single word about observation, auscultation, inquiry, and palpation, nor does it contain a single prescription for medicine, pills, or powders.

The method described above is entirely based on using true essence to enhance the medicinal properties and using spiritual thought to regulate qi and blood.

How can we make plants understand human nature? How can we make the medicinal power follow the pulse?

Each sentence, when read, seems to resemble both medical principles and spiritual practice.

Among them were several so-called "miracle prescriptions," using mostly common mountain herbs, yet the annotations clearly stated:

"Medicine is the guide, and the method is the main one. If the mind and spirit are not in harmony, the medicine will become poison."

Upon seeing this, Jiang Yi raised an eyebrow slightly, his heart already trembling.

Upon closer examination of the words and phrases, one finds that they have long lost the artistic flair of ordinary masters.

A thought flashed through his mind, and he suddenly understood.

This is not a medical book.

Rather, it is a "method" that uses medicine as a means to achieve enlightenment.

Like the arts of Earth Path, Pot Heaven, and Bird Taming, it is a legitimate path to supernatural powers.

Jiang Jin already had a foundation in medicine, and upon reading this, he naturally grasped the mystery within.

Her fingertips trembled slightly as she touched the page of the book, her expression revealing barely suppressed excitement.
There seemed to be light flowing in those eyes.

“Jun-ge…” she looked up, her voice quickening, “Where did you get this book? Are there any other volumes?”

When Jiang Jun was asked this question, it was as if he had been caught red-handed by the sun, and he looked embarrassed.

He quickly looked away, staring at a clump of moss at the foot of the stone steps, his voice muffled:
"I found it by the roadside, and there were no other ones around."

Jiang Yi looked at the child's expression and understood immediately.

Knowing that Jiang Jun didn't want to say more, he didn't point it out, but just smiled and picked up the conversation for him:

"If it's an opportunity, it's yours. Why ask so many questions?"

He reached out and gently tapped the cover of the medical journal.

"Good things are rare. Now that we have them, we should cherish them. The most important thing right now is not to find out where they came from, but to understand them carefully."

He paused, then turned to look at his granddaughter, his gaze warm and profound:
“This method is compatible with your temperament. Go and invite your aunt and uncle, and the whole family can work together to help you understand this method. If you can truly understand its meaning, then this connection will not have been in vain.”

After speaking, as if remembering something, his smile deepened:

"When you finish your studies and go to Luoyang, you can pass this method on to your mother. She has been studying medicine for many years. If she is enlightened by this method, she might be able to open up a new lineage."

Upon hearing these words, Jiang Jin's expression brightened, and her eyes seemed to be refreshed by spring water.

Those words completely dispelled any remaining desire to get to the bottom of things.

She nodded emphatically, a smile playing on her lips, an undisguised joy on her face.

She immediately made a hand seal, and white clouds rose beneath her feet, softly supporting her figure.

The cloud was initially a little unstable, but with a gentle sway, it lifted her out of the courtyard and carried her away on the mountain breeze.

As the sun sets, the maple leaves in the mountains turn red.

Her clothes fluttered, her expression focused, and her eagerness suggested she wanted to share this good news with others immediately.

Under the tree, Jiang Yi and Jiang Jun exchanged a glance.

The former stroked his beard and smiled, while the latter sighed softly.

(End of this chapter)