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

Chapter 35 The King of Weapons
It wasn't until the rosy clouds had faded and the sunlight had completely receded that the young master of the Liu family finally appeared, swaying leisurely, on the mountain path.

He still looked dazed and confused; he hadn't quite regained his senses yet.

At first glance, one is enveloped in mountain mist, yet there is no real scenery in sight.

After he met with the village head, the group exchanged only a few words before hurriedly leaving the village.

Jiang Yicai took his youngest daughter's hand and strolled slowly home.

After dinner, when the lights came on, Jiang Yi took out the thin booklet from his pocket.

The Theory of Sitting in Oblivion.

The paper was dry and yellowed, the ink was old, and it had a faint musty smell when you turned the pages.

It didn't resemble the newly printed auspicious booklets in town; it looked more like something pulled out from under an old Taoist priest's pillow.

Filled with curiosity, he turned to the first page and read it carefully by the light of the lamp.

I recognize the individual characters, but when they are put together, I only vaguely understand them, as if separated by mountains and rivers, and I can never quite make them out clearly.

One moment he's "restless and distracted," the next he's "serene and tranquil," and as he flips through the pages, he comes up with the phrase "calm and composed, with both form and spirit in perfect harmony."

It made his forehead feel tight, his eyelids feel hot, and his mind felt like a tangled mess.

After turning a few more pages, he let go, tilted his head, and fell asleep on the table, the book open, covering half of his face.

The following days were also like this.

After a day of work, he would sit under the lamp at night, pick up that book, and read it page by page.

No matter how focused I am, or how much I pinch my nose and rub my eyebrows, the moment the words come into view, sleepiness washes over me like a tide, impossible to stop.

In less than the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, he was slumped over his desk again, snoring softly.

Those around them in the house, seeing this out of curiosity, also flipped through a few pages.

Within moments, they either yawned or felt dizzy, as if under a hypnotic spell, and none of them could withstand it.

Only the little girl Jiang Xi picked it up, glanced at it a few times, pouted, threw it down, said "boring," and skipped out the door.

Thus, this theory of sitting in oblivion, which was described by Master Liu as extremely mysterious and seemingly capable of "cultivating one's nature and enlightening one's wisdom," became the best remedy for calming the mind at night in the Jiang family.

Those who read it fall asleep, and those who flip through it become quiet. In truth, it does have some effect of "calming the mind and calming the spirit."

Before I could even figure things out, it was already the end of the year and the beginning of the new year.

The sounds of slaughtering pigs and sheep echoed throughout the village, and the steaming aroma of meat swirled in the wind, as if even the roof tiles were imbued with the spirit of the New Year.

That afternoon, the oxcart creaked into the village, and Jiang Liang jumped off.

He'll be nine years old soon, and he's grown much taller than before. His arms and legs are stronger, and he walks with a brisk pace.

Exposed to the wind and sun year-round, his skin is tanned and shiny, like bronze polished from mountain rocks, rough yet lustrous, clean and neat.

He was full of energy and vitality, more so than an ox, and his whole body had a vigorous, sprouting energy.

Carrying a small bundle on her back, she walked briskly, her eyes shining.

As soon as I entered the house, just like in previous years, I didn't have much money, but I was thoughtful and brought some little trinkets for everyone in the family.

The little sister grabbed it the fastest; it was a red paper windmill.

As soon as I got it, I grinned from ear to ear, and ran around the yard in circles, pinching my chubby little legs and shouting, "The wind is coming! The wind is coming!"

Liu Xiulian took a handkerchief; it was a finely stitched piece from Jiangnan, with a simple and elegant color.

Without saying anything, just with a faint smile on his lips, he turned and went into the kitchen. The pots and pans clattered, and the aroma of the dishes soon filled the air.

Jiang Liang then approached his father and elder brother, and the toughness he had developed in the county commandant's office dissipated considerably.

To outsiders, he was already quite composed, but in front of his family, he unconsciously softened his sharp edges and his eyes showed more affection.

He shared some of his observations from the county and then talked about his own experience practicing boxing, his expression becoming more serious.

"In another year, it will be the state government's major examination."

He spoke softly, his tone calm, but his eyes held a heavy, oppressive quality.

"The company said that our group has laid a solid foundation, and it's time to figure out what weapons to use."

Jiang Liang was incredibly dedicated to his training, but deep down he wasn't a decisive person. When faced with important matters, he always sought the advice of his father and elder brother.

Choosing a weapon is a serious matter and should not be done casually.

Jiang Yi had not yet spoken.

Jiang Ming, standing to the side, spoke first, almost without hesitation, his words carrying the crispness unique to young people:

"Is there even a question? The staff is the king of weapons, choose the staff!"

Upon hearing this, Jiang Yi and Jiang Liang both looked over.

Jiang Yi's heart skipped a beat, but he didn't say anything. He just raised his eyes slightly, a half-smile on his face.

Jiang Liang didn't think too much about it; he believed whatever his older brother said since he was a child.

Moreover, the staff is the best of all weapons, suitable for both offense and defense, solid and reliable, and there is nothing wrong with it.

And so, this important matter was settled.

Jiang Yi asked slowly, "Are these weapons issued by the county commandant, or do we have to prepare them ourselves?"

"It is a gift, but it's just for show; it's usable enough."

Jiang Liang replied, "Most of the sons of officials in the department are provided by their own families."

His entourage consisted entirely of wealthy young men from influential families in the county. They were picky and arrogant, and it was no wonder that they looked down on the ordinary household items in the company.

After hearing this, Jiang Yi simply nodded and said nothing more.

After lunch, when the sun was shining brightly, Jiang Yi took his two sons and strolled towards Tang's blacksmith shop at the west end of the village.

Jiang Liang's physique is no longer what it was a few years ago.

An ordinary wooden stick would probably break in two hits, but only a long stick with iron hoops at both ends could withstand his torment.

Tang's blacksmith shop was still the same as before. The shop was small, the door was open, and light shone through the darkness. A strong smell of burning and smoke wafted out.

Jiang Yi found Tang the blacksmith, greeted him, exchanged a few pleasantries, and then got straight to the point.

Tang the blacksmith was a shrewd man. With a pipe dangling from his mouth, he raised an eyebrow, patted his chest, and chuckled:

"Alright, leave it to me. If Erlang needs a stick, we'll make a sturdy and handy one."

As he spoke, he led the father and his two sons into the shop to select materials.

The material for the stick is relatively easy to find; it needs to be resilient and not vibrate in the hand. Ash wood is always a reliable choice.

But when it came to picking out the pieces of copper and iron for the headband, Jiang Ming frowned.

This piece is too soft, that piece is too heavy, and the colors of a few pieces don't look right. I can't quite put my finger on what's wrong, but nothing just pleases me.

Picking and choosing, hesitating.

Jiang Ming suddenly slapped his forehead, his eyes lighting up as if he had remembered something important:

"Last time I was on the back hill, I saw a piece of scrap metal. It was a really strange color. I wonder if it's still there. I'll go check!"

Before he finished speaking, he had already darted out of the shop and dashed towards the village entrance, his figure disappearing as fast as the wind.

Jiang Yi didn't stop him, but only instructed Tang the blacksmith: "Prepare the wood first."

They waited until the sun began to set in the west, and as smoke rose from the chimneys, the sky darkened considerably.

Tang the blacksmith was rubbing his aching back and preparing to pack up his stall when he saw Jiang Ming running back, panting, carrying something in his arms.

What he was holding in his arms was a large blue tile that he had picked up from who-knows-where, with a pool of copper-colored metal sticking to its surface.

The color still had a certain sheen, but the shape... was twisted and lumpy, resembling some kind of cooled vomit.

Jiang Yi looked at the thing, his brows twitching, and a chill ran down his spine.

Could this mess have actually been vomited up from someone's stomach?

Thank you to Luofuzhizhu, Xunlei, and myself for the donations.

May all my dear readers live forever and enjoy endless revelry!
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(End of this chapter)