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

Chapter 36 What's so good about practicing with a staff?
Tang the blacksmith, with his sharp eyes, perked up at the sight of the bronze color, his eyes gleaming, and he reached out and snatched it away.

He gently rubbed it in his palm, tapped his knuckles lightly on the copper plate, and heard a clear "ding".

"Good copper, really good copper! Listen to the sound it makes, it's so clear!"

Tang the blacksmith clicked his tongue twice, rolled up his sleeves, and grinned as if he had found gold, no longer caring about his strange appearance.

"Although it's not much, it's just right for making a good stick."

They had already begun gesturing as they spoke, figuring out which end the brass ring should be on, how many bands to use, and how much space to leave; they had already drafted the plan in their minds.

After explaining the dimensions and styles to everyone, Jiang Yi and his son took their leave and slowly walked back.

After dinner, Jiang Yi took out the book "Sitting in Oblivion" again, turned half a page by lamplight, but his brows furrowed deeper and deeper.

He could recognize the characters and understand the sentences, but when put together, it was like reading a book written in a foreign language.

After reading for a while, feeling frustrated, I sighed, pushed the book away, and said indifferently:
"Look at you, maybe you're more perceptive than your father."

Jiang Liang is a natural at martial arts; he's physically fit, but his mind doesn't like to get bogged down in paperwork.

Today was another bumpy ride; the oxcart ride was making my head throb.

As soon as I took the book and saw the words "calm and composed," my eyelids started to droop.

He glanced at "Zhanran Changji" again, then nodded and tilted his head toward the table.

Before long, he was asleep at his desk, his breathing long and even, his expression peaceful.

Jiang Yi watched from the side, not knowing whether to laugh or cry, and could only gently pull the book back.

I thought to myself, putting everything else aside, this thing is wonderful because it helps with sleep and calms the nerves, making it suitable for all ages.

After tidying up quickly, I went back to my room and lay down. As soon as the lights went out, I don't know how many pages I turned, but I fell into a deep sleep.

The next morning, the Jiang family's courtyard became lively.

It's rare for the whole family to get together, but the old traditions are never abandoned. Some are setting up stakes, while others are practicing boxing.

As soon as the morning light peeked over the rooftops, the courtyard was already filled with the sounds of breathing.

The wind rustled through the branches, and birds chirped on the roof tiles, their voices rising and falling in perfect unison with their breaths.

Jiang Liang had just finished practicing the stance, and his energy hadn't completely dissipated.

His eyes were bright and sparkling. With a quick sway of his feet, he darted around and darted to his older brother.

He didn't say a word, but his body had already assumed a starting stance.

Having learned some techniques in the county commandant's office, and barely scratching the surface, he was already itching to find someone knowledgeable to test his skills.

Jiang Ming didn't refuse, smiled and nodded, shook his wrist, and went up with his bare hands.

It's still based on the same long fist style, but when it's used, it looks completely different.

Jiang Liang's moves were more composed, his stance was proper, he could control his movements and unleash his full power, showing a semblance of officialdom.

Jiang Ming fought with ease, his feet seemingly treading on the wind, his punches coming and going as he pleased, his expression relaxed, his body as agile as a kite tied to the clouds.

In the back and forth, the wind from their punches fluttered and their clothes rippled slightly. Although their fists and feet did not actually land, there was a sense of fierce confrontation between them.

Jiang Yi stood against the wall, silent, just watching quietly.

While watching the younger son's earnest stubbornness, she also noticed the undisguised ease on the older son's face.

His eyes twitched slightly, but he was silently calculating in his mind, wondering what his chances of winning would be if he went up there himself.

Just as they were locked in a fierce fight, the winds of their punches still swirling, and neither side had gained the upper hand, a loud, gruff shout rang out from outside the courtyard gate:
"Second Young Master Jiang! The stick is here!"

Upon hearing this, the two stopped their attacks and looked in the direction of the sound.

Then, Tang the blacksmith entered the courtyard carrying a white waxwood stick.

It is about seven feet long, with a body like a straight dragon, and three copper rings at both ends, emitting a warm glow, and is steady and not frivolous.

As the sun rose, the copper band seemed to radiate light from within the stick, exuding a serene yet imposing aura.

Tang the blacksmith, wiping his red eyes, smiled broadly and, catching his breath, said:

"I watched it all night. This material is unusual. The more I hammered it, the less I wanted to put the hammer down."

Jiang Yi understood perfectly well what was going on.

He just smiled and let the boy take the stick. He added some more silver and turned to Jiang Liang: "When you make a name for yourself in the future, remember to tell people that it was your Uncle Tang who beat you."

Upon hearing this, Tang the blacksmith laughed even louder: "Alright, with you saying that, I'm too embarrassed to accept the money today!"

After a few pleasantries, Tang the blacksmith left, chatting and laughing.

As soon as the courtyard quieted down, Jiang Liang's eyes lit up.

He held the newly forged stick in his arms, first looking at it as if examining a treasure.

Then, weigh it in your hand; the stick is solid and stable, with a perfect feel, neither too heavy nor too light.

He tried wielding it a couple of times, and although he had never actually learned any stick techniques, his hands already possessed a certain ferocity.

With a single swing of the stick, the wind howled, and the stick's shadow swung. Though the stance was wild, the spirit was quite impressive, and it actually had a certain flair.

After twirling the stick around a few times, Jiang Liang twirled it in his palm and handed it to his father.

"Father, look!"

Jiang Yi took the stick, but his hand instinctively avoided the copper band, only gripping the middle section of the white ash wood.

He lightly weighed it, his face remaining expressionless, but a slight joy flickered in his heart.

I can't quite put my finger on what's so good about it, but the stick feels substantial and has a smooth, comfortable grip that gives me a sense of security.

Jiang Liang didn't waste any time, turned around and leaned close to his elder brother, asking in a low voice:
"Brother, is there any trick to this staff technique?"

He remembered that last time his elder brother casually gave him some pointers on boxing techniques, and when he took them to the county magistrate's office to show off, he immediately impressed everyone.

After that, he trusted his elder brother even more.

Upon hearing this, Jiang Ming didn't even lift his eyelids; he merely curled his lips into a nonchalant smile.

"A stick? What's the trick to it? It's just about using more force and swinging it faster."

The words were spoken lightly, but after finishing, the speaker casually changed the subject:
"However, when I was 'studying martial arts' with several hall masters and protectors in the Ancient and Modern Gang, I had nothing to do and came up with a set of tricks."

He paused, then a smirk played on his lips, a hint of self-deprecation in his smile that even he himself didn't believe:
Whether it works in actual combat is another matter, but the way they look at it is quite impressive.

As he spoke, he stepped forward and took the newly forged long staff from Jiang Yi's hand.

The moment the stick was in hand, the person's aura changed dramatically.

He had been acting nonchalantly, but at this moment it was as if something deep within him had been awakened.

With a flick of his wrist and a swing of his elbow, the staff suddenly became agile.

Shaking, entanglement, collapse, and sweeping—these four techniques are like the east wind thawing the ice and the first ripples on the water.

In the blink of an eye, a circle of stick shadows appeared, the wind whistling through the courtyard, as if a mountain rain was about to break.

The stick flew swiftly and cleanly, with just the right amount of movement and a pace that was neither too fast nor too slow.

It seems like a casual chop, but it hits the center of gravity perfectly; it seems like a casual spin, but it's a smooth and precise turn.

Sunlight streamed down, and the copper band on the stick rose and fell with the movement, casting shadows in the light and concealing power within the shadows, resembling a golden dragon churning the waves, a sight to behold.

This is not something a country boy could come up with by just sitting there and figuring it out.

That strength, that technique of every move, clearly shows that the practitioner has put in hard work, received proper instruction, and that the skills have truly been ingrained in their bones.

Jiang Yi stood to the side, seemingly lost in thought, a rare glimmer of light appearing in his eyes.

He knew his eldest son was always calm, didn't talk much, and had a good temper.

But what exactly did they practice in those mountains, and to what extent did they progress?

Even as a father, he wasn't entirely sure himself.

But after just one strike of the stick, he figured out a trick of the trade.

He felt gratified inside, but couldn't hide it on his face; smile lines crept up the corners of his eyes.

Before he could even utter a sound, Jiang Liang couldn't hold back any longer. He lunged forward, shouting and trying to snatch the stick:
"Big brother, teach me! I want to learn this too!"

Not to be outdone, the younger sister Jiang Xi picked up a thin stick and imitated it, waving it around with a "whoosh" sound effect.

The whole family was huddled in the yard, running around in all directions, making quite a ruckus.

(End of this chapter)