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

Chapter 53 Prefectural Governor
As the slender figure turned the corner of the corridor, he quickly retracted the whip in his hand.

Looking back, with a smile in her eyes, she came forward to greet us.

"Master Jiang, you've finally arrived!"

Li Wenya's voice was soft and gentle, with a soft, drawn-out ending, as if she were scolding him for being too late.

Before the whip in his hand had been fully retracted, he had already eagerly handed over the handle:

"I feel like this whip is lacking power no matter how I use it. Could you please take a look, Master Jiang, and tell me if I'm using the wrong force?"

Jiang Liang took the whip, gently weighed it in his hand, and found it to be no more than half a pound, but the whip itself felt quite comfortable to handle.

It's just too soft; I'm afraid even the wind can't stir it up.

Looking up at her, Li Wenya stood ramrod straight, her expression serious.

The hands, accustomed to holding needles and thread, were now taut and stiff, a testament to the hard work that had been put in.

Without saying a word, Jiang Liang stepped forward, lightly touched the tip of the whip with his fingertips, and then touched her wrist again.

"Don't exert force superficially; twist it out from your waist and abdomen, and let it sink to the soles of your feet."

After saying this, he handed the whip back.

Li Wenya danced as instructed, and this time it was indeed different.

The whip tip cut through the air with a soft "sizzle," though weak, it carried a real force.

Her eyes lit up, and she flicked the whip twice more. The whip's shadow was light and agile, and although it wasn't exactly fierce, it was much more efficient than before.

When she looked up, a smile spread across her face, and her eyes sparkled.
"Truly different! Master Jiang's guidance is more effective than my own months of arduous practice."

His tone revealed undisguised joy.

Just then, footsteps came from the other side of the courtyard gate, one deep and one shallow, and two figures slowly entered.

The one walking in front appeared to be a middle-aged man with an air of elegance, though his clothes were quite ordinary.

His eyes held a smile, and beneath his gentle demeanor lay a maturity born of experience.

It was the uncle Li Wenxuan mentioned, Tian, ​​the county magistrate of Longshan County.

He stepped into the courtyard, his steps never faltering, but his eyes had already silently scanned the entire area.

The man behind him was not tall and had an ordinary appearance; he did not seem like a hero.

Yet, the moment his foot touched the ground, it seemed to fall silently, yet it made one feel that the courtyard had gained an extra weight.

His face was expressionless, but his eyes swept across the room with a faint, cool breeze, like a breeze passing through a courtyard.

Upon seeing this, Wenxuan and Wenya quickly went to greet them.

Wenxuan called out "Uncle" while glancing at the stranger and asking, "Who is this?"

Wenya bowed respectfully and said, "Greetings, Uncle."

The brother and sister stood on either side, their postures respectful.

Jiang Liang stepped forward, bowed his head, and said in a calm voice, "Greetings, County Magistrate."

But her gaze involuntarily drifted toward the stranger.

The moment you touch him, you feel as if the person is pressing down on your pulse with heavy iron, causing you to involuntarily tense your back and waist.

Seeing that the group was very polite, Magistrate Tian's smile widened.

"This gentleman is Hong Dujiao from the Military Equipment Division of the Prefecture Commandery."

He raised his hand and pointed to the composed middle-aged man beside him:

“An old friend from years ago happened to be passing through Longshan today, so I invited him to my residence to catch up and have a home-cooked meal.”

The words were spoken lightly, but Jiang Liang was shaken to his core.

The chief instructor of the state military affairs department, isn't that the examiner for the state general election?

He was able to enter and leave the government offices and evaluate talents; even in the capital city, he would be a highly respected figure.

His mind raced, but he didn't show it; he simply bowed slightly and silently paid his respects.

County Magistrate Tian didn't even look at him, but turned to Li Wenxuan and smiled:
"You said the other day that you had learned some new tricks. Today is a rare opportunity. With Master Hongdu here, give it a good performance and listen to the expert's guidance."

Upon hearing this, Li Wenxuan could no longer hide the joy in his eyes and hurriedly responded:
"Yes!"

As he spoke, he walked into the open space in the courtyard, gathered his sleeves, and began to practice his stance, drawing his bow. This set of boxing techniques had been modified a lot under Jiang Liang's guidance, and was no longer bound by the rigid form of the county magistrate's office.

It has added a touch of sharpness and removed some of the complexity, and it looks quite presentable.

Hong Dujiao stood to the side, his hands tucked into his sleeves, his expression indifferent, as if observing mountains and water without any ripples.

After Li Wenxuan finished speaking, he nodded slightly, his tone revealing neither joy nor anger.
"Good punching technique, solid stance."

After speaking, he briefly mentioned a few flaws. His words were few but pertinent, and it was clear that he was not someone who came from a fancy but ineffective background.

"Wenxuan's set of boxing techniques was only corrected by Brother Jiang. His foundation is still a bit shallow, so even though he practices it frequently, it still lacks proper form."

Only then did Magistrate Tian casually turn to look at Jiang Liang and smile:

"Why not trouble Brother Jiang to demonstrate it himself, so that Instructor Hongdu can see the true essence of this boxing style?"

Although his words were humble, his eyes held a certain determination, suggesting he was pushing Jiang Liang into the room.

After listening, Hong Du Jiao remained silent, only gazing at him quietly, his eyes devoid of emotion.

Li Wenxuan stood to the side, hurriedly giving Jiang Liang a wink, his eyes revealing a hint of nervousness.

Jiang Liang already understood that today's match was not a simple "fight".

At this moment, he dared not be negligent, so he stepped forward, cupped his hands in a respectful bow, and spoke in a low and steady voice:

"It's embarrassing."

The moment the words were spoken, the fist was already poised to strike.

While still using the same basic style of long fist, it took on a slightly different feel under Jiang Liang's hands.

Its momentum is not fierce, yet every step is powerful; its moves are not fancy, yet its twists and turns are smooth.

Between rises and falls, strength is tempered with gentleness, control is perfect, and several straight punches are thrown out, the wind from the punches making the lanterns under the eaves sway slightly.

Hong Dujiao's previously calm gaze finally showed a slight change.

After Jiang Liang finished his set of punches, he stood still, his breathing long and steady, without the slightest hint of haste.

Hong Dujiao remained calm, but his gaze lingered on him for a few moments.

"That punch..."

Hongdu Sect finally spoke, their tone slightly softening:

"The changes are quite interesting. They transform the straight into the curved, and cleverly use the situation to their advantage. The interplay between reality and illusion makes it seem like they have entered a magical path."

He paused, his gaze falling on Jiang Liang's face with a hint of curiosity:

"Who changed your boxing style?"

Jiang Liang gave a slight bow and answered calmly:
"Returning to Hongdu Sect was a decision made by my eldest brother for the younger generation."

Upon hearing this, Hongdu Jiao's previously calm expression suddenly darkened slightly.

He stared at Jiang Liang's face for a moment, then nodded without asking any further questions, his meaning unspoken.

Magistrate Tian raised an eyebrow, and, taking advantage of the lingering feeling from the previous conversation, added with a smile:
"Young Brother Jiang is not only skilled in fist and foot techniques, but his staff skills are even more impressive."

Hong Dujiao slightly tilted his head, his gaze sweeping over Jiang Liang, and then he raised his chin slightly towards Jiang Liang.

His expression remained calm, but his meaning was clear.

Jiang Liang understood immediately and quickly bowed in agreement.

Wenxuan had just dragged me to the manor, and I hadn't even had time to put my luggage back at the county magistrate's office, but it just so happens to come in handy.

Without saying much, he quickly walked around the backyard and went outside to retrieve the long stick.

In just a few breaths, he turned back into the courtyard.

The stick looked ordinary, made of polished ash wood, with three brass bands around its top and bottom.

If you threw it into an ordinary armory, probably no one would even give it a second glance.

But the moment that one stick was placed in his hand, the Hongdu Sect's previously wandering gaze froze.

With just one glance, a subtle ripple appeared in his usually calm and steady gaze.

He raised an eyebrow slightly, seemingly surprised but not quite, as if he had seen something rare, and silently clicked his tongue.

(End of this chapter)