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

Chapter 66 The Struggle for Vice Leader

Within five days, the Liu family sent the seedlings over.

This time, Master Liu personally led two attendants, carrying and dragging a wooden cart, and swayed all the way to the front of the Jiang family's courtyard.

Dozens of saplings were planted on the vehicle, their branches and leaves glistening with dew, swaying gently in the breeze.

Jiang Yi didn't rush to inspect the goods. Instead, he cupped his hands in thanks, his expression sincere and respectful.

"The village head has given the village children a path to toughen up. He did it without considering the cost, which is truly admirable."

He knew exactly what was going on.

The fact that the young man from the Liu family brought medicine to join the gang was clearly no joke; it was most likely with the tacit approval of this manor lord.

It seems that after listening to the strategy he proposed that day, he was planning for the long term.

Upon hearing this, Master Liu merely smiled faintly, waved his hand, and said:
"Brother Jiang, you flatter me. This matter, though said to be for the villagers, is actually for our own family."

Jiang Yi feigned slight surprise, but his expression remained perfectly composed.

But Master Liu didn't intend to say more, and changed the subject:

"It is the Jiang family's teaching of boxing and stances that has made the village boys so powerful and vigorous. It is truly a meritorious deed. I also often teach my children to learn from your eldest son."

After hearing this, Jiang Yi didn't ask any further questions. He just smiled and bent down to count the seedlings.

This time, it's not like last time when we just used a few plants to make do.

There were at least seventy or eighty seedlings on the truck, growing densely together, their branches and leaves swaying, full of vitality.

Jiang Yi even went to the foot of the mountain to measure it for this purpose.

Each plant is planted about ten feet apart, leaving enough room for them to breathe, just enough to completely encircle the foot of the mountain adjacent to their own land.

Since they are spiritual seeds, we dare not plant them too densely, for fear of damaging their root energy.

Once the seedlings were counted, Master Liu spoke up:

“This job isn’t easy. Since the village has some free time today, we might as well lend a hand.”

These words sound enthusiastic, but they are actually a mix of truth and falsehood.

Jiang Yi understood that although the manor lord was righteous, he was not someone who would wander around aimlessly.

The reason they're offering their help now is probably because they want to see for themselves how well those spirit seedlings are growing.

He didn't shy away from the conversation, but simply cupped his hands in thanks and smiled, as if inviting the people to come up the mountain to plant seedlings together.

The four of them carried the seedlings up the mountain together.

As soon as he turned the corner of the orchard, Master Liu's gaze fell on the row of old seedlings that had been there earlier.

In just a few months, those dozen or so seedlings had grown straight and tall, with leaves as thick as palms and so lush and green that they seemed to drip with moisture.

A faint, ethereal aura emanates from between the leaves, subtle and elusive, like a gentle breeze or the gentle intoxication of spring wine.

A glint flashed in Liu Zhuangzhu's eyes, his expression remained unchanged, but he ultimately could not hide it from Jiang Yi's old eyes.

Jiang Yi pretended not to notice and casually brushed it off with a single sentence:
“Everyone in the village says that this mountain is good for people. I thought, why not let the seedlings also get some of this soil's energy? I wonder if they could become a beautiful sight.”

After hearing Jiang Yi's words, Master Liu merely smiled and offered no further response, only saying:
"This is indeed a good sign."

Without saying anything more, he rolled up his sleeves and, together with his two attendants, began planting.

The group moved swiftly and steadily.

They were all calm and collected people who could discern the earth's energy and plant seedlings with effortless grace, without a trace of worldly fuss.

By midday, a line of greenery had already spread out at the foot of the mountain, with varying heights and densities.

Only a path was left at the entrance to the mountain, wide enough for people and animals to pass through. It looked casual, but it was actually well-planned.

Although he couldn't see any imposing presence yet, Jiang Yi already had a picture in his mind.

Once these seedlings sprout and grow leaves, their branches and leaves will intertwine to form a green wall.

In spring, it can shelter from the wind; in summer, it can protect from the rain; in autumn, it bears precious fruits; and in winter, it sleeps with its roots intact.

Having finished his work, Jiang Yi naturally showed courtesy, smiling and cupping his hands in invitation: "You've all worked hard. Why don't you move into my humble abode for a few drinks as a token of your gratitude?"

Master Liu did not refuse and immediately nodded.

Just as they sat down, before the tea was brewed and the dishes were served, a series of noises came from outside the courtyard.

Immediately afterwards, Jiang Ming lifted the curtain and entered, dragging a dusty little girl in his hand.

It was none other than Jiang Xi.

His face was covered in dust, with two mud streaks on his cheeks, his hair was a tangled mess, and a few strands of sweat clung to his forehead.

It looks just like a mountain spirit that crawled out of the ground.

But his eyes shone like a cat's, clear black and white, full of defiance.

"What kind of demon has this one created this time?"

Jiang Yi's eyebrows twitched when he saw this.

Jiang Ming's lips twitched, and he replied with a wry smile:

"I don't know what got into her today, but she insisted that the position of deputy leader of the gang shouldn't be taken for nothing, and that some people should get more candy just because they come here."

"So he went to the school and confronted the Liu boy, insisting on a fight. The two started fighting after exchanging only a few words, fighting from the teacher's desk all the way to behind the water vat."

At this point, he glanced at his younger sister and continued:
"He rolled around in the mud a few times and tumbled around in the dust a few times. In the end, he naturally lost, but his temper... no one could calm him down."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Xi pouted but did not argue. Instead, she raised her neck and puffed out her cheeks, looking like a wronged raccoon.

Jiang Yi looked at the two siblings, one big and one small, the brother and sister, one pulling and the other stubborn.

Slightly embarrassed, he quickly turned around, cupped his hands in a gesture of respect to the manor lord, and said with a fawning smile:

"My daughter is naughty and has offended the young master. I hope you will forgive her. I will definitely discipline her properly later."

Master Liu, however, was not annoyed. Instead, he laughed heartily, a hint of amusement in his eyes, and glanced at the little girl whose face was covered in mud and ash.
"No problem, no problem. How can a kid who practices martial arts know how slippery the mud is or how dull his punches are if he doesn't fall a few times?"

His tone was amused, but not entirely teasing; he then became serious and said:

"We need to hone our skills and fight more. If we really have the ability, we can take back the position of deputy gang leader and then try to claim the title of gang leader in the future. That would be truly interesting."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Xi, though covered in dust, couldn't help but smile, her eyes shining as if sparks were about to burst forth.

After seeing the guests off after the meal, the courtyard finally became quiet.

Jiang Yi finally breathed a sigh of relief, put down his teacup, and called out, "Ming'er."

Jiang Ming responded and ran out from under the eaves. Before he could catch his breath, he heard his father's instructions:
"Go to the foot of the mountain and water the newly planted seedlings thoroughly."

The boy readily agreed, picked up the bucket, and went out.

He returned shortly afterward, soaked to the bone. Without even resting, he wiped his face, picked up his schoolbag, and headed back to school.

The courtyard returned to quiet.

Jiang Yi then slowly got up, holding an old Taoist scripture with curled corners in his hands, and walked towards the foot of the mountain.

At the foot of the mountain, the ground was already damp, the soil fresh and carrying an indescribable fragrance.

The row of seedlings was also vigorous, with their branches and leaves spread out, as green as newly carved jade, and shining brightly in the sunlight, exuding a sense of vitality.

A faint wisp of spiritual energy rose from the ground, carrying the fragrance of grass and trees, enveloping this small patch of land.

Jiang Yi stood inside, and before he could even adjust his breathing, he felt a warm sensation naturally rise in his chest, his breath flow smoothly, and his muscles and bones felt slightly itchy.

It seemed as if even the gaps between its bones had opened, greedily inhaling that breath of spiritual energy.

He remained motionless, standing quietly for a long time before slowly raising his head.

The distant mountains are silent, and a few tiled houses at the foot of the mountains lie quietly in the sunlight. The walls are mottled, the roof ridges are tilted, and some tiles are crooked, revealing the rafters underneath.

Jiang Yi stared for a while, then his lips twitched, as if he were smiling, or perhaps he was talking to himself:
"Shouldn't we... build a new house?"

(End of this chapter)