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

Chapter 67 Construction of a New House

As night fell, the dinner table was set with three dishes and a soup, lightly seasoned with oil and salt, yet steaming hot, making the autumn night feel comforting.

Jiang Yi held the bowl and slowly ate two mouthfuls of rice.

Suddenly, he placed his chopsticks horizontally on the rim of the bowl, as if it were a casual remark, or perhaps something he had been planning for a long time:
“I’m thinking… maybe we should build a few houses at the foot of the mountain and move there.”

As soon as he finished speaking, there was a moment of silence at the table.

Liu Xiulian was taken aback at first, then frowned slightly, put down her chopsticks and said:
"Isn't the air over there really stuffy? Why the sudden urge to move?"

Jiang Yi smiled, pointed to the mountain shadows outside the window, and said:

"Those fruit seedlings are doing quite well. They've absorbed the mountain's energy and are growing fast. When I go there for a while, I feel more comfortable."

"It's better to live closer to each other in the morning and evening, so that it's more convenient for spiritual practice."

His tone was casual and seemingly ordinary, but he had already made his plans in mind.

The family of three listened attentively, put down their chopsticks, and quietly discussed the accounts around the bowl.

After all the calculations, I don't have to worry about money.

Previously, Jiang Liang had achieved the highest rank in the imperial examination, and the county had awarded him a generous reward.

After clearing Li Langzhong's medical bills, there was still some money left over. We could live comfortably for a while, without any financial worries.

In these mountains, stones and timber are worth little money; a single strike of the axe can create beams and pillars.

Building a few houses against the mountain won't cost much, no matter how much money you make.

The real worry isn't about the money.

The spiritual seedlings were planted at the foot of that mountain, where the earth's energy was abundant.

Ordinary people who step inside soon feel dizzy and have heavy ears, as if they have fallen into a water tank and can't even breathe properly.

That spiritual energy is beneficial to cultivators, but it is utter torture for ordinary people.

Jiang Yi smiled and said, "There's no rush. I'll take my time. We can move the beams and tiles as soon as they're laid."

Upon hearing this, Liu Xiulian frowned slightly, her voice carrying a hint of reproach: "How can you manage all this by yourself? I'll lend a hand too."

Jiang Yi raised his hand to stop him, his tone gentle, yet his words leaving no room for argument:

"Your body can't handle the heat there. Going there would only be a waste of your time."

As soon as he finished speaking, Jiang Ming pushed the bowl away and straightened his back perfectly.

“Then I’ll do it! I’m full of energy and can do the work. Carrying water, chopping wood, and moving stones are all no problem for me.”

Before he could even pat his chest in confirmation, Jiang Yi waved his hand and pressed him back into his seat.
"You're a student, and you can't even keep up with your studies, yet you want to go and build a house? This is an adult's business. Just focus on your studies and don't let your mind wander."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Ming had no choice but to reluctantly lower his head and eat his rice.

But he kept his ears perked up and couldn't help but glance at the mountain shadows outside the window a few times.

Jiang Xi, however, was the first to cheer up. Upon hearing about building a new house, her eyes immediately lit up like two black grapes, and she gripped the edge of the table, shouting:

"I want the biggest one! The window has to face the mountain and get plenty of sunshine!"

Jiang Yi took a sip of soup, a smile playing on his lips, and replied slowly and deliberately:
"That depends on whether you have the ability. How far have you progressed with your breathing technique? You get dizzy as soon as your spiritual energy increases. If you really move there, you might not even be able to eat breakfast properly."

After saying that, he paused, put some food into her bowl with his chopsticks, and said with a smile:
“If you can’t train, your father, mother and brother will all move to the new house, and you will be left alone to guard the old house.”

"The cold wind howls at night, the roof tiles creak, and a dark shadow flickers. Don't end up so scared that you hide under the covers and cry without anyone hearing you."

This statement was half-serious and half-joking, with a hint of urging hidden in the teasing.

Jiang Xi, however, was unconvinced. She chewed her food while humming, "I'm not afraid at all! I've practiced very well!"

Jiang Ming, amused by the sight, added some firewood and said with a grin:

"You'd better hurry, or all the good rooms will be taken. The only one left is the one next to the chicken coop, where you'll hear roosters crowing every day. How can you sleep soundly?"

Upon hearing this, Jiang Xi's face immediately puffed up.

She glared at him, but dared not retort too harshly.

His resentment was written all over his face; he just pursed his lips and didn't utter a sound.

She stopped eating, grabbed a small stool, moved it to the table, sat cross-legged, puffed out her cheeks, and began to practice deep breathing.

The whole family watched, taking it as an amusing incident, and laughed, but no one bothered her.

Unlike her daughter, Liu Xiulian was not straightforward. She frowned slightly, paused for a moment while picking up food with her chopsticks, and her gaze inadvertently fell on Jiang Yi's face.

Her eyes were silent, yet they rippled gently like a pool of spring water. How could Jiang Yi not know what was on her mind?

He held her hand in his palm, his fingertips gently pinching the back of her hand, which had few calluses. His smile was faint, his voice low, yet every word was firm:
"Don't worry, I know what's going on."

These words, though not harsh, carried a calm and confident tone.

Apart from the youngest child who was still studying abroad, only Liu Xiulian and Jiang Xi remained in the room, neither of whom had yet crossed the threshold of "full and complete Qi".

But Jiang Yi could see clearly that their auras were already steady and their foundations were solid.

I have my own breathing technique, where breath travels faster than energy; I'll have to take this step sooner or later.

When the time comes, we'll move to the foot of that orchard, and every day, breathing and exhaling will be like soaking in a pot of slow-cooked medicinal broth.

It nourishes everything: Qi and blood, spirit, muscles and bones, and consciousness.

This alone is worth more than any miraculous medicine or prescription.

So he didn't want to move, he wanted to refine his family.

For this family, let's find another path that is stable, visible, and allows them to go far.

He didn't elaborate on these points.

He only held Liu Xiulian's hand, his fingertips gently swaying in her palm, just like when he used to sneak away from the fields to go home when he was young.

Liu Xiulian lowered her head and smiled, her brows relaxing like clouds slowly dissolving in the night.

The next morning, just as dawn was breaking over the mountain peaks, Jiang Yi went out, his steps neither hurried nor slow.

In late autumn, the frost is still hidden and hasn't penetrated yet, but the wind has already changed its nature, carrying a bit of coolness as it sneaks into your collar.

There were still some farm work being finished in the fields, and the air was filled with the smell of hay and ripe grain, dry but not unpleasant.

Jiang Yi strolled slowly along the village road, and once inside the village, he began looking for people.

Brother Li from the east end gets up early and was drying grain when he was approached by someone and agreed to help remove the bricks.

The nephew of Aunt Wang in the west wing had practiced a craft when he was young. Now he was recuperating at home, so we invited him to come and make a few batches of tiles.

He then went around to the small river behind the village, where several young men often carried water and chopped firewood. He coaxed them up the mountain with a few words.

They said they needed the sturdiest materials to make the roof frame and erect the beams and pillars, so that they could withstand the wind and rain in the future.

Although there are no specialized craftsmen in Liangjie Village, they have spent too many years toiling in the soil, and everyone here is begging for food under the hoe and the axe.

He knows a bit about bricks, tiles, wood, and stone; if he really wanted to build a house, he wouldn't hire any outsiders.

Whenever someone starts making construction work, a shout will attract villagers who will come with their tools and equipment. After a lively gathering, the construction site will be up and running in just a few days.

Jiang Yi was a little different this time. The earth at the foot of the mountain was very strong, and others could only help with trivial tasks at most.

But as long as the bricks, tiles and timber are properly arranged, most of the effort can be saved.

Having fulfilled his duty, Jiang Yi leisurely headed home.

He went inside, grabbed a hoe and rake, rolled up his sleeves, and strolled down the mountain.

Prepare the materials first, and then prepare the foundation.

As he walked through the fallen leaves, Jiang Yi reached the edge of the field. The moment he made his first shovelful of hoe, he sensed something was amiss.

The soil, unlike the dry soil when it was first cleared, had a slightly moist feel, making it much easier to shovel.

With a moment of focused attention, one can sense the subtle, flowing currents in the soil, so vibrant they seem to possess their own energy.

Jiang Yi looked up and saw a row of newly planted seedlings swaying slightly in the wind. The branches were small, but they had a stubborn spirit.

A few things suddenly became clear to me.

The spiritual spring behind the mountain slowly seeped down along the earth's veins and was drawn up by this row of spiritual roots.

Like water flowing into a canal, it nourishes the soil beneath the roots.

Over time, this land also acquired some spiritual significance.

Jiang Yi couldn't help but feel a surge of joy.

And so it went, day after day, year after year.

Who knows, those few acres of orchards and medicinal gardens might also benefit from this and be transformed into half a spiritual field.

(End of this chapter)