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

Chapter 68 Teaching according to personality and adapting to individual strengths
February and March passed in the blink of an eye.

At the foot of the mountain, in a vacant lot next to the Lingmiao land, the framework of the houses has already taken shape.

Thick beams support the sky, slanted rafters point out at the corners; the lines are not yet fully formed, but they already exude a sense of tranquility.

Jiang Yi didn't rush to finish his work. After he finished working in the fields during the day, he strolled over here by himself.

Sometimes I saw wood, sometimes I sort materials. Sometimes the work is not urgent, sometimes it is not heavy. I only do a third of the work in half a day. My hands are not in a hurry, and my mind is not annoyed.

The front section was reserved as the main hall, while the other rooms extended inwards along the saplings, resembling several houses growing from the branches of a tree.

All of these allow the spiritual energy to penetrate through the window, caressing the body and nourishing the meridians.

Liu Xiulian would come occasionally, carrying some bricks and timber. She walked quickly, unloaded them steadily, said a few words, and then went back.

Her body couldn't handle the heavy spiritual energy of this place, so she could only drop her off here before turning to leave.

The new house wasn't even finished before the New Year arrived.

On this afternoon, the sky was slightly warm, and the sun shone on the wooden beams of the roof, giving them a pale golden hue.

Jiang Yi was climbing high up, hammering away at the beam, when he suddenly heard someone call out from the other end of the mountain path, "Father!"

The sound of the first chime sent a shiver down one's spine.

Turning his head to look, he saw it was the boy Jiang Liang.

His clothes still smelled of travel, and he was covered in sweat and dust, yet he raised his hand and waved in this direction from afar.

Jiang Yi didn't rush down the ladder, but just waved to him.

The kid turned around, went home first, threw his luggage at the door, and without even taking a sip of water, rushed back up with the wind at his feet.

Jiang Yi looked at his heartless behavior and just chuckled softly.

Before the laughter subsided, a sense of unease settled in her heart. She silently regulated her breathing, carefully sensing the boy's aura.

His energy and spirit were much stronger than when he left home. Although he was still a few steps away from crossing the threshold of "perfection", there was already a certain strength in his bones and flesh.

In terms of physical constitution, he might even be more robust than his elder brother who sits at his desk.

Without saying a word, Jiang Liang picked up a heavy beam, slung it over his shoulder, and strode swiftly toward the roof frame.

But his mouth was never still; his breath was ragged but his laughter lingered.
“Dad, why did you decide to build a house at the foot of this mountain? It’s not only far from the village, but climbing up here again and again will wear the soles of your shoes down.”

Jiang Yi, supporting himself on the beam, listened to his rambling, but just smiled. His gaze, however, went beyond the roof frame and looked towards the depths of the woods.

“There are some advantages to living in this mountain.”

He said in a nonchalant tone, "You'll find out soon enough."

Jiang Liang was completely confused and didn't bother to think about it further.

I felt a cool breeze at the foot of the mountain, and the air was refreshing. The grass and soil under my feet felt more solid than the flat ground in the village.

He grinned, then stopped talking and just buried himself in his work.

But before an incense stick could burn, that good energy vanished like water from a leaky bucket.

My chest felt tight, and breathing felt like pressing down on a stone slab. My head felt throbbing, as if someone was pinching the back of my neck with their fingers, pressing down on my heart again and again.

Jiang Yi glanced at him and immediately understood.

She simply grabbed his collar and, like picking up a wild little chick, pulled him towards the other side of the roof frame, leading him to an open space.

He patted him on the shoulder, his tone relaxed and slightly teasing:
"You're still too green, kid. Not just anyone can withstand the atmosphere here."

Jiang Liang clicked his tongue, holding his breath as if he wanted to argue, but as soon as he opened his mouth, his chest went numb, and he could only obediently nod and admit defeat.

Jiang Yi acted as if nothing had happened, adjusting his sleeves and casually remarking:
"Alright, go back and see your mother. She's been talking about you a lot these past few days."

Jiang Liang could only smile awkwardly, rub his chest, and head down the mountain.

Jiang Yi stood there and looked at the roof frame over there. Seeing that the sun was already setting, he picked up a thick straw mat and put it on the beam.

The mountain wind at night carries a frosty chill; if it freezes your bones, you'll have to go to great lengths to mend them next year.

He then swayed and dusted himself off, and began to walk home, staggering along.

Upon entering the house, a wave of heat hits you, and the stove fire is burning brightly.

Jiang Liang had already unpacked his luggage and spread all the gifts on the table in a messy manner. He was talking and laughing as he distributed the gifts to his family.

There weren't any valuable items, just some odds and ends from the prefecture, made with finer workmanship and brighter colors than those from the county.

The whole family was delighted with the gift, and Jiang Xi even raised her eyebrows and grinned, her face beaming with joy.

In the corner, however, lay a separate cloth bag, so heavy that it slumped the corner of the table, making it look unusual.

Jiang Yi glanced at it, his heart skipped a beat, and he reached out and opened the bag, which was full of rare medicinal herbs.

It has roots, stems, bark, and leaves, with a warm and lustrous color and a lingering aroma; it is clearly a top-quality product.

Although it can't compare to the rare medicinal herbs from Liu Family Manor, it's far superior to the market medicines in Doctor Li's shop. Jiang Yi didn't reveal his true feelings, only asking casually:

"Where did these medicines come from?"

Jiang Liang was excitedly recounting interesting stories from the prefecture when he heard this, he turned around and smiled:
"The Li siblings gave it to me. They insisted on putting it in my bag when I left, saying it was tuition for martial arts lessons."

After saying that, fearing his father wouldn't believe him, he quickly added:

"They now live in the prefecture and are under my aunt's tutelage. Wenxuan is learning to manage the medicinal herb business, and Wenya is studying medicine. They often invite me over for a visit and to give me some pointers on techniques."

Jiang Yi listened and nodded slightly, but his expression remained completely unchanged.

He had heard Master Cen mention the Li family before; they were a branch of a renowned medical family that had long been established in the Liangqiang area and had become incredibly wealthy through their medicinal herb business.

With a solid foundation, steady methods, and a refined family tradition, they certainly don't lack these essential ingredients.

No wonder this kid's joints were relaxed, his energy was focused, his eyes were bright, and he exuded a strong aura after he came back.

If things continue down this path, the first member of the Jiang family to reach the threshold of "fullness" will likely be this youngest son.

As he was thinking this, he suddenly asked casually:

"What kind of people are the Li siblings?"

Jiang Liang didn't think about it for a moment, but just grinned, as if he had remembered something interesting, and said:
"They're all very good to the child... They're all very good to him."

In short, though the tone was light, the last syllable of the sentence dropped, as if something was hidden and something was not being revealed.

Jiang Yi listened without replying, only nodding, and then carefully examined the boy again.

His breath was solid, his essence was abundant, his energy was steady, and his steps were upright, neither floating nor frivolous.

However, the degree of "cultivating the mind and refining one's character" is still somewhat lacking.

If one's temperament is not calm, it is difficult to condense one's energy.

If we really want to gain real influence in the future, I'm afraid we'll stumble on this issue.

With this thought in mind, he got up, put on an old coat, and strolled out along the village path at a leisurely pace.

This trip is heading towards Liujiazhuangzi.

Taking advantage of the holiday break, I thought I'd buy a few more bottles of calming pills on credit so that the kid could slowly temper his temperament.

To suppress and rein in that initial surge, so that one doesn't stumble and fall later without even realizing the pain.

Jiang Yi carried two bottles of warm, jade-like pills with him on his back.

Just as I arrived outside the courtyard, before even stepping across the threshold, I heard a clear, youthful voice coming from inside the house, brimming with spirited energy.

Jiang Ming returned home from school and was chatting with his younger brother about what he had seen in the prefecture. He was very excited and spoke in a lighthearted tone.

Jiang Yi didn't say a word, and walked even lighter, slowly passing under the eaves.

After hearing a few words, he suddenly stopped in his tracks.

"Dong Han was the strongest in terms of physique and strength. His stance was as solid as an iron stake driven into the ground. When he made a move, his stance was like moving mountains and filling seas. His attack made people's hearts pound."

As Jiang Liang spoke, his voice revealed the excitement and respect of someone newly emerging from the mountains.

Jiang Ming responded softly, "Oh."

“Ma Ruiyuan is different.”

Jiang Liang paused slightly, as if changing the subject:

"He has the most stable mind. Although he has not practiced much, he is accurate and ruthless in his attacks. He is best at observing the situation and using troops. He said that fist and foot are techniques, but formation is the way."

"He always talks about 'feigning strength and retreating, using the few to fight the many,' and I only half understood it, but he really looks like a general in the making."

Jiang Ming hummed in agreement and said calmly, "Cultivate both literary and martial skills."

"As for me..."

Jiang Liang's tone shifted, revealing a hint of teasing: "The one with the deepest aura is the one who learned to hide and discern shapes by listening to the wind."

"He also has short-range grappling techniques, plus a few light-footed skills for scaling walls and rooftops."

Upon hearing these words, Jiang Yi lowered his gaze slightly, but nodded in agreement.

That prefectural captain actually had some methodical skills.

The three men in the first rank split into three different routes.

One is a fierce general who charges into battle and defeats the enemy; another is a wise general who observes the situation and makes decisive decisions; and the third is a scout who hides his tracks and probes for opportunities.

Teaching according to individual characteristics and adapting to the student's strengths is quite effective.

(End of this chapter)