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

Chapter 95 Familiar Faces, New Look

As dawn broke, a wisp of moisture lingered on the horizon, casting a faint glow through the bluish-gray sky.

Jiang Yi was bending over, picking at the tips of the seedlings in the medicinal herb field, his fingertips dipped in dew, wiping away the insect marks on the leaves inch by inch.

His movements were unhurried, and his brows were relaxed, as if he were in a good mood.

Inside the courtyard, however, a different commotion was taking place.

Fists and kicks clashed, sticks whistled through the air. The two younger ones had gotten up early and were now locked in a fierce battle, exchanging blows without holding back.

The bamboo shadows danced on the wall, making the morning mist tremble three times.

Suddenly, footsteps were heard from the other end of the village road. The rhythm was steady, the steps were not fast, but there was more composure than that of ordinary people.

Jiang Yi looked up and saw that Master Liu had already arrived at the door.

He stood at the entrance of the courtyard, not in a hurry to speak, but only looked up and took a breath, his eyebrows unconsciously twitching.

As soon as I took that breath, I felt the courtyard filled with a spiritual atmosphere, with the fragrance of medicine lingering among the plants, and even the morning mist seemed to carry a sweet and moist scent.

Compared to the last time, it's clearly a step up.

A slight thought stirred within him, but he showed no sign of it on his face.

Jiang Yi quickly wiped the mud off his fingers, strode forward, and greeted them with a cupped hand.

Without saying much, Master Liu flipped his hand and pulled a cloth bag from his sleeve, handing it over.

It was heavy, the bag was tightly tied, and although the silver color was not visible, it was quite substantial.

This is the money Hancao received a few days ago.

The usual practice is to keep a record of the expenses and then offset them with medicinal herbs later.

However, the Jiang family was in dire need of money at the moment, so they changed their minds and said they would accept cash.

That day, two servants from the Liu family came to collect grass as usual, but they did not have enough cash on hand, saying they would make up the difference later.

Unexpectedly, the manor lord himself delivered it this time.

Just then, a sharp "snap" sounded in the courtyard.

The little girl's stick blocked Jiang Ming's punch. Neither of them gave way, and the force exploded in their arms, causing their sleeves to billow slightly and dust to rise half an inch from their feet.

Upon hearing the sound, Master Liu looked over and his gaze fell on Jiang Xi.

The little girl stood firmly, her movements with the stick controlled and fluid.

Her features have lost some of the fragility of a young woman, but gained more composure and heroic spirit.

"This girl has made great progress."

He spoke softly, his tone ordinary, yet it conveyed a deep sincerity.

Jiang Yi replied with a smile, "I'll need the Master to take the time to look at and give me some pointers."

Master Liu waved his hand, a half-smile playing on his lips, and said:
"I wouldn't call it giving pointers. These two kids are quite different; one has a solid build, and the other has a long and steady breath; one is calm and steady, and the other has exquisite staff skills. They each have their own unique approach, which is quite rare."

At this point, she paused suddenly, her gaze shifting back to Jiang Yi.

"But..."

His tone softened, and he subtly changed the subject, saying, "Each has its strengths, and each also has its weaknesses."

He spoke calmly, but his gaze held a hint of inquiry as he slowly said:

"If we can learn from each other's strengths and make up for each other's weaknesses, we might be able to go even further in the future."

These words were spoken casually and in a very light tone.

When it reached my ears, it was like striking a hoe in a spring field—the rice seedlings didn't move, but the water surface churned.

Jiang Yi listened, then simply smiled, offering neither comment nor affirmation.

His peripheral vision swept over the herb patch and landed on the newly sprouted buds. That pale green color was more worthy of his attention than any other topic.

After seeing off Master Liu, Jiang Yi went back to his house, tidied up briefly, put his silver pouch in his pocket, and then set off for the outskirts of the village.

I should have taken the time to visit Longshan County a long time ago, to get some advance payment from the foremen and craftsmen, so that the roof frame could be erected as soon as possible.

Unfortunately, the eldest son used the money from the Liu family estate to exchange for that jar of Ninglu wine, which delayed things until now.

This is how we leave the village.

Although the two villages in front of us are still the same old land, they have changed their appearance and taken on a new form.

The village road is still the same winding village road, and the field ridges are still the same winding earthen ridges, but the people walking on them are very different.

The young men coming and going were all radiant with energy and composed. Their shoulders were straight, their backs broad and their waists thick, and their steps were firm and steady, each step taking three inches of stance, each stance a breath of air.

Jiang Yi could tell that most of these people were talents gathered by Jiang Ming from the "Ancient and Modern Gang" after he took over the school.

Young in age, but with a solid foundation.

The Jiang family practiced their stance training and body techniques for several years, while the Liu family also diligently studied medicinal herbs and methods of absorbing qi.

After drinking the fruit-infused soup, the very bones in his body quietly underwent a transformation.

Those who were the first to follow Jiang Ming in his clamor are now all sixteen or seventeen years old, and each of them is already capable of handling a hoe and a job.

Although they did not come from the same refined backgrounds as the Jiang and Liu families, in the eyes of others, which one of them was not a promising young man with vigor and strength?
Swinging the hoe quickly, lifting materials steadily, rushing to the market to finish work—everything about it is worry-free.

Once they can work and earn money, the pot on the stove will burn brightly, and the chickens and ducks in the house will grow fat.

The cattle and sheep are plump and healthy, the fields are greener, and the laughter in the village is louder.

Some of those with a lively mind are already preparing to build new houses.

As Jiang Yi walked along the village road, he had only gone a few steps when someone greeted him.

He glanced around and saw familiar faces and a fresh atmosphere.

Especially the group from ancient and modern times.

Upon seeing Jiang Yi's figure in the distance, they consciously withdrew their sharpness, paused in their tracks, raised their hands in a bow, and called out in unison, "Elder Jiang."

Jiang Yi simply smiled and nodded, returning each greeting, but his feet did not stop.

As Jiang Yi stepped out of the village, his body swayed slightly, his stance training starting from the soles of his legs. His footwork appeared ordinary, but in reality, it concealed his breathing techniques.

In just half a day, the entrance to Longshan County was already in sight.

Jiang Yi did not enter the city gate, but turned west and headed straight for the house he had previously chosen.

The construction site was bustling with activity, the sounds of saws and axes filling the air, tiles and timber scattered about, footsteps and shouts creating a chaotic yet orderly scene.

Amidst the comings and goings of people, the outline of a new house is beginning to take shape, with beams and pillars crisscrossing and a high ridge, giving it a somewhat imposing appearance.

Li Wenxuan stood in the middle of the field with his sleeves rolled up, holding a blueprint in his hand. He listened to the craftsman's reply while instructing others to move materials and adjust the water.

Upon seeing Jiang Yi step into the arena, he hurriedly stepped forward, clasped his hands in a fist and bowed, and greeted him:
"Uncle Jiang, you've arrived."

Jiang Yi nodded and followed Li Wenxuan around the house.

Wherever he went, the beams and pillars were already erected, the eaves were just beginning to rise, and people were bustling about on the scaffolds, creating a scene of construction in progress.

He paused in front of the blueprints for a moment, tracing the outlined lines with his fingertips, before asking a few questions about the progress and materials used.

Li Wenxuan answered in great detail, his words revealing his deep concern.

After listening, Jiang Yi neither praised nor criticized, but simply took the account book and flipped through it.

The accounts are clear, and the amount of money is not inflated.

He nodded, then took out a silver pouch from his pocket and handed it over.

In recent years, the value of the Phantom Grass has increased significantly as it matures.

The harvest from the Jiang family's land is now worth enough to build several houses.

After finishing his business, Jiang Yi put away the account book and casually asked, "Has Jiang Liang sent any news lately?"

This kid has been away from home for so long, and he hasn't even sent a message to keep quiet.

Upon hearing this, Li Wenxuan smiled and said, "Brother Liang has made a great contribution this time and has accompanied the Commandant to Luoyang to report on his duties. I'm afraid it will be a while before he returns."

His tone contained a hint of envy, but also a deep sense of admiration.

Upon hearing this, Jiang Yi merely nodded slightly, his expression remaining calm and composed.

He still hadn't figured out what merit his son had made.

However, the house will be busy for some time now, so there's no rush to go back to the hometown to see each other.

As they were talking, Li Wenxuan suddenly changed the subject, seemingly speaking casually, yet also as if he had something he had planned to say all along.

“My elder sister has also returned from the prefecture. She has not left the house these days and is resting at home.”

After speaking, he paused slightly and added, "My father often thinks of Uncle Jiang and says that if he has time, he hopes to come to our house for a chat again."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Yi slightly raised his eyelids, already understanding seven or eight parts of the situation, but he simply nodded in agreement.

(End of this chapter)