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

Chapter 39 Illusionary Yin Grass Catches a Pig's Nose

That morning, as usual, Jiang Yi carried two buckets of water to irrigate the orchard at the foot of the mountain.

In early summer, the woods exude a sense of freshness, with green branches, soft underfoot, and the air filled with the damp scent of earth.

My daughter, Jiang Xi, was also there, running around the garden, jumping three feet high, I don’t know what she was chasing.

Jiang Yi bent down to water the trees. He had just watered the third apricot tree when he saw several people coming from the edge of the woods.

In front was Master Liu, and behind him was his son, his shoulders straight and his eyes gleaming.

Next came the two servants, carrying a large bundle of fine silk threads, so fine they were almost invisible, yet they exuded a subtle sense of resilience.

After exchanging greetings, Master Liu pointed, and the tall, thin servant stepped forward and deftly tied one end of the silk thread around the young master's waist.

"I've come up with a solution..."

The young man, looking arrogant, wiped his nose and said to Jiang Xi:
“Mark the path with silk thread, tie a knot wherever you go, and when you come back next time you see a knot, go around it.”

"The more times you walk this path, the more mistakes you'll make. The remaining path, of course, leads to the depths!"

He spoke with such certainty, as if he had truly discovered some divine secret.

As soon as he finished speaking, he turned and plunged into the woods without looking back.

Looking at that retreating figure, Master Liu stepped forward to speak with Jiang Yi, his tone gentle, but with an awkward smile on his face.

"This child is so stubborn, you can't stop him."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Yi merely glanced at his own daughter, who was squatting down, engrossed in playing with the butterfly, pinching its toes with a determined expression.

The two fathers looked at each other and smiled, saying nothing, yet it was as if they had said everything.

The two servants over there were busy laying out lines, guiding the way through the woods, doing everything meticulously.

Jiang Yi continued watering the plants with his head down, his shoulders steady and his breathing calm. He poured the water from the bucket, watering evenly and thoroughly.

Master Liu didn't look at the woods or pay attention to the silk thread; he only focused his gaze on Jiang Yi.

I observed him closely for a moment, noticing his movements and stillness.

It had only been a few months since they last met, but the farmer, who claimed to only know some folk remedies for staying healthy, seemed to have become even more somber.

Even his eyes seemed more steady than before, as if he had finally achieved some success in cultivating his character.

At first, I was only focused on the girl's strange behavior, but now it seems that this whole family is not to be underestimated.

He tilted his head slightly and looked at the little girl playing wildly.

It still had that same chubby, fair-skinned appearance, with an innocent face, but its breathing was surprisingly long and deep.

In terms of talent, he was truly an excellent prospect.

Unfortunately, in terms of physical development, he has fallen behind his own child.

No wonder, the Jiang family was struggling financially, their medicinal diets were infrequent, and they had no mentors to rely on; they were barely hanging on by their own two feet.

Master Liu sighed inwardly, his eyes narrowing slightly, as if he had fallen into deep thought.

After Jiang Yi finished watering the grove, Master Liu, sleeves rolled up, strolled over slowly.

He started by chatting casually with a smile, sharing his insights on the theory of sitting in oblivion, but he didn't go into much depth; it was just something he mentioned offhand.

He then asked about this year's harvest in the fields, his tone relaxed, as if he were just chatting casually.

As they were talking, the conversation suddenly shifted, and they asked:

"Brother Jiang, have you ever heard of the 'Illusionary Yin Grass'?"

Jiang Yi remained expressionless, only gently shaking his head.

Master Liu showed no disappointment, still smiling, and said in a calm voice:

"As the name suggests, it is hallucinogenic and chilling. Ordinary people would avoid it at all costs, but those who cultivate their character can use it to stabilize their spirit and temper their mind."

"Several family recipes rely on this ingredient."

He paused, his brow furrowing slightly, a hint of regret in his voice:

"It's a pity this grass is difficult to grow. It has a heavy yin energy, and people without a strong constitution will feel dizzy and cold if they get close to it." "What's more troublesome is its hallucinogenic nature. People with restless minds will be distracted by it and won't even be able to say their own name."

After saying that, he sighed softly:
“Every time we need to use it, we have to send people to several prefectures and counties in the east to purchase it. Not only is it troublesome to go back and forth, but the grass supply is also intermittent and unreliable.”

As he said this, he looked up at Jiang Yi, and the light in his eyes flickered slightly.

"Look at Brother Jiang's physique and his calm and focused mind these past few months. Perhaps he can be a good match for the nature of this grass."

The words were not explicitly stated, but the meaning was already conveyed.

Jiang Yi didn't rush to reply. He put down the wooden bucket in his hand, and water droplets dripped into the mud along his knuckles, seeping in very slowly.

He stood there for a while, as if weighing things up, or as if carefully reviewing the few casual remarks he had just made.

But a thought was vaguely rising in my mind.

When Master Liu first spread that treatise on sitting in oblivion, was he planning this from the very beginning?

Seeing the hesitation in his expression, Master Liu didn't urge him, but simply added with a smile:
"If Brother Jiang agrees, I will take care of the land conversion and provide the seeds myself. If it doesn't grow, I will compensate you; if it does grow, I will buy it at the market price, without any discount."

He said it so readily, as if it were just a favor to do someone a favor.

But Jiang Yi frowned slightly as he listened.

Since the Illusionary Yin Grass is so important, and the Liu family has land, methods, and resources, why bother going through all this trouble to ask me for help?

The thought had barely formed when the image of Lord Liu seemed to have noticed something, his smile unchanged, and he added lightly:
“If Brother Jiang can really grow it, we can use some ourselves. Although those old prescriptions are not convenient to pass on, if they can be made into finished products, it will be fine and can be used as payment for some herbs.”

The conversation was neither overly enthusiastic nor evasive, with neither pressure nor concealment.

Upon hearing this, Jiang Yi's heart stirred slightly.

My own children just couldn't get into that booklet.

If one can truly obtain some medical assistance, it might not be such a bad thing.

Moreover, regardless of past life memories or present life experiences, although Liu Family Manor has some secrets, it does not seem like a wicked or evil sect.

After a moment's thought, though still harboring some doubts, he finally nodded slightly and agreed.

At the other end, the silk threads continued to emerge in segments, long and supple, clinging to the tips of the grass and the base of the trees, leaving trails of shimmering light.

Jiang Yi had already finished watering the plants, and the water stains on his shoulders had dried halfway.

He wasn't in a hurry to go back, but stood by the tree with his hands behind his back, catching his breath and watching to see what tricks the Liu family boy could pull.

When the mood struck, he would occasionally chat with Master Liu about this and that, asking about the cultivation method and medicinal properties of the "Illusionary Yin Grass".

As the sky gradually shifted westward, the clouds turned from pale white to crimson, and with the arrival of twilight, the shadows of the mountains and forests lengthened, and the wind grew cooler.

Only then did they see the Liu family boy emerge from the woods, covered in sweat and panting heavily.

The group rushed forward, but upon closer inspection, their expressions varied.

The silk thread that should have remained in the forest had already wrapped around the boy's ankles, coiled in circles, with the ends hanging down beside his feet, swaying with his steps.

They brought them all out.

The path markings that were originally intended to be left in the mountains have now vanished without a trace.

Master Liu was taken aback at first, then shook his head slightly, chuckled softly, and didn't really take it to heart.

The servants around looked at each other, not daring to utter a sound.

Jiang Yi, on the other hand, remained completely calm, his expression unchanged.

Jiang Xi seemed to have found an opportunity and rushed forward in two steps.

Before the younger brother from the Liu family could recover, he suddenly raised his hand to press his nose, pinched and flicked it with his fingers, and said with a grin:

"Pig nose! I caught it!"

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May all my dear readers live forever and enjoy endless revelry!
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(End of this chapter)