The Great Bandit of Journey to the West

Chapter 33 Smiling Spring

Yang Jian felt somewhat annoyed that he had been seen through.

On one hand, it was because Jiang Feng had a sharp tongue, and on the other hand, it was because he had actually put in some effort.

If it weren't for his secret protection, how could his sister, whose memories were sealed, and these monks have withstood the three thousand crazed demon-suppressing soldiers without losing a single person?

Jiang Feng didn't give him a chance to explain and went to the side to treat the wounded on the ground.

As for the treatment, it was naturally the talismanic water of the Taiping Dao.

The monks of the Tiantai sect who drank the talisman water recovered immediately from minor injuries, and the injuries of those who were seriously injured were also alleviated.

Seeing the effectiveness of his treatment, Zhi Zao was filled with worry, fearing that the next moment these disciples would join Jiang Feng in shouting "The heavens are dead, the yellow heavens shall rise."

A moment later, all the disciples had finished their treatment, and Jiang Feng breathed a sigh of relief.

[Your compassion and mercy saved five hundred injured monks of the Tiantai school. Your boundless love moved Heaven, and you are rewarded with one hundred years of magical power.]

Jiang Feng, whose cultivation had suddenly increased by a hundred years, felt full of power. He divided the people who were immobilized by the immobilization talisman into several groups and began to chant scriptures to remove the effects of the secret medicine.

Three days later, the effects of the secret medicine on the three thousand people were finally neutralized, and Jiang Feng was able to relax completely.

[Your compassion prevented the resurgence of Mahayana Buddhism, and your boundless love moved Heaven, rewarding you with mastery of the "Buddha Kingdom in Your Palm" technique.]

The Buddha's Palm Kingdom is a spell used by the Buddha when he made a bet with Sun Wukong, preventing Sun Wukong from escaping his palm. This spell is similar to the Universe in a Sleeve, but its drawback is that it's easy for the monkey to urinate on your hand...

"Achoo!"

At the foot of Five Elements Mountain, a monkey sneezed and, out of boredom, rubbed its head against a wildflower in front of it.

"Who's talking about me, Old Sun? Is it those monkeys from Flower Fruit Mountain, or my sworn brothers? Surely it can't be the bald monk from the Western Paradise...?"

After studying the newly obtained reward, Jiang Feng came to Cui Ying and said, "You and I will return to Jiangdu together, and we will hand over the 100,000 hectares of fertile land to the Jiangnan gentry. Then we will distribute it to the refugees and the people who are about to be driven away by them."

Cui Ying was taken aback upon hearing this: "They're going to drive the people away too?"

Jiang Feng sighed and said, "Otherwise, their purpose in keeping slaves is to obtain more land as a reward from the imperial court. Now that so much farmland has been lost, the people who depend on them have lost their value."

"Furthermore, when allocating land to them, it is essential to sign employment contracts with them, and the land tax should be collected according to the regulations set by the imperial court."

"Everyone must know that these fields are in my hands, otherwise the people will not be able to keep the land they were allocated."

Cui Ying's eyes dimmed slightly: "I understand. The people are suffering so much. I will take good care of them."

Seeing Jiang Feng treating his sister like a beast of burden, Yang Jian snorted coldly with a dark face.

Jiang Feng looked at Yang Jian with a regretful expression and said, "I heard from Cui Ying that you're leaving?"

Yang Jian said, "Now that this matter is settled, I should leave. What, are you trying to persuade me to stay?"

Jiang Feng put on a sad expression: "After spending so much time together, your sudden departure just feels a little off."

The most heart-wrenching thing is parting. Now, just thinking about you leaving... makes me want to laugh out loud!

Jiang Feng's expression changed, and he said excitedly, "I'm so annoyed by your stern face all day! You're finally leaving, no way, I have to find a way to make a string of firecrackers to celebrate!"

Yang Jian took a deep breath, suppressing the urge to beat him up, and turned to Cui Ying, saying, "Stay away from him if you don't have to. Spending too much time with him will make you stupid."

Cui Ying looked at the two of them helplessly, wondering why they couldn't get along.

After Yang Jian finished speaking, he transformed into a rainbow and departed. Jiang Feng and Cui Ying then proceeded to the various prominent families in Jiangnan to receive their land.

After the autumn harvest and before the arrival of winter, the fields and displaced people were finally settled, and the new wishing temple was completed as planned.

On the day the temple opened, many people came to the mountain, including county magistrate Lu Ziwang, county assistant Zhao Hongtu and other local officials, the people who were arranged by Jiang Feng, and a group of reluctant local gentry.

Looking at the newly built temple, Zhao Ping'an was overflowing with a sense of accomplishment. He excitedly said to Jiang Feng, "See? Every brick and tile of this temple was built by me!"

"I've finally accomplished something worthwhile; my father can finally rest in peace!"

Jiang Feng's expression was somewhat complicated: "Your father isn't dead yet..."

"However, your contribution is indeed significant. Without the help of your cronies in purchasing building materials, the temple would have been completed at least two months later, and these people would probably have had to brave the wind and snow to get through the winter."

"I had a guardian deity statue built for you in the temple, sculpted in your likeness. There's also a statue of Fugui, Ming'er, Magistrate Zhao, and the others—everyone got one!"

As they were talking, someone came to report: "Abbot, Zhiyi from Tiantai Mountain has come with his disciples to offer their congratulations!"

Jiang Feng nodded and led Zhao Ping'an and the others to the mountain gate to greet them.

A local gentryman said with a grim face, "How did Jiang Feng get involved with Zhiyi? With the help of the Tiantai Sect, won't he become even more unscrupulous in the future?"

The man beside him also looked displeased: "Not only that, didn't you see the woman with him? The eldest daughter of the Cui family of Boling!"

Just then, a servant rushed over in a panic to report.

"Master, it's Prince Jin! Prince Jin has arrived with officials from the General Administration Office, saying they've come to congratulate his virtuous brother Jiang Feng on opening the temple!"

Despair immediately settled on the faces of the local gentry. After a long silence, someone said, "Don't just stand there, hurry and go greet the Prince of Jin!"

At the mountain gate, Yang Guang walked forward with a joyful expression and grasped Jiang Feng's hands: "Brother, it's been months! I've missed you terribly!"

Jiang Feng, looking deeply moved, replied, "Since we parted in Jiangdu, I thought I would never see my brother again in this lifetime!"

Yang Guang laughed heartily: "Seeing my worthy brother still so mischievous, I'm relieved! Come on, show me what wonders your Buddhist temple holds!"

After saying that, he stepped into the mountain gate and walked side by side with Jiang Feng. Several guards silently separated the two of them from the others.

Passing by the Temple of the Holy Mother built for Cui Ying, Yang Guang looked at the statue of Cui Ying and exclaimed repeatedly: "This statue is truly lifelike, and the posture is wonderful. At first glance, it seems as if Cui Ying should have been worshipped."

Jiang Feng glanced at him indifferently and said, "You've come all this way, you must have something to discuss with me, right?"

Although he seemed to be questioning, his tone was full of certainty.

Yang Guang's smile faded, and he sighed, "I knew you'd guess. To be honest, I've come to you with an important matter to ask of you."

"A few days ago, the Empress Dowager contracted a strange illness, and the imperial physicians have tried everything to cure her but to no avail. These past few days, her condition has worsened, and she can only be conscious for an hour each day. I would like to ask you to examine her."

Jiang Feng frowned and said, "I only know how to treat common minor illnesses. You've come to the wrong person."

Yang Guang shook his head, a ruthless glint in his eyes: "If the Empress Dowager were truly ill, I wouldn't have come to you. I suspect she's been poisoned by evil magic!"