The immortal is beside me

Chapter 99 Its Name is Qing
791 AD, Longzhou.

High up in the mountain, the mountain protection formation spanning the dangerous pass glowed with light, stimulating a faint white barrier that enveloped the entire pass.

Facing the mountainside with his back to the pass, Ye Qiansheng slowly wiped the blood-stained sword and looked into the distance.

Ten miles away, wisps of fire were dancing under the sky, and formations could be seen twinkling like stars in the sky. The huge murderous aura was still clearly felt even from a distance of several miles.

Since the outbreak of the Sakya Rebellion forty years ago, Buddhism has invaded the Central Plains on a large scale, and along with it came many small religions and sects that followed its lead.

It took Buddhism nearly a hundred years to subdue these small countries around the Central Plains, and now all these forces have been mobilized to the Central Plains to fight against the Tang Dynasty and the Jiuli Immortal Alliance.

The group before them were barbarian cultivators from the Tubo Kingdom. While the Buddhist invasion had severely damaged the main force of the Immortal Alliance, this plateau kingdom, sworn in by Buddhism, seized the opportunity to launch an attack, successively annexing the eighteen prefectures of Longyou and the four towns of Anxi within the Tang Dynasty, severing the Hexi Corridor and marching directly towards the Guanzhong region, the heart of the Tang Dynasty.

She had heard about what happened to the cities that fell to Tubo: the eyes of the old and the young, women and children were gouged out and their arms were chopped off as tribute to build the holy land; the young men were sent to Tubo as slaves, probably to build some magnificent temple.

"Saintess, the scouts just reported that the enemy has begun to move."

A cultivator wearing the robes of the Immortal Alliance walked up behind her and said, "They've brought in several heavenly spiritual artifacts from the rear. It seems they're trying to force their way through the formation protecting the pass. After the previous waves of attacks, the cultivators defending the formation are nearly exhausted. If the enemy really attacks, I'm afraid this pass will be undefendable."

The monk who reported the news hesitated for a moment and opened his mouth with some difficulty.

"Saint, let's retreat."

The monk who reported the news said, "You should also be aware of the current situation of the Immortal Alliance. If we stay here, we will be completely wiped out."

Ye Qiansheng knew what this situation referred to.

Not long ago, the Buddhist forces discovered the Venerable Kasyapa who embodies the true meaning of the Buddha. With his support, the Buddhist forces penetrated into the heart of the Central Plains like a landslide, and even the gods were easily killed by them. Now all the main forces of the Immortal Alliance have been transferred to fight against Kasyapa, which means that it is impossible for the border passes to receive reinforcements.

"While the enemy hasn't launched a real attack yet, let's escort our main force out of Longzhou and reunite with the Immortal Alliance. At least we can escort you back. Even if it costs us our lives, we will keep you safe."

The fingers that were wiping the sword paused for a moment. Ye Qiansheng did not answer, but just stared at the fire in the sky.

"Have all the people in the cities of Longzhou been evacuated?"

There was a long silence. The monk who reported the news opened his mouth several times, and the lie went up and down in his throat several times, but he couldn't spit it out.

"Since the Immortal Alliance sent a message to each city lord, the people in Yongxin City have all evacuated Longzhou. However, there are still people in the remaining four cities, such as Fengxiang City and Shibi City. Currently, it is estimated that there are 12,000 people left, mostly the elderly, children, women and children. It will take at least a day for them all to evacuate."

"Is it."

Ye Qiansheng slowly stood up and looked at the guarding formation in front of him. The light of the formation flickered like a candle in the wind and could go out at any time.

"I hereby order everyone in my name: if anyone does not wish to continue guarding the pass, they may leave now and will not be held responsible for any crime."

"Those who wish to stay, the magic cultivators will continue to maintain the formation. The rest of you, bring all your magic tools and follow me out to fight the enemy. We will defend the formation and protect the people of the four cities as they evacuate Longzhou."

She turned her head and looked at the somewhat dazed monk who brought the news behind her, and her tone softened.

"Since you want to leave, then go ahead." Ye Qiansheng said, "After you find the Immortal Alliance, if you can see Zhou Wuqing, please tell him on my behalf."

Her voice paused here. She opened her mouth, but no sound came out. She just lowered her head to look at the magic sword in her hand. The blade reflected the woman's peerless face.

"...Never mind, no need to say more." She lowered her eyes, "Just go and pass on the message."

The monk who brought the news stood behind her, staring at her back. He hesitated several times before finally squeezing out a few words. "Saint, why are you doing this?"

His trembling words echoed in the wind: "Anxi has already fallen, and Longzhou's fall is only a matter of time. There's no point in holding on to this place. Everyone in the Immortal Alliance knows this. Even the mortal garrisons in those cities have abandoned them. Who cares if you do this?"

The mountain wind blew up her black hair and white clothes, swaying them on the mountain top where flames were everywhere. The woman looked up, and the star-like fire was reflected in her eyes.

Those were the lights of a distant city, each one a family's closest relatives. They danced on this dead land, unlike the grandeur of the thousands of lights in prosperous times, so tiny, yet so bright.

“They care.”

With a light tap of the foot, a white figure floated up and went straight to the top of the mountain.

Murderous intent was coming from afar, and the Tibetan flag was clearly visible on the horizon. She raised her sword in the fierce mountain wind, and the cold light cut through the clouds, freezing the figure in time.

On the fourth day of the twelfth month in 791 AD, Ye Qiansheng, the Saint of Jiuli, died in battle in Longzhou.

In that battle, over a thousand Longzhou monks died alongside her, forcing the Tibetans' eastern expedition to halt. Within a few days, 12,000 Longzhou residents were safely evacuated without a single casualty.

Afterwards, the Immortal Alliance found her body while clearing the battlefield. According to the people who found it, all her spiritual power was gone. She must have burned her spirit and foundation before her death, and her soul was scattered.

Several years after the Sakya Rebellion was quelled, Jiuli began to posthumously confer titles on those who had made great contributions during the war, and Ye Qiansheng was on the list.

The sect discussed her nickname for a long time, changing it many times, but still couldn't decide. Finally, the oldest elder stood up and made the final decision with one sentence.

"Add the word 'Qing' to her posthumous title. She'll like it."

In front of the huge ancestral worship wall, Zhou Qing walked slowly to the edge of the spirit tablet, lowered his eyes slightly, and the words engraved on the tablet came into view.

[Jiuli's seventeenth-generation saint, Ye Qiansheng]

【Name: Ciqing Fairy】

On one side of the stele, a woman's head stood peacefully on the wall. The carving was done by the sect's most skilled craftsman, perfectly recreating her stunning beauty. Anyone who saw the stone statue would stop in their tracks in amazement at her beauty.

So now he also stopped.

There were no words, no mourning, he just looked at the stone statue quietly, his eyes passing across the familiar faces.

Here, she will always be as pretty as a painting, and always young and beautiful.

After a long silence, he suddenly felt like playing a tune, so he took out the jade flute and placed it across his lips, then blew out the music in one breath, and a magnificent and gorgeous melody came out from the flute.

Yan Guoyun, who was standing next to him, was slightly startled. He didn't know what the Lord meant, but he still recognized the song.

"Rainbow Skirt and Feathered Coat" is a famous song from the Kaiyuan period of the Tang Dynasty.

Thirteen hundred years ago, in the city of Chang'an, resplendent with fireworks, this music once resounded under the prosperous sky.

The sound of the music floated out of the side hall, like the laughter of all living beings, like the blooming of flowers. The melodious tune echoed among the green mountains of the cave for a long time.

(End of this chapter)