The faint blue phosphorescence floats beside the wild graves in the mountains, appearing and disappearing, rising and falling with the strange wind of late autumn.
Two figures, one tall and one short, walked on the road. The mountain wind whistled, and I could faintly hear their conversation: "Grandma, do you know Tianmu Country?"
"Sky Curtain Country?"
"Yes, that is the present-day Qi Kingdom."
"Rumor has it that many years ago, that place was once called the Tianmu Kingdom. It was a powerful nation, but it later disappeared. It's said that the ruler at the time was cruel and merciless, killing loyal and good people. This attracted the attention of a celestial being, who then struck down the main hall with a single sword."
The young man's voice was filled with excitement and longing: "Are there really immortals in this world?"
Qingle stopped, the mountain breeze ruffling her pale hair and making her black robe rustle. "You want to become an immortal?"
The young man scratched his head and chuckled, "Who doesn't want to become an immortal?"
Mountains of varying heights were silently rooted in the earth. Beneath the vast sky, a young man in tattered gray clothes and straw sandals patted his stomach and said, "I heard that immortals drink dew and don't need to eat. If I become an immortal, I won't have to go hungry anymore."
Qingle was speechless for a while, then raised his hand and patted his head: "Okay."
The boy was stunned: "Huh?"
The old man stopped talking and walked in front with his cane. The young man was stunned for a moment and quickly followed him.
The night sky was filled with stars, and the rheumatic cold of late autumn penetrated their bones. The two walked for half an hour before they saw a small village hidden deep in the mountains. Dogs barked at the sound, and the two walked to the end of the village.
Crunch,
The old gate opens,
Qingle followed him in. The courtyard was not big. There was a large vat at the east door of the kitchen. The paint on the door was peeling, weeds grew in the corners of the wall, and insects were buzzing.
The young boy squatted on the ground and pried for a long time, then took out a key: "Grandma, come in."
Just as the young man said, the situation at home was bleak, with only a bed, a wardrobe, and a few benches. It was so simple and deserted that there was no sign of life. It was already late, so they tidied up a bit and went to bed.
Although the boy was young, he insisted on sleeping on the floor and gave his bed to Qingle.
The moon was at its zenith and the young boy had already fallen asleep. Qingle suddenly opened his eyes, sat up and looked at the ground. Under the cold moonlight, the boy was curled up in a small ball.
She got out of bed, walked over, and opened her spiritual sense to explore—
"No spiritual roots?"
Qingle didn't believe it and couldn't help but test it again, but there was still no spiritual root... She sighed, turned around and lay back on the bed.
From then on, the old and the young began to depend on each other.
This time, no matter where the boy went, Qingle insisted on staying by his side. The boy said, "I'm already grown up and don't need your care," but the smile on his face never stopped.
From eight years old to eighteen years old; from eighteen years old to twenty-eight years old.
Qingle still has that old face, but his body is very strong. Even if there are thugs on the street who want to pick a fight with him, he can lift them up with one hand.
Because of her ageless state, the two of them had to move to several places over the past twenty years.
Changting, the young man, couldn't help but laugh: "Grandma, are you a spirit that cultivated into a human in the mountains? Or are you an immortal from the other world?"
At the age of twenty-eight, I am no longer a teenager.
The man was tall and mighty, handsome, with a pair of bright eyes and strong muscles in his arms. When he walked on the street, he always made young girls and wives cover their faces and laugh.
Qingle couldn't help but ask him, "Why don't you get married?"
Changting twisted his neck and kicked his legs, punching left and right in the courtyard, and said, "What to marry? Not marrying."
Qingle didn't ask any more questions. She thought it was a good idea this way. In the past, he always lived past the age of 30. If he got married, wouldn't he be harming the girl?
It’s better to wait until you’re over 30, then it’s not too late.
But Qingle didn't expect that despite all her precautions, Changting still passed away on his 30th birthday.
That day happened to be the Lantern Festival, and the streets were crowded with people. He forced her to wear a fox mask, and then pulled her to run... The sword came at her, and the young man stood in front of her.
Everything was silent. Qingle could only feel a buzzing in his ears and could hear nothing.
The young man wanted to say something, opened his mouth, and blood gushed out of his mouth... Qingle covered his wound, and spiritual power continued to flow into his body.
But this body was like a funnel full of holes, and the spiritual power dissipated as soon as it entered.
Chang Ting closed his eyes: "Don't waste your energy, it's useless."
He suddenly pulled the corner of his mouth and looked at her: "I want to see you, can I?"
Qingle said nothing, but the white hair on his head gradually turned black, and his wrinkled skin became fair and delicate again. A cold and extraordinary face appeared before Changting. He was slightly surprised: "So, this is what you look like."
"very nice."
He sighed and closed his eyes.
Qingle: “…”
She stood there in a daze until the officials arrived, then she staggered to her feet, holding the man and walking step by step out of the city... She buried him in the yard, locked the door, and turned to leave.
Small towns, villages, mountains, temples,
The old woman was riding an old horse in the mountains. She passed by a village and took away a little boy with a snotty nose from among a group of children playing.
Spring passes and autumn comes,
The peach blossoms bloom one after another.
A young man, now 25 years old, dressed in official uniform, strolled leisurely among the blooming spring flowers: "Grandma, which girl across the street do you think is prettier?"
Qingle pursed her lips and said nothing, but the little maid couldn't help but say: "This servant thinks the girl from Mr. Li's family is very beautiful."
The young man laughed heartily and tapped the maid's head with his folding fan: "Xiao Yu'er is really discerning."
The next day,
An official matchmaker came into the mansion and left after a while.
In the evening, the main door of Qingle Courtyard was opened, and the young county magistrate came in, waving a folding fan. "Grandma, do you think it's better to get married in April or June?"
Qingle paused, put down the pen in his hand, and looked at him.
The county magistrate raised his eyebrows: "How?"
Qingle shook his head, lowered his eyes, and continued practicing calligraphy: "All good."
The county magistrate let out a long "Oh" and stood up and walked over: "What is grandma writing? Changting, are you writing my calligraphy? Not bad, not bad... But grandma is not happy that I got married?"
His hand trembled and ink dripped onto the paper.
Qingle paused, tore off the page, and continued writing: "I will be leaving the house tomorrow and will not be back for an exact date. Please do not go to any dangerous places."
The county magistrate nodded: "Are you coming back?"
Qingle finally looked up and looked at him: "I will be back."
The county magistrate smiled, his eyes turning into crescents, and his moon-white robe made him look even more handsome. "I heard that there's an immortal sect in Taiyuan accepting disciples, and there are several people in the county who want to go there... Which sect is grandma from?"
There are many peach blossoms planted in the yard, and the peach blossoms are in full bloom.
Qingle picked up a petal and said, "Shangyuan Sect."
The county magistrate nodded, rubbing his folding fan. "Hmm, I haven't heard of it, but I imagine it must be a large sect. They say that every action of an immortal is related to destiny. Grandma chose me...but why?"
He smiled, his eyes curved, "I've thought about it for years, but I still can't figure it out."
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