The immortal is beside me

Chapter 21: Country Name, Sui
The door of the interrogation room slowly opened, and Qin Jiajia walked out of the room with a long sigh, as if to expel the pent-up anger in her chest.

In the room behind her, there was a piece of glass covering half of the wall. Two specialists with real-time communicators were sitting behind the glass, tidying up the things on the table: a recorder, a camera, document paper for recording, and a few yellow talismans.

Over the past hour, she first underwent a routine soul examination to confirm that she was not manipulated or interfered with by the immortal cultivators. Then, under the supervision of the two specialists, she explained the process of her negotiation with Zhou Qing. The entire process was recorded on video and audio, and was reviewed by a dedicated person and submitted to leaders at all levels.

Through the two, she learned that such negotiations with ancient cultivators required a backup record. Any problems would be subject to multiple investigations, with consequences ranging from administrative detention to court-martial. Considering Zhou Qing's level and risk, the investigation would extend to all associated personnel, including the branch's top leader.

His hidden strength was too terrifying, so terrifying that there was no room for error.

Although Zhou Qing didn't mind his words being relayed, Qin Jiajia was still a little nervous when she thought that what he said today might lead to some people being put in jail.

The two commissioners were impartial throughout the entire process and did not make things difficult or ask excessive questions. Even so, she still felt her legs go weak when she stepped out of the interrogation room.

She heard the sound of leather shoes stepping on the ground, and turned to see that the person coming was Li Yulan.

"Thank you for your hard work." Li Yulan said, pointing to the several boxed lunches stacked nearby, "Would you like to eat something?"

This made Qin Jiajia realize she was indeed hungry. From afternoon to evening, after a rough patch with Zhou Qing and then back to the police station for questioning, she had been on high alert the entire time. The moment she relaxed, hunger and fatigue returned exponentially.

Without further ado, she grabbed a box lunch and sat down at a table in the hallway to eat. As she did so, she noticed a number of empty lunch boxes in the nearby trash can. It seemed more people were working overtime on this mission than she had imagined.

Countless people worked all night long just to hear his casual words.

"You did a good job this time."

As she ate her lunch, Li Yulan sat down beside her. "We've already reported Zhou Qing's request. If nothing goes wrong, it will be approved tomorrow. Be prepared. Once the investigation into those evil cultivators officially begins, you must participate."

As if noticing Qin Jiajia's surprise, she went on to explain, "Negotiating with immortal cultivators is a long-term mission, and this investigation currently falls under that scope. As a newcomer, this type of investigation is relatively easy to handle, and you can learn a lot along the way."

Qin Jiajia nodded in response. This was indeed a plan that suited her taste.

Because of the magic Zhou Qing had left on her, she had been noticed by the Environmental Sanitation Bureau and had been offered the position of commissioner. And now, she was able to sit at this table thanks to his words.

She was not the kind of person who could accept gifts with a clear conscience. This "big gift" did not make her feel happy, but instead gave her a sense of pressure that she was not worthy of her position.

Whether it's for reward or just for peace of mind, she always wants to do something.

"That's all for tonight. After dinner, go back and rest." Li Yulan said, then suddenly changed the subject, "Before you leave, remember to clean your workstation. We may have VIPs coming in a couple of days, so make sure your workstation is clean during this time."

"VIP?" Qin Jiajia blinked.

"People from the Jiuli Sect. It's one of the largest and oldest sects in the northwest region, and also our important ally."

Li Yulan reminded, "There's news that they'll be sending people to support the bureau's mission in the next two days. From now on, whenever you see a monk in a Taoist robe in the bureau, remember to greet him. If you don't know his name, just call him "senior" to avoid any problems."

The oldest sect? Could it be older than Zhou Qing?

Qin Jiajia suppressed the wild thoughts in her mind, memorized the name "Jiuli Sect", tidied up her workstation as Li Yulan instructed, picked up her things and walked out.

When she walked out of the building, it was already late at night. A special car was parked on the side of the road, obviously having been waiting for her for a long time.

"Captain Li asked me to pick you up." The officer in the driver's seat rolled down the window. "You live in a dormitory, right? Get in. I'll take you home."

With a reply, the car door opened and closed. Qin Jiajia leaned back in the back seat, looking out the window at the fleeting lights and shadows, unconsciously thinking about the conversation a few hours ago.

Zhou Qing had witnessed the history of the Wei and Jin dynasties. This meant that his era was at least a thousand years away from his own.

The life of a mortal is too short. Just a few decades can turn a vigorous child into a lifeless adult. In comparison, immortal cultivators have experienced thousands of years and have been tempered by time to a degree that is probably several times that of mortals, right?

Thousands of years ago.
She looked at the night sky outside the car window and thought to herself.

In 579 AD, the first discussion on Taoism between immortals and Buddhas since the Wei and Jin Dynasties was held on the border of the Southern Chen Dynasty.

Besides the various sects of immortals, Buddhism was another major influence in the Peach Blossom Spring. Since Emperor Wu of Liang abandoned Taoism and embraced Buddhism in 504 AD, the south has become a fertile ground for Buddhism, and dedicating oneself to Buddhist temples became a common practice for successive Southern Dynasty emperors.

Driven by Buddhism, the emperors of the Southern Dynasties generously spent their wealth on religious ceremonies and the construction of temples and pagodas, leading to an extraordinary flourishing of Buddhism. As later poet Li Mu put it, "Four hundred and eighty temples of the Southern Dynasties, how many towers and pavilions shrouded in mist and rain." Even the celestial sects of the Peach Blossom Spring were forced to migrate north, a testament to the prosperity of the region.

It is precisely because of this that the Kinmen Temple, which serves as the venue for discussions, was built to be particularly magnificent, on par with the imperial palace. The thirteen eminent monks who came to discuss the Dao from the Kinmen Temple were all dressed in colorful robes, covered in dazzling light. In comparison, the Jiuli people representing the immortal gate on the other side were as simple as common people.

After the formal greetings, the two groups took their seats on either side of the temple. Everyone wore a smile, but beneath each smile lay a knife.

"I heard that the Jiuli Immortal Alliance recently defeated over a hundred of Taohuayuan's forces and seized the area east of the Qinling Mountains. Their bravery is truly admirable to us at Jinmen Temple."

The host in the lead, named Huihai, spoke eloquently, and every word he said sounded like heroes admiring each other. He never mentioned that the Buddhist sect in the Southern Dynasties was also under the jurisdiction of Taohuayuan.

"But have you ever considered, everyone in the Immortal Alliance, that this world is easy to gain but also easy to lose? If you lose your benevolence, righteousness, and righteousness, even if you prosper for a while, you will eventually suffer the consequences of karma."

The Jiuli Sect Leader at the table's brows jumped: "Master, what do you mean by this?"

"To conquer Lingdong, you have slaughtered countless enemies along the way, committing countless sins. You even instructed the Great Zhou Emperor to persecute Buddhism within the borders of the country, destroying our temples and statues, and killing our novice monks. With such brutal and tyrannical means, even if you can pacify one region, how long can you maintain it?"

Abbot Huihai chanted the Buddha's name: "Our Buddha is compassionate, saving the world with kindness. We have come here to ask the Jiuli Immortal Alliance to lay down their butcher knives and sever their hatred. Only then can the world and the people's hearts be at peace."

With a bang, an elder in red clothes slammed the table and stood up.

"What nonsense!" the elder roared. "The Peach Blossom Spring has plagued the world for a hundred years, killing countless lives. Tens of thousands of people in our sect alone have been implicated, and now you're here to turn the tables? How can such a dignified Buddhist sect be so hypocritical?"

The voice was suddenly cut off, and a dazzling light lit up in front of his eyes, reflecting his suddenly stiff expression.

Abbot Huihai stepped forward, a golden light surging around him, transforming into a dazzling golden figure in a matter of seconds. Enveloped by the halo, everyone's vision blurred, and they felt as if the figure before them had transformed into a giant, Buddha-like shadow, creating the illusion of being looked down upon. "Golden Body of Faith!" Several of the more advanced Jiuli members, upon recognizing the true nature of the anomaly, their expressions suddenly changed.

Although most of the immortal sects in the Central Plains are also worshipped by mortals, they are merely practicing Taoism and have not formed a unified belief.

Originally, they thought Buddhism was in a similar situation, merely teaching and preaching within a small circle. But now that this abbot had possessed a golden body, it proved that in the southern regions, and even outside the Central Plains, Buddhism had reached the realm of faith, rising from a sect to a religious order!
Those who gain faith are the Great Dao, and the highest existence within this is the Way of Heaven. From this perspective, the Buddhist realm is indeed superior to the immortal sects of the Central Plains. No wonder it has been able to control the southern region for hundreds of years.

Under the shining golden halo, the red-robed elder's face suddenly became dull, with golden light flickering in his eyes. Endless Sanskrit sounds poured into his soul, like running water washing away all his thoughts and desires. Until the golden body's light faded, he woke up as if from a dream, slumped down at the table and gasped for breath.

Witnessing this scene, the faces of the Jiuli people turned pale. This host spoke of compassion and kindness, but he directly showed his golden statue of faith in front of everyone, which was tantamount to a demonstration.

Some people began to secretly put their hands on their weapons, but no one dared to take the first step.

After the gods of ancient times, there has been no faith in the Central Plains for thousands of years. No one knows what level the Buddhists have reached with the blessing of faith, so they have to be extremely vigilant.

As if noticing the changes in the crowd, Host Huihai smiled slightly and continued speaking.

"Of course, I know that most of the Jiuli people understand the greater good, but they are forced by circumstances to use extreme measures and tolerate extreme people. Today, the world will be settled, and the sins of the past can be forgiven."

As he spoke, he turned his gaze to look at the man in black robe sitting at the far corner of the seat.

"Donor Zhou Wuqing, what do you think?"

With just one sentence, the atmosphere on the field suddenly fell to the bottom.

Now many important figures of Jiuli were present, but the host did not look at the clan leader or speak to the elders, but instead pointed to Zhou Wuqing, who was a guest official. It was obvious that he had come prepared.

"I heard that the donor is a guest official of Jiuli, and has killed countless lives over the years, committing a serious crime that is condemned by the world."

Abbot Huihai clasped his hands together and sighed softly, "The sea of ​​suffering is boundless; turning back is the shore. If donor Zhou is willing to repent and reflect on his sins here, the Buddha will guide you and help you escape from your karma. Thus, the grudge between the Jiuli and our Buddhist sect can be resolved. From now on, the immortal sect will reside in the north, and the Buddhist sect in the south, sharing the Central Plains. Isn't that perfect?"

The words spread across the field, and everyone in Jiuli realized what he meant, and immediately looked over there at Zhou Wuqing.

Over a decade after joining the sect, Zhou Wuqing's reputation within Jiuli has been polarized. Supporters believe that he is brave and skilled in fighting, with outstanding achievements, and is a hero who can turn the tide; opponents believe that he is arrogant, tyrannical and bloodthirsty, and that staying in the sect will only become a disaster in the future.

For years, the two factions had been arguing endlessly, sometimes even reaching the Elders' Hall. But in this situation, everyone was unanimously worried.

This is like shooting the bird that sticks its head out. Using the guest official as a target is to stabilize the relationship between the two sides. It is also a way out for Jiuli. If they take this step, it will be exactly what the Buddhist sect wants. If they don't, there will be a fight.

"When will the cycle of revenge end? If you can't let go of past karma, you can't escape the mortal world and will end up trapped in the cycle of reincarnation. What's the point of this?"

Huihai continued to counsel, his voice as if it could scare the soul: "In my opinion, Mr. Zhou, it would be better for you to cut off your greed, anger, and ignorance, forgive all living beings, and forgive the past. From now on, you will cut off all hatred and resentment. This will benefit both you and others."

With a loud bang, the person who stood up this time was the Jiuli Sect Master who was sitting in the main seat. He raised one hand, his fingertips slightly curved, a gesture to command everyone to take action.

He had only done half of his action when Zhou Wuqing on the other side spoke first.

"The host is saying that no matter what past disputes there were, we should let go of hatred, cut off the cause and effect, and forgive everything?"

"That's right." The host smiled in enlightenment. "Donor Zhou is so sensible. Very good. Then we will..."

A powerful force hit his chest, shaking the golden body of the host violently. He was knocked dozens of steps away. His body hit the Buddhist temple with a loud bang, and the whole earth shook.

“Bold!!!”

As everyone watched in astonishment, the monks slammed their tables and stood up, shouting angrily. Before them, Zhou Wuqing remained standing, his robes fluttering in the strong wind.

"According to the abbot's instructions," he pointed toward the dusty Buddhist temple over there, "Now, I beg all Buddhists to forgive me."

The Buddha's light suddenly became bright, and the thirteen Buddhas in front of the seats all stood up. The momentum of the angry Vajra blew towards them. Behind them, all the people of the Jiuli Sect stood up suddenly. Various weapons appeared in the blink of an eye, and the flashing spiritual light formed a continuous piece.

"Zhou Wuqing, you little bastard, accept your sin and die!"

Sanskrit sounds containing murderous intent sounded instantly, and golden lotuses bloomed, covering the sky and the sun. In a few blinks of an eye, a giant swastika emerged from the ground, and the killing array containing the power of Buddha was completed in an instant.

The next moment, everything was engulfed in the sudden flames.

"It seems that you are not well-versed in the art and are unable to appreciate the profound mysteries of Buddhism."

Zhou Wuqing shook his head, raised his hand, and the long sword with extended spiritual patterns was already in his hand.

"In that case, I will end this cause and effect for you!"

In the spring of 579 AD, the Buddhist-Taoist debate broke out. The guest official Zhou Wuqing killed thirteen people on the debate platform and burned down the Jinmen Temple. The Buddha in the temple came to rescue, but was killed by the Jiuli people.

[A few years later, the Immortal Alliance took control of the south. Over the course of ten years, they launched 267 battles, annihilating over 180 remaining sects in the Peach Blossom Spring. No Buddhist temples remained within a thousand miles.]

In 581 AD, the clan received a memorial from the Zhou Dynasty, stating that the young Emperor Yuwen Chan had ascended to the throne, causing unrest within the court. After deliberation in the Hall of Elders, the elders appointed Duke Yang Jian of Sui to replace him as the Mortal Emperor.

In 588 AD, Emperor Yang Jian ordered his son Yang Guang to lead his army south. The next year, he captured Jiankang, and the Chen Dynasty was destroyed.

[From then on, the north and south of the Central Plains were unified again, all the immortal gates in the territory belonged to the Immortal Alliance, and only one country remained in the mortal world.]

[National name: Sui]

(End of this chapter)