Xuanxia

Chapter 698: Sending Souls
The bodies of those soldiers who died in the battle have been buried one after another from last night to this morning.

Today's celebration is not only to send off the souls of these warriors, but also to let them see that after they paid with their blood and lives, their relatives, friends, and descendants in the tribe will live a good life, and their efforts have not been in vain.

"The Miao people believe that death is not the end, but another form of beginning."

Kua Ye picked up the wine glass beside him and said leisurely, "But I don't believe in these things. Death is death, and it is a sad thing. I don't care what they think. I came here today to send them off for the last time... Hey, what are you doing?"

When he was about to bring the glass to his lips, it was snatched away by someone.

When he turned around, it was his younger brother Jing Yun.

"Brother, you can't drink anymore."

He said helplessly: "You are still injured."

"You are not good enough!" Kua Ye glared at him. "This is medicinal wine, it is for healing! Otherwise, with so many wounded people here today, why don't you drink?"

After saying that, he took back the wine glass and said, "Go, bring me two more jars."

Jing Yun responded sullenly and turned away.

"Is this a healing wine?"

Fu Qingzhou brought the wine glass to his nose and sniffed it: "No, this is just ordinary fruit wine. Don't you feel that it has any healing effect after drinking it?"

"Lie to him."

Kua Ye smiled and said, "As an elder brother, I can't treat my younger brother."

Fu Qingzhou burst out laughing.

After the two of them clinked glasses of wine, Kuaye suddenly asked, "What do you think of my brother?"

"He's a little dull and straightforward." Fu Qingzhou said truthfully, "But there's one thing - he and his two companions have made great contributions, but there's no pride on his face. Either he's more mature than his peers, or he's not interested in most things in this world. He's only doing these things because his companions pushed him to do them."

"He's not mature at all."

Kua Ye sighed, "You are absolutely right. He has been in this gloomy state since he became an orphan. Two years ago, he fell in love with that little girl Bu Wei. Together with Yichun, the three of them hang out together every day, and the little girl always tells him what to do."

"but……"

"But." Fu Qingzhou took over his words and said leisurely: "That little girl Bu Wei likes you."

“Oh, talking about this.” Kua Ye grinned, “Women will only slow down my sword-drawing speed. I’m not interested in them. But Ayun is too sensitive. After he sensed Bu Wei’s mood, he became even more silent. Now he’s almost like a puppy that can only bark after others.”

At this time, Fu Qingzhou saw Jing Yun coming over with two jars of wine, so he winked at Kua Ye and said with a smile, "So what are you going to do with your brother?"

Kua Ye understood, and without even turning his head, he said casually, "How about I follow you?"

Jing Yun, who came behind him, was stunned and stopped.

"Follow me?" Fu Qingzhou raised his head and looked at Jing Yun: "Are you willing?"

Kwaye "then realized" that his brother was standing behind him and turned around to call out.

Jing Yun sat down sullenly, put down the wine jar, and said softly, "I will do whatever Big Brother arranges."

Kwaye shook his head helplessly.

Fu Qingzhou blinked and said, "Jing Yun, you, Bu Wei, and Yichun have made great contributions this time. I really want to bring you into Mingjian Pavilion. As you know, Mingjian Pavilion is going to set up a new department and is eager to recruit talents..."

The name of Minglisi is useful.

Hearing this, Jing Yun's eyes suddenly lit up.

Kua Ye pretended not to see it and asked leisurely, "I have heard that they are going to set up branches in various places, right? Then won't they still be working near Southern Xinjiang?"

"Not so fast."

Fu Qingzhou smiled and said, "I have suggested to the emperor that the first batch of talents should go to Beijing to unify the study of Dayan Law. The relevant affairs of the Mingli Division also need to be trained and put into work. This period can be as short as a few months or as long as more than a year. Once we have the first batch of talents who can take charge of their own affairs, we will then really start to expand recruitment and set up branch offices."

Jing Yun's eyes lit up even more. Fu Qingzhou understood this kind of young man's mentality very well.

If you like a girl, of course you want to study and work with her, and spend every day with her...it would be best if we were in a foreign country so that we can rely on each other.

"so be it."

Quaye smiled and said, "You arrange it."

After that, he looked at his brother and said, "Why don't you speak? Don't you want to?"

"willing!"

Jing Yun quickly responded, stood up and bowed to Fu Qingzhou: "Thank you, Master Fu!"

"Studying hard and doing things well in the future is more important than anything else."

Fu Qingzhou smiled slightly and looked aside: "There are so many people dressed in exaggerated clothes... Is the funeral ceremony about to begin?"

Kuaye also looked over and exclaimed, "Yes, it's the priests. Ayun, help me over."

On that side, a group of priests dressed in traditional Miao priest costumes had lined up in the center of the square.

It was almost dusk, and the silver ornaments on their heads and necks reflected the setting sun and sparkled like gold. Each of them held a copper bell in one hand and a colorful silk in the other, and their faces were painted with colorful patterns.

The crowd gradually quieted down, put down the food and wine glasses in their hands, and the young men and women who were singing and dancing also stopped, and all gradually gathered together.

Silently, the priests began to build a "bridge" with the colorful silk in their hands.

There were many tall wooden frames around the big bonfire before, and Fu Qingzhou didn’t know what they were used for. But now he understands that they are also part of the ceremony.

The colorful silks were thrown onto the wooden frames. They overlapped and spread out, spanning between the frames, like bridges leading to all directions.

"Soul Bridge."

At some point, Hua Xiaolan came back and stood beside Fu Qingzhou and Kua Ye, explaining softly, "The spirits of the deceased will walk along the bridge to a new reincarnation."

During the process of building the bridge, the priests kept shaking the copper bells in their hands and lit bunches of incense.

According to Hua Xiaolan, the copper bells are used to ward off evil and protect the spirits of the deceased from evil; the smoke from the incense is used to guide the way for the deceased.

As the bridge was about to be completed, some young Miao people walked through the crowd, holding pots of fresh flower petals and rice. People reached out and grabbed a handful and threw them into the big bonfire.

This time Hua Xiaolan did not explain. She just grabbed a handful and threw it into the fire.

Kua Ye and Jing Yun did the same.

Of course Fu Qingzhou followed the local customs and grabbed a handful and threw it into the fire.

The fire became more and more prosperous, and the priests began to sing a melodious and desolate ballad. The melody was long and gentle. Even though Fu Qingzhou could not understand the content at all, it evoked a sense of sadness.

But this desolation did not last long. Soon, the song began to become melodious and passionate, the whole rhythm became much more cheerful, and smiles began to appear on the faces of the Miao people.

“Those flowers and rice will become boats to help the dead cross the bridge.”

Only then did Hua Xiaolan smile and say, "Now they have said goodbye to their relatives in this life, bid farewell to the past, and are heading for a new reincarnation and a new life."

Fu Qingzhou suddenly realized.

However, he also heard Kwa Ye whispering nearby.

"Ada, Dashu, Xiaoshan, Mingxiu, Brother Fen..."

Kuaye whispered a lot of names, and it sounded like there were both men and women among them. Unlike the others who were smiling, his expression was quite gloomy and sad.

When he finished reading, he heaved a sigh of relief and said softly, "Have a pleasant journey."

(End of this chapter)