Unsterblichkeit, Unsterblichkeit

Kapitel 2

It gets its name from the fact that it uses seven kinds of stones to make weapons: snowflake, rainbow silkworm, green jade, nine-scale, steel porcelain, sea light, and plain silk.

Three years ago, the former sect leader passed away, passing the position to his granddaughter, Ye Shuangjing.

Because the Seven Stones Sect only teaches martial arts, with very few disciples practicing martial arts, the crowd couldn't help but be tempted when they saw that the number one weapon-forging sect in the martial arts world had been taken over by a young woman whose martial arts had been crippled. They wanted to climb the mountain and seize a few peerless weapons. Unexpectedly, before they even caught a glimpse of the gate, Ning Du and An Xing, the only eighteen disciples of the Seven Stones Sect who practiced martial arts, were knocked off the mountain with a single palm strike.

Among those who wanted to launch a sneak attack on the Seven Stones Sect, there were several influential figures. After the news spread throughout the martial arts world, no one dared to harbor any further covetous thoughts. Moreover, even if someone wanted to take advantage of the Seven Stones Sect, the thought of the Chongchonglou and Ningshuang Sect, who were backing it, would force anyone to slow down.

"Wow...this place is so beautiful..." Green Tea exclaimed, looking around with wide eyes. "Don't you think so, Master?"

"Green grass, blue water, spring red petals fall, pine trees stand tall in the sun, and strange rocks in deep valleys are searched for." The man in the green robe next to him said calmly, looking at the bamboo forests, flowers, clear waters, mirror-like lakes, strange pines and peaks, and the surrounding mist, and smiled slightly: "It is said that the location of the Seven Stones Sect is one of the ten wonders of the martial arts world, and it is indeed well-deserved."

Hearing his master say this, the attendant beside him became a little disgruntled, pouting slightly: "Ah, but compared to our family, it's still..."

"Green Tea." The man in the blue robe calmly stopped him: "Be careful what you say."

The attendant stuck out his tongue and dared not comment further. He followed the servant leading the way to the hall where guests were received. The servants served tea and snacks and then quietly withdrew.

The two looked around and saw that although the furnishings were simple and plain, they exuded a grand and majestic atmosphere because of their simplicity and clarity.

The two rows of tables and chairs in the hall were all made of dark sandalwood, without any openwork carvings or antique vases. The floor was made of white jade tiles carved with blue and green leaf patterns, as clear as a mirror. There were no decorations on the walls, except for a horizontal plaque above the main seat, with characters written in strong and elegant strokes, which read: "韬戈偃武" (Tao Ge Yan Wu).

Seeing this, Lvming almost burst out laughing, but was stopped by her host's gaze, and then lowered her head to slowly savor her tea.

At this moment, the man in the blue robe suddenly stood up, his expression calm and composed. He waited quietly, and sure enough, after a short while, hurried footsteps approached from the doorway. Just as he was about to turn around and bow, he heard...

bump!

"Aaaaaah... My head!!" Shuang Jing groaned, clutching her head, in front of the door.

She was so excited that she completely ignored the door in front of her and jumped and ran headfirst into it.

The two attendants behind her hurriedly and skillfully took out ice handkerchiefs to rub and warm her hands. It took them a while to help their sect leader up before they blushed and stood behind her again.

Xuan Sheng stood there, stunned, and saw the man raise his head in a daze.

With intelligent eyes and delicate features, the woman was as pure and clear as the misty rain behind her. Even with a swollen forehead and furrowed brows, her eyes seemed to be smiling. He realized his daze and unconsciously lowered his head, only to find her rushing towards him.

"Why did you only come now?!" Shuangjing crashed into Xuansheng's arms, clutching his clothes tightly with both hands. She wanted to say something, but a sob escaped her lips. She bit her lower lip, trying hard not to cry out, but tears still fell in a steady stream, dripping onto Xuansheng's clothes.

"...?" The man, who was known for his cold indifference, suddenly froze on the spot. He had no idea how to react to the woman who was wiping her tears and snot all over his body. His once stern face turned into a stunned and dumbfounded expression. But after waiting for a long time and seeing that she did not want to let go, he could only stand there stiffly, at a loss.

Instead of the expected embrace and whispered words, Shuangjing looked up in confusion and met those familiar, deep eyes. She was mesmerized and stared at them for a long while before finally saying, "Xuansheng, why aren't you saying anything?"

"..." What should I say?

Xuan Sheng pursed his lips. Seeing that everyone in the room was looking at him, he gently pushed away the woman in his arms, composed himself, lowered his head, and let his long hair flow down his sides like a black waterfall. His voice was noble and respectful: "I am Xuan Sheng, and I request an audience with the sect leader of the Seven Stones Sect."

Upon hearing this, the hall fell into a deathly silence.

Shuangjing froze on the spot, staring blankly at him, snot and tears still streaming down her face.

Ning Du was the first to react. With a sharp cry, she lightly touched the ground with her toes and unleashed a furious palm strike straight at Xuan Sheng's chest. Xuan Sheng was taken aback and immediately dodged slightly, twisting left and right to avoid two or three of her blows. However, Ning Du was enraged, and her attacks were fierce and ruthless. Xuan Sheng, who wanted to be accommodating in all situations, had no choice but to occasionally retaliate to avoid being injured.

"What are you doing?!" Green Tea was both angry and shocked. She quickly drew her sword and tried to rush forward to protect her master, but before she could make a move, there was a "clang!" sound. One of Ning Du's earrings hit the hilt of his sword, making his hand tremble. He almost dropped the weapon and stabbed himself in the foot. Then he heard a crisp, sharp sound. Xuan Sheng flicked the Buddhist beads on his hand with two fingers to open the sword, while his other hand quickly grabbed Ning Du's shoulder.

"Stop!" An Xing shouted in time. She glanced quickly at the pale-faced sect leader beside her, her usually gentle and charming smile turning cold and serious, her previous innocent demeanor gone: "Ning Du, step back!"

"Hmph!" Ning Du glared at him fiercely, clenched her fists to suppress her anger, bit her lower lip and walked to Shuang Jing's side, looking at Xuan Sheng with a face full of rage.

"Please excuse my impetuousness, young hero." An Xing stepped forward and bowed, saying, "My younger sister is impulsive and reckless, please don't take offense."

"I wouldn't dare." Xuan Sheng raised an eyebrow slightly and said calmly, "The Seven Stones Sect's way of treating guests is truly unique." Although his words were sarcastic, they couldn't help but carry a tone of surprise.

He also encountered a similar strange situation at the Frost Condensation Sect. In the main hall there, as soon as he explained his purpose, the Frost Condensation Sect Master was astonished, and his wife immediately rushed out from behind the screen, scolded him severely, and finally sighed and said, "If you want to save people, bring me the Half-Moon Silk Tassel from the Seven Stones Sect Master. You can use any rare herbs and elixirs from the Frost Condensation Sect."

He knew the rules of the Frost Condensation Sect: anyone seeking medical help had to meet any request from the sect leader before anyone would treat them. However, despite rushing over under the stars and moon, and having anticipated that the sect leader of the Seven Stones Sect would be very difficult to deal with, he never expected such a scene.

"Are you perhaps the Second Young Master of Half Moon City, Young Hero Xuan Sheng?" An Xing asked, frowning as he saw the young man's puzzled expression.

“It is indeed I,” Xuan Sheng replied, his eyes narrowing and his brows furrowing.

"Then...you...could it be...this is your first time at the Seven Stones Sect?" Ning Du, who was standing to the side, finally realized something was wrong and asked in astonishment with wide eyes, "You don't know...who is our...our sect leader?"

"Isn't that obvious?" The man in the blue robe glanced at her, but still answered politely, "Yes. May I ask if the sect leader would be so kind as to receive me?"

"If I may be so bold as to ask, why has the young master come to ask the sect leader for the Half-Moon Silk Ribbon?" An Xing felt Shuang Jing's hands gripping his wrist tightly, so he tried to calm himself down and asked.

Xuan Sheng was taken aback, and a faint worry appeared on his originally stern and indifferent face: "I went to Ning Shuang Sect to seek medical treatment, and the sect leader requested that your sect leader possess the Half-Moon Luo Ying..."

"And why did you go to Ning Shuang Sect?!" Shuang Jing blurted out, her eyes fixed on every expression on Xuan Sheng's face.

The man in the blue robe turned his eyes slightly, looked at her for a moment, then politely lowered them and said calmly:

"My fiancée is seriously ill, therefore I seek medical help from Ning Shuang Sect."

Before he could finish speaking, a low groan was heard. Xuan Sheng looked up and saw the pale-faced woman in the middle suddenly spit out a puff of blood, as if a bright red rose had bloomed in the air, leaving a large crimson stain on her chest.

"Sect Leader!" Ning Du and An Xing called out in unison, quickly supporting her on either side. The latter hurriedly took out medicine to give it to her, but she waved it away.

"I'm fine," Shuangjing said, panting. The two attendants exchanged a glance, then respectfully stepped back and stood quietly with their hands at their sides.

"Are you the sect leader of the Seven Stones Sect?" Xuan Sheng was stunned. He never expected that the sect leader would be this woman who had run into his arms and was crying her eyes out.

"You come to the Seven Stones Sect, yet you don't even know who the sect leader is? How did you manage to get by?!" Ning Du couldn't help but interject again.

"Ningdu!" Anxing scolded his sister, who muttered something and lowered her head unwillingly.

"I am new to the martial world and have never heard of the sect leader's name. Please forgive my rudeness." Xuan Sheng was indeed a little ashamed by Ning Du's words, and he also had more respect for the seemingly frail woman in front of him. He clasped his hands and said earnestly.

"...First foray into the martial world...?" Shuang Jing murmured, her unfocused eyes staring at Xuan Sheng's incredibly familiar face. His eyebrows were still the same as in her dreams, his features were still the same as in her memories, and even his eyes were as deep and calm as before. However, she could no longer find the sense of security and comfort that she once felt.

"First foray into the martial world...?" She suddenly burst out laughing: "First foray into the martial world... Hahahaha..." Shuangjing couldn't help but throw her head back and laugh: "Hahaha... You actually said... First foray into the martial world...? Hahaha... That's hilarious..." She laughed and then coughed up blood, covering her mouth and continuing to cough, but she still couldn't stop laughing: "First foray into the martial world... Ah, if Cheshui and Tiansha heard this, they would laugh themselves to death... Hahahaha..." She was still laughing when suddenly tears fell.

Xuan Sheng looked at her in confusion. The combination of her tears and smile was extremely jarring. The girl's face was very pale. If she were standing in the misty rain outside, she would probably disappear into the ethereal fog.

"And what about you?" Shuangjing turned to the dumbfounded Lvming beside her, and smiled sadly: "Are you also a novice in the martial world?"

"Uh? Uh? What?" Green Tea didn't expect her to ask her, and stammered for a moment, but Shuang Jing had already turned her head away.

"I can have my half-moon tassel," she smiled, "but you have to fetch something for me first."

"What?" Xuan Sheng looked up at her, but forgot to even say a polite word.

Shuangjing's gaze drifted to the window, as if she had traversed countless mountains and rivers, passed through this misty rain, and stood once again on a sunny, green lawn:

"The Heart-Locking Bronze Mirror of the Tower Master".

I remember, before the rainy days, before the serious injuries and scars, before the sadness and grief, the four of us escaped from Jianrou Manor. We ran for a long time before we finally lay down on the lakeside, panting.

"Ah...so tired...it's been so long since I've run for so long..." Che Shui said breathlessly, lying on the ground, completely exhausted.

"Ah, the number one thief's manor in the world... truly lives up to its reputation..." Shuang Jing said breathlessly, but couldn't contain herself and immediately took out the things they had stolen, which turned out to be a mirror and a jade pendant.

"Are you kidding me?!" she began to yell. "After three days of searching, all the treasures of Jianrou Manor are these two pieces of junk?!"

"—They must be someone important, right?" Tian Sha chimed in curiously. "—Or else…"

"Otherwise, they wouldn't have sent so many people to chase after us?" Che Shui replied with a smile, getting up as she spoke.

"What?" Shuangjing looked at him in confusion, and before she could react, she felt herself being lifted up.

"We've caught up, let's go!" Xuan Sheng said calmly, hoisting Shuang Jing onto his shoulder. In a few leaps, he was already standing far away.

Tian Sha's voice drifted in on the wind: "Hey!! Why don't we just give it back to them? It's too much trouble, being chased the whole way!"

"How could you?" Che Shui, standing not far away, laughed heartily. "This is a testament to our early days in the martial world! It will be incredibly valuable in a few years!"

In the past, we walked hand in hand across the world, and the memories of those happy times are as vivid as a dream of visiting Yangzhou.

Looking back, whose youth and whose fleeting years have fallen to the ground and shattered in the wind?

Who promised to watch the gentle flow of time together, and who stands at the door, gazing at the ends of the earth, waiting in vain?

Shuangjing felt pain and grievance all over her body. Before she fainted, she saw Xuansheng's face full of confusion and doubt.

Seven Stone Gate - How could I have broken my promise?

The Five Bend Mountain is high and shrouded in deep clouds, and the long-lasting mist and rain darken the flat forest.

As evening fell, the rain continued to drizzle.

The crisp, cool air drifted in the still-bright twilight, and the long shadows of bamboo leaves and flowers stretched across the wall outside the window.

I don't know when this rain will stop.

Shuangjing stared blankly at the ceiling, feeling a stinging pain in her dry eyes. Her nose tightened, but not a single tear fell.

So be it. Over the past few years, she has already vented all her emotions—whether she could cry, sigh, lament, or be angry. Now that she can neither cry nor make a scene, she doesn't know what to do.

Memories slowly surfaced in my mind, then receded. Surfaced, then receded.

Shuangjing frowned, then turned over and hugged the blanket tightly, wrapping herself up.

The blankets were devoid of sunlight and warmth; even after covering myself for a while, I could still feel the cold, damp air creeping up on me. My limbs were completely cold, icy to the bone.

Very light footsteps came from outside the door, and the faint glow of candlelight peeked in. Hearing the almost silent breathing outside, Shuangjing gave a bitter smile and buried her head between the quilt and pillow.

She had not lost her extremely high alertness, vision, and hearing, but due to her frail health and illness, these strengths were useless.

Once the sea dragon, capable of summoning clouds and rain, loses its scales and sharp teeth, it can no longer roam freely in the vast and boundless world.

If I had known this would happen, I would have preferred to have died.

Squeak—

The door was opened gently, and Shuangjing closed her eyes. She heard the person carefully put down what he was holding, reach out and place his hand on her wrist to take her pulse. After a while, he suppressed a barely audible sigh and quietly withdrew.

"How is the sect leader?" Turning around, I saw Ningdu's anxious face, as if he was about to cry at any moment.

"It's alright, her pulse is stable. She probably fainted because she was stimulated and tired." An Xing pushed her outside and whispered, "

He's just sleeping peacefully now. Has Young Hero Xuansheng been settled in yet?

"That guy...!" Hearing his name, Ningdu couldn't help but feel angry. He glanced at Shuangjing's room with resentment and said, "He's already on his way to Chongchonglou."

"What!?" An Xing exclaimed, hurriedly pulling her away from the door of the sect leader's inner room. "She's already gone?! Will she come back?"

"Of course, he's going to bring that mirror back, isn't he?" Ning said irritably. Looking at her sister's worried face, she paused for a moment before letting out a reluctant snort: "Don't worry, I've already told Brother Feng and Sister De to protect him along the way."

An Xing breathed a slight sigh of relief.

Because it is a gate for forging weapons, the Seven Stones Gate only has eighteen disciples who know martial arts; the rest are just servants and maids.

Although they are few in number, their skills are still among the best in the martial arts world. Take Anxing and Ningdu for example, if they were to fight seriously, a large number of people would be defeated by them.