The moon shines brightly over the empty mountains, and flowers fill the sky

Chapter 59

I'm so afraid of dying alone in this place, so afraid that the last thing I see before I die is your departing back, so afraid that everything I've held onto, believed in, and hoped for will all vanish in vain.

Thankfully, we all persevered.

It's alright. It's alright.

Xuan Sheng hugged Shuang Jing, who was crying like a wronged child, and felt a pang of sadness himself.

This journey has been long, but we've finally made it here side by side.

"It's time to go," someone suddenly said.

The two looked up and saw Long Ye standing with her hands at her sides, her eyes calmly watching them. Behind her, the swirling mist gradually dissipated, revealing a stone bridge covered with withered grass and vines, leading to a huge and majestic mountain. They remembered that when they had retrieved the Youying Grass, Che Shui and Mei Hua had told them that there was a mysterious place hidden in this valley. They had tried to explore it, but Long Ye had pinned them to the spot, making it impossible for them to move.

They glanced at each other and realized that this long adventure was finally coming to an end.

Both of them smiled, and Shuangjing took Xuansheng's hand: "Let's go."

“I heard from Che Shui that this bridge itself is a bit strange, and there are obviously mechanisms inside.” Xuan Sheng escorted the Seven Stones Sect Master to the side of the stone bridge and said, looking around warily.

“Hmm, look…” Shuangjing pointed to the stone bridge and said, “This width is just right for two people to walk side by side. It must have been used by the two heirs of Wanying Fortress—the master of Chongchonglou and the master of Qishimen. The location of Qianxialou’s treasure should be in that deep mountain. And this bridge… um…” She looked down and pondered. She saw some Youying grass growing in the broken walls of the bridge. The bridge surface was made of seven rows of lattice stones, covered with moss and withered branches, so it was impossible to see if there were any patterns. She was puzzled and turned to the white-haired girl next to her with some dissatisfaction, calling out, “Hey, Senior Longye, give me some instructions!”

Upon hearing this, Long glanced at her indifferently, said nothing, simply tied up his long hair, and looked away.

"Ugh! Really...!" Seeing that she completely ignored them, Shuangjing pouted, "How can you be so stingy? We finally made it to..." Before she could finish speaking, a sudden gust of wind blew, making her almost lose her footing. Fortunately, Xuansheng was there to support her so she didn't fall.

A moment later, when the whistling wind finally stopped, Shuangjing looked up and saw that all the withered grass and vines on the bridge had been swept away, except for the flowers and plants growing in the crevices, which were still swaying in the wind.

"Ah..." Shuang Jing stared intently, surprised: "So...so that's how it is!"

The bridge surface was smooth and flawless, except for seven long red lines etched on it, faded with time. Some flowers and plants bloomed intermittently in different places, growing haphazardly in clumps. On the bridge surface were also slightly protruding square stones.

“I understand…” Shuangjing smiled unconsciously and immediately walked forward.

"Wait!" Xuan Sheng hurriedly grabbed her sleeve, his face showing some worry. "Are we just going to let this go like this? Wouldn't it be better to be more careful?"

The Seven Stones Sect Master chuckled, "Actually, there shouldn't be any more traps here. We just need two keys to open the treasure chest..." She turned to look behind her, "Well, Xuan Sheng, we've gone through so much trouble to get here. Although we've only encountered opponents to defeat one by one, these checkpoints must have been much harder to overcome hundreds of years ago. If the Tower of Layers was built according to this location, then this final spot should be where we meet the Tower Master. There shouldn't be any danger there."

"You mean, this is the end?"

“Yes. This bridge is probably a test to see if the person coming is the leader of the Seven Stones Sect or the Chongchong Tower.” She took Xuan Sheng’s hand and said, “Come, follow me. I will tell you where to step. Be careful and don’t step on the wrong step.” She then turned to Long Ye and said, “Please wait here, senior. After we cross, you can come over slowly.”

Upon hearing this, Long nodded and calmly sat down where he was, staring at the two of them with unfocused eyes.

"I'll go first." Shuang Jing's eyes and expression gradually became serious and solemn. She stretched out her body, then lightly leaped and landed steadily on a rock. Seeing that nothing had changed, she turned back to the Second City Lord of Half Moon City and shouted, "Xuan Sheng, jump over here!" She pointed to a rock in front of her and said, "It's the one with three blades of grass on the left!"

Xuan Sheng frowned slightly, but still did as she instructed, remaining steadily on the rock.

"My turn!" Shuangjing said, then jumped over him and landed on another rock. He looked around again, finally pointing to the left and saying to Xuansheng, "Go over there!"

The second city lord of Half Moon City raised an eyebrow slightly, but still did as she instructed. When they had crossed about a quarter of the bridge, he finally couldn't help but ask, "Shuang Jing, how did you know... how to get here?"

“Ah…because the moon is full over the empty mountains and flowers fill the sky.” The Seven Stones Sect Master answered while jumping up.

Oh, so you got inspiration because the scenery was so beautiful? = = Xuan Sheng looked at her with a face full of black lines: "What do you mean?"

“This bridge was drawn according to the shape of a musical instrument string!” Shuangjing pointed to the rocks in the distance and told him to jump over, saying casually.

"?" Xuan Sheng looked over and suddenly realized.

"Moonlight Over the Empty Mountains" and "Flowers Fill the Sky" are pieces for flute and zither, jointly written by the ancestors of Shuangjing and Cheshui, or perhaps they are scores passed down from even earlier times. The square that Shuangjing landed on represents the parts that should be plucked and strummed in the zither piece "Moonlight Over the Empty Mountains." Presumably, there must be a test ahead regarding "Flowers Fill the Sky."

Xuan Sheng couldn't help but admire it. He suddenly remembered what Shuang Jing had said about the two lines of poetry engraved in the bathroom of the Seven Stones Sect Master, which also subtly hinted at the heavy responsibility on the sect leader's shoulders. He felt that Wan Yingbao had really put a lot of thought into it.

In no time, they had crossed the bridge and arrived at the entrance to the middle mountain.

Looking up, they saw towering mountain peaks reaching into the sky, their summits invisible, with only the swaying shadows of trees visible above. A doorway could be vaguely seen embedded in the mountainside, its outline worn away by time. Above them, a row of recessed circles ran horizontally across the center of the doorway.

“This is…” Xuan Sheng frowned, unable to resist touching the several concave circles in front of him with his hand.

"This should be used, right?" Shuangjing looked around and then noticed a pile of stones in the tall grass. She bent down and picked up a round bead made of a stone that was covered in moss and almost embedded in the ground with some difficulty.

"Let me see..." She took a few steps back, unconsciously humming the flute tune "Flowers Fill the Sky." After thinking for a moment, she stood on tiptoe: "Ah, Xuansheng, I can't reach it... Could you help me put this stone down..."

"Here?" Xuan Sheng chuckled and took the stone ball with one hand, then pushed it forcefully into the recessed space, immediately pulling Shuang Jing back.

"..."

"..."

The two exchanged a glance.

Shuangjing frowned unconsciously: "Nothing was sent..."

boom--

A deep, resonant sound echoed through the mountains, seemingly emanating from the depths of the earth. Birds scattered in alarm, and the entire cliff trembled slightly. Xuan Sheng, protecting Shuang Jing, felt a shower of sand and stones fall upon them. But after a while, all was calm again.

"Ah..." Shuangjing blinked, turned her head to look around, and seeing that nothing had changed, she stepped forward with a smile: "Let's continue!"

Under Shuangjing's instructions, they quickly filled all the stone spheres on the ground. Each time they put one in, the area shook. When they got to the last one, Xuansheng's hand had just left the stone when a strong cloud of dust and sand sprayed out from the crack in the door. The dryness and moldy smell hit them, and they couldn't help but cough and tear up. They didn't care about the continuous rumbling around them. When they looked up again, the stone door in front of them had opened from the middle. One of the stone spheres had been split in two, and inside was pitch black and silent.

"Ah..." Shuangjing couldn't help but exclaim. She looked inside with the light from outside, but could only vaguely make out some light and shadow. The sky behind her was also overcast with dusk, and there was hardly any sunlight.

"Can we go in now?" someone suddenly said beside them. Shuang Jing, who had been intently watching inside, almost jumped off the cliff upon hearing this calm and stern voice. Turning around, she saw that Long Ye had somehow appeared beside them, looking up at the inside. His usually expressionless eyes even held a hint of excitement.

"You scared me to death!" >_< The Seven Stones Sect Master said, clutching her chest in surprise, while Xuan Sheng patted her back reassuringly.

“…” Long remained silent, slowly walking forward. Her hand involuntarily touched the open door, and she murmured, “I can’t believe it’s come to this…” Her fingertips trembled slightly as she touched the marks on the door: “For so many years I’ve wandered here, never imagining I’d be able to step through this door…” She turned to Shuangjing: “Do you know what to do next?”

Only a fool would know! = =

Shuangjing shook her head, tugged at Xuansheng's sleeve, and carefully went inside.

The air was thick and oppressive, with a sweltering and dry feeling washing over her. A sliver of light from outside peeked in, and it took Shuangjing a while to adjust to the light. Suddenly, she remembered something and hurriedly pulled the Lock Heart Bronze Mirror from her sleeve.

“?” Xuan Sheng raised an eyebrow.

"This mirror was given to me by Che Shui, and it's always been in his possession."

"I thought those two items were given to the fierce lady of Eagle Fortress."

"Hehe..." Shuang Jing chuckled, her eyes crinkling into crescents. "I've been playing with these two items for a long time, so making an exact replica isn't difficult. Xi Quan has never seen these tokens before, so naturally she thinks they're real." She paused and added, "Why didn't she ask me to give them to her properly? Otherwise, why would I need to lie to her like this?"

Xuan Sheng chuckled upon hearing this, shook his head, and was about to say something when he suddenly noticed a flash of silver light in the corner of his eye. He immediately tensed up: "Wait!"

"Huh?" Startled, Shuangjing and Long also turned around: "What's wrong?"

“Come on…” Xuan Sheng frowned, holding Shuang Jing’s wrists and gently moving them, focusing intently on the spot where the light had just flickered: “Try turning your hand like this, it seems… it’s right here!” He suddenly stopped, and not only him, but the other two also swallowed a gasp of surprise.

Undefeated Battle: There Will Be Times When the Wind Rises and the Waves Break 4

It turned out that the mirror reflected the light from outside, shooting it straight forward and shining it onto a mirror covered in thick dust but still reflecting a faint light. However, that mirror also reflected light onto a mirror placed in the opposite corner of the wall. This process repeated itself, and the entire cave became slightly brighter. Only then did everyone realize that there were thousands of mirrors inside, reflecting the light from all around, as if it were boundless.

"this……"

Shuangjing and Xuansheng were speechless with astonishment. They looked around and saw that the mountain walls seemed endless, and although the light was abundant, it still couldn't reach the highest point. The walls were covered with carvings, paintings, and inscriptions. The characters appeared as if shrouded in mist and dew, seemingly continuous yet not broken, and the paintings were lifelike and three-dimensional. The layout and structure were magnificent and exquisite, and the brushstrokes were delicate. Although covered in dust, one could still glimpse how lifelike they must have been when they were first carved.

"This is...?" Shuangjing opened her eyes wide and looked around. The murals depicted forests and mountains, winding upwards from the entrance they had come from. Several figures, seemingly martial arts practitioners, were shown practicing in the mountains, chopping wood under trees, or sparring by the lake. The figures' clothing was skillfully drawn, and the flowers, bamboo, and rocks were depicted with refined lines, making the scenery seem almost alive. She placed the bronze mirror she held on a nearby rock to maintain the reflection of the light and couldn't help but approach the murals: "...This is...the grand scene of Qianxia Tower?" Squinting at the figures, she suddenly noticed small characters beside them. Shuangjing leaned closer to the wall, murmuring, "'A smile that could topple a city'... 'Nine miles of dragons soaring'...Are these all martial arts moves?" She looked up and saw several small characters next to each martial artist, and couldn't help but exclaim in admiration, "What a magnificent undertaking!"

“Let’s leave while there’s still light…” Xuan Sheng’s voice came from not far away. He stood in front of another door and said calmly, “It’s going to get dark soon.”

Upon hearing this, Long Ye and Shuang Jing couldn't help but step forward to take a look. They saw that the stone door wasn't as heavy as the outer gate; there was a small indentation at the handle in the middle, as if something was to be placed inside. The Second City Lord of Half Moon City raised his hand and knocked on the door. The sound was clear and resonant, indicating that there was a large space behind the door.

The Seven Stones Sect Master smiled, took out the crescent-shaped jade pendant from his pocket, and gently placed it on the door. It fit perfectly. Xuan Sheng then turned the handle forcefully, and a slightly sharp sound slowly rang out. The door opened with a touch.

A pitch-black tunnel.

There wasn't a single ray of light ahead.

The three of them looked at each other and then closed their eyes at the same time.

All was silent except for the whooshing sound of the wind rushing in through the doorway. The Seven Stones Sect Master raised his hand and felt the wind rushing straight ahead without any change. The airflow was all flowing straight forward, so he knew that this was a path leading to the bottom. He opened his eyes with a slight sense of relief.

“Let’s go…” After a while, Xuan Sheng took Shuang Jing’s hand, turned his head to signal Long Ye to walk behind, and then began to walk forward.

In the complete darkness, stepping into this place felt like entering an infinite silence and abyss. As the three walked, they simply closed their eyes. Their steps were light and quick, and since the ground was flat and without pits, they moved forward as if flying, without any obstruction.

Even so, after walking for an unknown amount of time, it was still completely dark ahead, with no light or sign of an exit. The three of them felt as if they had lost all sense of time, sometimes slowing down and sometimes speeding up, but nothing changed, as if they were standing still.

"How long have we been walking?" Not knowing where they were, Shuangjing finally asked, sounding a little tired. Her voice echoed through the long tunnel, as if coming from a distant, empty shore: "Have we been going in circles the whole time?"

“The wind is blowing in a straight line, so there shouldn’t be any problem,” Xuan Sheng said, stretching out his palm to feel the airflow.

“Well, if it’s a really, really big circle, the wind direction would be a straight line, right…” Shuangjing simply sat down on the ground and wiped his sweat with Xuansheng’s sleeve.

“Uh…” Xuan Sheng fell silent. If it’s a circle, that would be troublesome. Wouldn’t they be fools then?

"We should be there soon... We've been walking for several hours now," Long said calmly from behind.

"Huh? How did you know?" The Seven Stones Sect Master turned his head and asked in her direction, still with his eyes closed, unable to see anything.

"Because I've been counting."

“Yes, me too. If I’m not mistaken, it should be almost dawn by now. We’ve been walking for almost a whole night.” Xuan Sheng nodded and replied in a steady voice, “If the end of this tunnel really is where the Thousand Heroes Pavilion’s treasures are stored, then we’re almost there. There’s no need to build such a long tunnel. Otherwise, if the Thousand Heroes Pavilion Master often looks at the things inside, wouldn’t it take him three days and three nights to get them?”

"Ah..." Shuangjing scratched her head. No wonder they were all so quiet; they were counting. It was a pity Cheshui wasn't around; otherwise, it would be nice to have someone to chat with. Sigh. As she was lost in thought, her hair made her nose itch, and she sneezed without realizing it. The sneezes made her jump up.

"What's wrong?" Xuan Sheng asked.

"There's wind ahead!" she replied, straightening her hair, but immediately grabbed Xuan Sheng's hand and pulled him forward: "Can you feel it? There's wind ahead!"

Hearing her say that, the other two perked up, and the three of them quickened their pace and walked forward.

Sure enough, the airflow grew stronger and the wind grew louder. The group of people were all martial arts masters, and their lightness skills allowed them to move as fast as arrows. In no time, they saw a faint light in front of them gradually growing larger. They were all invigorated and quickened their pace to walk towards the light.

The white light ahead grew larger and brighter. Shuang Jing couldn't wait any longer and unconsciously leaped past Xuan Sheng, rushing forward. Suddenly, the white light blinded her, and she cried out in surprise, "Ah—!"

Before her eyes, light surged like a torrent, and ahead, the sun rose in the east, a brilliant golden sun slowly ascending, as if carrying all the brilliance of hope into the sky. All around, rays of light shone like diamonds, so bright that she could not open her eyes. Beneath her feet, there was soft white sand, with a few rocks lying lazily on the sand, and a few pink flowers swaying in the wind.

And ahead, ahead... was an endless ocean!

"What...?!" Shuang Jing was stunned and speechless.

Behind her were Xuan Sheng and Long Ye, who were equally astonished.

The sky, like a ribbon of blue and purple clouds, with a gentle pale blue hue, clearly and brightly enveloped the boundless water. Large swaths of crimson and golden clouds were reflected in the crystal-clear water, and the rising sun, solemn and sacred, ascended slowly from the rippling, shimmering surface. It was hard to tell whether it was a river, a sea, or an ocean, but the boundless blue seemed to stretch straight to the horizon.

White sand and azure sky.

“This…” Long unconsciously stepped forward slowly: “This is the…treasure of Qianxia Tower?” She walked slowly forward, her white…

Her hair drifted through the air like snowflakes.

"So that's how it is." Shuangjing murmured unconsciously, "The last master of Qianxia Tower... Master Jingyue... had such a wish."