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

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

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

Outside the pavilion, wind and rain blow, seemingly washing away the vulgarity of the mortal world.

The spring rain was drizzling down, and the Yunshan Valley where Qishimen was located was shrouded in light mist and fog. Houses, corridors, and pavilions were all covered in a hazy rain.

Looking around, the hillsides are green, the streams are silvery white, and the peach blossoms are wet with rain. In the quiet afternoon, no one is busy. All you can hear is the sound of the sycamore trees and the fine rain, which falls everywhere and makes a soft, rustling sound.

The scenery before them was so beautiful that even illiterate farm girls would lean on the railing and pretend to recite poetry, as if afraid of wasting this picturesque view.

"Ah..." The little girl guarding the corridor couldn't help but stretch. "The martial world has been so boring lately...!" she said, yawning. Before she could finish speaking, she was hit hard on the back of the head, making her wince and bend over, clutching her head in pain.

"You brat! Are you out of your mind?!" A taller maid in green, carrying a stack of clothes, scolded, "You little hussy, if Lord Ningdu hears you say that, he'll tear you to pieces!"

"Good sister, I...I know I was wrong...! Please don't tell anyone, please don't tell anyone!" The little maid covered her head, looking at her with teary eyes: "I'll give you all the pastries for tonight, please don't tell!" Thinking of Lord Ningdu's cold eyes, she couldn't help but shudder, shaking the head maid's hand in panic, "Sister..."

The other person was amused by her appearance and pinched her cheek hard: "You brat, look how scared you are. Even if Lord Ningdu wanted to break your bones, there's still the sect leader." She gave half of the clothes in her hand to the little maid and said with a smile as she walked: "Our sect leader is the most compassionate and soft-hearted. Have you ever seen her punish a servant? Hmm?"

"Oh..." The little girl responded with a half-understanding, hurriedly took the clothes, and then asked blankly, "Sister, what kind of person is the sect leader? Everyone says that the sect leader is... very, very good, is that true?" She hadn't read much, and the best adjective she could think of was "very, very good."

"Ah..." A hint of sadness flashed in the head maid's eyes, but seeing the admiration and innocence in the little girl's eyes, she laughed heartily, "That's right, our sect leader has quite a background in the martial arts world..."

The two walked along the north corridor, chatting and laughing. But as soon as they turned a corner, their figures were obscured by the misty rain and disappeared into the drizzling water.

Once the footsteps of the two men had completely faded away, Ningdu, standing on the rooftop, slowly turned to look at her mistress sitting beside her. Seeing her calmly sipping tea, her eyes curved like crescent moons, a beaming smile on her face, seemingly in a good mood, Ningdu couldn't help but let out a soft moan and asked in a low voice:

"My lord... have you enjoyed the scenery enough?"

"Oh, wait a little longer, it's such a beautiful rainy day." Shuangjing replied with a smile, slowly taking a sip of the hot tea she held in her hands, and continuing to admire the scenery before her.

Who would appreciate the scenery on a rainy day? Ningdu couldn't help but frown, rubbing her temples with two fingers and lamenting her bad luck. Suddenly, she felt the wind pick up a bit more, and couldn't help but suggest again, "Master, how about we go to that pavilion over there?" She asked, pointing to a unique pavilion not far away.

"Ah, no need, no need." Shuangjing waved her hands and shook her head, grinning, "This place is fine, the pavilion isn't that high."

But isn't that weird?! Ningdu almost let out a long howl.

If it were a sunny day, it would be understandable for two people to stand on the roof and look at the scenery, but the problem is, it's raining right now!

Moreover, she was holding an umbrella to shield her master from the rain, and what's more! Her master was sitting in an expensive sandalwood rocking chair drinking tea!

If this gets seen and spreads, how will the Seven Stones Sect ever survive in the martial arts world?! Ning Du thought, his face twitching uncontrollably.

"Ningdu..." Shuang Jing, who was leisurely sipping tea, suddenly spoke softly:

"What was that girl talking about? Did you punish someone again?" Before the person next to her could answer, she sighed, a faint smile appearing on her pale face behind the rising steam.

"Very well, my body is ruined. Fortunately, the Seven Stones Sect is already renowned throughout the land, so I don't need to intimidate with martial arts, and probably no one in the martial world will dare to speak against me." She glanced at her subordinate beside her, who was bowing his head and not daring to speak, and said, half-comforting and half-commanding:

"As a sect leader, even the servants and those around me inevitably have opinions, let alone the servants. The girls are young and ignorant, and what they said is true. Don't take it too seriously."

Ningdu lowered her head, a faint sadness suddenly appearing on her beautiful face. After a moment of silence, she finally replied respectfully, "This subordinate knows her mistake and will obey the sect leader's orders."

"Good to know." Shuangjing resumed her smiling demeanor, snuggling into the blanket like a cat, only revealing her face and hands, comfortably drinking tea and enjoying the scenery.

Seeing that she was completely wrapped in a blanket, as if any slight movement would trigger a serious illness, Ningdu felt a slight stinging pain in his chest.

When I was practicing martial arts, regardless of the sweltering heat of summer or the freezing cold of winter, I would grit my teeth and endure the cold wearing the same thin clothes all year round. At most, I would sneeze a few times when I was cold and drink more water when I was hot. Now, let alone thin clothes, I have to wear more clothes even in summer, for fear that I will collapse if the weather changes.

Ningdu's eyes dimmed. She clearly heard the sigh that the head maid had suppressed when she was about to talk about the sect leader.

A few years ago, who in the world wouldn't want to witness the unparalleled glory of the Seven Stones Sect Master?

Shuangjing, that name was once the most dazzling legend in the martial arts world.

Five years ago, before inheriting the Seven Stones Sect, Shuang Jing went down the mountain to study and became sworn brothers with other younger members of the martial arts world.

Accompanying her were Xuan Sheng, the second young master of Half Moon City; Che Shui, the master of Chongchonglou; and Tian Sha, the master of Ziwei Hall.

The young are fearless, and these four men transformed the vast and misty Jiangnan region into a magnificent epic of the land; along the way, horses neighed in the distance amidst fragrant grasses, and willows lined the riverbanks; even renowned heroes and chivalrous figures praised them highly.

After three cups of wine, the former lord of Flying Shadow Fortress, a battle-hardened hero with a scarred face, shook his head slightly, slammed his hand on the table, and sighed: "The martial world of tomorrow will surely rise and fall just as they wish."

Amidst the clouds and mountains, one sees nothing but the laughter and figures of young heroes, talented men, and beautiful women. All matters, big and small, in the martial world can be resolved in their hands, turning hostility into peace and conflict.

And then what happened?

It was that bloody storm that shook the martial arts world.

Once the swords flashed and the fighting subsided, the result was something too painful to witness.

Shuang Jing returned to the Seven Stones Sect with severe injuries. Although he survived, he was left with a chronic illness, rendering his martial arts skills useless.

The others either died or were injured, and went their separate ways, thus ending a legendary era.

The glory days are now just dust in the wind.

From then on, only a pale, thin woman remained in the Seven Stones Sect. Only in her bright and intelligent eyes could one see the former glory.

“By the way, Ningdu…” Shuangjing suddenly spoke softly, “Do you know why I came here today?”

"You were just secretly testing your lightness skill, but you

……