Безымянный убийца

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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 got so tired after jumping up that you're now lying on top of the roof unable to move," Ning Du thought to herself, suppressing the urge to roll her eyes. When she found her mistress, Shuang Jing was rubbing her back and gritting her teeth, trying to stand up. But when she looked up and saw her expressionless subordinate standing behind her, she declared matter-of-factly, "I want to enjoy the scenery!" So Ning Du had no choice but to move a chair, grab an umbrella, and offer her tea, then obediently stand like a statue on the roof to keep her company.

"I don't know," Ningdu replied, fulfilling his duty as a good subordinate.

“I think we can see the main entrance from here,” Shuangjing murmured softly, taking another sip of tea.

Upon hearing this, Ning Du, who had already withdrawn from her feelings of pity, was first stunned, and then bit her lower lip tightly to suppress the sigh that almost escaped her lips.

Actually, with Shuang Jing's martial arts skills, she shouldn't have been injured.

However, she took the blow that originally belonged to that person head-on.

That person is Xuan Sheng, the second young master of Half Moon City.

It was common knowledge throughout the martial arts world that the leader of the Seven Stones Sect was fond of Xuan Sheng.

When Shuangjing first met Xuansheng, she decided that even if she went to the underworld, she would stay by his side.

She was such a straightforward and simple woman that she would naturally risk her life to stand in front of that person in a moment of crisis, even if she was seriously injured or even if she were shattered to pieces.

However, that young man, whose literary and martial arts skills were on par with Shuang Jing and who could be called the number one young hero in the martial arts world, never appeared again after he was taken back to Half Moon City for treatment.

The Seven Stones Sect also sent people out to search for this person's whereabouts, even if they only learned of his death, but Half Moon City was the most mysterious gang in the martial arts world, and even Tianxia Inn, where all the information gathered, could not find any information about them.

Sometimes, Ning was filled with hatred for him.

If he hadn't died, why wouldn't he come looking for the sect leader?

It's not that I haven't heard the rumors in the martial arts world: the young master of Half Moon City and the future leader of Seven Stones Sect were a perfect couple that many people admired back then.

It is said that the four of them once fought with the disciples of Huashangtang on Baiyu Mountain. During the fierce battle, Shuangjing fell into a deep valley. When everyone looked back, before they could even shout, Xuansheng had already jumped down. He caught her halfway down and stuck his sword into the mountain wall, thus saving the two of them.

It is said that Shuang Jing fell seriously ill on the way, and Xuan Sheng rushed to Ning Shuang Sect overnight to seek medical treatment. The sect leader deliberately made things difficult for him, demanding that he leave one of his hands before he would treat him. The young man did not think it through and raised his hand to swing his knife down. Fortunately, he was stopped in time, thus preventing the destruction of a young hero.

Legend has it that at a gathering of talented individuals in Jincheng, he played the flute melodiously, while she played the zither with resounding force. Halfway through their performance, they exchanged a smile, tossed their instruments to their companions, drew their longswords, and began to dance gracefully, their robes fluttering. At that moment, he was dressed in white as frost, and she in crimson as fire, captivating the entire city and enchanting a generation of martial arts heroes.

But if that's the case... if that's the case, then if he survived, why didn't he come looking for her?!

If you didn't intend to grow old together, why did you jump off the cliff? Why did you risk your life to save someone?

He spent 100 days with her, but she waited for him for five years.

If one day the sect leader no longer loves this man, she will definitely kill him with a single sword. That's what Ning Du thought.

"Ningdu, Sect Master!" Suddenly, a voice called from below. Ningdu turned around and saw a woman leap in front of her in a flash. She then turned around and respectfully bowed to Shuangjing, saying, "Anxing greets Sect Master. I have urgent news to report."

"Hey, Anxing, where are my pastries?" Shuangjing asked with a smile, completely ignoring the second half of her sentence.

“Here, here…hehe.” An Xing skipped and hopped as she approached, holding an umbrella. She took out some pastries wrapped in a handkerchief from her bosom and placed them on the plate on Shuang Jing’s back. She then raised her hand and said, “Come on, Sect Leader, ah…” She raised her hand to feed the Sect Leader.

"Ah... ouch." Shuangjing took a bite of the pastry that Anxing fed her, and pondered as she chewed: "Hmm, this is... crispy apple, there's something inside, eh... this sour... what is it?"

"It's grapes!" An Xing said proudly, "How about it, Sect Leader? Delicious, isn't it?"

"Hmm, it's alright. I'll add some sugar next time." Shuangjing nodded and said, "By the way, ask someone to bring me a book. The lighting here is pretty good."

So I'm supposed to stand on the roof and wait for you to finish reading your book?! TAT Ning looked at her owner with a face full of black lines, and couldn't help but reach out to hold onto the wall, but she completely forgot that she was on the roof: "Aaaaaaaahhhhhh!!" She rolled right off the roof.

The other two turned around at the shout, and Anxing quickly opened the umbrella for his master.

"Ningdu?" Shuangjing called out, peeking out. "What's wrong with you?"

"I'm fine!!!" came Ning Du's furious roar from below, "An Xing, didn't you have something urgent to report?!" she shouted angrily while rubbing her waist.

"Oh, that's right." An Xing then remembered and turned around with a smile, saying, "Sect Master, someone requests an audience."

"Huh?" Shuang Jing frowned slightly. Since her serious injury, she had rarely seen anyone. People in the martial arts world all knew about what happened five years ago, so few people came to see her. Her eyes suddenly lit up, and she hurriedly asked, "Who comes? What do you want?"

"Hmm! It's a young man. He said he came to ask the sect leader for the Crescent Moon Embroidery."

"What?!" Shuangjing suddenly stood up, and the plate and cup on her lap fell to the ground as a result of her movement, and Ningdu cried out in pain as he was hit.

"Tell me, what does he want?!" She gripped Anxing's arm tightly and asked, "He wants...he wants...my Crescent Moon Embroidery?!"

"Yes, and he said he absolutely wouldn't leave until he saw the sect leader..."

"Carry me down! Quickly!" Before her subordinate could finish speaking, Shuangjing was already rushing downstairs. Her foot slipped, and before she could react, she felt her body lighten as Anxing carried her downstairs. There was no sign of her getting wet at all.

"Sect Master?" Ning Du was rubbing the spot where something had hit him when Shuang Jing rushed towards the front hall.

At that time, a gentle breeze and light rain were blowing. Shuangjing was surrounded by a shower of pure white, scattered petals, as if she could see scenes from the past.

Xuan Sheng, covered in wounds, sat under a tree, tearing off a strip of cloth to bandage his wounds. He also tied his ever-present jade pendant to her waist and said with a faint smile, "Take this. If we ever have a fight and I refuse to back down, I'll use this as an excuse to see you."

Clutching the jade pendant at her waist, she struggled to run outside, leaning on the railing to look at the main room where guests were received, feeling as if her heart was about to leap out of her chest.

Thankfully, thankfully, he finally came.

It was all worth it; she had waited patiently and longed for him for the past five years.

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

Speaking of the Seven Stones Sect, one cannot help but mention a saying that is widely circulated in the martial arts world:

"A romantic and talented scholar, a chivalrous hero, a beautiful and heroic woman, a laughing Buddha and a monk, ruling the world for thousands of years, with seven stones scattered across the four seas and the ends of the earth."

This poem refers to the fact that all the tools in the world originate from the Seven Stone Gate.