Chapter 1

He was not at all surprised by her reaction, feeling disinterested and lazily dismissing her: "Little girl, go back."

He turned his head back and gave a light smile, as if in provocation

She tilted her head back, took a deep breath, gritted her teeth, and lifted her feet to walk forward

She quickly corrected herself: "Actually, it is fifteen; the sixteenth birthday has not yet passed"

She hesitated for a moment and said: "10, 6"

He seemed oblivious to the delicate sounds of the warblers and swallows around him, not even lifting his eyelids, while lazily playing with a dagger that glimmered coldly in his hand. The blade of the dagger was as thin as a cicada's wing, and as it moved, it caught a fleeting line of light, momentarily flashing across his handsome face, like a startled swan casting its shadow.

He is a disciple of the Seven Forces Sect. She hurriedly pleaded, "Senior Brother, could you please be lenient and just pretend you didn't see it."

At the last tier of stone steps, she used both her hands and feet, climbing with great difficulty, feeling as if her heart was being torn apart, and her head was spinning. Upon reaching the final step, her body was completely limp, and golden stars danced before her eyes. She lay on the ground, gasping for a moment before finally lifting her head.

She anxiously waited for him to show some kindness and make a concession

What did he say? She looked on in astonishment, filled with curiosity and admiration, as in the midst of laughter and conversation, the masts and sails turned to ashes and smoke.

She nodded quickly, though she felt quite anxious inside, unsure of the extent to which this "coarseness" would be acceptable. In fact, she only had a basic understanding of some medicinal herbs and knew a little about their general properties, yet she had mustered the courage to come here.

The courtyard fell silent in an instant, leaving only her. He raised his eyes to observe her, his expression languid and indifferent

Does this count as such

Under the bodhi tree on the right side of the courtyard, there is a bamboo rattan chair. A young man, around eighteen or nineteen years old, exudes a striking and handsome demeanor like the morning sun rising over the sea of clouds. He is lounging with one leg propped up, presenting an air of defiance and nonchalance

He lifted his eyelids and glanced at her petite figure, disdainfully lowering his eyelids to continue trimming his nails. Clearly, her slender and delicate waist, akin to a willow branch, was quite unconvincing, and it was a considerable distance from the word "sturdy".

It was merely a fleeting touch, like a dragonfly skimming the surface of the water, yet she felt a rush of embarrassment that made her vision blur. The first time she kissed a man, it turned out to be in such a situation. Well, she might as well think of it as kissing her little dog, Snowball

She looked at him with grievance, unsure of how much he wanted; fifteen or sixteen was too much, while fourteen was too little. Was he intentionally making things difficult for her? She pleaded softly, "Elder brother, please do me a favor and let me meet the sect leader."

Sixteen? That is too large

He suddenly pressed his lips together and smiled: "If you give me a kiss, I will pretend I didn't see anything and take you to meet the gatekeeper"

She quickly changed her words: "I, I only celebrate my birthday on the fifteenth day of the twelfth lunar month, which actually counts as just having turned fourteen." After saying this, she began to feel anxious. If he were to think she was too old, would she have to say she was thirteen? But she had already been fourteen for three months; how could she bring herself to say she was thirteen? Just thinking about it made her blush.

After resting for a while, she felt her breath had calmed down before she straightened her clothes and stood up. A gentle breeze blew towards her, lifting her sleeves like a bird spreading its wings, washing its feathers in the wind

Within the mountain gate, the cool breeze flutters the sleeves, and the fresh air fills the heart. In the deep and spacious courtyard, towering cypress and bodhi trees stand gracefully. Their branches and leaves are lush and abundant, a deep green that seems to moisten one's clothing. The mountain wind gently stirs, creating waves of pine sounds, bringing a sense of peace and tranquility, naturally giving rise to a feeling of ethereal calmness and distance. In the midst of the hustle and bustle, weary and anxious, she has not experienced such tranquility and serenity for a long time, as if after enduring many battles, she finally lays down her armor, with the clear breeze and bright sun washing away the dust of her journey.

The words "crawl," "pant," and "climb" made her involuntarily think of a little dog named Snowball that used to be in her home. She felt a bit embarrassed, not expecting that her awkwardness outside the mountain gate had been noticed by him. However, at the moment, she had no time to feel shy; she gathered her courage and said, "I rested for a while because I didn't eat breakfast this morning. I am very strong, so please give me a chance to try." As she spoke, she straightened her waist.

His gaze grew increasingly narrow and provocative, clearly betting that she would not dare.

With a determined bite of her teeth, she stood on her tiptoes and leaned in to kiss him. Unfortunately, he was too tall; she gave it her all but only managed to kiss his neck

Speaking, he picked up the dagger and casually trimmed his nails

However, in the warm spring light, Si Tian felt a chill creeping up from her feet like a small snake.

She hurriedly bowed and said: "My name is Si Tian, and I am here to seek a master. I heard that the Seven Forces Sect is recruiting disciples"

Suddenly, he frowned slightly, smiled at one of the women, and then whispered something in her ear. Upon hearing it, the girl immediately turned red in the face, stood up, and left.

He snorted, "14 is too small."

In March, the spring scenery is as picturesque as a brushstroke, outlining a beautiful moment at the foot of Lanzhou Mountain, where the vines and climbing plants await their trellis, bringing a sense of tranquility and delight to the heart

He, however, showed no signs of breathlessness or shame, as if this demand were perfectly natural and reasonable. His beautiful eyes carried a sense of cynicism and mockery, and his face surprisingly wore an expression of self-pity for the sake of others.

The dagger in his hand features a pattern of seven stars reflecting the moon on the hilt, with seven stars inlaid with gemstones and jade, while a full round moon is made from a single piece of exquisite mutton-fat jade. Regardless of whether the dagger is made of black iron or fine steel, the seven stars and the moon alone are already of considerable value

She did not dare to look at his expression, only feeling that her face was already burning hot, as if it were about to catch fire, and her heart was racing wildly.

He frowned and said, "Fifteen is too much."

He shook his head: "I am a disciple of the Seven Forces Gate. You cannot pass here, and you still think about meeting the gate master? The gate master has assigned me to watch over you people who come up the mountain. Those who have rested on the steps are not allowed either."

The remaining three girls scattered like birds suddenly startled from a tree, with a "flap" sound

If one could truly enter the Seven Forces Gate, this senior brother would indeed be very difficult to get along with

He squinted his eyes, glanced at her a couple of times, and asked: "Are you somewhat knowledgeable in medical theory?"

Several young women surrounded him, creating a scene reminiscent of the vibrant spring filled with the songs of warblers and swallows, akin to the lively blossoms of red apricot branches in spring.

At the threshold wrapped in dark iron, she hesitated slightly and gently stepped inside the threshold

The brilliant glow of the dawn pierces through the mist at the mountain peak, with the mountains serving as a backdrop, highlighting a grand mountain gate. The three bold characters "Seven Forces Gate" are inscribed at the top of the gate, exuding a powerful presence that reaches the heavens

He held the dagger and smiled proudly, his smile indescribably beautiful, like the clear blue sky after the rain has passed.

The sunlight filtered through his fingers, which were long and strong. On the palm facing her, the thick calluses at the bases and tips of his fingers were clearly visible, creating a stark contrast with the surrounding young and delicate skin, embodying a powerful blend of strength and gentleness

He casually inserted the dagger into the leather boot, squinted his eyes, and asked nonchalantly: "How old are you this year?"

The Lan Zhou Mountain is steep and perilous, and as one gazes into the distance, the mountains rise in layers, with strange peaks standing tall. Wisps of clouds and mist swirl around the summits, resembling celestial beings draped in flowing garments. The stone steps before me rise abruptly, like a heavenly ladder ascending into the clouds, exuding a magnificent aura as if it were meant to reach the heavens. The number of steps is unknown, yet even before beginning the ascent, one is already filled with trepidation, wishing to keep a respectful distance. With my neck craned back, I can faintly discern a stone gate atop the mountain amidst the ethereal mist.

If it were not for the soft voices of people speaking in the courtyard, she would have felt as if she had inadvertently entered a paradise of immortal cultivators.

She saw the green garment beneath her eyelids move and quickly raised her head, saying: "I, I am willing." His request took her by surprise, leaving her feeling shy and awkward. However, she had no way to retreat.

The blacksmith next door, Brother Tie Niu, is an apprentice at the forge. He mentioned that those who take on apprentices generally do not prefer young child laborers, as they lack strength. Therefore, he deliberately misreported his age by one year, but unexpectedly, it backfired, as he was deemed too old.

Elder brother, could you please be accommodating? It has been quite difficult for us to come here.

He stood up with a flick of his garment, walking over with his hands clasped behind his back, the hem of his robe gently swaying with each step, exuding a calm and unrestrained demeanor. Dressed in a long blue robe embroidered with clouds, he resembled a tall and sturdy tree in the mountains. However, the arrogance reflected in his eyes made him seem difficult to approach

He stood in front of her, arms crossed, looking at her. She was petite, barely reaching his shoulder, which gave his gaze a somewhat condescending quality

He raised his finger, looked towards the sunlight, and seemed quite satisfied

She shrank back slightly, looking at him timidly, and said softly: "10, 14"

A fragrant breeze wafted by, and the faces of four girls turned crimson as they hurried past her

He was very tall, standing in front of her. She had originally been looking up at him, but at this moment, she lowered her head, lowering it to the point where it could go no further, her ears beginning to feel hot.

Sitting here so audaciously, you must be an important figure from the Seven Forces Gate? She quickly smiled at him, but as soon as she moved the corners of her lips, she realized she was both tired and hungry, her lips felt as if they were glued together with paste, stiff and dry.

He let out an "oh" and said, "It seems you are not capable. The sect leader said that only those who have walked up this stone staircase without resting can enter to see him. However, I saw you lying on the ground, panting for quite a while before you managed to crawl in."

What? She was stunned! In an instant, her face turned crimson, and her heart raced like thunder. In broad daylight, under the clear sky, he actually dared to make such an inappropriate request

He raised his eyebrows slightly, paused in his steps, his azure garments still as the wind ceased and the trees stood still

His piercing gaze shot over like a dagger, and he suddenly straightened up and shouted, "How many exactly?" He was already strikingly handsome, and with such a fierce shout, he appeared even more imposing and fierce, like a ferocious leopard that suddenly leaped out from the grass.

Indeed, you have the kindest heart, my brother

She stepped forward and stood in front of him. The fresh masculine scent emanating from him rushed towards her like uncorked wine, permeating the air before her. In her heart, it felt as if a flower drum was urgently beating its rhythm, the sound so hurried that it disrupted her breathing

He seemed to be ticklish; as soon as her lips brushed against him, he immediately shrank his neck back, took a step back, and then touched his neck with his hand, saying: "Follow me"

He raised his sword-like eyebrows and lifted his chin: "Who are you?"