Chapter 2, Utilize Their Forces
Gu Jian pushed the door open and then gently closed it tightly, slightly bowing to Yi Yun. Yi Yun slowly opened her eyes and said, "The proposal on the table should be implemented as soon as possible. Additionally, the name of the villa will be changed to Gu Yue Villa starting today. I have already sent someone to the capital to handle it. From now on, the affairs of the villa will be managed according to the new system. If there are no important matters, do not disturb me." Upon hearing this, Gu Jian felt a tightness in his heart. After all, Gu Jian Villa was created by him, and now it was suddenly renamed; how could he bear to part with it? He opened his mouth but then closed it again, responding with an acknowledgment before taking the new system document covered with the villa master's seal from the table and taking his leave. "Indeed, there are some accomplishments." Yi Yun was very satisfied with Gu Jian's final decision not to inquire about the reason for the name change, closing her eyes to continue immersing herself in the cultivation of martial arts.
Yuer felt that Yiyun's words also made sense, nodding slightly, and then said with a playful smile: "Alright, after the assessment, you scored full marks. Tomorrow, I will take you to meet the Heartbroken and Heart-wrenching. With my recommendation and your strength, you will surely be valued within the alliance. Hey, that dead fat man, Heartbroken and Heart-wrenching, might not even be your match, but he does have excellent equipment. Otherwise, I would be quite happy for you to take his head and replace him when you have the chance." As she spoke, she let out a burst of laughter. Upon hearing this, Yiyun immediately felt a bit downcast. At this level, when the difference in martial arts skills is not too great, the impact of equipment is indeed very significant.
In the midst of the chaos, someone said: "How can one say such a thing? We all share life and death together; how can this minor issue trouble us!"
Following the rhythm, Yi Yun swiftly employed her lightness skill and headed straight for the capital. She was aware that she did not know many people, and even fewer had any close ties with her. After much contemplation, she realized that her only option was to seek out the manager of the auction house in the capital, as it was through his connections that she might find a way to secure a higher position within the Anti-Alliance. Otherwise, starting from the ranks of the underlings would take too long. 'I tend to get flustered when I am anxious!' Yi Yun turned back and rushed to Dali, where she boarded a carriage at the post station, gathering her thoughts to sit cross-legged and practice her skills. Time is the most precious resource, and Yi Yun had long decided that she could not afford to waste any opportunity to train. Although using her lightness skill to reach the capital would be a day faster than taking the carriage, she would not be able to continue her training during that time. The pressing matter at hand was not about being anxious over a day or two; rather, it was better to seize the time on the carriage to continue her practice.
In accordance with the rhyme, we happen to be in Dali to complete a task, so we thought we would come and find you. I estimate that you should be done with your work as well
Yellow sand, land, blood. After the Night Spirits and others eliminated all the NPCs, the group sustained varying degrees of injuries. Yi Yun treated the wound on her chest, took out her water bottle, and gulped down some clean water, instantly feeling much more comfortable in her dry throat and stomach. The blow to her chest could have cost Yi Yun her life if it weren't for her extremely high speed attribute. At the beginning of the battle, Yi Yun was somewhat panicked; after all, she had only personally engaged in such chaotic combat once before. However, once the real fight began, she felt no fear or confusion at all. After a flurry of fighting, even the weapons attacking her seemed less concerning. Although this battle was brutal, Yi Yun felt that what she gained far outweighed the cost. Ba Tian gently patted Yi Yun's shoulder as if to soothe her emotions, then turned to help collect the wealth and weapons scattered across the ground. The reason for taking on this task was not only the high reward of 200,000 for the mission itself but also the consideration of the high experience points and a large amount of weaponry. Once converted into money, it could amount to about a quarter of the reward. Only the humanoid NPCs in the mission could obtain money and the equipment items they used. Although many were damaged in the fight, there were still quite a few that remained intact and could be sold.
Section 6, Gradual Progression
With a feeling of wanting to cry, Yi Yun forcefully suppressed this impulse, carefully keeping the note close to her. After a moment of silence, she took off her battle uniform again, along with the battle spirit and two swords, and placed them back into her bundle. The others were very puzzled by Yi Yun's actions. After a while, Ye Ling finally asked, "Yi Yun, why don't you wear them?" Yi Yun replied seriously, "Right now, I do not have the ability to protect these items. I have decided to deposit them in the bank once we reach the capital. When the day comes that I have the ability and qualifications to wear them, I will take them out. Otherwise, if I were to lose the equipment due to my own inadequacy, I could never forgive myself!" Yi Yun's eyes showed a hint of confusion, and after a moment, she asked again, "Yi Yun, why don't you wear them?" Yi Yun replied seriously, "Right now, I do not have the ability to protect these items. I have decided to deposit them in the bank once we reach the capital. When the day comes that I have the ability and qualifications to wear them, I will take them out. Otherwise, if I were to lose the equipment due to my own inadequacy, I could never forgive myself!" Yi Yun's eyes gradually became hazy, and Ye Ling stared at her with some obsession. After a moment, Yi Yun suddenly smiled and said, "I will not let Xiao Lin's intentions go to waste! In the future, I will trouble everyone!" Ye Ling couldn't help but feel relieved, and Ba Tian and Liu Zi also breathed a sigh of relief. They all knew that Yi Yun had successfully composed herself. As the night deepened, everyone gradually closed their eyes to sleep. Yi Yun gazed at the starry sky outside the window, softly murmuring Xiao Lin's name, saying, "Xiao Lin, thank you. Only knowing that you gave me these two pieces of clothing, you have to continuously make low-level equipment that is of no help to your skills for nearly a month to have the cash flow to manage your store..."
The first section, sharpening the knife does not delay the work of chopping wood
The bustling atmosphere around her could not in the slightest disturb Yi Yun, who was immersed in her cultivation. The valuable outfit of comprehension she wore made the wandering heroes in the carriage hesitant to provoke her. Those who could afford such clothing must certainly have some background; why stir up trouble unnecessarily?
"Yue'er, is he the person you mentioned? As far as I know from books, there are currently only nine individuals in the Wudang Sect who have mastered Tai Chi Sword and Pure Yang skills." The gaze of the heartbroken person was very steady, carrying a tone of questioning, yet devoid of any condescension. After a pause, he added, "However, with you, Yue'er, strongly recommending him, I, the heartbroken, will never doubt your judgment and believe he must possess extraordinary qualities." A disciple from the Huashan Sect beside the heartbroken person interjected awkwardly, "I am Yunlong from the Huashan Sect, and I would like to witness Yiyun's martial arts skills." The heartbroken person shot a fierce glare at Yunlong and exclaimed, "Do you think your judgment is better than Yue'er's?" Yunlong immediately realized he had misunderstood the heartbroken person's meaning and quickly apologized, stepping aside to refrain from further speaking.
Section 4, Usury
The first rule of survival is that you may demean yourself and inflict harm upon yourself, but you must never be foolish enough to allow others to harm you
Section 9, A Meeting with Heartbreak and Sorrow
The moonlight revealed a pained expression on Yi Yun's face, which unexpectedly struck me as amusing. When deceived, he showed no reluctance in parting with his money, yet once he realized that he should not be responsible for that expense, he appeared so distressed. "Yi Yun, are you in the capital to conduct business?"
With a tone that carried a hint of seriousness, Yi Yun said, "Xiao Lin, if it weren't for your help over the past few months, I certainly wouldn't have earned this money. I plan to return to the sect in about two months, when I have enough money, to diligently practice my skills. My extreme need for money has caused me to take advantage of you quite a bit. Xiao Lin, that's just how I am, but in the future, if you need anything, I, Yi Yun, will definitely do my utmost to help you. After spending so much time together, I truly consider you a good friend." Xiao Lin's expression darkened, "Are you leaving in two months?" Yi Yun nodded, her tone filled with determination, "Yes, at most a little over two months. Trust me, the money I accumulate will be enough for me to spend for quite a while, allowing me to focus on my practice. I entered business precisely to concentrate on martial arts later on. But rest assured, I have estimated that by the time I leave, your skills will definitely be sufficient to reach the master level. I can only leave in peace after seeing you become a master tailor." "Alright, no more of this, Yi Yun. I truly have never blamed you in my heart. I don't really care about the money; I just need enough to get by and enough to buy materials to continue practicing my craft." Hearing Xiao Lin's words, Yi Yun felt even more guilty, and a warmth filled her body and mind. Yi Yun was very clear in her heart that Xiao Lin had a sincere concern and gratitude for her, free from any ulterior motives or interests. Yi Yun was indeed very moved.
A full moon hangs high in the night sky, as it is said that parting is the most lamented. On this night, some are indeed sleepless.
Turning onto the snow-covered mountain path, Yi Yun stepped into the cold of the Emerald Lake, where she indeed saw Sha, as always, diligently practicing. Sha smiled faintly at Yi Yun and then returned to her hard work. "Sha, if it were you, would you venture into the Jianghu for the sake of learning more profound martial arts in the name of chivalry?" Sha replied without turning her head, "No, that is why I joined the Ancient Tomb Sect." Yi Yun slowly sat down by the lake, lit a cigarette, and said somewhat dejectedly, "I do not like Wudang, but I will never leave Wudang. I also do not wish to engage in meaningless pursuits in the Jianghu for the sake of martial arts, which troubles me." "I do not understand your training methods, but I know that over the past six months, you have evidently improved three times slower than others. It has been hard-earned, and now you are almost at your limit. How can you choose to switch to another sect? Why must you learn Taiji Sword? Would it not be better to refine your current martial arts? If there is an opportunity in the future, learning the ultimate skills would be even better?" Sha spoke the longest sentence Yi Yun had ever heard from her, which had a significant impact on Yi Yun. Yi Yun was stunned for a moment, then pondered and said, "Sha, you make a lot of sense. I have also considered that since I do not want to do things I do not like, I should follow my own path. The power of the Finger Technique is only about 20 levels lower than that of the Taiji Sword, but it is much faster. Self-cultivation is far easier than the Taiji Sword, and the starting point is also 20 levels higher." Sha no longer spoke further. Yi Yun extinguished her cigarette, drew her sword, and charged at the imperial guard outside the wooden house. Both of their martial arts had advanced to the point where they could easily finish off a guard with a single sword strike, as effortlessly as slicing vegetables.
At Yanmen Pass, a massive city wall stands connecting the steep cliffs on either side, surrounded by swirling sand and dust, with no green vegetation in sight, giving it a rather desolate appearance. If it were not for the more than one hundred NPC soldiers stationed on the city wall, the deepening night would surely evoke a sense of fearsome solitude. A group of people at the pass offered some silver coins to the guards and inquired about the general location of the bandit group, then strode purposefully towards their destination. Horses are available for sale, but a good horse that can match the speed of skilled martial artists in the Jianghu would cost at least 80,000 taels. If one were to buy a horse that exceeds their own speed in martial arts, the expense would be doubled. Moreover, the cost of maintaining a horse is quite high, requiring over ten taels of silver daily. Therefore, ordinary people in the Jianghu generally do not have the luxury of such expenses.
Upon hearing this, Yi Yun felt a chill in her heart, realizing what Lan was referring to. Seeing Xiao Lin's angry expression, she couldn't help but sigh and said, "Xiao Lin, I am sorry. Brother Lan, please do not mention favors; I will accept this sword as a gift from you, Brother Lan, without mixing in anything else." Lan in the room burst into hearty laughter, "Good, your words are enough for me. I do not wish to add to the sadness, so I will not send you off." Upon hearing that Yi Yun was willing to accept the sword, Xiao Lin immediately broke into a smile, "Yi Yun, remember to come back and visit us when you have the time. In two years, when Lan settles in Dali, we are preparing to hold a wedding, and you must come to attend, no matter what." Yi Yun suppressed the tumultuous emotions in her heart and replied as calmly as she could, "Rest assured! No matter where I am, I will not break my promise. I will definitely come back to visit you when I have the chance. Xiao Lin, Brother Lan, if you ever need anything in the future, I, Yi Yun, will do my utmost to help. I am leaving now." After saying this, she resolutely turned and stepped out of the shop door. Xiao Lin couldn't help but softly sob. Since entering the Chaos Era, the first person she had met was Yi Yun, and after half a year of companionship, how could one not feel sorrow? Night Spirit and Ba Tian, along with their group, also bid farewell to Xiao Lin and Lan in the room before leaving. Everyone was moved by the bond among the three; they had originally thought that Xiao Lin and Yi Yun were in a romantic relationship, but it turned out to be a genuine friendship, which made them feel a deep respect.
Hello, Brother Lan! Yi Yun hurriedly arrived at Xiao Lin's tailor shop, only to find Xiao Lin's fiancé, who is also Lan Tai Yang, gently watching Xiao Lin cut the fabric samples. She quickly greeted them warmly. Lan promptly stood up to welcome her, appearing very enthusiastic, inviting Yi Yun to sit down, pouring tea, and then they began chatting about various topics. Xiao Lin greeted Yi Yun and then focused intently on her work. Yi Yun did not mind; Xiao Lin was someone who was absolutely obsessed with her tailoring skills. When working, unless it was someone she was very familiar with, she would hardly lift her head, and it was already a great favor for her to acknowledge someone. While chatting with Lan, Yi Yun compared the current Lan with the Lan Tai Yang from the square in the capital, and they seemed like entirely different people! This was Yi Yun's final conclusion. She did not quite understand why Lan concealed his identity from Xiao Lin, but she had a vague sense of understanding, so she decided not to inform Xiao Lin about this matter, treating it as if she knew nothing at all.
Gu Jian was taken aback and momentarily stunned. Although he had already recognized the relationship between the two, he never expected it to be so intimate. Observing Sha's calm demeanor, it was evident that their relationship exceeded his imagination. He quickly responded and turned to leave, his tone losing some of its formality and gaining a touch of respect. Clearly, he had begun to regard Sha as the lady of the manor. Before long, Gu Jian instructed his attendants to meticulously tidy up the room and ordered the guards to withdraw completely, while Sha firmly closed the door. Turning to Yi Yun, he said: "The lights will be extinguished in fifteen minutes, and you will set off in thirty minutes. I will be here, and even if someone comes, I can handle it. Do not push yourself too hard; if it becomes too difficult, retreat and make other plans. Use this sword; your Lu Zhan is too conspicuous." After saying this, the two began to pack their belongings. Yi Yun hesitated slightly but ultimately donned the golden-threaded garment, layering it with combat attire and a tightly fitted night outfit. She exchanged a reassuring glance with Sha before extinguishing the light.
As the group approached the general vicinity of their destination, they carefully stowed their weapons away into their bundles to avoid raising the other party's suspicions, which would make it even more difficult to track down the elusive band of robbers. After ensuring their disguises were properly arranged, they continued on their way, chatting and laughing like merchants.
Chapter 10, Guyue Mountain Villa
Several days passed, and the Taiji Divine Skill finally reached level 110. Yi Yun could now easily kill the imperial guards. There were four imperial guards outside the two wooden houses, and Yi Yun stood in the open space between them. With a raised hand and a single sword strike, the four imperial guards immediately fell to the ground. After ten days of practice, she had accumulated a fortune of several million. Yi Yun calculated that even with continuous self-cultivation day and night, it would be enough for two months. She simply packed her belongings and stepped out of the valley, using her lightness skill to rush towards Dali at an incredible speed. At this point, her lightness skill had reached level 100, and her speed was astonishing, likely rivaling that of a thousand-mile steed. She had already reached the profound realm of walking on waves.
Yue'er finally sat up straight, "Ling, he is truly too foolish. It's even funnier than what you said." "I didn't expect him to be even more foolish than last time. Last time, he just took my joke about giving money seriously. This time, even a fool would know I was joking, yet he actually took out five hundred thousand, looking as if he owed me something. How can there be such a stupid person?" Yue'er casually played with the banknotes in her hand, smiling as she said, "But it is indeed quite interesting; it's rare to encounter such a person. Let's think about how to spend this five hundred thousand that fell from the sky." Ling chuckled upon hearing this, "Someone is insisting on giving us money; we don't have to feel too guilty towards the heavens. Just right, the earrings and shoes we liked last time are now within reach, and we will still have about a hundred thousand left. What should we do? It seems that making a windfall can also be a troublesome matter." Yue'er chuckled lightly at this, "It seems that making a windfall can also be a troublesome matter." Yue'er chuckled lightly at this, then said seriously, "I would be willing to be troubled like this every day." Ling was immediately amused and couldn't help but turn to glance at the foolish boy a few tables away. "But I didn't expect him to be so wealthy, taking out hundreds of thousands without even frowning." Ling quickly said, "Oh, Sister Yue, are you tempted? Marrying a rich fool wouldn't be too bad. How about I introduce you?" Yue'er lightly pinched Ling's arm, "But I didn't expect him to be so wealthy, taking out hundreds of thousands without even frowning." Ling quickly said, "Oh, Sister Yue, are you tempted? Marrying a rich fool wouldn't be too bad. How about I introduce you?" Yue'er lightly pinched Ling's arm and scolded, "Tear your mouth apart!" The two then laughed and played for a while before stopping. Yue'er turned her gaze and said, "Ling, let's listen to what they are saying." Ling seemed quite excited, quickly nodding in agreement. The two immediately focused their energy in their ears, and the conversation from the table next to them instantly reached their ears.
After finishing her meal, Yi Yun walked towards the Yue Lai Inn with a furrowed brow, feeling that the only hopeful path had been cut off. The number of people she knew who could possibly help in this matter was indeed limited to just ten fingers, and among them, she absolutely did not want to seek out Ye Ling and Ba Tian. Therefore, among the remaining individuals, there was simply no one left. 'I can't just storm into the Anti-Alliance hall and force them to hand over the person, can I?' Yi Yun chuckled self-deprecatingly; that would be tantamount to suicide. Although she was quite confident in her current strength, she did not consider herself to be a small knife, capable of moving through a group of top-tier experts as if they were nothing. While she was pondering, she suddenly heard a sound of energy clashing. 'Why bother with that idle matter?' Yi Yun continued to walk forward, when she suddenly heard a voice say, 'Xiao Ying, you all go ahead, I will hold them off!' Yi Yun was startled; she would never forget that voice—it was Sha's. As she was thinking, she suddenly heard a sound of energy clashing. 'Why bother with that idle matter?' Yi Yun continued to walk forward, when she suddenly heard a voice say, 'Xiao Ying, you all go ahead, I will hold them off!' Yi Yun was startled; she would never forget that voice—it was Sha's. Immediately, Yi Yun unfastened her bundle and equipped her weapons, rushing swiftly towards the source of the voice.
The situation became even more awkward for Yiyun. If she were alone with Xiaolin, given Yiyun's boldness, she would certainly remain unfazed. However, with Lan present, her somewhat despicable actions were exposed by Xiaolin, causing her to feel flushed with embarrassment. Lan smiled and said, "Yiyun need not be so concerned; if Xiaolin were truly upset with you, she would not have turned down the three merchants who attempted to purchase from her, specifically waiting for your return." Upon hearing this, Yiyun couldn't help but feel a bit regretful, realizing that she might have gone too far. To recount, when she first met Xiaolin, she had selflessly funded her initial endeavors because she believed Xiaolin would undoubtedly have a bright future, considering it a long-term investment. Yet, it was not entirely out of goodwill. Since then, whenever Xiaolin produced something of quality, even when others offered higher prices, she resolutely decided to wait until Yiyun had enough stock before considering selling to others. There were even instances when Yiyun lacked sufficient funds, and Xiaolin trusted her enough to allow her to defer payment. Without Xiaolin, Yiyun knew her current funds would not have accumulated so quickly, at least taking three times longer.
With a leisurely tone, he asked, "How many members does the Ancient Sword Manor currently have?" "Three thousand seven hundred."
Section 2, Cultivation
The carriage soon arrived in the capital. Yi Yun took the opportunity to visit the couple in charge, presented them with some gifts, and then took her leave. Today, she was to join Ye Ling and the others in a task in the martial world, which marked Yi Yun's first mission to date, and she couldn't help but feel a sense of anticipation. Following the group, Yi Yun arrived at the yamen, where she compared the tasks on the bounty board and selected one worth 200,000 taels of silver. The mission objective was to eliminate a robbery gang that had recently emerged within the Yanmen Pass, composed of several skilled NPCs from the martial world. This gang had committed nine crimes in the past month, stealing over three million taels of silver and killing more than two hundred people, among whom over sixty female players were still missing. After briefly outlining the mission objectives to the group, Ye Ling said, "This task is likely to be quite difficult, so everyone should be cautious. Let's set off." One by one, the group climbed into the carriage and headed towards Yanmen Pass.
There is nothing that can be done; I have no interest in running around in the martial world for the sake of reputation. The years spent striving for fame would be better spent continuing to cultivate my skills or seeking the existence of ultimate knowledge.
I once thought that when I encountered the heart-wrenching moment of saying goodbye again, I would recklessly kill him, for he had once inflicted upon me immense humiliation, at least in my eyes. However, when I truly met him again, I found that I felt not even a trace of anger or impulse. Perhaps it was because of Xiao Lin, or perhaps it was because I realized that I was fundamentally similar to him.
"Have you struck it rich, you rascal? How much have you swindled from others these days?" Liuzi jokingly remarked. The crowd was indeed somewhat surprised by Yiyun's extravagant spending; this meal would likely cost no less than 500 taels of silver. However, Yiyun did not furrow her brow even once, and Xiao Lin seemed to show no signs of surprise either. Yiyun laughed and said, "This small business is far from striking it rich. I am truly delighted to see you all, and I will need your support in the future, so it is only right to express a token of my appreciation." Upon hearing this, the crowd no longer lingered on the matter, briefly inquiring about Yiyun's martial arts skills before discussing various matters in the martial world.
"Sister Yue, did you really hold back just now? Is he really that formidable?" Ling has been finding it hard to believe that Yiyun's strength has progressed so astonishingly. Among the top ten experts of the Lingjiu Palace, the strength of the top few is almost evenly matched, and Yue is undoubtedly the strongest among them. Yue smiled and said, "I did indeed give it my all. It's hard for me to believe as well, considering I stepped into the martial world at least ten years earlier than him. With his current strength, unless it is one of the top few experts from the top ten, he would not be able to compete with anyone from other sects besides the Lingjiu Palace." Listening to Yue's assessment, Ling said indignantly, "How infuriating! Did that brat consume some kind of miraculous elixir? How could I possibly be surpassed by him? No, I must enter seclusion to practice! This is driving me crazy, it's simply too vexing!" Yue was immediately rendered speechless with laughter, then softly replied, "That's fine, we've been playing for too long recently. After a while, let's return together to enter seclusion and practice."
Ba Tian pondered: "I believe that, regardless of the circumstances, we cannot afford to wait. The NPC troops they have brought out today are quite numerous, and I trust that their stronghold currently has little defensive capability left. However, if we delay further and the three of them do not return, the stronghold will surely realize that something has gone awry. At that point, hiring a batch of system NPCs will cost us a fortune, and even if we have healed our injuries by then, the chances of completely annihilating them will be very low. Rather than that, it would be better to make a decision now: either we abandon the mission altogether, in which case we still have nearly fifty thousand taels of gains today, or we find the exact location of the stronghold while we still have combat capability, as there is still a significant chance based on the hoofprints left behind."
Yue'er and Ling suddenly exchanged glances that reflected their astonishment at the sight of a monster. Ling, somewhat skeptical, reached out to take the banknotes, and upon seeing that Yi Yun showed no signs of obstruction, but rather wore an apologetic expression, he lowered his head to check each banknote one by one before handing them to Yue'er. When Yue'er looked down, she noticed that each banknote bore the special mark of Feihe Bank, ensuring they were genuine. Unable to contain herself, she burst into laughter, while Ling stared at the laughing Yue'er with a peculiar expression. After laughing for a while, Yue'er noticed Yi Yun's puzzled look and covered her mouth to stifle her laughter again. Unable to hold back, she laughed uncontrollably, while Ling continued to gaze at her in a daze. After a moment, Yue'er, seeing Yi Yun's confused expression, once again covered her mouth and laughed. Yi Yun cautiously asked, "May I ask what is so amusing?" Just as Yue'er had stopped laughing, she couldn't help but burst into laughter again upon hearing this, while Ling, with a strange expression, said, "It's nothing, nothing at all." Yi Yun felt uncomfortable all over and stood up, saying, "Then I will take my leave, my friend is still waiting for me over there." After saying this, she turned back to the table of Ye Ling with a few steps. Ba Tian couldn't help but tease, "I didn't expect you to have some skills in charming girls, seeing how happy others are with your coaxing." Yi Yun replied seriously, "Don't talk nonsense, I owe Ling money, and I finally encountered her to repay it. I don't know what they find so funny, but never mind, let's continue eating." Ye Ling seemed to look at Yi Yun with some suspicion and asked, "Is she really not your beloved?" Yi Yun quickly denied it.
I can swear that I will command the three of them never to commit any more heinous acts from now on, and they will surely reform and become better individuals. Who among us is without faults?" The bandit leader continued to plead with tears in his eyes. Jianzi sighed and said, "Is it possible to consider this? After all, those three have put in a lot of hard work to reach this level of martial arts." While everyone was hesitating, Yiyun approached the bandit leader with paper and pen and said, "First, show your sincerity. I believe you can still write, and you know what to do without me explaining, right?" The bandit leader was momentarily taken aback, then without hesitation, picked up the paper and pen and quickly filled several sheets with writing.
Yue'er then spoke: "I will leave Yi Yun in your hands. This is the first time I am so solemnly recommending a talent, so please do not treat him poorly." Shangxin Duanchang chuckled sadly and replied, "Yue'er, rest assured, I will not mistreat him." Yue'er said with a smile, "That is best. I have matters to attend to, so I will not disturb you. Yi Yun, do your best here and follow Lord Shangxin Duanchang; your future will surely be bright. Hehe..." Saying this, she left the hall and disappeared from everyone's sight. Shangxin Duanchang observed Yi Yun for a moment and pondered, "I feel you look somewhat familiar; have we met before?" Yi Yun smiled faintly and replied, "I didn't expect your memory to be so good, remembering the appearance of one among the countless nameless individuals who have died at your hands." Shangxin Duanchang's expression darkened, but he soon laughed heartily, saying, "It seems you hold quite a grudge; then why do you still come to work for me?" "Wrong, I do not hold a grudge. Anyone who has insulted me, I will use the sword in my hand to regain my respect. So rest assured, when I am confident I can defeat you one day, I will certainly challenge you openly to a duel."
In the cold of Cui Lake, autumn leaves cover the ground, and the occasional falling of withered leaves constantly reminds one that it is indeed autumn. Yi Yun sits quietly by the lake, her body subtly glowing with a red light. She has long forgotten the concept of time; for her, there is no need to remember, nor is there time to do so. During her self-cultivation, if she were to speak or be distracted by other matters, it would halve the effectiveness of her practice. Originally, her progress in enhancing her martial arts level was already over forty times slower than that of others; if she were to waste time and further reduce her speed, it would be nothing short of a sin. During her self-cultivation, if she were to speak or be distracted by other matters, it would halve the effectiveness of her practice. Originally, her progress in enhancing her martial arts level was already over forty times slower than that of others; if she were to waste time and further reduce her speed, it would be nothing short of a sin
Night Spirit could not help but feel admiration for Yi Yun. In the world of martial arts, everyone longs for a coveted divine weapon. The fact that Yi Yun could place it before him and still refuse it shows that his heart is not driven by greed. Upon hearing this, Xiao Lin was about to get angry when a sigh came from inside the shop. Yi Yun recognized it as Lan's voice. "Yi Yun, I regard you as a confidant, yet I did not expect you to look down on me like this. Even so, you absolutely should accept this sword! Given your assistance to me, you deserve it! Consider it a repayment of my favor to you."
Gu Jian is known for his amiable nature and has won the hearts of many. He has single-handedly established the manor for over ten years, and everyone within the manor obeys him. Although his strength does not rank among the top masters in the martial world, he is not weak either. When the crowd heard Gu Jian speak in such a manner, despite their dissatisfaction, they refrained from voicing it and could only respond in unison. Gu Jian sighed inwardly, hoping that he had not invited a young novice who is still wet behind the ears, completely indifferent to winning people's hearts, and has offended so many within the manor all at once.
The ancient sword speaks solemnly: "There is no need for further discussion; my capabilities have their limits. The martial world is becoming increasingly chaotic, and what the future holds is uncertain. If I continue to hold the position of the master of the manor, it is unknown whether the manor can survive in the future. Please be mindful of how you address me; I am currently the Deputy Master Gu. The Master has indeed exercised some degree of authority, but at this moment, we cannot define whether his actions are right or wrong. I hope you all fulfill your respective duties and do not act according to his wishes." Please be mindful of how you address me; I am currently the Deputy Master Gu. The Master has indeed exercised some degree of authority, but at this moment, we cannot define whether his actions are right or wrong. I hope you all fulfill your respective duties and do not act according to his wishes.
Upon hearing Yi Yun's agreement, Xiao Lin happily immersed herself in her work again. The others sat for a while, and when Xiao Lin finished her tasks, Yi Yun invited everyone to the Yue Lai Inn, where she had reserved a high-class private room to host them.
The ceremony officially commenced after the remarks from several prominent leaders. Following brief speeches from the eight newly appointed leaders, the former leader formally passed on the mantle, and immediately, everyone in the entire Chaotic Era received notifications regarding the change of leadership.
Section 3, Loyalty
In a rhythmic admiration, it is evident that the psychological resilience of Ye Ling and her companions is exceptional. Even in the face of danger, no one has faltered or panicked due to worry, each steadfastly maintaining their position without a hint of disorder. Ye Ling and Tian Ya swiftly severed the legs of the two bandits' horses, and their subsequent rapid attacks inflicted significant injuries to the bandits' shoulders and thighs. The long swords in their hands struck mercilessly, unleashing a series of even more ferocious attacks. In no time, they had subdued the two bandits, each of whom was rendered immobile and thrown into their defensive circle. Meanwhile, Ye Ling's figure darted towards the bandit who had injured Jian Zi. Knowing that Jian Zi's attempt had failed, Ye Ling surmised that this bandit was likely skilled in horsemanship. As she lunged forward, she raised her sword, unleashing a wave of sword energy aimed at the horse's neck. The bandit desperately tried to control the horse to leap high, but Ye Ling's movement changed; she transformed her sword strike into a thrust while channeling her energy forward. The horse, half-leaping, let out a painful cry as it was struck by the sword, collapsing to the ground with a mournful wail before falling silent. The bandit on the horse was caught off guard and fell heavily. Tian Ya shouted as he threw his long sword towards Ye Ling. Without even looking, Ye Ling swiftly turned and caught the sword in her hand, quickly pointing it at the throat of the bandit who was just attempting to rise. She shouted, "You three, immediately command the NPCs to stop, or face instant death!"
Yi Yun glanced at the four injured disciples of the Ancient Tomb and truly felt a sense of guilt in her heart. Nodding, she said, "You make a valid point!" As she spoke, she took out ten silver notes from her pocket and handed them to Ling and Sha respectively. Sha smiled and was about to decline, but Ling kept giving her meaningful glances from the side, so she accepted them. The four disciples of the Ancient Tomb applied some medicine and practiced their internal energy, and their injuries had improved significantly. Ling then said, "Next, you should treat us to a meal and set up a table with good wine." Without a second thought, Yi Yun quickly agreed and led everyone into the Gathering Fragrance Building. Along the way, she occasionally heard laughter from the few women behind her, which made her feel somewhat gloomy. After the dishes were served, Yi Yun, who had been silent for a long time, suddenly exclaimed, "Alright, Ling, you tricked me! How is it my fault that you all fought? It wasn't because I instigated your verbal clash." "Hahaha..." The table of women burst into uncontrollable laughter, and Yue'er, with tears of laughter in her eyes, said, "Yi Yun, you, you only just realized it now." "No way! How is it my fault that you all fought? It wasn't because I instigated your verbal clash." "Hahaha..." The table of women burst into uncontrollable laughter, and Yue'er, with tears of laughter in her eyes, said, "Yi Yun, you, you only just realized it now." "No! Ling, Sha, you must return my hard-earned money to me; this is fraud! This is too much, taking advantage of my kindness to play tricks on me." Ling immediately replied, "Not returning it! What can you do to me? Bite me?" Sha seemed to be influenced by Ling as well, turning her head away to pretend not to see Yi Yun's pleading eyes, but the corners of her mouth couldn't help but curl up in amusement. Seeing that there was no hope of getting it back, Yi Yun could only embrace her pain and curse herself for being foolish. Thinking that there was only over two hundred thousand left in her pocket, she couldn't help but feel a pang of heartache.
On that day, Muses entered the Cold Green Lake with a song, carrying food and wine, only to discover that the food and wine brought last time had become inedible, clearly untouched by Yi Yun. Unable to suppress a frown, after a moment of hesitation, he said: "Senior Brother! Senior Brother!" Yi Yun opened her eyes with some reluctance, asking, "What is it, Muses?" "Did you not eat the food and wine I brought last time?" "I’m sorry, I was too focused on my training to notice." Muses made a helpless expression, then suddenly remembered something and said urgently: "Did you not see the note I left?" Yi Yun's expression changed, "What note? I didn’t see it." "That day, someone delivered a note to Wudang, specifically looking for you. I took it for you; it was from someone named Lan, saying that on the first day of the tenth month, he would hold a wedding with Xiao Lin, and he hopes you will not miss the appointment."
Heartbroken and with tears in his eyes, he fixed his gaze on Yi Yun and nodded, saying: "Very well, your eyes tell me that you are indeed a proud and arrogant person. The management of the Ancient Sword Villa is entrusted to you, and I hope your performance will not disappoint Yue Er's assurance." Beside him, Yun Long's eyes revealed jealousy upon hearing this, yet he dared not say much, only casting a resentful glance at Yi Yun. The Ancient Sword Villa is a medium-sized faction within the Anti-Alliance, with over 3,000 members. However, the faction leader, believing he lacked the ability to manage the villa well, recently proposed to step down, hoping that the Anti-Alliance would send a capable expert to take over and elevate the villa to a new level. Yun Long had long been interested in the Ancient Sword Villa and had been networking within the faction to gain support, but today, a nameless newcomer suddenly emerged and snatched away what he considered his own, how could he not feel hatred?
With a sudden exclamation, Yi Yun asked, "What is today's date?" Mu Se pondered for a moment and replied, "It is September 4th." Yi Yun contemplated for a moment and said, "There is still time, thank you, Mu Se." "Senior brother, have something to eat before continuing your practice," Mu Se suggested. Looking into Mu Se's caring eyes, Yi Yun couldn't help but feel soft-hearted and nodded, saying, "Alright, let's eat together." Following Yi Yun's words, Mu Se sat down, and as Yi Yun ate, she listened to Mu Se talk about various matters of the martial world. Reflecting on her own prolonged disconnection from the martial world, she listened attentively. Naturally, she did not forget to divide her focus to continue cultivating her internal martial arts, even though the effectiveness was halved, it was still much better than not practicing at all.
Suddenly rising, somewhat clumsily, she engaged in combat with the imperial guards in a new manner. After several days of this, she finally achieved remarkable results, being able to consistently take the lives of the imperial guards within four strikes. However, the inherent lack of power could only be compensated by improving her martial arts level. The energy released by a single strike was no longer capable of inflicting greater damage on the imperial guards, and thus, Yi Yun had no choice but to work diligently. Every time she ate, Yi Yun found it strange that the person she encountered while practicing her skills was an oddity, and now, the person she met while training was also peculiar. Despite being in close proximity for over ten days, he had not spoken a single word to her. It was truly bizarre. Yi Yun thought aimlessly for a while, completely forgetting that she herself had not spoken a word to anyone either.
As spring departs and winter arrives, it is already a time of heavy snowfall. The entirety of Wudang Mountain is blanketed in pure white, rendering the world particularly desolate. Beside the clear palace on the high mountain, a few pine trees and the sound of a bell can be heard.
The women observed that the two spoke in a very amicable tone, showing no signs of their earlier conflict affecting their relationship, and they all breathed a sigh of relief. "Yiyun, your internal strength is quite profound, I truly did not expect that the internal skills of the Wudang Sect could be so formidable. You were able to withstand the Eight Desolations and Six Harmonies without losing ground. What is even more astonishing is your speed; it is simply too fast. To what level have you cultivated your finger technique? It has a remarkably unexpected effect." Yiyun felt a bit shy from the praise of Yue'er and softly replied, "I have cultivated the Taiji Divine Skill to level 110, so my speed is fast partly because of my diligent practice, and partly because I was born with a very high attribute of 50. I have heard that this is the limit for innate attributes. My finger technique is also at level 110." Yue'er was deeply impressed; it is indeed rare for someone to cultivate internal skills on their own, and Yiyun had managed to elevate her internal skill to such a high level. She then sighed and said, "What a pity, if you could learn the Taiji Sword Technique and the Pure Yang Divine Skill, with your determination, you would probably be over level 90 by now, and your strength would certainly be several times greater than it is now."
Dali Bank, Yi Yun took out the stored clothes and weapons, and as she touched the garments in her hands, she thought of Xiao Lin again. "Xiao Lin, starting today, I will wear the clothes and weapons you gave me; I now have the ability to protect them." Yi Yun, carrying her bundle, still dressed in her Insight outfit, stepped into Xiao Lin's shop, but there was no sign of Xiao Lin. After calling out a few times, Lan, looking haggard, walked out from within. Yi Yun's brow furrowed, "Lan, what happened? Where is Xiao Lin?" Lan's eyes were dull and sorrowful, "Xiao Lin has been taken away." Yi Yun felt a chill in her heart, her pupils constricting sharply, "Has someone discovered your identity? Did they come for you?" Lan's pale lips moved slightly, "Yes, it must have been the anti-alliance's doing." Yi Yun gritted her teeth in anger, "Where is their headquarters? Come with me to rescue her!"
Section 7, Appointment.
I have something to say. You can complete your task and receive your reward by simply capturing me. As for my three brothers, although they have killed many under my command, they have never harmed any innocent women. Those women were kept only because I needed them. You can do whatever you want to me, but I hope you can spare the three of them. If it were not for me, they would never have turned to a life of crime. I led them down this path, hoping to bear the blame alone. They have endured too much hardship in their pursuit of martial arts, and to see them die and be reborn like this, I have no face to meet them! I implore all the heroes to show mercy.
It is still quite considerable, then I am willing to take on this task
Including Gu Jian, everyone was taken aback, never expecting that Yi Yun would actually dissolve the Elder Council. This was a rule established since the founding of the sect by Gu Jian, which allowed the Elder Council to supervise the merits and demerits of the sect leader. Furthermore, when the three elders reached a unanimous decision and had sufficient reasons, they had the right to veto the sect leader's decisions. Seeing the expressions of the crowd, Yi Yun understood their thoughts and chuckled, saying: "These sect rules are only effective before my succession. From the moment I take over, everything will be determined by me. I do not need a meaningless Elder Council to exist. Whether you accept it or not, unless the alliance leader deposes me from my position as sect leader, you will only do as I say." Gu Jian sighed inwardly upon hearing this, but still immediately spoke up: "We will comply immediately. If there are no other matters, we will take our leave now." Yi Yun gently waved her hand, and Gu Jian led the others out.
We must identify the traitor! It is better to kill the wrong person than to let the guilty go free!" The Purple Heart person angrily addressed the core members of the gang. A cold glint flashed in Blood Blade's eyes, wishing to capture the traitor and subject them to a thousand cuts. The news of Little Knife's death has now spread throughout the martial world, and the Anti-Zhongguo Alliance will no longer hold back, certain to launch a fierce offensive against the strength of the Zhongguo Gang. Even if victory can still be achieved, the losses will be severe, and it is impossible to recover as quickly as the Anti-Alliance. Currently, the Zhongguo Gang is powerful, and if it suffers heavy damage, more people from the martial world will join in to attack the drowning dog and throw themselves into the Anti-Alliance forces. This is undoubtedly the greatest crisis the Zhongguo Gang has faced since its establishment!
After reviewing the accounts and internal records of the villa, Yi Yun could not help but reveal a bitter smile. "No wonder there are only over 3,000 members to this day; with such financial resources, how could there be any greater development? Ha, they even set up some sort of Elder Council and started playing at democracy." Gu Jian, the Third Elder, along with the three Hall Masters and five Incense Masters, looked at the fluctuating expressions on Yi Yun's face, feeling increasingly uneasy. Yi Yun set down the booklet in her hand and spoke: "From today onwards, Gu Jian will serve as the Vice Master of the villa, and all affairs may be managed under my authorization. The Elder Council will be dissolved starting today, and instead, they will take on the roles of the Financial Hall Master and Vice Master. Everything else will remain unchanged for the time being; I will announce the revised villa regulations the day after tomorrow. If there is nothing else, you may leave for now."
The level of the soft sword has been raised to 110. Yi Yun gently opens her eyes, draws the long sword from her waist, and channels her energy into the sword, shouting as she swings it. Eight streams of energy erupt from Yi Yun and the sword, with a tree 50 meters ahead shattering with a loud crash. A faint smile of satisfaction appears at the corner of Yi Yun's mouth, and she then sheathes her sword, takes a deep breath of fresh water by the lake, and sits down again, immersing herself in the realm of self-cultivation.
Yunlong, feeling aggrieved, said: "Alliance Leader, how can you let this kid bear such a heavy responsibility! You clearly know that I have always hoped to manage the Ancient Sword Villa, yet you still..." Heartbroken, Shouchang Yang gestured for Yunlong to be quiet, "I want to know why he joined us. Without granting him a certain status within the alliance, it is impossible to know the answer. I will not treat you unfairly; from now on, you will be in charge of Haitan. Do a good job. Don't forget, after all, you are my trusted aide." Upon hearing this, Yunlong was overjoyed. Haitan was a place he had never dared to dream of managing, with a gang of forty thousand members, ranked definitely within the top twenty in the martial world. Instantly, Yunlong had no more grievances.
A group of people returned to the capital's yamen and submitted their tasks. In light of their selfless performance, in addition to the original 200,000 taels, they were awarded an extra 100,000 taels. After selling the weapons and equipment they had obtained, they gained over 40,000 taels of silver. In high spirits, they entered the Gathering Fragrance Tower and ordered a lavish feast to celebrate the successful completion of their mission. Jianzi remarked, "Yeling was right; money should be taken with a clear conscience. Although the reward is much less than that sum, I feel very comfortable inside. To be honest, I was indeed tempted back then." Kaizi downed a large cup of wine and, feeling ashamed, said, "Jianzi, you are fortunate. I almost couldn't help but persuade Yeling to keep that sum of money. Looking back now, I truly feel ashamed! Money should indeed be taken with a clear conscience. Just think, if we had kept that sum of money back then, we would certainly feel very uneasy now, guilty towards our own conscience!"
Section 8, Turning Point
"Master Zhuang, Miss Zhi Jiansha from the Heavenly Maiden Sect's Yunu Hall has come to seek an audience," reported Yi Yun, standing at the door with the ancient sword in hand. "I will be there shortly," Yi Yun replied. Just as her words fell, a female voice interjected, "There is no need for that; why must we be so formal between us?" Gu Jian was taken aback and turned to look, only to find that Zhi Jiansha had somehow approached within ten steps of him. 'The top ten masters of the Ancient Tomb Sect truly live up to their reputation; my skills are simply not comparable,' he thought. Zhi Jiansha walked to the door and gently pushed it open. Yi Yun said in a low voice, "Gu Jian, you may leave; do not disturb us unless there is something particularly important." Gu Jian complied and stepped back, but could not help but speculate about the relationship between the two. 'A lone man and a woman in the same room; could it be that Miss Sha is the lover of Master Zhuang?'
Enduring the pain in her chest, Yi Yun built a fire, separately fed the three individuals some clear water, and helped them lean against the rocks to lie down. She then turned her gaze to the three bound robbers, pondering for a moment before asking the still conscious Bai He, "Can you all unblock acupoints?" Bai He was taken aback and replied, "We all can, but the time required varies depending on our levels of skill." Yi Yun shifted her focus back to the three robbers, "Then, it is very likely that they can as well." Saying this, she unsheathed her sword and walked over to the three robbers under the puzzled gazes of Bai He and the others, and without hesitation, she fiercely stabbed down at their legs and arms. The three immediately let out cries of agony. After a moment of contemplation, she turned to the still conscious Bai He and asked again, "Can you all unblock acupoints?" Bai He, still taken aback, reiterated, "We all can, but the time required varies depending on our levels of skill." Yi Yun returned her gaze to the three robbers, "Then, it is very likely that they can as well." She then unsheathed her sword and approached the three robbers again, stabbing down at their legs and arms without hesitation, causing them to scream in pain. Unfazed, Yi Yun took out a hemostatic medicine to temporarily stop the bleeding from the three, performed a simple bandaging of their wounds, and then ignored them. Turning back, she noticed Bai He and the others looking at her with some fear, and with a calm demeanor, she took out the hemostatic medicine to temporarily stop the bleeding from the three, performed a simple bandaging of their wounds, and then ignored them. When she turned back, she saw Bai He and the others looking at her with some fear, and she couldn't help but smile, saying, "This is unavoidable. The Night Spirits do not know how long this journey will take. If those three manage to unblock their acupoints, we four will have no fighting capability left, and at that time, wouldn’t we be at their mercy? The only way is to completely strip them of their ability to escape and attack; even if they unblock their acupoints, it won’t matter." The three rationally accepted Yi Yun's explanation, but emotionally, they still felt that she seemed a bit too ruthless and heartless, which inevitably caused them to feel a slight fear.
The announcement of the new reforms within the ancient sword manor caused a tremendous uproar, with the members of the manor exhibiting extreme agitation, particularly regarding the unreasonable renaming of the manor, which filled them with righteous indignation. Ancient Sword managed to calm the emotions of the crowd with great difficulty, returning to his residence physically and mentally exhausted, bitterly smiling to himself. 'I never expected that after stepping down, I would be even more fatigued than before, with even more matters to handle.' However, what troubled Ancient Sword the most was the reform of the manor. The monthly salaries of all members holding important positions within the manor had been significantly reduced, with the deducted portion supposedly being replaced by a contribution bonus. Nevertheless, among a group, the loyalty of capable members who could hold key positions was of utmost importance. After being stirred up by Yi Yun, they would undoubtedly feel discontent. What impressed Ancient Sword was the reform of the financial hall, which took commerce as its starting point, utilizing the current funds to invest in the market for the acquisition and resale of various goods. This was evidently more valuable than the past, which relied solely on the limited production and sale capabilities of the skilled talents within the manor.
After two months, Yiyun successfully traveled back and forth between the capital and Dali four times. With the help of Guan Shi and Xiao Lin, several business ventures yielded significant profits. At this point, Yiyun's wealth had surpassed five million, making her a small fortune even in the martial world. Seeing that Xiao Lin was close to becoming a master, Yiyun decided to postpone her journey and specifically travel to several cities that specialized in materials to purchase the necessary crafting supplies for Xiao Lin. One day, Yiyun entered Xiao Lin's tailor shop, only to unexpectedly encounter Ye Ling, Ba Tian, and Liu Zi along with their group. "Yiyun, they said they are your friends. I saw them asking about your residence on the street, so I brought them here," Xiao Lin said as she looked up at Yiyun before returning to her work. Yiyun happily stepped into the shop, warmly greeted the group, and the atmosphere in the shop became very harmonious.
Old Master Gu, this person is truly excessive. The Elder Council has established the estate for over ten years without making any mistakes. Why should it be deemed worthless just because of his single statement
Three months later, at the cold place of Cuihu, Shaz stopped the movement of his hands. "I am leaving now, I have saved over thirty million learning points, enough for a long time of self-study." In Yiyun's heart, it felt as if a heavy stone was pressing down, making her very uncomfortable. After a long silence, she finally spoke: "Then we shall meet again in the Jianghu." Sha smiled slightly, took a few steps, and then said earnestly: "In the future, if you have time, you can come to the Ancient Tomb Sect to find me, just mention my name to the sister guarding the gate." "Yes, I will." Yiyun watched as Sha's figure disappeared from her sight, sorting out her inner emotions. Unknowingly, she had come to regard Sha as a spiritual support, and the taste of parting was always so painful. Yiyun felt that after Sha left, she couldn't muster the spirit to practice. Suddenly, the scene of Xiaodao sitting quietly in the attic flashed in her mind, and she was instantly jolted. "How could I be like this? Parting and reuniting are always inevitable. Although people are separated by vast distances, will friendship change because of this?" Yiyun put away her sorrowful thoughts and devoted herself entirely to her practice. ... A master is built upon solitude and loneliness ... Suddenly, the scene of Xiaodao sitting quietly in the attic flashed in her mind, and she was instantly jolted. "How could I be like this? Parting and reuniting are always inevitable. Although people are separated by vast distances, will friendship change because of this?" Yiyun put away her sorrowful thoughts and devoted herself entirely to her practice. ... A master is built upon solitude and loneliness ...