Quick Travel to the Clouds

Chapter 665 Fame Spreads Throughout the World 13

The inscription on the imperial desk, awe-inspiring to imperial power, and the name "Ling Han" and the mystery of the "Tianji Sect" spread like wildfire, instantly reaching every corner of the martial arts world and the imperial court.

However, the instigator of this turmoil, Yun Chu, has long since disappeared into the vast world of martial arts, leaving no trace.

She did not immediately return to the Tianji Sect, which consisted of only the father and his two sons but had now become famous because of her.

Although the mission was completed and the "famous throughout the world" points were credited to her account, her heart was frozen after the emotional memories were deleted, and she had no urgency to go home.

She chose to continue her travels, like a sword without a sheath, honing herself in the mortal world, and following a certain almost instinctive principle in her heart—to help the weak and punish the strong.

Her journey was not aimless. With her extraordinary perception and calm analysis, she was always able to capture those faint cries that were obscured by power and violence.

At the canal dock, she single-handedly defeated the gang that had been entrenched for years and oppressed the laborers, distributing their ill-gotten gains to the ragged porters.

Passing through drought-stricken villages, she uncovered evidence of local gentry colluding with the government and monopolizing water resources, forcing them to open their granaries and distribute the water fairly.

When she encountered bandits who robbed her of their way and used cruel methods, she showed no mercy and left no survivors. She only left the bandit leader hanging by the roadside as a warning to others.

She did not publicize her name, kept a low profile, and often left behind only a vague legend of a woman in green robes wielding a sword.

Her sword was fast, accurate, and cold, just like her state of mind at that moment—no anger, no pity, only the correction of "reason" and the intervention of the imbalance of "strength and weakness."

This almost divinely impartial and ruthless justice inspires even greater awe.

During a chase after a group of roaming flower thieves, Yun Chu encountered Gao Min.

It was in an ancient town in the Jiangnan water region, under a hazy night sky.

Yun Chu had already located the thief's hiding place and was about to make a move when she saw another agile figure sneak into the house before her.

The figure moved with the agility of a swallow, the swordsmanship swift and ruthless, carrying an undeniable righteous fury.

Yun Chu remained hidden in the shadows, observing calmly.

The woman was about seventeen or eighteen years old, with a dashing and stubborn air about her, like a woman from the martial arts world.

She was engaged in a fierce battle with several thieves. Although she was skilled in martial arts, her opponents were numerous, powerful, and extremely cunning. She gradually fell into a disadvantageous position, and bloodstains appeared on her shoulder.

Just as a thief was about to launch a sneak attack from behind, a green shadow cut into the fray like a ghost.

"laugh!"

With a flash of sword light, the attacker's wrist was precisely pierced, and he screamed as he dropped his knife and retreated.

Gao Min felt the pressure ease and turned around in surprise. She saw a girl in a blue dress with a cold expression standing in the moonlight, holding a sword. Her posture was as upright as a pine tree, and her eyes were as calm as a deep pool, without the slightest ripple.

"Thank you..." Gao Min said breathlessly.

Yun Chu nodded slightly in response, her gaze already fixed on the remaining thieves.

“The two on the left have weak lower bodies; the one on the right rear is the leader.” Her voice was calm, yet carried an undeniable accuracy.

The ensuing battles became a precise and targeted elimination operation led by Yun Chu.

She didn't display any earth-shattering martial arts skills, but every move she made was perfectly timed—whether it was parrying, striking pressure points, or guiding Gao Min's blade—she could always dismantle the opponent's attack at the most crucial moment and create an opportunity to kill.

Gao Min felt an extraordinary rapport with this unfamiliar girl, as if her every intention could be understood and supported by the other party.

The battle ended quickly, and all the bandits were either killed or subdued.

"My name is Gao Min. I have been learning martial arts from my master since I was a child. This is my first time going down the mountain."

Gao Min has a cheerful personality, and she was especially enthusiastic towards her savior, saying, "Girl, you're incredibly skilled! May I ask your name?"

"Yun Chu." She didn't hide anything, but that was all.

Perhaps out of gratitude for being saved, or perhaps out of admiration for Yun Chu's skills and unique composure, Gao Min offered to travel with Yun Chu.

Yun Chu had no objection to this; she needed a guide familiar with the local situation, and Gao Min's enthusiasm and sense of justice did not conflict with her "helping the weak and punishing the strong" behavior.

The journey through the martial world is long and arduous. With Gao Min by her side, Yun Chu's journey doesn't seem to have gained much warmth, but it undoubtedly adds a bit more efficiency and... "a touch of everyday life."

Gao Min has a cheerful and talkative personality. She is very knowledgeable about the stories of the martial arts world and local customs, and can always easily find out the information that Yun Chu needs from passersby.

Yun Chu's calmness and precision acted like a reliable protective umbrella, allowing Gao Min to act chivalrously without any worries.

On this day, the two arrived at a bustling canal port town.

This place is a bustling hub of merchants and people, a melting pot of all walks of life.

As usual, Gao Min went to teahouses and taverns to inquire about any recent injustices, while Yun Chu habitually observed the diverse and chaotic places like markets and docks.

In the evening, Gao Min brought back news, her brows furrowed: "Yun Chu, I heard that recently, several girls and young children have gone missing in nearby villages and towns. The government has been investigating for a long time, but they only say that it may be a child trafficker, but they have no clue."

"Some fishermen said they saw inconspicuous awning boats sneaking around the abandoned No. 3 pier at night."

Yun Chu listened quietly, her eyes showing no emotion, and simply said, "Go and take a look."

That night, the moon was dark and the wind was high; only the mournful sound of waves crashing against the wooden posts could be heard at the abandoned No. 3 pier.

The air was thick with the damp, musty smell and the fishy odor. Two figures slipped in silently like raccoon dogs; it was Yun Chu and Gao Min.

Yun Chu's senses spread out like an invisible spider web, quickly locking onto a small, seemingly dilapidated boat moored at the innermost part of the harbor, which was actually quite deep in the water.

There was a faint light on the ship, and a few suppressed breaths, interspersed with faint sobs and fearful whimpers belonging to children.

"There are at least five guards on the ship, armed with weapons. The prisoners are in the lower deck, numbering... no fewer than ten." Yun Chu's voice was extremely low as she accurately reported the intelligence.

Enrage surged in Gao Min's eyes as she gripped the knife tightly: "These damned beasts!"

"I'll draw their attention from the front, you dive into the lower deck to rescue them." Yun Chu's instructions were concise and clear. Gao Min's lightness skill was better, making her more suitable for moving in confined spaces and protecting vulnerable hostages.

With the plan set, Yun Chu no longer concealed herself. With a flash of green, she appeared directly at the bow of the awning boat like a ghost.

"Who goes there!" The guards on the ship were shocked and drew their weapons.

Their response was Yun Chu's sword flashing like lightning. She didn't aim for the kill; the tip of her sword would either nip at the wrist or pierce the back of the knee, precisely dismantling their fighting ability. Occasionally, the scabbard would strike acupoints, instantly paralyzing the opponent.

Her movements were fluid and graceful, as if she were walking on flat ground on the swaying deck. The five guards couldn't even last ten breaths under her watchful eye before collapsing to the ground, groaning incessantly.

At the same time, Gao Min had already slipped into the lower deck from the stern like a gust of wind.

A strong smell of mildew and filth hit her face. By the faint moonlight filtering through the cracks in the hatch, she saw more than a dozen women and children crammed into the lower deck, their hands and feet bound and their mouths gagged. Their eyes were filled with terror, like frightened fawns.

Upon seeing Gao Min wielding a knife, he trembled with fear.

"Don't be afraid! We're here to save you!" Gao Min quickly lowered her voice to reassure them, and with a swift movement of her steel knife, she cleanly severed the ropes binding the girl closest to her.

At this moment, a sudden change occurred!

A guard who had been lying near the cabin door, seemingly unconscious, suddenly sprang up and viciously stabbed Gao Min, who was cutting the rope with his back to him, with a dagger!

"Amin, watch out for the left rear!" Yun Chu's cold voice pierced the cabin with precision, like an ice line.

Upon hearing the sound, Gao Min almost instinctively twisted her wrist to the side, slashing her steel blade back—a crisp "clang!" deflected the deadly dagger. She broke out in a cold sweat; had Yun Chu not warned her…

The attacker, seeing that his first strike had missed, revealed a fierce glint in his eyes and tried to pounce again, but then felt a numbness on the back of his neck. Yun Chu, who had appeared at the hatch at some unknown time, had struck his pressure point with the hilt of her sword and knocked him unconscious. He collapsed to the ground.

"Cleanup complete. Get everyone out of here as soon as possible." Yun Chu stood at the hatch, the moonlight outlining her cool and aloof figure, like a guardian angel.

Gao Min steadied herself and sped up the rescue of everyone.

The rescued women and children were initially a little flustered, but under Gao Min's gentle yet firm guidance, they quickly calmed down, supported each other, and followed her staggering out of the hold.

When they saw the guards lying haphazardly on the deck, and Yun Chu standing calmly with her sword in hand, their eyes were filled with gratitude and awe at having survived such a calamity.

The subsequent events proceeded smoothly.

Yun Chu and Gao Min placed the abducted women and children in a reliable charity in the town and left them enough money. At the same time, they anonymously notified the government of the unconscious and tied-up kidnappers, along with their boats—of course, with conclusive evidence, the government had no choice but to take action.

After this incident, the story of the "Ice and Fire Duo" secretly rescuing abducted women and children began to circulate quietly along the banks of the canal.

People don't know their exact names, only that there is a cold, icy girl in green with divine swordsmanship, and a fiery, straightforward woman with sharp knife skills, who are dedicated to preserving a sliver of clarity and hope for humanity in this turbid world.

Gao Min looked at the people reunited with their families, weeping with joy, and felt a sense of accomplishment. She looked at Yun Chu beside her, who still had no expression, and couldn't help but ask, "Yun Chu, don't you feel happy to see them rescued?"

Yun Chu turned to look at her, her gaze still calm and unwavering: "The matter is resolved, as expected. Why be happy?"

Gao Min was speechless for a moment, then chuckled. She gradually realized that Yun Chu's "coldness" was not heartlessness, but rather another kind of... unique way of doing things that she could not fully understand, yet trusted implicitly.

To be able to walk alongside such a person is a blessing for the martial world, and also a blessing for Gao Min. The two figures once again plunged into the vast road ahead, continuing their journey of swordsmanship.

Time flies, and years pass quickly. Through the trials and tribulations of the martial world, the name of the "Ice and Fire Duo" has become increasingly renowned, a beautiful sight in the righteous martial arts world, and a symbol that strikes fear into the hearts of evil villains.

Yun Chu was always that calm, precise, unsheathed sword, eliminating injustices along the way with a near-divine impartiality.

As Gao Min fought alongside Yun Chu and other close friends, her martial arts skills improved, and she became more composed and capable. Only in front of Yun Chu and other close friends did she reveal her innate cheerfulness and enthusiasm.

The bonds of fate often grow tighter without us even realizing it.

Because of her connection with Yun Chu, Gao Min accompanied her back to the Tianji Sect several times. The sect was no longer desolate, but rather shrouded in mystery due to the legend of "Ling Han".

At that time, although the Tianji Sect was still small in number, more and more people came to visit and make friends with it. Yun Qingshan and his son were busy dealing with the situation, and the sect gradually showed signs of revitalization.

During this process, Gao Min and Yun Zheng, two people who were originally on parallel paths, began to intersect more and more.

Yun Zheng inherited his father's composure and sense of responsibility, silently supporting the affairs inside and outside the sect. His concern for and pride in his younger sister Yun Chu, as well as his vision for the development of the sect, deeply attracted Gao Min.

Gao Min's brightness, chivalry, and vitality shone into Yun Zheng's rigorous life like sunshine.

Yun Chu observed coldly without intervening. Only when Gao Min mentioned Yun Zheng to her with some troubles did she calmly analyze, "My brother, of upright character, is trustworthy." This was the closest she could give to "approval."

As the saying goes, things fell into place naturally, and a beautiful marriage was thus formed.

Dressed in red and riding a fine horse, the chivalrous Gao Min married into the Tianji Sect, becoming Yun Chu's rightful sister-in-law.

It is common knowledge in the martial arts world that the "Ice and Fire Duo" have not disappeared; it's just that the "fire" has found a warmer home and its bond with the Tianji Sect has deepened.

Several years later, the sect leader Yun Qingshan felt that he was getting old, and seeing that although his daughter Yun Chu was aloof, her martial arts, wisdom and prestige were enough to win people's respect, and she was also capable of bringing glory to the sect, he formally passed the position of sect leader to Yun Chu.

Yun Chu showed little excitement upon assuming the position of sect leader, as if she were simply accepting a task that was taken for granted. Relying on the vast martial arts knowledge accumulated through the system and her management methods that were ahead of their time, she began to systematically rebuild the Heavenly Mechanism Sect.

She expanded the sect and established more rigorous rules and promotion system.

On the day he opened the mountain and accepted disciples, the name "Ling Han" and the mysterious background of the "Tianji Sect" attracted so many people who came to become his disciples that they almost broke down the mountain gate.

Yun Chu selects disciples without regard to family background or wealth, only testing their character, comprehension, and innate talent. The standards are strict, but once they enter the sect, they can receive the most systematic and individualized training.

She honed the fundamentals of martial arts to perfection, emphasizing the equal importance of theory and practice. She established the "Martial Arts Hall," "Scripture Pavilion," and "Hundred Arts Pavilion," encouraging her disciples to explore miscellaneous subjects such as medicine, mechanisms, and formations while mastering the martial arts of their own school, thus broadening their horizons.

Disciples of this sect may not have the highest level of internal strength in every generation when they travel the martial world, but their solid foundation, precise and efficient fighting style, and profound understanding of martial arts often enable them to challenge opponents of higher levels, making them stand out from the crowd.

Under Yun Chu's leadership, the Tianji Sect grew and expanded at a steady and astonishing pace.

It does not participate in pointless conflicts in the martial arts world, yet no one dares to provoke it easily. This is because its disciples are outstanding and have profound foundations, and because its reclusive sect leader, Yun Chu, although he has not truly made a move for many years, is already unfathomably powerful in everyone's imagination.

The Tianji Sect eventually became one of the most prestigious martial arts centers in the Jianghu, transcending worldly affairs and highly respected.

Gao Min and Yun Zheng became Yun Chu's most capable assistants. One was in charge of external affairs and the education of disciples, while the other managed internal affairs and businesses. Their loving relationship was a well-known story in the martial arts world.

They watched as Yun Chu remained unmarried throughout her life, devoting all her energy to the sect. They felt pity for her, but they also understood that this was perhaps the path Yun Chu had chosen.

Spring goes and autumn comes, black hair turns to snow.

Yun Chu spent eighty-three years in this world.

In the final moments of her life, she dismissed everyone around her and sat alone in the sect leader's meditation room.

The room was spotless, except for the Cold Moon Sword hanging on the wall, which still gleamed with a cold light.

Her face had aged, marked by the wrinkles of time, but her eyes remained clear and calm, as if they had seen through more than eighty years of worldly changes, remaining undisturbed.

There were no dying words, no lingering attachment to the mortal world. Her life was like a precisely functioning classic; the mission was accomplished, the sect prospered, and now it was simply time to close the book.

She slowly closed her eyes, her breath receding like the tide, finally returning to eternal silence.

Outside the window, the melodious chimes of the Tianji Sect rang out, echoing between the valley and the sea of ​​clouds, as if bidding farewell to the legendary sect leader who led the sect to glory.

When news of Yun Chu's passing spread, the martial arts world was shaken, and both righteous and evil people mourned her passing.

The entire Tianji Sect wore mourning clothes, and cries of grief never ceased.