A village akin to a hidden paradise appeared before Lin Fan’s eyes. From above, it seemed almost unreal; this village indeed cannot be found on any map, no matter which one you look at.

"Is this the Yun Sect?" Lin Fan asked Yun Qingyao on his back.

"Yes." Yun Qingyao nodded. She looked at the village in front of her, involuntarily revealing a joyful expression. It seemed the village was perfectly fine, quietly bathing in the morning dew, which brought her a sigh of relief.

Thus, in the time that followed, Lin Fan carried Yun Qingyao down the mountain and headed towards the village.

On the surface, the Yun Sect seems nothing special, just an ordinary village with an older architectural style. The ancient style, however, has not vanished with Huaxia civilization continuing its legacy. It’s noticeable in many places, so it doesn’t stand out particularly.

A tranquil mountain village where villagers work at sunrise and rest at sunset, isolated from worldly affairs, living life seemingly like immortals.

In fact, it is not so.

Beneath the peaceful surface, this village is far from simple, for they are not ordinary mountain folk; they are Martial Artists.

Yun Qingyao told Lin Fan that the Yun Sect is actually a family, also called the Yun Clan. Yun Clan members are destined to become Martial Artists from birth. They follow ancient teachings, and everyone must practice martial arts; it can be said that practicing martial arts is the daily routine of Yun Clan members.

Every year, internal competitions are held within the Yun Clan. Winners receive rich rewards to motivate clan members to work hard in martial arts.

As a Hidden Sect, preserving the Martial Arts tradition is always the top priority. The surviving Martial Arts influence that has withstood the test of time holds martial arts as their foundation, which cannot be abandoned. Though these Hidden Sects appear isolated and disconnected, they are, in fact, still in competition, always vigilant. To them, martial arts are vital for survival.

It is precisely because the entire Yun Clan comprises martial artists that Yun Qingyao felt confident, unafraid of Lin Fan approaching. Moreover, she always believed that Lin Fan was seeking trouble.

However, after this journey together, Yun Qingyao has come to understand Lin Fan to some extent. Lin Fan is not rash; his daring solo venture into the Yun Sect suggests he might have something up his sleeve, warranting her caution.

The only path into the Yun Sect was blocked by a gate.

It was not yet dawn, only slightly light, but the diligent Martial Artists had already started their morning exercises. According to Martial Arts theory, morning is the best time to absorb the essence of heaven and earth. The saying goes, "The most important part of the day is the morning." No Martial Artist would want to miss this excellent morning time.

The gate was tightly shut, guarded by four Yunmen Disciples, all experts. In the Yun Sect, guarding the gate is a rotational duty.

Currently, four young disciples stood at the gate, dressed in ancient attire. At first glance, it seemed as if they traveled back in time to the Ming Dynasty.

The only thing keeping up with the times is their hairstyles; unlike the ancients who kept long hair, they all sport crew cuts since they occasionally have to venture out and blend into the modern world better.

Nothing can remain unchanged, and no one can escape the great hand of time. In fact, the Yun Sect’s ability to endure largely stems from keeping pace with the times.

The Yun Sect began trading in the mundane world early on, amassing substantial capital over centuries of development.

If the Yun Sect were seen as a company, it would be a centuries-old enterprise, showcasing deep-rooted accumulation.

When Lin Fan and Yun Qingyao approached the gate, they immediately drew the attention of the gatekeepers.

Two youths leapt down from atop the gate to block Lin Fan’s path.

"Halt, what is your business here?"

One youth eyed Lin Fan cautiously.

Before Lin Fan could speak, Yun Qingyao peeked out from his back.

The two youths, seeing Yun Qingyao, paused momentarily before expressing joy, exclaiming, "Qing Yao has returned!"

"Qing Yao Sister, you’ve come back!"

The two were joyful yet puzzled. How could Yun Qingyao return being carried by this stranger? What was happening?

It must be noted that gender separation is strictly observed in the Yun Sect. Such intimate conduct, like Yun Qingyao being carried by Lin Fan, is considered overstepping boundaries unless they are spouses.

So what exactly is Yun Qingyao’s relationship with this stranger?

"Qing Yao Sister, what’s happened to you? Who is this man?" one youth asked, perplexed.

Yun Qingyao was momentarily speechless as this can’t be explained in a few words. She wanted to see how Lin Fan would respond.

She thought Lin Fan came to stir trouble. Technically, she was now Lin Fan’s captive. Lin Fan would certainly request to see the Sect Leader of the Yun Sect.

If Yun Qingyao were to handle this, having captured Lin Fan and brought him back to his sect, she would request to meet the Sect Leader for direct negotiation. If they reached an agreement, she’d let him go. If negotiations failed, a confrontation was inevitable, and they’d settle it through combat.

After all, in Jianghu, it often comes down to who wields the larger fist. No problem can’t be solved by one fight. If one isn’t enough, there’s the second, the third.

Jianghu disputes and battles arise this way. Survival of the fittest; only the strong survive to the end.

The Yun Sect’s survival to this day is due to triumphing through many storms and battles, enduring and emerging victorious. Hence, currently surviving Hidden Sects are all victors.

However, Jianghu’s conflicts never cease unless the world ends; contradictions always exist. Hidden Sects with survival instincts won’t easily bow to others.

Therefore, in Yun Qingyao’s view, clashes with Lin Fan seem inevitable.

Thinking this, Yun Qingyao felt inexplicably complex; she didn’t know why. Just a day ago, she was scheming to escape Lin Fan and seek revenge, but now, her mindset seemed to have shifted without her even realizing it.

"She was injured, so I brought her back to you." Lin Fan smiled at this moment.

With that, Lin Fan gently lowered Yun Qingyao.

Yun Qingyao was stunned. What is Lin Fan doing? It’s not according to her expectations.

Lin Fan glanced at her, saying, "You go inside and explain to them. Once you’ve decided how to handle it, come find me. I’ll be waiting. There’s just one condition: I’m really hungry and need something to eat."