Chapter 72

Compensation

How long had he been in that pitch-black haze?

Suddenly, he felt the sunlight. It was bright. At the same time, it felt as if a deep, deep cotton ball was pushing his soul.

"Hmm."

It was the moment he was waking up. A hoarse groan escaped his lips.

The feel of the bed was familiar. It had the unique softness of Ma Guangyi's residence.

The smell of the air was the same. It was very cozy and comfortable, a feeling of safety.

'Ah.'

The moment his consciousness returned, it flashed like a beam of light. In an instant, he calculated the time that had passed.

This was a habit that had become instinct.

From the Dragon Phoenix Assembly to the Huang Bo Family, to save and restore Xian Yuan Chang, and then back to Nan Zhi Li, and finally to the Blood Flame Sect's main branch in front of the Southern Palace Family's lackeys.

The time spent traveling alone was enormous. Combined with the challenging events, it was no small feat.

The time spent was eighty-seven days.

The lifespan lost in the sword family was about half a month.

How long did the return take?

He estimated by his hunger. ...His stomach was empty, but he was fine. His body wasn't extremely weak.

He also observed his internal state. His entire meridian system, the eight extraordinary vessels, the twelve regular meridians, and the three dantians.

The strength and elasticity were very weak. It seemed to be a reaction to changing the Blood Flame Spirit Formation into an anti-demon array.

The burden on the Baihui point on the upper dantian had also increased.

'Rest is needed.'

He would need time to return to his best condition.

"There's a presence. Are you awake?"

A deep voice exuded overwhelming power. Even without focusing, the surging inner strength was evident.

An extremely powerful expert spoke without opening the door.

He immediately recognized it.

The familiar voice, and the fact that he had to be cautious of his nephew after acknowledging their blood relation, it was Ma Jin.

"Yes, Chief. Please come in."

"Alright."

The door creaked open.

A large man entered, closing the door behind him.

His black attire revealed a body built with solid muscles, and the scars on his face spoke of countless battles.

It was Ma Guangyi, who had become even more famous after destroying the Huang Bo Family.

Zheng Yanxin looked at his uncle with renewed respect. After being captured by the Seven Demon Dao, he had all sorts of thoughts.

He thought he might never see him again.

"How is your body? You fought the head of the Huang Bo Family."

Zheng Yanxin scanned his uncle's body as he asked.

Ma Jin sat on one side of the bed. He looked down at his lying nephew and spoke.

"It was a war, so we fought together. The head's martial arts were quite formidable. He used a secret technique I had never heard of. I fought alongside the head of the Extermination Hall, and it took over seventy rounds to sever his head. I recovered from the internal injuries on the way back. How about you?"

"There's no problem with the flow of my inner energy. The blood circulation is good, and with a bit of rest and food, I should be fine. However..."

"Hmm?"

"How is the weather? Today."

"Five days before the summer solstice."

It was the middle of June.

Zheng Yanxin closed his eyes slightly. It meant he had already spent half of his sixteenth year.

He had about three years and six months left. He had to make up for the half-month of lifespan lost in the sword family.

He raised his upper body using his abdominal muscles.

"I acted alone a lot. I need to report to the Chief Administrator's Office."

"There's no need to rush. Those who went to attack the Blood Flame Sect's main branch are still returning. And... my return was a bit later than yours. When I got back, the main city was already in an uproar. They said the city lord personally carried you back. He seemed to have used his lightness skill alone."

"Really?"

"The Chief Administrator's Office is known for its strict handling of affairs. However, after seeing you in such a state, they can't pressure you to report. It's fine to take your time."

"Understood."

He got out of bed completely. His actions were different from his words.

Despite his body needing rest, he had to go to the Chief Administrator's Office immediately. He couldn't bear the delay in settling his official matters.

As he slowly stretched his legs, Ma Jin was pushed back.

"...What are you doing?"

"Just lying here won't help me recover. I need to bask in the sun and feel the late spring breeze."

"What? You're not a noble."

He stopped his uncle from following and left the inner chamber.

As soon as he stepped outside, he had to stop. Senior disciples who were passing by the Ma Guangyi hall approached with smiles.

"Shanyi is awake."

"Are you feeling better?"

"I heard your journey was quite eventful. Can you tell us about it?"

"More importantly, is it true that the city lord carried you back? Did you fully experience the world-renowned Boshen Jing? How fast was it?"

It was a rare occurrence.

They were the blue-robed seniors of Ma Guangyi. They had always shown interest in the youngest disciple completing a mission.

Zheng Yanxin had moved beyond the lower ranks with the blue-robed promotion and Xin Xiaobin's entry, but in their eyes, he was still a young junior.

Zheng Yanxin's goal was the purple rank of the new sword master.

The blue-robed warriors were the backbone of Ruyi City. He needed to pay attention to their opinions.

He answered each of them and walked with them to the Grand Martial Hall.

More seniors gathered, perhaps due to the rare lively atmosphere.

They started talking among themselves.

"Indeed, the main city has become chaotic. The city lord personally brought Shanyi back."

"Is there more?"

Zheng Yanxin asked, and another senior spoke.

"The entire martial world is entering a chaotic era. The hands of the Seventeenth Generation are severely lacking, and the honor-seeking desires of the families under the main city have flared up. There are rumors of disputes over mission assignments. Your maternal family, the Ruyi Demon Horse, is also involved."

They spoke freely about the families.

It was understandable. The blue-robed warriors of Ruyi City were experts who could be considered strong in any part of the Central Plains.

Their martial prowess was as high as their open and generous personalities. They were experts who could easily defeat a hundred with a single sword.

"Is that so?"

Zheng Yanxin nodded silently, understanding the situation.

"There's more. A genius."

Another senior's voice came from the side. The atmosphere became chaotic again.

"I've heard of him. The one trapped in the Thunder Prison, right? The Sun God Meridian?"

"Yes, if you're talking about the young master of the Huang Bo Family. There's a lot of talk about his treatment."

"I don't understand why they haven't eliminated him. Isn't the martial arts of the Huang Bo Family a future threat?"

"Future threat? He's already captured by the main city. How could he escape?"

They were talking about Tai Yanlong of the Huang Bo Family. Zheng Yanxin asked again.

"Did the white-robed members of the Shandong expedition return first?"

"Yes. They made significant contributions. Despite losing to the family alliance and the Blood Flame Sect, they managed to save a few prisoners. The same goes for Tai Yanlong. He was brought back quite proudly."

He thought of the madman with a poppy in his mouth. A different kind of madman from the Seven Demon Dao.

'Compared to the conflicts among the families under the main city, it's nothing.'

Zheng Yanxin shook his head inwardly.

The seniors, with smiles on their faces, pestered him for stories of his mission.

They were people who didn't even enjoy common gambling. They said they had few pleasures in life.

Martial arts, martial world affairs, and miscellaneous stories were all they had.

"I'll tell you later. Let's practice swordsmanship together."

He politely excused himself and headed straight for the Chief Administrator's Office.

"Zheng Yanxin of Ma Guangyi. Is that correct?"

"Yes."

The clerk managing the entry register checked Zheng Yanxin's Ruyi token.

It was a golden, vivid wooden pattern. Below the pattern, the name "Shanyi" was engraved on the identity token.

Shanyi was no longer just a nickname. It was the formal "zi" (courtesy name) he received from the city lord during the ceremony.

The clerk immediately returned the token. It seemed to be a formal check of his identity.

Zheng Yanxin came out wearing his blue martial uniform. The golden "Huang" character, symbolizing the city lord's direct disciple, was unmistakable.

"Junior Shanyi. What business do you have?"

"Mission report and settlement of contributions."

For a moment, the clerk's eyes sparkled.

"Confirmed."

Zheng Yanxin immediately entered the large hall. The scent of ink filled the air.

The long desks were very ancient, and the clerks seated at them were writing with their brushes.

It was a vast office, comparable in size to a training ground.

There were dozens of clerks inside.

Ma Jin was right. The atmosphere was as strict as that of the warriors.

He sent a mental message to the person seated at the upper seat at the far end.

-Ma Guangyi, Shanyi. I want to report my mission...

A large man in a brown robe stood up.

He was a