On the way back, Mei Chao Bing and Zhang Guan Yu didn’t need to pay attention to their speed. As such, they rushed back to the Sect Master’s palace, only to find his study occupied by Yan Hong Min and his materials.

The two of them exchanged a glance and Zhang Guan Yu couldn’t help but raise his brows. "What are you doing?"

Yan Hong Min barely glanced at him before he went back to sorting through his materials. "Oh, I’m looking at what I can use for the device. I’m not sure if I have everything."

Zhang Guan Yu faintly raised his brows but seeing as this was something that he wanted Yan Hong Min to do, he didn’t say anything. In any case, it was important to finish the device and send it back with Mei Chao Bing. Why would he fuss over his desk? In the worst case, he’d go and work in the main hall.

He went over and sat down next to Yan Hong Min, looking over the things he had spread out. "Are these all the materials you have?" He faintly furrowed his brows. He knew that Yan Hong Min liked to tinker with things. In light of that, he had assumed that he would have quite a few materials stocked but considering how long he had been in the sect, it was actually quite little.

Yan Hong Min nodded but didn’t explain anything.

Mei Chao Bing also walked over and took a look at them before turning to the Sect Master. "I believe I heard that senior martial brother Yan doesn’t leave the sect often. He probably hasn’t had much of a chance to accumulate materials."

Zhang Guan Yu nodded, already having expected as much. Yes, there weren’t many opportunities to get what he needed and with how often he was using these things, the little that he did get might be used up soon enough. Well, that wasn’t the issue right now. "If there’s something else that you need, you can get the resources from the sect."

At that, Yan Hong Min finally stopped his work and looked up. "Really?" Usually, he didn’t get this kind of help. If he asked his first senior martial brother, he would go out and get him things after lecturing for a bit, but he wouldn’t expect the sect to just randomly give him resources.

Sect Master Zhang raised his brows and smiled. "Did you forget what you’re doing this for? This is an official mission in the border region and one that we are very pressed for results. So, if you are able to make a device that will help the disciples over there, I would be more than happy. Naturally, you will get resources from the sect to do your part. In fact, everything of your own you’ve had to use so far will be reimbursed by the sect as well. Maybe not the exact things depending on what we have and how fast you want it, but you’ll get something of equal value."

At that, Yan Hong Min’s eyes couldn’t help but sparkle. If this was the case, then he didn’t need to hold back. "Well, I still have some things at my house that could also be used. I will bring everything back there and work on this to implement the changes we talked about. Then after I’m done with that, we’ll see what else we might need to do."

Zhang Guan Yu nodded and couldn’t help but look over the materials on the table. "How long do you think you will need for this?" To be honest, looking at everything he had laid out, it seemed like it would be a difficult and time-consuming task.

Yan Hong Min was already stuffing everything back into his spatial bag and didn’t even bother glancing at the Sect Master. "Oh, it shouldn’t be that long if everything works out as I hope. At the very least, I can make another prototype pretty fast. I think it will be at most another day."

Zhang Guan Yu nodded but he couldn’t help but notice how he had said 'prototype'. Something told him this wasn’t quite what he had had in mind. "What exactly do you mean with prototype?"

Yan Hong Min finally stuffed the last thing back into his bag and got up. "Well, I will directly adjust the device I brought over for the test. It’s to add all the features we will need but because the basic functions have already been included, the additions might make it a bit clunky. To make one that has all the functions but included more smoothly, I’d have to make a completely new one where I incorporate everything from the beginning. First, I need to finish the prototype though to check if everything works as intended."

Zhang Guan Yu wasn’t sure what to think of that. He understood the general problem but he wasn’t sure what this would mean for their current situation. "The prototype … can it already be used?"

Yan Hong Min nodded, not doubting that at all. "Of course! It would just be … well, a bit big. You might not like it." Speaking of which, he picked up his paper ducks from the table, putting them into his bag as well, and then snatching the one that Mei Chao Bing was still holding.

Sect Master Zhang had already put his away so Yan Hong Min could only purse his lips. He might be willing to make some trouble, but he also wouldn’t dare to make too much trouble in front of the Sect Master.

Zhang Guan Yu might look like a nice uncle, but he knew very well that he was more than that. This guy could joke around with you for so long that, in the end, you wouldn’t even know anymore what you had been talking about at the beginning while being roped into something you didn’t want to do at the same time. It was better not to get in his way. And anyway, the paper ducks were something that could be easily replaced. It wasn’t a huge loss to him.

Zhang Guan Yu’s gaze was still thoughtful. "Then, to make a better version, do you need to have the prototype with you?"

Yan Hong Min pondered for a moment but then shook his head. "I don’t think so. After I finish making one, it’ll be up here." He poked his temple and then motioned to the door. "I’ll go and take care of things then."

Zhang Guan Yu nodded and then watched him go out, finally sighing when Yan Hong Min’s steps faded in the distance. Well, maybe things weren’t looking too bad.