"Right now, we are at a critical juncture where the Spirit Hall is facing off against the two great empires."
"Therefore, I'm sorry, Xiao Tian, but I cannot reveal our identities in front of others," Bibi Dong said sincerely, her eyes full of expectation, hoping Ye Tian would understand.
Ye Tian, however, was still in shock.
It was a situation that had come unexpectedly and too conveniently, leaving him incredulous.
After a long pause, Ye Tian finally nodded seriously:
"Elder Sister's condition is understandable."
"So, are we set on this?" he asked, looking up at Bibi Dong.
Bibi Dong smiled faintly. "Unless you have additional conditions, this should be finalized."
"No," Ye Tian replied, shaking his head.
"Then it's settled." Bibi Dong rose from the bench and smiled. "It's getting late; you should rest early."
"Is that how you send off your husband?" Ye Tian teased, his expression deadpan, hands on his hips.
Hearing this, Bibi Dong covered her mouth with a smile but remained composed.
"Alright, my husband, rest well."
"Goodnight, my husband," she said, smiling and waving before walking away.
"That's more like it," Ye Tian murmured as he watched her leave.
But something felt off.
Newlyweds, he thought, shouldn't the first step be sharing a room?
Yet he had just let her walk away like that—how careless of him.
Ye Tian slapped his forehead in regret. Moreover, he suddenly remembered that although Bibi Dong had mentioned only one condition, this condition meant their true relationship might only be made public after unifying the continent.
A secret romance went against his original intentions.
Still, Ye Tian accepted it. Reality is rarely perfect, after all.
This could be considered the first step in conquering Bibi Dong.
As the saying goes, proximity to water helps fetch the moon.
Ye Tian was already standing on the moon—there was no need to worry about not obtaining it.
Watching Bibi Dong's graceful figure disappear into the distance, Ye Tian smiled faintly.
The opportunity was there; it was time to act.
Ye Tian and Hu Liena's wedding wasn't canceled despite his identity being revealed.
The next day would be Ye Tian's big day.
The previously bustling Butterfly Farm suddenly fell silent.
This was thanks to Chen Jian's meticulous planning. Everything had been arranged in advance.
Most staff were given a day off, leaving only a few to maintain daily operations.
Chen Jian, finally free, handed Ye Tian a meter-long list.
"This is the guest list for tomorrow's wedding. Please review it, Young Master," Chen Jian said.
Glancing at the densely packed names, Ye Tian frowned.
"I thought we agreed to keep it simple? Why are there so many people?"
"Haha, Young Master, this list is already as simple as it gets."
Chen Jian pointed at the list, explaining, "These are your most outstanding subordinates. They include mid-level officers of the Heavenly Strategy Army, heads of various workshops, and key figures in trade management."
"They've worked for you for years. Not inviting them to your wedding might seem inappropriate."
"True," Ye Tian nodded thoughtfully.
Even he hadn't realized how large his team had grown.
Looking at the list, Ye Tian realized he hadn't personally overseen business affairs for over a year.
His involvement had been limited to annual audits to prevent corruption.
In his mind, his operations were still limited to a few workshops.
"Chen Jian, how many workers are under me now?" Ye Tian asked.
"I don't have the exact number since data is updated quarterly," Chen Jian replied after some thought.
"But I remember the last count."
"Excluding the Heavenly Strategy Army, over 50,000 people work for you."
"That many?" Ye Tian raised his eyebrows.
Fifty thousand people—equivalent to half of East Sea City's population.
Seeing Ye Tian's surprise, Chen Jian chuckled.
"That's nothing. If not for the advanced techniques in your workshops, this number would easily be ten times higher."
"This is too high-profile," Ye Tian said solemnly. Initially, he had ventured into business to improve his lifestyle, build an elite army for protection, and fund small technological advancements.
Wealth comparable to a nation or absolute control over the continent's riches was never his goal.
Yet now, with 50,000 workers generating significant wealth across industries, exposure could invite not just jealousy but widespread fear.
Everyone aware of his influence might see him as a threat.
Though Ye Tian wasn't afraid, caution was essential.
On this continent, deities watched over everything.
Every move he made had to follow logic to avoid unnecessary risk and focus on growth.
"Chen Jian," Ye Tian said, "after the wedding, immediately compile a complete list of all workers' identities and halt further expansion."
"Young Master, are you worried about others exploiting our workers?" Chen Jian asked, smiling.
"Actually, you don't need to worry. We recruit workers with clean family backgrounds. None have a criminal record or are Spirit Masters.
Additionally, our workshops use standardized processes where each person performs a specific task. Even managers don't fully understand the big picture. Core technologies won't leak."
Ye Tian sighed. "You've done well, Chen Jian. But this isn't about technical leaks—it's about exposure."
"Imagine a hunter who fears adult tigers because they can kill him. One day, he finds a tiger cub in the forest. Although weak, the hunter might still kill it to prevent future danger."
Chen Jian's smile vanished, replaced by a serious expression.
"I understand, Young Master. We must keep a low profile to grow steadily. Otherwise, we'll invite trouble."
"I only focused on protecting core technologies," Chen Jian continued. "I never realized exposure itself could bring disaster."
(End of Chapter)
Advance 100 Chapters are up on my Patreon!
pat reon.com/ReidAstrea