Published: February 13, 2025
Ye Zhongming stood in front of the castle window, gazing at the land that was entirely his, feeling a mix of emotions that he couldn't quite articulate.
Just moments ago, he realized he couldn't refuse.
It's not that he was averse to the merger; on the contrary, any man would likely appreciate a partner like He, who was beautiful, trouble-free, helpful, and obedient. The heart she seemed eager to reveal, along with her palpable anxiety and deep-seated humility, made it impossible for him to push her away.
If he said no, the Long Void Water Clan might truly not have a place here anymore.
Yet, after agreeing, Ye Zhongming felt a twinge of guilt towards He. After all, he would become her only man, while she wouldn't be his only woman.
Their union wasn't solely based on feelings. Perhaps their emotions would deepen over time, but for now, there were far more benefits mixed in.
His instinct was to reject such a form of union.
"How damn pretentious," Ye Zhongming scolded himself, clearing his mind of such emotions.
Regardless, the decision had been made. From now on, he just needed to be good to He and the Long Void Water Clan. Overthinking wouldn't help; it would only add unnecessary worries.
The immediate priority was to grow stronger quickly, preparing for the inevitable attacks from the Hall People, who could come at any time.
And... to teach those meddlesome dwarfs a lesson.
……………………
Tonight, Cloud Summit Manor was quiet. He sat for a long time at her workstation, her mind not focused on alchemy or cultivation.
"Didn't you just agree? Why are you still so distracted?" Seven Needles, sitting nearby, smiled and looked at her with a hint of indulgence.
He blushed slightly and replied, "I'm not thinking about him."
"Then what are you thinking about?" Seven Needles asked.
"I'm just wondering about those people he brought. Half of them are in an evolutionary state, all at such low levels, and even after evolving, they're only nine-star. Why does he value them so much?" He was puzzled.
The all-female warriors of the red dress guard didn't pique her curiosity too much; there were plenty of such cases among the All Races of the Universe. She was just curious about what those several hundred people, who weren't even ninth-level evolutionaries before, could bring to him.
Training them until they were useful would take an enormous amount of resources; it seemed low on any cost-benefit analysis.
"It's actually understandable," Seven Needles said as she sat beside He, putting her arm around her shoulders. "Who are these people? They followed him on his home planet. They're said to be part of his guard — his most trusted confidants. When they were on their home planet, there weren't enough resources for them. Now that there are, he will naturally compensate them."
Being older and more experienced, Seven Needles found it easier to see the bigger picture through such events.
"For us, this is actually a good thing. They are our people, and if they become stronger, so do we. And the most important point is, his attitude towards these former confidants shows that he is sentimental. He is willing to invest heavily, even for the red dress guard. From this perspective, he would treat our Long Void Water Clan similarly, wouldn't he?"
He’s eyes brightened upon hearing this, and she nodded.
“Just wait, I have a feeling this team will surprise us. When I first saw them, even if I randomly picked one, they were stronger than her, but those women had eyes that were… cold to the core, filled with disdain for everything.”
……………………
"Zhong Ming."
"You're impressive, kid."
Ji Rui Guang and Mu Hanyi contacted Ye Zhongming through an encrypted channel.
After the greetings, Ye Zhongming updated them on the status of the resistance areas on Earth and the Radiant World Army, as well as the news brought by their respective subordinates.
Of course, Ye Zhongming didn't mention Little Brother Jiu Wen Hong.
The two were sovereigns on Earth. If it weren't for Ye Zhongming's rise, they would be the kings of the national district. Hearing this news, it was inevitable they had some mixed feelings.