That Is Not My Sister But Bibi Dong?!

Hu Liena gently took Ye Tian's hand, her star-bright eyes gazing tenderly at him. "Brother, let's go back."

"Alright," Ye Tian nodded.

Since the pirates had all been captured, and the power of the submarine had been recorded, there was no longer a need to stand in the rain on the city wall.

He took the lead and began walking along the city tower, with Hu Liena following, still holding his hand.

As they were leaving, she slyly glanced at Li Jiuchuan, her sweet smile laced with a hint of provocation.

Li Jiuchuan, feeling ashamed, averted her gaze and hung her head, not daring to meet Hu Liena's eyes, her expression tinged with melancholy.

She understood that Ye Tian was someone far beyond her reach.

So, with heavy and dejected steps, she followed them.

When Ye Tian and the others returned to the Li family courtyard, Li Haitian and Zhou Long had already arrived.

Though Li Haitian had sustained significant injuries during the battle, he was still full of spirit.

Defeating a Super Douluo was exhilarating.

If word got out, the Li family's status would surely rise another notch.

Such fame was far more substantial than the mere presence of a titled Douluo in the family.

Overexcited, Li Haitian began coughing violently, spitting out some blood foam.

Seeing this, the approaching Li Jiuchuan felt heartache and rushed forward, but was beaten to it by Li Man, who was already by Li Haitian's side.

"Grandfather, are you alright?" Li Man asked with concern, gently patting his shoulder.

Li Jiuchuan's face grew even more despondent when she saw Li Man, and her steps slowed, though she still voiced her concern.

"Grandfather, are you okay?"

"Grandfather is fine!" Li Haitian said cheerfully, waving off any help from Li Man. "I'm just too happy! Who would've thought that our Li family could win against the overwhelming attack of the pirate coalition!"

Afterward, he looked at Ye Tian with gratitude and bowed deeply.

"Meeting Young Master Ye was the greatest fortune for our Li family!"

Hearing this, Ye Tian smiled faintly and waved it off. "Clan Leader Li overstates it. I'm just a humble merchant with some medical knowledge, my status is far from prominent. Calling it fortune is far too much."

Li Haitian knew that Ye Tian was being modest, but he didn't continue flattering him. He understood that someone as young, talented, and modest as Ye Tian would not appreciate excessive praise.

Li Haitian bowed again and said, "I won't express my gratitude with mere words. From now on, the Li family will follow Young Master Ye's lead."

He then turned to Li Man and instructed, "Man'er, go make copies of all our family's assets and business ledgers, and deliver them to Young Master Ye."

"Yes, grandfather," Li Man nodded, sneaking a glance at Ye Tian.

These assets were the lifeblood of the family. Handing them over to Ye Tian meant giving him control over the economic pulse of the Li family—he could decide their fate at a whim.

It seemed that grandfather had truly committed to relying on Ye Tian without any reservations.

Li Man felt a deep sense of shame. She had insulted Young Master Ye before, but fortunately, he had been magnanimous and hadn't held a grudge. Otherwise, with her lowly position, she would never have been able to resist him.

"There's no need for that."

As Li Man turned to leave, Ye Tian stopped her.

He waved his hand calmly. "The Li family's financial affairs are best kept in your own hands."

The Li family's business operations, mainly focused on ship transport, were of little importance to him. He wouldn't help others without reason, nor would he take wealth that wasn't his. Such ill-gotten gains would only make him uneasy.

Hearing this, Li Haitian was stunned, visibly shocked. He hadn't expected Ye Tian to show no interest in the Li family's wealth. This was beyond what he had imagined.

The Li family, though not a top-tier family on the continent, was still considered prominent. Their annual income exceeded millions, with net profits in the hundreds of thousands. This kind of wealth could easily attract thousands of pirates, yet when presented to Ye Tian, he remained unmoved!

This deepened Li Haitian's respect for Ye Tian. Young Master Ye was someone worth fostering ties with! Moreover, this could bring tremendous benefits to the Li family.

"Report, Clan Leader! All the pirates have been detained in the inner fort. What should we do next?" At that moment, the lean Second Elder of the Li family approached, seeking instructions on how to deal with the pirates.

Li Haitian, not daring to make the decision alone, looked to Ye Tian and Zhou Long with deference. "What does Young Master Ye think should be done with the pirates?"

"Deal with the pirates?" Ye Tian raised an eyebrow and responded calmly, "Hand them over to the authorities of the Heaven Dou Empire or the Spirit Hall. Either option works."

Did this really require his input? He had no interest in such matters.

But Li Haitian seemed troubled, rubbing his hands nervously. "That's a tricky issue."

Hu Liena snuggled up to Ye Tian and nudged him curiously. "Clan Leader Li, what's so difficult about it?"

"You may not know this, Miss Nana," Li Haitian sighed, glancing at Hu Liena, "but recently, most of the officials of Spirit Hall in East Sea City were massacred by a mysterious force. Their operations have ground to a halt."

"But if we hand the pirates over to the Heaven Dou Empire, the corrupt officials there might indiscriminately arrest and execute not only the pirates but also their families."

Li Jiuchuan stepped forward to explain, "Many of these pirates were driven into piracy due to exploitation by the Heaven Dou Empire and Spirit Hall. Most of them don't deserve death."

"If we kill them all without distinguishing the guilty from the innocent, it will bring grief to thousands of families."

Hearing this, Hu Liena grew frustrated. Why was Spirit Hall always involved in bad things?

Ye Tian quickly grasped the situation. Indeed, if the pirates were handed over to the Empire's officials, those officials, driven by self-interest, would label them all as heinous criminals. Executing them would not only boost their reputations but also temporarily improve local security, a tempting opportunity for career advancement.

But the real root cause of piracy was oppression by the nobles and Spirit Hall. Even if all the pirates were killed, new ones would soon take their place.

Sighing lightly, Ye Tian waved his hand and said, "Keep the pirates detained in the inner fort for now. Once the typhoon passes, transport them to East Sea City and have the local civilians identify them. Execute those guilty of heinous crimes, but for the rest, the Li family should arrange work for them, so they have a chance at survival."

This approach would ensure fairness and justice, offering the pirates a measure of mercy.

"Understood," Li Haitian replied respectfully.

(End of Chapter)

P. S

The fic will receive 1 chapter update on daily basis starting tomorrow onwards. :3

Advance 30 chapters are up on my Patreon

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