The Morning After

As the sun rose over the horizon, brightening the city, people woke up and started their day. Almost as yesterday didn't happen, everyone went back to their normal schedules. Trash and waste were collected, streets were cleaned, and the lake was returned to a pristine condition. Within a few hours, Sun and Moon city and Market Square returned to their normal state.

Wei Huoran walked into the City Hall meeting room and saw the nine ministers seated at the table, "Good Morning, everyone".

"Good Morning, Boss Wei", they returned the greeting.

"I applaud everyone's efforts in the last thirty-five hours. Hopefully, everyone was able to rest enough. Today's meeting will consist of two parts, the first is a report of how yesterday went for your department. The second is the announcements of future plans", Huoran said, "Minister of Administration, you may begin."

Minister Ye stood up and the room darkened, a projector light up and displayed information on the wall.

"Boss Wei, the process of issuing Identification cards was done with no issues and all the cards worked perfectly. I wonder if the entrance personnel will be able to suppress troublesome incidents like the White Tiger Elder?", Ministry Ye asked.

"The Grand Array will protect any resident of the island, though the more powerful the attacker is, the more energy required to suppress them is required", Huoran stated.

"Boss Wei, we have held of from inviting more citizens to the island for a few years now. As our first interaction with guests was a success, to keep up with more guests will require more manpower", Minister Ye explained.

"Yes, this issue will be addressed in the second part of today's meeting", Huoran responded.

Minister Ye bowed his head and sat down, indicating that he report was finished.

"Boss Wei, the Ministry of Commerce is happy to report that the bank did better than our initial estimates. Business was good from the most expensive facilities to the street carts independently owned. The bank reported that twenty-one percent of the guests were using cards or Qphones as their preferred payment method by the end of the day. As you know, we predicted eleven percent of guests would use the bank's quick pay system but due to a couple of incidents, ten percent more visitors than predicted set up quick pay accounts. Our department has the same problem as admin, more manpower will be required in the future", Minister Song told Huoran as he sat down and the latter nodded his head.

"Boss Wei, fortunately your display when the guests first arrived made our job much easier", Minister Xia of Law Enforcement said, "That being said, a handful of visitors still tried to circumvent the law during their time here. The offenders were quickly caught and since there was no injuries or damages, they were quickly released back to their elders. The elders promised to provide compensation for the slight their disciples committed."

The projection changed as several videos of cultivators being surrounded and taken played.

"No harm befell the ones that attempted to break the law, correct?", Huoran questioned.

"Yes, in every instance, the perpetrators were taken to their elders with the drone footage and release back into their custody", Minister Xia replied.

"Since no major incidents happened, it's important that we show our visitors that our word will be enforced. They should realize that next time, the situation will be out of their hands", Huoran spoke, "Great work."

The projector screen changed as Minister Ren stood up, "The Ministry of Agriculture is working at maximum capacity. If we do not receive more land or more manpower, it will be difficult to entertain larger crowds in the future."

Huoran nodded, "Please be at ease, Minister Ren, I have news later that will be of great benefit to you."

"Excellent Boss Wei, I have no further information to brief then", Ren bowed.

"Boss Wei, the Ministry of Infrastructure has no issues to report, all roads and facilities suffered no damage during the visit of the guests", Minister Wu reported.

"Very good Minister Wu, there will be some projects in the future, so I hope your teams are ready", Huoran smiled.

"Always Boss Wei", Wu replied.

Minister Fu stood next and changed the screen, "The Ministry of Industry reflects the predictions we had prior to the visitors arrival. Consumables made up the bulk of the purchases, so talismans and pills were the main items bought. Obviously due to consumer concerns, artifact refinement and array formations were avoided mostly, only a handful of people took the opportunity to buy these products."

"This will change soon as the few early adopters will share their experiences, one of my announcements will affects you as well. I think you will be pleasantly surprised", Huoran said.

Minister Fu sat down as Minister Liang stood, "Boss Wei, our advanced education programs are doing well, but our primary schools are almost idle at the moment. Only children of the residents attend currently but we still maintain a high learning environment."

After her report finished, Minister Zhang was next, "Boss Wei, the transportation system in Market Square was heavily used and after inspecting the vehicles, trains, and roads, we found no problems as of now."

"Understood, remember that all inspection dates must be followed by the strictest standards", warned Huoran.

Minister Zhang nodded and finally, Minister Cai stood, "Boss Wei, all the performers from yesterday, plus the ones that made the movie are very proud of their work. They claim that just seeing the fruits of their labor is enough for them."

"No, the contract was signed and the benefits must be awarded. Tell them that they earned what they'll receive and not to worry about the contract terms", Huoran instructed Cai.

"Of course Boss Wei, the QR pods were a massive success. I believe we will have to add a floor of pods soon to handle the increase of customers", Minister Cai recommended.

"Very well", Huoran said, "all reports are completed, now for my announcements. First of all, everyone did well, thank you for your hard work. Your bonuses will be given soon and I hope you're doing the same to the people in your department. Now my first announcement is that I believe that I will be breaking through to early golden core soon, probably within the next month."

The people at the table offered future well wishes to Wei Huoran upon hearing this news.

"The reason I tell you this is that once I have broken through, I believe I will have enough Qi to create stable secret realms. My plans is to do this and each realm will be dedicated to certain profession. There will be farmlands, laboratories, and animal control realms and so everyone that deals with the growing plants and animals or the production of products will be move into these realms and the employees will work there", Huoran told them, "Also, as I mentioned beforehand, new facilities will be built to produce wine, beer and spirits and they will have their own secret realms as well too."

Minister Song responded, "Excellent Boss Wei, this was one of the top request of the guests in the recommendations box."

"One of", Huoran understood his meaning, "what was the others?"

Song replied sheepishly, "There were many request for brothels."

Huoran sighed, "There are no plans for that. Unless we get volunteers who want that work and the amount of people is enough, those who requested it will be ultimately disappointed."

Huoran lightly clapped to get attention, and told everyone, "Now then, if there is nothing else, return to your offices and prepare for the secret realm move.

As the meeting at Sun and Moon city finished, the meeting at the White Tiger Sect had just begun. Elder Ya Yu and his disciple Shi Peng stood in front of the Sect Master and the other elders, describing the events for them. When they reached the point of the story that Ya Yu got suppressed, the room got quiet for a moment before one elder exclaimed, "Does this junior not have us, the White Tiger Sect, in his eyes!"

Before Ya Yu could respond, the sect master solemnly said, "The senior who stays on the island must be awake."

The other elders nodded their heads in agreement and the sect master continued, "This should be a warning to you, Elder Yu, always strive to understand your surroundings."

He then continued, "We must send an envoy there, to negotiate business for this new artifact. From your earlier demonstration, this Qphone is a groundbreaking artifact and we should acquire the means to use it fully."

All across the region, the other four organizations were having similar discussions.