Chapter 69

"Ha, I don't need to practice my skills today." Dongfang Bubai saw the fear in Lin Shiyin's heart and smiled with interest. However, he did not hide his intentions and reached out to embrace her in one swift motion.

"Ah!" Lin Shiyin let out a cry of surprise, feeling at a loss.

"You are my woman, but only in name. Tonight, I will make you truly mine." Dongfang Bubai narrowed his eyes and whispered in Lin Shiyin's ear, his tone leaving no room for argument.

After saying this, Dongfang Bubai lifted Lin Shiyin into his arms, not caring that there were several maidservants around, and headed straight for her bedroom.

"Don't!" At this moment, Lin Shiyin finally reacted, panicking. Although she had been mentally prepared, she still did not want or wish for it to happen.

"Hmph!" Dongfang Bubai's face suddenly turned cold, and he let out a cold snort. "You are my wife, and you have no say in the matter."

With that, Dongfang Bubai headed straight for the bedroom. Lin Shiyin's body went limp, and she did not resist, knowing that she had no way to fight back, as she was already the wife of this villain.

Two clear tears slowly streamed down her face, and the look of despair in her eyes was heart-wrenching.

Unfortunately, Dongfang Bubai's heart had long become as hard as stone. Once he made up his mind, no one could change it.

Soon, the two arrived at Lin Shiyin's bedroom. A night of passion ensued, and the tension that Dongfang Bubai had carried for over ten years finally eased.

After the storm, Dongfang Bubai lay in bed, holding the silent and tearful Lin Shiyin, and sighed inwardly. Women were indeed the best companions for men. Now, Dongfang Bubai felt more relaxed and his mind was clearer.

"Stop crying. I will treat you well. You are now my woman, and it would be good for you to bear me a son and take care of the household." Dongfang Bubai looked at Lin Shiyin in his arms, holding her delicate, smooth body tightly, and said in a calm tone.

Lin Shiyin did not respond, and after a while, she fell into a deep sleep, her spirit drained.

Dongfang Bubai said nothing more, knowing that time would heal all wounds. He then fell asleep, holding Lin Shiyin's sweet body.

The next morning, Dongfang Bubai left, leaving Lin Shiyin alone in bed. She did not want to wake up, perhaps because she did not want to face what had happened.

After a long while, she opened her red, swollen eyes, and a numb, resentful, and complex look flashed across her face. With a complex sigh, she realized that she had become a woman, a woman of Dongfang Bubai, and this could never be changed.

...

In the following month, Dongfang Bubai soon shared a bed with Xue Qianxun. Compared to Lin Shiyin's unwillingness, Xue Qianxun was more shy and delighted.

During this month, Dongfang Bubai spent time with the two women and handled some sect affairs, but most of his time was spent integrating several martial arts techniques, though progress was slow and required a lot of time.

That night, Dongfang Bubai did not practice his skills or do anything else. He quietly descended from the Black Wood Cliff alone.

Once he was off the cliff, Dongfang Bubai reached his maximum speed, heading straight south. In the darkness, only a faint breeze could be felt.

At midnight, Dongfang Bubai's figure appeared in a small forest. The forest was quiet, but Dongfang Bubai knew that there were people there, and not just one.

His sharp, cold gaze fixed on a direction, and he said coldly and disdainfully, "Come out! Do you think you can hide from me?"

"Ha ha ha!!"

"I naturally do not think I can hide from Lord Dongfang, but it's just a matter of safety."

The quiet forest suddenly echoed with a voice, and then five figures appeared in the direction Dongfang Bubai was looking, one in front and four behind.

The man in front was slightly plump, about thirty years old, exuding an aura of wealth and prosperity. He smiled at Dongfang Bubai, and those words were naturally his.

The four behind him were dressed in black-green clothes and had black masks covering their faces, looking almost identical and moving with a ghostly grace.

"Wan Sanshen! The Four Ghosts of Western Hunan!" Dongfang Bubai frowned and said in a serious tone.

"Ha ha ha!! It is an honor for Wan to be recognized by Lord Dongfang." The man directly admitted his identity, confirming that he was the richest merchant in the Ming Dynasty, Wan Sanshen, whose business spanned the entire Ming Dynasty and even extended to the other three countries. No one knew the extent of his wealth, but it was known that he was as rich as a nation.

However, with his vast wealth, he had many friends and helped countless people and forces. He also had a deep collaboration with the Ming Dynasty government, so no one or any force dared to seize his wealth.

It was precisely this Wan Sanshen who made Dongfang Bubai even more surprised. He looked at Wan Sanshen with a slightly cold gaze and asked, "Your relationship with the Ming Dynasty government is unclear, yet you saved my people!"

That's right, the person who saved Yan Shisan and Gu Santong was this wealthy merchant, Wan Sanshen. Only his wealth and resources could have allowed him to hide from the Ming Dynasty government in the city of Jinling.

The letter that Yan Shisan gave to Dongfang Bubai did not contain any real content, just a way for Wan Sanshen to contact Dongfang Bubai.

Over the past two months, the two had secretly communicated several times, and it was only today that they agreed to meet in person. This was the first time Dongfang Bubai knew the identity of the other party.

"The Ming Dynasty government, hmpf!" Wan Sanshen let out a cold snort filled with hatred, and his smile of wealth and prosperity instantly disappeared. He looked straight at Dongfang Bubai and asked seriously, "Lord Dongfang, do you find it strange that I, who am in my thirties and know no martial arts, can have such a large business?"

"Oh?" Dongfang Bubai frowned, also feeling curious.

Not only he, but almost everyone had this curiosity. Wan Sanshen came from an ordinary family but managed to amass such vast wealth in just a few years. Who wouldn't be curious, envious, or jealous?

"I admit I have some intelligence, but it would be impossible for me to have such wealth and connections in just a few years. However, there is one reason that made it possible."

Wan Sanshen's expression was serious, and the hatred in his eyes was not hidden. Dongfang Bubai knew this was intentional to show his sincerity.

"I actually do not have the surname Wan. My real surname is Shen." Wan Sanshen looked straight at Dongfang Bubai and said solemnly.

"Shen?" Dongfang Bubai frowned, suddenly seeming to remember something and looked at Wan Sanshen with surprise. "The greatest merchant of twenty years ago, Shen Wansan, what is your relationship to him?"

"Ha ha ha! Indeed, I am Shen Wansan's son, Shen Sanshen." Wan Sanshen's face twisted into a grim smile and continued, "My father feared that our family would attract too much attention and be destroyed, so he sent me to live with another family.

I never imagined that my father's fears were justified. Zhu Yuanzhang, with his wolfish heart, used our family's wealth to establish the Ming Dynasty, and then turned around and exterminated our entire family. Only I survived.

Zhu Yuanzhang thought he had destroyed everything related to our family, but he underestimated us. He only destroyed our visible assets.

Over the past few years, I have used the hidden assets and wealth of the Shen family, along with my business acumen, to become the current Wan Sanshen."

"Truly remarkable, Wan Sanshen!" Dongfang Bubai looked at Wan Sanshen with admiration. He had to admit, this was indeed a world-class talent.

As the son of Shen Wansan, he managed to amass such vast wealth and influence under the nose of the Ming Dynasty government, and still maintain a good relationship with them. The courage, vision, and ability he displayed were something Dongfang Bubai had never seen before.

"Shen Wansan, Wan Sanshen, I must say, you are indeed very bold, and you are not afraid that the Ming Dynasty government will suspect you!" Dongfang Bubai said with interest.

"Ha! The more my name resembles my father's, the less likely anyone will suspect it." Wan Sanshen smiled with a hint of self-satisfaction.

"Then tell me why you are helping me! Is it just because I have a grudge against the Ming Dynasty government?" Dongfang Bubai asked directly.

"Fine, Lord Dongfang, you are straightforward, and I will not hide anything. I have not married or had children to avoid any distractions and to focus on overthrowing the Ming Dynasty government.

However, I know that with my own strength, I cannot bring down the Ming Dynasty government. This is a world of the powerful, and I have no talent for martial arts, so I can only cause chaos from within.

I helped Zhu Wushang and Zhu Di to fight for power after Zhu Yuanzhang's death, and with the existence of the other three countries, the Ming Dynasty government cannot avoid its downfall.

However, this will take too long, and I, who do not know martial arts, may not live to see it.

When I learned about Lord Dongfang, I decided to help you because I see potential in you.

Among all the people I know, there are many exceptional individuals, but none of them have the power to overthrow the Ming Dynasty government. Your potential is the greatest.

I also studied your character and believe that if given the opportunity, you would not hesitate to destroy the Ming Dynasty.

That is why I came to you, to collaborate with you!"

Wan Sanshen spoke candidly, not only with a sincere gaze but also with honest words. Most of what he said was true.

"Collaborate!" Dongfang Bubai raised an eyebrow. He believed most of what Wan Sanshen said, but this did not mean he would fully trust him. However, collaborating with Wan Sanshen was indeed a good choice.

"How do we collaborate?" Dongfang Bubai looked at Wan Sanshen with a calm gaze.

"My only requirement is that when you have the power, you help me destroy the Ming Dynasty government." Wan Sanshen said firmly without hesitation.