Once Dongfang Bubai arrived in the rear courtyard that had been cold and deserted for a long time, the atmosphere was unusually lively. The Seven Ladies were all dressed in splendid attire and delicate makeup. All of them had outstanding appearances and presently they looked even more brilliant and affectionate. Some served him wine and dishes, some remained shy and timid, while others boldly wanted to dance for him.
Dongfang Bubai sat on the head seat looking at these women. For a moment, his mood was unspeakably complex. In the past, he had doted upon these women. Back then he had been young and impulsive, thought that what others possessed he must own as well, so he took in these gorgeous and moving women feeling pleased with himself. However, after he castrated himself he was no longer a normal man and he felt his mentality gradually shift. Over time, his feelings towards these women cooled greatly. He rarely graced them again, unwilling to give them false hope. He also came to understand that he originally neither loved nor liked them, his intentions had been out of impulse and a blind hollow feeling.
“Husband, drinking wine on an empty stomach isn’t good for your health. I prepared this dish by myself, would you like to eat a few bites to fill your empty stomach?” The woman was a little nervous and a little expectant, she used her chopsticks to place a few slices of meat in the bowl placed before Dongfang Bubai.
Dongfang furrowed his eyebrows slightly, he glanced at the overly greasy food in the bowl and the irritability and impatience in his heart rose. “No, I’ve already eaten.”
Hearing him refuse, the woman’s eyes dimmed but she still nodded with a bright smile. Taking a deep breath to adjust her emotions, she raised her smiling face and wanted to serve him a bowl of hot soup. Noticing the disappointment in her bright eyes he did not refuse, but he did not move his spoon either. The soup was a plain vegetable ball soup, with green onions and coriander floating on top. But to Dongfang Bubai the soup was disgusting. He slightly narrowed his eyes and suppressed the annoyance in his heart, he could not help but think of Yang Lianting.
He had never been wrong about his likes and dislikes. As if his heart remembered his preferences from a past lifetime.
Yang Lianting.
Dongfang’s eyes looked slightly dazed. Absent-mindedly, he recalled the look in Yang Lianting’s eyes. For a moment, he felt as if he were seized in a strong grip.
Heart distracted, thoughts in turmoil.
He’s angry, isn't he?
If he saw him leave with another woman with his own eyes, how would he feel? At the mere thought, Dongfang Bubai’s eyes sharpened greatly in an instant, glinting with killing intent. He would neither allow a woman to appear around Yang Lianting nor allow Yang Lianting to fall in love with a woman. The wine cup in his hand broke into pieces with a bang, the women beside him were taken aback and were about to ask. Dongfang Bubai quickly came back to his senses. He pursed his lips, tilted his head backward and drank a full jug of wine. Thinking of his own incomplete body, for a moment his lips were faintly curved into a bitter smile and his eyes dimmed.
Lian di.
Lian di was outstandingly handsome and was certainly every woman’s ideal husband. He may like me now but after a while… Could he accept his body, accept the price that two men couldn’t be happy for a lifetime?[4]
Heart distracted, thoughts in turmoil.
At the mere thought, he felt upset.
Felt terribly upset.
He did not know how many wine jugs he had emptied before Shishi tried to dissuade him, “Husband, you’ve drunk so much, please don’t drink anymore.” Feeling a little distressed, Shishi hesitantly held onto Dongfang Bubai’s arm and reached out to take the wine jug away.
Dongfang Bubai glanced at her with dazed eyes and asked in a low and soft tone, “Shishi, among these women, I used to dote on you the most. Can you tell me what it’s like to like someone?”
Shishi froze and looked at Dongfang Bubai, without knowing why her heart felt faintly sour. Years ago, Dongfang had brought her to Blackwood Cliff from the red light district. Since then, he had been the only man her eyes could see.
But she knew.
The Invincible East was not a person an ordinary woman like her could think of. She knew that he had never loved her. Rather, he had never loved any of the women in his rear courtyard. It did not matter to her that he did not love her, at least he cherished and spoiled her. Shishi originally believed that, as long as he did not fall in love with another, she still had a chance.
Now he asked her with this look in his eyes, with this tone.
Shishi lowered her head and wiped away her tears in secret, she then lifted her head and smiled at Dongfang Bubai. Her gaze fell on the clear and handsome profile of the man beside her, she softly answered him with a sad but joyful smile.
“Love...”
“Shishi feels at ease just by looking at him, wants that he pays attention to her, wants that he pays attention only to her, she also hopes that he is well! But Shishi is afraid that she isn’t worthy.”
“Shishi hopes that he is well, but fears that he is too good…”
Hearing her speak in a low voice, Dongfang Bubai breathed out slowly, tilted his head back, and drank another cup of wine.
“True, indeed.”
“Husband, did you meet a girl you really like?” Shishi’s eyes were red, but she continued to smile. Picking up the jug of wine to pour another cup for him, she lowered her eyes and said softly, “If Husband doesn’t mind, feel free to tell Shishi about her.”
“Do you blame me?” Without replying to Shishi’s words, he frowned faintly and asked in a low voice.
“Why should Shishi blame Husband?” The woman shook her head. The corners of her lips were curved upwards but her gentle eyes were faintly reddened. “Husband saved me from the horrid red light district and brought me atop Blackwood Cliff, promised me a peaceful and stable life, and has been very kind to me.”
“Shishi can’t thank you enough, why should she blame you?”
“Husband is a martial arts master of the Wulin, the Sun Moon Holy Cult’s Cult Master, but every time Shishi sees Husband she thinks that he seems lonely, too lonely.” The woman lowered her head and said gently, “If Husband met someone he truly likes… Shishi naturally feels happy for Husband.”
“Shishi, have you ever believed in one lifetime, one couple?” Dongfang Bubai did not look at her, his eyes dazed. He quietly said, “One lifetime, one couple… That’s what he promised me.”
One lifetime, one couple.
Shishi looked at Dongfang Bubai’s expression. Suppressing the sadness in her heart, she felt like crying and laughing. How nice, she thought. Most people would never dare to promise, yet someone was willing to make such a promise for their beloved. If he agreed to this promise, agreed to being one couple until the end of their lives, she would likely never have the chance to see him again. Although her heart was in disarray, she held back her emotions and poured one more cup of wine for Dongfang Bubai with a smile on her lips. “If this is the case, it truly is fortunate. Congratulations… Husband.”