C15 His Actions Were too Cruel..

"Where did you get the money for that? It's not exactly cheap. Did your fiancée give it to you? Mu'er, a man shouldn't rely on a woman's money. We Du's may be poor, but we have our pride and ambition. Even if you're marrying a marquis's daughter, we need to maintain our integrity to be worthy of her," Jiang Rou advised.

"Mom, please don't worry about these things," Du Shaomu replied with a wry smile.

"Alright then," she conceded.

Jiang Rou didn't press further on other matters.

Seeing her son unharmed and now set to wed the daughter of Fengling City's esteemed castellan, Jiang Rou's eyes brimmed with tenderness and love.

Feeling the depth of his mother's affection, Du Shaomu's heart warmed. "Mom, rest assured, I won't cause you any more worries from now on," he promised, a childlike innocence surfacing in his smile.

"My silly boy, how could I not worry? You're a part of me," she said with a gentle smile, smoothing the hair by his ear. "But I've noticed something different about you... you seem to have changed..."

Jiang Rou sensed a change in her son, a bond deeper than blood, yet couldn't pinpoint exactly what was different. To her, he was irreplaceable, a piece of her own flesh.

Now, as she observed her son, she felt a sense of awakening in him, a change that filled her heart with joy. "Mother, perhaps it's because you haven't seen me in nearly a month. I've grown up," he suggested.

Du Shaomu's smile held a newfound resolve. "Mother, from this day forward, you are my true mother. I won't let anyone mistreat you again. If anyone dares to bully you, I'll take care of them."

"Have you lost your mind? I've always been your mother," she chuckled.

A look of contentment washed over Jiang Rou's face at her son's words, but concern quickly followed. "Mu'er, after you hurt Butler Su San and killed the Su Family's guards, they won't let this go. Maybe we should move to Fengling City. It'll be closer for your wife to visit her family, and I can find work with a reputable household to support us. All I want is for you to be safe and healthy."

"Mother, there's no need to worry. The Su Family doesn't concern me. Besides, I am now the son-in-law of the Castellan of Fengling City, the husband of the young lady of Fengling City. I have that support," Du Shaomu reassured her, not wanting her to fret.

After pondering for a moment, Jiang Rou found comfort in her son's words and felt somewhat relieved.

The mother and son continued their conversation into the night until Jiang Rou finally departed.

Gazing at his mother's retreating figure, Du Shaomu's face remained adorned with a smile. In this life, he was determined to take good care of her—not just for the sake of the body's original owner, but for himself as well.

With a deep exhale, Du Shaomu watched Jiang Rou fade into the distance. His features, a blend of calm and warmth, were now veiled in a mist-like enigma, his gaze sharpening with resolve.

"Su Family, Su Yuetong, prepare yourselves for retribution."

Du Shaomu had no intention of abandoning North Cloud City; there were still unresolved matters demanding his attention. Now in possession of this body, he was bound to seek justice for it. Today's events, had he been any later, could have had dire consequences, igniting a fury within him that was not easily quelled.

Those who had witnessed Du Shaomu in his past life as the dual deity of Danwu would recognize this look—it heralded the onset of a merciless, blood-soaked vengeance.

Du Xiaohou staggered home, gulping down two large cups of water as if he had narrowly escaped death's clutches. His legs trembled beneath him, but he had accomplished his mission, delivering messages to both the Bai and Tian families, insisting they reach the hands of the respective patriarchs.

The guards of these families, much like those at the Su estate, were not known for their amiability. Yet, upon seeing Du Xiaohou—an ordinary man—they would typically detain him at the gates. Today, however, his explicit request to see the patriarchs meant no one dared to hinder him.

"Young Master, do you really think the patriarchs of the Tian and Bai families will bring the money tomorrow morning?" Du Xiaohou inquired, the situation feeling surreal.

"Whether they come or not is their concern. They've been given their chance," Du Shaomu replied nonchalantly, gesturing for Du Xiaohou to retire and rest.

"The wind must've muddled my brain. I'll seek out a physician tomorrow, see if there's a cure," Du Xiaohou mumbled to himself, convinced his young master's mind had been addled by the wind, for how else could he exhibit such audacity?

The patriarchs of the Tian and Bai families were akin to deities in North Cloud City. Could they truly be expected to bring money to the Du Family? And yet, his young master seemed utterly unfazed from beginning to end.

...

Under a hazy moon and sparse stars, North Cloud City lay enveloped in nocturnal stillness. But within the Su Family compound, unrest stirred.

Su Jiafeng's face was marred by a grimace. Now in her forties, her visage bore the marks of age despite her efforts at preservation, her brows furrowed in concern.

Su Jiafeng, once the second sister to the late patriarch of the Su Family, had married but never truly left her kin. Her family's power and wealth far surpassed that of her husband's, allowing her to wield significant influence over the Su business dealings alongside her spouse. She was also a staunch ally of Su Yuetong.

Su San lay prostrate on a stretcher, his body swathed in bandages that rendered him akin to a mummy, yet blood still seeped through. His features were a contorted mess, his forehead punctured, and the area between his legs a gruesome sight.

"Third Miss, I need your help. That no-good Du Shaomu has gone too far. He's killed members of our Su Family and left me in this state. He's clearly showing no respect for our family."

Su San's wails were tinged with a fear he couldn't shake off.

Du Shaomu's brutality had been chilling, leaving Su San terrified and his skin crawling.

Su Jiafeng had been briefed on the situation and was puzzled. Du Shaomu, the so-called weakling, had always been meek, especially since marrying into the Su Family a month ago, never daring to overstep. So why had he suddenly turned violent, attacking and injuring Su San so severely?

"Did that nobody really do this to you all by himself?"

Su Jiafeng questioned Su San, finding it odd. Su San, while not exceptional in martial arts, had been training for thirty to forty years and was close to reaching the Martial Master Stage.

And Du Shaomu? He was a complete novice, utterly useless in cultivation.

Normally, Du Shaomu wouldn't stand a chance against Su San, not even if there were ten of him.

"Yes, it was that young punk who did this to me..."

Su San was certain. As he listened to Su Jiafeng, a realization dawned on him, and surprise took hold. He was nearly a martial cultivator; how could he have been so brutally beaten by that kid?

"Madam, that lowlife didn't hold back. He blindsided me with a black brick. I didn't even see it coming before he struck. He's despicable and underhanded!"

But it didn't take long for Su San to convince himself that the kid must have been exceedingly cunning and dishonorable.

He hadn't even had a chance to react when he was hit on the forehead with a brick, dazing him and giving the kid his chance to triumph.

"Moreover, that scoundrel must have some powerful backers. He brought a bunch of strong fighters with him, capable enough to kill our guards and even threaten to destroy the Su Family!"

As Su San recounted the events, the terror in his eyes lingered. The memory of Du Shaomu's menacing gaze still sent shivers down his spine and filled him with dread.