"How dare you!"

Everyone was shocked to see Lin Mu grab Su Yumei by the neck. They never imagined he would be so bold.

"Of course I dare," Lin Mu said coldly, his hand tightening around Su Yumei's neck. "My mother came back with good intentions to pay respects to her father. That you didn't welcome her is one thing. I can even overlook the verbal insults. But you should never have laid such a heavy hand on my mother!"

As he slowly tightened his grip, Su Yumei struggled painfully, her face contorting with terror.

"Brat, let her go now!" Su Dahai roared. "That's your Second Aunt!"

"Second Aunt?" Lin Mu scoffed. "I have no such aunt. Besides, none of you have ever treated my mother and me as family. Since that's the case, what does it matter if I, Lin Mu, refuse to acknowledge her?"

"You..." Lei Chengjun grew anxious and turned to Su Rou. "Su Rou, look at this fine son you've raised! Tell him to let her go, now! Otherwise, I won't let him walk out of the Su Family Courtyard alive!"

Lei Chengjun had barely finished speaking when he pulled out a handgun and aimed it at Lin Mu. If Lin Mu made one wrong move, he would absolutely pull the trigger.

"Are you threatening me?" Su Rou, who had now composed herself, stared calmly at Lei Chengjun, her voice laced with ice. "Lei Chengjun, if you dare fire that gun at my son, don't blame me for disregarding our family ties."

"Family ties, my ass!" Su Rou retorted, her anger flaring. "When have any of you ever treated me as part of the Su family? When Dad passed away, did any of you inform me? Or were you afraid I'd come back to fight over the inheritance? Su Dahai, Lei Chengjun, you truly underestimate me!

"Even if I starve to death, even if I die in poverty, I will never beg you for a single cent!"

Su Rou stood up. "Xiao Mu, let's go."

Lin Mu frowned slightly. He had intended to teach these people a lesson, but seeing the look on his mother's face, he realized she didn't want to waste another breath on them. When he saw the flash of pain in her eyes, Lin Mu understood. Still, he didn't release Su Yumei. Instead, he said coldly, "You may be spared death, but you cannot escape punishment!"

"I will treat you exactly as you treated my mother!"

As soon as the words left his lips, Lin Mu shoved Su Yumei down, forcing her face toward the candles on the floor. Countless candles burned on the floor, wax pooling around them.

"No... don't..." Su Yumei shook her head in terror, trying to wrench herself from his grip. But Lin Mu's hand was like an iron pincer, holding her fast.

"Lin Mu, you dare!" Lei Chengjun's finger twitched on the trigger.

"You little beast, unhand her!" At that moment, a furious roar echoed as Su Dafu entered the courtyard with a dozen men in tow. Leading them was an old man with a wrinkled face and an unmistakable air of authority.

"The Clan Leader?" A flicker of panic crossed Su Rou's face when she saw the old man. It was the Su family's old Clan Leader, Su Qing.

The Sus were a large and prosperous clan in Wufeng County, whose affairs were managed by the Clan Leader—in this case, Su Qing. He was known for his severity and for not tolerating an iota of disrespect. Everyone in the Su family feared him, and Su Rou was no exception.

"Great-Uncle!" Upon seeing Su Qing, Su Dahai and the others visibly relaxed, their faces lighting up with relief. With the Clan Leader here, the matter was as good as settled.

Leaning on a cane, Su Qing strode into the courtyard, his ancient eyes fixed on Lin Mu.

"You little beast, are you deaf? I told you to let her go this instant!" Su Qing began bellowing at Lin Mu the moment he entered. "You ill-mannered cur, born but never taught! How dare you strike a member of my Su family? Believe me, I can ensure you never leave Wufeng County alive!"

As the Su Family Patriarch, Su Qing had immense pride. His word was law, and he tolerated no dissent. Seeing Lin Mu openly accost a member of the Su family sent a surge of rage through him. Lin Mu, however, acted as if he hadn't heard a thing, once again forcing Su Yumei toward the floor.

"Su Rou, you wench! Look at the fine son you have raised!" Seeing Lin Mu ignore him was like a slap to the face, and Su Qing's fury erupted. "Years ago, you shamed us by running off with some vagabond! Now you bring this little bastard back to cause trouble? Do you really think our Su family can't deal with the two of you?"

"Old man, if you dare insult my mother again, I will cripple this woman right now."

"I'd like to see you try!" Su Qing waved his hand and commanded, "Men, seize this little beast and his wretched mother! Today, I will enforce our family law!"

The Su family's laws were notoriously harsh. The onlookers weren't scared; they were thrilled. With the Clan Leader enforcing the law on Lin Mu and his mother, the pair was as good as dead. Several young men from the Su family advanced on Lin Mu, cruel smirks on their faces. It was as if they believed Lin Mu wouldn't dare act with Su Qing present.

"Little beast, this is your last chance," Su Qing said, his voice frigid. "Release her, kneel, and accept your punishment. Do that, and I might leave you a way out. Otherwise... don't blame me for being merciless!"

"Old man, are you trying to frighten me?" A smirk curled Lin Mu's lips as he suddenly slammed his hand down.

"AARGH!" A beast-like howl tore from Su Yumei's throat as Lin Mu shoved her face-first into the molten wax.

Scalding wax coated her face, and the searing pain ripped another piercing scream from her. The gut-wrenching humiliation on top of the agony made her entire body tremble.

"You little beast, I'll... AHH!" Before Su Yumei could finish, Lin Mu pressed down again, harder this time.

"Your mouth is so foul. It seems you were never taught any manners," Lin Mu said with a smile. "Shall I... teach you now?"

"No... please don't!" This time, Su Yumei was truly terrified. The wax had already destroyed her face, but that wasn't what scared her most. She was horrified that Lin Mu had actually dared to do this to her—and with such ruthless methods.

"You little beast, you..." Su Qing was so enraged he trembled, his beard quivering. He never expected Lin Mu would dare treat a Su family member this way right in front of him.

"Old man, you really thought I was good-natured, didn't you?" Before Su Qing could finish, a dark shadow came flying at him. It was Su Yumei. Lin Mu had tossed her like a piece of trash, sending her hurtling straight toward the old man.

"Great-Uncle, look out!" Su Dahai and the others' faces changed as they hurriedly pulled Su Qing aside.

THUD. Su Yumei hit the ground with a muffled groan, unable to even struggle.

"I'll kill you!" Seeing Su Yumei's pathetic state, Lei Chengjun could no longer contain his fury and pulled the trigger without hesitation.

BANG!

A sharp gunshot cracked through the air. Everyone stared in shock. Had Lei Chengjun really dared to open fire?

But Su Qing just sneered. "What is there to fear? Chengjun is a deputy bureau chief, and you all know the Su family's standing in Wufeng County. He's just a little beast. Killing him is no big deal."

Hearing Su Qing's words, the crowd came to their senses. That was right. Given the Su family's status in Wufeng County, what did it matter if they killed Lin Mu? They could just pin any crime they wanted on him afterward.

"Lin Mu openly assaulted a police officer and was killed on the spot," Su Dahai stated coldly. "That charge is more than enough."

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