C17 Not a Single One of Them Was Spared..

"Commander Liu, this kid's still wet behind the ears and way too cocky!"

Someone muttered through clenched teeth, watching Du Shaomu's retreating figure.

Does this greenhorn actually think he's untouchable? If he weren't the young miss's husband in name only, I'd have given him a thrashing by now.

"Watch out, we've got trouble!"

Liu Tong's eyes narrowed as he picked up on the disturbance.

His gaze shifted to the street where a glimmer of fire and a trembling ground heralded the approach of over thirty riders.

The group radiated fierce energy, mounted on warhorses, with a man in his thirties at the helm, straddling a massive wolf draped in iron armor.

This creature, a low-level demonic beast, made for a swift and ferocious mount, a challenge even for a martial cultivator at the ninth level of the Martial Master Stage, and was worth a fortune.

"Annihilate the Du Family!"

The battle cry echoed, sending many townsfolk scurrying out to see what was amiss.

The newcomers were from the Su Family, led by Su Yuan, a renowned figure in North Cloud City and a powerhouse at the ninth level of the Martial Spiritual Stage, the Su Family's linchpin.

Su Heng, having reached the ninth level of the Martial Spiritual Stage in his thirties and just shy of the Martial General Stage, was a celebrated figure within the Su Family, earmarked for greatness.

Liu Tong watched the advancing party with a slight frown.

Recalling Du Shaomu's earlier words, it was clear he had anticipated this confrontation.

How could an average Joe sense trouble before him? A coincidence? It hardly seemed so.

"Whoever you are, whatever your ties to that good-for-nothing, if you've harmed the Su Family, you're all going down together!"

Perched atop the wolf, Su Heng, informed by Su San of the Du Family's newfound support, was unfazed as he glared at Liu Tong with lethal intent.

"Spare no one!"

Liu Tong's brow twitched, his eyes flashing with deadly resolve.

He may not care for this so-called son-in-law, but as the Lee Family's in-law, he wouldn't stand for such brazen provocation.

With a "whoosh," Liu Tong's form shot forward, his feet erupting with Origin Energy, appearing before Su Heng like a specter.

"Martial General Stage, this is bad..."

Su Heng, previously brimming with arrogance, now wore a look of sheer terror. In an instant, his skin prickled with a cold dread from within.

But it was too late. A punch was already bearing down on him, and in a frantic counter, he thrust out his palm.

With a "puff," the collision sent Su Heng flying, blood spewing from his mouth as a tremendous force invaded his body through his palm.

Liu Tong unleashed his Overlaying Dragon Force, instantly pulverizing Su Heng's internal organs. By the time he hit the ground, he was already dead.

Su Heng's fierce wolf mount was likewise sent sprawling through the air.

"Kill!"

Behind Liu Tong, eight elite warriors from the Fengling City Castellan Mansion sprang into action. Armed with swords, spears, and treasured sabers, their vital energy surged, and the streets were instantly awash with a palpable killing intent.

The Su Family had brought a few competent martial cultivators, but even their strongest, Su Heng, had not yet reached the Martial General Stage. Liu Tong dispatched him with a single strike.

The remaining Su Family members stood no chance against the eight Fengling City powerhouses. Already terrified by Su Heng's swift demise, they turned to flee in a desperate scramble for their lives.

Liu Tong held back as another warrior, at the ninth level of the Martial Spiritual Stage, took the lead. The thirty-odd Su Family members were relentlessly pursued and not one escaped; all were slain, their blood staining the street.

Their bodies were discarded at the roadside, forming a macabre pile.

The stench of blood permeated the air at the Du Family's entrance, sending chills down the spines of onlookers who witnessed the carnage in the darkness of the night.

The Bai Family's carriage creaked along the blood-soaked street, Bai Yuanshan peering out to identify the deceased as members of the Su Family.

Stepping out of the carriage at the dilapidated entrance to the Du Family home, Bai Yuanshan sensed the lingering sharp auras. His eyes settled on Liu Tong, dressed in simple civilian clothes, and his face paled. He quickly stepped forward, offering a respectful fist-and-palm salute, "Commander Liu Tong, so you're in North Cloud City!"

"Patriarch Bai."

Liu Tong recognized Bai Yuanshan, having encountered him twice before in Fengling City. Seeing him at the Du Family's doorstep was an unexpected surprise.

Bai Yuanshan, upon seeing Liu Tong, pieced together much of the situation.

It made sense now why someone would dare to attack the Su Family. With the Lee Family's influence in Fengling City, killing a few Su Family members, while not trivial, was certainly not earth-shattering. And with Commander Liu Tong present, the rumors he had heard seemed to hold a kernel of truth.

"What's all this commotion? What's happened?!"

Du Xiaohou had been asleep but was jolted awake by the commotion. Seeing the dead from the Su Family and Bai Yuanshan, he shuddered.

"Patriarch Bai."

Du Xiaohou, though not personally acquainted with Bai Yuanshan, had seen him before in North Cloud City.

He never imagined that the Bai Family patriarch would personally visit the Du Family. In the past, someone of Bai Yuanshan's stature wouldn't have ventured near these streets and alleys.

"Notify your young master that our patriarch has arrived."

Bai Yuanshan's butler glanced disdainfully at Du Xiaohou, who in former times would not have merited a second look.

Shaken, Du Xiaohou hadn't expected the Bai Family patriarch to truly come, and so promptly at that. He hurried inside to alert the young master.

"Commander Liu, what brings you to North Cloud City? Could the rumors be true—that your young miss is to be wed into the Du Family?" Bai Yuanshan sought to confirm the whispers, eager to discern the truth behind the rumors.

"I've been ordered to look after my young master."

Liu Tong was candid, yet he chose his words sparingly.

His cheeks flushed with embarrassment. The thought of the young lady marrying Du Shaomu made his face feel as if it were on fire.

"So it's true!"

Bai Yuanshan was profoundly shaken. The son of a maid, once married into the Su Family and then cast out, was now set to wed the beloved daughter of Fengling City's Castellan. What on earth was happening with Du Shaomu?

"Young Master, Young Master, the head of the Bai Family has arrived."

Du Xiaohou was beside himself with excitement. The head of the Bai Family had indeed come, nearly bursting through the door of Du Shaomu's room.

"I asked him to come tomorrow morning. Who gave him the idea to come tonight? I don't have the time to entertain him now. Tell him to wait. If he can't, then he should just go back and not bother returning."

The voice of Du Shaomu echoed from within the room, admonishing Du Xiaohou, "He's merely the head of the Bai Family. Don't let it unsettle you like this. Act recklessly again, and you'll be waiting outside too. Remember, in my service, you represent me!"

Du Xiaohou was so shocked he could hardly close his mouth, as if he had swallowed a duck egg whole.

The young master's audacity was staggering. The head of the Bai Family had come personally, in the dead of night, and was made to wait outside. Could this really be happening?

Recalling the day's events, including the deaths of many from the Su Family, Du Xiaohou didn't dare bring it up again, fearing reprimand. Clenching his teeth, he stepped back outside the Du Family's compound.

At the gate, the Bai Family's butler, expecting to see Du Shaomu himself, was met with disappointment and irritation. Before he could voice his displeasure, Du Xiaohou interjected, "Patriarch Bai, my young master instructed you to come tomorrow morning. No one asked you to come tonight. He's currently unavailable, so you'll have to wait. If that's not acceptable, feel free to leave and not return."

Summoning all his courage, Du Xiaohou spoke, then promptly turned and shut the courtyard gate.

With his back pressed against the door, Du Xiaohou took deep breaths, relieved he hadn't been thrashed on the spot by the patriarch.

He had spoken to the head of the Bai Family with such brazenness.

Outside, the Bai Family's butler stood, gaping at the firmly closed gate, at a loss for words.

Before he could erupt in anger, he was struck by the sheer audacity of the response.

Bai Yuanshan was equally stunned. Who in all of North Cloud City would dare treat him with such disregard?

Even a visit to the Marquis of Fengling in Fengling City would be met with a warm welcome.

Yet here, at the modest threshold of the Du Family, he was turned away in the middle of the night.