Mu Jinyu had defeated Shen Cangsheng in a few moves and tossed him into the coffin he had brought, where Shen lay immobile like a dead dog.
If it weren't for his faint breathing, everyone present would probably have thought he was dead.
The spectators were stunned and entirely unable to accept this reality.
Those who had come to attend today's engagement party were, obviously, people related to the Su Family and the Shen Family. They all knew Shen Cangsheng's identity, along with his formidable strength.
Yet, such a Martial Arts Grandmaster, capable of fighting hundreds, had easily lost to a young man like Mu Jinyu and was thrown into a coffin like a dead dog.
It was incredibly hard for people to believe.
The Old Dragon King watched this scene, then looked at Mu Jinyu's face, which bore some resemblance to Su Zijin, especially the eyes and brows, which were very much like Su Zijin's. He nodded in satisfaction, thinking to himself:
"This strength, even stronger than Beidou Tianshu, is more than enough to suppress the other six Sub-hall Masters of the Dragon King Hall. I don't have to worry after I die. Although he still holds some grudge against Zijin, he chose to come and rescue his mother from evil, which shows his character. I can rest assured leaving the Dragon King Hall in his hands..."
In the dark night, Xiang Mantang lay half-reclined on the roof of a blue brick tile house near the Su Family Courtyard, watching this scene from afar with a hint of relief in his eyes.
Then, he seemed to remember something, rubbed the corners of his eyes a few times, and a slight smile appeared on his lips as he softly murmured, "Senior brother has finally found his home, but where is my home? Sister... where are you..."
After murmuring a few words, Xiang Mantang gently shook his head, suppressed these emotions, and carefully jumped down from the roof of the blue brick tile house to leave the area.
He needed to leave quickly in case Mu Jinyu noticed him. He had promised to be a dispassionate observer and to let him save himself, but he had still come, which would surely provoke a teasing!
Mu Jinyu had been preoccupied with Su Zijin and Shen Cangsheng just moments ago, and now that Shen was dealt with, if he didn't leave, Mu Jinyu would definitely notice him.
Thus, Xiang Mantang came silently and left without a trace.
Except for Su Zijin, who suspected he might have come, no one else at the engagement party, not even the Old Dragon King, knew that Xiang Mantang had been hiding nearby, watching the entire process.
Mu Jinyu looked at the thin wooden coffin he had brought, listening to it creak under Shen Cangsheng's weight as if it was going to fall apart at any moment, and watched anxiously for a while.
After thirty seconds, seeing that the coffin didn't break, he finally relaxed and muttered, "Stupid fat pig, had me thinking I wasted three hundred bucks on this coffin."
Hearing this, those sitting nearby couldn't help but feel speechless.
Mu Jinyu clapped his hands a few times, then glanced coldly at the people around him, lingering for a second longer on Su Zijin, and after moving his gaze, he looked at the oldest man present, guessing he must be the Old Dragon King.
After a complex and indifferent glance at the Old Dragon King, Mu Jinyu said nothing more, turned around, and calmly walked toward the exit of the courtyard.
The Old Dragon King indeed didn't have much longer to live; even with a million cures and a thousand life-saving techniques, extending his own life was something even a great deal of money could do little to help...
"Jinyu!"
Su Zijin reacted, called out in shock, and seeing that he didn't stop, she could not be bothered to use the stairs. She hurriedly jumped down from the platform, twisted her ankle in the process, but ignoring the pain, limped and hobbled over to him!
"Jinyu..."
Su Zijin urgently shouted, her voice compelling.
Mu Jinyu had intended to leave quickly, but hearing Su Zijin's calls, his heart softened, and his steps faltered a few times before he hardened his resolve to leave.
But Su Zijin had already run close to him, grabbing and hugging him, her face full of excitement and joy!
The people at the engagement party watched this scene, their expressions slightly bizarre, since they were unclear about the relationship between Mu Jinyu and Su Zijin, and thought he was her lover, which was why he was causing trouble at her engagement party.
However, since he possessed skills far surpassing those of Shen Cangsheng, if he and Su Zijin were truly in love, the Old Dragon King would surely have agreed to their union to win him over!
Could it be because Mu Jinyu was too young?
The crowd speculated suspiciously.
When Su Zijin embraced him, Mu Jinyu's body shook, his face displaying a mix of complexity and struggle. Deep down, he wanted to turn around and embrace her, calling her "mom"...
But his inherent stubbornness and resentment ultimately made it impossible for him to speak up. Instead, he pushed Su Zijin away, saying coldly, "Lady Su, please behave yourself!"
"Ah!"
Su Zijin, pushed by Mu Jinyu, staggered on her already sprained foot, failed to steady herself, and fell to the ground!
Mu Jinyu wanted to reach out to help her, but it was too late. After his expression changed several times, he withdrew his gaze, turned decisively, and prepared to leave.
"Why do you still treat mom this way? You were willing to come save me, so why can't you forgive her?"
Behind him suddenly came a voice tinged with sobbing.
Filled with helplessness and weakness...
Though she was already in her forties, she cried like a four-year-old girl whose doll had been stolen by a villain.
In the silent banquet, everyone who heard Su Zijin's words felt as if a bomb had exploded in their minds.
So...
This young man was actually Su Zijin's child!
The one who had vanished years ago!
No wonder, no wonder he had come all the way to disrupt Su Zijin's engagement to Shen Cangsheng. So that was the reason!
The crowd realized the truth, looking at the unconscious Shen Cangsheng lying in the coffin with even more complicated expressions.
Mu Jinyu heard Su Zijin's words, listened to the helplessness and sorrow in her voice, paused in his steps, clenched his fists unconsciously, and his face underwent several complex changes. After taking a deep breath and exhaling, he chuckled, his voice hoarse as he said:
"What does it feel like to give up someone you love very much? It feels like a fire has burnt down the house you lived in for a long time. You stare at the ruins and ashes in despair, knowing it was your home, but you can't return... can't return anymore, haha..."
Amidst his sad laughter, Mu Jinyu did not linger any longer and strode out of the courtyard.
Su Zijin lifted her head, her gaze fixed on Mu Jinyu's desolate figure, her lips moved several times, wanting to call him back, but ultimately, she could not make any sound.
She watched Mu Jinyu's figure disappear from view, recalling his recent words, as well as what Xiang Mantang had told her about Mu Jinyu's past.
In her mind, the image of a four- or five-year-old boy emerged, squatting alone on the street side.
He watched people passing by, families of three holding hands, his gaze alternating between envy and despair.
Reluctantly waiting for the last relative in his world to come back and fetch him...
But that day never came, not even when heavy snow blanketed all of Rong City.