C13 Arrogance

In the realm of cultivation, the most challenging vice to overcome is one's own arrogance.

"We're both cultivators, and we must see ourselves as worthless to progress. Yet, you've been too showy with your actions. Reflect on the chaos from yesterday. Are you truly unaware of the consequences?" Yang Chao challenged.

Du Changsheng, standing to the side, felt his face flush with shame. He used to dismiss such concerns, thinking they were trivial. But now, after Yang Chao's scolding, he felt utterly embarrassed, as if he were beyond redemption.

"Okay, rest assured, I will certainly rid myself of these thoughts," he promised.

To an outsider, the scene would appear as a young man making a pitiful promise to an elderly man in his seventies or eighties—a man who, by all accounts, deserved respect.

"Fine, if that's the case, you may leave," Yang Chao said, then turned and retreated to his teaching building to find a place to rest.

At the Du family residence, a stretch limousine pulled up to the front door. The butler greeted Du Changsheng, "Master, you've finally returned. The Madam is in a frenzy at home."

Du Changsheng stepped out of the limousine, nodding slightly. He hadn't even crossed the threshold when the cacophony from inside reached his ears. His mind raced back to the previous day's events and the ominous results of the hospital examination—it was very likely related to a pregnancy.

Upon entering, he witnessed his wife berating another woman, "You deceitful woman! You were never pregnant, yet you fooled us into believing you were. You've truly lost all sense of dignity. What is your endgame?"

In the midst of her tirade, she violently lashed out at the woman named Ying, who appeared defiant and unrepentant.

"Madam, I didn't intentionally lie. My love for Tianhao is genuine. I only wanted to spend more time with him," Ying pleaded, dodging the relentless assault, her eyes brimming with anxiety.

Ying had hoped the Du family would show some decorum, even if they discovered her deception. She never anticipated such a vulgar outburst.

Despite their wealth, the members of her family were shockingly uncultured, telling her to scram and clawing at her like lunatics.

The lady of the house was having none of it. She marched up and delivered a fierce slap, "Ugh, you vile woman! Enough with your nonsense. You're only after my son's money. Beyond that, you're worthless—a nothing but a lowlife!"

Du Changsheng, noticing his wife's uncharacteristic harshness, furrowed his brow and softly cautioned, "My dear, what are you doing?"

Upon seeing her protector return, the lady immediately ran to him, wailing dramatically.

"Master, this woman is despicable. She claimed she was pregnant, but the checkup revealed it was a lie—she deceived us!"

"Examine this report. She's not pregnant at all, yet she continues to lie. Clearly, she's after our son's fortune. Without that motive, she would never stoop so low! She's utterly contemptible!"

They all hailed from affluent families, accustomed to the ways of their households. Yet, they could never have imagined encountering such vile deceit, including a fabricated pregnancy to force their way into the family.

Du Changsheng's gaze was icy as he looked at the woman sprawled on the bed. Recalling yesterday's events, he clenched his teeth in anger.

"Were it not for you, I wouldn't have crossed my teacher. Your so-called pregnancy is a farce. So why are you still here? Get out of my house this instant!"

Trembling with rage, Du Changsheng struggled to contain himself. If not for the fact that Ying was a woman, he might have already exacted a fatal retribution.

It was because of this woman that he had alienated his teacher, who now refused even to see him, speaking with a tone that left Du Changsheng feeling increasingly hopeless. After finally getting a chance, he wondered if he was doomed to repeat past mistakes.

Ying, seeing both of them demanding she leave, hurriedly approached, tears of sorrow in her eyes.

"Du Tianhao, we've been together for so long. I'm begging you, let me stay. I truly love you. There's no one else for me but you. After all this time together, can you honestly say you feel nothing for me?"

"I'm not pregnant at the moment, but I assure you, I'll conceive as soon as possible. I can still bear a grandson for your family. Isn't that sufficient? Please, I'm begging you, just give me a chance."

Ying was at her wit's end, her eyes brimming with despair. All she yearned for was someone to care for her.

Every girl dreams of a comfortable life, and it's not wrong to want to share it with someone wealthy. But sometimes, fate has other plans.

The Du family had no regard for her, eager for her to leave at the earliest. Clinging on would only deepen their disdain.

"Disgusting woman, look at the state you're in, and you still have the audacity to stay in my house? I'm warning you, leave now! My patience has worn thin. If you don't go immediately, I'll have you thrown out by force!"

Du Tianhao was no fool. With his father's temper flaring, anxiety washed over him. He knew the urgency of resolving the situation before it impacted him too.

Ying attempted to resist, but to her shock, she was forcibly ejected, carried and dumped outside the door with a brutal finality.

Onlookers were taken aback. She had it coming; if it weren't for his deceit, no one would have intervened.

But now, having dug his own grave with his actions, he deserved the consequences, the backlash from those he had wronged.

"Father, I've sent her away. Please, don't be angry. I realize my mistake and will go to Yang Chao to apologize in person," Du Tianhao pleaded, noticing his father's still dark countenance.

A pang of fear struck his heart as he realized the extent of his error, having crossed Yang Chao and inadvertently involving his father.