Mystic Heaven Pavilion, inner hall.
The family heads who received Transforming-Dragon Grass were overjoyed, while those who didn’t started scheming to quickly round up a few beauties and present them to the Third Prince before he left Skywind City.
Outer hall.
Seated here were the upper echelons of the eleven great families, the Nether-Dragon Sect, and the city officials; among them was Shawn Du, the Du Family’s chief steward.
Just then, a streak of jade light suddenly flew into the hall, stopping right in front of Shawn Du.
It was a transmission jade talisman.
A hint of confusion flashed in Shawn Du’s eyes as he picked up the talisman. Instantly, a voice rang out: "Chief Steward, something bad has happened—Young Master Yuanbao is in trouble!"
In an instant, Shawn Du’s face turned extremely grim, his eyes flashing with murderous intent.
Du Yuanbao was his only son. Not long after Yuanbao was born, Shawn had gone on a secret mission and injured his kidney meridian. Despite years of treatment, it never healed, meaning Yuanbao would be his only child. He doted on him obsessively.
Now that his son was in trouble, Shawn couldn’t sit still. He planned to ask the family head for leave and rush home to see what had happened.
Just as he was about to get up, the Du Family head and a group of family heads happened to walk out from the inner hall.
He hurried forward, face full of anxiety, and said, "Family Head, something’s happened with my son. I need to go handle it!"
Having just received twenty stalks of Transforming-Dragon Grass, the Du Family head was in a great mood. Hearing Shawn’s words, his expression turned serious: "Yuanbao’s in trouble? Then hurry and go! If you need anything, don’t stand on ceremony with me!"
"Thank you, Family Head. I’ll take my leave now!"
Shawn Du gratefully bowed to the family head, then hurriedly left Mystic Heaven Pavilion.
As the Du Family’s chief steward, Shawn held great authority. Though he mainly lived at the Du clan’s main estate, he also kept a private residence in the city. As soon as he left Mystic Heaven Pavilion, he turned into a streak of light and shot away, arriving at his house in just over ten breaths.
The residence wasn’t large, but its buildings were exquisitely crafted—a reflection of Shawn’s careful attention and taste.
"Master, you’re back."
As soon as he entered the side room, a middle-aged, tear-streaked beauty greeted him—his wife, May Chen.
"How’s Yuanbao?" Shawn Du asked urgently, his face full of concern.
May Chen said worriedly, "Yuanbao was poisoned. Doctor Yan is inside trying to cure him."
Victor Yan was the best physician in Skywind City, his skills approaching the miraculous. Even the twelve great families treated him with utmost respect.
Hearing this, Shawn Du relaxed a little. With Victor Yan’s skills, Yuanbao should be fine. He comforted his wife.
Time passed slowly. Just as Shawn Du was about to lose patience, the side room door opened and an elderly man in blue stepped out.
"Doctor Yan, how is he?"
"Doctor Yan, has Yuanbao’s poison been cured?"
The couple asked almost in unison.
Victor Yan merely sighed softly.
Seeing this, both Shawn Du and May Chen felt a jolt of anxiety.
Victor Yan explained, "Your son’s poison is extremely complex, formed from thousands of toxins—including several mutated types. What’s even more unbelievable is that the composition of these toxins changes every moment. I’ve tried many methods but cannot eliminate it; I can only barely suppress it. To truly cleanse your son’s body, you’ll need to find the person who poisoned him!"
May Chen refused to give up. "Is there really no other way? Doctor Yan, your skills are so incredible—please, you must save Yuanbao! As long as you cure him, we’ll give you anything you want!"
Victor Yan’s face darkened with displeasure. "Madam Du, I’ve done all I can. At most I can suppress the poison for three days. So you’d better hurry and find the poisoner—otherwise, even an immortal deity couldn’t help!"
Shawn Du hurriedly said, "Sorry, Doctor Yan. My wife is just too worried about our son—she didn’t mean anything by it."
Victor Yan’s expression softened slightly. He cupped his hands to the couple and took his leave.
"Master, what should we do? Yuanbao isn’t even married yet—who could be so vicious, so cruel, to poison my son like this?" At this point, May Chen couldn’t hold back and burst into tears.
"Enough, stop crying!"
Shawn Du, extremely irritable, snapped coldly, then ordered the maid to escort May Chen back to her room. He himself walked into the side room.
Seeing Du Yuanbao lying unconscious on the bed, his face shrouded in black qi, Shawn Du’s face grew even darker. "No matter who you are, if you dare harm my son, I won’t let you off!"
He lingered in the side room for a while, then stepped out and called for the servants. "Does anyone know how Yuanbao was poisoned?"
One servant briefly recounted what had happened.
After hearing the story, Shawn Du gritted his teeth and asked, "Did you find out where those men and women went, or who they are?"
"Master, we’ve already sent people to investigate. We should have news soon!"
About two quarters of an hour later, the servants who went to investigate returned.
"Master, we discovered that the group who poisoned Young Master Yuanbao entered the Tanner estate!"
"What?"
Shawn Du’s face changed sharply. "Could it really be them?"
Now that he suspected who poisoned Du Yuanbao, Shawn knew he couldn’t handle this alone. His only option was to ask the family head for help.
Back when the Du Family head hadn’t yet taken charge, Shawn had been his personal bodyguard.
After the family head rose to power, he promoted Shawn, making him chief steward in charge of major affairs.
"Take good care of Young Master. I’m heading to the Du residence!"
Soon, Shawn Du met with the Du Family head.
"How is Little Shan? Is Yuanbao alright?" the family head asked with concern.
"Family Head, please save Yuanbao!"
With a thud, Shawn Du dropped to his knees, his voice desperate and shrill.
"Little Shan, what are you doing? Get up! We’re too close for that. Just tell me what happened."
Shawn Du got up and recounted the whole incident. He was smart—he didn’t exaggerate, and even admitted that Du Yuanbao had been the one to provoke Ian Song and the others.
After hearing Shawn’s story, the family head’s expression grew extremely serious.
The Tanner Clan, even stronger than the Du Family, had been wiped out in an instant. This showed how terrifying Evan Chu’s power was. Now Shawn’s son had gone to ‘snatch the man’s women’—it was basically asking for trouble. Normally, he wouldn’t get involved, fearing disaster for the clan.
But Shawn Du was his right-hand man and had done much for the Du Family. He’d even injured his kidney meridian for the clan and now had only one son. If the family head ignored this, it would chill Shawn’s heart.
After some thought, the family head said, "Here’s what we’ll do: tomorrow I’ll personally visit the Tanner estate and ask Evan Chu to remove Yuanbao’s poison."
"Thank you, Family Head!"
Shawn Du knelt again in gratitude.