"What news?" Ronald Santos walked over and asked curiously.
Kade Santos took out a Transmission Stone and said, "The message says someone has awakened Tanner Xiao."
"Impossible. You clearly wounded his primordial spirit—he shouldn't be able to wake up. Even if he does, it should take a long time!" Ronald Santos replied, not believing it at all.
"It was that young man from the inn who saved him." Kade Santos answered.
"Him? That beggar? Strange, hasn't he been missing for over a month?" Ronald Santos frowned.
"Maybe he's been at the Xiao Manor this whole time, just that no one knew, so no one reported it back." Kade Santos replied.
"Whether he's there or not, investigate that beggar—find out his background. If possible, have him dealt with quietly." Ronald Santos answered.
"That beggar's strength is unusual. I'm afraid our people might not be able to handle him." Kade Santos said doubtfully.
"Don't worry, he has his own methods. Anyway, that beggar isn't from the Xiao Family. Even if something happens, it has nothing to do with us. Let him do whatever he wants." Ronald Santos said, looking at Kade Santos.
Kade Santos nodded. If someone attacked a Xiao Family member at the Xiao Manor, it would definitely be trouble if traced back. But this is different—Evan Yang isn't part of the Xiao Family. Using underhanded methods to deal with him, even if it gets traced to the Santos Family, at most the relationship with the Xiao Family worsens, but the Santos Family won't suffer any real harm.
This is also why Northridge Star has rules forbidding families from directly harming each other's children. That's why the Santos Family could only attack Tanner Xiao during the tournament, but they never expected Evan Yang to save him.
Now their target has partly shifted to Evan Yang, while other schemes are being prepared.
Evan Yang had no idea that an invisible threat was slowly closing in on him.
At the Xiao Manor, Evan Yang and Tanner Xiao discussed the current situation. Evan sighed, "Are you planning to just keep things this way?"
"What else can I do?" Tanner Xiao replied helplessly.
"Aren't you planning to fight back a little? If someone treated me like that, I'd definitely find a way to make them pay, just to show I'm not someone to mess with."
"That would require me to have the ability. Besides, families aren't allowed to directly harm each other. The only way is through formal contests, like today's tournament. If it weren't for you, I probably wouldn't have gotten up today." Tanner Xiao longed for Evan's approach, but just didn't have the strength.
"Your rules really are complicated." Evan Yang sighed, speechless.
"If only I could be like you, free and unrestrained." Tanner Xiao said, clearly envious of Evan Yang.
"Alright, let's not talk about this anymore. Just rest well—the road ahead is still long." Evan Yang sighed, then turned and left the room, leaving Tanner Xiao lying on the bed, staring at the ceiling and muttering, "When will I be able to live so freely, not caring about family matters?"
After leaving Tanner Shaw's room, Evan Yang decided to investigate the Santos Family's stronghold, hoping to figure out their next move. Deep down, he still couldn't let go of his first real friend in this world—Tanner Shaw.
Since someone was targeting his friend, Evan couldn't just sit back and do nothing. No matter what, he planned to use Thousand-Mile Echo to eavesdrop on their plans for dealing with Tanner Shaw.
But he'd barely taken a few steps when the butler walked out, smiling as he handed Evan an invitation.
Evan glanced at the invitation, curious. He opened it and saw a single line: "I have an important artifact for you. Please make sure to come to the bamboo grove outside the east city gate today."
"Who sent this?" Evan asked, a bit puzzled.
"I don't know. Someone rushed over just now and insisted I give this to you, so I came looking for you," the butler replied.
The butler answered.
Evan didn't know anyone here besides Tanner Shaw, so why was this invitation specifically addressed to him? The mystery made him even more curious, so he decided to check it out for himself.
Evan left the Shaw estate alone. After walking out, he noticed no one was following him—which made him, after staying at the Shaw estate for over a month, quietly reconsider his plans: once he wrapped up things here, he'd leave the Shaw Family for good.
At the bamboo grove outside the east city gate, Evan arrived and found a thicket of bamboo. He released his divine sense, wanting to see who was there ahead of time, but found nothing. This made him even more curious, so he walked over to take a closer look.