However, it wasn’t easy to persuade Luan Xin’s father. In the end, Luan Xin decided to first let Master Puru try to convince him. If that didn’t work, he planned to leave a letter and secretly depart with Bai Ruozhu and the others.

Bai Ruozhu hadn’t yet returned to the posthouse when Jianqi came looking for her to deliver a message.

"Master, the Astrologer Family has brought people seeking medical help, claiming it’s for an elder of their family," Jianqi said.

"Is it the one guarding the demon?" Bai Ruozhu’s gaze turned slightly somber. It seemed the Astrologer Family indeed had some trouble.

"Most likely." Jianqi replied.

Bai Ruozhu immediately quickened her pace and hurried back to the posthouse with Jianqi.

"Bai Ruozhu, this is the second elder of our family; he seems to be afflicted by a poisonous insect. Please help us take a look," the astrologer said.

An elder from Fusang, with white hair and beard, was being escorted into the yard, tied up thoroughly. His face was full of anger, and he was shouting something, but due to his mute acupoint being pressed, no sound was heard.

"He kept shouting incessantly, so noisy that I had to seal his mute acupoint," Gao Zhou said unhappily from the side.

To him, the Fusang language really sounded like incomprehensible gibberish.

Bai Ruozhu approached and released the mute acupoint of the second elder and, sure enough, heard him cursing.

"Astrologer, you traitor! Colluding with outsiders to frame me! You will die a horrible death!"

The astrologer’s face was quite displeased, and he said to Bai Ruozhu: "We checked; the demon king remains in the seal and hasn’t escaped. But the great elder guarding him was severely injured and in a coma, while the third elder is still missing. The second elder recently had a drastic change in personality. That’s why I brought him here for you to see. But he kept resisting, so I had to have him bound first."

"Alright, let me take a look." Bai Ruozhu said and called out Furball. Furball flew towards the second elder, who then shouted even louder.

"What’s this?! Astrologer, are you trying to kill me with this thing? I’m still your elder, and you’re trying to harm me in public; this is rebellious!"

Gao Zhou, annoyed by the noise, said, "Why did you release his mute acupoint? He screams like a pig being slaughtered."

Bai Ruozhu called Furball back, "I’m just worried he might not be controlled by a poisonous insect, so I need to know what he’s saying, right?"

The astrologer seemed a bit startled, "You mean the second elder isn’t controlled by a poisonous insect?"

"There’s no poisonous insect on him, but he seems to have a deep misunderstanding about you. You should ask him carefully. If I’m not mistaken, it’s likely some elder often said something to him." Bai Ruozhu said.

"Could it be the third elder? Is he the one who fled under the control of a poisonous insect?" The astrologer frowned deeply.

"Not necessarily. I’d better go with you and see the severely injured and comatose great elder," Bai Ruozhu suggested.

Indeed, someone injured would easily be perceived as a victim. But what if the great elder was controlled by a poisonous insect to attack the third elder?

The astrologer looked at the second elder, "Second elder, someone is now using the family’s guardian demon king to create chaos and has even poisoned His Majesty with demonic poison. Can you temporarily set aside your prejudices against me and speak up if you know anything?"

"I have no prejudice against you; I know your character well. I’m clear that it was you who murdered the old patriarch. What else can’t you do?" The second elder shouted loudly.

As soon as he said this, the astrologer’s face turned sullen, "Who told you that?"

"I saw it with my own eyes!" The second elder said stubbornly, with a defiant stance as if he didn’t care even if he was killed.

Ning Yu, hidden in the house, felt his heart skip a beat. He was genuinely worried about his brother’s safety. However, he had to avoid the people from the Astrologer Family and could only hide inside. Otherwise, if they saw him alive, who knows what trouble they would stir up?

The astrologer was sure no one saw him when it happened. He was cautious by nature, so how could he have overlooked someone as significant as the second elder?

Besides, given the second elder’s upright and unyielding character, if he indeed witnessed it, he would have exposed it back then.

"My father died of illness years ago. If you truly saw me kill him, why have you never mentioned it? I think someone has brainwashed you, right?" the astrologer said.

The astrologer’s subordinate also chimed in: "How could the patriarch kill the old patriarch? How old was the patriarch when the old patriarch died? Even if they fought, he wouldn’t have been a match for the old patriarch."

A look of confusion flashed through the second elder’s eyes. Indeed, if he truly witnessed it back then, why didn’t he say anything?

"I think the second elder is under the influence of a Soul-Bewitching Technique," Zhitian remarked.

At this moment, the second elder was also somewhat uncertain, but due to his stubborn nature, he continued to insist that he saw it with his own eyes.

"Even things seen with your own eyes can be false, let alone if seen at the wrong time," Bai Ruozhu said calmly. "I suggest setting this issue aside for now and check whether the great elder is afflicted by a poisonous insect."

"Who are you to meddle in the Astrologer Family’s affairs?" The second elder said unceremoniously.

The three elders had been guarding the seal of the demon king for years and were not involved in Kyoto’s matters, so they were unaware of Bai Ruozhu and her party’s identities.

Bai Ruozhu gave him a cold glance, "Who I am is none of your business. It’s your Astrologer Family that asked me to save someone, and yet you have this attitude. Being straightforward isn’t about behaving like this."

She didn’t have a high opinion of the people from the Astrologer Family. Back then, they wanted to kill the astrologer, and later Ning Yu as well. Though perhaps not every individual had such intentions, Bai Ruozhu simply couldn’t warm up to them. She was examining the great elder only because of her regard for the astrologer.

The astrologer stepped forward to block the second elder’s view. "The great elder’s life or death is uncertain now, and you’re driving the doctor away. Do you truly consider him your brother?"

"She’s also a doctor?" The second elder said in disbelief, but ultimately didn’t continue shouting. Judging by his expression, he was indeed very worried about the great elder’s safety.

Then, the astrologer led the way, and the group headed to the astrologer’s residence. However, the ropes binding the second elder weren’t untied. Although it was confirmed that he wasn’t under the influence of a poisonous insect, he still seemed to be under the suspicion of being affected by the Soul-Bewitching Technique, so no one dared release him impulsively.

Not all of the people from the posthouse came along. Only Bai Ruozhu, Jiang Yichun, and Gao Zhou accompanied them. As the three of them entered the Astrologer Family’s residence, they immediately felt a very oppressive atmosphere, making it somewhat hard to breathe.

The astrologer apologized, "This is a barrier set up by our ancestors long ago. It exerts a certain pressure on those who are not from the Astrologer Family to highlight our family’s prestige. Unfortunately, I cannot disable it. Please forgive us three."

Gao Zhou snorted coldly, "That’s not how you show off your prestige; you’re just asking for a thunderstrike."

Bai Ruozhu couldn’t help but chuckle, "Dad, just bear with it. After all, this pressure doesn’t impact us much."

The second elder was surprised by Bai Ruozhu’s nonchalance, wondering what her real capabilities were. Could she really have some skills?