Bai Ruozhu spoke again: "The great elder’s strength should be among the top in your clan, right? If the great elder discovered the other party, that person would be hard-pressed to kill the great elder without him calling for help. So it’s more likely that the great elder was ambushed while looking at the booklet, and the assailant is someone who greatly trusted the elder."

"What nonsense are you talking about!" Xuan You’s voice suddenly sounded. She rushed over like the wind, glaring at Bai Ruozhu, "Before you came, things weren’t this complicated. Now you’re saying we have a traitor among us, clearly trying to stir up trouble within our clan."

She looked at Heluo, "Brother, you can’t be fooled by her anymore! You and she are the only ones who knew the great elder was going to check the records; she might have been the one who ambushed the great elder."

"Xuan You, don’t be ridiculous. Someone who possesses Jiuli’s Golden Feather wouldn’t do such a despicable thing. Besides, our Golden Wings Clan owes a favor to the Jiuli Clan; even if she wants to take my position, we can’t refuse. Why would she bother with such trouble?" Heluo said.

Bai Ruozhu was taken aback; she had no idea that Jiuli’s Golden Feather had such function.

She recalled the clan leader’s solemn expression when he gave her the Golden Feather, saying there were only three in total. She realized its importance, as even the merfolk on Merfolk Island would give her face.

But she hadn’t thought about the connection between the Jiuli Clan and the Golden Wings Clan, nor knew if the clan leader forgot to mention it, or if it had been too long and the Jiuli Clan had forgotten their favor towards the Golden Wings Clan.

"How is that possible!" Xuan You cried, looking at the other elders, seeing them all acknowledging it, she had no choice but to believe.

"Clan Leader, what’s really going on here?" asked the handsome man from the Golden Wings, Bai Ruozhu remembered him as the one who had been stirring up trouble with Wen Xuan before.

Heluo, however, frowned, "Don’t ask too much, just remember what I said."

"But..." The man wanted to ask but was intimidated by Heluo’s gaze.

Bai Ruozhu was curious too, but evidently this wasn’t something to be discussed publicly. She wondered if she would get an answer if she asked Heluo in private later.

"Perhaps waking the great elder up will clarify this matter. I’m a doctor, maybe I can try." She said.

But Xuan You was full of rejection and suspicion, "No way, what if you’re the murderer and you take this chance to harm the great elder?"

"Are you dumb? If she wanted to harm him, wouldn’t she have done so when the great elder was unconscious? Why would she wait until now?" Fo Lanying couldn’t help but speak up, "And her being a holy maiden, doesn’t use her brain when speaking."

"You!" Xuan You glared, "Are you looking for a fight?"

"Do you think you can beat me?" Fo Lanying said unceremoniously.

Heluo felt a headache coming on. He suddenly realized he had been too indulgent with his sister all these years, or perhaps he hadn’t taught her well. Coupled with the clan members constantly supporting her, she’s become arrogant without much sense.

He couldn’t protect her all his life; her behavior truly worried him.

But now was not the time to dwell on these things. He said sternly, "Xuan You, go back to your room, and don’t come out without my permission!"

"Brother!" Xuan You stomped her foot in anger, "You promised Mom and Dad you’d take good care of me, and now you’re treating me like this? Just for an outsider woman?"

Bai Ruozhu’s mouth twitched. Why did she feel this sentence was ambiguous?

"There’s no time for your antics. The great elder’s treatment should be the priority." Heluo felt his headache worsen.

He looked at Bai Ruozhu, "Madam Bai, I’m counting on you."

"No way!" Xuan You blocked the door, "I don’t trust her; she’ll harm the great elder."

A young man rushed forward, blocking the door like Xuan You, "I don’t trust her either; she’s not allowed near my Grandpa!"

"Chai Ji, don’t humor her." Heluo said.

Unexpectedly, more youths rushed over, mimicking Xuan You and blocking the door, all declaring that outsiders weren’t allowed near the great elder.

Bai Ruozhu squinted at this scene, feeling deeply contemptuous. They really think she wants to treat him? Many people couldn’t even afford to invite her.

"In that case, let’s avoid unnecessary suspicion." Bai Ruozhu finished speaking and gave a signal to others, and the five of them bowed and left.

Heluo was anxious and shouted at Xuan You and the others, "Well, you all have great abilities now, don’t regard me as the clan leader anymore? Fine, I won’t be the clan leader; I won’t care about the Fertility Tree. You can do whatever you want!"

Xuan You had never seen her brother so angry. She was a bit flustered; the other elders hurried over, stopping Heluo and persuading him earnestly.

"Young people are careless; you shouldn’t take it seriously."

"We’ll discipline them later. You can’t quit being the clan leader; there’s no one more suitable than you."

"..."

The commotion went on until late, though the great elder’s condition was stabilized, still unable to wake up. Two elders stayed to protect the great elder, while others left.

Heluo was deeply disappointed with his sister, appearing as if he’d aged several years.

"Brother, I didn’t mean to make you angry, I’m just afraid, afraid you’re being deceived." Xuan You went to find Heluo, speaking cautiously.

Heluo raised his eyelids to glance at her, "Do you think I’m so easy to deceive? Are you that unconfident in your brother?"

"But I’m afraid..." Xuan You bit her lip, "Even heroes succumb to beauties."

Heluo felt speechless, "Is that your own thought, or did someone say something to you? Do you think I have feelings for Madam Bai? Her husband is waiting outside; I’m not so improper as to covet someone else’s wife. Is your brother’s character that poor?"

"Her husband is outside?" Xuan You obviously didn’t know, "Then why didn’t he come in with her? How would I know she has a husband?"

Heluo glared at her, "Her husband has some merfolk bloodline, Lingyu didn’t let him in."

Xuan You scratched her head vigorously, "Then, um..."

"What? Even now, you’re not speaking honestly?" Heluo raised his voice a bit.

"Brother, don’t be mad." Facing her strict brother, Xuan You instantly became a shy little lamb.

She pouted and said, "Tian Ning is worried about you, you know she’s always liked you."

Heluo’s expression turned a bit grim, "So she’s been the one egging you on."

"She really likes you; I can understand her." Xuan You said naively.

Heluo sighed and knocked her lightly on the head, "Do you know why I won’t have anything to do with her? There are so few suitable women to marry; why can’t I accept her?"

Xuan You shook her head, "Do you like Yin Hen then?"

Heluo felt his headache worsen. He really needed to spend more effort teaching his sister; this girl was foolish enough to make one exasperated.

"No! Tian Ning is too calculating; I don’t want to marry someone like that." Heluo said.