"Mm? Senior seeks our acting family head? May I ask... at whose behest did Senior come?"
The old man at the gate visibly showed surprise upon hearing this. He quickly steadied his emotions and hurriedly asked Su Shi'er in a low voice.
"Your former family head, Ren Ze!" Su Shi'er answered calmly, without concealing anything.
The old man's breathing caught even more sharply at those words.
He blurted out instinctively, "Is what Senior says true?"
"What? Do you think... this old man has any need to deceive you?" Su Shi'er shrugged, his expression unchanged and his heart unruffled.
The old man was left speechless. His face promptly flushed red as he hurriedly said, "Please do not take offense, Senior. This old man was merely too agitated. Please wait a moment, Senior. This old man will immediately notify the acting family head."
With that, a spiritual talisman in the old man's hand turned into a streak of light and flew straight toward the manor's main hall.
The talisman went swiftly and returned just as swiftly.
In no more than a dozen breaths, a new spiritual talisman streaked through the air and landed before the old man.
The moment he took the talisman in hand, its message appeared in his mind.
The next instant, the old man forcefully pulled open the manor gates. The look in his eyes as he faced Su Shi'er grew ever more respectful. "Senior, the acting family head invites you inside for a talk."
Without waiting for Su Shi'er's reply, he hurriedly led the way respectfully.
Only then did Su Shi'er step over the threshold and stride into the so-called Ren residence, following the old man at the Foundation Establishment stage ahead.
Once inside, he could more clearly sense the air of desolation and decay pervading the entire