Beth bit her lip and nodded, tears slipping silently down her cheeks. As soon as Sloane’s needle pierced her skin, the searing pain in her ankle began to fade, the throbbing subsiding to a dull ache. When the acupuncture was done, Sloane gently helped her stand. "Let’s get you back to the Oliver estate first." "Aunt! Sloane!" Shawn ran in, out of breath. The moment he saw Beth’s swollen ankle, his face filled with panic. "Aunt, what happened to your foot?" "It’s just a sprain," Sloane answered before Beth could. "I already treated her with acupuncture—it’s stable for now." She gestured toward Shawn. "Come on, squat down and carry her to the car." "O-okay!" Shawn quickly crouched in front of Beth, letting her climb onto his back before hurrying toward the car. On the way back, Beth’s voice trembled as she spoke. "Miles wasn’t himself back there… He looked like he was in pain, and he told me to run. He was fighting something, I could feel it…" Her words faltered, anxiety knotting her chest. "Was he being controlled?" Sloane took her hand and squeezed it gently. "We believe he’s under the influence of a Soul Guild spell—specifically, the Emotion Transference Ritual." Beth’s heart dropped. "Soul Guild? Emotion Transference?" Her fingers twisted together nervously. "What does that mean?" Sloane explained calmly, though her tone was grim. "The Soul Guild was a cult that existed over three hundred years ago. They mastered seven arts of emotional manipulation—each based on an extreme feeling. The Transference Spell rewrites the victim’s emotions completely, making them despise their true love and fall hopelessly obsessed with the caster." From the driver’s seat, Shawn couldn’t help blurting out, "That explains why Uncle suddenly changed overnight!" Beth’s eyes filled again, her voice choked. "But Miles… in the restaurant, he was still fighting it. He was trying to protect me!" "That’s the most dangerous stage," Sloane said, her brows knitting. "When the spell begins to backfire, the victim’s soul suffers immense pain. The bracelet Dania wears—the one with the bells—is likely the Emotional Lock that binds his will."Beth’s tears spilled over. "Then what do we do now? Please—tell me there’s a way to save him!" "My master is already on her way here," Sloane said, her eyes narrowing with determination. "She knows how to break the spell. For now, our priority is to get Tony back from Dania." The car had barely rolled through the gates of the Oliver estate when Beth noticed two figures waiting in the courtyard. One was a middle-aged woman in a plain white robe, calm and dignified. Beside her stood an elderly man with snow-white hair, leaning on a polished peachwood staff. "Master!" Sloane called, relief and excitement flooding her face as she helped Beth out of the car. The Medicine Valley Master hurried forward, her gaze landing on Beth’s injured ankle. "What happened here?" Sloane quickly explained everything that had happened. "Master, Tony’s been taken by Dania. We have to find him as soon as possible!" "Patience," her master said, turning toward the elder beside her. "This is Mr. Gustin. He has experience dealing with the Soul Guild." "Thank you for coming," Sloane said respectfully, bowing to him. Mr. Gustin nodded slightly. "Eradicating dark forces like the Soul Guild is my duty." "Please," Beth pleaded, stepping forward, her voice shaking. "Please save Miles." The old man exchanged a look with Sloane’s master before giving a slow nod. "I may not be able to locate Mr. Tony directly, but I can find the ones who control him." "Really?" Beth’s eyes widened, hope flooding her face. "If we find them, we can find Tony!" The old man gave a small nod, then reached into his sleeve and withdrew an ancient bronze compass. Biting his finger, he drew several blood sigils across its surface, murmuring a chant under his breath. The compass trembled violently. Its needle spun in wild circles—then stopped abruptly, pointing toward the southeast.