Black Magic Rose Chapter 14

Chapter 14: Clouds of Suspicion

The brief but fierce energy storm in the hot spring pool was like a giant rock thrown into a calm lake, the ripples quickly spreading to the most secretive corners of the Wen Family estate. Shu Yijin suppressed the churning qi and blood in his body and immediately locked himself in his room. He sat cross-legged in a corner far from Wen Jingheng, focusing entirely on regulating his breath and suppressing the backlash caused by the violent oscillation of the nearly uncontrollable Evil God Essence and the Seal.

He had underestimated the immense power and sensitivity of the Holy Energy within Wen Jingheng, and overestimated the capacity of this human shell to withstand such an intense energy impact. But high risk brought high reward; he could clearly “see” several unprecedentedly distinct cracks appearing on the golden, shimmering chains of the Seal deep within his soul! This was undoubtedly a crucial step toward truly breaking the Seal.

However, he was also acutely aware that such a noticeable energy fluctuation could never be hidden from those with ulterior motives, especially the secret researchers of the Wen Family who were already extremely sensitive to supernatural forces.

Sure enough, the atmosphere suddenly became subtle the next morning.

The doctor who came for the routine check-up was a new face. His attitude remained respectful, but the examination was exceptionally meticulous, especially the monitoring of Wen Jingheng’s vital signs, which was scrutinized down to the smallest detail. His eyes held a look of scrutiny and inquiry. Shu Yijin stood by with his hands lowered, his face showing a well-placed worry and a hint of confusion, infected by the tense atmosphere, but his mind was chillingly clear.

When the old butler came to deliver daily necessities, he casually mentioned, “How did Young Master Yijin feel after yesterday’s hot spring therapy? Did the Young Master have any… special reaction?”

Shu Yijin raised his slightly red eyes (the result of staying up late to regulate his energy and deliberately rubbing them), his voice hoarse with fatigue. “Jingheng… he seemed a little warmer than usual. I could feel it when I held him… but I don’t know if it was just my imagination.” He trailed off, perfectly portraying the fragile image of someone who hoped for his husband’s recovery but dared not believe it.

The old butler looked at him deeply and asked no more questions, but Shu Yijin caught the fleeting look of solemnity in his eyes.

A greater change occurred in the afternoon. Two middle-aged men in dark suits, with cold, stern demeanors and eyes as sharp as eagles, paid a visit. They were neither doctors nor permanent security personnel of the Wen Family, yet the old butler treated them with extraordinary respect, referring to them as “Envoys of the Elder Council.”

The Elder Council? A cold sneer flashed in Shu Yijin’s heart. It seemed this was the core faction within the Wen Family researching secret powers. They moved fast.

The envoys dispensed with pleasantries and immediately requested to inspect Wen Jingheng’s room, especially the areas he routinely came into contact with. Their inspection method was extremely peculiar; they didn’t use any modern instruments, but instead held compass-like objects inscribed with ancient runes, moving slowly around the room, their gazes sharp, missing no corner. The eyes of one of the men repeatedly fell upon Shu Yijin, especially his crimson eyes, carrying undisguised scrutiny and assessment, as if trying to see through him completely.

Shu Yijin kept his eyes lowered and his hands clasped nervously in front of him. When he occasionally looked up at Wen Jingheng, his eyes were full of dependence and unease, flawlessly playing the role of a young “widower” overwhelmed by intense pressure. He even deliberately allowed his mental fluctuations to show a slight disturbance caused by external pressure, but kept it within the reasonable range of a “sensitive constitution.”

When the envoys’ compasses approached the bedside, especially near Wen Jingheng’s body, the needles showed extremely subtle, irregular tremors. The two envoys exchanged a look, their expressions growing more serious.

“Young Master Yijin,” one of the envoys turned to Shu Yijin, his tone flat but carrying undeniable authority, “We hear you and the Young Master get along well, and you have close contact daily. May we ask… have you felt anything unusual about the Young Master? Or, have you had any special sensations yourself?”

Here it was. The probing question aimed at the core issue.

Shu Yijin raised his head, his crimson eyes showing genuine (from the pressure of being scrutinized) and feigned confusion. “Unusual? Are the Envoys referring to… Jingheng’s illness? He, he has always been sleeping like this… I… I just talk to him, hoping to wake him up…” He spoke incoherently, appearing both frightened and perplexed. “Me? I… I sometimes have strange dreams, and my chest feels tight when I wake up… but that must be because I’m worried about Jingheng, right?”

He attributed some genuine physiological reactions (discomfort after the energy impact) to psychological factors, which was perfectly reasonable. At the same time, mentioning “strange dreams” hinted at his own potential uniqueness while keeping it vague, leaving the other party ample room for imagination.

The envoy stared at him for a few seconds, seemingly trying to find a flaw in his expression, but finally just nodded and recorded something.

The inspection lasted nearly an hour before the two envoys took their leave. Before departing, they warned Shu Yijin that there might be some “routine energy field maintenance operations” in the estate in the coming days. If he heard unusual noises or felt unwell, he should not panic and should inform the butler immediately.

Shu Yijin respectfully agreed, his mind crystal clear. This was merely preparation for potentially more direct probing later on.

Over the next few days, the atmosphere within the estate noticeably tightened. The number of patrolling security personnel increased, and they were clearly specially trained, sharp-eyed experts. In the dead of night, the rhythmic energy humming sound emanating from the underground on the east side of the estate became more frequent and distinct, as if something was being accelerated and activated.

Shu Yijin could feel an invisible net slowly closing in. But he was not flustered; instead, he felt the excitement of a prey about to step into a trap. He continued to “meticulously” care for Wen Jingheng every day, only being more careful to control the intensity of their energy contact, avoiding another large-scale fluctuation. Simultaneously, he used the Black Rose mark to monitor the changes deep within Wen Jingheng’s consciousness more closely.

He could sense that after the intense stimulation in the hot spring, Wen Jingheng’s dormant sea of consciousness was no longer calm; deep currents seemed to be surging, and the “tendency” toward the Black Rose mark was stronger. This was both a good thing and an indication of increased risk.

That night, Shu Yijin was suddenly startled awake from a light sleep. A strong, malicious energy fluctuation, like a cold viper, quietly spread from the east side of the estate, aiming directly for the main building where he was located!

It was here. The real test, or rather… the attack.

A cold light flashed in Shu Yijin’s crimson eyes in the darkness. He did not get up, but quietly attached a wisp of his spiritual sense to the Black Rose mark, like a calm observer, ready to face this carefully orchestrated “test.”

He wanted to see exactly how much capability the Wen Family’s Elder Council possessed.