Black Magic Rose Chapter 12

Chapter 12: Undercurrents Surge

The Shu Family’s not-so-clever attempt at causing trouble was like a stone dropped into a deep pool; after the ripples dissipated, the surface seemed to return to calm. But Shu Yijin knew deeply that beneath this tranquility, the undercurrents would only grow stronger. Shu Mingyuan’s cold gaze upon leaving clearly signaled that the Shu Family would not let the matter rest. And the Wen Family’s seemingly rule-abiding stance during the turmoil also conveyed a sense of detached, cold scrutiny.

He didn’t care about the schemes of these ants, but too many ants gathered together could disturb one’s peace. More importantly, he needed to ensure the relative stability of this “Unsealing Base” until his plan was complete.

However, one wave had barely subsided when another arose. Just days after the Shu Family incident, Shu Yijin keenly sensed that another unusual undercurrent seemed to be lurking within the Wen Family manor.

Initially, it was a series of extremely subtle anomalies. For instance, a certain doctor who routinely came to perform basic checks on Wen Jingheng would have a faint, almost imperceptible, peculiar scent on his fingertips when measuring data—a scent entirely different from the disinfectant used on medical equipment. That odor was mixed with the dust of some ancient mineral and… an indescribable, weak residue of spiritual power.

Or perhaps it was the rhythmic energy hum, almost too low to hear, that occasionally emanated from a certain direction deep within the manor late at night. The frequency of the hum was highly specific, not something modern instruments could produce, but rather closer to the fluctuation of an ancient array operating.

These anomalies were extremely hidden. If Shu Yijin hadn’t possessed a unique nature, granting him perception of energy fluctuations and spiritual traces far beyond ordinary people, they would have been completely undetectable. They moved like ghosts, quietly weaving through the Wen Family’s strict and rigid daily operations.

This piqued Shu Yijin’s immense interest. The Wen Family, a clan known for its worldly wealth and power, actually concealed secrets related to supernatural forces within? Moreover, judging by the scents and fluctuations, it seemed not to be orthodox mystic arts. Instead, it carried a hint of… something originating from the same source as him, yet forcibly twisted, an attempt at “Subjugation”—an Evil presence.

A bold conjecture formed in his mind: The Wen Family, or perhaps a certain faction within the Wen Family, was secretly researching or even attempting to utilize… the Evil God’s power? Not worship, but leaning more toward… control and utilization.

This discovery, after his initial surprise, filled Shu Yijin with a sense of absurd and intense pleasure. How ironic! The family of the Savior who once Sealed the Evil God was secretly coveting the power of the Sealed one? This hypocritical world, as expected, never disappointed him.

He decided to investigate further. This was not impulse, but a calm assessment of pros and cons. Firstly, the existence of this undercurrent was both a potential threat and a superb opportunity. If the Wen Family truly was researching the Evil God’s power, they must possess certain unknown ancient texts, secret methods, or even… information possibly related to the Seal itself. These might accelerate his unsealing process. Secondly, if he could cleverly utilize this force, he might be able to leverage it to clear away troubles like the Shu Family, allowing him to focus more on Wen Jingheng.

The risk was that if his true identity were discovered by this faction, it would likely lead to even stricter surveillance or even a siege than he currently faced. But Shu Yijin had absolute confidence in his ability to disguise himself and control his power. More importantly, nothing ventured, nothing gained. For him, desperate to break free from the Seal, any variable that could accelerate the process was worth the risk.

He began to pay closer attention to everything around him. He used the brief daily “stroll” time, seemingly wandering aimlessly, but in reality, he was capturing clues through the residual energy traces in the air and the extremely subtle spiritual fluctuations of the servants. He would also subtly insert seemingly ignorant, yet secretly profound, questions into casual conversations with the old butler or medical staff, observing their reactions.

“Mr. Butler, I seemed to hear some machinery running on the east side of the manor last night. Are we doing maintenance?” he asked once, feigning unintentionality, his face showing just the right amount of curiosity and a hint of being startled.

The old butler’s expression was normal, his reply seamless: “Young Master Yijin must have misheard. The east side holds the storerooms and the Old Archives, and there is no work done at night. Perhaps it was the wind, or some other noise.”

The answer was too perfect, making it seem deliberate. Shu Yijin sneered inwardly, asking no more, but he was certain that the source of the anomaly was likely on the east side of the manor.

Another day, when the doctor with the peculiar scent arrived, after the examination was complete, Shu Yijin softly requested, “Doctor, I’ve been feeling restless lately and find it hard to sleep at night. Could you prescribe some calming medication?” He deliberately allowed his spiritual fluctuation to show a slight instability, as if disturbed by some invisible force.

The doctor’s movement during the check paused almost imperceptibly. He adjusted his glasses and scrutinized Shu Yijin, especially his crimson eyes. A trace of extremely difficult-to-detect probing flashed in his gaze before he reverted to a professional tone: “Young Master Yijin may simply be unaccustomed to the new environment. Calming medications often have side effects and should not be taken lightly. I suggest you rest more during the day and maintain a peaceful state of mind.”

The doctor’s reaction confirmed Shu Yijin’s suspicion. This person could definitely sense spiritual anomalies and had drawn conclusions about the cause of his “discomfort.”

Information gathered bit by bit, pointing to an increasingly clear conclusion. Within the Wen Family, there was indeed a secret group researching supernatural powers. Their base was likely beneath the Old Archives on the east side of the manor, their research related to the Evil God’s power, and they had already vaguely noticed the special nature of him, the Auspicious Marriage young mistress with the “ill-omened” red eyes.

“How interesting…” Late at night, Shu Yijin stood by the guest room window, gazing at the cluster of buildings on the east side of the manor, which appeared even more silent in the darkness. Cold, excited light flickered in his crimson eyes.

His original plan was to lie low and gradually dismantle the Seal. But now, a more thrilling, more subversive script was forming in his mind.

He decided not to wait passively anymore. He would actively “cooperate” with this undercurrent’s investigation, and even… cleverly guide them.

He would let those self-important “researchers” of the Wen Family “discover” the “anomaly” they wanted to find, viewing him as a rare, researchable, “living sample” with a weak connection to the Evil God’s power. He would cooperate with their “tests,” appropriately displaying some harmless (to him) “special characteristics,” such as subtle reactions to certain ancient symbols, or occasionally leaking an extremely faint, hard-to-locate spiritual fluctuation.

He would become an irresistible temptation, step by step infiltrating their secret core, utilizing their resources and knowledge to achieve his own goals.

The mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind. And who the true oriole is, remains to be seen.

The corner of Shu Yijin’s mouth curved into a seductive and dangerous arc. This game had become much more interesting with the addition of new players.

He returned to the bedside, looking at the sleeping Wen Jingheng, his fingertip gently brushing the Black Rose mark on the other man’s chest, which only he could clearly perceive.

“It seems our audience has gained some uninvited ‘guests,’” he chuckled softly. “I wonder if this play will become even more… spectacular because of them?”