Chapter 7: A Glimpse of Change

The days following Lin Mo's discovery of the dark ritual in the west wing were tense. He moved through the Li household with heightened caution, his senses attuned to every whisper, every glance. The veiled woman's warning echoed in his mind: Trust no one—not even those closest to you. But as much as he tried to heed her words, he couldn't ignore the growing curiosity in Li Wan'er's eyes.

Li Wan'er had always been a mystery to him. Cold, distant, and unapproachable, she had treated him with nothing but disdain since their marriage. But lately, there was something different about her. She no longer avoided his gaze, and occasionally, he would catch her watching him with an expression he couldn't quite decipher—somewhere between suspicion and curiosity.

One evening, as Lin Mo returned to his room after a long day of studying the Celestial Codex, he found Li Wan'er waiting for him. She stood by the window, her silhouette framed by the fading light of the setting sun. Her presence was unexpected, and for a moment, Lin Mo hesitated at the door.

"You've been busy lately," she said, her voice calm but laced with an edge of accusation.

Lin Mo stepped inside, closing the door behind him. "I've had much to attend to," he replied carefully.

Li Wan'er turned to face him, her eyes narrowing. "Attend to what, exactly? You spend hours in your room, and when you're not there, you're wandering the estate like a ghost. What are you hiding, Lin Mo?"

Her words struck a nerve, but Lin Mo kept his expression neutral. "I'm not hiding anything. I'm just… adjusting to my new life."

Li Wan'er studied him for a long moment, her gaze piercing. "You're a terrible liar," she said finally. "But I suppose it doesn't matter. As long as you don't cause trouble for the family, you can do as you please."

Lin Mo nodded, but his mind was racing. Did she suspect something? Or was she simply trying to assert her dominance? He couldn't tell, and that uncertainty made him uneasy.

As Li Wan'er turned to leave, she paused at the door. "By the way," she said, her tone casual, "the servants have been talking. They say strange things have been happening in the west wing. Have you noticed anything?"

Lin Mo's heart skipped a beat, but he forced himself to remain calm. "No," he said. "I haven't been to the west wing."

Li Wan'er raised an eyebrow, clearly unconvinced, but she said nothing more. She left the room, leaving Lin Mo alone with his thoughts.

That night, Lin Mo found it difficult to sleep. Li Wan'er's words played over and over in his mind, and he couldn't shake the feeling that she was watching him more closely than ever. He needed to be careful. One misstep, and everything he had worked for could come crashing down.

The next morning, Lin Mo decided to test his growing abilities. He had been practicing a new technique from the Celestial Codex—a method for enhancing one's senses, allowing them to perceive the flow of qi in their surroundings. It was a subtle skill, but one that could prove invaluable in uncovering the secrets of the Li household.

He made his way to the garden, where the morning mist hung heavy in the air. The garden was one of the few places in the estate where he could find some semblance of peace, and he often came here to practice. Today, however, he wasn't alone.

Li Wan'er was sitting on a stone bench beneath a plum tree, her eyes closed as if in meditation. Lin Mo hesitated, unsure whether to approach or leave, but before he could decide, she spoke.

"You're up early," she said, her eyes still closed.

Lin Mo stepped closer, his curiosity getting the better of him. "I could say the same for you."

Li Wan'er opened her eyes and looked at him, a faint smile playing on her lips. "I come here to think. It's one of the few places in this house where I can find some peace."

Lin Mo nodded, surprised by her candor. "I feel the same way."

For a moment, they stood in silence, the only sound the rustling of leaves in the breeze. Then Li Wan'er spoke again, her voice softer than before. "You've changed, Lin Mo. I don't know what you're doing, but I can see it in your eyes. You're not the same man who came here."

Lin Mo met her gaze, his heart pounding. "People change," he said simply.

Li Wan'er studied him for a long moment, then nodded. "Perhaps they do." She stood and brushed past him, her hand briefly grazing his arm. "Be careful, Lin Mo. This house has a way of swallowing people whole."

As she walked away, Lin Mo felt a strange mix of emotions—relief, curiosity, and something else he couldn't quite name. Li Wan'er's words had been a warning, but they had also been an acknowledgment. For the first time, she had seen him as something more than a burden.

He turned back to the garden, his mind racing. The morning mist seemed to shimmer with a faint golden light, and as he focused, he realized it was the qi—the life force that flowed through all things. He could see it now, faint but unmistakable, weaving through the air like a delicate tapestry.

Lin Mo smiled to himself. He was getting stronger, and with each passing day, he was closer to uncovering the truth. But he also knew that the path ahead would be fraught with danger. The Li family's secrets were deeper than he had imagined, and the shadows that lurked in the corners of the estate were growing darker.

But for the first time, he felt a glimmer of hope. Li Wan'er's change in attitude was a small victory, but it was a victory nonetheless. And as he stood there in the garden, surrounded by the shimmering qi, he knew that he was ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead.