Chapter 21: Undercurrents

Lin Mo moved swiftly and lightly through the winding corridors. The night breeze carried a hint of coolness, but his heart burned like fire, unable to calm down. The scroll in his hand felt as heavy as a thousand pounds. He knew it was not just evidence but the key to uncovering the dark secrets of the Li residence.

When he reached Li Wan'er's door, he knocked gently. After a moment, her soft voice came from inside. "Who is it?"

"It's me, Lin Mo," he replied in a low voice.

The door opened quickly. Li Wan'er, draped in a thin shawl, looked slightly weary, but her eyes sparkled with alertness. She stepped aside to let him in and quickly closed the door behind him. "What's happened at this hour?" she asked in a hushed tone.

Without wasting words, Lin Mo handed her the scroll. "Take a look at this."

Li Wan'er took the scroll and unfolded it. As her eyes scanned the dense text and maps, her face gradually turned pale, and her fingers trembled slightly. "Where... where did this come from?"

"From Butler Li," Lin Mo said gravely. "He's been secretly investigating Madame Li and discovered her collusion with the Netherworld Sect. They plan to use the Li residence's feng shui layout to open a portal to the underworld and gain evil power."

Li Wan'er clenched the scroll tightly, a mix of anger and fear flashing in her eyes. "No wonder there have been so many unfamiliar faces in the residence lately. So they're from the Netherworld Sect! If Father knew about this, he would..."

"This is not the time for grief," Lin Mo interrupted, his tone firm. "We must act quickly. Madame Li is already watching us, and the Netherworld Sect is active in the shadows. If we delay any longer, the consequences will be unimaginable."

Li Wan'er took a deep breath, forcing herself to calm down. "You're right. But what can we do? With just the two of us, we can't possibly stand against them."

Lin Mo nodded. "We need more allies. Butler Li has already pledged his support and will assist us from the shadows. Additionally, there may be others in the residence who are dissatisfied with Madame Li. We can try to win them over."

"But most people in the residence are Madame Li's confidants. How can we know who to trust?" Li Wan'er frowned.

"That's exactly why we must be cautious," Lin Mo said in a low voice. "Butler Li mentioned that Madame Li has been frequently reassigning personnel lately, as if preparing for some major move. We must expose her plot before she acts."

Li Wan'er pondered for a moment, then suddenly looked up. "Perhaps we can start with the older servants. Most of them are loyal to the Li family and have long been discontent with Madame Li's actions. If we can gain their support, our chances will improve."

"That's a good idea," Lin Mo agreed approvingly. "But we must proceed carefully. We can't afford to alert her."

Just then, a faint noise came from outside the window. Lin Mo's eyes sharpened, and he rushed to the window, pushing it open to look outside. A shadowy figure quickly disappeared into the night, leaving only the swaying bamboo shadows behind.

"Someone was eavesdropping!" Lin Mo said in a low voice, his expression grave.

Li Wan'er's heart leaped into her throat. "Could it be someone from the Netherworld Sect?"

"Most likely," Lin Mo replied, closing the window and turning back. "It seems we're running out of time. They're already suspicious of us."

Li Wan'er bit her lip, a determined glint in her eyes. "In that case, we can't wait any longer. First thing tomorrow, I'll approach a few of the older servants and sound out their attitudes. Meanwhile, you continue investigating the Netherworld Sect's movements and see if you can find more evidence."

Lin Mo nodded. "Agreed. But you must be careful. Madame Li is ruthless. If she discovers your intentions, the consequences will be dire."

"I understand," Li Wan'er said softly, her eyes filled with resolve. "For the sake of the Li family and Father, I won't back down."

The two exchanged a glance, each seeing determination in the other's eyes. The night breeze seeped through the window crack, bringing a chill, but their hearts burned with fighting spirit.

The next morning, Li Wan'er followed the plan and quietly sought out several of the residence's older servants. They were longtime loyalists of the Li family. Under the guise of caring about household affairs, she struck up a conversation with them.

"Recently, there seem to be many unfamiliar faces in the residence. Do you know what they're up to?" Li Wan'er asked casually.

One of the older servants sighed and said in a low voice, "Miss, you may not know, but these people were brought in by Madame. We dare not ask too many questions. However, their movements are indeed suspicious. They often come and go at night, and we have no idea what they're planning."

Another servant chimed in, "Yes, Madame's behavior has become increasingly strange lately. The household rules have been altered beyond recognition. We old-timers can hardly bear to watch."

Li Wan'er's heart leaped with hope, realizing these servants were already discontent with Madame Li. Seizing the opportunity, she whispered, "Actually, I also feel that Mother's recent actions are quite unusual. If she is truly doing something to harm the Li family, we cannot stand by and do nothing."

The servants exchanged glances, and then one of them said in a hushed tone, "Miss, if you have a plan, we are willing to support you. The Li family must not be destroyed by Madame."

Li Wan'er nodded gratefully. "Thank you for your trust. But this matter must remain secret. We cannot let Mother catch wind of it."

Meanwhile, Lin Mo quietly infiltrated the underground chambers of the Li residence. According to the map on the scroll, he discovered a secret passage leading out of the city, likely used by the Netherworld Sect to transport supplies and personnel.

The chamber was dim and damp, filled with a musty odor. Lin Mo moved cautiously until he heard low voices ahead. Holding his breath, he hid behind a stone pillar and peeked out.

Several black-clad figures were huddled together, discussing something in low tones. One of them said, "The Sect Leader has given the order. Three days from now will be the optimal time to open the portal to the underworld. We must ensure everything goes smoothly."

Another nodded. "Don't worry. Madame Li has arranged everything in the residence. Once the portal is opened, we will gain infinite power, and the entire world will bow before us!"

Lin Mo's heart raced as he realized their scheme was imminent. He quietly retreated, planning to leave the chamber and inform Li Wan'er of what he had learned.

However, as he turned, his foot accidentally stepped on a loose stone tile, producing a faint sound.

"Who's there?" the black-clad figures immediately警觉起来, drawing their weapons and advancing toward Lin Mo's hiding spot.

Lin Mo's heart tightened, knowing he had been discovered. He quickly pulled out a talisman from his robe and muttered an incantation. The talisman burst into flames, forming a barrier that temporarily blocked the attackers.

Seizing the opportunity, Lin Mo dashed toward the chamber's exit. Behind him, the angry shouts and pursuing footsteps of the black-clad figures grew louder, but he didn't dare stop, running with all his might until he emerged above ground.

Once back, Lin Mo immediately found Li Wan'er and told her of his discovery in the chamber.

"In three days, they plan to open the portal to the underworld!" Lin Mo said breathlessly. "We must stop them before then!"

Li Wan'er's expression was grave, but her eyes shone with determination. "Time is short, but we still have a chance. I've already secured the support of several older servants. They will help us expose Madame Li's plot."

Lin Mo nodded. "Good. We'll split up. You reach out to others in the residence and try to gain more support. I'll head outside the city to seek help from some martial arts friends and see if they can assist us."

"Be careful," Li Wan'er said softly, her eyes filled with concern.

Lin Mo smiled faintly. "Don't worry. I'll stay safe. You take care too."

The two exchanged a smile, their hearts filled with hope for the future. Though the road ahead was perilous, they knew that by working together, they could pierce through the darkness and usher in the light.

As night fell once more, undercurrents surged within the Li residence. A life-and-death struggle was quietly unfolding...