Seeking Truth with a Sword-Chapter 458 - 409: Even Steven

Chapter 458: Chapter 409: Even Steven
"If one were to say that nowadays, a noble family with a century of operations can contend with local officials, then during the Pre-Sui Period, their power was even greater than that of the officials. It was quite normal for the common people to be unaware of the Emperor, knowing only of the noble families," Su Xinghuo began.
"The Su Family rose to prominence through maritime trade and maintained good relations with many Sects on Jiangnan Road, such as the Nine-headed Snake Demon and others. The number of Cultivators in the clan was even greater than in some smaller Sects. However, when faced with the Supreme Mysterious Sect, who arrived suddenly having coerced many clan members, the Su Family had no ability to resist and could only agree to cooperate."
Li Ang raised an eyebrow. "Did the Supreme Mysterious Sect take the Black Stone away?"
"No, they moved into the Su estate." Su Xinghuo’s expression was strange as he continued, "According to the records, the Su ancestors were initially extremely dissatisfied with the Supreme Mysterious Sect’s almost robbery-like actions, but soon both sides became obsessed with researching the Black Stone.
"The Su clan’s worship of the Black Stone became increasingly intense, or rather, severe.
"Behind the high, imposing walls of the estate, strange sounds could often be heard, like a group of people gathered together, making meaningless, melody-less shouts.
"In the locked rooms deep within the courtyard, oil lamps burned all night, casting the elongated shadows of robed figures onto the windowpanes.
"Scents similar to dead fish and rotten flesh wafted from the cellar, even contaminating the water supply and forcing the clan members to buy water from outside.
"The common people of Suzhou City were full of such talk, and some scholars openly criticized the Su Family’s actions, suspecting that they were secretly colluding with the Demon Sect.
"However, the Su Family had been entrenched locally for too long and maintained close ties with the officials. Furthermore, with the backing of the unfathomable Supreme Mysterious Sect, both parties managed to suppress these rumors, using events like the sword-casting festival to divert public attention."
"What happened later?" Li Ang asked. Coexisting with Aliens rarely had positive outcomes, let alone a Black Stone brought back from the depths of the Endless Sea.
"In the official historical records, during the tenth year of Daye, frequent natural disasters occurred along the coast of Sui Country. Sea conditions worsened, severely impacting the fishing and shipping industries. The Su Family suffered heavy losses and declined rapidly. However, there was a causality error in this account. The decline of the Su Family was not solely due to the damage to the shipping industry. Before this, the direct branches of the Su Family had already stopped focusing on running their businesses."
Su Xinghuo added, "They seemed convinced that the Black Stone was greater than treasures like the Immortality Elixir or Universal Medicine; it was the sole path for humanity to escape this sea of suffering and ascend to paradise."
"..."
Li Ang’s expression was bizarre. Su Xinghuo shook his head and chuckled bitterly. "Although it might be inappropriate to say, the Su ancestors at that time were indeed fanatically obsessed.
"The direct family members were deeply engrossed in their worship of the Black Stone. Meanwhile, the collateral family members, lacking insider information or understanding of the Black Stone’s true nature, grew increasingly worried. They felt the Clan Chief and the elders had been bewitched by the Supreme Mysterious Sect. They only continued to restrain themselves because the incidence of the family’s hereditary illness had indeed decreased.
"This tolerance didn’t last long, as the foul smell in the estate became more frequent and pungent. Clan members began to disappear inexplicably—men and women, old and young alike.
"More importantly, the diseases returned with a vengeance, causing a large number of clan members to fall violently ill and die within a short time. Upon death, their blood would congeal, and their bones and blood would turn a grim reddish-black, their features twisted in a horrific manner.
"At night, those still alive who walked through the estate would sometimes seem to hear faint, sharp, overlapping whispers, as if the dead clan members were conversing.
"Finally, the collateral branches of the family could no longer bear it and launched a rebellion against the main lineage, demanding an explanation.
"The Clan Chief at the time could only reveal the truth—the main Su lineage had been secretly adding Black Stone powder to the drinking water of clan members, attempting to cure their diseases.
"This was effective, until the Supreme Mysterious Sect abandoned the Su Family. They took half of the Black Stone from the shrine and vanished without a trace.
"The damaged Black Stone led to an outbreak of the disease.
"Ultimately, the Clan Chief managed to persuade everyone. He had a grand manor constructed in the southern outskirts of Suzhou City and moved the remaining clan members there.
"As for the outcome... over a decade later, during the final years of the Former Sui, its last Emperor was assassinated, and the vast Sui Empire crumbled.
"The Su Family, already reeling from business losses and the continuous deaths of its members, declined and ultimately perished.
"Their mansion and properties were seized by rebel armies, and that remaining half of the Black Stone was lost amidst the chaos of war.
"The only piece of good news was that the surviving Su Family members, scattered and destitute, managed to escape the bloodline curse. They wouldn’t gradually lose their minds after fifty, nor would their blood congeal and turn reddish-black.
"The deceased Clan Chief of the Su Family ultimately fulfilled his promise."
Su Xinghuo licked his lips and said, "As of now, I am the last person in the Su Family genealogy whose whereabouts are known. There may be other Su Family bloodlines in the world, but I am certain that even if there are, they would no longer be aware of this history—I am the only one who returns to the ruins of the ancestral home to pay respects every year."
"..."
After listening to Su Xinghuo’s account, Li Ang reflected for a long time before suddenly looking up. "So, the half of the Black Stone belonging to the Su Family has gone missing, and the other half is in the hands of the Supreme Mysterious Sect?"
"That should be it," Su Xinghuo nodded.
Li Ang asked, "Do you mind if I take a sample of your blood?"
The sudden shift in conversation made Su Xinghuo pause. The black cat in his arms frowned, its expression clearly showing suspicion. It leaped from Su Xinghuo’s embrace and asked in a deep voice, "What do you intend to do?"
"Just to confirm some suspicions," Li Ang said, his Ink Silk Clone spreading its hands. "I just need one vial of blood. After that, I won’t bother you again. And this conversation? It never happened."
Su Xinghuo and the black cat looked at each other. The former sighed. "Alright, how much blood do you need?"
Li Ang stood up, stopping Su Xinghuo from taking a syringe from the medicine box. "Let me."
He took the syringe and expertly and quickly drew a vial of blood from a vein in Su Xinghuo’s forearm. Then he put away the syringe and nodded. "Now we’re even. If you run into trouble and need help in the future, you can find me at the Suzhou Clinic."
"Suzhou Clinic..." Su Xinghuo murmured, his expression hesitant.
From Li Ang’s adept blood-drawing technique, he could tell the man had some medical background; at the very least, he was well-read in the publications of the Imperial Medical Bureau and possessed a solid understanding of medicine.
He just hadn’t expected the man to openly claim association with the Suzhou Clinic—it was, after all, second only to the Chang’an Clinic as the largest in the realm.
Disciples from various academies in Yu Country, like the Lu Li Academy, often went there to study and practice the Mind Silk Surgery Technique.
Su Xinghuo asked subconsciously, "How should I find you?"
"When you need to find me, I will naturally appear."