Chapter 324 - Huang Te Island, and the Secret Buried Within It

[Huang Te Island, and the Secret Buried Within It].

Another scandalous paparazzi-style title that was enough to make their hearts beat more wildly.

Butler Zhou Min and Old Xiong had their faces near to each other, their eyes bored into the tablet as if they were trying to see through all the secrets behind it.

They both took in nervous breaths at the same time. But the two men did not notice it and went to look the contents of the file.

The hall was utterly silent while the two focused on the images on the file.

Tap.

The first page was another picture. It was a panoramic picture of the island. Below it was a brief introductory history from an official land agency. It should be the doc.u.ment presented by the land agency to Linfeng when he had bought the island.

It was said that this tiny island was initially purchased by an anonymous rich person way back the ancient Huaxia empire in the seventeenth century, during XX dynasty. At first, the tax was paid for two generations. However, as time passed, the taxes were no longer being paid and the government had to revoke the ownership. After a few years, the ownership of the island was returned to the national government.

The island did not have any special features or scenic views worth buying or investing for. It was just a very common island and it did not attract any real estate for further development due to a small population and lack of redeeming tourist spots. 

It was a good thing for Linfeng as no one touched the island other than the government building a few houses and small roads. This island could even be considered rural as the living standards of the people were a bit backward.

The next page was a lone hill with a tombstone beside it. Due to the acc.u.mulation of the dust and ashes above ground for many, many years, the tombstone was buried halfway deep. It seemed like it had struggled through time and various storms that had passed through this island. There were zoomed in pictures of the engraved marks. However, because it was covered with moss and the tombstone was full of tiny scratches and cracks, it was too hard to discern what the characters inscribed on it were. 

But the experts who had studied it stated that it has three characters. And one of them was 'Te'.

Next were various pictures on the small hill. There were various notations which analyzed the growth of plants, the topography, and other factors. There were also analysis of the estimated timeframe of when the tombstone was possibly erected, and that there was definitely a grave buried under it.

The estimated timeframe matched the date of the XX dynasty.

Finally, a picture of a dug up pit on the hill showed up.

Linfeng estimated that they should be looking at the excavation. He spoke.

"The first thing I looked at when I bought the island was a sign of an old grave. There were quite a lot of tombstones in that island. I was lucky to find a truly ancient tombstone."

Some of the oldest tombstones were almost crushed to pieces across time, and some were still standing but indecipherable.

Perhaps, it was the heavens who had heard his prayers and led him to eventually find this old tombstone that stood quietly and indomitably for centuries.

Zhou Min and Old Xiong stared at the coffin dug out from the pit. The red oak wood was a bit damaged due to being soaked in wet soil for ages. However, as one of the strongest wood, it managed to hold the thing inside of it safely intact. 

They listened dazedly to Linfeng's words. "The Second Patriarch really bought the island for his friend. For our ancestor."

Zhou Min's reddened eyes stayed long on the coffin. He was overwhelmed with complex emotions that he could not tell.

Seeing the coffin which had already become brown and black over time, he seemed to see an intricately made red coffin being lowered in mournful ceremony, and an old man sorrowfully stood at the side, watching while the grave was covered with soil and until a tombstone was erected on top.

This coffin should belong to the Young Master Zhou who was banished and had disappeared from the Zhou family's history. 

Red oak was a very expensive wood. Only nobles and very wealthy merchants could buy something like that during the ancient times. With just this, one could see how important the Young Master Zhou was to the Second Xiong Patriarch.

Old Xiong had been waiting for Zhou Min to tap on the next file, but his butler stood beside him frozen, staring at the screen with wide eyes. 

Finally, the old man got impatient. He took the tablet and tapped on the arrow for the next page.

Zhou Min woke up from his daze and lowered his head to check on the file as well.

The two men eagerly looked at the file.

They were yet another set of pictures.

The coffin was opened. There was a skeleton inside and a bunch of things wrapped in cloth. The color had long faded, but the cloth was still mostly intact, although a but frail. 

Then next were pictures of what was inside of the cloth bag. It was mostly the Young Master Zhou's belongings that the Second Xiong Patriarch secretly hid from both of the families as memorabilia and out of respect for his friend. He buried it in his friend's grave, accompanying its owner. 

However, there was one thing that did not belong to the Young Master Zhou. 

One of the things was a box containing the withered journal of the Second Xiong Patriarch. 

The two stopped breathing for a while.

Old Xiong trembled. Even if he still wanted to deny it, the journal was really true. It did exist. 

Linfeng spoke to explain.

"I found the journal of the Second Xiong Patriarch in Master Zhou Huang Te's grave. This was why there was no record of the Second Xiong Patriarch's journal in the Xiong's treasury. I don't know the exact reason, but I thought that perhaps... the Second Xiong Patriarch chose to bury a part of himself with his friend. By burying this journal, he could at least accompany his friend on this lonely grave."

Linfeng remembered the emotions that welled up in his heart when he opened up the grave and saw the journal. 

It was his ancestor's grave, so he felt plenty of guilt disturbing the resting soul. But he felt that if it meant exchanging the freedom of the whole Zhou family with it, his ancestor should forgive him.

After all, even if he did not meet the ancestor, but the ancestor undeniably was burdened by the slavery imposed on his kin. Having his family regain their lost freedom was likely the greatest wish of the ancestor.

Linfeng also hoped to carry back the relics of the ancestor to the Zhou's ancestral grave. His ancestor had suffered in utter loneliness for centuries as a homeless exile, it should be about time that his wandering soul went home.

He mentioned another thought that came in his mind. "Also, when I read the translation of the journal, I felt how deeply regretful the Second Xiong Patriarch was and how he longed for his friend's forgiveness. At the last page, he had mentioned that he intended to give back the Zhou family's freedom. Perhaps, by burying the journal with his friend, he also wanted to convey all of this to his friend's spirit."

"..." Silence only met him. Xiong Zhi felt her nose sour up a bit.

Everyone felt heavy in their hearts. 

Linfeng let them process the information they had seen. 

After a long time, Zhou Min spoke in a choked voice.

"Why... why was there no decree? If... if it's true that the Second Xiong Patriarch passed down a decree to his son, why was it not recorded in the joint family history?" 

Old Xiong's shocked face suddenly turned grim. This was his question before. However, his mind was sharp. As the current patriarch of the Xiong family, he could discern the truth. If everything recorded here was true... then the only reason why there was no decree was...

"The Third Xiong Patriarch likely hid it."

Everyone looked at Linfeng, who had spoken what everyone only dared to think.

"It is obvious. They just recently acquired what they had lost from when the Xiong family helped the Zhou family. Almost all of their trusted workers and aides were from the Zhou family. If they lose the Zhou family at that time, then the Xiong family's business will be at risk. How can a business stand if there are no workers dedicated to them? Especially hard workers who are taught that they are working to earn back what they owe to their benefactors."

"If the Zhou family is set free, their labor will need compensation. Worst of all, they can cut off ties with the Xiong's business and create their own. According to the journals, the Zhou family helped a lot with their knowledge as merchants."

"Setting the Zhou family free during the time when the Xiong family's business is not stable... it is a huge risk that the Third Xiong Patriarch cannot afford to take. It will lead the Xiong family to a great disadvantage. Am I right, Master Xiong?" 

Linfeng looked at Old Xiong calmly, asking. 

Old Xiong harrumphed, his face a bit unsightly. However, he did not deny it. 

If he was the Third Xiong Patriarch at that time, he might hide the decree or burn it so that no one would see. He and the Third Xiong Patriarch had the same blood, they would do whatever it takes for the Xiong family to have a better future and maintain its prestige. If there was an opportunity to take their family to a higher status, he would do anything to grab it.

This is the blood of the Xiong coursing through their veins.