novelaction Chapter 264: The Old House Inside the Mountain
Chapter 264: The Old House Inside the Mountain
"Grandpa, you are right, right? Where is the house here?" Su Wenxin widened his eyes, his face full of suspicion. He pointed around and drew a big circle in the air with his arm. "Look, this mountain is covered with nothing but trees and grass. Not to mention a house, there is not even a decent wall foundation. Could it be that the old house is hidden underground?" As he spoke, he squatted down and stretched out his hand to fiddle with the grass, as if trying to dig out some clues from the soil.
"Don't be so anxious. Let your grandpa continue!" Han Shuqiong was both angry and amused by her son's impatience. She raised her hand and patted his head gently, scolding him, "You, can't you be more steady and listen to grandpa finish what he has to say? The answer will eventually be revealed."
"Okay, Grandpa, I won't interrupt!" Su Wenxin felt the slightly warning look from his grandfather, his neck shrank, and he quickly made a gesture to shut up. He also stretched out his hand and made a "zipper" gesture at the corner of his mouth, which made Su Siyi beside him burst out laughing.
"My grandfather told me that if a world catastrophe occurs, the Su family's true old house will be opened." Grandpa Su Sheng's expression was solemn, his gaze piercing through the crowd before him, as if looking into the distant past. His tone was steady and solemn. "Inside that old house are hidden countless treasures and untold secrets left by the ancestors of the Su family. They are related to the prosperity and survival of the family. They are usually hidden, waiting for the most critical and crucial moment to appear and protect our Su family."
"Okay, open the door quickly! I'm curious about what big secret your Su family is hiding!" Grandma Ji Mei crossed her arms over her chest, her eyes flashing with anxiety and curiosity, and urged Grandpa Su Sheng. She looked like a child who couldn't wait to open a present, and she had completely lost her usual calmness and composure, which caused everyone to laugh again, but in their hearts, they were also looking forward to the family secret that was about to be revealed.
"Grandpa, hurry up, I'm curious, why is there an old house here!" Su Wenxin was like a little animal eager to explore for treasure, his face full of impatience, his feet stomping lightly on the spot, his hands pulling his grandfather's arms and shaking them hard, his urging strength was so strong that it seemed as if his heart would jump out of his throat if he didn't set off in the next second.
"How impatient! I was just about to tell you all about my Su family's history!" Su Sheng feigned anger, his brows furrowed slightly, but he couldn't hide the hint of a helpless smile on his lips. He had been delighted, intending to take this opportunity to meticulously recount the Su family's past glory and anecdotes of their ancestors, like unfolding an ancient scroll. Unexpectedly, they were so preoccupied with the old house that they showed no interest in the family's history.
"Haha, Grandpa, you've already talked about the history of the Su family many times. Let's get straight to the point!" Su Siyi smiled sweetly, her eyes curved. Although her words were playful, she was also eager to see the mysterious old house soon. In the past, sitting around listening to Grandpa's stories was certainly fascinating, but this old house was like a rare treasure hidden in the mist. The attraction was too great, and her curiosity had long been piqued.
"Well, it seems you really don't want to hear it. Then let me show you the wisdom of your Su family ancestor!" Su Sheng smiled, his eyes filled with doting and pride. He glanced at each of his family members, as if saying, "You better watch out!" Then, he strode towards the towering boulder on the top of the mountain. The boulder lay there quietly, like a prehistoric beast descended from the sky, exuding a mysterious and ancient aura, as if hiding the Su family's centuries-old secrets.
"Grandpa, is there a mechanism here?" Su Wenxin followed Su Sheng closely like a little tail, his eyes wide open, staring at the boulder, trying to find any clues of a mechanism from the rough lines and mottled stone surface. His curiosity was so intense that he almost burst with excitement. He staggered and almost bumped into his grandfather.
"Well, watch carefully!" Su Sheng's expression froze, his face instantly becoming solemn and serious. He bent down, and carefully felt around the base of the stone with his hands. Like a seasoned treasure hunter, his hands traced the cold stone surface inch by inch, his rough fingers caressing every bump and dent, his gaze focused as if this stone were the only thing left in the world. Suddenly, his fingertips paused, and upon touching a slight bump, his muscles tensed, and he pressed down hard.
The moment he pressed hard, a low, muffled sound echoed, like the roar of a sleeping beast. Three meters behind the stone, dust flew up, and the ground slowly cracked. A dark hole, like the mouth of a giant beast, slowly appeared before his eyes. The hole was filled with an old, decayed, yet mysterious aura, as if whispering about the legendary past of the Su family's ancestors.
"This is truly an amazing mechanism. Grandpa, are you sure our ancestors created this? Isn't it a little too advanced?" Su Wenxin's jaw dropped, his eyes wide as bells, his face filled with disbelief. He peered into the cave entrance and couldn't help but mutter. In his mind, the era of his ancestors must have been ancient and ancient. Such an ingenious and magical mechanism, like something out of science fiction, was truly beyond his imagination.
"You little brat, are you looking for a beating? How dare you doubt the wisdom of your ancestors?" Su Sheng's face changed instantly, his eyebrows raised, his eyes seemed to be spitting fire, and he raised his hand as if to hit. His expression was just like an angry old lion, and his desire to protect the dignity of his ancestors was stronger than anyone else.
"I wouldn't dare, I wouldn't dare. I was just saying it casually. Grandpa, let's go down now!" Su Wenxin saw his grandfather feigning anger, his expression tense, his head shaking like a pounding garlic, a fawning smile plastered on his face, his hands repeatedly bowing in apology, the perfect expression of a well-behaved, obedient man. After saying this, he was like a child eager to discover hidden treasure, his eyes shining as he stared at the dark intersection with anticipation, tapping the ground with his toes and leaning forward, eager to try.
"Well, let's go down now." Su Sheng strode with his head held high, taking the lead and heading towards the cave entrance. The cave entrance resembled the mouth of a giant beast, exuding a mysterious and ancient atmosphere. His figure disappeared into it, as if he had stepped through a door in time and into the dusty past of the Su family's ancestors.
Walking along the tunnel, Su Sheng would stop every few steps, carefully take out the lighter from his pocket, and light the oil lamp on the road. With a "crackling" sound, a weak flame swayed in the dimness, dispelling some of the thick darkness. The warm yellow halo illuminated the stone walls of the tunnel, and the patterns on them seemed like codes engraved by time, silently telling the past.
The tunnel is winding and the ground is paved with ancient stone slabs. Although it has been eroded by time, it is still solid. Occasionally, when you step on the bumps, a light "click" sound is made, echoing in the quiet space.
"Grandpa, have you been here before?" Su Siyi's eyebrows furrowed slightly, her beautiful eyes filled with doubt as she flickered between the tunnel's stone walls and Grandpa's face. She sniffed the air, a mixture of decay and earth. It felt as if this place had been dormant for a thousand years, untouched for a long time. Her doubts grew even deeper.
"I have never been here, not even my father. This is just a place that we have passed down through generations." Su Sheng raised his head slightly, his eyes filled with distant memories, and his voice echoed slowly in the tunnel, as if taking everyone through time and space, recalling the mysterious instructions passed down by their ancestors. In the past, the old house was like a bright star in family legends, out of reach but shining brightly. Now they can finally find out what it is.
"Oh, then grandpa, let me go ahead!" Su Siyi was worried when she heard it. She bit her lip subconsciously, took a step forward, and reached out to pull the corner of her grandfather's clothes. She looked like a mother bird protecting her chicks, fearing that the road ahead was dangerous and would endanger her elders.
"It's okay, don't worry, there's nothing dangerous here." Su Sheng naturally understood his granddaughter's thoughts. He turned around and patted her hand. The warmth in his palm conveyed comfort. There was a gentle smile on his face and determination in his eyes, as if giving everyone a "peace of mind pill". However, he was also nervous and expectant in his heart about what was hidden deep in this tunnel.
"Sister, I'll go ahead and you just follow behind without worry. I will protect grandpa." Su Wenying was agile and took a step forward to stand behind grandpa. She straightened her chest and clenched her fists, like a pine tree rooted in the ground. Her expression was firm and her words were sonorous. Her eyes seemed to say, "With me here, nothing will go wrong."
"Then big brother, you should pay more attention to your safety!" Su Siyi smiled, nodded obediently, took a half step back, and still stared at the front, not missing any movement, but no longer vying to take the lead, silently entrusting his trust to his brother.
The group slowly descended the long, gentle slope of the tunnel, winding deeper into the mountain. Everyone became increasingly puzzled. If the Su family's old house was indeed located here, secluded from the world, hidden within the mountain, how could it be suitable for living? But as doubts swirled in their hearts, no one raised any questions, hoping to witness the truth with their own eyes and solve the mystery. An hour slipped by as they walked, until their legs ached and their pace slowed, and they finally stopped.
At that moment, the view suddenly opened up, revealing a vast cavern, like the heart of a mountain hollowed out by a giant. The cavern's dome was high and vast, its jagged rocks drooping, seemingly poised to collapse at any moment, yet seemingly held steady by a mysterious force. In the center of the cavern, a simple house stood quietly, its lush green tiles and eaves, its carved beams and painted buildings. Though weathered, it still retained its former splendor, like a reclusive beauty, clinging to her family's honor amidst the darkness of time.
"Is this the Su family's old house?" Su Siyi's lips parted in astonishment, her face wide with beautiful eyes, fixed on the house, as if she couldn't believe what she was seeing. She looked around the cave, imagining how her ancestors had built the house brick by brick in this mountainside, how they had founded their sect in this seemingly hopeless place, carrying on the family legacy. She was filled with shock beyond words.