"Nowadays, the influence of a family that has been in business for hundreds of years can rival that of the government in the local area.
So the power of the aristocratic families in the pre-Sui period was even greater than that of the government. It was normal for the people not to know that there was an emperor, but only to know that there were aristocratic families."
Su Xinghuo said: "The Su family started off by shipping and maintains good relations with many sects in Jiangnan Dao, such as the Nine-Headed Flycatcher.
The number of monks in the clan is greater than that of some small sects.
However, in the face of the sudden arrival of Taixuanzong, who held a large number of tribesmen hostage, the Su family had no ability to resist. They had no choice but to agree to cooperate."
Li Ang raised his eyebrows, "Taixuanzong and the others took away the black stone?"
"No, they moved into the Su family's mansion."
Su Xinghuo said with a strange expression: "According to records, the ancestors of the Su family were extremely dissatisfied with Taixuanzong's behavior that was similar to bandits, but soon both parties became obsessed with the research of black stones.
The Su clan's worship of the black stone is becoming increasingly intense, or in other words serious,
Behind the towering mansion walls, strange sounds often come from time to time, like a group of people gathering together and making meaningless, melodyless shouts.
The locked room deep in the courtyard was brightly lit all night long, and the oil lamp reflected the long and narrow figure in a robe on the window.
A smell similar to dead fish and carrion emanated from the cellar, and even polluted the water source, forcing the tribesmen to buy water from outside.
The people in Suzhou City were discussing this a lot, and some scholars openly criticized the Su family's behavior and suspected that they were secretly colluding with the demonic sect behind their backs.
However, the Su family has been entrenched in the place for too long and has close ties with the government.
Coupled with the unfathomable Taixuanzong, both parties worked together to suppress these news. They used activities such as sword-making conferences to divert public attention."
"What happened next?"
Li Ang asked. There are very few positive cases of coexisting with aliens, let alone the black stone brought back from the depths of the endless sea.
"According to official historical records, in the tenth year of the Great Cause, natural disasters occurred frequently on the Sui coastline, sea conditions deteriorated, and the fishing and shipping industries were severely hit. The Su family also suffered heavy losses and declined rapidly.
However, there is a causal error in this. The Su family did not decline because of the damage to the shipping industry. Before that, the Su family's direct relatives no longer focused on running their business."
Su Xinghuo said: "They seem to be convinced that the Black Stone is greater than the elixir of life, panacea and the like,
It is the only way for people to escape the sea of suffering and reach the paradise of bliss."
"..."
Li Ang had a strange expression, and Su Xinghuo shook his head and smiled bitterly: "Although it is inappropriate to say this, the ancestors of the Su family at that time were indeed stunned.
The direct members of the family are deeply immersed in worshiping the black stone.
Without getting inside information and not knowing the truth about Black Stone, the worries and concerns of the family members are getting stronger and stronger. They feel that the patriarch and elders have been deceived by Taixuan Zong.
It’s just that the incidence of hereditary diseases in families has indeed dropped, so we have been suppressing it.
This kind of forbearance did not last long, and the stench in the mansion became more and more frequent and strong. People in the family continued to disappear inexplicably, including men, women, old and young.
What's more important is that the disease has made a comeback, and a large number of tribesmen died of the disease in a short period of time. The blood coagulated when they died, and the bones and blood were red and black, making the death look hideous and terrifying.
Every night, when people who are still alive walk in the mansion, they can vaguely hear tiny, high-pitched, overlapping voices, like the dead clansmen talking.
The collateral branches of the family finally couldn't bear it anymore and launched a rebellion against the direct family, demanding an explanation.
The patriarch at the time could only explain the truth - the direct line of the Su family had been putting black stone powder in the drinking water of family members in an attempt to cure diseases.
This worked, until Taixuanzong abandoned the Su family, and they took away half of the black stones in the shrine and disappeared without a trace.
The black stone is damaged, causing an outbreak of disease.
The clan leader finally found a way to convince everyone, built a large-scale manor on the outskirts of the south of Suzhou City, and moved the remaining clan members into it.
As for the result... More than ten years later, the last emperor of the former Sui Dynasty was assassinated, and the huge Sui Empire collapsed.
The Su family declined and died due to the damage to their business and the constant deaths of their clan members.
The mansion and family property were occupied by the rebels, and the remaining half of the black stone was also lost in the chaos.
The only good news is that the surviving Su clan members who were finally displaced and fled in all directions successfully got rid of the blood curse. They will not gradually lose their minds after the age of fifty, and their blood will not solidify and turn into red and black.
The dead Su clan leader finally fulfilled his promise."
Su Xinghuo licked his lower lips and said: "Now, I am the last traceable person in the Su family tree.
Maybe there are other Su family bloodlines in the world, but I am certain that even if there are, they have not known this history for a long time - I am the only one who returns to the ancestral home site every year to worship their ancestors."
"..."
After listening to Su Xinghuo's narration, Li Ang thought for a long time and suddenly raised his head and said: "In other words, half of the black stone belonging to the Su family is missing.
Is the remaining half of the black stone in the hands of Taixuanzong?"
"That's how it should be."
Su Xinghuo nodded.
Li Ang said: "Do you mind if I draw a tube of your blood?"
Su Xinghuo was stunned for a moment by the sudden change of topic.
The black cat in his arms frowned, showing a "doubtful" expression, jumped out of Su Xinghuo's arms, and said in a deep voice: "What are you going to do?"
"Just confirming some conjectures."
Li Ang controlled Mo Si's clone and spread his hands and said: "As long as you have a tube of blood, I won't bother you again after this. This conversation has never happened."
Su Xinghuo and Black Cat looked at each other, and the former sighed, "Okay, how much blood do you want?"
Li Ang stood up and stopped Su Xinghuo from taking the syringe from the medicine box, "I'll do it."
He took the syringe and skillfully and quickly drew a tube of blood from the veins in Su Xinghuo's upper limbs and forearms. Then he put away the syringe and nodded: "Now we are clear. If you encounter trouble in the future and need it,
For help, you can come to Suzhou Hospital to find me."
"Suzhou Hospital..."
Su Xinghuo looked hesitant. From Li Ang's skillful blood drawing just now, he could see that Li Ang had a certain medical background. At the very least, he was familiar with the newspapers and periodicals of the Imperial Medical Office and had some understanding of medicine.
He just didn't expect that the other party would openly claim that he was connected to Suzhou Hospital - it was the largest hospital in the world besides Chang'an Hospital.
Disciples from Luli Academy and other academies in Yu State often go there to study and practice the silk thread surgery method.
Su Xinghuo subconsciously asked: "How should I find you?"
"When you are looking for me, I will naturally appear."
This chapter has been completed!