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墨書 Inktalez
Chapter Eight
I spent a sleepless night.
The old man's words echoed in my mind like a spell: "Tomorrow, your Ancestor will personally tell you."
My Ancestor? They have been gone for many years; how could they possibly tell me anything? Could it be... a dream visitation?
I tossed and turned, unable to sleep. Fear, confusion, and anticipation intertwined, leaving me emotionally drained.
Finally, dawn broke, but I felt even more exhausted. I forced myself to get up, washed my face, and then sat by the window, gazing at the gray sky outside, filled with unease.
"Knock, knock, knock..."
A sudden knock at the door startled me, causing my heart to race.
"Who is it?" I asked cautiously as I approached the door.
"It's me." A familiar voice came from outside.
It was the old man!
I quickly opened the door. The old man stepped inside, holding an ancient wooden box.
"What is this?" I asked in confusion.
"This is something your Ancestor left for you," he said, handing me the box. "Open it and take a look."
With trembling hands, I accepted the wooden box and slowly opened it.
Inside lay a notebook with a yellowed cover that bore two words: "Secrets."
Could it be... that this contains everything I want to know?
Eagerly, I flipped open the notebook. The first page read: "My name is Lin Zhengde, the eighteenth head of the Lin family. I am writing this notebook to reveal a secret that has been hidden for a hundred years..."
I continued reading as the notebook recounted a tale from the Lin family's past a century ago.
A hundred years ago, Lin Tianxiang, the ancestor of the Lin family, offended a local bully and was falsely accused of treason, ultimately leading to his execution. After Lin Tianxiang's death, his family was implicated and suffered a tragic fate.
Lin Zhengde, the son of Lin Tianxiang, narrowly escaped this calamity and vowed to clear his father's name.
He lived in hiding, tirelessly searching for evidence to prove his father's innocence.
However, just as he was about to present the evidence to the court, he was pursued by the bully's henchmen.
Severely injured, Lin Zhengde hid the evidence in a secret location before he died, leaving behind this notebook in hopes that future generations would find it and vindicate their family.
After reading the notebook, my heart was filled with anger and sorrow.
My ancestor had suffered such an unjust fate!
I must find the evidence and clear their name!
I looked up at the old man and asked, "Where is the evidence?"
The old man smiled and said, "The evidence is in your hands."
"In my hands?" I looked down at the notebook in confusion.
The old man nodded and said, "On the last page of the notebook is recorded the location where the evidence is hidden."
I quickly flipped to the last page of the diary and indeed found a line that read: "The evidence is hidden in the secret chamber of the Lin Family Ancestral Hall."
Lin Family Ancestral Hall?
A thought struck me; I remembered visiting the Lin Family Ancestral Hall when I was a child.
"I know where Lin Family Ancestral Hall is!" I exclaimed excitedly.
"Good, let's go there now," said the old man.
We immediately set off for the Lin Family Ancestral Hall.
The Lin Family Ancestral Hall is located on the outskirts of a small town, an ancient building steeped in history.
As we approached the entrance, we found the doors tightly shut.
"What should we do?" I asked.
The old man smiled and said, "Don't worry, I have a way."
He pulled a key from his pocket, inserted it into the lock of the hall's door, and with a gentle twist, the door swung open.
We stepped inside, and darkness enveloped us; only a few oil lamps flickered with dim light.
"Where is the secret chamber?" I inquired.
The old man walked to the center of the hall and pointed to the ground. "Right here."
Following his finger, I noticed a stone slab on the floor.
The old man bent down and heaved the slab aside, revealing a pitch-black opening.
"This is the entrance to the Underground Chamber," he said.
I took a deep breath and jumped into the hole.
The old man followed suit.
Inside the Underground Chamber, it was damp, and a musty smell filled the air.
"Where's the evidence?" I asked.
The old man moved to the far end of the chamber and pointed at the wall. "Right here."
I approached and discovered a hidden compartment in the wall.
The old man opened it and pulled out a box from within.
"This is the evidence," the old man said as he handed me the box.
With trembling hands, I took the box and slowly opened it.
Inside lay a letter and a jade pendant.
I picked up the letter and, upon opening it, read: "I am Lin Tianxiang, wrongfully killed. I hope future generations will clear my name..."
This letter was indeed Lin Tianxiang's last will!
I then examined the jade pendant closely and noticed it was engraved with the character for "Lin."
This pendant was the heirloom of the Lin family!
With this letter and the jade pendant, I could prove my ancestor's innocence!
My heart swelled with excitement and joy.
I looked up at the old man and said gratefully, "Thank you, sir."
The old man smiled and replied, "No need to thank me; it is what I should do."
"Why do you want to help me?" I asked in confusion.
He smiled again and said, "Because... I am also a member of the Lin family."
I was taken aback, filled with shock.
The old man... was also a member of the Lin family!
"You... you are my ancestor?" I asked, trembling.
He nodded and said, "I am your great-grandfather."
"Great-grandfather..." I murmured, overwhelmed with astonishment and emotion.
My Great-Grandfather is still alive!
And he has been secretly helping me all along!
"Great-Grandfather, thank you," I said, my voice choked with emotion.
The old man smiled and replied, "No need to thank me; it's what I should do."
"Great-Grandfather, I will clear our family's name!" I declared firmly.
He nodded and said, "I believe in you."
With the evidence in hand, I left the Underground Chamber.
As I stepped out of the ancestral hall, I looked up at the sky.
The sun shone brightly above.
My heart was filled with hope.
I will clear my family's name!
I will ensure my Ancestor can rest in peace!
I will reveal the truth!
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