Zhang Ping opened the ancestral home's gate. The wooden bolt turned with a creaking sound, like gears that had been sealed for years, ready to transport everyone back to the ancestral home's era.
They walked into the ancestral home.
The ancestral home wasn't very large, only a few hundred square meters. In the center was the main hall, with several rooms on either side. Although the houses had undergone several repairs, they still retained their ancient charm.
"If we were to film an ancient drama here, it would definitely have a great atmosphere."
Zhang Wei said with a smile to Qiu Xiaolin and the others.
Zhang Ping, who was leading everyone into the main hall, turned back upon hearing this, his face filled with agreement.
"As expected of my son, his thoughts are the same as mine, haha. I've also thought that the ancestral home is very suitable for filming dramas. I've even considered contacting some film crews. The ancestral home can't be sold, but it can be rented out."
"The only trouble is the murals in the ancestral home. If we rent it out, we'll have to cover them up. If the film crew scratches or damages them, I'm afraid I'll be scolded to death by our ancestors."
As he spoke.
With a creak, Zhang Ping opened the main hall door and entered the main hall.
"Son, those are the stone murals of our ancestors. What do you think? Aren't they magnificent and exquisite?"
Zhang Ping pointed to the walls on both sides of the main hall.
There hung several large stone murals. They were more like scrolls made of stone than murals. They were half a meter wide and several meters long, occupying most of the wall space on both sides. The stone murals had clearly visible traces of time due to erosion, exuding an ancient and沧桑 (cāngsāng - vicissitudes of time) aura.
Coupled with the delicate carvings, even someone who didn't understand art could tell at a glance that these murals were extraordinarily valuable.
Seeing this.
Qiu Xiaolin spoke frankly.
"Uncle, if you really rent out the ancestral home to a film crew, you should definitely move the murals. Although these murals look like they weigh at least a hundred pounds, someone would definitely be willing to steal them."
Lu Lianxue also agreed.
"My grandfather likes collecting antiques, and I also know some antique knowledge. These murals look like they are at least several hundred years old. If they were sold, you wouldn't have to worry about food and clothing for the rest of your life. Am I right, Zhang Wei, hmm? Zhang Wei?"
While Lu Lianxue and the others were discussing, Lu Lianxue noticed that Zhang Wei was staring intently at the mural on the left, seemingly engrossed, and hadn't heard them. It wasn't until Lu Lianxue and Qiu Xiaolin curiously walked over to ask that Zhang Wei turned back.
"Xiaoxue, Xiaomantou, quickly look at this mural."
Zhang Wei pointed to the mural in front of him, indicating for Lu Lianxue and the others to look.
"This is?!"
"I think I've seen this place somewhere before."
Lu Lianxue and Qiu Xiaolin followed his gaze to the mural. When they saw the content of the mural, their pretty faces stiffened. Like Zhang Wei before, they seemed to be staring intently at the mural.
The mural depicted a group of people holding tools, either pushing three-wheeled carts loaded with stones or carrying stones, walking and talking towards a dark pit.
The stone mural was carved very delicately, not only the people but also the environment and terrain were detailed. There were mountains around, and it seemed to be a newly formed village.
The next second.
Qiu Xiaolin exclaimed, and a flash of inspiration struck her.
"I remember now. This place in the mural looks very much like one of the Dragon-Suppressing Wells you showed me before, Xiaoweizi. Look at that mountain, and that big rock. I remember there was a similar big rock there."
Lu Lianxue's voice came at this moment.
"It is indeed the place of that Dragon-Suppressing Well. Although there are some differences, that rock, and the surrounding mountain contours, have hardly changed."
Speaking of this.
Lu Lianxue looked intently at the dark pit on the mural, and the Dragon-Suppressing Well in her mind. She compared the location of the Dragon-Suppressing Well in the mural with the surrounding mountains and the position of the large rock, and then looked at the position of the pit.
Her heart suddenly skipped a beat.
There was shock in Lu Lianxue's eyes. Before she could say anything, Zhang Wei seemed to have seen her thoughts and responded first.
"Is the location of that pit the same as the Dragon-Suppressing Well?"
"Zhang Wei, you noticed it too?"
"Yes."
Zhang Wei nodded, his gaze also fixed on the mural.
"When I called you over just now, I had already discovered it."
Just as Zhang Wei was about to continue speaking.
Zhang Ping, who was still chattering and telling everyone about the ancestral home, saw that Zhang Wei and the others were not paying attention to him and had gone to look at the murals. He walked over curiously. Seeing Zhang Wei and the others looking at the murals, his talkative nature returned. He laughed and pointed to the dark pit on the mural, saying.
"Son, see? This is a well dug by our ancestors. That pit is a well they dug. Your grandfather told me that this is the well that our ancestors liked and were most satisfied with among all the wells they dug."
Zhang Ping's voice boomed in Lu Lianxue and the others' ears like thunder.
Lu Lianxue and Qiu Xiaolin were greatly shocked and looked at Zhang Wei in unison, their expressions of extreme surprise being self-evident.
The location of that pit was the same as the Dragon-Suppressing Well. Doesn't that mean that what was carved on this mural was the creation scene of the Dragon-Suppressing Well, and Zhang Wei's ancestors were... the creators of the Dragon-Suppressing Well!
"My heavens."
Qiu Xiaolin covered her mouth with both hands and exclaimed, unsure whether it was due to the content of the mural, Zhang Wei's ancestral identity, or both.
"The Dragon-Suppressing Well was actually made by your family. Xiaoweizi, you're actually this awesome."
"Xiaomantou, you say that, but I actually really want to say that I only found out today that my family is so awesome."
Zhang Wei said this and then turned to look at the wall opposite the hall.
Following closely behind.
Qiu Xiaolin and Lu Lianxue also looked, their beautiful eyes filled with curiosity. Before, they were only focused on the antique value of the murals. Now that they noticed the content of the murals and learned that the Dragon-Suppressing Well was related to Zhang Wei's family, their curiosity had exploded, no less than Zhang Wei's, and perhaps even more so.
"Let's go see what the mural on that side depicts."
"Maybe there are other secrets about the Dragon-Suppressing Wells."
As they spoke, they ran towards the other wall, not forgetting to call out to Zhang Wei and his parents.
"Uncle and Aunt, I've discovered that the ancestral murals in your home are very impressive. Tell us about the content of this other mural."
"I want to know too."
They took three steps and then two, quickly reaching the other mural and then looking intently.
The next moment.
Lu Lianxue and Qiu Xiaolin were both stunned, their eyes wide open, as if they had seen a ghost. They even thought they had misread it. But after looking repeatedly and confirming that they had not misread, the two of them couldn't help but exclaim in unison.
"Zhang Wei, isn't this person..."
In their words.
They both pointed to a figure on the other mural, their hearts filled with shock... Isn't this the Fengmen Zombie!
...