Tomb Raider: I Am Hu Bayi's Cousin

Chapter 265

"...One question: just now, how much of your strength did you actually use?"

Zhang Rishan pondered for a moment, then gently brushed the two fingers off his neck and asked softly.

Both of them understood that they meant no harm to each other and were merely testing each other.

However, Zhang Yueshan, who had originally planned to use only seven-tenths of his strength, sensed something was wrong the moment they started fighting and decisively went all out.

But Hu Ming…

Seeing Hu Mingfeng's nonchalant demeanor, Zhang Yueshan was somewhat unsure.

"About seven points, I guess."

Hu Ming thought for a moment and then casually gave a number.

"Seven points? I understand, it won't be more than five points at most, right?"

“Young people these days are really scary. I’ve been practicing the two-finger hole-finger technique since I was eight years old, and it’s been a whole century now, yet I still can’t match your skill with my hands.”

Therefore, Zhang Rishan is a shrewd person.

As people age, they become more shrewd and perceptive. At this age, they can generally understand most people at a glance, regardless of their background.

And you know what? He was right. Just now, Hu Ming only used three-tenths of his strength, which was indeed lower than five-tenths!
"Five points? You old geezer, are you kidding me? You think you can overpower me with just five points of skill?"

Yin Nanfeng's heart skipped a beat, and he looked incredulously at the two people sitting opposite him on the sofa who had started drinking tea.

She knew Zhang Yueshan all too well. His martial arts skills were so great that it was an exaggeration to say he was invincible, but after the Buddha left, he was indeed unmatched in Beijing.

"So, my dear niece, you're still too young. There's always someone better than you."

"You won't even allow me to be a peerless genius? In the face of genius, time and hard work are meaningless. And you don't really believe that the old man in front of you is the strongest fighter in Beijing, do you?"

Hu Ming gave a disgruntled snort.

Hu Ming didn't believe that the capital city of Beijing didn't have a few hidden masters. Even if there wasn't anyone who could defeat Zhang Rishan, there were definitely people who could fight him to a draw!

Otherwise, Zhang Rishan would never be so at ease!
"Tsk, so you two old geezers are both shrewd."

"That old codger has lived for over a hundred years. What about you, Uncle Ming? I'm really curious, how old will you actually live?"

Sitting down next to Hu Ming, Yin Nanfeng crossed his legs with an air of authority.

Hu Ming could clearly see her fair calves.

"Who knows? I'm still young, and I have a long life ahead of me. As for Lieutenant Zhang, he'll probably live for at least another twenty or thirty years."

"And you little brat, what old codger? Remember that!"

"I, Hu Ming, will always be eighteen! Zhang Yueshan, well, he'll always be in his early twenties!"

Hu Ming emphasized, "A flick of the wrist landed on Yin Nanfeng's forehead."

This girl is really addicted; she keeps calling him "old geezer" so fluently, and it's getting better and better.

This is a problem, it needs to be fixed.

Yin Nanfeng was taken aback.

From a young age, she gained the favor of her great-aunt and was chosen as the new leader, receiving a rigorous education.

This kind of playful, affectionate teasing is something I've never done before in my life.

As for what happened when he saw Hu Ming... that doesn't count, it was just an accident at most.

"Hahaha, Hu Ming, Zhang Qiling...you really are very close to him, aren't you?"

Watching the interaction between the two, Zhang Yueshan smiled gently, then changed the subject, his words carrying a hidden meaning.

"Close friends? I've only met him twice." "Once was twenty-three years ago at the Demon Kingdom ruins in the Kunlun Mountains, and the other was just a few days ago at the Lu King's Palace. What do you think?"

Hu Ming didn't hide it; such things couldn't be concealed by someone with ulterior motives.

Moreover, Zhang Qiling was the last patriarch of the Zhang family, attracting the attention of countless people with ulterior motives.

"Is he alright?"

"The real Zhang family has long since ceased to exist in name only, leaving only him toiling away for an ancient duty. It must be very difficult for him."

Zhang Yueshan sighed with melancholy.

His lineage followed Zhang Dafoye and his son away from the Zhang family and settled in Changsha, becoming the outer branch, a branch family, and enforcers of the Zhang family, thus becoming one of the Nine Gates.

However, they are ultimately members of the Zhang family, and he also has Qilin blood, an indelible connection in their bloodline.

"Hehe, what do you think? You know the problems of each generation of Zhang Qiling better than I do. He has always been wandering the land of China. Before that time comes, he is just futilely searching for his lost memories."

However, thanks to this illness, he's forgotten what your Buddha did to him!

Hu Ming looked at Zhang Rishan, whose face was full of shame, and a hint of mockery flashed in his eyes.

"And, Lieutenant Zhang, I'll tell you some news for free."

"During our trip to the Lu King's Palace, we all got what we wanted. Wu Sansheng obtained the information he sought, while Xiao Ge obtained Lu Shang King's Ghost Seal."

"You understand what I mean, right?"

Holding Zhang Qishan's treasured antique tea set in his hands, Hu Ming lowered his gaze and said in a deep voice.

"The Ghost Seal!? Yes, that's it, the one I should have. King Lu Shang. The second key, the time is almost up, what else could he be going there for but the Ghost Seal?"

"In the end, it was the Nine Gates' fault. But Buddha and I also owe the Nine Gates a lot, and of course we are sorry to him too! This is a messy account that can't be settled."

Zhang Rishan's expression changed slightly, and after a long while, he said with a wry smile.

Ultimately, guarding the bronze gate without interruption has been the Zhang family's responsibility since ancient times.

The reason for cooperating with and supporting the Nine Gates is simply to select outstanding individuals from among the Nine Gates to fulfill the responsibilities of the declining Zhang family.

However, too many changes have occurred in the Nine Gates over the years.

The key, one of the only two keys, is now in the hands of the Nine Gates, but the Nine Gates have no intention of getting it. Zhang Qiling only went to get the other key out of necessity.

Similarly, he and Buddha also wronged Zhang Qiling. After all, Buddha had imprisoned Zhang Qiling in the past to curry favor with their superiors, and Zhang Qiling had helped them before! So Zhang Rishan also understood that what they had done in the past was dishonorable!

"..."

Yin Nanfeng subconsciously hooked her arm around Hu Ming's, silently watching the two of them talk about some secrets about the mysterious Zhang family.

She was a smart woman. Although she was filled with doubts, which were like cats scratching at her, she kept herself in control and never abruptly interrupted their conversation.

"Want to know?"

"The real Zhang family has long since ceased to exist in name only. Apart from some secrets that absolutely cannot be easily revealed, the rest doesn't matter anymore. I'll tell you about it another day when I have time."

Hu Ming casually comforted Yin Nanfeng, glanced in the direction of the door, and then looked at Zhang Yueshan with a serious expression.

"Tonight, you should have more than just me as a guest, so we don't have much time left to chat."

"So, let's put aside this nonsense for now and get to the point, Lieutenant Zhang. What exactly did you call me here for? Or rather, what did Buddha ask you to do before he left?"

Zhang Yueshan laughed, "As expected, I couldn't hide it from you..."

As he spoke, Zhang Yueshan took out a simple, palm-sized sandalwood box from a hidden compartment under the coffee table…

(End of this chapter)