Tomb Raider: I Am Hu Bayi's Cousin

Chapter 682 "Zhao Zheng"?
The ten-year period is approaching.

The three of them took turns driving, slowly making their way along the national highway toward Changbaishan.

In about a week, it will be exactly ten years.

That's why Hu Ming and the other two decided to clear up all the messy things beforehand, so they could go and welcome their little brother home with nothing to do.

During his journey, Hu Ming stopped in Nei Menghu City for a day to wait for someone.

Lan Ting had come from Beijing after receiving a message from Hu Ming.

"Long time no see, Guan Gen. No, Wu Xie!"

Lan Ting gracefully opened the car door, sat in the passenger seat, and greeted Wu Xie, who had been relegated to the back to sit with Fatty by Hu Ming.

"Lan Ting! A ghost! A ghost in the literal sense! A ghost in broad daylight!"

"Although I had expected it while I was in the desert, seeing it in person still felt incredible!"

"You are the first ghost I've ever seen in all these years, a true ghost in the real sense, and a strange kind of ghost that can move freely under the blazing sun!"

Wu Xie glanced at the blue sky and bright sun outside, gasped, and his eyes widened like saucers.

"Lan Ting? Who's that? Someone you two know?"

"I suspect you two bastards are cheating on me behind my back!"

The fat man scratched his head, looking puzzled. He felt as if he had missed something fun during the ten years he was gone.

"Yes, of course we know each other. Three years ago, to alleviate my mental state, I used the pseudonym Guan Gen as a freelance writer and photographer. That's when I met Lan Ting."

"Then, Lan Ting got to know Ming through me... The funny thing is, when we met Lan Ting, she had been dead for a long time."

Wu Xie said quietly.

"died?"

The fat man finally grasped the key point and was completely dumbfounded.

"Yes, I've been dead for three years. My body has turned into a pile of bones. I only recently discovered the truth about my death."

Lan Ting smiled and, ignoring that Hu Ming was driving, rested her head on Hu Ming's shoulder and took his hand in hers, which was holding the gear shift.

"Naive. I think I've grasped the key point: when you met Lan Ting, she was already dead?"

Suddenly, the fat man thought of something and said to Wu Xie in a low voice.

"Oh yes, what's wrong? Lan Ting's condition is a bit strange. Not to mention me, even Uncle Ming can't figure it out."

"They are clearly like ghosts, yet they act just like ordinary people..."

Wu Xie nodded.

"That's not the point, look at the important thing!"

"Fatty, I underestimated Uncle Ming. This guy actually lived through a mythological story firsthand! I mean, Ning Chen!"

The fat man was like someone who had eaten a whole basket of lemons, his sourness overwhelming.

"..."

Wu Xie glanced at Lan Ting's affectionate leaning against Hu Ming, and fell silent. He understood.

Damn!
That's absolutely outrageous!
"Anyway, it's a... well, a great story. It's a long story, so I won't go into details. I doubt you'd enjoy hearing about me and Lan Ting anyway."

Hu Ming smiled, tried to pull his arm away but failed, and could only let Lan Ting hold him as he drove with the weight on his back.

"No, please do tell us about this, we are very interested!"*2
"No, you're not interested!"

"No, we're interested!"

"...If you keep talking nonsense, do you believe I'm going to start beating you up?"

Hu Ming turned around, his eyes flashing menacingly.

"We know, but look ahead, Uncle Ming! There's an oncoming car!"

"What's there to be afraid of? I'm an experienced driver, you can rest assured when I'm driving." Hu Ming chuckled, turning the steering wheel without looking back to avoid the oncoming car.

After Lan Ting got into the car, Fatty and Wu Xie took turns driving for most of the journey to Changbai Mountain.

Hu Ming and Lan Ting then moved to the more spacious and comfortable back seat.
It's perfect for lying down in the back row, with your head resting on Lan Ting's long legs.

Just as they were about to enter the Changbai Mountains region, Wu Xie suddenly slammed on the brakes.

"Uncle Ming, something seems off. That person in front of us gives me a very strange feeling, like he's not human!"
Wu Xie frowned as he looked at a figure in the middle of the narrow road ahead, wrapped in a coat and wearing a top hat, with his head down so that his face could not be seen.

Putting aside just how remote this place is, isn't this the kind of way to hitchhike?
The person in front of him, whether it was an illusion or not, gave Wu Xie a chilling feeling after just one glance.

"Something's not just off, it's got goosebumps all over my body! This guy is dangerous, on par with Little Brother and the Blind Man, or even more so!"

The fat man grinned, grabbed the pistol at his waist, and cocked it with a click.

Hu Ming had already sensed something was wrong. Looking at the motionless figure in the middle of the road, a slight smile appeared on his lips.

Do you know him?

Lan Ting was no normal person after all, and he had already sensed the terrifying nature of that figure. He frowned and asked.

"Know him? I don't know him, and he doesn't know me, but my gut feeling tells me that guy is probably here for the Bronze Gate, and for me!"

Hu Ming narrowed his eyes, reassured Lan Ting, and amidst Wu Xie's exclamation, suddenly opened the car door and walked straight towards the figure.

"Uncle Ming!"

"uncle"

It was rare to see Hu Ming act so recklessly. Wu Xie, the fat man, exclaimed in surprise and quickly got out of the car with his gun, standing guard on both sides of Hu Ming and watching the figure warily.

"It's alright... My intuition tells me that he probably doesn't have any hostility towards us."

Hu Ming stopped the two men from moving, lowered their gun barrels, and kept his eyes fixed on the figure.

"Yes, that's right. I have no hostility towards you. In fact, I have no interest in either of you, or in that somewhat panicked ghost lady in the back seat."

"I'm just passing through here, and I'm heading there. Oh, in this era, I mean, you call that place the Changbai Mountains, right?"

"Something interesting is happening in there. I just wanted to go and take a look, but I didn't expect to run into you by chance. That's why I rashly stopped you on the roadside. I hope you don't mind."

The newcomer chuckled and looked up. Underneath the round hat was an unremarkable square face with a neatly groomed beard, making him appear to be a clean-cut and cheerful middle-aged man.

"Me? Interesting."

"Hu Ming, and what's your name?"

Hu Ming's intuition grew clearer. Ignoring the horrified Wu Xie and Fatty, he pressed them down, grinned, and asked.

"Title? You mean name?"

"Throughout my long life, I've used so many names that I can't even remember them all. I remember, the last time I walked on the land of China, I was quite famous back then, my name was..."

"Now that I think about it, the surname Ying is Zhao, and the name is Zheng!"

"According to the rules of this era, you can call me Zhao Zheng."

"Who's here?" Zhao Zheng laughed heartily.

"The one who drafted the poop, surnamed Ying, clan Zhao, Zheng? Zhao Zheng? Qin Shi Huang!???"

Upon hearing this, Wu Xie and Fatty stared wide-eyed at the unknown person in front of them, their hearts churning with countless waves of shock.

They weren't ignorant fools; they naturally knew what the name "Zhao Zheng" truly meant!
Their intuition told them they had inadvertently stumbled upon a shocking secret!
"Zhao Zheng? Interesting!"

Hu Ming was not surprised but laughed, his lips curving upwards, as if the name of the newcomer was nothing to be alarmed about.

"The last time it appeared on Chinese soil... this makes me think a lot, and I'll make a bold guess..."

"Isn't that you I'm looking for, the guy people called a god back then??? Even if not, you must be related to me in some way, right?"

"Answer me: who among those who have lived for at least several thousand years throughout history?"