Tomb Raider: I Am Hu Bayi's Cousin

Chapter 267 Rejecting the Nine Gates
There was a long silence.

"To be honest, Buddha and I did want to take action against you back then, even if it meant risking offending Second Master, we would have kept you alive."

"But we never expected that your family had considerable influence in the military region. Even after 'he' disappeared, he didn't dare to harm your family. After all, several people from the military region intervened..."

Zhang Rishan smiled wryly. Hu Ming's reply was both unexpected and reasonable. After all, Hu Ming's current power was no less than that of the Nine Gates.

He originally thought that no one in the Nine Gates could resist the temptation of the Nine Gates Commander, even if Hu Ming could obtain such a large power without paying a price. He did not believe that Hu Ming would not be tempted!
But he didn't expect that Hu Ming would see things so clearly and refuse so decisively.

However, as Hu Ming said, the only connection between Hu Ming and the Nine Gates now is his master, Er Yuehong.

Now that Er Yuehong's time is up, Hu Ming can easily leave at any time if he wants, given his abilities.

Strictly speaking, the mess that happened at the Nine Gates really had little to do with Hu Ming.

Hu Ming has no obligation to take over the mess left by the Nine Gates.

Because Hu Ming has never accepted any favors from the Nine Gates; everything he has today is something he earned himself.

When "he" finally decided to take action against Hu Ming, and when Buddha wanted to help Hu Ming, Hu Ming had already escaped and disappeared.

Later, "he" tried to take action against Hu Ming's family, but then people from the military region came out again.

Ultimately, there was no other way; all of Hu Ming's businesses at the time had some connection to the military region, such as security companies, clothing factories, and so on.

"Heh, forgive my bluntness, but Lieutenant Zhang, you think you can keep me here? No one in this world can do that. Even if you make a move now, you still can't!"

"From the main gate to here, I roughly counted, there are a total of 131 interconnected traps and hidden weapons along the way."

"Among them, there are twenty-four that would mean certain death even for a top-tier expert if triggered. But guess what would happen if it were me?"

Hu Ming's expression remained unchanged as he picked up his teacup and took a sip.

One hundred and thirty-one places? Really? Is that an exaggeration?

"I thought there were only forty or so places at most, is the difference really that big?"

Yin Nanfeng knew that Zhang Rishan's house was full of traps and hidden weapons as a precaution.

However, the difference in quantity is quite large.

As he spoke, Yin Nanfeng turned his questioning gaze to Zhang Yueshan.

"My house has more than 270 hidden mechanisms, but..."

"Hu Ming is right. From the entrance to here, I'll lead you through exactly one hundred and thirty-one places!"

"As expected of the inheritor of the Mo family's Thousand Machine Mechanism Technique, Hu Ming, although I already thought highly of you, I didn't expect to underestimate you."

A look of shock flashed in Zhang Rishan's eyes.

In the past, he had entertained some mechanical masters at his home, but those people were only slightly better than Yin Nanfeng, and the best of them could only recognize about 50%.

Zhang Yueshan was quite certain that Hu Ming was here for the first time, and he found all the mechanisms with just a glance.

"After all, it's a means of making a living, so you have to be proficient in it. Otherwise, if you fall into traps and hidden weapons, you'll become a laughing stock."

"Well then, the matter has been settled, and the tea has been served. Lieutenant Zhang, I'll take my leave now. See you later..."

"No, let's just never see each other again. We're not on the same path. You've been too influenced by Zhang Dafoye, and you've made it your responsibility to revitalize and cleanse the Nine Gates for the rest of your life."

"But I'm different. I have no interest in the Nine Gates, not now, and certainly not in the future!"

"Farewell, no need to see me off, goodbye forever!"

Hu Ming put down his teacup, stood up, gave a slight bow, fulfilling his proper etiquette, and then turned to leave.

Without the slightest bit of lingering affection. "...Oh, old man, I never thought you'd end up like this. You couldn't recruit him, and you've completely pushed him out of the Nine Gates' territory."

"You've lost both your wife and your army! You're practically my grandfather, someone who's watched me grow up, and this is the first time I've ever seen someone as shrewd as you ever make a mistake!"

"Let's go, I'm Uncle Ming's driver tonight!"

Yin Nanfeng was quite gloating.

Since she could remember, she had never seen anyone who could make Zhang Yueshan suffer a loss in silence.

"Nanfeng, stop talking. I was being inconsiderate. What the Buddha said before he died was right."

“Hu Ming. A man like him, with the structure of the Nine Gates, is indeed impossible to control.” Zhang Yueshan smiled bitterly, not annoyed, and solemnly took out the two rings from the box and rubbed them in his hands.

After Yin Nanfeng left, Zhang Yueshan sighed helplessly and put the two rings on his wrist.

Zhang Qishan gave instructions before he left.

If Hu Ming refuses, then Zhang Yueshan will become the new owner of the two rings.

"Rishan, the food is ready... Hey, where's your friend? I just heard you two talking."

"Hey, when did you get a bracelet? It looks pretty nice."

Just then, a young girl with short curly hair pushed open the door and asked curiously.

Liang Wan, nineteen years old, has just been admitted to medical school.
By chance, Zhang Rishan discovered the phoenix tattoo on her back, which led him to approach her under a pretext…

Okay, so it's about using male beauty to get close to Leung Wan.

It is clear that Zhang Rishan has succeeded.

"We finished talking and just left. As for the bracelet, it's just a gift that wasn't given out."

"It's an old item left behind by my former boss, Yui, whom I followed my whole life. Since he doesn't want it, I'll keep it as a memento."

After Liang Wan came in, Zhang Rishan put on a gentle and warm smile.

……

On the other side, Yin Nanfeng was still driving barefoot, while Hu Ming, unaware that Liang Wan had appeared ahead of time, was resting with his eyes half-closed.

"Uncle Ming, you just rejected the old man so decisively, don't you regret it at all?"

"That's the Nine Gates! Even though the Nine Gates as a whole are inevitably declining, what the Nine Gates represent now is immense wealth and a vast network of connections."

"With these, even in Beijing, a place where gods fight, you will be a very important person."

Halfway there, Yin Nanfeng looked at Hu Ming, who was leaning against the window seemingly deep in thought, and couldn't help but ask.

Since ancient times, wealth and power have been a powerful motivator; ninety-nine percent of people in this world are just ordinary folks.

The remaining 10% will inevitably experience emotional fluctuations and find it difficult to make a decision.

but.

Just now, Yin Nanfeng had been staring into Hu Ming's eyes.

Hu Ming opened his eyes, his expression completely calm and undisturbed.

Throughout the entire process, Hu Ming was never tempted by the enormous profits represented by the Nine Gates.

He already has considerable power behind him, and with the addition of the unstable Nine Gates, even the government might come after him! After all, the government doesn't need such a powerful force. Once Hu Ming accepts the Nine Gates, he will definitely be suppressed by the higher-ups!
No matter how powerful the Wang family is, Hu Ming believes that their every move is under the watchful eyes of national institutions!

As for "him", he is simply a collection of forces that are exploring immortality!
Even so, one must restrain one's arrogance in the face of the overall national situation!
(End of this chapter)