Tomb Raider: I Am Hu Bayi's Cousin

Chapter 406 The Mark?

The underground water storage channels are interconnected and have many branches. If you are not careful, you may lose your way and get completely lost in them.

In addition, there are swarms of crested snakes all around, making this place seem like a natural barrier, preventing anyone who manages to get here by chance.

Unfortunately, Hu Ming had already quietly taken control of the crested snakes in this area. As long as Hu Ming was there, it was impossible for any crested snake swarm to approach them.

Just then, everyone spotted something very familiar.

"Tianzhen, come and look, doesn't this mark look familiar?"

"It looks just like the markings we saw in the Heavenly Palace on the Cloud Top."

Just then, the fat man called out softly.

The fat man pointed the light in his hand towards a fork in the road ahead, and in the spotlight, a string of gray-white marks lay quietly there.

This is an old mark; it's blackened, a trace of sand and soil oxidizing over the years.

Just like what we encountered at the Heavenly Palace in the Clouds, it was a string of English letters with no clear meaning.

It does not conform to the grammar of any language known today, and those who do not understand it might think it is just graffiti left by predecessors.

"...This is what I left behind."

The young man stepped forward and gently stroked the mark, speaking softly.

"I don't understand, what do you mean by 'you stayed behind'?"

"Could it be that you, Silent One, were here many years ago, just like Uncle Ming?"

Wu Xie shook his head, feeling a bit confused.

He recognized the notebook; it definitely belonged to Xiao Ge. Could it be that Xiao Ge had also come here ten years ago with Hu Ming, Chen Wenjin, Huo Ling, and others?
How so? Is this mysterious land only mysterious in his eyes, but to others it's like their own backyard, where they can come and go as they please?
Speaking of which, perhaps Aunt Wenjin is right; the Queen Mother of the West seems really easy to talk to?
However.
"I don't know, I can't remember, I have no recollection."

The young man shook his head, decisively denying the allegations three times in a row.

"Years ago, Zhang Qiling didn't come with us. At that time, he had already lost his memory and wouldn't have thought of coming here at all."

Chen Wenjin chimed in from the side.

Chen Wenjin knows a lot of things, and even participated in the excavation of the Zhang Family Ancient Building, so she knows many secrets.

She knew that at that time, the young man's condition was probably not good.
“That’s right. I’ve known him for about 24 years. If he had been hiding in the team back then, I would definitely have recognized him.”

"Moreover, I can tell you very clearly that this mark was already here when I came here many years ago."

Under the indifferent gaze of the young man, Hu Ming erased the mark with his paratrooper knife.

They won't be coming back to this place in the future; there's no point in keeping this thing.

"That"

Wu Xie opened his mouth, but stopped mid-sentence and fell silent.

He remembered something: according to Hu Ming, the young man was already an "old man" over a hundred years old.

In his hundred-year life, he has forgotten far too many things.

They wanted to find out from the young man when he had been here and what his relationship was with the Queen Mother of the West.
Wu Xie could already imagine Xiao Ge's answer.

It's simply that I forgot. Or, I just didn't want to tell you.
As for the young man's temperament, everyone was already somewhat familiar with it.

They all pursed their lips and gave up on getting to the bottom of it.

"Hey buddy, you're really something!"

Upon seeing this, Hu Ming couldn't help but chuckle.

When it comes to dealing with these troublesome kids, this guy's icy expression is the most effective!
As the journey continued, the marks left by the young man from back then became increasingly dense.

Similar markings were left before almost every fork in the road.

Everyone finally understood that this thing was actually the road sign they had left for themselves back then!
That's great, there's no need for Hu Ming to lead the way anymore. Every time they see a fork in the road, they turn in the opposite direction without any hesitation.

After continuing downwards for most of the day, the well shaft suddenly came to an abrupt end.

Before us lies a spacious, naturally formed underground cavity.

At the end of the void, a huge stone gate is embedded in the ground.

Upon closer inspection, there were two huge metal pull rings on the door.

The entire door is simple and unadorned, as if it were carved out of a large piece of stone.

The door also has many holes carved out, which are used to collect the water that flows here.

"Is the Queen Mother of the West located behind this door?"

Subconsciously, Ah Ning swallowed and asked.

This is tense.

This journey has taken at least half a month, and A Ning has lost all her men. With the Queen Mother of the West so close at hand, it's no wonder she's getting excited.

"hehe!"

However, Hu Ming simply smiled in response.

The two words "hehe"
Not just Aning, everyone understood.

This is just one gateway; the true location of the Queen Mother of the West is still a long way off!
Unwilling to linger, the group immediately stepped forward and pulled the rings on the door to open the stone door.

Below the stone gate is a straight downward cave, still without any trace of human excavation; it is a natural formation.

All the caves in this area were formed when a meteorite fell here.

Hu Ming knew in his heart that as long as he didn't act recklessly, there was no danger whatsoever.

Immediately, he flipped over and jumped down, flashlight in hand.

Immediately afterwards, the young man and the black bear jumped down without a care in the world.

"If I'm not mistaken, this hole is at least four or five meters deep, and almost as high as a two-story building."
Wu Xie, with a blank expression, watched the three people who landed gracefully below, the light shining on him.

Damn it, these three guys are making me want to just jump off like that too!
Unfortunately, only they know the truth about their own affairs.

If he jumped from that height, he might not break a bone, but spraining his ankle would be incredibly easy!
(End of this chapter)