Tomb Raider: I Am Hu Bayi's Cousin

"I prepared this before I came."

Hu Ming made a useless explanation.

The "I'll just listen to your nonsense" look on Wu Xie and Fatty's faces said it all.

Who the hell would believe such nonsense?
The backpack only has so much space.

One cubic meter is one thousand liters, while a hiking backpack has a capacity of only a few dozen liters at most.

It can hold four professional scuba diving sets in several tens of liters.

Ha ha
Wu Xie and the others watched expressionlessly as Hu Ming pulled out four sets of professional scuba gear and other professional equipment from his bulging backpack.

Everything you need!
Hu Ming pulled out almost everything he could need for underwater operations from his small backpack!
"Damn it! Uncle Ming, I always feel that spending too much time with you is making my worldview, which I've built up over decades, crumble!"

"Who the hell said that everything in this world can be explained by science?"

"Come on, let this bastard come out and explain the situation to me scientifically! If he can't explain it, I'll smash his head in!"

Seeing Hu Ming throw his still bulging backpack aside after taking out four sets of scuba gear, the fat man let out a miserable howl, rubbing his temples and cursing under his breath.

"Hmm, Fatty, maybe it's just because current scientific advancements aren't enough?"

"Perhaps, decades or centuries from now, science might really have developed to that level?"

Hu Ming wore an impeccable, perfect smile.

In this suspenseful and bizarre world, science is not omnipotent.

At the very least, Hu Ming's golden eyes cannot be explained by science.

Especially for those in the tomb raiding business, it would be truly foolish to believe that science is omnipotent.

……

It's worth mentioning that during the day, A-Gui and Yun-Cai hunted several prey in the forest.

Compared to the simple lunch, dinner was much more substantial.

The grilled meat, seasoned with local spices, was truly a satisfying meal for everyone.

In fact, Hu Ming felt that his tastes were quite similar to those of people from Guangxi Province.

In Guangxi Province, due to the humid climate year-round, people tend to have a preference for strong flavors.

Chili peppers are an indispensable seasoning.

Hu Ming was quite satisfied with his dinner.

But Fatty and Wu Xie.
Whether they are from Hangzhou or Beijing, people from both places are good at eating spicy food.
After dinner, everyone sat around the campfire, and Yun Cai enthusiastically performed a folk dance for everyone in the center.

The girls of the Yao ethnic group have particularly beautiful calves, and their folk dances feature many spinning and back kicking movements.

These movements truly showcase the strengths and talents of Yao girls to the fullest.

The group drank rice wine, enjoyed the dance of the clouds, and laughed heartily at the clumsy movements of the fat man who went up to join in the fun of "shamanistic dancing."

The young man was the only one standing alone by a rock, his face calm and indifferent, his eyes fixed on the night sky, lost in thought.

Just as everyone was laughing heartily at the fat man's dirty jokes and all sorts of other anecdotes, suddenly, the young man quietly got up and walked towards the lake.

He stopped at the edge of the lake, where the campfire's light could reach, and sat down cross-legged, clutching his beloved knife, silently gazing at the water.

It was as if she wanted to see through the lake, to see what was at the bottom, and to find clues about herself and the Zhang Family Ancient Building. At this moment, a hint of fear flashed in Yun Cai's eyes, who had been avoiding any contact with the young man all along the way.

"Brother Hu Ming, does Zhang Qi think we're too noisy?"

Yun Cai's laughter faltered, and she looked at the young man's retreating figure with a strange expression.

"It's okay, don't mind him. That's just how he is. He's probably just looking for a secluded spot to take a dump."

Before Hu Ming could answer, the fat man sighed slightly, took a puff of the local cigarette that A Gui had given him, and offered words of comfort.

They probably understood some of the young man's emotional fluctuations.

A man who has forgotten his past and been abandoned by the world arrives in a place that seems to be his homeland. Faced with clues that are hard to find, he inevitably becomes immersed in his own emotions and finds it difficult to extricate himself.

Especially for someone like this guy with a typical self-exiled personality, his indifferent expression doesn't mean there's not a ripple in his heart.

The young man was just resigned to his fate and a little tired.

For over a century, they have been relentlessly searching for their forgotten past and for the mission they may be entrusted with.

This kind of weariness, rooted deep in the soul, is enough to drive even the most resilient person crazy.

The guy isn't the type to enjoy lively atmospheres; he prefers to be alone.

"...Zhang Qiling, just as I told you, the young man's name is Zhang Qiling... If you want to go, go and keep him company for a while."

"Although he is not Zhang Qiling either."

"Young man... he has always been very lonely."

Hu Ming waved his hand, signaling the fat man to calm down.

Fatty was unaware of the complex connection between Zhang Qiling and Yun Cai.

Yun Cai wasn't concerned about Xiao Ge, but rather about the ghostly figure Zhang Qiling.

Is that alright?

Yun Cai bit her lower lip, her expression somewhat complicated.

She knew that this Zhang Qiling was not the Zhang Qiling she knew. In fact, the tragic life of the Zhang Qiling she was familiar with and concerned about originated from this Zhang Qiling.

However, Yun Cai also clearly understands that the young man is also an innocent victim.

So much happened back then that it's hard to tell who was right and who was wrong.

However, Yun Cai knew one thing: she couldn't bring herself to hate Zhang Qiling.

Furthermore, because of the ghostly figure Zhang Qiling, she harbors complex emotions towards Xiao Ge that she herself finds difficult to discern.

Taking a deep breath, Yun Cai mustered her courage and walked towards the young man.

Yun Cai sat next to Zhang Qiling, but it was unclear whether she had spoken to him from a distance.

The fat man stared blankly at the backs of the two figures in the distance.

He didn't understand a word Hu Ming had said, including things like Zhang Qiling being Zhang Qiling and not being Zhang Qiling...
It's all a jumbled mess, it's giving me a headache!
But one thing he realized was that the clouds were definitely not as simple as they appeared.

"You've broken up with your boyfriend, please accept my condolences!"

Wu Xie shook his head, dispelling a trace of drunkenness, patted Fatty's shoulder, and teased him.