Tomb Raider: I Am Hu Bayi's Cousin

"How is this possible?! Aren't there only two Ghost Seals? Where in the world are there so many Ghost Seals?!"

Sure enough, Huo Xiangu's well-maintained fair cheeks instantly turned green.

When did ghost seals start being sold in bulk?
According to various top-secret intelligence reports, there have only been two of these in history!
One of them had been treasured by the Zhang family for generations, never seeing the light of day. How come so many have suddenly appeared?
For a moment, even Huo Xiangu, who had experienced countless ups and downs in her life, was somewhat bewildered.

Not to mention Xiao Hua, Huo Xiuxiu, Wu Xie, Fatty, and the others who were less shrewd; their eyes almost popped out of their sockets!
Clearly, the group knew the purpose of the Ghost Seal.

"The origins of these things are no longer important. Ghost Seals, every ten years, the beings there will only recognize the first two that appear, representing my Zhang family and the Queen Mother of the West respectively."

"At the beginning of this year, Hu Ming and I each entered it with the Ghost Seal, in other words..."

The young man glanced at Hu Ming with a strange look in his indifferent gaze and explained calmly.

"In other words, I'm too late! The Nine Gates are too late!"

"Even if all the Ghost Seals in this backpack are genuine, we've already missed our chance before the ten-year period ends!"

Even if I achieve my goal, I will have no chance to explore the world inside the door!

Huo Xiangu's face turned from green to black.

Fortunately, the old lady had a good attitude and excellent mental fortitude; at least on the surface, she appeared to have regained her composure.

As for inner thoughts... please, nobody can read minds.

"Yes."

The young man nodded slightly.

There's one thing neither the young man nor Hu Ming said: this decade... is already the last decade!
"...I understand. I want to be alone. You can go now. We'll leave promptly in three days!"

Huo Xiangu's expression returned to normal. Reluctantly, she closed her eyes and waved to see her guest off.

As for the table covered with ghost seals!
Out of sight, out of mind!
"As expected of you, Fairy Huo, a renowned figure in Changsha back in the day! Your attitude is truly remarkable!"

Hu Mingming wisely refrained from asking "Who is Jingjing?", but before leaving, he remarked with apparent admiration.

Huo Xiangu's tightly closed eyes trembled slightly, her neck turned slightly, and she almost couldn't resist shaking her head and using the three thousand fine needles hidden in her hair to shoot Hu Ming into a hedgehog!
"...Uncle Ming, Uncle Ming, please don't upset Grandma, or she'll really get angry!"

Huo Xiuxiu's lips twitched violently, and she quickly grabbed Hu Ming's arm and walked outside.

She knew Huo Xiangu too well; this small gesture meant that Huo Xiangu had reached her limit of patience.
Knowing when to stop, Hu Ming politely said goodbye and left without lingering, following Huo Xiuxiu's lead.

As for Wu Xie and Fatty?
Little Flower will treat them.

After all, Hu Ming, who was well-versed in the Daomu Biji series, knew that Wu Xie was supported by Xiao Hua for the rest of his life!
Whenever Wu Xie needed anything, didn't Xiao Hua always drop everything to help him?
Even at the risk of their lives.

The affection between these two cannot be described simply as "good".
The young man, of course, went to the Crescent Hotel to stay.

The young man's life is extremely simple. When he has nothing to do, all you need to do is give him a room, and he can spend the whole day daydreaming.

At the entrance of the Huo Family Garden.

Uncle Ming

Before parting, Huo Xiuxiu hesitated, as if she wanted to say something but then stopped. Hu Ming lit a cigarette and patiently waited for Huo Xiuxiu to speak.

"I mean, Grandma, you really don't think much of this trip to Zhang Family Ancient Building?"

"Even with Zhang Qiling here, it's still not enough?"

Taking a deep breath, Huo Xiuxiu made up her mind and asked softly.

"Honest advice, Xiuxiu, forgive my bluntness, but the Zhang Family Ancient Building is no ordinary tomb raiding place. Your grandmother, she's probably..."

Hu Ming nodded, but only finished speaking.

That's enough. Huo Xiuxiu is a smart woman, so of course she understands what Hu Ming means.

“I understand... Perhaps it’s because she’s getting older, and Grandma is becoming more and more afraid of death. She has said more than once that she is unwilling to die like this.”

Huo Xiuxiu sighed softly, her gaze becoming complicated.

Although Huo Xiangu doted on her greatly, there was one thing Huo Xiuxiu knew she couldn't change her mind about no matter how much she tried to persuade her. Whether it was for her own sake or for her aunt's.

"I understand. Uncle Ming, see you in three days."

With another sigh, Huo Xiuxiu bid farewell to Hu Ming with a complicated expression.

Despite her advanced age, Huo Xiangu is always the one who has the final say and is incredibly powerful within the Huo family!
Once Huo Xiangu makes a decision, no one in the Huo family dares to contradict her.

Even Huo Xiuxiu, Huo Xiangu's most beloved granddaughter, still had no say in front of Huo Xiangu.

Huo Xiuxiu knew that this matter was probably beyond repair.

Then
"We need to prepare for the worst in advance. A storm is brewing, and the building is about to collapse. There are no kind people in this city of Beijing; there are plenty of wolves and tigers. It's a black forest where the strong prey on the weak."

“Once the Huo family loses its backbone and shows signs of decline, and Aunt is like that again! At that time, the tempting smell of blood from the Huo family will spread everywhere, and who knows what will happen.”

"Grandpa has been gone for many years. Although he left behind a lot of family lineage, once Grandma left..."

Watching Hu Ming's departing figure, Huo Xiuxiu looked at the setting sun with a complicated expression, feeling a sense of confusion and sadness.

Some were concerned about the future of the Huo family, while others were worried about Huo Xiangu.

"Grandma said that you have to be prepared for the worst in everything. Who knows, we might need to ask Uncle Ming for help. Xiaohua... isn't having a good time in the Xie family."

"But what price will we have to pay then? Back then, because of my aunt's relationship with Uncle Ming, Grandma caused Uncle Ming a lot of trouble! Sigh..."

With a wry smile, Huo Xiuxiu took a few deep breaths, feeling slightly tired, composed herself, turned around, and closed the door.

Huo Xiuxiu even believed that it was absolutely impossible for her to stabilize the country in a crisis on her own.

Despite her high status in the Huo family, it was all given to her by Huo Xiangu. Once Huo Xiangu is gone, who among the greedy clansmen will care about her?
Perhaps, because of past resentment, he will become even more ruthless in his attacks against her.

This is why Huo Xiuxiu fled overseas after Huo Xiangu's death in the original novel. Without Huo Xiangu, Huo Xiuxiu became the target of everyone's hatred in the Huo family!
Jealousy is a terrible emotion. Self-interest, on the other hand, is the most tempting poison.

These scions of powerful families, exposed to all sorts of intrigues and power struggles from a young age, are hardly the naive and innocent children they once were.
Especially Huo Xiuxiu, who has been taught and guided by Huo Xiangu for many years, she has all the necessary shrewdness and composure!