Tomb raiding: A mere 20 is nothing!

Crescent Hotel.

Zhang Rishan rested his chin on his hands, with the returned two-ringed clapper on the table in front of him.

When Luo Que put the box down, his expression was hesitant and unspeakable. He knew what Luo Que wanted to ask. This bracelet was a keepsake of the Buddha and his wife, and he had rarely parted from it since the day he took it over.

In the text message, Shen Mingchao asked him if he had taken the wrong one and reminded him to be more careful next time so as not to mix them up again.

Zhang Rishan couldn't help but laugh when he saw it.

Shen Mingchao's words were completely unfounded.

If he can even get the two rings wrong, then he'll need to replace all the people around him.

Therefore, he did indeed give it to him voluntarily.

As for the reason....

It wasn't just because of the other party's incredible abilities, but because of the identical jade bracelet on Shen Mingchao's wrist.

He has lived for a hundred years, from the war years to the modern era. All his passion has been worn away. People who don't have much emotional fluctuation are unlikely to fall in love at first sight.

To delve deeper, we must go back even further, starting with the origin of the two-ringed instrument.

Many years ago, Zhang Dafoye brought out a solid jade bracelet from a large tomb. It could ring twice when struck, hence the name "Double Ring".

Because of an inscription on the bracelet, Master Zhang believed it to be a pair of bracelets. He once spent a thousand gold pieces to obtain the other bracelet and make it a pair, turning it into a three-ring bracelet.

Unfortunately, it could not be found, so the matter had to be dropped.

Later, when the two rings came into Zhang Rishan's possession, he visited the elderly Eighth Master.

He once said that Eighth Master was a solitary immortal, and in his final moments, the old man was still all alone by his side.

"Where's Qi Yu?" he asked.

Eighth Master sighed deeply, his cloudy eyes blurry, containing a deeper meaning that others could not understand.

Everyone has their own path to walk.

"Qi Yu has gone to complete his mission."

Zhang Rishan sighed, "I thought you would keep him here a little longer, but now this courtyard feels a bit deserted."

"No." Eighth Master shook his head and said with a faint smile, "After the Beginning of Autumn, the main family will adopt another child, about four or five years old. It is said that he is extremely talented and will be sent over for me to teach. I should not be bored."

"I see..." After hearing this, Zhang Rishan calmed down a bit, picked up the porcelain cup and took a sip of tea.

The jade bracelet on her wrist was thus revealed.

Upon seeing this, Eighth Master chuckled, a rare occurrence. A hint of joy appeared on his aged, wrinkled face, and he seemed much more lively.

"What's wrong?" Zhang Rishan asked curiously.

"Lieutenant, given our long-standing friendship, I'll give you a final divination."

"Those who live long lives are often destined to be lonely and widowed, and you were originally destined for that as well, but you still have a karmic connection. If you encounter another bracelet in the future, that will be the beginning of your destiny."

Zhang Rishan was somewhat surprised. He heard from Eighth Master that the opportunity to obtain the Three-Sound Ring, which even Buddha had spent a fortune to acquire, had actually fallen into his lap.

He found it unbelievable, but he didn't doubt what Eighth Master said. He immediately cupped his hands in thanks and said, "Thank you for the divination, Eighth Master."

Only after time had passed did he realize that the "fate" that Eighth Master spoke of back then was not the fate of opportunity, but the fate of marriage.

"Knock knock knock—"

The knocking interrupted Zhang Rishan's thoughts.

"Come in."

The door creaked open, and Yin Nanfeng walked in, coldly asking, "You old codger, what do you want?"

Zhang Rishan didn't look up. He reached out, picked up the jade bracelet, and slowly slipped it onto his wrist before speaking leisurely.

"Nanfeng, I've raised you all these years, you wouldn't want to see me become a lonely old man, would you?"

There was something fishy about what he was saying; the old man probably didn't have any good intentions.

Yin Nanfeng was too lazy to beat around the bush. "You old codger, just say what you have to say and don't waste my time."

Zhang Rishan raised an eyebrow. He had watched Yin Nanfeng grow up. Yin Nanfeng was cute and adorable when he was little, but he didn't know why he became more and more aloof as he grew up, and he was determined to kick him out of the Crescent Hotel.

Coincidentally, that was exactly what he was thinking.

"Nanfeng, I need to go out for a while."

Yin Nanfeng was surprised. As this person got older, he rarely went out unless it was for something important.

"Could it be related to the Zhang family who came last time?"

"More or less." Zhang Rishan's brows relaxed, and his tone was nonchalant. "I plan to go and apologize to the clan chief."

These words were earth-shattering.

Yin Nanfeng stared wide-eyed, saying in disbelief, "Ten years ago, when Wu Xie, Wang Pangzi, and Zhang Qilan came to smash up the New Moon Hotel, I asked you to go out and take charge. But you just closed the door, put on your headphones, played 'Two Butterflies,' and then ignored everything."

Bringing up this matter still makes Yin Nanfeng angry, and her tone becomes increasingly aggressive: "So you suddenly had a change of heart, finally remembered your family ties, feel sorry for the clan leader, and are preparing to face Zhang Qilan? Do you think I believe that?"

Unless Zhang Dafoye were to be resurrected at this moment, Yin Nanfeng would never believe that this old man would have a change of heart.

Zhang Rishan curled his lips and said only one sentence: "Times have changed."

Yin Nanfeng frowned, a thought rising in his mind: What evil scheme is that old geezer up to now?

But as long as he wanted to talk about it, no one could pry it out of Zhang Rishan.

Yin Nanfeng then asked, "What about the Crescent Moon Hotel? What about the Nine Gates Association? How long will you be gone?"

Without Zhang Rishan in charge, these places could easily breed trouble in private.

"That's all I wanted to say."

Zhang Rishan's smile widened, his eyes gleaming, making Yin Nanfeng feel uneasy.

as predicted.

The next second, Zhang Rishan said, "I hope you will be lenient with me while I'm away."

"Oh."

Yin Nanfeng sneered, "I knew it! So you're trying to take advantage of me? I'm not one of the Nine Gates, are you sure I can handle you?"

Zhang Rishan finally stood up, walked a few steps to Yin Nanfeng, patted him on the shoulder, and said earnestly, "Nanfeng, you've grown up. You're already inextricably linked to the Nine Gates. There are some things you'll eventually have to face."

"...That sounds very high-sounding."

Yin Nanfeng thought that if she were younger, she would probably have found these words very helpful, but now that she has been in this treacherous circle for a long time, she would only think that Zhang Rishan's words were toxic chicken soup.

She spoke frankly: "Let me be clear from the start, I can control the Crescent Moon Hotel, but I might not be able to control the Nine Gates Association."

Zhang Rishan nodded: "Don't worry, I'll have Wu Erbai keep an eye on things, it won't get messy."

At this point, Yin Nanfeng was still puzzled: "Are you really going to see Zhang Qilin? Is it really to apologize with a bundle of thorns on your back?"

Zhang Rishan smiled faintly and offered no explanation.

As long as he remains a member of the Zhang family, disrespecting the clan leader is a violation of clan rules, and he will inevitably be punished sooner or later.

It's just a little earlier now.

More importantly, this would be the perfect excuse.

If she refuses to come, then he will go instead.

If the mountain won't come to me, I'll go to the mountain myself.