Chapter 102: The Eye Beyond the Heavens

When Yanhong blurted out the sum of ten thousand taels of silver, Li Zisheng was nonetheless quite shocked. After all, ten thousand taels of silver was by no means a small amount. Above all, the fact that Yanhong was so confident and offered ten thousand taels right off the bat was enough to prove that the evidence related to the Salt Syndicate far exceeded the value of ten thousand taels, prompting her to name such a price without hesitation.

However, the more this was the case, the more suspicious Li Zisheng became as to what this item of collusion with the Salt Syndicate actually was, that could make Yanhong pay such a heavy price.

"Hall Master, your subordinate is quite an extraordinary person."

"Young Master Li is indeed clever. That little sister of mine loves to stir up trouble; if she has offended you in any way, please be magnanimous and forgive her."

"It's quite alright. Your sister simply possesses a genuine temperament."

After a round of polite and hollow pleasantries, neither of them mentioned the ten thousand taels again.

"Hall Master, I wonder what this object of the Salt Syndicate actually is? I never imagined you would be willing to pay such a huge price in exchange for it."

"Heh, I didn't expect Young Master Li to be so candid. It is better for Young Master Li not to know about this item. Otherwise, it could become quite dangerous."

Yanhong looked at Li Zisheng with a smile.

"Young Master Li, this object of the Salt Syndicate is currently in the hands of that little girl, Ling'er. If Young Master Li can retrieve this item from Ling'er and hand it over to me, on top of the original ten thousand taels of silver, I can directly make the decision to give you another ten thousand taels. I wonder what Young Master Li thinks of this proposition?"

Yanhong's words directly exposed the fact that Li Zisheng did not actually possess the Salt Syndicate's object in his hands.

Yet, Li Zisheng was no pushover either. Even when exposed by Yanhong, he felt no embarrassment, merely smiling faintly.

"I wonder, what precisely is this object of the Salt Syndicate?"

Li Zisheng asked the same question again, but this time without the slightest trace of retreat, carrying instead a sense of relentless pursuit.

"Young Master Li, it is better not to meddle in certain matters. If you are even slightly careless, you will—"

Yanhong did not finish her sentence, but the meaning within her words was already abundantly clear, plainly warning Li Zisheng not to inquire any further, or else courting mortal peril.

"Do you really suppose that by destroying this evidence of the Salt Syndicate, the person behind you will truly be safe?"

Li Zisheng uttered a seemingly nonsensical remark, but to Yanhong's ears, it was nothing short of a thunderbolt from the clear blue sky, both deafening and awakening.

"What did you say?"

"Are you unaware of the saying: 'If you want people not to know, unless you've done nothing wrong'?"

Li Zisheng continued to look calmly at Yanhong, pouring himself a cup of tea and sipping it slowly and deliberately.

"Speak, Young Master Li. What is it that you want?"

"Hall Master, I lack for nothing. I merely wish to know what this object of the Salt Syndicate truly is. If the Hall Master is cooperative, I shall also respond in kind, offering something that will certainly interest you."

"Oh? If that is the case, it is not entirely impossible to reveal this item to Young Master Li. However, once Young Master Li learns of it, you will automatically be considered a member of my faction. Should Young Master Li leak the slightest whisper of it, I cannot guarantee whether your personal safety will—"

Yanhong still did not finish, but the threat laden in her words was palpable.

"Naturally. Ling'er is merely a pawn in my hands. However, to casually claim that knowing of this item makes one a member of the Hall Master's faction is underestimating me far too much."

Li Zisheng replied entirely without fear. Since he had already invoked the formidable banner of Grand Secretary Zhang, he might as well use it to the very end.

Seeing Li Zisheng's attitude, Yanhong steadied her mind. If she had caught Li Zisheng showing cowardice just now, then even if he were a relative of Grand Secretary Zhang, she would have had to kill him with her own hands to eliminate future troubles. But Li Zisheng not only showed no trace of fear, he remained completely calm, even casually evaluating the faction behind her. No matter what, this proved that Young Master Li truly possessed a formidable backing and cared nothing for her threats.

Still, this Young Master Li was much easier to talk to than the young masters of those other major factions she had previously encountered. With those individuals, the mere hint of a threat from her would likely have resulted in her own death.

"This item is known as the Eye of the Beyond. What precisely it is, I am not entirely sure. Rumors say that this Eye of the Beyond possesses miraculous and profound abilities, serving as the heirloom passed down from generation to generation by the leaders of the Salt Syndicate. Furthermore, whoever obtains this object can directly control the Eighteen Interlocking Docks of the Salt Syndicate. Aside from its function as a token of authority, the Eye of the Beyond is rumored to be an artifact from the heavens, possessing rare and priceless wondrous uses. Some even say it grants eternal youth and immortality."

"An artifact from the heavens?"

Upon hearing this term, Li Zisheng felt a rare surge of emotion. While others might remain indifferent to such a heavenly object, he was practically a traveler from another world, yearning intensely for a way back to his original place. Yet, despite exhausting every method he could think of, it had yielded no results, forcing him to resign himself to his current situation.

Now, however, with the appearance of this heavenly artifact—true or false—at least a glimmer of hope for returning had emerged. Slender though that hope might be, he still had to try.

"I wonder where this Eye of the Beyond is located right now? The Hall Master need not mention Ling'er; we both know the truth of the matter, so there is no need to beat around the bush."

Seeing Li Zisheng's eyes light up at the mention of the Eye of the Beyond without him losing his composure or putting on a facade, Yanhong maintained her smiling expression.

"It lies hidden within the secrets of the Yishan Stone Carvings."

When Yanhong spoke of the Yishan Stone Carvings, Li Zisheng finally grasped the cause and effect of the entire situation. The reason Yanhong had confessed the truth to him must have been, apart from Grand Secretary Zhang, his identity as the successor of Li Si.

However, the Yishan Stone Carvings were relics left over from the Qin Dynasty, boasting a history spanning nearly a millennium. The Eye of Science or the Eye of the Beyond, on the other hand, was an item within the current Great Tang Empire. How could it possibly be linked to the Yishan Stone Carvings? Reason and logic alike dictated that this made no sense.

Nevertheless, since this matter ultimately intersected with him, he had no choice but to attempt to find the Eye of the Beyond.

"I wonder what arrangements the Hall Master has in mind? If there is any way Li can be of service, I shall certainly do my utmost."

"Good! Since Young Master Li is so straightforward, Yanhong is not one to drag her feet. That little girl Ling'er obtained a map from Deng Qing a few days ago—a map leading to the Eye of the Beyond. However, there is a catch: one must use the incantations passed down generation after generation by the successor of Li Si in order to find the entrance. That is why that little girl Ling'er has been pestering Young Master Li to no end."