Chapter One Hundred and Five: Huixian Pavilion

"Choose a fine tree to perch upon? I wonder what the Hall Master means by that?"

Li Zisheng was also left completely in the dark. After all, if it were simply an object from beyond the heavens—meaning a meteorite from outside the earth—Li Zisheng would have had a fairly clear understanding of it. But an otherworldly object imbued with spiritual sentience was something he had never even heard of, let alone one that could choose its own master. He was more certain of this than anyone; as a modern man, he had never laid eyes on such a legendary artifact.

"Indeed. Legend has it that although the Eye of the Heavens is the token of the Salt Alliance, it is not controlled by the Alliance itself. Every single time, it chooses its master of its own accord. Once the selection is complete, the previous controller of the Eye within the Salt Alliance will sense this individual, and this person will be directly designated as the leader of the Salt Alliance. No one is permitted to resist; those who defy this decree are guilty of an unforgivable crime, and their entire clan will be executed. The Salt Alliance is such a lucrative prize that even the imperial court gazes upon it with extreme covetousness. Therefore, the court has also dispatched agents this time."

Li Zisheng did not continue to press the matter. The whole affair was utterly bizarre, and there was no point in asking further; the current situation made everything abundantly clear. When the person before him spoke of this heavenly artifact, her eyes practically shone with greed, which was enough to show her intense craving for the Eye of the Heavens. Although the Great Tang absorbed the cultures of various ethnic groups and embraced inclusivity—making it quite free and open, so to speak—it still placed a tremendous emphasis on the supremacy of men over women. Thus, if Yanhong wished to elevate her status, this was undoubtedly an excellent method.

"Young Master Li, let us go."

Balian and Li Zisheng followed behind Yanhong as they left the chamber.

Accompanying them was also a sinister-looking figure dressed entirely in black, wearing a tall felt hat. Their facial expression could not be discerned, and they followed closely behind Yanhong with lowered head. Li Zisheng was not an excessively curious person, so he did not inquire about this individual's identity.

The first place the four of them arrived at was the stone forest that Li Zisheng had found so peculiar. They walked to the tallest boulder in the middle of the stone forest—the exact rock resembling an artificial hill from which Li Zisheng had previously observed the entire formation.

Yanhong tapped and struck at the rock in some hidden spot, and suddenly the massive boulder split in two. Directly beneath the base of the rock, a passageway was revealed. From the outside, this tunnel appeared extremely deep; the entrance was not very large, but it was wide enough for two people to walk through side by side.

Li Zisheng and Balian followed Yanhong into the passageway.

The tunnel was relatively dim, but Yanhong produced a night-shining pearl from somewhere, radiating an intense brilliance that instantly illuminated the pitch-black corridor. Li Zisheng could not help marveling at what kind of formidable faction the Three Flavors House truly was, casually producing night-shining pearls as if they were worthless pebbles. The three of them walked for a while; by Li Zisheng's own estimation, the time spent walking had already exceeded an hour. This tunnel could truly be described as exceptionally long.

"Young Master Li, we are about to arrive. Please cover your eyes with this black cloth first."

Yanhong handed over two pieces of black cloth, thin and seemingly made of fine gauze.

Yanhong and that sinister-looking individual directly tied the black gauze over their eyes. Li Zisheng harbored no suspicions and put his on immediately, while Balian hurriedly followed suit and tied his as well.

Judging by this, they were about to reach the surface.

"Young Master, why must we wear this gauze?" Balian asked, still somewhat puzzled even though he had already put it on.

"We are about to emerge onto the surface. Having remained in the dark for so long, if we are suddenly exposed to harsh, glaring light, your eyes could easily be blinded by carelessness. This black gauze can block the intense light, and once your eyes have adapted to it, you may take it off."

"I never imagined Young Master Li would be so knowledgeable and well-read. This concubine admires you."

With a flattering remark, Yanhong took the lead to guide the way.

The four of them twisted and turned through various paths for a little while longer before they soon reached a narrow fissure. This crack was extremely tight and entirely impassable for a person. Once again, without Li Zisheng or Balian noticing, Yanhong manipulated something hidden, and the fissure abruptly parted.

Beyond the separated fissure lay a passageway similar to the one the four of them had entered earlier, and they walked through it for a short time.

"Everyone, we are about to reach the surface. The bright light above is dazzling, so please prepare yourselves," Yanhong warned once more.

Fumbling in the dark, Yanhong pressed something, and suddenly a blinding beam of intense light pierced straight into the passage. Li Zisheng and Balian were so assaulted by the glaring light that they could not keep their eyes open. Even with the protection of the black gauze, the two of them had to cover their eyes with their hands, leaving only a microscopic slit—just enough to clearly make out the path ahead. In contrast, Yanhong and the sinister companion acted as though they were already entirely accustomed to this scene; showing no drastic reactions whatsoever, they ascended the steps directly to the surface. Balian and Li Zisheng carefully followed behind.

Upon reaching the surface, Li Zisheng adjusted after a brief moment, though he still did not remove the black gauze from his eyes. Strangely enough, the black gauze did not hinder his vision at all, so for the sake of protecting his eyes, he left it on. Balian plodded along slowly, not daring to lower his hands from his face.

"Greetings, Hall Master."

As soon as Li Zisheng's vision cleared, he saw a person dressed in night-traveler attire kneeling directly before Yanhong.

"Have the other young masters arrived?"

"Replying to the Hall Master, the Second Young Master of the Zhang family, the Eldest Young Master of the Hua family, the Third Young Master of the Zhou family, and the Eldest Young Master of the Liu family are all waiting at the Huixian Pavilion."

"Very well, let us go."

This place appeared to be somewhere in the outskirts, where not a single soul could be seen for miles.

Following the man dressed in night attire, the group soon arrived before a building. The structure was remarkably ordinary, featuring nothing more than a modest, unassuming doorway. Everyone stepped inside.

"Young Master, this looks rather like a back door," Balian whispered softly into Li Zisheng's ear, but Li Zisheng paid him no mind.

"Young Master Li, please enter first."

"Hall Master, after you."

"Then this concubine shall not stand on ceremony."

With a brief exchange of superficial courtesies, they entered a spacious main hall where four gentlemen were already seated.

Li Zisheng followed closely behind Yanhong and had not yet had the opportunity to observe the four men present when Yanhong took the initiative to speak.

"I have kept you young masters waiting for a long time. Please allow this concubine to offer her apologies first." Yanhong wore a radiant smile. Gone was the gloomy, eerie demeanor she had displayed underground; instead, she now projected a warmth reminiscent of a gentle spring breeze, prompting Li Zisheng to silently sigh at her formidable adaptability.

"Hall Master Yan, you certainly carry a grand air. Aren't you cutting it a bit late today, keeping the rest of us waiting so long?" The first to speak was a man seated closest to the hall's entrance, dressed in a white Zen robe.

"My esteemed young masters, I was delayed by some matters along the way. It is entirely this concubine's fault, and I humbly ask for your generous forgiveness."