Chapter One Hundred and Ten: Cooperation

After all, what this person was speaking of could be considered his deepest secret. Although it could theoretically be investigated, Commander Zhang had already completely concealed his information, leaving those with ulterior motives with no way to trace it.

Yet this Liu Ziling casually stated his origins, knowing his past experiences and background like the back of his hand, as if he were intimately familiar with them.

Who on earth was this Liu Ziling? Why was he so well-informed about him?

"Who on earth are you?"

Li Zisheng asked Liu Ziling in a low voice, extremely curious about the man's identity. Since Liu Ziling had inquired about his background, he must have had matters to discuss with him, which was why he acted this way. Therefore, Li Zisheng did not worry that Liu Ziling would directly expose his identity and plunge him into crisis. However, he truly disliked the sensation of being manipulated and controlled by someone else.

"Heh, I am someone who can help you. Assuming you wish to survive."

Liu Ziling looked at Li Zisheng with a calm expression. Coupled with the rumbling sounds echoing from outside, it carried an unmistakable sense of threat.

Li Zisheng naturally noticed Liu Ziling's attitude and understood that whatever Liu Ziling wanted from him must be connected to the Yishan Rock Carvings, so there was no need for him to panic at this moment.

"How will you help me, and why would you help me?"

Without a trace of panic, Li Zisheng asked calmly.

"Naturally, I am saving your life. As for how I will help you, you will naturally understand when the time comes; this is not the moment to discuss it. As for why I am helping you, you will know that in due time as well, but this is still not the moment for it."

Regarding the questions of how and why he would help, Liu Ziling remained tight-lipped and refused to disclose anything to Li Zisheng.

Liu Ziling's attitude was well within Li Zisheng's expectations. However, Li Zisheng was not the kind of person to let control slip entirely into someone else's hands, so he felt a certain resistance to Liu Ziling's proposal. He was no fool; requiring him to cooperate and compromise himself without the other party revealing even a shred of truth was a losing bargain he had no intention of making now, nor would he ever make in the future.

"Oh? I wonder why Young Master Liu wishes to rescue this humble person. If my eyes do not deceive me, are you not in league with the three young masters of the Zhang, Hua, and Zhou families? Those three young masters and Hall Master Yan are eager to eliminate me swiftly, and only because I still retain some utility have they stayed their hands. Knowing this full well, why would Young Master Liu act otherwise? It leaves me somewhat surprised."

Looking straight into Liu Ziling's eyes, Li Zisheng showed no sign of yielding, maintaining his presence completely.

"Heh, I never imagined Young Master Li himself would be so well aware of his current predicament. That makes me rather curious: why is Young Master Li still so composed? What gives you such composure?"

Liu Ziling was deeply intrigued by Li Zisheng's attitude. Combining this calm demeanor with Li Zisheng's current desperate situation, he couldn't fathom where this confidence possibly came from.

"Naturally, because of the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion."

"The Heavenly Mystery Pavilion? Where on earth did you learn of the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion?"

Liu Ziling wore a look of utter shock. He had no idea that Li Zisheng had any backing from the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion.

Observing Liu Ziling's shock, Li Zisheng instantly realized that Liu Ziling had not expected any connection between him and the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion. In Liu Ziling's mind, it should have been utterly impossible for Li Zisheng to even know of the pavilion's existence—much like Yan Hong's reaction back then.

"Young Master Li, I never expected you to have ties to the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion. It seems my own knowledge and experience are lacking."

Clearly, Liu Ziling had yet to digest the reality that Li Zisheng knew of the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion, and he was still probing to test whether Li Zisheng's words were true or false.

Liu Ziling's reaction was an exact carbon copy of Yan Hong's on that day, which slightly steadied Li Zisheng's heart. It seemed the deterrent force of the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion was truly immense.

At that moment, Li Zisheng actually grew genuinely curious about what kind of entity the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion truly was. Mere mention of its name could cause a person or a faction to pale with shock, possessing a deterrence that practically surpassed even the imperial court. Some transcendently detached individuals, completely independent of the imperial court's commands, were even willing to be driven by the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion. It was truly beyond all expectations.

With such formidable power, how could the imperial court possibly tolerate its existence? They would have long since eradicated such a faction. Yet the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion endured, which could only mean the imperial court lacked the capability to destroy it. If so, the pavilion must far exceed his imagination. He had originally thought the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion was an affiliated power of the court, but judging by this, it must be an organization standing high above the imperial court itself; otherwise, it could never command such terrifying deterrence.

"Heh, Young Master Liu surely doesn't think I would participate in this operation without any protective barrier whatsoever, does he?"

Li Zisheng spoke these words with ease. The calmer Li Zisheng appeared, the more unsettled Liu Ziling felt inside.

"Heh, I wonder what the scenery is like within the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion? I have yearned for the pavilion for a very long time and remain deeply curious about it. Would Young Master Li be so kind as to enlighten me?"

Liu Ziling casually posed this question, completely dropping the matter of his previous threat. This swift change of demeanor caused Li Zisheng to elevate his evaluation of the usually taciturn Liu Ziling yet another notch.

This Liu Ziling was far from simple.

"The Heavenly Mystery Pavilion deals in heavenly secrets; it cannot be spoken of, nor can it be put into words. Does Brother Liu understand?"

"Naturally, naturally."

Liu Ziling gave a slight start, suddenly recalling the legends surrounding the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion. The pavilion was akin to the Heavenly Gates; no one would ever dare to desecrate its prestige, let alone brazenly impersonate someone from within its ranks.

Yet, what if Li Zisheng was audacious enough to boldly impersonate a disciple of the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion? There were only the two of them here; if Li Zisheng were doing so, he would have no way of knowing.

Perhaps Li Zisheng had merely overheard the name of the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion somewhere and was putting on a false front here, and he had no means of verifying the truth.

Despite his youth, this Li Zisheng possessed unfathomable depths and a mind as cunning as a demon; he was not a man to be easily trifled with.

However, if it were true, acting rashly would undoubtedly invite the fury of the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion, bringing far more loss than gain.

"Very well, I'll place a wager on this."

Liu Ziling seemed to have finally made up his mind.

"Young Master Li, do you not wish to know what our ultimate objective is on this journey? Do you really believe it is merely about the so-called Eye Beyond the Heavens? While the Eye Beyond the Heavens is certainly crucial, the true objective goes far, far beyond that."

Having said this, Liu Ziling fell silent once more, waiting for Li Zisheng's reply.