Chapter 161 Negotiation

As they spoke, Li Zhonglou took out the dragon head round carving.

He placed it on the coffee table in front of them.

"One cannot help but marvel at the wisdom of the ancients."

"Western Xia was an ancient country that revered Buddhism. Throughout legends, ancient and modern, any mention of religion invariably involves supernatural events."

"With the advancement of science, these supernatural occurrences have all been explained."

"Simply put, it's magnetic field interference and resonance."

Li Zhonglou's words instantly resolved the doubts of Zhao Zheng and the others.

Even Tang Lengyun's expression trembled slightly.

It was truly a case of searching high and low for something, only to find it effortlessly.

This dragon head round carving, placed elsewhere, would merely be a historical artifact. Given the ordinary material, it held no significant market value.

Yet, it was something she had been desperately searching for for nearly ten years.

She never expected it to appear in Li Zhonglou's hands.

"Is this truly fate?" Tang Lengyun sighed, closing her eyes, though her face betrayed a deep sense of wistfulness.

If she had found this round carving earlier, she wouldn't have had to seek the help of the archaeology team.

She would have already opened the tomb chamber and retrieved the golden Buddha that represented the glory of Western Xia's last royal lineage.

That golden Buddha was not unique; it was a symbol of Western Xia's royal power.

Among the surviving traceable descendants of the Western Xia royal family, there was another such artifact, belonging to the Fan family lineage.

Fan Meng's grandfather had spent his entire life searching for it.

Unexpectedly, Fan Meng's father, for his own benefit, stole it from the family and sold it abroad.

In a fit of rage, the elder personally sent his son to prison.

Perhaps only by obtaining this golden Buddha could the animosity between father and son be resolved.

Tang Lengyun did not care about Fan Meng's father's life or death; that man was a scumbag. However, she could not abandon Fan Meng, her goddaughter who had grown up by her side.

Or perhaps, she did not wish to see the elder live out his days consumed by guilt and die.

For multiple reasons, she was determined to obtain the golden Buddha.

Alas, fate was not on her side.

The ancestral tomb had been designated a national key cultural relic protection site, and despite her deep connections, she was unable to open the tomb chamber to retrieve the golden Buddha within.

Now that the other half of the key was in Li Zhonglou's hands, there was even less hope.

"Aunt Tang..." Fan Meng, utterly lost, gently hugged Tang Lengyun.

"It's no use, it's no use!" Tang Lengyun, living up to her reputation as a renowned strong woman in Yucheng, adjusted her emotions in a mere moment. When she reopened her eyes, they held a look of resolute determination. "Since you are talking to me about the law, then this deal cannot be made."

"Everyone, please leave. Let today be as if we never met!"

Tang Lengyun's voice was palpable with coldness.

Her implication was clear: since she could not obtain what she wanted, she would not help the archaeology team open the stone wall.

Without the half of the key in her possession, opening the stone wall safely would be an arduous task, bordering on impossible.

Otherwise, it would not have been possible to keep out grave robbers.

Upon hearing this, Zhao Zheng's face filled with disappointment and anger as he accused, "How can you be so unmindful of the greater good?"

"To think you are a renowned entrepreneur in Yucheng, your selfishness is truly appalling!"

"Hmph, talking to me about the greater good? Who do you think you are?" Tang Lengyun replied with disdain.

Having reached her current status, she had weathered countless storms and was no longer swayed by the thoughts of ordinary people.

Towards her family, she was even more affectionate, even offering help without expecting anything in return, simply seeking peace of mind.

Towards strangers, however, she was as cold as steel.

Her words enraged Zhao Zheng, causing him to tremble and his face to turn ashen.

"Ms. Tang, I might have a compromise," Li Zhonglou interjected at the opportune moment, preventing further conflict. "What you seek is for her."

He said this, pointing to Fan Meng, "She said she needs the golden Buddha to save her father. What if her father can be saved without the golden Buddha?"

"Ignorance. Young man, you think about things too simply," Tang Lengyun replied, her expression as serene as a still well, her tone no longer as gentle as before.

When words fail to resonate, further conversation is futile. To her, the archaeology team was not on the same path as her.

Li Zhonglou remained unfazed. "Your surname is Fan, and if I am not mistaken, you are from the Fan family of Zhonghai?"

"There is no absolute in this world."

"If you believe me, I can help you!"

His words shocked everyone in the room.

Even Lin Ying showed a hint of surprise in her expression.

The Fan family of Zhonghai, one of the eight great families of China. Her junior disciple had saved the daughter of the Fan family.

How did he guess that?

Was it merely based on demeanor and temperament?

This was impossible; only an immortal could possess such ability.

The others exchanged bewildered glances.

Everyone knew about the Fan family of Zhonghai.

They were as renowned as the Xiao family of Yong'an, one of the eight great families.

Tang Lengyun's connection to the Fan family explained how she had managed to build such a successful business.

"Mr. Li, are you investigating me?" Fan Meng exclaimed in surprise, then her beautiful eyes narrowed with anger as she rebuked him.

Li Zhonglou calmly replied, "Please don't misunderstand. The bloodline of the Western Xia royal family is almost extinct today. If Ms. Tang hadn't mentioned it, no one would know. The Fan family is publicly known as the only remaining branch."

"I recall that over a decade ago, Old Master Fan purchased a golden Buddha from overseas at great expense, causing a sensation throughout China."

"And you are now pursuing the golden Buddha, coupled with your surname Fan, it's not difficult to connect the dots."

"I ask you, do you want to save your father's life or do you want the golden Buddha? Think carefully!"

In his past life, he had a close relationship with Fan Meng. Although he hadn't inquired in detail, he was aware of these matters.

However, he couldn't explain it truthfully, so he had to use this method to dispel Fan Meng's doubts.

As expected, the anger in Fan Meng's eyes gradually subsided, replaced by a myriad of emotions.

Even Tang Lengyun's face showed a hint of admiration.

Li Zhonglou, at his age, possessed such meticulous thinking, which was truly rare.

However, she was well aware of the Fan family's affairs, and to resolve the animosity between the elder and his son, the golden Buddha was essential.

She did not believe a word of what Li Zhonglou said.

"Of course, I want my father to live!" Fan Meng's voice began to tremble.

"Then listen to me. After this archaeological expedition concludes, I will personally travel to Zhonghai within three months to help you resolve this matter," Li Zhonglou's voice was filled with confidence.

As soon as he finished speaking, Tang Lengyun said, "Why should I believe you?"

"You are just a boy who hasn't even fully grown, and with just a few words, you want me to hand over my ancestral tomb for you to desecrate."

"Am I ignorant, or are you overly confident?"

Li Zhonglou smiled. "Actually, I have a way to open the tomb chamber even without a key."

"However, it would take some time, and time is extremely important to me."

"The reason I am willing to interfere in the Fan family's messy affairs is not for your sake, but for Fan Meng!"

"Wise people understand how to weigh the pros and cons, and intelligent people know how to act in accordance with the situation."

"Which do you think you are?"

When speaking with someone like Tang Lengyun, one had to be direct.

Otherwise, her suspicion would run too deep.

To be honest, Li Zhonglou did not wish to get involved in the Fan family's affairs; in his previous life, it had caused him considerable trouble.

But circumstances were different now. Fan Meng's father was still alive, and his nature had not yet changed.

After all, they had once been lovers. He did not wish to see this kind-hearted woman become as cold and unfeeling as a machine.

Furthermore, his mother's serious illness had not yet fully recovered, and it was not advisable to prolong this journey.

Moreover, Zhonghai was a place he had to go.

If he wanted to establish a large company, he could not base it in a small place like Qin Zhou.

Their lines of action converged. Resolving the Fan family's predicament was not just helping Fan Meng, but also advancing his own career.

After all, he was well aware of the terrifying foundation of one of the eight great families.

Tang Lengyun's beautiful eyes flickered with a cold glint upon hearing this.