"Or not? Your Buzhihuo family would surely be annihilated by the Xiren family right now. Isn't that weakness?
Let's brothers do some calculations. You mustn't tell your family head about this.
For example, if we help the Xiren family attack your Buzhihuo family, how will the Heart Fire be divided in the end? Would both families get it? That would still mean a stalemate. What would our Cao family gain?
If we strike first and annihilate your Buzhihuo family, obtaining the Heart Fire, it would seem our Great Phoenix would grow stronger. However, the Xiren family possesses something that restrains the Heart Fire.
If the Great Phoenix were to fight the Xiren lineage, the Heart Fire would be useless, and it would remain a one-on-one stalemate, just like before.
Therefore, only by cooperating, attacking the Xiren family together, can we ultimately destroy them, help the Great Phoenix obtain the Netherworld Cold Fire, and then obtain the Heart Fire. With the blessing of three fires, that Mei Xian would be insignificant, and the Holy Fire Inheritance would inevitably fall into our Great Phoenix's hands."
Cao Hongwen's words caused Buzhihuo Jing Tian to ponder for a long time, and he discovered a loophole.
"That's not right, Brother Cao. Look, if the Cao family stood by and watched our Buzhihuo family be destroyed, it would be detrimental to the Cao family in the end.
If they helped the Xiren family attack our family, it would still be disadvantageous to you.
In other words, you must help us, and we must accept your help. Then, why should we give you the Heart Fire?"
"Hahaha, ridiculous, pathetic, and lamentable.
Let's not even mention the principle that if you want a horse to run, you have to feed it grass. We help you, and you offer nothing in return? Impossible.
Let's just say, if our two families cooperate to destroy the Xiren family, then your Buzhihuo family head would be suppressed when facing the Xiren lineage. Ultimately, killing the Xiren lineage would still rely on our Great Phoenix.
The Great Phoenix would inevitably obtain the Netherworld Cold Fire, and at that time, they could turn around and sweep through your Buzhihuo family, couldn't they?
In any case, the Heart Fire is something our Great Phoenix is determined to obtain.
If you give it to us willingly, out of consideration for our past relationship, we might spare the Buzhihuo family's fiefdom. If you refuse, we can simply not intervene, not expend our forces, and then directly confront the Xiren family.
Let's see whether the Xiren family, weakened by exhaustion and depleted troops, is stronger, or our family, which has dominated the north and is well-rested.
In any case, your Buzhihuo family will have no part in this."
Buzhihuo Jing Tian fell silent again. This night, his silence far exceeded his speaking time.
He was thinking, contemplating, and hesitating.
He considered all possibilities and ultimately realized that only by accepting the Cao family's help could he withstand the Xiren family and preserve the Buzhihuo family.
He then thought even further, about how he himself could gain more benefits from this transaction.
He simply didn't consider an impossible possibility: the two families uniting to resist the Cao family.
In fact, this possibility was of no use to him personally.
No matter who obtained the Holy Fire Inheritance, it wouldn't be him, Buzhihuo Jing Tian. The Holy Fire Inheritance had nothing to do with him.
He only needed to… secure more benefits for himself.
Before, he wanted to protect the Buzhihuo family because it could give him status, honor, and what he desired.
But when he could gain more, did he still need to consider the Buzhihuo family?
As Cao Hongwen said, whether the Buzhihuo family existed or not, he could join the Cao family and enter the imperial court.
Silence, stillness.
After a long while, Buzhihuo Jing Tian picked up his wine cup and smiled.
"My younger brother's future… ah no, the Buzhihuo family's future, I will entrust it to you, Brother Cao."
"Rest assured, our relationship is closer than brothers. How could I not help you?"
"For our future."
"For the glory of both families."
"Cheers."
"Cheers."
The two old foxes, each with their own ulterior motives, raised their cups with smiling faces. The main business was concluded, and their hearts were at ease. They both visibly relaxed and began to chat about trivial matters.
"Old friends, even in old age, still wield swords; the favored of the wealthy, early esteemed, laugh at the changing times."
After eating and drinking their fill, the host and guests were delighted.
They walked down the stairs together, chatting as they went. They had both drunk quite a bit. Cao Hongwen was doing better, being of higher cultivation. Buzhihuo Jing Tian, however, was not. Already corpulent and weak, and flushed with success, he couldn't help but drink greedily. By now, he was quite tipsy.
Cao Hongwen, supporting his friend and his future path to advancement, descended the stairs with difficulty.
Looking at Buzhihuo Jing Tian, who had lost all composure due to drink, and grasping his arm, which felt like a slab of lard, Cao Hongwen regretted it. He felt he should have just flown down from the fifth floor with the man, saving himself this ordeal.
"Oh, this little girl is quite attractive, tsk tsk tsk. Such looks, such a figure. Is there truly such a gem in the world?"
A booth by the window on the fourth floor caught Buzhihuo Jing Tian's attention.
An old man sat in that booth, which was naturally ignored. Opposite the old man sat a young girl in yellow.
The girl in yellow possessed a beauty that could topple kingdoms, a slender figure, and a perfectly straight fringe. Her face was delicate, yet she exuded a frosty demeanor. These contrasting qualities were perfectly combined in her, making one fall into a trance.
As everyone knew, people of the Buzhihuo family were fond of lolis, and this loli before him was undoubtedly the most exquisite specimen Buzhihuo Jing Tian had ever seen.
At this moment, Buzhihuo Jing Tian's mind was completely occupied by the girl in yellow. All the young girls he had previously possessed or that had been gifted to him were cast aside. He didn't even care about the subordinate who had presented his own daughter to him, whom he was planning to sample upon returning home.
Even though he had been eyeing that girl since she was five years old, for eight long years, and she was finally of age to be harvested, he didn't care.
He was determined to take this girl back and sample her day and night… ah no, night after night.
Thus, with an unbearable itch in his heart, Buzhihuo Jing Tian walked over. His steps showed no trace of drunkenness whatsoever.
"Little lady, I am from the Buzhihuo family…"
"Scram."
The girl in yellow didn't even look at him.
"Oh ho, a spirited one, I like that. Don't worry, I'll make you obediently call me Daddy."
The girl in yellow's eyes widened instantly, burning with rage.
"What, you dog, are you eyeing her again?"
Cao Hongwen smiled at the fat man, knowing his friend's universally detested preferences all too well.
"Indeed. Such a figure, such looks, tsk tsk tsk. It's a shame she isn't married yet. If she were, she would fit your taste, Brother Cao."
The Cao family favored married women.
At this moment, a young man in blue, carrying two jars of wine, came up from the stairs.
"Wife, I'm back."
Cao Hongwen's eyes lit up.
Hiss… This is getting interesting.