Buo Huojing Tian laughed heartily, placing his wine cup on the table. He poured himself another drink but didn't rush to consume it.
He leaned forward, bending down, but his corpulence caused the accumulated fat on his belly to pile up, making it difficult for him to bend.
However, this did not hinder his pretense of profoundness.
"If it were any other day, when you, Old Cao, came to my place for a drink, I would certainly host you grandly at the main residence.
But now, our Buo Huo family is engaged in a fierce battle with the Xi Ren family. The two houses are locked in a heated conflict, and I, as the chief steward, am responsible for allocating provisions, military equipment, and provisions. I'm so busy I can barely keep my head on my shoulders. For you to invite me for a drink, it is truly a bit unusual.
Moreover, you haven't invited me to our main residence, but instead to this small inn not far from your Cao family's territory. You say you have no other ulterior motives, but it's hard for this brother to believe!"
"Heh, Jing Tian, you speak as if we are strangers. What's the matter between us? Must there be a reason for us to have a drink?"
"Oh, my old brother, let's speak plainly. Since you have something to say, let's discuss it first. Once it's out in the open, I, your younger brother, will feel at ease. With no worries weighing on my mind, our drinking will be all the more enjoyable. I will drink with you until we are both completely inebriated."
"Alright, since you've asked, I won't beat around the bush."
Cao Hong Wen rested his right elbow on the table, a playful smile curling his lips as he looked at the fat man before him.
"Jing Tian, what are your thoughts on the current war?"
"What is there to think about? Our Buo Huo family can easily counter the mere bandits of the Xi Ren family. We will swiftly drive them back with a single blow and then counterattack their stronghold."
The fat man spoke with passionate fervor, spittle flying as his palm, as large as a cattail fan, waved back and forth.
"Tch."
Cao Hong Wen let out a cold laugh.
"Come now. Just a few days ago, your Gu Lang Prefecture was annexed by the Xi Ren family. And your second-in-command, Buo Huo Qing Wu, that shameless wench, was reportedly gravely injured by Xi Ren Yuan Jun.
Your Buo Huo family is retreating steadily, while the Xi Ren family is advancing with irresistible momentum, showing every sign of annihilating your Buo Huo family. You talk of counterattacking?
What do you have to counterattack with?"
"Oh, you don't believe me? Just you wait and see. The foundation of my Buo Huo family..."
"Stop, stop, stop."
Seeing the fat man about to boast again, Cao Hong Wen quickly waved his hand, signaling him to cease.
"I'm not asking for your Buo Huo family's opinion, but for your personal opinion, Jing Tian."
Upon hearing this, Buo Huo Jing Tian's fleshy face twitched violently, and his eyes narrowed.
Both were astute individuals. Jing Tian, having attained the position of first among the three great stewards of the Buo Huo family, immediately grasped Cao Hong Wen's intent.
They were friends, and their meeting now, not at the Buo Huo family's main residence, with Cao Hong Wen acting as an official envoy representing the Cao family for state talks, but rather in a small inn in this border region for a secret meeting.
Therefore, there could only be one truth...
"Brother Cao, with the way you put it, is your Cao family trying to win me over?"
A flicker of disgust flashed in Buo Huo Jing Tian's eyes.
Yes, though he was shrewd and greedy, his surname was Buo Huo. This was where he had grown up, his home, and his reliance. Without the Buo Huo family, he was nothing.
Therefore, betraying the Buo Huo family was absolutely out of the question.
"Look at you, speaking like that. What use would it be for me to win you over? I'd even find your excess fat too fishy to render for oil."
"Then what exactly do you mean?"
"This time, I am representing the Cao family as an envoy to discuss important matters with your Buo Huo family."
Cao Hong Wen took another sip of wine.
"No, you're confusing me. If you're an official representative, then why aren't you at our main residence? Why did you call me here?"
The fat man felt he could no longer fathom the thoughts of the person before him.
"Alright, I'll get straight to the point.
Our family head believes that your Buo Huo family will definitively be unable to resist the Xi Ren family's offensive this time. Therefore, he has dispatched me to your family to discuss our northern army assisting the Buo Huo family in resisting the Xi Ren family."
"Oh? Why is your Cao family so certain that our Buo Huo family will lose?"
"Because we have obtained an intelligence."
"What intelligence?"
"This intelligence is being given to your Buo Huo family free of charge, representing the sincerity of our Cao family. Therefore, it is not a problem to tell you."
Cao Hong Wen leaned forward.
"That old rogue, Xi Ren Liu, after ten years of research, has finally refined a magical artifact. This artifact is named... Bing Xin."
"Bing Xin?"
"Yes. This artifact allows him to enter a state of desirelessness, detachment, and emotionlessness for a period of time. When he uses it, your family head's Heart Fire will inflict no harm upon him. And he, already possessing immense strength, will be able to kill your family head in one fell swoop.
This treasure was specifically developed to deal with Buo Huo Feng Qin.
Otherwise, do you think the Xi Ren family would dare to attack your Buo Huo family without any reason?
Don't forget, for the past several decades, it was you who have been suppressing them."
This intelligence, being given freely to the Buo Huo family, was essentially a favor. In the eyes of the Cao family, it was imperative to inform the Buo Huo family in advance. After all, if Buo Huo Feng Qin were killed by Xi Ren Liu, informing them of this news afterward would be utterly useless, and they would resent not being warned earlier.
Therefore, for the Cao family to achieve its objectives and obtain what it desired, it was necessary to make the Buo Huo family feel threatened in advance, to let them know they were destined to lose. Only then could the subsequent negotiations proceed.
Buo Huo Jing Tian immediately understood this point.
"Let's assume for a moment that what you say is true. Then, what does your Cao family want?"
Cao Hong Wen smiled slightly.
"Then tell me, what does the Xi Ren family want by attacking your Buo Huo family?"
Buo Huo Jing Tian's gaze suddenly narrowed.
"Heart Fire?"
"Yes, Heart Fire. For the Martial Arts Tournament, for the Sacred Fire inheritance, Xi Ren Liu must become stronger.
That is why he is attacking your Buo Huo family at this time.
When the tournament arrives, with both the Netherworld Cold Fire and Heart Fire in his possession, imagine how terrifying he will be.
Whether it be our Great Phoenix Lord or the mysterious Li Mei Immortal, they will likely no longer be his match. The Sacred Fire inheritance will inevitably fall into Xi Ren Liu's hands."
In reality, the Buo Huo family had discussed these points internally. They were all aware that Xi Ren Liu was after the Heart Fire, but they did not know how Xi Ren Liu was confident he could defeat Buo Huo Feng Qin.
Now, it was all clear.
"If that's the case, then the price for your Cao family and the beast race assisting our Buo Huo family is for us to give up the Heart Fire?"
"Indeed."
"Hahahahaha..."
Buo Huo Jing Tian threw his head back and laughed. Then, a cold glint flashed in his eyes.
"Then how do we know that after obtaining the Heart Fire and eliminating Xi Ren Liu, the Great Phoenix Lord won't turn around and eliminate our Buo Huo family?"