Yan Tianlu raised his wine cup. "It seems fate keeps bringing us together. We only just parted on Python Jiao Island, and now we meet again in Sea-Viewing City. Come, come! Let's drain this cup first."
Hu Xiaotian clinked cups with him and drank it dry.
Yan Tianlu asked, "What brings you to the Bohai Kingdom this time, Brother Hu?"
Hu Xiaotian inwardly chuckled at the way he played dumb despite knowing perfectly well. Hadn't he sought this meeting because he had received word from Feng Laodao? He presumably already knew that Hu Xiaotian had met Ling Sanniang, yet now that they were face-to-face, he was still beating around the bush. This old fellow was cunning indeed. Hu Xiaotian slowly set down his cup. "Nothing important. I'm just wandering around."
"You aren't being very frank, Brother Hu!" Yan Tianlu said with a smile.
"That depends on whom I'm speaking to," Hu Xiaotian replied, smiling. "Put yourself in my shoes. Why don't you tell me what brought you here first, Island Lord?"
Yan Tianlu knew this young fellow would not be easy to handle. Although Hu Xiaotian had approached him this time, he seemed to have already gathered considerable intelligence. Rescuing the prisoners in the Bohai Kingdom and getting away unscathed would probably be impossible without joining forces with him. And an alliance required some sincerity. With that in mind, Yan Tianlu said, "To tell you the truth, Ling Sanniang is the second-in-command of Python Jiao Island. I came here for two reasons: first, to rescue Ling Sanniang, and second, to find Boguang and rescue him."
Hu Xiaotian placed Ling Sanniang's earring on the table and pushed it toward Yan Tianlu with one finger. Yan Tianlu picked it up, a trace of worry flashing through his tiger-like eyes. Hu Xiaotian became