Xiao Tianmu said, "Great Kang is only bluffing by massing troops at the border. They haven't recovered their strength, and they still lack the ability to swallow Western Sichuan in a single bite. Xiaotian seized quite a lot of territory during Western Sichuan's crisis, and Great Kang can do nothing about it. Since they can't touch him, their only choice is to cooperate with him for now and keep him in check."
Zhou Mo said, "We did wrong by him in the end. Now that we're meeting again, I don't even know how to face him."
Xiao Tianmu said, "He's no longer the naive youth he once was! Although we haven't seen him all these years, we've always followed what he's been doing. Xiaotian's achievements today are no accident. Without a broad heart and bold spirit, how could anyone rise above the rest in these troubled times? Why must you keep feeling guilty about this, Big Brother?"
Zhou Mo sighed. "I don't know why, but I still think of him as my brother..." At that, guilt became almost unbearable. Yet he already understood that the three of them could never return to the past.
Xiao Tianmu coughed. "Affection is the greatest luxury in this world. The more you give, the more you lose. Don't forget, Big Brother, this whole affair was Godfather's plan from the beginning."
Zhou Mo said, "If one day we have to fight him to the death, what will you do?"
Xiao Tianmu said, "I'll show no mercy, because Xiaotian would do the same!"
Zhou Mo sighed again. Only after a long while did he ask, "Do you know what Godfather really wants?" Xiao Tianmu turned toward the window. Though he could see nothing outside, he could hear the wind, the rustling of leaves as a gentle