Xiao Tianmu shook his head. "How could there be so many coincidences in this world?"
Hu Xiaotian said, "Since we're all brothers, I might as well offer a few idle thoughts."
Xiao Tianmu said, "Then we'll wash our ears and listen!"
Hu Xiaotian slowly set down his wine cup. "I still underestimated Lord Hu. His schemes run deeper and wider than I imagined, and his strength is far greater than I expected. His influence has long since penetrated the Fragrant Kingdom. Outsiders see only the illusion of the Empress Dowager holding power. In truth, he pushed her to the forefront because it wasn't yet time for him to act. As for Western Sichuan, there are many others like you two. Perhaps his people have already infiltrated every level of Western Sichuan."
Without a word, Zhou Mo raised his cup and drained it in one gulp.
Hu Xiaotian said, "It seems someone finally couldn't sit still any longer. He believes the time has come to act, to control the Fragrant Kingdom and seize Western Sichuan..." His voice cut off abruptly. A terrifying possibility had suddenly occurred to him. An isolated Western Sichuan would be of no use whatsoever. If Hu Buwei had planned everything from behind the scenes, taking the isolated Western Sichuan now would be like spinning a cocoon to bind himself. It could well drag him into a quagmire, unless he had a way to open its southern route and link Western Sichuan with the Fragrant Kingdom. Yet Redwood River lay between them, and Redwood River belonged to Hu Xiaotian. With Hu Buwei's seasoned cunning, he could hardly have overlooked this. Since Hu Buwei had already begun showing his claws and gradually stepping into the open, he might very well strike at Redwood River at the same time.
Zhou