Xiahou Zun's original plan was to drain Xu Chunliang's Inner Strength and then kill him; the best way to keep a secret was to silence him forever. But human plans can't beat heaven's will—he schemed for so long, seized Xu Chunliang when he was off guard, yet never imagined it would all be ruined by Yan Hong.
Xu Chunliang definitely wouldn't have laid this trap specifically for him; his initial intention must have been to leave a backup on Yan Hong. No one could have foreseen that Xiahou Zun's greed would draw that needle onto himself.
Xiahou Zun hoisted Xu Chunliang onto his shoulder, then had Cao Mulan and Hongxiu move Yan Hong's corpse down below together.
