Xiao Yufan had already entered the Cold Water Gully several days ago, yet there was still no news about him. Many people believed he was doomed to meet the same fate as others before him…
The Tan faction began to feel a sense of schadenfreude. After all, if Xiao Yufan couldn’t walk out of the Cold Water Gully, they could force Huangpu Yi to hand over Huangpu Xian’er in marriage to the Tan family. With such an alliance formed, they would surely benefit greatly.
Inside the study, Huangpu Yi and Situ Lingyu were locked in a game of strategy, appearing completely unconcerned. Situ Yonghui stood silently by their side, saying nothing.
“The Silver Fox will always be the Silver Fox. When it comes to strategy, I probably won’t match you in my entire life!” Huangpu Yi finally said.
After a long time, the game ended with Huangpu Yi doing his best but ultimately falling short. However, he showed no sign of disappointment. Even a true national champion would likely fail against Situ Lingyu.
“Huangpu, you flatter me. I only won by sheer luck!” Situ Lingyu replied with a smile, his words humble, yet his expression remained proud. This was the Silver Fox—unyielding even before the mighty Huangpu family.
“You don’t need to console me, Lingyu. I clearly understand the gap between us. Besides, my mind is at ease while you carry hidden worries, yet you still managed to beat me. It can only mean my skill is lacking.”
Huangpu Yi couldn’t help but twitch his lips. He knew Situ Lingyu was just being polite, but it was already difficult enough for such a proud man to offer him a face-saving excuse. In his heart, he raised his estimation of Situ Lingyu even higher.
“Since Huangpu knows my concerns, perhaps you could ease my worries a bit?”
“Lingyu, rest assured. As I’ve said, Yufan is not only your grandson but also my future grandson-in-law. I naturally won’t let anything happen to him. Besides, if anything were to happen to him, wouldn’t your Tian Alliance turn my Hidden Huangpu Clan upside down?”
Huangpu Yi smiled as he glanced at Situ Yonghui beside Situ Lingyu. He knew both were anxious about Xiao Yufan’s safety, but he was certain Xiao Yufan was safe and unharmed at the moment.
“I trust your judgment, Huangpu. I hope Yufan remains unharmed. Our Situ Clan has been lacking in talents, and now we only have one male heir left. I don’t want anything to happen to him!”
Situ Lingyu’s tightly knitted brows finally relaxed slightly. The dangers of the Cold Water Gully were undeniable. Yufan had been inside for a long time already. If not for Huangpu Yi’s insistence that Xiao Yufan was safe, he would have rushed in long ago.
“Talent shortage?” Huangpu Yi curled his lips again, glancing from Situ Lingyu to Situ Yonghui. The tone of his words was strange. In his mind, the Situ family members were all eccentric, and this so-called lack of talent didn’t seem to hold much truth…
“Father, I’ve found some clues regarding the matter you asked me to investigate!”
At this moment, Situ Yonghui finally spoke. He had been silent while watching the two play their game, but upon hearing his words, both Situ Lingyu and Huangpu Yi immediately grew serious.
“Perhaps I should step out for a moment. It’s better if you two talk privately,” Huangpu Yi said.
Seeing the solemn look on Situ Yonghui’s face, Huangpu Yi knew it must be something important. At times like this, he should naturally step aside…
“Huangpu is no outsider. In the future, our Situ family and your Hidden Huangpu Clan might become in-laws. There’s no need to keep anything from him,” Situ Lingyu said with a smile, stopping Huangpu Yi. Although the matter was important, it wasn’t something that needed to be kept secret from everyone. Letting Huangpu Yi know would likely be beneficial with no harm done, especially since the two families might become allies in the future.
“If that’s how you feel, Lingyu, I’ll stay then!” Huangpu Yi wanted to hear what kind of matter could capture the attention of the Silver Fox Lingyu.
“Those people are moving again. Also, I heard that the Hidden Lei family has encountered the same fate as our Situ family. But it seems their situation is worse—they barely have anyone left!”
Situ Yonghui’s eyes were sharp and fierce. When mentioning the Hidden Lei family, his body slightly trembled. A hidden clan as powerful as the Hidden Huangpu family had vanished completely—it was a chilling thought.
“The Hidden Lei family was wiped out?!”
This news hit the two like a thunderbolt, especially Huangpu Yi, whose aged face showed a hint of shock.
“That’s what it seems. They were hiding in a more secluded area of Qishan, but our Tian Alliance spies reported that recently, many powerful presences emerged there, and soon after, the Hidden Lei family met their fate.”
Situ Yonghui also felt puzzled. The Hidden Situ family’s misfortune had occurred decades ago, and now the Hidden Lei family had suffered the same fate. Could someone be trying to plunge China into chaos?
“Huangpu, do you remember the incident when I was expelled from the Hidden Huangpu Clan?”
Situ Lingyu’s expression turned very serious. He seemed to recall something and asked this question.
“That incident spread throughout all the hidden clans. Many believed that the Hidden Situ family had cast out a true genius. Could there be something more behind it?”
“If I thought before that my existence threatened someone and thus I was abandoned, now I think it was the clan leader’s deliberate act.”
As Situ Lingyu recalled past events and connected them with the Hidden Situ and Hidden Lei families’ tragedies, he began to see some clues. Back then, the Hidden Situ family leader must have foreseen something and made that decision accordingly.
“Could it really be like that? Then someone must be secretly plotting something. But who exactly are they?”
“Whoever they are, they will pay the price one day. Since the Hidden Lei family has already been targeted, I’m sure they won’t stop here. The next hidden clan might be the next target. So, Huangpu, you’d better prepare for the worst.”
“Alright, I understand. If Yufan can bring the Grand Elder out of the Cold Water Gully this time, our Hidden Huangpu Clan’s strength will increase significantly, and we’ll have enough power to defend ourselves.”
Huangpu Yi nodded. Many hidden clans were aware of each other’s existence; these families and clans simply had little contact with the outside world. However, with the Hidden Lei family’s sudden change of fate, he had to consider the Hidden Huangpu family’s future.
“By the way, there’s another strange matter. The Hidden Guo family seems to be getting very close to the Hidden Tan family, and they seem to be plotting something!”
At this moment, Situ Yonghui dropped another bombshell, plunging the two back into silence…
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