Han Xuanji couldn't be blamed for being suspicious; this matter was indeed far too important.
"No problem, but I must ask Big Brother Qianxue to have these people withdraw and set up a Soundproofing Technique."
Han Xuanji's unusual seriousness made Hun Qianxue realize the gravity of the situation as well.
Adhering to his belief in Han Xuanji, he did as requested, step by step.
"This place already has a high-level Soundproofing Technique; even a powerhouse of the Saint Realm cannot eavesdrop without being noticed."
Hun Qianxue paused and said solemnly:
"Xuanji, now that it's just the three of us, you can say whatever is on your mind."
"Mhm."
Han Xuanji nodded and spoke slowly:
"In that case, I won't beat around the bush. Baili Qianchi dealing with me is mostly just a distraction; their true target is you, Big Brother Qianxue."
As soon as these words were spoken, the air in the room suddenly froze. Hun Qianxue, sitting behind the desk, tensed slightly but didn't lose his composure. Seeing Han Xuanji's preparation, he had already guessed as much, but hearing it for certain still surprised him.
Hun Qianling stared at Han Xuanji with wide eyes, her face full of disbelief.
"What did you say?"
Hun Qianling's voice was a bit tight.
Han Xuanji didn't mince words, his pace steady but every word clear:
"You might not believe it, but the truth is that Hun Cangfeng and Third Young Master Hun Qianchen are planning an assassination attempt against Big Brother Qianxue.
If I'm not mistaken, the chosen location is a spot in the Soul-Severing Ridge on the way to Jiuxuan City. To ensure a certain kill, the ambush will likely involve at least four Eternal True Gods and dozens of Eternal True Lord Cultivators to block any escape route.
Their plan is simple: make Big Brother Qianxue disappear in the wilderness and pass it off as an accident.
When the time comes and the group is leaderless, the Family's power will naturally fall into their hands."
He paused, meeting Hun Qianxue's sharp gaze, and calmly added another sentence:
"Furthermore, they know the specific route and the configuration of the accompanying personnel. Intelligence of this level cannot be obtained unless someone close to you is leaking it."
Silence.
The room fell into a suffocating silence.
Hun Qianxue sat in his place without a word, his expression as deep as still water, while Hun Qianling was also wondering where Han Xuanji had gotten this information, as she hadn't seen him take any action lately.
However, both felt that Han Xuanji was not someone who spoke recklessly and would not joke about such things.
More importantly, Hun Qianxue knew that the information Han Xuanji had provided was indeed true.
After a long time, Hun Qianxue spoke.
His voice was much lower than usual, not an explosion of anger, but a calm that had been suppressed to the extreme.
"Soul-Severing Ridge... Xuanji is right. I indeed intend to travel to that place in a few days. It used to be a wilderness area, but the threat isn't great and few people travel there, which is why I planned to take that route."
Hun Qianxue murmured to himself, as if speaking to himself:
"These details are not something just anyone could know."
He looked up, his gaze falling on Han Xuanji. There was no questioning or suspicion, but the inquiry and shock in those eyes were heavier than any interrogation.
"Xuanji, how do you know this intelligence in such detail?"
Han Xuanji met his gaze with a calm expression, neither dodging nor explaining.
He remained silent for a few breaths, then slowly shook his head:
"This is my secret; I cannot tell you how I know. But I can guarantee—every word I have said is true."
Hun Qianxue glanced at Han Xuanji and finally looked away. There was shock and reflection in his heart, but even more so, there was gratitude. Han Xuanji had not been mistreated in the Hun Family, so he did not hesitate to expose this secret to help them.
"I am very fortunate."
Hun Qianxue did not press further or continue to probe Han Xuanji's secret. He simply nodded, as if confirming something very important.
"Fortunate that the person who discovered this was you."
Han Xuanji exchanged a look with him; everything was understood without words.
On the other side, Hun Qianling had already stood up abruptly.
Her eyes were slightly red, her fists clenched tight, and she said indignantly:
"Those two have quite the nerve! If Big Brother really wanted to target them, would they even have a way to survive?"
"I never expected them to be so audacious this time as to plot against Big Brother."
Hun Qianxue raised his hand and pressed down gently, signaling his sister to sit down first.
"I know Qianchen better than you do."
Hun Qianxue's voice was surprisingly calm, like he was talking about something that made him a bit weary.
"He covets power and is arrogant by nature. Since childhood, he felt that I, as the eldest brother, held him down. He is unwilling, and I can understand that.
But he is the type of person who wears his resentment on his face."
He paused, turning his gaze toward the window, a flash of complexity crossing his eyes.
"He wouldn't resort to such underhanded methods on his own. This idea was likely Hun Cangfeng's. In terms of poisonous schemes, Third Young Master Hun Qianchen is far inferior to that man."
"He was also a Prodigy of the Hun Family and defeated countless people back then. It was only when competing for the position of Family Head that he lost to Father. Since then, he has been quiet, seemingly indifferent to clan affairs, but in reality, his inner knot remains unresolved.
I already knew of his secret dealings with Qianchen and that they were gathering strength.
But I thought their methods would at most be power struggles and factionalism. I truly did not expect them to dare to go this far."
Hun Qianxue's voice grew a bit heavier and more surprised:
"This was clearly not a spur-of-the-moment decision. Deliberately bribing the people around me and joining forces with the Tianwu Sect to do this... all of this shows they no longer intend to leave themselves any way back.
They want to pull me out by the roots while I haven't yet had a Breakthrough to the Saint Realm, and then have Third Young Master Hun Qianchen take the throne legitimately.
With the external support of the Tianwu Sect and Hun Cangfeng's connections within the clan, once the deed is done and the dust has settled, even if there are objections in the clan, no one will lead them."
When Hun Qianxue spoke the last sentence, his tone was laced with a bit of coldness, but his expression remained composed.
Then he turned his gaze toward Han Xuanji and solemnly cupped his hands, performing the highest level of thanks an elder could give to a peer.
In that posture, there was no hint of condescension, only heartfelt gratitude.
"Xuanji, I will remember this. No matter where your information came from, I will not ask.
The intelligence you brought today has saved not only my life but the lives of everyone in my lineage."
Han Xuanji turned slightly, not accepting the full gesture. He pondered for a moment and asked tentatively, "Since the matter is clear, how do you plan to respond, Big Brother Qianxue?"
Hun Qianxue was silent for a breath, his gaze deep as water.
"My choices are few. As the Family Head, I cannot attack Hun Cangfeng and Third Young Master Hun Qianchen on 'unfounded' charges based solely on the intelligence you provided. These words can save my life, but they cannot bring those two down in the Family council hall.
If I do that, it will only alert the enemy, making them hide deeper and leave even fewer traces the next time they strike."
"Therefore, I can only beat them at their own game."
Hun Qianxue turned around, his gaze falling on Han Xuanji, and suddenly spoke in an almost pleading tone:
"Xuanji, I know this request is very forward, but there is one thing that only you can help me with."
Han Xuanji had already guessed what he was going to say.
"You want me to help you identify which people around you have already defected to Hun Cangfeng?"