Chapter 146: Competition Rivalry

The title "Qin Feng the Great Demon King" spread like wildfire, bringing an invisible deterrent pressure while also acting as a camouflage, shielding him from countless pointless social engagements and boring probes. Qin Feng welcomed the peace, devoting all his energy to the follow-up actions against the Prometheus Foundation and the study of the half-chaos crystal.

Yet, when the tree wishes for stillness, the wind refuses to cease. Just as he believed his ties with Chuangsheng Technology and Liu Shiyin would remain frozen in the cold "competition rivalry," a minimalist yet exquisitely elegant Invitation Letter was delivered directly to his desk.

The host was Luocheng's premier private golf club—Eagle Crown. And the organizer of this small gathering was none other than Liu Shiyin.

The Invitation Letter's content was formal and courteous, aiming to foster "friendly exchange and healthy competition" among local business leaders and jointly explore future trends in biotechnology. Besides Qin Feng and Liu Shiyin, several other pivotal figures in Luocheng's tech scene were invited.

It appeared to be a public, proper business social event.

But Qin Feng stared at the elegant yet forceful signature "Liu Shiyin" at the bottom, his eyes narrowing slightly.

Friendly exchange? Healthy competition?

After the recent events of academic defamation, commercial investigations, the destruction of the Hydra base, and the assassination of the Cleaner "Shadow"?

What exactly does this woman intend?

Is she showing weakness? Testing him? Or… another meticulously laid trap?

Chen Ming stood beside him, cautiously suggesting: "Director Qin, this is clearly a Hongmen Banquet. Shouldn't we find an excuse to decline?"

Qin Feng lightly tapped his fingers against the smooth surface of the Invitation Letter, pausing for a moment, then shook his head.

"No, I'm going."

He wanted to see for himself what tricks Liu Shiyin could still pull after losing a key base and eliminating one of her top assassins.

"Notify Lei Zhan to set up perimeter surveillance. Also, investigate the backgrounds of the other invitees—see if any have unusual traits."

"Yes!"

The gathering was scheduled for Saturday morning at Eagle Crown's most famous seaside course.

That day, the weather was clear, the sky washed clean, and the sea breeze carried a salty dampness over the neatly trimmed grass. The course offered excellent conditions and expansive views—truly an ideal place for "exchange."

Qin Feng arrived punctually in simple casual attire, accompanied by Lei Zhan and several plainclothes guards. As soon as he stepped out of the car, he felt several gazes fixed on him—curious, assessing, and some deeply hidden awe.

Liu Shiyin had already arrived. She wore a white professional golf outfit that accentuated her graceful figure, her long hair tied into a neat ponytail, sunglasses covering her eyes—looking both efficient and refreshingly athletic. She was chatting merrily with several other early-arriving entrepreneurs, her demeanor composed, as if all prior tensions had never occurred.

Seeing Qin Feng, she stepped forward proactively, removed her sunglasses, revealing her cold, exquisite face, wearing an impeccable social smile.

"Mr. Qin, thank you for coming." She extended her hand, her tone natural, revealing no anomaly.

Qin Feng lightly shook her hand, feeling its slight chill, then immediately released it.

"Ms. Liu, you're too kind." Qin Feng's tone was flat.

"Some… misunderstandings earlier—I hope they won't affect our pleasant exchange today." Liu Shiyin mentioned it as if by chance, then smoothly shifted topics, introducing Qin Feng to the others present.

These were all prominent figures in Luocheng's tech circle, curious yet wary of this new "Great Demon King," and they spoke to him with considerable courtesy.

The entire morning followed a routine schedule. Participants split into groups for a "friendly" round of golf, discussing only industry trends and technological outlooks—exactly as if this were merely an ordinary business networking event.

Liu Shiyin's performance was flawless. Her golf skills were solid, her speech elegant, her insights into technology notably sharp—she embodied the image of an outstanding businesswoman. Her interactions with Qin Feng remained precisely at the "competition rivalry" distance: neither overly familiar nor deliberately distant.

Yet Qin Feng keenly sensed that beneath her perfect social mask, Liu Shiyin's gaze occasionally flickered with an extremely subtle, almost clinical… scrutiny and fervor, as if examining a perfect experimental specimen.

That look made him deeply uncomfortable.

As the event neared its end, everyone moved to the club's open-air Rest Area to enjoy tea and snacks. The sea breeze brushed their faces; the atmosphere seemed relaxed and harmonious.

Liu Shiyin, holding a glass of juice, casually walked to the railing beside Qin Feng, gazing at the distant blue sea.

"Mr. Qin, how do you find today's exchange?" she asked softly, as if merely asking casually.

"Fine." Qin Feng stared at the sea, his tone unchanged.

"Indeed, competition exists, but sometimes exchange sparks new innovation." Liu Shiyin smiled faintly, then subtly shifted her tone, lowering her voice with a hint of veiled meaning: "Like… different gene sequences—only when they collide and merge under specific conditions can they give birth to… a more perfect life form. Mr. Qin, what do you think?"

Qin Feng sneered inwardly. Finally, the mask is off?

Is she hinting at her "God Theft" plan? Or testing whether he is the "perfect Cornerstone"?

He turned his head, his gaze calm as it met Liu Shiyin's—those deep eyes seemed to pierce through all her pretenses:

"Ms. Liu, biological evolution has its own natural laws and boundaries. Forcibly twisting and splicing will not yield perfection—it will yield… uncontrollable monsters."

His words carried implicit meaning, directly targeting the Prometheus Foundation's inhumane vivisection experiments.

Liu Shiyin's smile froze slightly, then quickly returned to normal—though her eyes grew colder: "Mr. Qin seems to hold… unique views on life sciences."

"Not unique." Qin Feng's tone turned colder. "Merely adhering to the most fundamental… humanity and conscience."

He set down his cup, locking eyes with Liu Shiyin, no longer concealing his edge:

"Ms. Liu, we need not dance around these circles."

"Chuangsheng Technology and the Qin Feng System are competition rivals. I understand that clearly."

"But only to that extent."

His voice was low, yet carried an irrevocable resolve and warning:

"Some lines must not be crossed. Cross them, and it's no longer competition—it's… war."

"And the consequence of war," Qin Feng leaned slightly forward, his gaze like a cold blade scraping across Liu Shiyin's face, "is one you and your behind-the-scenes Chuangsheng Technology cannot bear."

Without another glance at her now-pale face, he turned and signaled to Lei Zhan nearby, preparing to leave.

"Mr. Qin!" Liu Shiyin called out behind him, her voice carrying a barely perceptible urgency, "Aren't you curious why our Foundation… values you so much?"

Qin Feng paused, but did not turn back.

"Not curious." His voice drifted on the wind, indifferent: "I have no interest in the thoughts of madmen."

He strode away, leaving Liu Shiyin standing alone, staring at his tall, resolute back, her fingers clenched tightly around the glass, knuckles whitening from the pressure.

Sunlight bathed her, yet could not dispel the sudden chill enveloping her—or the fury of being utterly dismissed.

Competition rivalry?

No.

From the moment "Shadow" died, this has already become a mortal… enmity!

Qin Feng, we'll see who wins!