Chapter 65: The Business Arena Is a Battlefield

Xia Yunge's mental transformation was a quiet metamorphosis. She no longer fixated on external evaluations or awards, but poured all her energy into deeply exploring and creating music, especially studying that ancient score, nearly to the point of neglecting food and sleep. She vaguely sensed that the melody within the score seemed linked to some deeper, transcendent "fluctuation" beyond hearing—this filled her with exhilaration.

Meanwhile, Qin Feng's world had never paused for a moment because of romantic entanglements. The fall of the Xiao Family was like a boulder cast into a calm (at least on the surface) lake—the ripples were spreading into broader domains. After a brief silence, the Ye Family did not choose direct confrontation, but began its counterattack in a more covert, commercially compliant manner.

The business arena is a battlefield—no smoke, yet equally brutal.

That day, Qin Feng sat in the core command room deep beneath the estate, facing several massive screens displaying complex economic data, equity structure diagrams, and real-time global financial market movements. Gu Qingcheng and Lin Xuan were also present; the atmosphere was grim.

"Boss, the Ye Family has moved," Gu Qingcheng pointed to one screen showing the stock price trends of several core tech companies under Qin Feng's control. "They've allied with several international hedge funds to simultaneously launch attacks against us in North American and Hong Kong markets, spreading damaging rumors and engaging in malicious short-selling. Additionally, two of our critical raw material supply channels in Southeast Asia have unilaterally terminated contracts citing 'force majeure.'"

Lin Xuan added: "Intelligence indicates Ye Lingyun personally intervened, leveraging the Ye Family's deep overseas connections and offering substantial incentives to orchestrate this coordinated encirclement. They aim to strangle us simultaneously at both the capital market and supply chain levels."

The numbers on the screens fluctuated violently, representing billions of dollars evaporating or appreciating in silent combat. This was no longer simple business competition—it was a full-spectrum financial strangulation.

Qin Feng sat in the central seat, his eyes deep as he watched the dancing curves and red warning markers on the screens, his face expressionless, as if those shocking figures had nothing to do with him.

"Their response isn't slow," he remarked coolly, his tone unreadable.

The Ye Family's choice to strike in finance and supply chains clearly drew lessons from the Xiao Family's downfall—avoiding direct conflict, instead using internal rules to suppress. This was far more sophisticated and threatening than the Xiao Family's crude, blunt methods.

"We need capital to defend our positions and quickly secure alternative suppliers, otherwise…" Gu Qingcheng's voice grew heavy. Even with the financial strength of her "Starlight" Group, the pressure from the Ye Family's coordinated assault with international speculative capital was immense.

Qin Feng did not answer immediately. His fingers tapped lightly on the armrest, his gaze sweeping from one screen to another, as if surveying the entire battlefield.

"Defend?" He curled his lips into a cold smile. "Why defend?"

Gu Qingcheng and Lin Xuan both froze.

"Let them smash." Qin Feng's voice was calm, yet carried a chilling resolve. "They want to short—let them short freely. Split all our available liquid capital into three batches and secretly absorb it in stages when their selling pressure peaks."

"This… is too risky!" Gu Qingcheng couldn't help exclaiming. "If market panic spreads, or if the Ye Family has even harsher moves lined up, we could be completely trapped—and even…"

"No 'even,'" Qin Feng cut her off, his gaze blazing. "They think they've seized our lifeline, but they don't realize they're digging their own graves."

He pointed to another screen displaying research reports on new energy and rare mineral resources—seemingly unrelated to the current crisis.

"The disruption of our Southeast Asian supply channels was anticipated. Africa and South America's new mine veins—Gu Qingcheng, you handle it personally. Complete acquisition negotiations within a week. Price can be thirty percent above market value, but absolute control is non-negotiable."

Gu Qingcheng's eyes sharpened instantly; she understood Qin Feng's intent. The Boss's vision had already transcended the immediate supply chain crisis—he was targeting the upstream, core resource domains! Paying a higher price for absolute control—that was audacity, and foresight!

"Yes!"

"As for the financial markets…" Qin Feng turned to the wildly fluctuating stock curves, his eyes like the coldest hunter's. "Lin Xuan, select several pieces of the 'black materials' we've gathered on those hedge funds involved in short-selling and the Ye Family's key offshore companies. 'Accidentally' leak them to the FBI and international anti-money laundering agencies. Ensure the timing is perfect—just as they believe victory is assured and commit their maximum resources."

Lin Xuan's eyes flashed with cold light; a ruthless smile touched her lips. "Understood. I'll make sure they drink a bitter cup."

Using their own methods against them. The Ye Family used rules—Qin Feng would overturn the entire board, striking their allies and foundations with darker, more direct means.

"Also," Qin Feng gave his final order, "initiate Phase One of the 'Zhu Long' Plan."

The "Zhu Long" Plan? Gu Qingcheng and Lin Xuan both grew solemn. It was a top-secret plan Qin Feng had laid out long ago, involving deeper financial leverage and undisclosed technological barriers—they knew only fragments.

"Yes!" Both replied in unison, without hesitation.

Orders were issued one by one—clear, cold, striking straight at the core. No heated debate, no panic—only absolute execution.

Qin Feng rose and walked to the floor-to-ceiling window, beyond which stretched a simulated real-night sky, vast and infinite. His silhouette, bathed in starlight, appeared towering and profoundly solitary.

The business arena is a battlefield—even more treacherous and unpredictable than a real one. No smoke, yet equally littered with corpses; no blade or sword, yet one misstep means total defeat.

Ye Lingyun believed the Ye Family's century-old foundations and connections could crush him within the framework of the rules.

But he was wrong.

For Qin Feng, rules were meant to be broken. The battlefield was his to define.

He wanted to see who would bleed dry in this financial war the Ye Family had started.

Inside the command room, only the clatter of keyboards and the transmission of orders remained—a war without smoke, yet capable of reshaping the global economic landscape, had quietly entered its fever pitch. And Qin Feng was its absolute core and master.