Chapter 236: Retreat to Advance! The Stock Market Shadow War Is About to Ignite

"Ye Ning, what do you think Wilson would do right now?" Lu Qingshan's voice was calm, yet carried a heart‑pounding authority. His words had a special charm that made people instinctively want to obey his command. Every syllable rang in the quiet office like a finely honed blade.

Ye Ning thought for a moment, rapidly analyzing every possibility in her mind. As an outstanding trader, her mind was sharp and she quickly grasped the key point. Yet Wilson's psychology still eluded her full comprehension. She furrowed her brows, her fingers unconsciously tapping lightly on the desk—a habit of hers when she thought.

"Wilson is an extremely arrogant man; he will not tolerate anyone challenging HSBC's authority," Ye Ning said slowly, her voice tinged with gravity. "From what I know of him, he will mobilize every resource he can, delivering a lethal strike on us in the shortest time. But I'm still uncertain about the exact method. This old fox's tactics are always cruel and poisonous; we must respond with caution."

A flash of worry crossed her eyes as she recalled the legends of Wilson in the Hong Kong Island financial world, each one chilling. That man was like a blood‑thirsty shark, never giving opponents a chance to survive.

"Smart." Lu Qingshan nodded, a approving smile appearing on his face, though hidden within it was a chilling coldness. "The establishment of the Chinese Chamber of Commerce has made them feel an unprecedented threat. They know a large part of my capital comes from Short Selling, so they will certainly try to cause trouble for me here. Moreover, they will choose the most direct, most violent method."

His fingers tapped rhythmically on the desk, each tap sounding like a countdown, heralding the approaching storm. The office atmosphere grew increasingly heavy, as if even the air had become viscous.

He turned, his deep gaze fixed on Ye Ning, the look reminding her of the wolf king on the steppe—dangerous and wise: "I have studied Wilson's operating style. He prefers swift, decisive battles, giving the enemy no breathing room. He will certainly employ all resources he can, delivering a lethal strike on us in the shortest time. Moreover, his temperament dictates that he will choose the most brutal method—directly pumping up the market."

Ye Ning's heartbeat quickened; she could feel the powerful aura emanating from Lu Qingshan, a temperament forged through countless life‑or‑death battles. This young man always possessed a mysterious charm that made people want to follow him.

Lu Qingshan's voice deepened, bearing a prophet‑like authority: "According to my analysis, they will mobilize at least HK$10 billion, possibly more. That sum can sharply lift the Hang Seng Index in a short time, causing massive losses to our Short Position. Their goal is clear: to crush us completely in the market, so other members of the Chinese Chamber of Commerce see our failure and become shaken."

A cold, sharp light flashed in his eyes, the look reminding Ye Ning of a sword drawn from its sheath: "What they don't know is that this is the opportunity we have been waiting for. In the financial market, the most dangerous moment can also be the most advantageous."

Ye Ning inhaled deeply, a wave of unease rising within her. HK$10 billion—a figure that shocked her. Her hands unconsciously clenched into fists, fine beads of sweat seeping from her palms. This amount was several times the daily turnover of the Hong Kong Island stock market, enough to stir massive turbulence. If this were true, they would face an unprecedented financial storm.

"Does that mean we'll suffer huge losses?" Ye Ning's voice trembled; she tried to control her emotions, but fear still leaked through. "If they truly collude to push the market up, our previous Short Position will be devastated. Moreover, with our current capital size, we can't confront them head‑on. Boss, this is like striking a stone with an egg!"

Her concerns were justified. The Star Han Investment Group, though well‑funded, still appeared weak compared to the combined might of the Yingzi Group. If a direct clash erupted, the consequences would be unimaginable. She recalled investors who had been utterly crushed in the market; their ends were extremely tragic.

"In the short term, that's indeed the case." Lu Qingshan turned, a heart‑pounding light flickering in his eyes, the look reminding Ye Ning of the wolf king on the steppe, waiting for the prey's flaw to appear. "But this is our chance. Ye Ning, do you know what 'retreat to advance' means? Do you know what 'show weakness to the enemy' means?"

His voice grew even more mysterious, bearing unfathomable wisdom; each word struck Ye Ning's heart: "In the market, which is a battlefield, sometimes retreat requires more wisdom than attack. True masters never clash head‑on when the enemy is at its strongest."

Ye Ning shook her head, a flash of confusion and curiosity in her eyes. Though she was an excellent trader, her strategic thinking was still far behind. In pure mathematics and technical analysis she was a genius, but she still needed to learn this psychological game. She sensed the deep meaning hidden in Lu Qingshan's words, yet could not fully grasp it.

"On this market battlefield, sometimes the smartest strategy is to make the enemy think you're weak." Lu Qingshan's voice became even more mysterious, bearing unfathomable wisdom. He walked slowly to the massive floor‑to‑ceiling window, overlooking the bustling scene of Gangdao Zhonghuan. "On the surface it looks like we're conceding, cutting losses, selling off. In reality, we have already earned a hefty profit and are preparing for a larger counter‑strike."

The setting sun cast golden light on his figure, making him seem to glow. Ye Ning watched his back, a strange awe and trust rising within her. This young man always managed to devise ideas no one else could at the most critical moments; his ability was simply unbelievable.

He walked to the desk, picked up a thick report—a detailed analysis of the Yingzi Group's capital flows. He had spent a great deal of time and money gathering this report, and now was the moment for it to take effect. Every page was densely packed with data, showing how thoroughly he had prepared.