As Qin Chao had been apprehended by the police that morning, all the industries of the Qin Corporation, including their illicit businesses, were also sealed off.
The Qin Corporation had become a public menace, reviled by everyone.
Although Qin Huaiyu wanted to help her family, her current identity had become an obstacle.
Now that the Fang family and three other families had made their move, leveraging their connections, coupled with Zhou Xuan's order to Xiao Chenyi,
Qin Huaiyu was unable to help Qin Chao evade his charges.
With Qin Chao now facing economic charges, the Qin family's reputation suffered even more.
Qin Huaiyu's attempt to bail him out was met with a warning from the command center.
After Qin Chao's arrest, Qin Qingya descended into madness, and Qin's father sent her abroad for treatment.
Meanwhile, Xue Wenhai of the Xue family, to compensate the Qin family or perhaps to save his own life, offered his entire fortune.
While it was but a drop in the bucket,
it did provide the Qin Corporation's businesses with a brief respite.
However, they dared not show any disrespect towards Zhou Xuan, as angering him would only lead to their own detriment.
Following Qin Chao's arrest, Qin's father was in a state of utter disarray.
This led to him suffering a heart attack, collapsing to the ground, and being rushed to the hospital for emergency treatment.
The Qin Corporation was now effectively leaderless.
Everyone speculated whether this "Stock God" had the ability to salvage the Qin Corporation.
Everyone had assumed it was a confrontation between the Fang family and the Qin family.
This was what had led to the Qin family being forced to delist.
Little did they know that it was Zhou Xuan who had caused the Qin family's current predicament.
"Mr. Zhou, I never expected you to be so young. Your future is truly boundless."
"Indeed. Are you interested in joining our company?"
"I can offer you a salary of five million a year."
Zhou Xuan looked at the old foxes before him, inwardly cursing them as a pack of cunning and treacherous scoundrels!
However, this was not the time to dwell on such matters.
After all, the summit had only just begun that evening!
Zhou Xuan exchanged pleasantries with everyone, then found seats with Lu Linger and Li Xuan.
As the summit concluded,
Qin Huaiyu walked up and clinked glasses with Zhou Xuan.
"Zhou Xuan, you really are something. We were caught off guard this time; you've got guts."
"Patriarch Qin is too kind."
Zhou Xuan did not stand on ceremony, returning the toast, "This was also a grand gesture from the Qin family."
"Heh..." Qin Huaiyu took a sip of wine. "Zhou Xuan, these are minor matters. Let's finish our drinks first."
Zhou Xuan nodded.
"Alright!"
They drank in unison.
"Patriarch Qin, if you have something to say, just say it. We won't beat around the bush," Zhou Xuan said calmly.
"What other moves do you have up your sleeve this time?"
"How would I know? It all depends on my mood."
Zhou Xuan said lightly.
Qin Huaiyu frowned slightly. "I was careless this time. I apologize here."
With that, she finished her drink.
Zhou Xuan acted as if he hadn't heard.
"Very well, since Patriarch Qin is so sincere, let's call it a day!"
Qin Huaiyu nodded. "Since you have other matters, I won't keep you. I'll invite you for drinks another day."
"Certainly! Then I'll await Patriarch Qin's invitation!"
With that, Zhou Xuan turned and left.
Qin Huaiyu stared at Zhou Xuan's retreating back, a flash of venom in her eyes. "You little bastard, one day I will make you kneel and beg for mercy."
...
The Qin family was utterly disgraced at this summit.
Everyone acted opportunistically.
Instantly, the Fang, Lu, Sun, and Zhuge families formed a tight alliance.
Invisibly, they rallied around Zhou Xuan.
Forming a new balance of power.
Zhou Xuan himself was regarded by everyone as the future successor of the five great clans, hence this honor.
But in reality, he had been in a disadvantageous position for years.
This financial summit was intended to allow Zhou Xuan to make an appearance, to let everyone know that the Qin family was no match for the other families.
The prosperity of the past was merely a castle in the air, vulnerable to a single blow.
Zhou Xuan had defeated the Qin family, and it was originally thought that the remaining four families would engage in a power struggle following the Qin family's downfall, leading to a bloody conflict.
However...
They had never expected these four families to pledge allegiance to Zhou Xuan!
Zhou Xuan, it seemed, was determined to clash with the Qin family to the bitter end this time!
The Qin family, with their ancestors as the foremost ancient martial arts family in the Central Plains.
The Qin family's strength far surpassed that of the other four ancient martial arts families, and even the renowned hidden sects of the world could not compare.
Yet, even so, they were forced to retreat step by step by Zhou Xuan.
Of the Qin family elders, only Qin Zhantian remained, and he had not left the mountain villa during this period.
His mood was extremely grim.
The Qin family, a proud premier family, had never endured such humiliation.
"Grandfather, what confidence do you think this Zhou Xuan has?" Qin Huaiyu asked.
"No confidence at all, he just wants to die," Qin Zhantian said indignantly. "The Qin family must not be defeated by such a junior, or I, Qin Zhantian, will have no face to meet our ancestors."
Qin Huaiyu nodded in agreement.
"At the summit, all those who used to fawn over our Qin family have vanished. They even dare to kick us while we're down!"
"A starving camel is still bigger than a horse. They are celebrating too soon."
"As long as Master Fa kills Zhou Xuan, this situation can be broken in one fell swoop."
"How can we lure Zhou Xuan here?"
"A handshake, an apology, and if we use the extermination of the Zhou family as bait, he will definitely come."
"Good!"
The next day.
Zhou Xuan received an invitation from Qin Huaiyu.
It stated that if he wished to avenge himself, he should come to the Qin family to find her.
She would accompany him to the end.
"Brother Xuan, this looks like a trap. You shouldn't go."
Lu Linger objected to Zhou Xuan putting himself in danger.
"Linger, matters must be concluded. The Qin family must pay the price for what happened before."
Zhou Xuan said.
"They are barely surviving now, and Qin Huaiyu has been stripped of her position as director of the command center. Xiao Chenyi is taking this opportunity to strike at the Qin family."
"If I don't seize this opportunity now and give them a chance to recover, the ancestors of the Zhou family will not forgive me."
"But what if they lash out in desperation and set a trap for you? Something bad will happen!"
"Don't worry, my five masters, Uncle Huang, the Fang family, the Zhuge family, and Sun Zhibiao will all help me."
"But they can't go in. I'm still worried."
"Linger, without entering the tiger's den, how can you catch the tiger's cub?"
Lu Linger fell silent.
She knew very well that once this man made up his mind, nothing could sway him.
"Then you must be careful," Lu Linger cautioned.
"Mmm, I will be careful."
Zhou Xuan patted Lu Linger's head and said, "Don't worry. Once I uproot the Qin family and avenge the Zhou family, I will marry you."
Lu Linger blushed, lowering her head shyly.
"Then go, I'll wait for you at home."
"Okay."
After Zhou Xuan left, Lu Linger sat on the bed, looking out the window, her eyes revealing hatred and determination.
She had to help Brother Xuan.
So she called her grandfather.
"Grandpa, I want to ask, what's Brother Xuan's master's phone number?"
"Ah? Didn't he tell you? His master returned to Cangyun, heard you were in Shangjing, and rushed back to Shangjing!"