Chapter 17 Bankruptcy

"Bankrupt?" Cheng Zitong and Cheng Zihao, the two brothers, were both a little dazed.

"Dad, has it come to this?" Cheng Zitong asked.

Cheng Zihao was even more eager, "Dad, when virtual reality glasses came out, they had a big impact on many internet companies. Our Tigershark Group became even stronger after being impacted. This time, the virtual world won't defeat us either. We can also infiltrate the virtual world."

"There's no chance." The old-looking Cheng Liwei gently shook his head. "This time is different from the last time with the virtual reality glasses. Last time, the technology came out first, and then it was licensed to multiple companies… there was a long transition, and we were prepared."

"But this time, the Blue Star Alliance is directly distributing virtual helmets. The virtual world is directly open to everyone, completely impacting the previous online market."

"In the past month or so, the group's stock price has been falling, and after the press conference, it plummeted even more. Although it's temporarily suspended, as soon as the suspension is lifted, it will plummet again, and the market value will fall below one trillion." Cheng Liwei said calmly, "Several banks have already frozen the family trust assets, demanding that we repay the loans in advance."

"The market value will fall below one trillion?" Cheng Zitong and Cheng Zihao both knew the situation was not good.

"The 8.2% of the group's shares owned by the family trust are worth less than a hundred billion. Is it insolvent?" Cheng Zitong asked, "Dad, what about the family trust's other investments?"

"The family is based in the internet industry, and the family trust also invests mostly in the internet industry. Under this wave of impact, most of the valuations will be reduced by two or three times, and some will die directly." Cheng Liwei said, "The family trust originally had assets of nine hundred billion and liabilities of more than three hundred billion, which was very safe. But now these assets… the value is probably less than two hundred billion."

"That much of a difference?" Cheng Zihao was even more stunned.

His good life all depended on the family trust and the Tigershark Group controlled by the family.

"There's no way. The emergence of the virtual world is something that cannot be resisted by human power." Cheng Liwei shook his head and smiled. "It's ridiculous. I didn't get any news about such a big thing before. Obviously, the Blue Star Alliance didn't care about the life or death of internet companies at all."

"Tigershark Group won't die, after all, the asset sheet is very good." Cheng Zitong said, "But our family's 8.2% stake will probably be taken away by the bank soon."

"Don't worry, your two's assets are completely separate from the family trust assets." Cheng Liwei looked at his two sons. "As the family trust manager, I have to bear the consequences. But you two are not affected. You two should live a low-key life in the future. After all, the Cheng family is very ordinary without the Tigershark Group."

Cheng Zitong and Cheng Zihao were both silent.

"It's gone? It's all gone?" Cheng Zihao's body trembled slightly as he looked at his father. "Dad, you gave big brother at least fifty billion over the years, but you only gave me twenty billion. That's not fair."

"Second brother, these are all in accordance with the family trust rules." Cheng Zitong said.

"Dad, you're being unfair." Cheng Zihao looked at his father.

"Unfair?"

Cheng Liwei looked at him. "First, your big brother is older than you. The family trust issues the first cash payment when you turn 22. After that, it's issued year by year. You're younger and receive less, who can you blame? Second, the stronger your investment and management ability, the more the family trust will add. Your investment ability is not as good as your big brother, who can you blame? Third, I helped you fill the big hole you made before, and filled in tens of billions one after another, plus favors! How have I ever let you down?"

"But I have nothing left!" Cheng Zihao looked at his father.

"I'm bankrupt, what else do you want?" Cheng Liwei pointed at the door. "Get out!"

Cheng Zihao looked at his father with red eyes.

"Get out!" Cheng Liwei pointed at the door.

Cheng Zihao turned around and left. Only Cheng Liwei and his eldest son, Cheng Zitong, were left in the office.

"Dad, second brother is anxious." Cheng Zitong said in a low voice, "Although you gave second brother twenty billion over the years, his investment ability is too poor. I guess he doesn't have much left. He's anxious because he knows he won't have anything in the future."

"Remember this."

Cheng Liwei looked at his eldest son, Cheng Zitong. "From today on, don't give your second brother a single cent!"

Cheng Zitong was slightly stunned. "What if he starves to death on the street?"

"Let him starve to death!" Cheng Liwei said coldly, "Our Cheng family is no longer the Cheng family of the past. We can't afford to lose anymore!"

"Yes, I understand." Cheng Zitong responded.

…

Inside Cheng Zihao's office.

"Bang bang bang." Cheng Zihao frantically smashed everything in the office that could be smashed to pieces.

"Old man, you're really ruthless!" Cheng Zihao could only grit his teeth, then gently touched his watch, and said with gritted teeth, "Now, immediately, get to my office!"

Ten minutes later, a middle-aged man with some water still on his hair came to the office and said, "Boss, I was still in the virtual world before. As soon as I got your message, I came as quickly as possible."

"Tell me quickly, how much money is left in my investment company?" Cheng Zihao asked.

"There's a little more than 120 million in cash." The middle-aged man immediately said, "The rest are investments in various aspects."

"How much are those investments worth?" Cheng Zihao asked.

"Many of them are angel investments, and they can't be withdrawn in a short period of time." The middle-aged man said, "Some investments in the internet industry may be a waste of money. The impact of the virtual world is too great."

"I'm asking, how much money can be exchanged if those investments can be withdrawn, sold, or mortgaged?" Cheng Zihao asked.

"One hundred million, maybe." The middle-aged man thought for a while and said, "Barely."

"I invested 500 million, and that's all that's left?" Cheng Zihao was unwilling to accept it.

"The internet industry is too miserable now." The middle-aged man said helplessly, "Also, our own three companies have signed so many people and have so many employees. The monthly expenses are about 20 million. Our cash can only last for about half a year."

"Can only last for half a year?" Cheng Zihao murmured, his lips turning white.

"Fortunately, the last big hole was solved with the chairman's help. The company is still stable in the short term." The middle-aged man added, "When filling the hole last time, the chairman said that you are not allowed to borrow money from outside again."

"Don't mention him."

Cheng Zihao sat in his seat, covering his head. "Get out, I need to think carefully."

"Yes, boss." The middle-aged man obediently went out.

"Cash can only last for half a year? The family trust is gone?" Cheng Zihao's eyes were bloodshot as he unconsciously grabbed his hair. "What should I do? What should I do?"

*******

Virtual world.

Xu Jingming guessed that the Cheng family would be in a miserable state, but he didn't have the heart to pay attention. He was now in the 'practice field' of his personal space, experiencing the 'practice field's' sparring function.

Practice field, inside a valley with green mountains and clear waters.

Three bandits attacked from three directions, besieging Xu Jingming.

Xu Jingming held a long spear, calmly waiting.

When the bandits approached within three zhang, Xu Jingming immediately rushed to the right, meeting the swordsman on the right.

"Kill." The swordsman bandit grinned and pounced directly.

"Pfft."

Xu Jingming's long spear moved like a poisonous snake coming out of its hole. The spearhead poked the swordsman bandit's neck and was already withdrawn.

The swordsman bandit's neck was pierced, and he dissipated directly. The remaining two bandits were not afraid at all and pounced even more frantically.

Xu Jingming only took one step back, and the spearhead tapped twice. The two bandits were each shot in the heart and between the eyebrows, and they dissipated into nothingness.

"Practice partners with a basic combat power of 800 are indeed weaker. They are only suitable for familiarizing myself with spearmanship." Xu Jingming didn't feel any difficulty at all.

The control of distance and reaction time made his spearmanship like art, easily killing the practice partners virtualized by the practice field.

Buzz!

"Hmm?" Xu Jingming gently tapped and saw from afar that in another practice field, a burly middle-aged man was looking over. The burly man's eyes were like a tiger's, and his deterrence was terrifying.

"Master?" Xu Jingming was a little unsure.

"Hahaha, you're surprised to see me become younger?" Liu Hai laughed heartily.

"Congratulations, Master. Over the years, the global martial arts world has speculated that if you, Master, had participated in the World Martial Arts Competition at the age of 30, you would probably have been the greatest king of the World Martial Arts Competition. Now that human beings have evolved, Master can satisfy everyone's guesses and imaginations." Xu Jingming also looked forward to it.

Liu Hai was a legendary figure all over the world.

At forty-five years old, he was considered very old in the fighting world, and his condition was much worse than in his twenties. His master, Liu Hai, was able to participate in five consecutive World Martial Arts Competitions starting at the age of forty-five, and he was always in the top three. The last time, he was even the world number one.

How strong was he at his peak? This had always been a matter of speculation.

"The past is not worth mentioning." Liu Hai smiled and said, "Jingming, in thirty years of professional martial arts events, there were only more than 20,000 registered professional martial arts players worldwide. Now, instead of competing with more than 20,000 people, it's competing with a full seven billion people! In the virtual world, you won't get hurt, you're not afraid of being tired, you can choose any sparring partner, and you can engage in life-and-death fights. Their growth rate will be more than ten times faster than our training in reality back then."

"Within a month or two, we professional players will still have an advantage."

"Half a year! Just half a year… we professional martial arts players will be completely submerged." Liu Hai looked at Xu Jingming. "But this is already the most suitable era for us martial arts players! There has never been an era with as many martial arts players as there are now."

"Yes." Xu Jingming nodded. People all over the world were learning, and cold weapon fighting had never been so prosperous.

"We already have a good foundation. If we seize the opportunity, we can soar into the sky!" Liu Hai looked at Xu Jingming. "Jingming, don't let this era down."

"Yes." Xu Jingming was also full of enthusiasm. He also wanted to make a name for himself in this era.

"By the way, have you been graded yet? Have you reached the God level?" Liu Hai asked.