Chapter 62 - The Fall of the Qin Family
Zhao Ming stood by the window of his penthouse, staring at the city below. The streets were alive, filled with lights, cars, and people moving about their lives. To the ordinary eye, it was just a normal city. But to him, it was a battlefield. Power was the only rule that mattered. Those who controlled wealth, information, and influence dictated the future.
And now, it was his turn to dictate.
Ye Chen entered the room, placing a thick folder on the table. "The report is ready."
Zhao Ming turned, taking the folder and flipping through the pages. It contained details of the city's remaining power figures. Business tycoons, political figures, underground bosses—those who still held influence. Some were already in his pocket. Others were obstacles.
Wang Xian walked in, stretching. "What's the next step?"
Zhao Ming closed the folder. "We take down the biggest one left."
Ye Chen nodded. "That would be the Qin family."
The Qin family was one of the city's most powerful forces. They had deep roots in both legal and illegal industries—real estate, banking, media, and even underground gambling. Unlike Ma Kun, they weren't just thugs with money. They were organized, calculated, and deeply connected. If Zhao Ming wanted full control, he had to deal with them.
Wang Xian smirked. "So we're going after the big fish now?"
Zhao Ming sat down, tapping his fingers against the table. "No rush. The Qin family isn't like Ma Kun. They won't make reckless moves. We have to weaken them first."
Ye Chen flipped to a specific page in the report. "Their weakest link is Qin Xian. He's the second son, in charge of their underground businesses. Unlike his older brother, who handles the family's legal empire, Qin Xian is arrogant, impulsive, and greedy. He's already made enemies within his own family."
Zhao Ming's lips curled into a smirk. "Then we use that."
A week later, the plan was in motion.
Qin Xian sat in a private club, surrounded by women and expensive alcohol. He laughed loudly, completely unaware that his empire was already starting to crumble.
Outside, Zhao Ming's men were working. One by one, Qin Xian's businesses were being sabotaged. His casinos faced sudden investigations, his illegal loan businesses lost major investors, and his trusted men started disappearing.
It wasn't a direct attack. It was a slow, calculated destruction.
By the fourth day, Qin Xian was furious. He stormed into one of his gambling dens, throwing a bottle against the wall. "Who the hell is messing with me?"
His men stood silent, afraid to answer.
Then, a voice spoke from the corner. "That would be me."
Qin Xian turned sharply, eyes narrowing as Zhao Ming stepped into the room.
Zhao Ming's expression was calm, but the pressure in the air was heavy.
Qin Xian scoffed. "You think you can just walk in here and act tough?"
Zhao Ming smirked. "I already did."
Qin Xian clenched his fists. "You have no idea who you're messing with. My family—"
"Won't help you," Zhao Ming interrupted. "You think they'll protect a failure? Your businesses are collapsing. Your men are turning against you. And your brother? He's waiting for you to fall so he can clean up the mess."
Qin Xian froze. He knew his older brother, Qin Hao, was ruthless. If he appeared weak, Qin Hao would have no problem cutting him off.
Zhao Ming stepped closer. "You have two choices. Keep struggling and lose everything... or work for me."
Qin Xian gritted his teeth. "Why should I trust you?"
Zhao Ming chuckled. "You don't have to trust me. You just have to decide if you want to survive."
The room was silent.
Then, slowly, Qin Xian exhaled. "...What do you want me to do?"
Zhao Ming smiled. "Good. Now, let's talk about your brother."
By the time Qin Hao realized what was happening, it was too late.
His own brother, Qin Xian, had betrayed him, feeding Zhao Ming inside information. The Qin family's operations were being dismantled from within.
Sitting in his office, Qin Hao slammed his fist against the desk. "Who the hell is Zhao Ming?"
His assistant hesitated before answering. "He's the one who took over Ma Kun's territory. But he's... different. Smarter. More dangerous."
Qin Hao narrowed his eyes. "Then he made a mistake coming after me."
Qin Hao stood by the floor-to-ceiling window of his office, overlooking the city skyline. His face was calm, but his eyes were cold. He tapped his fingers against the polished desk, deep in thought. The recent blows to his family's business weren't random accidents. Someone was moving against him. And now, even his own brother, Qin Xian, had turned his back on him.
The betrayal stung.
A sharp knock on the door broke the silence. His assistant, Liu Wei, entered cautiously. "Young Master, we have confirmed it. Qin Xian has sided with Zhao Ming."
Qin Hao's expression darkened. "How bad is it?"
Liu Wei hesitated. "...Bad. Several of our casinos have been raided. The underground loan business has collapsed. Some of our men have disappeared. Even the banks are starting to question our financial stability."
Qin Hao clenched his jaw. His father had always warned him—when an empire starts to show weakness, the vultures will come. And now, Zhao Ming was circling like a predator, ready to tear them apart.
Liu Wei continued, his voice lower. "We also received word that Zhao Ming met with Elder Zhang."
Qin Hao's eyes narrowed. Elder Zhang was one of their family's biggest financial supporters. If Zhao Ming was trying to win him over, it meant one thing—he wasn't just attacking their businesses. He was aiming to destroy their foundation.
Qin Hao's fingers tightened into a fist. "Set up a meeting with Elder Zhang immediately. I want to know where he stands."
Liu Wei bowed. "Yes, Young Master."
Meanwhile, Zhao Ming was seated in a quiet tea house, across from Elder Zhang. The old man sipped his tea slowly, observing Zhao Ming with sharp, calculating eyes.
"You're quite bold, young man," Elder Zhang finally said. "Coming after the Qin family like this."
Zhao Ming smirked. "Business is about opportunities. And I see an opportunity."
Elder Zhang chuckled. "And what makes you think I would betray the Qin family?"
Zhao Ming leaned forward, his voice calm. "Because you're a businessman, not a loyal dog. The Qin family is collapsing. If you stay with them, you'll sink with them. But if you work with me, I'll make sure your interests are protected."
Elder Zhang stroked his beard, considering his words. "And how do I know you're not just another hotheaded gangster?"
Zhao Ming smiled. "Because I don't need to prove myself with empty words. Look at the Qin family. Look at their businesses. You already know how this ends."
Elder Zhang remained silent for a long moment. Then, he placed his tea cup down. "Very well. I will consider your offer."
Zhao Ming's eyes gleamed. He knew that in the world of business, "consider" meant he had already won.
Later that night, Qin Hao arrived at Elder Zhang's residence. He was led inside, but the moment he saw Elder Zhang's expression, he knew something was wrong.
The old man didn't greet him with the usual warmth. Instead, he sighed and shook his head. "Hao'er, you came too late."
Qin Hao's heart sank. "Elder Zhang, my family has always supported you—"
Elder Zhang raised a hand. "Your family was strong before. But now, things have changed."
Qin Hao gritted his teeth. "Are you abandoning us?"
Elder Zhang sighed. "I am choosing survival."
Qin Hao's hands clenched into fists. He had underestimated Zhao Ming. The man wasn't just attacking him from the outside—he was poisoning his relationships from within.
As he left Elder Zhang's residence, his mind was racing. He needed to act fast. If he didn't, the Qin family wouldn't just suffer losses. They would be erased.
Back at his private base, Zhao Ming sat comfortably as Ye Chen laid out the final phase of their plan.
"Qin Hao is trying to hold things together," Ye Chen reported. "But he's running out of allies. The banks are pulling back, his business partners are defecting, and even his most trusted men are starting to doubt him."
Wang Xian grinned. "So, what's the final move?"
Zhao Ming tapped the table. "We take away his last hope—his family's clean assets."
The Qin family still had legitimate businesses—hotels, shopping malls, and financial companies. They had always been protected from their underground dealings. But if Zhao Ming struck there, Qin Hao would have no way out.
Ye Chen nodded. "I've already arranged for several investors to withdraw from Qin Corporation. They'll be forced to sell shares to stay afloat."
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Zhao Ming smirked. "And we'll be the ones buying."
The trap was set.
Three days later, Qin Hao received the worst news yet.
His assistant rushed into his office, panic written all over his face. "Young Master, we've lost control of the company!"
Qin Hao shot up from his chair. "What do you mean?"
Liu Wei swallowed hard. "A major investor just bought 40% of Qin Corporation's shares. They now have the power to override your decisions."
Qin Hao's face turned pale. "Who?"
The door to his office opened, and a familiar figure stepped in.
Zhao Ming.
Qin Hao's breath caught in his throat. "You—"
Zhao Ming smiled. "You fought well, Qin Hao. But this is my city now."
Qin Hao's hands trembled. "You think you can destroy the Qin family just like that?"
Zhao Ming's eyes were cold. "I already did."
Qin Hao felt his world crumbling around him. Everything—the power, the status, the wealth—was gone. In just a few short weeks, Zhao Ming had taken everything.
And worst of all, there was nothing he could do to stop it.
That night, news broke across the city.
The Qin family had fallen.
Zhao Ming was now the undisputed ruler of the underworld.