In just a few minutes, all the executives of the businesses under the Guan family arrived.
This scene stunned every member of the Qin family.
Even Yang Chen hadn't expected all these executives to show up—it was beyond his anticipation.
But recalling what had happened at the Guan family the night before, though he hadn't admitted it, no one present was foolish enough to miss the obvious: those hundred men had been Yang Chen's doing.
"Qin Kun, how dare you use me to make a move against Mr. Yang? You must have a death wish."
Xu Tian stepped forward, his voice thick with fury as he confronted Old Master Qin.
Initially, when he received Old Master Qin's call, he had indeed planned to send men over. But upon learning that Yang Chen was also at the Qin residence, he rushed there immediately.
The others were the same. The events at the Guan family the previous night had left them feeling precarious. They had already discussed overnight and agreed to pledge their loyalty to Yang Chen.
It had been too late to disturb him then, so they had waited anxiously until dawn, eager to pay their respects.
Now that they knew the Qin family intended to act against Yang Chen, how could they miss this chance to prove themselves?
After Xu Tian, the other executives stepped forward one by one, quickly surrounding Old Master Qin.
"You old fool, from today onward, all cooperation between me and the Qin family is terminated!"
"Same for the businesses under my charge—we're cutting ties with the Qin family!"
"Our Qianxi Corporation is also severing all contracts with the Qin family!"
Every executive from the Guan family's subsidiaries declared an end to their partnerships with the Qin family.
Ever since the Qin family had agreed to hand over 45% of their annual profits to the Guan family, all businesses under the Guan umbrella had collaborated with them.
Had the Guan family not collapsed, the Qin family would have risen to become a second-tier—or even first-tier—family in Jiangzhou by the end of the year, second only to the four major clans.
But now, at this critical moment, the Guan family had fallen overnight.
Old Master Qin, still unaware of what had happened, was both shocked and bewildered by the executives' deference to Yang Chen.
"President Xu, just because I offended a worthless piece of trash, you're canceling our partnership?"
Old Master Qin asked, his voice thick with resentment.
"You're the trash! Your whole family is trash! Mr. Yang brought down the Guan family overnight—who the hell do you think you are to call him worthless?"
Xu Tian kicked Old Master Qin in the stomach, not caring that the man was nearly seventy.
Old Master Qin collapsed to the ground, his face blank with disbelief.
"The Guan family… fell overnight?"
He muttered to himself, unable to comprehend it.
"Mr. Yang, from today onward, I, Xu Tian, pledge my loyalty to you."
Xu Tian suddenly turned to Yang Chen and bowed slightly. His words struck the Qin family like thunder.
"Mr. Yang, I, Shi Wei, pledge my loyalty to you!"
"I, Li Zhong, pledge my loyalty to you!"
One after another, over a dozen executives from the Guan family's businesses swore allegiance to Yang Chen.
None of them were fools—they had risen to their positions precisely because of their shrewdness.
Last night's events had made it clear that Yang Chen was no ordinary man. If he could topple the Guan family overnight, he could do the same to the other major clans of Jiangzhou.
Only by following such a figure could they secure greater opportunities in the future. Without hesitation, they had chosen to pledge themselves to him.
This also meant they would assist Yang Chen in transferring all of the Guan family's assets into his name.
The Qin family was utterly stunned by this cascade of declarations.
Was this really the same Yang Chen—the supposedly worthless son-in-law who had been cast out of his family?
Old Master Qin's face paled. In that moment, countless realizations flashed through his mind.
When Yanchen Group had delivered a contract in the morning, only to accuse them of breach by the afternoon—it was because he had reneged on his word, snatching the deal from Qin Xi and handing it to Qin Fei.
The moment he exiled Qin Xi's family, Yanchen Group's legal department had personally intervened to terminate the Qin family's contract and issued a warning.
Then there was the banquet at Starlight Garden Hotel—an event the Qin family had no right to attend, yet they were invited and seated at the lowest table.
Time and again, whenever he had harmed Qin Xi, the Qin family had faced immediate retribution.
He had dismissed these incidents as coincidences, but now, everything became clear.
"So… it was all you!"
Old Master Qin struggled to his feet, swaying unsteadily. In that instant, he seemed to age several more years.
Now that he was calm, he thought back to how he had treated Qin Xi and her family. A single question haunted him: if he had treated Qin Xi better, how glorious could the Qin family have become?
"Yang Chen, I admit I underestimated you. But if you think this will make me, Qin Kun, bow to you—then you're wrong."
Old Master Qin stood tall, his weathered eyes filled with defiance.
Even knowing Yang Chen was no ordinary man, he refused to yield. The idea of Yang Chen being worthless was too deeply ingrained in him.
And since he had personally exiled Qin Xi's family, even if he was wrong, he would never admit it.
Yang Chen felt a pang of pity. For the sake of pride, Old Master Qin would rather watch his own grandson's legs be shattered than relent.
He would rather see his family ruined than submit—all because, in his mind, Yang Chen remained a worthless nobody.
Even if he was wrong, he would stubbornly cling to his mistake. That was Old Master Qin—an irredeemable old fool.
"You old bastard, you really do have a death wish. If you want to die, I'll send you on your way!"
Xu Tian stepped forward, raising his hand to strike.
*Slap!*
But at that moment, Yang Chen—who had somehow appeared behind him—caught his wrist.
"Since when do my affairs require your interference?"
Yang Chen's eyes flashed with icy fury.
"M-Mr. Yang, I—I…"
Xu Tian trembled, his voice faltering. Fortunately, Yang Chen didn't press further.
"Yang Chen, no matter how high you climb, you'll never change what you are in my eyes. To me, you'll always be worthless."
Old Master Qin spoke calmly, meeting Yang Chen's gaze without fear. "Don't think that stopping them from hitting me will change my opinion of you."
"Do you really think I care about that?"
Yang Chen laughed and shook his head. "What I care about isn't how you see me or how you treat me—it's how you treat Qin Xi. You have no idea that if not for her pleas, the Qin family would have been destroyed long ago."
"Yet time and again, the Qin family has hurt her. The Qin family owes her everything!"
Old Master Qin shuddered, his face twisting with shock. He didn't doubt Yang Chen's words—given the power Yang Chen had displayed, if he had wanted the Qin family gone, it would have happened long before now.
Which meant the Qin family's survival was entirely due to Qin Xi.
For the first time, regret flickered in his heart as he recalled all the things Qin Xi had done for the family.
*Rumble…*
Suddenly, the ground trembled as the roar of heavy machinery filled the air.
Everyone turned to see over a dozen excavators advancing toward the Qin family estate.
"Raze this place to the ground," Yang Chen commanded coldly.