The richest man started taking advantage of loopholes after joining Alibaba.

2016 October.

Hangzhou.

The multi-functional hall on the top floor of the Weiguang Building.

The air was filled with the scent of expensive champagne, mixed with the sweet aroma of flowers and money.

A signing ceremony that will go down in the history of the Chinese Internet is taking place here.

On one side of the long table sat Neil Shen (Global Managing Partner of Sequoia Capital) and Lei Zhang (Founder of Hillhouse Capital).

These two "top hunters" in China's venture capital circle are beaming with joy at this moment.

On the other side sat Lin Che.

He was wearing a well-tailored dark blue custom-made suit, and his hair was combed back, revealing his full forehead.

The recklessness of the early days of entrepreneurship is gone.

Instead, there is a sense of composure and authority in controlling a multi-billion dollar empire.

"Congratulations, Mr. Lin."

Shen Nanpeng put down his pen.

The pen refracted a golden light under the lamp.

"This is the fastest and most audacious investment in Sequoia China's history."

"18 months, from angel round to Series C funding."

"From zero to ten billion US dollars."

Shen Nanpeng stood up and extended his hand.

"You have created a miracle."

Lin Che stood up.

shake hands.

Dry, strong palms.

"Mr. Shen, you flatter me."

Lin Che's voice remained calm, without trembling in the slightest due to that astronomical figure.

"This is more than just a miracle."

"That's inevitable."

Click. Click.

Below the stage, the flashes of hundreds of media outlets created a blinding light.

The sound of camera shutters rang out like a torrential downpour, capturing this historic moment.

[Weiguang Logistics completes Series C financing, led by Sequoia Capital and Hillhouse Capital, raising $15 billion.]

Post-investment valuation: US$105 billion.

Super Unicorn.

born.

............

The conference site.

Lin Che stood in the center of the stage.

Behind them was a huge LED screen.

On the screen, the purple unicorn logo is running, its mane flying and its horn tip gleaming with a sharp light.

And at the feet of the unicorn.

It is a super logistics network covering 300 cities across China, with 100 million riders and a daily order volume exceeding 2000 million.

This is a money printing machine.

It is also the lifeblood of China's Internet.

Someone asked me.

Lin Che spoke into the microphone, his voice reverberating throughout the hall through top-of-the-line audio equipment.

"What exactly does Weiguang do?"

"Are you delivering packages or food?"

He paused.

His gaze swept over the excited reporters in the audience, and over his colleagues who looked at him with awe.

"Neither."

Lin Che raised his hand.

He pointed to the flashing map behind him.

"I work on road construction."

"I am a blood-producing organism."

"I am the most basic and indispensable capillary in this country's commercial system."

He clenched his fist suddenly.

The unicorn on the screen let out a silent cry, then transformed into countless streaks of light that shot towards the sky.

"yesterday."

"I'm supplying water to the giants; I have to eat at their mercy."

Lin Che's voice rose, carrying an air of domineering arrogance.

"today."

"I am the giant."

There was thunderous applause.

Enduring and uninterrupted.

At this moment, everyone realized that the young man who used to hand out flyers in the snow, the entrepreneur who used to calculate every penny of subsidies in his rented room, had completely transformed.

He is no longer a pawn.

He is the player who plays the game.

............

Backstage.

Shen Nan held a newly updated rich list, his hands trembling.

"Boss."

"Forbes' real-time data has been updated."

"you……"

Shen Nan swallowed hard and handed over the iPad.

[China's Top 50 Richest People]

[48th: Lin Che, net worth: US$35 billion (approximately RMB 230 billion).]

230 million.

This is only the valuation of the Weiguang Logistics asset.

If we include Weiguang Media, Weipintuan, and the Didi and Alibaba stocks he holds.

His true net worth is probably a mystery.

Lin Che glanced at the number.

There was no excitement.

There was only a kind of numb calm.

"Only 48th?"

Lin Che tossed the iPad to Shen Nan.

"Not enough."

"Jack Ma is first, Pony Ma is second."

"As long as we're behind them, we're still within their firing range."

He straightened his tie.

He turned and walked towards the noisy celebration banquet hall.

There, the champagne tower was already erected, and countless people were waiting for him to raise his glass and celebrate this night that belonged to Weiguang.

……

Banquet hall.

Bright lights and bustling activity, with toasts and laughter filling the air.

Fatty Wang got drunk.

He was standing on the table dancing with his arm around Zhao Sihai's shoulder, a tie tied around his head, looking like a comical warrior.

"Brothers! Drink!"

"We at Microlight are awesome! We're now part of the billion-dollar club!"

The surrounding area was filled with shouts and cheers.

That was the victor's celebration.

It was a complete release after being suppressed for too long.

Lin Che stood in the corner.

He was holding a glass of champagne that he hadn't drunk yet.

He looked at the revelers, but his eyes held a coldness that seemed out of place with his surroundings.

The excitement is theirs.

He has nothing.

Only... anxiety.

Lin Che took his phone out of his pocket.

Turn on the screen.

The lock screen wallpaper is a calendar.

2016 October.

Spring Festival.

There is less than a month left.

"unicorn……"

Lin Che swirled his wine glass.

Golden bubbles rise and burst in the glass.

"In the face of a true dragon, even a unicorn is but a sumptuous dinner."

he knows.

The battle for food delivery is over, the logistics network is in place, and the funding has been secured.

It seems that the glimmer of light has reached the top.

But Lin Che knew.

This is just the calm before the storm.

Because hidden within that red circle on the calendar is the bloodiest, most insane, and final "war of the gods" in the history of the Chinese internet.

Payment wars.

That was the decisive battle between Alipay and WeChat Pay.

This is the first year of "Gathering the Five Blessings".

It was the end result of the "Pearl Harbor attack".

If they cannot gain a firm foothold in this war, all the wealth that Weiguang has accumulated may vanish overnight.

"Boss."

Shen Nan walked over, also holding a wine glass in his hand.

"Why don't you go grab a drink? Everyone's waiting for you."

"I'm not drinking anymore."

Lin Che placed the wine glass on the tray of a passing waiter.

The movements were gentle, yet resolute.

"Shen Nan."

"Pass the word down."

"After the celebration banquet, executives, don't leave."

"To the Situation Room."

Shen Nan was taken aback.

"War room? Now? Everyone's drunk..."

"If you've had too much to drink, go wash your face."

Lin Che turned around.

Their gaze pierced through the clamor of the banquet hall, turning towards that unknown, blood-soaked future.

"Tell them."

"The coronation ceremony is over."

"Next."

Lin Che's voice was as cold as ice.

"We're going to..."

"Slaying the dragon."