Chinese animation: Starting with Bad Guys

After a long while, she finally smiled.

"Looks like I'll have to call you Young Marshal from now on."

Qin Chuan smiled as well:

"I will still call you Sister Shi Yao."

The two looked at each other and smiled, then walked side by side to the outside of Yuan Tiangang's study.

Before they could speak, Yuan Tiangang's deep, hoarse voice rang out:

"Come in."

Qin Chuan pushed open the door and entered, meeting Yuan Tiangang's gaze.

"Qiao'er's talent is truly outstanding..."

Yuan Tiangang sensed Qin Chuan's cultivation level, and his usually calm gaze finally showed a slight change.

In the span of three hundred years, he has seen far too many geniuses.

But there is only one like Qin Chuan.

In just three days, he actually reached the Lesser Celestial Realm.

"This child will surely be able to stand shoulder to shoulder with me within twenty years. It's not that I don't know his character, but if he can be cultivated, it will truly be a blessing for our Great Tang."

As Yuan Tiangang's mind raced, he suddenly raised his hand and flicked his finger, sending a sharp gust of wind straight at Qin Chuan's face!

Chapter 3 Young Marshal, Dark Star!

Yuan Tiangang's finger strike came suddenly and without warning, catching even Shi Yao, a Grand Celestial Realm expert, off guard.

By the time Qin Chuan realized it, the gust of wind from that finger was less than a foot away from his forehead.

However, he did not panic.

Yuan Tiangang has no reason to kill him, at least not now.

The only remaining possibility is that they were testing his skills.

Thinking this, Qin Chuan activated the Longevity Technique, and his true energy burst forth from his body, turning an earthy yellow color and forming a protective aura on his forehead.

Although he knew this was a test from Yuan Tiangang, he dared not hold back at all and used all his strength to block the gale of that finger strike without any danger.

"To be able to block my finger strike, which is close to the power of the Middle Heaven Realm, it seems that you have indeed mastered the Longevity Technique to a minor level."

Yuan Tiangang lowered his hand and nodded slightly, showing some praise for Qin Chuan and the Longevity Formula.

Back then, Kou Zhong only mastered one-seventh of the Longevity Technique and did not reveal the true power of this unparalleled skill.

Now, he has seen some of the brilliance of the Longevity Technique in Qin Chuan.

The Longevity Technique allows you to switch the attributes of your true energy depending on the situation.

Qin Chuan's earth-attribute true energy had the most outstanding defensive power, which is why he was able to block that finger strike without taking any damage.

"That old bastard, he's too ruthless!"

Qin Chuan clicked his tongue in amazement.

If it were any other minor Celestial Realm cultivator, they would have at least drawn blood from that single finger strike.

"If you become my disciple, Yuan Tiangang, you must be prepared to receive the most rigorous instruction."

Yuan Tiangang said it as a matter of course, without feeling any psychological burden whatsoever.

When he was instructing Fan Qiao'er back then, he didn't hold back at all.

"Thank you, Commander-in-Chief, no, Teacher, for your guidance!"

Qin Chuan bowed deeply and formally became Yuan Tiangang's disciple.

"Congratulations to the Commander-in-Chief on finding such a fine disciple, and congratulations to the Young Commander on finding such a renowned teacher."

While offering her congratulations, Shi Yao also changed how she addressed Qin Chuan.

Yuan Tiangang ignored her, still gazing at Qin Chuan, and asked calmly:

"If one day I were to truly kill you, what would you do?"

His tone was devoid of any murderous intent, yet the temperature in the entire Hidden Soldier Valley seemed to plummet at that moment.

"The commander-in-chief is invincible. If he wants to kill me, what can I do but wait to die?"

Qin Chuan had no idea what the old man was up to, so he gave a clever answer.

Yuan Tiangang was not satisfied with this answer and pressed for further information:

"What if your martial arts skills are comparable to mine?"

"I will yield three moves to the Commander-in-Chief to repay my master's kindness. After that, I will fight to the death!"

Qin Chuan expressed his truest thoughts without resorting to any more linguistic artistry.

It's better to be sincere with an old fox like Yuan Tiangang.

After Qin Chuan gave his answer, the entire Hidden Soldier Valley fell silent.

Shi Yao looked at Qin Chuan with a strange expression.

He was the first person to dare speak to Yuan Tiangang like that.

Even the emperors of the Tang Dynasty treated Yuan Tiangang with great courtesy and dared not show him the slightest disrespect.

Yuan Tiangang suddenly smiled.

Everything returned to normal with his smile.

Qin Chuan's answer satisfied him.

If Qin Chuan answered like everyone else, saying he was willing to die, that would be disappointing.

There are far too many people like this; they are simply not worthy of being his disciples.

What he wanted to cultivate was someone who could potentially rival or even surpass him, just like Li Chunfeng in the past.

He has been feeling lonely and isolated at the top for many years since his dear friend passed away.

"These are yours to keep."

Yuan Tiangang took a wooden box from under his desk and handed it to Qin Chuan.

Qin Chuan took it with both hands and opened it right in front of him.

Inside the wooden box was a plain-looking, ancient-style steel knife, a ghost mask, dozens of silver needles, and three secret manuals.

"This sword is called Well Moon. It was Kou Zhong's sword and it was the perfect match for his Eight Methods of Well."

Yuan Tiangang glanced at the steel sword named "Moon in the Well" and said:

"After Kou Zhong comprehended the state of 'no sword is better than having a sword,' he gifted this sword to the then-King of Tuyuhun. Later, Tuyuhun rebelled, and I, the commander, used the Tibetan army to destroy them. I took back this sword in the process, and now it belongs to you."

"The moon in the well!"

Qin Chuan picked up the steel knife, gently channeled his inner energy, and the blade immediately emitted a seven-colored light.

He glanced at the three manuals and, sure enough, found the Eight Methods of the Well among them.

This is a supreme sword technique that is no less powerful than the Longquan Sword Manual, and it also contains Kou Zhong's art of commanding troops.

Once Qin Chuan has mastered the skills, he can become a military genius who can strategize and predict the enemy with ease, which will greatly help him rebuild the Tang Dynasty's golden age!

"This mask is a symbol of the Dark Star."

Yuan Tiangang's gaze then turned to the ghost-face mask:

"The position of the Dark Star has been vacant for a long time, and from now on you will be in charge."

Qin Chuan put on the ghost face mask, officially becoming a member of the Bad Guys.

As for 'Young Marshal', it's more of a nominal title, a symbol of his status as Yuan Tiangang's disciple.

"The last silver needle is for you to use to perform the Huayang Acupuncture Technique. Qiao'er also learned it back then, but she did not pass it on without permission."

Yuan Tiangang's tone seemed to show a hint of melancholy for a moment, but it quickly returned to its usual calm.

"The Eight Methods of the Well, the Huayang Needle Technique, and even the Spirit Binding Array were taught to me?"

Qin Chuan looked at the last secret manual.

To his surprise, it turned out to be Yuan Tiangang's trump card, the Spirit Binding Array.

It can be said that, apart from fortune-telling, Yuan Tiangang truly taught him everything he knew.

Later, Li Xingyun received the same treatment.

"Step aside and go back to your cultivation."

Yuan Tiangang waved his hand, dismissing the guests.

"Thank you, Commander."

Qin Chuan, carrying a pile of gifts for the apprenticeship ceremony, left the study with Shi Yao.

As soon as the two left, the door closed by itself without any wind, leaving Yuan Tiangang alone in the study, lost in thought.

His fingers tapped lightly on the desk, producing a strange melody.

"Li Chunfeng, our divination skills have ultimately been incomplete."

Yuan Tiangang seemed to be talking to himself, or perhaps conversing with someone, murmuring:

"He is not that plum blossom; what kind of changes will he bring to the game of chess in the world?"

"I'm more concerned about whether he will follow your domineering ways or my divine way."

A faint, ethereal voice seemed to echo in Yuan Tiangang's ears.

It was as if Li Chunfeng from over a hundred years ago was having a conversation with Yuan Tiangang across time and space.

"The Way of Heaven, the Way of Tyranny..."

Yuan Tiangang's eyes flickered, a fleeting glint of expectation deep within them:

"I'm also looking forward to his choice..."