Chinese animation: Starting with Bad Guys

He abruptly drew his soft sword from his waist, and with the infusion of his inner force, the supple blade instantly straightened, emitting a sharp, piercing clang. The tip of the sword pointed directly at Qin Chuan, like a serpent flicking its tongue, its cold light chilling.

"Today, I, Li, will experience firsthand the young marshal's unparalleled blade! I will die without regret!"

He exuded an aura of power, knowing he was doomed to die, yet determined to fight with all his might.

"Pity."

Qin Chuan looked at Li Cunli, a man of both literary and martial talents, whose wisdom and martial skills were among the best in the world, and a trace of genuine regret flashed in his eyes.

Such a talented man, yet he swore to serve that big-eared traitor Li Siyuan to the death.

He shook his head gently, and a sigh drifted away on the wind.

With a sigh, the last trace of emotion in Qin Chuan's eyes vanished, leaving only a icy indifference, a final pronouncement on the fate of his enemy.

"Since it cannot be used by me..."

His voice was eerily calm, each word carrying the weight of millennia-old ice:

"Then—die."

"Zheng—!"

A clear and resonant sword cry, seemingly capable of tearing the sky apart, suddenly rang out!

The sound drowned out the wind in the wilderness, the neighing of horses, and even the hum of the soft sword in Li Cunli's hand. It was like the roar of a dragon in the heavens, announcing the arrival of death!

A dazzling blade of light suddenly appeared!

The light was so dazzling, like the Milky Way hanging upside down from the heavens, carrying unparalleled beauty and absolute destructive power, tearing through the sky and striking straight at Li Cunli's face!

This strike was incredibly fast and incredibly ruthless, and it also contained a mysterious trajectory, completely sealing off all of Li Cunli's space to dodge and maneuver, leaving him with only one option—to take the blow head-on!

Li Cunli's eyes were filled with nothing but this deadly blade, which possessed the power to seize heaven and earth and was impossible to avoid!

His survival instinct and the dignity of a martial artist instantly unleashed his full potential.

He let out a beastly growl, and his wrists trembled wildly at a speed imperceptible to the naked eye!

The soft sword seemed to come alive in his hand, instantly transforming into a continuous, impenetrable, shimmering silver curtain of swords!

The sword light layered upon layer, like raging waves crashing against the shore, or like a thousand lotuses blooming, protecting him completely!

This is the culmination of his life's work, the final brilliance he displayed at the cost of his life!

"when--!!!"

A deafening clang, as if it would tear your eardrums apart, suddenly exploded!

A violent shockwave erupted from the two of them, blasting outwards and kicking up dust and grass clippings. The Tongwen Hall disciples who were closer to them were shaken so badly that their blood and qi surged, and they had to retreat one after another.

The dazzling sword curtain shattered like fragile glass, scattering and disappearing in all directions.

But that stunningly beautiful blade of light still carried unparalleled sharpness and icy killing intent, like a shooting star streaking across the night sky, charging forward fiercely!

The cold glint was as sharp as lightning, faster than the passage of time!

A faint, almost imperceptible line of light swept across Li Cunli's neck.

Time seemed to freeze at that moment.

The crazed light in Li Cunli's eyes froze instantly, then dissipated rapidly like a candle flickering in the wind.

His lips moved slightly, as if he wanted to say something, but in the end it only turned into a barely audible sigh, filled with endless complex emotions:

"What a... fine knife!"

Before he could finish speaking, a thin, straight line of blood suddenly appeared on his neck, as if drawn with the finest cinnabar brush.

Just then, a gentle breeze swept across the road, swirling up a few fallen leaves.

That gentle breeze seemed to be the last straw that broke the camel's back.

Li Cunli's head, filled with resentment, astonishment, and even a hint of relief, slowly and silently slid off his neck along the blood trail and rolled into the dust.

At the severed neck, warm blood, like a fountain that had been suppressed for a long time, suddenly shot into the sky, drawing a tragic and brief blood rainbow in the afterglow of the setting sun, before scattering and staining the yellow earth beneath him red.

Li Cunli, the head of the Lizi Gate of Tongwen Hall, the sixth of the thirteen bodyguards of the Prince of Jin, and a powerful and ruthless figure, ultimately perished on this desolate official road in Taiyuan due to Li Siyuan's selfishness!

Bar, Bago, and the dozens of Tongwenguan disciples behind them witnessed the earth-shattering change that happened in the blink of an eye, and the horrific scene of Li Cunli being decapitated.

Boundless fear instantly gripped their hearts, like a cold, venomous snake coiling around their bodies.

Loyalty and righteousness vanish in an instant before the overwhelming power and the threat of death.

Someone, without anyone knowing, suddenly knelt down on the ground with a thud.

Immediately afterwards, like wheat fields blown down by a strong wind, everyone knelt down in unison, heads bowed low, trembling, not daring to even breathe.

Would they die for Li Siyuan? They didn't have Li Cunli's blind loyalty.

At this moment, only humble submission may offer a glimmer of hope.

Dust clung to their robes, and the setting sun cast long, thin shadows of them, like ants crawling on the ground.

Chapter 91 The real show has only just begun!

Before the majestic vermilion gates of the Wu Prince's Mansion, Yang Pu trembled as he reached out his hands and finally embraced his beloved daughter, Princess Shangrao, whom he had lost and then found again.

The father and daughter embraced and wept.

"Father, it was Brother Hanba who saved me!"

After a long while, Princess Shangrao calmed down a little, raised her tear-streaked face, and wiped away her tears with a handkerchief.

Her gaze, filled with the shyness and gratitude unique to young women, turned tenderly to the tall, uneasy figure beside her, and she said softly to Yang Pu, "Shouldn't you thank him properly?"

Yang Pu then shifted his gaze from his daughter to Hanba and Qin Chuan beside him.

He took a deep breath, suppressing the lingering unease he felt towards the strange appearance of the welding demon, and solemnly cupped his hands in greeting, his voice carrying an undeniable sincerity:

"Many thanks to the brave warrior and the Imperial Advisor for saving my daughter! Yang Pu will forever remember this kindness!"

"No need for thanks," Qin Chuan said calmly, a faint smile playing on his lips, but his gaze as sharp as a hawk's. "It's enough that the King of Wu remembers his promise."

"Of course I would never forget!" Yang Pu nodded emphatically, his expression solemn. "I will certainly keep my promise to the Xuanwu Gate in Chang'an on time! My word is my bond!"

"Is there anything else?"

Qin Chuan's smile deepened, his gaze shifting between Hanba and Shangrao, a mischievous hint escaping his lips:

"My esteemed advisor is eagerly awaiting Brother Hanba's wedding feast. King Wu cannot renege on this toast to the matchmaker."

Yes! Yes!

Yang Pu seemed to suddenly remember this matter, and a subtle, complex expression flashed across his face.

Unlike his daughter, who already harbored feelings for him, he still found it hard to let go of the appearance of his savior, and in his excitement at their reunion, he deliberately ignored this fact.

Now that Qin Chuan had pointed it out again, and that the Imperial Advisor had personally acted as matchmaker, even though he still harbored resentment, he could only suppress it and loudly proclaimed:

"A word spoken by this king is as good as his bond! My daughter, Shangrao, shall be betrothed to this valiant man!"

"Brother Hanba, why don't you quickly pay your respects to your father-in-law?"

Qin Chuan coughed lightly and nudged the Hanba next to him with his elbow. Hanba was completely stunned by the sudden and overwhelming happiness and stood there like a statue.

"I...I...I am..."

As if waking from a dream, the immense surprise left him speechless and bewildered. He hurriedly bowed deeply to Yang Pu, his voice trembling slightly with excitement:

"Greetings, Father-in-law!"

"Who, who wants to marry you!"

Princess Shangrao blushed instantly.

She stomped her foot playfully and ran quickly into the deep, secluded corridors of the Prince's mansion.

Hanba scratched the back of his head, watching the graceful figure disappear, his face filled with only confusion and a trace of helpless disappointment, his tall body appearing somewhat foolish and pitiful.

"Girls are shy, if we don't pursue her now, when will we?"

Qin Chuan laughed loudly and patted Han Ba's broad shoulder forcefully:

"We still need to rush to Chuzhou and cannot stay any longer. We'll meet again at Xuanwu Gate in Chang'an. At that time, I will definitely receive your wedding invitations and ask for a proper wedding feast!"

His eyes held encouragement and blessings.

Upon hearing this, Hanba's eyes instantly shone brightly. He bowed deeply to Qin Chuan again, his tone resolute, filled with gratitude and promise:

"Brother Qin's kindness is unforgettable! I will go through fire and water for you in the future, even at the cost of my life!"

As soon as he finished speaking, he could no longer contain himself and strode off in the direction where Shangrao had disappeared.

Deep within the Prince's mansion, behind vermilion gates, two figures, one tall and one short, chased each other, gradually merging into the deep courtyard that symbolized the peace and tranquility of the home, leaving only the warmth and hope that permeated the air.

Qin Chuan and his group also bowed to Yang Pu to bid him farewell and embarked on a new journey. The sound of horses' hooves echoed as they headed towards Tanzhou.

The official residence in Tanzhou is deserted at dusk, its ancient and modern past appearing before my eyes for no reason. Tears from the Xiang River, some deep, some shallow, nourish the bamboo's color; Chu songs, one after another, lament the orchids' clusters.

Tanzhou, which later became Changsha, was the place where King Ma Yin of Chu rose to power.

This once humble carpenter, a ruthless hero, relied on his courage and the opportunities presented by the chaos of the times to carve out a base for himself on the land of Jingchu, becoming a powerful ruler and dominating the region.

The night was as dark as ink, enveloping the eaves and brackets of the Chu King's Mansion.

However, the mansion was brightly lit, especially the council hall, where lanterns hung high, making it as bright as day.

In the hall, Ma Xiyue, the eldest son of the King of Chu, sat upright, his brows bearing the noble bearing of a scion of a noble family, but deep in his eyes lurked a lingering, sinister glint.

He was personally receiving a distinguished guest who had come from afar.

The newcomer was dressed in a spotless white Confucian robe, with a calm expression. What was most striking about him were his unusually large earlobes and his empty right arm, which was only covered by his sleeve—he was none other than Prince Li Siyuan of Jin!

Although the State of Chu was not as wealthy as the States of Shu and Wu, it possessed a formidable archery force that drew the attention of all the feudal lords in the land.

Li Siyuan risked his life to personally go to Tanzhou, his ambitions were far from small.

On one hand, it was to avenge the deep-seated hatred of Qin Chuan losing his arm; on the other hand, it was to bring the formidable power of the Chu Kingdom into its own camp.

"My father is getting old, and his health has been deteriorating lately. I fear his passing is not far off."

Ma Xiyue picked up the exquisite Ru kiln teacup, took a small sip, and spoke in a calm tone, yet with an air of absolute control:

"I am the crown prince appointed by my father, and I am now in charge of all military and political affairs in the Chu Kingdom."