Chinese animation: Starting with Bad Guys

He put down his teacup and fixed his gaze on Li Siyuan with the intensity of a venomous snake:

"As long as the Prince of Jin can do one thing for me, the alliance is negotiable."

Li Siyuan's remaining left arm tapped lightly on the back of the chair, producing a barely audible tapping sound. He replied with a forced smile, his voice low and slow:

"Tonight must be the start of the most lively temple fair in Chu, right? I've heard that the Second Young Master Ma Xisheng is young and playful and enjoys such lively and noisy events, so I suppose... he won't be absent?"

He paused deliberately, a cold killing intent flashing in his eyes:

"The night is deep, and the crowds are dense and jostling... If the Second Young Master gets so engrossed in the play that he is accidentally injured in the shoving and pushing... or taken advantage of by some scoundrel... what would happen then?"

In his words, he laid bare his scheme.

"yes……"

A cruel and gleeful smile curved Ma Xiyue's lips, and the sinister look in his eyes was no longer concealed:

"That boy Xisheng is so innocent and naive, he always makes me, his older brother, worry myself sick."

"Hehehe..."

"Hahaha……"

The two men exchanged a glance and let out a low, knowing laugh. The eerie laughter, like the hooting of an owl, swirled and echoed in the brightly lit yet strangely atmospheric hall.

Even with high walls separating them, and the deafening sounds of gongs, drums, and firecrackers echoing throughout the city, the din could not be completely drowned out. A chilling murderous intent quietly spread.

Along the long street, fireworks illuminated the sky, dazzling and spectacular.

Colorful lanterns illuminated the streets as bright as day, and dragon and lion dance troupes moved about amidst the deafening sound of gongs and drums.

The shouts of vendors, the laughter of children, and the explosions of firecrackers mingled together, creating a vibrant and bustling atmosphere.

Wow! It's so lively! It's so beautiful!

Chi Meng was seeing such a grand temple fair in the Central Plains for the first time. She was as excited as a child, her big, dark eyes taking in everything. She looked at the sugar figurine makers here and the monkey show performers there, filled with curiosity about everything.

Lu Linxuan was the same. She had lived in seclusion in Qingcheng Mountain with her father and master since childhood. She had never seen such a bustling and prosperous scene of people flocking to the city. Her face showed the unique joy of a young girl.

"Since we've encountered such a grand event, let's enjoy ourselves to the fullest."

Seeing this, Qin Chuan smiled slightly and decided to let them go their own way, as the tense schedule also needed a moment of relaxation.

"Young man, aren't we going to see the King of Chu?"

Although Chi Meng was playful, she always kept in mind the important matters that Qin Chuan was responsible for.

The two-month deadline set by the Bad Commander is like a sword hanging over his head, with little time left.

Qin Chuan's gaze swept across the bustling crowd, his expression remaining calm:

"It won't make a difference if we wait a little longer. Some things can't be rushed, and we need to take advantage of this excitement to see how things develop."

He was implying something.

"Yay! That's great!"

Chi Meng cheered and immediately grabbed Lu Linxuan's hand. Like two nimble fish, they happily darted into the bustling, brightly lit night market.

Qin Chuan and Hou Qing had little interest in this kind of worldly excitement.

Hou Qing stood with his arms crossed, still maintaining that aloof and unapproachable demeanor; Qin Chuan walked slowly with his hands behind his back, his gaze calmly sweeping over the surrounding environment, as if admiring the scenery, or perhaps observing something.

The two men simply followed silently behind the two girls at a distance.

"May I ask which of you is the Grand Preceptor of the Great Liang Dynasty, Lord Qin Chuan?"

A richly dressed boy with a still-childish face suddenly blocked his way.

The boy appeared to be about the same age as Luo Xiaobei, with bright eyes that held a hint of barely perceptible excitement and curiosity.

Hou Qing didn't even bother to lift his eyelids, simply nodding casually in Qin Chuan's direction with his chin.

"I actually met the Imperial Advisor!"

Upon receiving confirmation, the boy's excitement was palpable. His gaze towards Qin Chuan instantly filled with indescribable fervent worship and deep reverence, as if he were seeing a legendary figure standing right before his eyes.

He was none other than Ma Xisheng, the second son of the King of Chu!

"You are Ma Xisheng, the second son of the King of Chu?"

Qin Chuan smiled slightly, seemingly unsurprised by his appearance.

This "chance encounter" was actually the result of a clever arrangement by the Black and White Impermanence, who had secretly infiltrated Tanzhou and were tasked with protecting Ma Xisheng.

"Yes! I am Ma Xisheng!"

The boy nodded vigorously, trying to calm his excited heart, but his slightly flushed cheeks and bright eyes betrayed his true feelings.

At the age when he admires and idolizes heroes, who among the heroes of our time could be more captivating than the one before him?

Single-handedly, he purged the Liang court, captured Bianzhou in three days, and dealt a heavy blow to the Jin army...

Each and every one of these events is an earth-shattering legend!

Of course, the National Preceptor was not his only idol; he admired all three of the greatest talents of his time.

What a fortunate thing it would be to see the faces of three idols in one day!

Unbeknownst to him, this seemingly unattainable wish had already been quietly fulfilled—those three legendary figures were actually the person standing before him!

"Hey bro! Come over here! There's a theatrical troupe putting on a show! It's so exciting!"

In the distance, Chi Meng's clear voice pierced through the noise as she excitedly waved in this direction.

"Your Excellency, Imperial Advisor!"

As the host, Ma Xisheng enthusiastically pointed towards the stage:

"That family's 'Xiangyun Troupe' is the top-notch opera troupe in the Chu region! Their singing, recitation, acting, and acrobatics are all first-rate! You must see them!"

"Just call me Brother Qin." Qin Chuan patted his shoulder gently, with the warmth of an elder to a younger person. "Let's go take a look together."

The group followed the flow of people toward the stage, where gongs and drums resounded and the crowd was bustling.

On stage, the melodious sounds of silk and bamboo instruments filled the air, and the flowing sleeves danced as the classic play "The Seven-Step Poem" was performed.

The tragic story of the brothers Cao Pi and Cao Zhi was deeply moving, thanks to the exquisite performance of the actors.

Ma Xisheng initially watched with great interest, frequently applauding the brilliant parts of the singing.

However, as Cao Pi pressed closer and closer in the play, Cao Zhi recited in grief and indignation, "We are born of the same root, why are we so eager to destroy each other?" The smile on his face gradually froze.

The play was like a mirror, cruelly reflecting his own situation.

Like the talented but suspicious Cao Zijian, he was deeply favored by his father. There were rumors that his father intended to make him the crown prince because his elder brother Ma Xiyue was ruthless.

His elder brother thus became increasingly distant from him, and the coldness in his eyes grew day by day.

On the stage, Cao Pi's cold face seemed to overlap with that of his elder brother Ma Xiyue, and a chilling sense of fear crept up his spine like a venomous snake.

He was afraid that one day his elder brother would do to him what Cao Pi did to Cao Zhi, turning their blood ties into dust.

"No...no way..." A sliver of hope lingered in his heart as he desperately shook his head, trying to dispel the terrible thought. "Big brother...big brother is just a bit strict..."

“Brother Qin…” Ma Xisheng’s face was slightly pale, and he turned to Qin Chuan with a dazed expression. His voice carried a hint of fatigue and evasion, “I…I’m a little tired, and I want to go back to the manor to rest first…”

He couldn't even bear to watch the brothers turn against each other on stage. He staggered out of the crowd, his back looking thin and lonely under the bright lights.

Qin Chuan watched his hurried departure, shook his head slightly, and a barely perceptible sigh flashed in his eyes.

This performance of "The Seven Steps Poem" was also the result of his deliberate arrangement of the Black and White Impermanence to guide Ma Xisheng to watch it and select the play.

The intention was to make this still innocent boy see reality clearly and stop him from having unrealistic fantasies about his cold-hearted older brother.

Clearly, under the immense impact, the boy chose to temporarily escape, though the last vestige of hope in his heart had not been completely extinguished.

"To harbor wishful thinking is to invite disaster."

Qin Chuan muttered to himself.

But it doesn't matter, the cold reality will soon crush this last illusion.

He raised his eyes and gazed in the direction of the Chu Prince's residence, his gaze deep and unfathomable. Beneath the clamor of Tanzhou tonight, undercurrents were already surging.

He turned to the bustling stage and said to Hou Qing beside him, "The show is just beginning."

Chapter 92 He's a piece of trash, and so are you!

The bustling temple fair was brightly lit and filled with the noise of people, but it couldn't illuminate the gloom in Ma Xisheng's heart.

He hung his head, his steps heavy, standing out starkly from the festive atmosphere around him.

Before he knew it, he had passed through the bustling streets and entered a quiet street corner.

Suddenly, the leaves began to fall!

Dozens of white figures appeared silently on the surrounding rooftops like ghosts, their eyes cold and filled with murderous intent.

Dressed in white, moving swiftly and efficiently—it was none other than the Tongwen Hall assassin, a figure feared by all!

"Tongwen Hall!"

Ma Xisheng's pupils constricted sharply, and pain gripped him in an instant.

The eldest brother, Ma Xiyue, was receiving Prince Jin, Li Siyuan, at his residence when assassins from the Tongwen Hall came to take his life...

Is the eldest brother really going to turn against his own brother? They are blood brothers!

"Impossible! My elder brother treats my family like family, he would never do such a thing!"

Ma Xisheng screamed in despair, still unwilling to believe the cold reality before his eyes.

However, the assassin's sword was already drawn, like a pack of wolves pouncing on their prey, its cold light aimed directly at his vital points! He was utterly despondent and closed his eyes, awaiting death.

The expected excruciating pain did not come; all that could be heard was a dull thud and a piercing scream.

He opened his eyes in surprise—only to see two figures, one black and one white, standing like rocks on either side of him.

All around, the Tongwen Hall assassins who were just moments ago so ferocious were now reduced to cold corpses.

"Are you... the Black and White Impermanence of the Xuanming Sect?"

Ma Xisheng recognized the two men and women who were feared in the martial arts world.

They were disciples of the newly recognized Brother Qin—the Grand Preceptor of the Great Liang Dynasty.