Chinese animation: Starting with Bad Guys

The air was thick with the lingering smell of alcohol and an invisible, unsettling sense of oppression.

In the vast space, only the two of them remained.

Qin Chuan casually brushed away non-existent dust from the bench beside him and sat down opposite Li Maozhen with an air of nonchalance.

He picked up the last jar of wine on the table, broke the seal, and poured himself a full bowl, his movements unhurried, as if it were just an ordinary drinking session.

The wine poured out, and the crisp sound of the water was particularly clear in the silence.

He raised his eyes, his gaze as calm and undisturbed as a deep pool, and looked at the tall, dignified Prince Qi opposite him. He spoke softly, his voice not loud, but each word clear and direct, striking at the heart of the matter:

"Your Highness Prince Qi has traveled a long way to the Central Plains this time. You must have already accomplished your mission and found the supreme secret method to unlock the Rao Jiang Sacred Gu in the Dragon Spring Treasure Box?"

Li Maozhen sat upright like a mountain, his handsome face beneath the golden crown was cold and hard. Upon hearing this, his deep, abyss-like eyes suddenly narrowed, and an undisguised shock burst forth from the depths of his pupils!

He left the Qi Kingdom for sixteen years, venturing deep into the treacherous and unpredictable Twelve Caves of Raojiang in search of a solution—this was a top secret among top secrets!

Apart from his only trusted younger sister, to whom he entrusted the heavy responsibilities of the Qi Kingdom, no one else knew about it!

"How...how did you know?!"

Li Maozhen's voice lowered, carrying a hint of disbelief and chill.

A terrible thought uncontrollably surfaced: Could it be that my little sister and this person... have become so intimate that they have not even kept such core secrets concerning their lives, the survival of the Qi Kingdom, from each other?

"You and her..."

Li Maozhen's throat bobbed, but the words caught in his throat. A complex and indescribable emotion surged in his chest. Was it rage? Doubt? Or perhaps the sting of being "betrayed" by his closest relatives?

"She and I are deeply in love."

Qin Chuan, however, seemed to be able to see through his thoughts and directly pointed out the subtle truth in a frank and unreserved tone.

He put down his wine bowl, met Li Maozhen's suddenly sharp, knife-like gaze, and his voice turned cold, carrying an undeniable determination:

"Therefore I have come here today only to see you and save your life."

He had little appreciation for the ambitious and indifferent Prince Qi before him. If it weren't for the Empress's sake, he wouldn't have helped him solve Yuan Tiangang's deadly trap.

"Save my life? Ha!"

Li Maozhen gave a heavy snort, a cold snort that contained a deep-seated pride and arrogance.

He slightly raised his head, his disdain evident:

"Why would I need your help? With the Life-Destroying Gu in my body, as long as the Gu worm doesn't die, I will not die! Even the cunning and treacherous Yuan Tiangang, who has been hiding his true identity for three hundred years, what can he do to me?"

The strange Gu from the Twelve Caves within his body was his greatest source of confidence and the foundation for his courage to defy the world and covet the throne!

"Hand over the Longquan Treasure Box and the Longquan Sword!"

Li Maozhen's tone suddenly turned sharp, carrying an irresistible kingly pressure, his gaze piercing Qin Chuan like an ice spike:

"Considering the bond between her and you... I will show leniency today and spare your life!"

He had overheard the conversation among the drinkers; both key tokens for unlocking the Longquan Treasure had fallen into Qin Chuan's hands.

In his opinion, the best course of action would be to kill and seize the treasure, thus eliminating this major threat.

However, those four words, "mutual affection," ultimately acted like an invisible thread, binding his cold-blooded murderous intent.

Sixteen years of guilt, and upon his return, he killed the man his younger sister loved... Even someone as ruthless as him found it difficult to make such a decision.

“The obsession in the heart of the Prince of Qi was indeed heavier than a thousand pounds.”

Qin Chuan nodded slightly, his fingertips lightly tapping the rough tabletop, producing a soft, rhythmic sound. His next words, however, were earth-shattering:

"No wonder that old codger Yuan Tiangang was able to easily exploit your obsession and keep you separated from Qi Kingdom for sixteen years!"

Li Maozhen's expression changed drastically. A surge of furious anger at being completely rejected rushed to the top of his head, and his aura instantly became sharp as a knife, as if the air itself had turned several degrees colder.

"Are you trying to say that all my efforts and life-and-death struggles over the past sixteen years have been part of a scheme orchestrated by the Grand Marshal?! Nonsense!"

Proud as he was, how could he tolerate his life's pursuit being so easily dismissed as a plaything in someone else's hands?

"Li Maozhen, whose original name was Song Wentong."

Qin Chuan sat upright, his blue robe fluttering even without wind, exuding an aura of profound and imposing authority. He recounted Li Maozhen's past in detail, as if reciting a familiar story:

"Because he protected Emperor Xizong from danger and made great contributions, he was granted the imperial surname and appointed as the military governor of Wuding, Fengxiang and Longyou. He was also granted the title of Prince of Longxi and later promoted to Prince of Qi."

"In your time, you also made many great achievements, treated the people with kindness and righteousness, and ensured that the people of the region lived in peace and prosperity. You can be called a wise king of your generation."

As Li Maozhen listened to Qin Chuan recount his past glories, the arrogance of a king became increasingly evident in his expression, as if those achievements were the very embodiment of his current ambition.

However, Qin Chuan's tone suddenly changed, each word like a hammer blow, striking Li Maozhen's heart:

"However, power breeds ambition. You have amassed an army, seized fifty states, and become a powerful tyrant!"

"This chaotic world is already plagued by war and suffering, but because of your willful and reckless military campaigns, the land has been further shattered and the people have been displaced even more!"

"Your so-called 'ending the chaos' is nothing more than paving your path to emperor with more war and bones!"

"What do you know?!" Li Maozhen's face turned ashen as he abruptly interrupted Qin Chuan, his knuckles clenching so tightly they turned white.

"I have been away from the Kingdom of Qi for sixteen years, facing life and death. What have I been seeking? It is to find the Dragon Spring Treasure, end this chaotic world, and rebuild the universe! Such a grand ambition is not something you mortals can presume to discuss."

"Grand ambition? What a grand and noble ambition! You just left, leaving this mess, this mountain of burdens, to a woman!"

Qin Chuan's voice suddenly rose, filled with barely suppressed anger:

"For sixteen long years! The people of Qi cried out in the flames of war, struggled in hunger and cold, and their corpses filled the ditches! And her? Your little sister, a woman, struggled to survive in this chaotic world surrounded by tigers and wolves! To go forward was an abyss; to retreat was the destruction of the country and the death of the family!"

If he had not been born into this world, that peerless beauty would have exhausted her life on the cold throne and withered away in boundless loneliness!

Thinking of this, Qin Chuan's anger burned even brighter.

Even so!

A fleeting, almost imperceptible pang of pain and guilt flashed in Li Maozhen's eyes, but it was quickly replaced by a deeper stubbornness. He forced himself to justify himself:

"As long as I find the Dragon Spring Treasure and control the power to rule the world, the Qi Kingdom will be the only one to end this chaotic world! The unification of the Nine Provinces will be just around the corner! Temporary sacrifices are for eternal peace!"

Qin Chuan let out an undisguised sneer, his gaze sharp as a sword, piercing straight into Li Maozhen's soul:

"The Tang Dynasty, which buried this Longquan treasure back then, possessed the four seas and was rich in the world. Why did it eventually collapse and its country fall? Could its treasure save itself? Your Highness, tell me!"

Li Maozhen was struck as if by a heavy blow, his whole body trembled violently, and he was speechless for a moment.

Qin Chuan's question was like a bucket of ice water poured on his boiling ambition.

Yes, even a powerful dynasty with a treasure trove could fall. Even if I obtained that treasure, could I truly end this chaotic situation?

For the first time, cracks appeared in the very foundation of his proud beliefs.

He opened his mouth, but found that he could not find a strong rebuttal. He could only stare at Qin Chuan, his eyes filled with surprise, doubt, and a hint of embarrassment at having his illusions shattered.

"Li Maozhen, you could have become a wise and benevolent ruler, a virtuous elder brother, and worked diligently to govern the country. You might have even been able to unify China and dominate the land!"

Qin Chuan's voice was resolute, carrying the air of a final verdict:

"But now, look at your Qi Kingdom, look at your people, and look at the obsession you have with that illusory treasure... you no longer have the right!"

"I'm not qualified anymore..."

Li Maozhen's expression was blank as he unconsciously repeated the sentence.

Qin Chuan's pronouncement was like the last straw, breaking the crumbling fortress of pride in his heart.

Yes, once upon a time, Song Wentong also cared for the common people and wanted to protect the peace of his region. But when did that supreme power and the empty title of ending the chaos cause him to completely lose his way and forget his original vow?

"If I don't have that qualification, then does that hopeless idiot Li Xingyun have it?"

He suddenly looked at Qin Chuan, his eyes filled with a final sense of resentment and doubt.

"He has it, but he doesn't want to."

Qin Chuan answered with unusual decisiveness:

"Even though Yuan Tiangang had accumulated power over three hundred years and pressed forward step by step with the help of the world, he still adhered to his original intention and refused to declare himself emperor even at the cost of his life. This persistence is what makes him different from you."

He had a thorough understanding of Li Xingyun's character.

"So that's how it is..."

Li Maozhen's gaze refocused on Qin Chuan, carrying a scrutinizing look, but also a resolute determination to burn his bridges:

"Is it only you, Qin Chuan, who are qualified to sit on the throne of the ruler of the world?"

His tone was complex, making it impossible to tell whether it was sarcasm or resignation.

Qin Chuan met his gaze without hesitation or humility, his nod conveying a sense of self-assurance and responsibility.

He had already decided to shoulder the heavy responsibility of this chaotic world, and there was no need to hide it.

"good very good!"

All expression vanished from Li Maozhen's face, leaving only a cold, almost tangible fighting spirit.

He slowly stood up, his tall figure casting a long shadow in the candlelight, covering most of the hall, and a suffocating pressure spread out.

"Then let me see for myself, and experience firsthand, whether you, Qin Chuan, are truly qualified!"

He needs to weigh it himself! All the talk and rumors in the world are unreliable.

Only the clash of the most primal forces could truly convince his heart, which had been proud for half his life and struggled for sixteen years!

If Qin Chuan cannot even defeat him, then the so-called "ruler of the world" is nothing but a pipe dream.

But if this person can truly subdue him completely... then, using all the power of the Qi Kingdom to help him ascend to the throne and end this chaotic world, perhaps... that would be Li Maozhen's final salvation and destiny?

"In the end, we still can't avoid having to resort to violence."

A cold yet expectant smile appeared on Qin Chuan's lips, his eyes burning with fighting spirit.

He also stood up, his blue robe fluttering even without wind, and a powerful aura that was in no way inferior to Li Maozhen's emanated from him, making him a worthy opponent.

"This... suits me perfectly!"

How could merely verbally rebuking his scoundrel brother dispel the resentment he had been harboring for the Empress?

That joke about "beating someone to a pulp" from last time will now become a stark reality in this empty restaurant!

Chapter 95 Beaten into a pig's head!

The empty restaurant was filled with the lingering smell of alcohol and the greasy aroma of spilled dishes.