Chinese animation: Starting with Bad Guys

Qin Chuan did not answer immediately.

He gazed at the distant outline of the royal court, which resembled a lurking beast in the twilight.

"Do what you believe is right." After a long silence, he gently ruffled the girl's hair. "No matter what choice you make, your master will always be there for you."

Yelü Zhiwu nodded emphatically, engraving these words firmly in his heart.

She quickly calmed herself down, rubbed her reddened eyes, and said softly, "Three people want to see you. They say they are your friends, and Father has arranged for them to rest in the west tent."

Qin Chuan was slightly taken aback, then understood, a strange light flashing in his eyes: "Take me to see them."

The wind rustled through the flags of the military camp, as if playing a prelude to the approaching storm.

Chapter 117 Another teacher's wife?

Before Qin Chuan and Yelü Zhiwu even approached the west tent, a noisy commotion arose inside, faintly mixed with the angry shouts of children and the light laughter of men.

Before long, two figures darted out of the tent, one after the other.

Following behind was a girl of about eleven or twelve years old, with jet-black hair tied into two braids that reached her shoulders with scarlet hair ties, the ends of which swayed gently with her movements.

She wore a short jacket embroidered with floral patterns and a pair of adorable tiger-head shoes, but carried a huge bundle on her back that seemed disproportionate to her petite figure.

The package bumped against her as she ran, making her sway slightly, which looked both funny and cute.

The man running ahead was tall and slender, with silver hair like a waterfall, handsome and otherworldly, with an ancient bone flute tucked diagonally at his waist. Who else could he be but Hou Qing?

"Give Xiaohong back to me!"

As the girl chased after him, she grabbed a wine jar and smashed it at Hou Qing, her clear voice filled with indignation.

Hou Qing moved with the agility of a ghost, dodging and weaving. Those wine jars were filled with blood—if he were to get even a speck of it on him, his martial arts skills would be ruined on the spot.

"Is it worth it for that chubby little black guy?"

He turned around and asked, his tone tinged with helplessness.

"How could you say that about Xiaohong!" The little girl's face turned red with anger, and she threw the wine jar even harder. "She was my only companion! She was so lovely, she could sing and dance, and yet...you killed her!"

She turned a perfectly good military camp into a chaotic marketplace.

The surrounding soldiers from the northern desert seemed to take it all in stride, continuing to perform their duties without even lifting their eyelids—they had long since become numb to this sight.

"Master, who exactly is this 'Little Red' she's talking about?"

Yelü Zhiwu stared in disbelief and couldn't help but ask in a low voice.

"Yes..." Qin Chuan couldn't help but chuckle, a hint of amusement appearing in his eyes, "It's a mosquito."

Yelü Zhiwu was completely dumbfounded. To make such a fuss over a mosquito? Could this little girl be...?

"Alright, everyone stop."

At this moment, a woman slowly walked out of the tent. She had a bewitching appearance and her eyes were naturally charming, yet she also carried an air of unquestionable authority.

She clapped her hands gently, and the two people chasing each other actually stopped.

Those clear, bright eyes fell on Qin Chuan, their gaze intense, as if they were examining a rare treasure that had been lost and found again. They said softly, "Didn't you see that the main character has finally arrived?"

"But I haven't gotten my revenge yet!" The little girl stood with her hands on her hips, her cheeks puffed out like a round peach.

"Let's put it aside for now, okay?" The woman's tone was gentle, but the last syllable carried an undeniable air of authority.

The young girl glared at Hou Qing, then slammed the remaining wine jars on the ground, temporarily calming her anger.

"Brother Qin, it's been a long time." Hou Qing cupped his hands in greeting to Qin Chuan, then turned to introduce the young girl, "This is my elder sister, Ying Gou."

"My name is Sister! Not Ying Gou!"

The little girl stomped her foot suddenly, her cheeks puffed up with anger, like a cat with its fur standing on end.

“Sister and Ying Gou are the same person.”

Qin Chuan looked at the girl, his gaze narrowing slightly, and instantly saw through her true nature.

This is the Ying Gou Corpse Ancestor, known as "Boundless Underworld Sea," whose situation is exceptionally special.

Due to the backlash from cultivating the Nine Nether Profound Heaven Divine Art, not only did her physical form revert to that of a child, but her personality also split into two:

One is "Ying Gou," who retains her memories but has lost her personality, leaving only a pure fighting spirit.

The other is the "older sister" who has forgotten her past but retains her temperament and is innocent and carefree.

Only when the two parts are combined will the true Ying Gou awaken.

Qin Chuan remembered that Ying Gou's original surname was Liu, but her given name... was probably something the storyteller hadn't thought of yet.

"Brother Qin, do you have a solution?" Hou Qing's eyes narrowed, his tone revealing a barely perceptible urgency.

To cure Ying Gou, he traveled all over the country. He didn't go back to Raojiang with his master Chi Meng before, but instead specially brought his sister to find Qin Chuan.

“There are many ways, there’s no need to rush.” Qin Chuan turned to look at the alluring woman, his gaze sharp as a blade. “We should first listen to what the surrendered minister, the Corpse Ancestor, has to say, since he specifically waited for me to come.”

"For the sake of our many years of friendship, could you do me a small favor?"

The woman, referred to as the surrendered official, smiled charmingly, her eyes lingering on Qin Chuan, as if she had countless emotions to pour out.

"Am I very familiar with the surrendered corpse ancestor?"

Qin Chuan's tone was flat, even somewhat distant.

Yelü Zhiwu watched from the sidelines, secretly amazed—she had originally thought that such a stunning beauty, and being an old acquaintance of her master, would most likely be a master's wife, but she hadn't expected her master to have such an attitude.

How could you be so heartless?

The surrendered official suddenly stepped forward, almost touching Qin Chuan, his breath sweet and his voice tinged with resentment:

"Have you forgotten all the kindness I showed you back then? Just consider it repaying a favor and help me out this time, okay?"

"I can repay the favor of you for teaching me the Nine Nether Profound Heaven Divine Art."

Qin Chuan noticed the surprised look in Yelü Zhiwu's eyes, and, too lazy to argue with her any longer, his tone turned serious:

"But the matter in Yinshan is an exception."

"So that's what our relationship is like..."

Yelü Zhiwu breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this; thankfully, it wasn't yet another teacher's wife.

"How...how could you know..."

The surrendered official's expression changed drastically, a hint of panic flashing in his eyes.

Apart from Ying Gou, no one in this world should know that she was planning to find someone who had mastered the Nine Nether Profound Heaven Divine Art, retrieve the Ba Lu Stone, release Duo Kuo Huo, and then have Duo Kuo Huo open the Nine Gates Gate for her.

Could it be that Yuan Tiangang leaked this information to Qin Chuan before he died?

"The Corpse Ancestor lures people to practice his skills everywhere, but never mentions the price to pay for it. That's just too unfair."

Qin Chuan glanced at his older sister beside him and snorted coldly.

Ying Gou is considered to have a better fate than most people who have practiced the Nine Nether Profound Heaven Divine Art. The fates of many others are even more tragic than those of the Underworld Emperor Zhu Yougui back then.

How many people did the surrendered official harm because of his ridiculous obsession?

This is the reason for his coldness towards her.

"You really don't want to help me?"

The surrendered official bit his lip, his eyes slightly red, and looked rather pitiful.

"Although I won't help you, I can point you in a good position—she has a good chance of mastering the Nine Nether Profound Heaven Divine Art."

As Qin Chuan spoke, he secretly told the surrendered official the man's name.

The surrendered official was utterly astonished upon hearing this.

That person was not a martial arts prodigy, so how could he have mastered such divine skills?

"To achieve this, besides those with extraordinary talent like myself, those with boundless hatred and obsession can also give it a try."

Qin Chuan explained earnestly, but a cold glint flashed in his eyes:

"Once I personally shatter her ambitions, her hatred and obsession will surely reach their peak. At that time, she may very well be able to complete the training."

After pondering for a moment, the surrendered official realized that Qin Chuan's words made some sense.

"When do you plan to make your move?" she asked quickly.

Qin Chuan's lips curled into a cold smile, but his eyes held no warmth whatsoever: "Let's wait until Brother Hanba brings the goods over."

The surrendered official followed his gaze toward the direction of the Northern Desert Royal Court, and a chill suddenly ran through him—that place would probably soon be reduced to ruins.

Chapter 118 I am the elder sister, and also Ying Gou

Inside the tent, the candlelight flickered restlessly, illuminating the totems on the animal-hide curtains on the four walls as if they were alive.

In the flickering light and shadow, the beast patterns seemed to be roaring softly.

Yelü Zhiwu walked barefoot on the woolen felt, and the silver ornaments of Aogu jingled with the ancient dance steps.

Her skirt fluttered like a butterfly, each turn stirring up fine dust that formed a golden mist in the candlelight.

The rhythm of the Northern Desert Secret Technique flowed from her toes, as if to carefully twist the two intertwined souls within the body on the bed into a single, complete thread.

Qin Chuan stood silently at the corner of the tent, his blue robe motionless, like a stone statue immersed in shadow. Only his eyes, reflecting the flickering candlelight, were unfathomable.

Hou Qing's knuckles were clenched so tightly they turned white, and the veins on the back of his hands snaked like pythons. He stared intently at his elder sister on the bed, the anxiety in his eyes almost turning into a tangible flame.

Only the surrendered officials were nowhere to be found; only the sounds of dancing and the crackling of candlelight remained in the tent.

"Brother Hou, what is your sister's greatest wish in this life?"

Qin Chuan's voice was as soft as the wind rustling through the grass, as if loosening the tension in the air inside the tent.

Hou Qing's Adam's apple bobbed, his tone tinged with uncertainty: "Perhaps... to practice the most powerful martial arts in the world? Or to find a top-tier opponent to spar with?"

"When your personalities merge later, you must respond to her wishes with the most sincere words." Qin Chuan's gaze fell on his elder sister on the couch. "She is like someone lost in the darkness, and your words will be the light that leads her out."

Hou Qing took a deep breath, suppressed the turmoil in his mind, and nodded.

The shaman's dance steps quickened, and the clinking of silver ornaments sounded like a sudden downpour.

The elder sister on the couch grew heavier and heavier, and finally, unable to resist the strange weariness, she collapsed into the brocade quilt.