Chinese animation: Starting with Bad Guys

Ji Wuye coughed up blood again and flew backward, this time crashing into a thick pillar and rolling into the mud in the center of the courtyard. Countless bones in his body were broken, and he could no longer get up.

The shadow of death completely enveloped him.

As the black-clad figure approached step by step like a demon god, all of Ji Wuye's ferocity and pride crumbled instantly, leaving only the most primal instinct for survival.

"No! Don't kill me! My lord! Spare me! Spare me! I, Ji Wuye, am willing to serve you as my master! Everything I have is yours!"

He struggled, desperately begging for mercy despite his status, his voice distorted with fear:

"Power! Wealth! The entire Korean army! And...and countless beauties! From Zilan Pavilion to the royal palace, whatever you desire, I can get it for you! Please! Spare my life! I'm willing to be your most loyal dog!"

He was in tears, displaying his ugly side, and had lost all semblance of the dignity of a great general.

Qin Chuan did not pause in his steps, and his eyes remained as cold as ever, as if he had not heard a word.

"Nightfall! I am the Lord of Nightfall! But I have someone behind me! The Net! It's the Net! The Net of Qin!"

Seeing that Qin Chuan remained completely unmoved, a desperate madness flashed in Ji Wuye's eyes. As if grasping at the last straw, he screamed:

“I know their secret! I know how to contact them! Spare my life, and I can help you fight the Net! I can become a pawn you plant in the Net! I…”

Qin Chuan finally stopped in front of him, looking down at this once powerful and influential Lord of the Night, the great general of Han, who was now crawling on the ground like mud, with only indifferent stillness in his eyes.

In the reflection of Ji Wuye's suddenly magnified pupils, filled with endless fear and despair, a foot wearing ordinary cloth boots slowly rose with an air of casualness, as if crushing dust.

Then, it fell.

"Snap—!"

A sickening cracking sound rang out, dull and short.

All of Ji Wuye's pleas for mercy, threats, and temptations, along with all his ambitions and sins, came to an abrupt end with this one step.

The enormous head, like a watermelon struck by a boulder, instantly deformed and collapsed, splattering red and white matter all over the ground, staining the mud and broken blue bricks.

The once invincible Korean general, Ji Wuye, the leader of the Nightfall organization, fell from grace, dying a lowly and ugly death.

The courtyard was deathly silent.

The Corpse-Driving Demon stopped its copper bell, the Hundred Poison King withdrew its poisonous mist, the Peerless Ghost stood still, Tianze's chains drooped, Wei Zhuang sheathed his sword, and the flames dancing on Yan Lingji's fingertips quietly went out.

All eyes were focused on the figure in black.

Qin Chuan didn't even glance down at the corpse at his feet. His gaze swept across the shadows in the corner of the courtyard.

"Your subordinate is here!"

Mo Ya appeared in front of Qin Chuan in an instant, kneeling on one knee with the utmost respect.

Having witnessed Qin Chuan kill Ji Wuye as easily as crushing an ant, his awe reached its peak.

"The Hundred Birds are now under your command again." Qin Chuan's voice was completely calm, as if he were merely instructing someone on a trivial matter. "Before dawn, I need the Straw-Cloaked Man, the Emerald Tiger, and the Tide Demoness..."

He paused, then clearly uttered the last three words, "Madam Mingzhu appeared at Zilan Pavilion."

He raised his eyes, his gaze seemingly piercing through the heavy night, landing on different corners of Xinzheng City.

“Tell them to come and see the blood.”

"Too late, or not at all," Qin Chuan's voice remained calm, yet it sent a chill down the spines of everyone present, including Tian Ze and Wei Zhuang. "Their fate will be so ruthless."

"Yes, sir!"

Mo Ya's heart trembled, and he agreed without hesitation. He knew...

This is an ultimatum that cannot be questioned or delayed.

From this moment on, the sky over Xinzheng completely changed.

Qin Chuan said no more, turned around, his black robe brushing against the blood-stained bricks, and slowly walked outside.

Yan Lingji, Wei Zhuang, Tian Ze, and their subordinates followed silently behind, like a royal guard, stepping over the mess and corpses, and disappearing into the thick night.

All that remained was the blood-soaked, deathly silent General's Mansion, and the figures of Mo Ya and Bai Feng, who quickly dispersed as if blending into the shadows, to convey that cold command.

Deep within the royal palace, in Lady Mingzhu's bedroom.

Amidst the wafting incense smoke, Lady Mingzhu leaned languidly against the soft couch, toying with a delicate, vibrant purple flower between her fingers.

She had just received definitive news: the General's mansion had been massacred, and Ji Wuye had been killed and beheaded!

The news was like a stone thrown into a deep pool, stirring up huge waves in her heart.

The death of the Nightfall leader signifies a dramatic shift in the power structure of Xinzheng, and also indicates a fatal flaw in her meticulously woven web.

Her stunningly beautiful face carried a hint of solemnity and deep calculation as her fingertips unconsciously twirled the flower petals.

Ji Wuye is dead. Who possesses such power? Tianze? Or... that mysterious figure who has been stirring up trouble recently? Is the death of my cousin Bai Yifei also related to this?

Many questions lingered in her mind.

Just then, the candlelight in the bedchamber flickered slightly, even though there was no wind.

A dark shadow, like a weightless wisp of smoke, appeared silently in the shadows of the corner.

"Who?" Madam Mingzhu's eyes instantly turned sharp as knives, and a faint blue light gathered at her fingertips.

"Madam Mingzhu is well." Mo Ya's calm and even voice came from the shadows. "I am here on my master's orders to deliver this message."

Madam Mingzhu's eyes darted around, her mind racing.

Mo Ya appeared here and called himself "Master"... Ji Wuye is dead, so who is this "Master"?

A chilling cold suddenly surged from the bottom of my heart!

She immediately thought of her cousin Bai Yifei's death. Could it also be the work of this "new master"?

She suppressed her turbulent emotions, maintaining her languid demeanor, but her voice carried a barely perceptible hint of coldness: "Oh? Your new master? The mysterious powerhouse who killed the Blood-Clad Marquis?"

She was both testing and confirming.

At this moment, she was almost certain that this was the person who was her cousin Bai Yifei's enemy!

“Indeed.” Mo Ya’s voice was clear. “Master’s order: Lady Mingzhu is to go to Zilan Pavilion immediately for a meeting. Lord Emerald Tiger and Lord Straw Raincoat Guest are also to go.”

Madam Mingzhu let out a soft "heh," a laugh filled with complex emotions.

There was mockery of Qin Chuan's arrogance, vigilance about his own situation, and even more so, hatred for his cousin's blood feud.

She slowly sat up straight, her posture still elegant, but with a reserved and aloof air unique to noblewomen in the deep palace.

"That sir... has quite the imposing presence."

She parted her lips slightly, her voice carrying just the right amount of embarrassment:

"However, I have long resided in the inner palace and hold a special status. To leave the palace so abruptly at night and go to a place of pleasure like Zilan Pavilion... would likely cause controversy, be against etiquette, and easily alarm His Majesty."

She paused, her fingertips gently brushing over the slightly wilted petals, then raised her captivating eyes as if looking into the shadow where Mo Ya was, her tone carrying a subtle invitation.

"How about... Lord Qin Chuan, please come to my Pearl Palace for a chat? This place is quiet and secluded, with no idle people to disturb you. I... will certainly welcome you with open arms, and do my best to be a good host."

Her words were soft and gentle, carrying the hypocritical politeness unique to the court, as if she were truly only considering the other person's feelings.

In reality, her palace was a lair she had cultivated for many years, filled with traps and poisons. If Qin Chuan dared to come, he would be falling into her territory! She could take advantage of the terrain, and even have a chance... to avenge her cousin!

The black crow in the shadows was silent for a moment, its voice remaining calm and devoid of emotion:

"I will convey the lady's invitation to my master as truthfully as possible."

He didn't say much, neither agreeing nor threatening, but simply indicated that he would convey the message.

A brief silence fell over the bedchamber.

Madam Mingzhu's smile remained, but a barely perceptible hint of disappointment and a deeper chill flashed deep in her eyes.

Mo Ya's impeccable reaction made it impossible for her to judge Qin Chuan's attitude or apply any more pressure.

She slowly raised her hand, looking at the flower on her fingertip, which she had unconsciously kneaded until it was almost broken and oozing deep purple poison. The sap, like congealed blood, stained her nails.

"In that case... I'll have to trouble you."

Madam Mingzhu spoke softly, her tone returning to its usual languidness, yet carrying a subtle tension.

She knew that Mo Ya's departure carried not only her invitation but also a clear signal: she, Madam Mingzhu, was not willing to give in easily.

At the same time, she understood that Ji Wuye's fate was the most blatant warning, requiring no further explanation from Mo Ya.

Whether Qin Chuan will accept her "invitation" or stick to his "order" will be revealed soon.

Mo Ya's figure disappeared into the shadows as silently as it had arrived.

Only Lady Mingzhu remained in the bedchamber.

She slammed the broken poisonous flower in her hand to the ground, the deep purple sap spreading like splattered blood, leaving a small stain on the expensive carpet.

She walked to the window and looked in the direction of Zilan Pavilion. There was no longer any languor in her eyes, only burning poison and cold calculation. Her gaze seemed to want to devour Zilan Pavilion in the distance and the people inside.

"Cousin, I will avenge you..."

She murmured softly, her voice like a viper hissing, filled with deep-seated hatred and a hint of fear that was forcibly suppressed.

Chapter 30 Night Ends, Dawn Breaks

Zilanxuan, the elegant top-floor pavilion.

The night wind, carrying the stench of blood, rushed in through the open window, only to be frozen by the heavier, low-pressure air inside.

Qin Chuan sat upright in the main seat, his black robes seemingly absorbing all the light, leaving only a bottomless darkness.

Wei Zhuang stood in the shadows by the window, sword in hand; the fresh scratches on the shark-tooth scabbard gleamed coldly in the dim light.

Ze and his men stood on either side. The Corpse-Driving Demon's copper bell was silent, the Poison King's poison sac was tightly closed, the Peerless Ghost stood like a mountain, and the flames on Yan Ling Ji's fingertips burned quietly. All eyes were focused on the center.

The enormous body of the jade tiger occupied almost half of the central space of the Accord.

He tried to force a fawning smile, but greasy beads of sweat kept seeping from his forehead, soaking his ornate collar.

He arrived the fastest and with the most humble demeanor.

"My lord! I, Little Tiger... I, Jade Tiger, am willing to serve you like a dog or a horse!"

He fell to his knees with a thud, his voice trembling with fear, yet also carrying the shrewd calculation characteristic of a businessman:

"I control nearly 70% of Korea's trade routes, including salt, iron, grain, jewelry, and banks... With just a word from you, my lord, Korea's money will be yours! Ji Wuye didn't recognize the true dragon and deserved to die! You, my lord, are the one destined by heaven!"

While kowtowing, he eagerly demonstrated his "value," attempting to use this vast network of wealth to secure his survival.