Chinese animation: Starting with Bad Guys

"Her last mission was to assassinate the previous master of the Han Guang Sword. After completing the mission, she disappeared without a trace. Lü Buwei once ordered a full-scale manhunt and killing."

Zhao Gao added:

"This woman's strength is unfathomable, and she is a master of concealment and disguise, posing a great threat. Young master, shall we continue the investigation?"

Qin Chuan remained silent for a moment, then turned his gaze to the window, as if piercing through the palace walls and landing on the distant farmland.

He slowly shook his head: "The matter of Jing Ni ends here. You don't need to concern yourself with it anymore. Just focus on developing the Luo Wang."

Although Zhao Gao had doubts, he dared not ask any further questions and immediately replied, "Yes! This servant obeys!"

After Zhao Gao left, the hall returned to silence. Qin Chuan stood up, his black robe brushing against the cold stone bricks.

Jingni is at Lieshan Hall... which saves him a lot of trouble. It seems it's time to go to the farmhouse himself.

Farmhouse, within the territory of Lieshantang.

The air was filled with a festive scent mixed with the smell of earth.

The hall was decorated with lanterns and colorful streamers, and servants hurried about, busy preparing for the upcoming wedding of the hall master.

Rumor has it that Tian Meng, the leader of Lieshan Hall, is about to marry a woman of mysterious origin but unparalleled beauty.

Qin Chuan walked along the country road, listening to the conversations of passersby, his expression calm and undisturbed.

Who else could Tian Meng marry besides Jing Ni?

She chose the most direct and dangerous way—to submit to a powerful local magnate, using the vast influence of the peasant family as a shield, completely disappearing into obscurity, and escaping the relentless pursuit of the Luo Net.

On their wedding night, the Lieshan Hall was filled with deafening noise. The groom, Tian Meng, was completely drunk and had to be helped away.

Inside the newly decorated house, all bright red,

The flickering red candles illuminated the pale and tense face of the newlywed Jingni.

Beneath the magnificent wedding gown, every inch of her muscle was brimming with vigilance.

The shadow of the snare has never left, even in this seemingly festive farmhouse.

She gripped the hilt of the Jingni sword hidden in her sleeve; the cold touch was the only thing that gave her a slight sense of security.

Just then, the candlelight flickered without warning, not from the wind.

A figure emerged silently from the shadows, appearing in the center of the bridal chamber with his back to her. His dark robes seemed to devour the light in the flickering candlelight.

Jing Ni's heart suddenly clenched!

Her senses had never been so dulled; she was only startled when the other person appeared.

This level of cultivation far exceeded her expectations!

She jumped to her feet, her Jingni sword almost sheathed, her voice filled with undisguised horror and killing intent: "Who?!"

The person slowly turned around; it was Qin Chuan.

His face was half-lit and half-shadowed by the candlelight, his eyes calm and still, yet like a bottomless, icy pool, instantly freezing the air around Jingni.

"The first-class rank of the Luo Wang, Jing Ni." Qin Chuan's voice wasn't loud, but it clearly pierced through the allure of the red curtains, carrying a chilling insight. "Or rather, the soon-to-be wife of the Lieshan Hall Master... Miss Wei?"

Jingni's pupils trembled violently!

This name, this identity, is a new life she earned with her life!

The other party not only knew her identity as a member of the Luo Wang organization, but also revealed her real name, which she had painstakingly hidden!

"He submitted to Tian Meng, took advantage of the peasant family's influence, concealed his identity, and evaded the net of assassination. He had a clever plan."

Qin Chuan took a step forward, his gaze piercing Jing Ni like a tangible object:

"Unfortunately, you chose the wrong place to hide. Tian Meng is a tyrannical, greedy, and lecherous man who treats human life as worthless and women as playthings. You thought you had escaped the clutches of the net, but you have only jumped into a more filthy hell."

Every word struck Jing Ni's heart like a heavy hammer.

She was aware of Tian Meng's reputation, but for her daughter's sake, she had no other choice.

At this moment, being so blatantly exposed by Qin Chuan, she felt dizzy.

"What's even more regrettable is that the reason you betrayed Luo Wang was the life enlightenment you unexpectedly gained while assassinating the Sword Master of Han Guang, the little life that made you willing to give up everything and flee to the ends of the earth."

Qin Chuan's gaze seemed to penetrate her soul:

"You don't want her to repeat your fate and become a cold-blooded killing machine, but you lead her into another kind of hell."

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

Jingni cried out in alarm, her whole body feeling as cold as if she had fallen into an ice cave.

Her daughter's existence is her deepest and most fatal secret!

It was the only belief that kept her alive!

Even Lü Buwei's trap could not be completely uncovered!

Who is this person in front of me?!

When did the Net of Deception come to exist in such a terrifying way?

Just then, a childish, sleepy voice rang out at the door: "Mother?"

A little girl, about five or six years old, with delicate features, rubbed her eyes and stood timidly at the door of the bridal chamber. It was Tian Yan.

"Ayan! Don't come any closer!"

The startled salamander was utterly terrified!

The arrival of her daughter caused her to lose all her reason instantly!

She absolutely could not allow her child to be exposed to this terrifying, entrapped person!

Without any hesitation, the Jingni Sword was drawn!

The pink sword energy tore through the air, carrying a resolute determination to destroy everything, and pierced straight for Qin Chuan's vital throat!

This was her ultimate move, a culmination of her life's work and despair!

However, facing a sword strike that could kill even the most skilled martial artist, Qin Chuan merely raised his right hand slightly.

His movements appeared slow, yet he precisely captured the core trajectory of the sword's momentum.

Bring your index and middle fingers together, and gently brush them together as if plucking a flower.

A crisp, clear sound rang out.

The violent pink sword energy vanished instantly like bubbles. Jing Ni's sword trembled violently, and a strange force surged through the blade and into the meridians of Jing Ni's arm!

She groaned, feeling as if her internal energy had been instantly imprisoned and frozen by invisible chains, making it impossible to mobilize even a fraction of it!

The sword flew out of his hand, embedded itself in the roof beam, and continued to hum.

Jingni staggered backward and bumped into the dressing table, her eyes filled with unbelievable despair.

With just a single finger! All the skills he had painstakingly honed over the years were completely sealed away, like clay chickens and earthenware dogs! The difference was like heaven and earth!

Tian Yan was stunned by this sudden turn of events. Her face turned pale, and she opened her mouth to cry out.

Qin Chuan's gaze swept over the little girl. He moved slightly, leaving almost an afterimage in place, and instantly appeared in front of Tian Yan.

With a light touch of the fingertip, the finger precisely brushed across the little girl's sleeping acupoint.

The fear in Tian Yan's eyes instantly turned into confusion, and her small body slumped backward.

Qin Chuan rolled up his sleeves, and a gentle force supported her, gently laying her flat on the soft couch beside him. Her breathing was even, and she had fallen asleep peacefully.

The whole process was as fast as lightning.

Jingni watched helplessly as her daughter was subdued, her heart breaking with terror, but she was unable to move because her inner strength was sealed.

However, the anticipated carnage did not occur.

The other party even... protected Ayan?

She looked at Qin Chuan with suspicion and uncertainty, her violently heaving chest calming down slightly.

"What...what exactly do you want?"

Jingni's voice was hoarse, carrying the weakness of surviving a disaster and a deeper sense of vigilance.

The other party had the ability to kill them, mother and daughter, but did not do so, which must mean they had a scheme.

Qin Chuan turned around and faced Jing Ni again. Moonlight streamed through the window lattice, casting cold, hard lines on his sharply defined profile.

"From now on, the Net will no longer hunt you down, nor will it hunt down your daughter."

His voice returned to its previous calmness, yet carried an undeniable power.

Jing Ni suddenly looked up, her eyes blazing with intense hope, which was then replaced by deeper doubt:

What is the price?

There is no such thing as free protection, especially not from a snare.

"The price is," Qin Chuan's gaze, sharp as a hawk's, pierced through Jing Ni's disguise and went straight to her soul, "you, to be used by me. To help me take control of the Farmers."

Controlling the farms?!

Jing Ni was shocked!

The Farmer's Clan boasts 100,000 disciples, wielding immense power with numerous branches.

This person's ambition is truly astounding!

Moreover, he actually believed that a defector assassin from the Luo Wang organization could do that for him?

"Although Tian Meng is a scoundrel, he is, after all, the head of the Lieshan Hall, with deep roots. I am new here, so how should I..."

Jingni subconsciously tried to analyze the difficulties.

"Tian Meng?" Qin Chuan's lips curled into a faint, almost cruel smile. "He will no longer be an obstacle for you."

Jingni was taken aback, not understanding what was going on.

"You just need to agree and do what you're supposed to do. I'll tell you when to act and how to cooperate."

Qin Chuan's tone carried an air of indifference, as if he controlled everything:

"In exchange, you and your daughter will be 'forgotten' by the Net. You can even live peacefully. As long as... you are smart enough and useful enough."

The temptation to live a peaceful life was too great for Jing Ni.