Chinese animation: Starting with Bad Guys

She paused, looked up at him, and a mischievous glint flashed in her phoenix eyes, yet it also carried a hint of warning:

"The journey is long, and beauties from all over the world are as numerous as clouds... Young master, you must remember your identity and not bring back any more... well, unnecessary 'trouble'."

She knew all too well Qin Chuan's "attractive" nature; he could attract a bunch of suitors wherever he went.

"That is incorrect!"

Qin Chuan immediately put on an innocent and aggrieved look, but his tone carried a hint of narcissism:

"I have always been virtuous and self-disciplined, but my exceptional talent and undeniable charm are beyond compare. Like a pearl in the dark, my brilliance shines forth, and there are always some... well, admirers who flock to me and avoid me like the plague. Can you blame me for being too charming?"

He spread his hands, his face showing a sincere "I'm helpless too" expression, which made Yan Fei burst out laughing.

That smile, like melting ice and snow, instantly dispelled the heaviness of parting.

She rolled her eyes at him, annoyed, and lightly tapped his chest with her fingertip: "You smooth talker! I bet even the renowned swordsman Tianwen couldn't crack your thick skin!"

Qin Chuan took her hand in his, his palm warm and firm. They smiled at each other, all their reluctance and longing flowing away in that smile.

After a moment of tenderness, Qin Chuan took a deep breath, his eyes hardening: "Don't worry, I'll be back."

The figure in black turned in the morning breeze, his robes fluttering, and without the slightest hesitation, quickly disappeared into the depths of the palace garden.

The road ahead is long, and the winds of change are about to rise in the five kingdoms. The marriage three months later is like an invisible thread that has already tightly connected him with Xianyang and the Korean princess.

A new chapter is slowly unfolding as he walks.

Chapter 42 Night Scene of Handan, Snow Maiden's Allure

Handan, the capital city that once bore witness to the prosperity of the Zhao state and the humiliation of the Yingchuan, exudes a heavy sense of history in the twilight of late autumn.

The long street paved with bluestone slabs still seemed to carry the lingering pain of the cold stone rain from years ago. One could almost smell the sour stench of moldy wheat cakes and faintly hear the malicious curses of children calling Qin dogs.

The realism of the Proton Era, compiled by the master of Chinese animation, has been deeply imprinted in Qin Chuan's mind, making it feel as if he had experienced it himself.

He walked through the bustling crowd, dressed in dark robes, his demeanor calm and composed, standing out from the lively atmosphere around him, like a ghost emerging from a cold past.

"Have you heard? Tonight at 'Flying Snow Pavilion,' the Snow Maiden will be performing a dance!"

"Really? Then we'd better get there early to get a good spot! The Snow Maiden's dance is so beautiful, even the gods would be captivated!"

"Yes, yes, what a pity! So many princes and noblemen hold mountains of gold and silver, yet they can't even touch the hem of the Snow Maiden's robe..."

The whispers of passersby reached my ears, dispelling some of the gloom.

Snow Maiden, the most outstanding dancer in the State of Zhao.

Qin Chuan had heard of this name before: the unparalleled dance skills of the Seven Kingdoms, the flute music that could move even the most hardened heart to tears with a single rendition of "White Snow," and the breathtaking beauty that could topple kingdoms.

His eyes flickered slightly, and he made up his mind.

As night fell, Feixue Pavilion was brightly lit, and the melodious sounds of silk and bamboo instruments filled the air.

The grand hall was already packed with people, including the princes, nobles, and wealthy merchants of the Zhao state. The air was filled with precious incense and burning anticipation.

When the Snow Woman appeared amidst everyone's anticipation, the entire bustling hall instantly fell into a breathless silence.

She wore a light blue, waist-revealing dance dress, the hem of which was decorated with tiny, sparkling snowflake patterns that shimmered with a delicate, cold light under the lamplight.

The silver headdress inlaid with blue crystals made her white hair look like clouds, and beneath the exquisite silver eye ornaments, her icy blue eyes were clear yet aloof.

Crystal earrings swayed gently with her steps, and a silver necklace set with rubies sparkled around her snow-white neck.

Silver armlets, silver bracelets, light blue ribbons wrapped around the arms, silver leg ornaments and anklets adorning the long, slender legs, and finally, those unique blue crystal dance clogs…

Her whole being seemed to be sculpted from ice and snow, ethereal and untouched by the world.

As she began to dance, her movements were as graceful as a startled swan and as elegant as a swimming dragon.

Every spin, every leap, carries a breathtaking beauty, yet also contains a chilling aura that keeps people at a distance.

She was like a fairy dancing alone in a world of ice and snow. To her, the greedy, covetous, and infatuated gazes from below the stage were nothing more than blurry dust in the background.

After the dance ended, thunderous applause and cheers filled the air.

The powerful and wealthy, who could no longer contain themselves, offered lavish gifts, and some even went so far as to offer a thousand pieces of gold to redeem the Snow Maiden and bring her into their household.

The Snow Woman stood on the platform, her expression as cold and aloof as frost. To all those who showed goodwill and coveted her, she merely nodded slightly and politely declined in her clear, spring-like voice:

"I am but a humble maiden, daring not to dishonor your noble lineage. I wish to devote my life to song and dance, and have no interest in anything else."

Just then, a clear voice rang out from the corner, not loud, but clearly drowning out the noise:

"Miss Snow Maiden's dance is superb, her beauty unparalleled. I wonder if this humble gift could help you redeem your freedom?"

Everyone looked in the direction of the voice and saw a young man dressed in black, with an elegant demeanor and a face so handsome that it took their breath away.

What he was holding was a coral vessel that was entirely blue, shimmering with iridescent light, and shaped like surging waves—the priceless "Azure Coral Vessel"!

"My God! It's the Azure Coral Bottle!"

"Legend has it that this vessel is a rare treasure from the deep sea, and even the combined resources of an entire nation might not be enough to obtain it!"

"Who is this person? How could they possess such skill?"

Exclamations of surprise rose and fell.

Everyone looked at the Snow Woman. Such a precious treasure, just to redeem a dancer, was simply unprecedented extravagance and... madness.

The Snow Woman's gaze also fell on the shimmering coral goblet, a hint of surprise flashing in her eyes before returning to calm.

She looked at Qin Chuan, but his handsome face did not stir the slightest ripple in her frozen heart.

She bowed slightly again, her voice still clear and firm:

"Thank you for your kindness, young master. However, Xue Nu's mind is made up. I beg you not to mention the matter of redeeming herself again. Xue Nu only wishes to stay here and be content with singing and dancing."

Qin Chuan was not angry. Instead, a meaningful smile appeared on his lips. He looked at Xue Nu with deep eyes, as if he had already seen through something.

He put away the coral bottle and chuckled, "It's alright. I just hope that you won't regret your decision today in the future."

His tone was calm, yet carried a peculiar certainty.

The Snow Woman met his gaze, her icy blue eyes unwavering: "The Snow Woman never regrets her actions."

After the event ended, the noise subsided.

The Snow Woman returned to her boudoir, and her personal maidservant, while helping her remove her elaborate jewelry, couldn't help but whisper:

"Miss, that young master just now... was so handsome, had such an extraordinary bearing, and was incredibly generous. Why... why did you still refuse? This was a rare opportunity!"

“Silly girl, look at his clothes and demeanor. He must be from a wealthy and noble family, the son of a king or nobleman.”

The Snow Woman gazed at her exquisite reflection in the mirror, yet her eyes betrayed a hint of weariness and a longing for freedom.

“Such a person, no matter how good, only sees women like us as playthings, or even rarer and more expensive playthings. He can redeem me today, but he can give me away to someone else tomorrow, or he can discard me like a worn-out shoe when he gets tired of me.”

Her voice carried a coldness that suggested she had seen through the ways of the world.

The maid asked in confusion, "Then, young lady, you..."

A hint of tenderness and resolve flashed in the Snow Woman's eyes as she lowered her voice:

“I have found the one I can truly entrust my life to. Though he is poor, he treats me sincerely, understands my dance, and understands my heart. We… will leave tonight. We will leave Handan, go to the State of Yan, and live the life of ordinary people.”

She carefully took out an elegant silver hairpin from the bottom of her dressing case. "I'm leaving all the gold and silver I've accumulated over the years to you. Find a good family and live a peaceful life."

The maid was shocked, then her eyes filled with tears: "Miss..."

Just past midnight, all was quiet.

A slender figure quietly crept to the back door of Feixue Pavilion. It was the "lover" that Xue Nu had mentioned—a seemingly weak and handsome scholar.

The Snow Maiden carried only a small bundle containing her few personal clothes and the silver hairpin, and boarded the simple carriage prepared by the scholar without hesitation.

The carriage sped through the night, leaving Handan City behind.

Chapter 43 Betrayal and Rebirth

Inside the bumpy carriage, the scholar looked at the Snow Woman from a distance and asked with concern:

"Ah Xue, you've taken all those jewels, gold, silver and valuables that high-ranking officials and nobles have bestowed upon you over the years, haven't you? When we arrive in Yan, we'll need money to settle down and build a home..."

The Snow Woman nestled against the carriage wall, immersed in the joy of escaping her confinement and her anticipation for the future, and whispered:

“I left all of that to Xiao Cui. She’s suffered a lot with me all these years. Money is just an external thing. As long as we’re together, with your talent, we’ll always be able to make a good life together.”

The scholar's body stiffened slightly, and a hint of barely perceptible gloom crept into his voice: "You...you left everything behind? You didn't take a single thing?"

"Hmm." The Snow Woman, oblivious to anything amiss, said softly, "Money isn't important, what's important is us..."

The scholar abruptly interrupted her, his voice rising sharply with a chilling shrillness.

The carriage stopped at the edge of a desolate grove of trees on the outskirts of Handan.

The scholar jumped off the carriage, his face looking exceptionally pale and even somewhat ferocious in the dim moonlight.

"Amin, what's wrong?"

The Snow Woman also got out of the car, a sense of foreboding rising in her heart.

The scholar turned around, his usual gentle demeanor gone, replaced by greed and a twisted desire in his eyes. He pointed at the Snow Woman and said sternly:

"Ah Xue, since you didn't bring any money... well, let me watch you dance first! Dance your best move, 'Lingbo Feiyan'! Dance it for me right here!"

His breathing became heavy, and his gaze roamed freely over the snow woman's graceful body.

Snow Maiden felt a chill in her heart, both shocked and angry: "Amin! What are you doing? What are you doing dancing in this desolate wilderness? Besides... besides, such things should wait until after we are married..."

Cracks began to appear in her beautiful vision, and she subconsciously took a few steps back.

"Marriage? Haha! Snow Woman, you really think I'd marry a dancer who's been watched by a thousand men and ridden by ten thousand? Don't dream! I only got close to you because of your face and your figure!"

The scholar suddenly burst into wild laughter, his tone filled with undisguised contempt and lewdness:

"I'll take you to the State of Yan and sell you to the powerful and wealthy there. That way, I'll have more money than I can spend in a lifetime! As for you? You're just a high-class prostitute! I haven't gotten the money yet, so let me first 'enjoy' your dance and see just how captivating the number one dancer of Zhao really is!"

He grinned maliciously as he approached the pale-faced Snow Woman step by step, his eyes filled with naked lust.

Several burly men emerged from the shadows of the woods, their faces bearing malicious smiles, blocking the Snow Woman's retreat.

"No...no! You're lying to me! You've been lying to me all along!"

The snow woman was struck as if by lightning, her whole body turned ice-cold, and an overwhelming sense of betrayal and despair instantly overwhelmed her.