Chinese animation: Starting with Bad Guys

He shook his head. "Focus on mastering your ice magic; that's where your talent lies. Don't neglect your core skills."

As soon as Tu Shan Ya Ya was free, she jumped back a few steps like a startled rabbit, rubbing her slightly sore arms. Hearing Qin Chuan's comments, she felt both ashamed and annoyed, especially the phrase "at such a young age," which directly hit one of her most sensitive points.

"Who's small! Where am I small!" She instinctively puffed out her chest and retorted angrily, then realized she might have missed the point and quickly added:

"My ice magic is amazing! Just now... just now I wasn't prepared! Also, don't talk about my sister!"

Seeing her flustered expression, Qin Chuan's smile deepened, his gaze sweeping over the huge wine gourd she had planted on the ground:

"As for your 'ingratitude' just now... I'm too magnanimous to hold a grudge against a petty person."

He changed the subject, pointing to the gourd of wine, "If I drink a gourdful of your wine, we'll be even."

Before he finished speaking, Qin Chuan's figure blurred, and Tu Shan Ya Ya only felt a blur before her eyes, and her beloved Endless Wine Gourd was already in his hands.

Qin Chuan pulled out the stopper and, without any hesitation, tilted his head back and drank it down.

"Hey! You...!"

Tu Shan Ya Ya stamped her feet in heartache; that was a bottle of fine wine that she had painstakingly filled!

But thinking about his reckless behavior just now, he realized he was indeed in the wrong. The words "Give it back to me" stuck in his throat and he couldn't say them. He could only puff out his cheeks and glare angrily at Qin Chuan drinking heavily.

The clear, mellow aroma of the wine filled the air. Qin Chuan took a big gulp and exclaimed, "Good wine!"

Only then did he toss the wine gourd back to Tu Shan Ya Ya.

Tu Shan Ya Ya hurriedly caught it, held it in her arms, and checked the level of the wine with concern, muttering under her breath, "...You know your stuff."

Just then, a gentle yet dignified aura quietly descended.

A fox-woman, dressed in magnificent palace attire, with an elegant and noble demeanor and a beautiful face that exudes wisdom honed by the passage of time, appeared inside the mountain gate, surrounded by several elders with dignified auras.

Her gaze swept over everyone, lingering for a moment on Qin Chuan before finally settling on Tu Shan Honghong with inquiry and concern.

It was Feng Xi, the contemporary ruler of Tushan.

"Aunt!" Tu Shan Honghong and Tu Shan Rongrong quickly stepped forward to pay their respects.

Tu Shan Ya Ya also restrained her temper and stood obediently.

Tu Shan Honghong quickly recounted her abduction, her peril at the dilapidated temple, and Qin Chuan's rescue the previous night, omitting key details about the young Taoist priest, her apprenticeship, and her receiving a name. She concluded solemnly:

“Aunt, Qin Chuan has saved Honghong and Rongrong’s lives. He wishes to borrow the cultivation manuals in my Tushan collection for reference. Honghong humbly begs your permission.”

After listening, Feng Xi turned her gaze to Qin Chuan again, her deep fox eyes seemingly able to see through people's hearts.

She bowed slightly, her demeanor graceful: "Mr. Qin Chuan, regarding the matter of Hong Hong and Rong Rong, Feng Xi, on behalf of Tu Shan, thanks you for your righteous assistance."

Her voice was gentle and pleasant, yet it possessed the air of someone in a superior position.

Then, she changed the subject, with a perfectly timed pause:

"As for the matter of borrowing books... the Tushan Secret Treasury is of great importance, involving many secret inheritances. This matter is no small thing and cannot be decided by Feng Xi alone. It needs to be discussed with the elders at length."

She gave a reassuring smile. "Sir, you have come from afar and are a benefactor of my Tushan family. Why don't you settle down in Tushan first and rest for a while? After Fengxi discusses with the elders, we will give you an answer. What do you say?"

These words were perfectly worded, expressing gratitude while politely declining the immediate request to borrow the book, offering room for "discussion," and treating the guest with courtesy, leaving no room for criticism.

Qin Chuan knew perfectly well that this "deliberation" was a preliminary refusal, or rather, that Tu Shan needed time to observe, probe, and assess his background and true intentions.

He remained calm and cupped his hands, saying, "Lord Fengxi, you are too kind. I, Qin, will follow your arrangements."

"So good."

Feng Xi smiled gently and gestured for him to enter.

"Sir, please come with me."

Led by Feng Xi and a group of Tu Shan elders, Qin Chuan entered the Tu Shan territory.

Ancient trees reach for the sky, pavilions and towers are nestled among lush flowers and trees, clear streams murmur, and the spiritual energy is so rich that it is almost impossible to dispel it, creating a scene of a paradise on earth and a holy land of demons.

Tu Shan Ya Ya followed behind, clutching her wine gourd, occasionally stealing glances at Qin Chuan's back with a complicated expression.

There was a mixture of surprise and doubt about his strength, heartache for him drinking his own wine, and a touch of curiosity about the mysterious flame that could so easily suppress his ice magic.

Chapter 5 Under the Bitter Love Tree, Making a Bet with Ya Ya

Tu Shan Ya Ya angrily ran away with her Endless Wine Gourd, while Feng Xi personally arranged a quiet and elegant guesthouse for Qin Chuan.

The courtyard is built against the mountain. Opening the window, you can overlook the verdant layers of Tushan Mountain and the winding streams. It is full of spiritual energy and makes people feel relaxed and happy.

Less than half a day after settling in, Tu Shan Rongrong, like a lively little fox, hopped and skipped to the front of the pavilion.

The little girl changed into a clean and refreshing light yellow dress, her big eyes filled with joy:

"Brother Qin Chuan, let Rongrong take you to see the most fun and beautiful places in Tushan!"

She clearly considered this "tour guide" job an important task, and was also somewhat curious about this mysterious savior.

Qin Chuan readily agreed.

With the Third Miss of Tushan personally leading the way, it is undoubtedly the most direct way to understand the customs and culture of Tushan and the fox spirit culture.

Tu Shan Rongrong, like a lively little butterfly, led the way.

She led Qin Chuan on a stroll through the ornately decorated and ancient Tu Shan main city, passing through a bustling market filled with all sorts of little demons, where unique spiritual fruits, exquisite magical artifacts, and rare items seldom seen in the mortal world were sold.

Rongrong also took Qin Chuan to see the "Marriage Bureau" and "Red Thread Fairy Registration Office" that Tushan was proud of. Even though they were only on the outside, they could feel the unique atmosphere of connecting lovers.

They crossed the rainbow bridge suspended above the deep ravine, where clouds and mist swirled and spiritual energy rose, and toured a garden that resembled a fairyland, filled with exotic flowers and rare herbs.

Finally, Rongrong led Qin Chuan along a path covered with pink petals toward the core sacred site of Tushan—the Bitter Love Tree.

The enormous canopy covered the vast area like a parasol, and pink petals fell without wind, forming a dreamlike rain of flowers.

The air was filled with an indescribable, gentle yet slightly melancholic atmosphere, as if it contained the prayers of countless lovesick men and women in the world.

At this moment, a solemn ceremony is taking place under the Bitter Love Tree.

A resolute-looking human youth carrying a long sword and a gentle, flower fairy woman with eyes like autumn water, knelt devoutly under a tree, their fingers intertwined.

A graceful and elegant woman dressed in red stood beside them, guiding the ceremony.

Tu Shan Rongrong immediately slowed her pace, her eyes filled with awe and a hint of longing, and whispered to Qin Chuan:

“Brother Qin Chuan, look, that’s reincarnation and continuing the bond. The lifespan difference between humans and demons is too great. When the human grows old and dies, the demon is left to face the long years alone. How painful that must be.”

She pointed at the couple:

"The Bitter Love Tree sensed their sincerity and gave them a chance. As long as they sincerely swear to the tree, offering their memories of love and a portion of the flower fairy's demonic power as sacrifices, they can seal it into her natal magic weapon—I guess it's the spirit flower in her hair."

Then, our Tushan matchmaker fairy will cast a spell, splitting the magical artifact in two. After the human brother died, he was reincarnated with half of the artifact and a portion of his demonic power. When the time is right, the Bitter Love Tree will descend to guide the matchmaker fairy to find the reincarnated person, help him regain his memories, and they can rekindle their love!

Rongrong's voice carried a seriousness beyond her years:

"Moreover, by helping them reunite, we Tushan fox demons can also gain a very special power through the Bitter Love Tree—the power of love, which can make us stronger! In this way, they can reunite, we can grow, and the Bitter Love Tree can also... well, it's all a very good thing!"

Qin Chuan listened quietly, his gaze fixed on the Bitter Love Tree, whose massive trunk seemed to contain an ancient and profound will.

He naturally knew that what Rongrong said was just the surface.

The essence of this Bitter Love Tree is a peculiar existence of creatures outside the circle, forming a symbiotic relationship with the creatures within the circle based on "emotion".

It exists and grows by drawing upon the power of emotion, and at the same time, it gives back to the Tushan fox demons who help maintain this "emotion".

The third young master of Aolai Kingdom once regarded it as a threat from outside the circle and wanted to get rid of it as soon as possible, but he found that it was difficult to completely destroy because of its inexhaustible emotional power.

Ultimately, this powerful being changed its strategy, attempting to find the ultimate way to resurrect its brother and close the interdimensional portal through the reincarnation laws controlled by the Bitter Love Tree.

Seeing Qin Chuan gazing at the Bitter Love Tree in deep thought, Rongrong assumed he was awestruck by the wondrous rules and didn't disturb him. She simply stood quietly to the side, a proud look on her face.

Just then, a red figure landed gracefully beside them; it was Tu Shan Hong Hong.

Her expression was a little more relaxed than before, clearly indicating that her discussion with Feng Xi and the elders had yielded results.

"Qin Chuan." Hong Hong's voice was clear and crisp. "After discussing with the elders, your aunt has agreed to grant you access to some of the classic texts for your reference."

Qin Chuan withdrew his gaze and looked at Hong Hong, his eyes questioning.

Honghong continued, "However, due to the rules of Tushan, what can be opened at present is limited to the most basic and popular cultivation methods of the demon race and classics explaining the nature of spiritual energy and demon power. Furthermore, I must accompany you throughout the entire process of borrowing them."

Qin Chuan understood.

These restrictions of "basic" and "full accompaniment" clearly reflect the Tu Shan leadership's vigilance towards this outsider of unknown origin and unpredictable strength.

Tu Shan Hong Hong must have played a significant role in achieving this result.

He solemnly cupped his hands in greeting:

"Miss Honghong, thank you very much. I will remember this kindness."

Tu Shan Honghong shook her head slightly: "You saved us first, this is Tu Shan's way of expressing gratitude. But..."

She hesitated for a moment, her clear fox eyes filled with sincere doubt, "Qin Chuan, your strength is already unfathomable, why do you still need to borrow these basic classics? The cultivation method you practice seems to have formed its own system and is exceptionally powerful."

Qin Chuan did not hide anything and said frankly, "What I seek is not my own cultivation method. I want to create a basic cultivation method for the human race."

"To create cultivation techniques for the human race?"

Tu Shan Honghong was taken aback, her delicate eyebrows unconsciously furrowing slightly.

"what?!"

An angry, sharp shout rang out from behind the bushes not far away.

Tu Shan Ya Ya jumped out like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, and she secretly followed them the whole time!

Her face was flushed with anger as she pointed at Qin Chuan:

"You! You actually want to help those despicable humans?! Do you know how many years they've bullied our demon race with their magical treasures? You're aiding the enemy! You're a traitor! Once they get their own techniques and become even more powerful, won't they be even more arrogant and domineering towards our demon race?!"

Although Tu Shan Honghong was not as excited as Ya Ya, deep worry was evident in her eyes.

Although Ya Ya's words were extreme, they hit the nail on the head.

For a long time, the human race has relied on the advantages of magical treasures and talisman formations, while the demon race is born with demonic power and a strong physique. The two sides have barely formed a dynamic balance in high-end combat power. Although there are frictions and conflicts, large-scale wars can be avoided.

If Qin Chuan truly popularizes cultivation techniques among the human race and significantly enhances the overall strength of the human race, this balance will inevitably be completely broken.

At that time, the human race's power will expand, and its oppression of the demon race will only intensify, leading to an escalation of conflict. Tushan will also find it difficult to remain unaffected.

"Ya Ya, don't be rude!"

Honghong first scolded her younger sister, then turned to Qin Chuan, her tone serious: