Captain Chu

Biodata

Personality

Captain Chu favors cooperation over unnecessary coercion. He argues that Xu Chen should be questioned gently as a citizen, and stops pressing him about his source when his advisers warn that doing so could compromise their cooperation 18 21. He also objects to Xu Chen’s harsh interrogation after Old Ge’s death and later apologizes 29 30.

He is willing to face personal danger in pursuit of the investigation, but tries to limit the risks to others. He confronts Yang Tianyou alone despite a warning against direct contact, and later refuses protection through Taihao because someone else would have to pay the price 41 43.

History

Taihao and Special Corrosion

Captain Chu’s team investigates Taihao, the crisis identified by Yang Tianyou and Xu Chen’s connection to the Taihao Mausoleum. Chu proposes approaching Xu Chen directly and gently, citing his earlier help and apparent willingness to cooperate 18.

At their meeting, Chu gives Xu Chen access to records on Taihao disease and asks what he knows about Taihao. Xu Chen admits that he knew the mausoleum’s location before consulting ancient texts and had filled gaps in those texts to persuade others. When further pressure threatens to damage Xu Chen’s cooperation, Chu drops the question of his source 19 20 21.

After Xu Chen identifies a pattern of Special Corrosion affecting ancient human remains, Old Ge orders Chu to brief Yang Tianyou and have his team gather information on damaged remains both domestically and abroad 22 23.

Old Ge’s death

When Old Ge suffers unexplained organ failure, Chu brings Xu Chen to the military hospital. Although Old Ge has requested a private conversation, Chu asks Xu Chen to place a recorder beside him because of the conversation’s importance 27.

Old Ge dies after a propofol overdose, and the recording is found to contain no speech. Xu Chen is detained and interrogated to reconstruct the conversation; Chu objects to his treatment, then apologizes and promises compensation. Technical checks find no fault with the recorder or evidence of conventional alteration 28 29 30.

The supernatural investigation

Chu delivers Yang Tianyou’s package to Xu Chen; its jade jue allows Xu Chen to speak again after an unexplained loss of speech. Xu Chen later agrees to discuss a dangerous entity only after Chu removes his earpiece and submits to a check for listening devices 33 34.

As Xu Chen describes the being without naming it, Chu’s clothes become soaked with salty seawater and his notes turn into distorted script. They consider whether the being is connected to the diseases and destruction of cultural relics, although they lack proof 35.

Chu assembles a restricted five-person think tank to assess the potentially contaminating information. In a test, Xu Chen says Cthulhu’s name while holding the jade jue; Chu briefly loses his senses and cannot remember hearing it. The team subsequently finds signs of emotional blunting among those exposed to information about the being, with Chu the most severely affected 36 37.

Fearing that he might die or be replaced, Chu submits a request for action against Xu Chen if he dies, intending to ensure investigators keep Xu Chen under control. The request is rejected; after learning more from Yang Tianyou, Chu plans a further request to help Xu Chen instead 37 43.

Confrontation with Yang Tianyou

After six Taihao disease patients suffer sudden brain death, Chu questions Yang Tianyou, who calls the deaths a price paid to prevent a greater disaster. Chu puts on a Level A hazmat suit and confronts him alone 41.

Yang recites words about Cthulhu, leaving Chu terrified and unable to remember what he heard. Yang says two patients paid the price for the disclosure, while Chu gained no information because his inspiration was too low. He also tells Chu that the entity has noticed him 42.

Yang offers Taihao’s protection if Chu invokes the name in danger, but Chu refuses because of the cost to others. He then orders the think tank to back up their conversation across multiple storage methods, concerned that the entity can interfere with modern instruments 43.

Equipment

• Military-grade terminal — Used to show Xu Chen records on Taihao disease 19.
• Earpiece and surveillance equipment — Connected Chu to advisers analyzing Xu Chen during questioning; Chu later removed the earpiece at Xu Chen’s insistence 21 34.
• Level A hazmat suit — Worn during his confrontation with Yang Tianyou 41 42.

Relationships

• Xu Chen — A key source in the Taihao investigation. Chu seeks his cooperation and later plans to help him, while also treating his knowledge as a potential danger 18 37 43.
• Old Ge — A senior figure in the investigation who directs Chu to brief Yang Tianyou and gather evidence on damaged remains. Chu continues supporting Ge’s students after his death 23 37.
• Yang Tianyou — A doctor with knowledge of Taihao and the supernatural threat. Chu presses him for answers about the patient deaths and the entity 41 42.
• Five-person think tank — Advisers assembled by Chu to analyze and contain dangerous information. They assess both the threat and the effects of exposure on their own team 36 37.

Notable Quotes

“This isn't a war! He's still our citizen! Stop using that approach to pressure people!” 18

“I'm going to take Him on, whether I live or die. If my death can make Him expose a trace, that will be my victory!” 42