Shen Mu

Biodata

Feature	Information
Name	Shen Mu (沈穆)
Gender	Male
Species/Race	Human; a Blue Star Human contracted with the Spiritual Realm Human Race 124
Affiliation	Dhirim; Mount & Blade System
Occupation/Role	Lord of Dhirim; commander and territorial ruler
Status	Active; recovering from severe soul injuries caused by rule backlash and absorption of Yeenoghu's Divinity Fragment 474 479
First Appearance	Chapter 23

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Sacred Tree Cavalry Character Template	42	Received after Liu Na's Druid power triggered a response from the Pendor World; gained Sacred Tree equipment, a horse, and the Healing Spell.
Tier 5 Sacred Tree Knight	86	The system's analysis of the Heart of Nature raised his character template to Tier 5, upgraded two Nature Spells, granted Nature Affinity, and enhanced the Breeze rule.
Extraordinary Divine Power user	137 138	Obtained Extraordinary Divine Power and used it to enhance and purify five skills, while attaching the Soul of Pigman’s Rule Power to the Robber Gathering Place.
Power of Faith Module operator	182	Accepted Sun Zhiru's divine statue, activating the Power of Faith Module after system analysis.

Background / History

Shen Mu built his position through the Mount & Blade System, which provides him with soldiers, civilians, character templates, temporary missions, and territorial resources. Unlike other Blue Star Humans, he does not need Spiritual Realm Marks or soul-level resonance to command his summoned troops; the Mount & Blade Soldiers are directly under his command 70.

His first documented alliance was with Halfling Elder Polo and the Druid Liu Na. He agreed to provide unpolluted soil in exchange for dried mushrooms and earthworms, but made clear that deeper cooperation would require mutual trust 23. Liu Na's connection to the Will of Nature later enabled Shen Mu to obtain the Sacred Tree Cavalry template 42.

As his settlement developed from a village into Dhirim, Shen Mu focused on securing water, food, fortifications, troop recruitment, and housing. He deployed the Crescent Spring as a water source, upgraded Dhirim into a town, replaced its former castle with Rhodok Castle, and used Magic Ball authority to alter its terrain and defenses 71 95 96.

Shen Mu eventually incorporated Blue Star Human survivors into his territory, while concealing the true nature of the Mount & Blade Rules from them. Through the Special Module for Upgrading, he began enfeoffing trusted followers as Centurions with Mount & Blade character templates and command over soldiers 183 185.

Appearance

After receiving the Sacred Tree Cavalry template, Shen Mu's former cotton robe and chainmail were replaced by Sacred Tree equipment 42. In later campaigns, he is depicted riding at the head of elite Sacred Tree Knight formations; during reconnaissance in the eastern desert, however, he wore a fitted outfit rather than heavy armor 400.

• Wears a velvet robe and strengthened Sacred Tree Heavy Chainmail 42.
• Carries a Sacred Tree Fan Shield of oak reinforced with iron plates 42.
• Uses a Sacred Tree Spear approximately four meters long 42.
• Rides a Sacred Tree Heavy Steed 104 165.
• Has iron-gray eyes in later descriptions 407.

Personality

Shen Mu is pragmatic, calculating, and strongly focused on survival, territorial growth, and military advantage. He treats alliances as useful but conditional, showing caution even while accepting mutually beneficial cooperation with Polo and Liu Na 23.

He is a capable administrator as well as a commander. He delegates military and civic duties to trusted subordinates, plans settlement layouts with Manid, organizes recruitment and troop upgrades, and uses Power of Faith to accelerate Dhirim's development 76 137 138.

He values the welfare of his own people, repeatedly healing injured soldiers, addressing food and water shortages, creating farmland, and sharing the first harvest from an apple orchard with New Uxkhal's garrison 71 198 479. His trust is selective: he consistently places greater faith in Mount & Blade Soldiers than in Blue Star Humans, whose access to the castle and military authority he restricts 183 198 246.

Shen Mu can also be ruthless toward enemies and perceived traitors. He knowingly allowed Zhang Bo's conspiracy to proceed in order to obtain battle experience and create an opportunity to destroy the Green Leaf Group, then used Negotiation Experts as bait during the assault on the Wood Elf village 309 373.

Abilities & Skills

Mount & Blade System

Shen Mu is bound to the Mount & Blade System, which issues missions, grants rewards, recruits troops and civilians, provides templates, and allows him to develop territory through Mount & Blade Rules 70 90 137.

• Receives temporary missions that reward equipment, troops, buildings, money, skills, and authority 23 33 104.
• Can recruit and upgrade Mount & Blade Soldiers without using Spiritual Realm Marks 70 76.
• Uses Magic Ball / Map Editor authority to construct or relocate buildings and modify terrain 33 96 138.
• Can assess supernatural “rules,” making personal reconnaissance valuable when confronting unknown threats 400.

Nature Spells

Shen Mu acquired nature-aligned abilities through the influence of Liu Na and the Will of Nature 42 86 148.

• Healing Spell / Group Healing Spell — heals injured soldiers; its use significantly increased troop loyalty, though one healing skill also increased the aggression of those affected 71 113.
• Group Stone Skin — grants soldiers heightened defense for one minute; only ballista-level weapons can reliably penetrate its defensive threshold 113.
• Swarm Harassment — a Nature Element Summoning Skill that may be bestowed on compatible, open-hearted believers through Secret Tome's Blessing 173.
• Nature Affinity — passive ability gained when his template reached Tier 5 86.

Secret Tome's Blessing

A special mind skill obtained by analyzing a Spiritual Realm Mark provided by Isabelle 124.

• Bestows Shen Mu's existing spells on members of his race who have opened their hearts to him 124.
• Initially limited to five recipients per day 124.
• Requires Power of Faith and compatibility between the recipient's personality and the selected skill 137.
• Bestowed skills require continued Faith Value expenditure and can only be used within Shen Mu's territory or near him 173.

Power of Faith

Shen Mu can collect and spend Power of Faith through the Dragon Banner fragment, Blue Star Human believers, and Centurions with Mount & Blade Soldiers under their command 123 182 185.

• Accelerates construction, crop growth, and other territorial development 137 241.
• Supports Secret Tome's Blessing and the use of bestowed skills 124 173.
• Enables the formation and expansion of a follower-based command structure through the Imperial Commander System 183 185.
• Can help promote the Mount & Blade System itself 123.

Extraordinary Divine Power

Extraordinary Divine Power can enhance and purify Shen Mu's skills, as well as attach Rule Power to compatible buildings 138.

• Enhanced and purified five skills using four points of Extraordinary Divine Power 138.
• Counteracted negative aggression effects created by divine enhancement 137 138.
• Attached the Soul of Pigman to the Robber Gathering Place, strengthening the recruited robbers' physical power and stamina 138.

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Low-Tier Ring of Supply — replenishes arrows consumed by Shen Mu's troops; received for completing his first alliance 23.
• Sacred Tree Heavy Chainmail — reinforced three-layer chainmail received with the Sacred Tree Cavalry template 42.
• Sacred Tree Fan Shield — oak shield with iron reinforcement 42.
• Sacred Tree Spear — approximately four-meter spear with an iron-plated front section 42.
• Sacred Tree Heavy Steed — mount associated with his Sacred Tree template 104 165.
• Dragon Banner fragment — a brass-patterned banner handle that can store faith 123 124.
• Heart of Nature — analyzed by the system, resulting in Shen Mu's Tier 5 advancement and Nature-related rewards 86.
• Yeenoghu's Divinity Fragment — its absorption caused severe rule backlash and lasting soul injury 474 479.

Relationships

• Liu Na — Druid ally whose power helped Shen Mu gain the Sacred Tree Cavalry template; she later develops feelings for him 23 42 124.
• Elder Polo — Halfling elder and early ally; provides Shen Mu with knowledge about Spiritual Realm Humans, undead, and the differences between Shen Mu and Spiritual Realm Lords 23 124.
• Bunduk — trusted military commander who leads troops, manages city defenses, and guards New Uxkhal in Shen Mu's absence 71 407 479.
• Alayen — trusted knight and captain of Shen Mu's 110-man Sacred Tree Knight Personal Guard 161.
• Fatis — trusted knight and subordinate involved in Dhirim's defense and administration 96 120.
• Manid — commercial and civic administrator who plans Dhirim's layout, storage, and housing development 137 198.
• Zhang Caidong — Blue Star Human administrator whom Shen Mu made the first Centurion; he becomes grateful and loyal after receiving Swadian templates and command authority 185 187 188.
• Sun Zhiru — Blue Star Human who offered a divine statue, triggering the Power of Faith Module; later serves as Zhang Caidong's deputy 182 188.
• Zhang Bo — Blue Star Human mage who concealed his betrayal while gaining Shen Mu's trust and access to the Tower of Light; Shen Mu later exploited his plot against the Green Leaf Group 241 246 309.
• Alatan Khan — entrusted with Il'gynoth's Bulwark while Shen Mu departs with the Sacred Tree Knight Order 479.
• Isabelle — Vampire Mistress who sends a Handmaiden to investigate the Hell Rules incident and later considers supporting Shen Mu due to his growing strength 161 162.

Story Role / Major Arcs

Early Alliances and Settlement Survival

Shen Mu forms his first alliance with Polo and Liu Na, begins acquiring system rewards, and prioritizes resources such as soil, water, food, and ammunition 23 71. He leads missions to reclaim space occupied by Spiritual Realm scenes and seeks Magic Ball authority to expand his settlement 33.

Rise of Dhirim

After receiving the Sacred Tree Cavalry template, Shen Mu advances his settlement into Dhirim, upgrades it into a town, rebuilds its castle, and improves its terrain and defenses 42 95 96. He develops specialized recruitment buildings, water sources, walls, agricultural land, and housing 137 138 198.

Expansion of Sacred Tree Power

The analysis of the Heart of Nature elevates Shen Mu to a Tier 5 Sacred Tree Knight and brings the Sacred Tree Knight Order into his forces 86. He later organizes 110 Sacred Tree Knights into a dedicated Personal Guard under Alayen, prompted by the Vampire Handmaiden's unannounced arrival 161 162.

Blue Star Human Enfeoffment

Shen Mu accepts Blue Star Human refugees, activates the Power of Faith Module, and uses the Imperial Commander System to create Centurions from selected managers 182 183 185. Zhang Caidong becomes the first such commander, receiving Swadian Recruit and later Swadian Militia templates alongside ten soldiers under his command 185 187.

Green Leaf Group Conflict

Shen Mu discovers Zhang Bo's treachery but deliberately permits the enemy's planned raid to unfold, intending to use the battle as an opportunity for troop advancement and conquest 309 310. After defeating the raid, he sends a false peace initiative and uses the resulting negotiations to lower the Wood Elf village's guard before destroying it 326 373.

Longcheng and the Undead Threat

Shen Mu investigates worsening undead activity around New Uxkhal and Longcheng City, recognizing evolving variants such as Black Iron Skeleton Archers and Skeleton Javelin Throwers 407 409. He orders strategic retreats when overwhelmed, returns to report the threat, and continues personally assessing dangerous rule-based phenomena 400 409.

Il'gynoth's Bulwark

Following a major battle and the backlash caused by Yeenoghu's Divinity Fragment, Shen Mu recovers from serious injuries while reinforcing Il'gynoth's Bulwark 474 479. He creates instantly ripened wheat fields and an apple orchard to sustain and encourage his soldiers before departing toward Balihe Street with the Sacred Tree Knight Order 479.

Trivia

• Shen Mu regards the Mount & Blade System as being bound to his consciousness, comparing it to a “warm little cotton jacket” that understands his needs 137.
• He believes the Mount & Blade System may function like a generalized consciousness of Mount & Blade Rules, acting instinctively rather than through independent thought 90.
• Shen Mu's trust in Mount & Blade Soldiers is substantially stronger than his trust in Blue Star Humans 148 183.
• He considers the apple orchard at New Uxkhal a reminder of the “sweetness” of life his forces are fighting to protect 479.