Ying Wuqiu

Biodata

Feature	Information
Name	Ying Wuqiu (應無求)
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Great Ming Imperial Guards 59
Occupation/Role	Imperial Guard officer; identified as a Thousand-Household Commander and later referred to as a Battalion Commander 59 68
Status	Active
First Appearance	Chapter 59

Background / History

Ying Wuqiu was an Imperial Guard officer whose name and position had been bestowed by Grand Secretary Yan Song, making him widely regarded as Yan Song's subordinate. When the imperial disaster-relief gold for Xiangbei was stolen, however, Ying faced execution if it could not be recovered within ten days. He sought out Su Chen at Hangzhou's checkpoint and hired him to investigate the robbery. 59 72

After Su Chen crippled the White Lotus Saintess, Ying took custody of her and personally pressed her for information. Her testimony led him to recover fifty thousand taels of gold hidden beneath West Lake, while revealing that another force had taken the remaining half. 70 72 73

Learning that Yan Song was implicated in the theft left Ying shaken, but he adapted quickly. He retained the captured White Lotus Saintess as leverage, purchased her from Su Chen for 150,000 taels, dispatched the recovered gold to Xiangbei, and submitted a memorial report to the capital. 73

Ying later accompanied Su Chen to Zhenheng Villa, where he pursued a second objective beyond recovering the gold: capturing the villa master or Yan Shifan alive and obtaining evidence of Yan Song's collusion with the villa. After Yan Shifan's death and the villa's destruction, he joined Villa Master Chang in traveling to Yanjing to impeach Yan Song. 79 91 92 97

The journey to Yanjing became an assassination campaign, with Ying estimating that over five hundred killers had attacked his party. He recruited Duan Tianya and Shangguan Haitang by appealing to their duty to protect Great Ming's common people, while relying on Su Chen as the party's principal escort. 97

Appearance

Ying Wuqiu is described as a handsome man who wears the red flying-fish robes of the Imperial Guards. 59

• Carries a Spring Embroidered Saber. 68
• Travels and operates with Imperial Guards under his command. 59 70

Personality

Ying is pragmatic and survival-minded. The theft of the disaster-relief gold initially leaves him desperate, but he rapidly shifts from attempting to resolve the case to building safeguards against Yan Song, including preserving the White Lotus Saintess as a bargaining piece. 59 73

He recognizes the limits of his own martial ability and does not pretend otherwise. During the conflict with the Shandong heroes, he withdraws rather than burden stronger allies, choosing instead to seek Su Chen's aid. 162

His caution does not prevent him from taking political risks. Despite fearing the consequences, he undertakes the dangerous effort to impeach Yan Song and actively recruits support for the journey to Yanjing. 94 97

Abilities & Skills

Imperial Guard Command

Ying directs Imperial Guard personnel in investigations, prisoner handling, and the transport of recovered disaster-relief gold.

• Ordered the White Lotus Saintess detained, treated, and kept alive for questioning. 70
• Organized the recovery of the fifty thousand taels of gold hidden beneath West Lake. 72
• Sent Imperial Guards and soldiers to escort the recovered gold to Xiangbei and prepared a detailed memorial to the capital. 73

Investigation and Political Strategy

He identifies useful evidence, pursues witnesses, and adjusts his objectives as the conspiracy surrounding the stolen gold expands.

• Recognized that the White Lotus Sect's involvement pointed to a larger conspiracy after learning only half the gold was recovered. 72
• Sought to capture the Zhenheng Villa master or Yan Shifan alive, revealing his interest in evidence against Yan Song. 79
• Asked Li Gexiao to uncover proof of Yan Song's collusion with Zhenheng Villa. 79
• Secured assistance from Dragon Guard Manor agents by framing Yan Song's crimes as a threat to the people of Great Ming. 97

Martial Ability

Ying can draw and use a Spring Embroidered Saber when forced into combat, but his martial arts are repeatedly described as weak.

• Prepared to fight Duanhongzi, Nu Zhenren, Saber Venerable, and the White Lotus Saintess when they dismissed his Imperial Guard status. 68
• Has not reached the Minor Grandmaster realm and considers himself unable to meaningfully assist stronger martial artists in battle. 162

Equipment

• Spring Embroidered Saber — his personal Imperial Guard weapon. 68
• Flying-fish robes — red uniform identifying him as an Imperial Guard officer. 59

Relationships

• Su Chen — Employer, protector, and eventual trusted companion. Ying hires Su to recover the stolen disaster-relief gold, relies on him as an escort to Yanjing, and repeatedly benefits from his intervention. 59 92 97 124
• Yan Song — Former patron and political benefactor. Yan Song bestowed Ying's name and promoted him, but Ying turns against him after discovering his connection to the disaster-relief-gold theft. 72 97
• Li Gexiao — Brotherly associate. Ying coordinates with Li Gexiao during the Zhenheng Villa operation and seeks his help obtaining evidence against Yan Song. 79 91
• Villa Master Chang — Ally and fellow traveler to Yanjing; both become targets while preparing to impeach Yan Song. 92 97
• Duan Tianya, Shangguan Haitang, and Guihai Yidao — Recruited allies. Ying appeals to their duty to Great Ming and secures their assistance on the journey to Yanjing. 97
• White Lotus Saintess — Prisoner and political leverage. Ying interrogates her over the stolen gold, then purchases her from Su Chen for 150,000 taels. 70 73

Story Role / Major Arcs

Disaster-Relief Gold Investigation

Ying stops Su Chen at Hangzhou's border and hires him to locate the stolen Xiangbei disaster-relief gold, hoping to save his position and life. He oversees the interrogation of the White Lotus Saintess and the recovery of the fifty thousand taels hidden in West Lake. 59 70 72

Zhenheng Villa Operation

Convinced that the missing gold and Yan Song's crimes lead to Zhenheng Villa, Ying accompanies Su Chen to Yingtian. While Su infiltrates the villa, Ying remains outside as cover and asks that the villa master or Yan Shifan be taken alive if possible. 78 79

Journey to Yanjing

Following the destruction of Zhenheng Villa and Yan Shifan's death, Ying prepares to impeach Yan Song. He hires Su Chen to escort him and Villa Master Chang across more than two thousand li, survives repeated assassin attacks, and seeks Dragon Guard Manor reinforcements. 92 94 97

Continuing Association with Su Chen

Ying remains among Su Chen's traveling companions after the Yanjing campaign. Su saves him from Liu Yuhun in Suyu, and Ying later tries to persuade Su to remain with and work alongside him, though Su declines. 124 116