Black Dog

Biodata

Feature	Value
Name	Black Dog (黑狗)
Alias(es)	“Black Dog”
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Great Wu Imperial Guards; Shen Qing’s personal guard
Occupation/Role	Imperial Guard Colonel; tracker, field forensic examiner, and enforcer
Status	Active
First Appearance	Chapter 1

Background / History

Black Dog was one of only three Colonels—alongside Scholar and Old Li—who obeyed Shen Qing’s order to restrain Sun Jin. He then threw Sun Jin out of the compound, establishing his willingness to act for Shen Qing without hesitation. 1

He joined Shen Qing’s early operations against the Sishui Gang and Huang family. During the assault on Huang Manor, he and Old Li led the breach and cut down armed resistance; Black Dog later seized Huang Zikun’s concubines for Shen Qing’s interrogation. 2 4

After Shen Qing became Commander, Black Dog, Scholar, and Old Li declined proposed Lieutenant positions so they could remain at Shen Qing’s side as his personal guard. 7 8 He captured Black Palm Gang suspect Lu Hei Zhang during the Ping An Town investigation, then later reached Ox Horn Mountain with Xu Quan and confirmed Xu Lao Er’s death. 10 12

During the Shili Township case, Black Dog’s sense of smell identified the enemy as being connected to blood cultivation and warned the Imperial Guards when the hostile cultivators encircled them. He fought beside Lin Zikai until Shen Qing arrived to end the ambush. 16 17

He accompanied Shen Qing’s investigation into the Zhang family’s Blood-Swallowing Wood operation. Black Dog participated in He Lian’s interrogation, recognized the weakness in Zhang He’s Blood Shadow Fist, and later joined the group that killed Zhang Zhi. 20 21 22

When Shen Qing transferred to Luoshui City, Black Dog packed only two sets of clothes and a saber before waiting at the General’s Office to depart with him. 24 In Luoshui, he helped restrain Prefectural Judge Zhang Zhu and interrogate the Japanese pirates Yamamoto Shinichi and Sasaki Hiroshi. 38 39 He also carried out Shen Qing’s ritual preparations to summon the Red Date River’s River God by slaughtering chickens and pouring their blood into the river. 45

Appearance

Black Dog is a dark-skinned Imperial Guard whose practical equipment reflects his work in combat, tracking, and corpse examination. 1 8

• Dark complexion. 1
• Typically carries a steel saber. 4 24
• Keeps forensic tools in a cloth bag for field examinations. 8

Personality

Black Dog is notably quiet and direct. He generally does not question Shen Qing’s orders, whether ordered to fight, capture suspects, conduct examinations, prepare interrogations, or perform ritual preparations. 7 8 38 45

His name is attributed to his fierce loyalty: he is described as being as loyal and ferocious as a guard dog, carrying out whatever Shen Qing asks without hesitation. 7 Despite this, he shows professional judgment in the field, distinguishing a blood-related cultivator from a true blood cultivator by scent and identifying the deceptive nature of Zhang He’s Blood Shadow Fist. 16 21

He has no known family or friends in Baiyun County. 24

Abilities & Skills

Combat

Black Dog is a frontline Imperial Guard who fights with a steel saber and participates directly in raids, ambushes, arrests, and executions.

• Joined Old Li in charging into the Sishui Gang courtyard after Shen Qing’s assault began. 2
• Led the breach into Huang Manor with Old Li, attacking anyone who resisted while armed. 4
• Captured Body Tempering Realm Ninth Layer suspect Lu Hei Zhang with Old Li and a supporting force of Imperial Guards and yamen runners. 10
• Used a black spherical device that released white powder to obscure an enemy’s vision during the Shili Township battle. 17
• Was temporarily overpowered and choked by a Houtian Realm opponent, but recovered sufficiently to resume standing after receiving healing pills. 17

Tracking by Scent

Black Dog possesses an unusually sharp sense of smell, particularly for blood-related traces.

• Detected a blood scent on hostile cultivators in Shili Township and determined that their practices were connected to blood, though not those of full blood cultivators. 16
• Detected the return of a foul scent and warned the unit that enemies were surrounding them. 16
• Earned Lin Zikai’s trust as a mission companion because of this tracking ability. 16

Forensic Examination

Black Dog serves as the Imperial Guards’ field forensic examiner when no specialist is available.

• Located He Sui’s hidden saber during the Ping An Town massacre investigation. 8
• Carries a dedicated forensic toolkit. 8
• Performed a controlled incision and skin-layer examination on He Sui’s corpse, enabling the discovery of a concealed black palm print. 8
• His hands are described as exceptionally steady during examination. 8

Criminal Restraint and Interrogation

Black Dog is trusted with securing prisoners and assisting Shen Qing’s interrogations.

• Dragged and mutilated Huang Zikun’s concubines on Shen Qing’s orders to pressure Huang into confessing. 4
• Participated in He Lian’s interrogation after her capture on Black Tiger Mountain. 20
• Bound the peak-Houtian Prefectural Judge Zhang Zhu with iron chains. 38
• Began carrying torture instruments after learning that Shen Qing preferred interrogating captured criminals on the spot. 38

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Steel saber — his standard melee weapon. 4 24
• Forensic toolkit — carried in a cloth bag for examining bodies at crime scenes. 8
• Black spherical powder device — thrown at an enemy in Shili Township, releasing a cloud of white powder. 17
• Iron chains — used to restrain prisoners such as Zhang Zhu. 38
• Torture instruments — carried for immediate field interrogations. 38

Relationships

• Shen Qing — Commander and master. Black Dog was among the first men to openly support Shen Qing, later choosing to remain in his personal guard rather than accept promotion. 1 8
• Scholar — Fellow member of Shen Qing’s original core group and personal guard. 1 8
• Old Li — Fellow core subordinate; the two frequently lead assaults and arrests together. 2 4 10
• Lin Zikai — Frequent field partner. Lin values Black Dog’s tracking ability, and they fought side by side during the Shili Township ambush. 16 17
• Zhang He — Enemy blood-related cultivator. Black Dog recognized the weakness in Zhang He’s Blood Shadow Fist during his battle with Shen Qing. 21
• He Lian — Captured enemy interrogated by Black Dog and the Imperial Guards on Black Tiger Mountain. 20