Dugu Kang

Biodata

Feature	Information
Name	Dugu Kang (独孤亢)
Alias(es)	Liao Kong; Master Liao Kong
Species/Race	Human
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Prince Xin's Royal Residence; Lanruo Temple Buddhist lineage
Occupation/Role	Prince Xin's heir; Buddhist monk; co-founder of the Old Turtle Pit Poetry Club
Status	Active 394
First Appearance	Chapter 33

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Seventh Rank — Buddhist path	129	Reached the Seventh Rank; this stage greatly strengthens the body and permits the study of Buddhist divine abilities. 129
Sixth Rank threshold	228	Has begun seeing “a little bit of Buddha Light,” but cannot yet define his Buddha-nature—the requirement for advancing from Seventh to Sixth Rank. 228

Background / History

Dugu Kang is Prince Xin Dugu Sheng's only bloodline. His late mother, surnamed Yun, came from Green Ram Palace, practiced the Martial Path, and hoped he would follow it; she left him the Mist Rain Flying Rainbow Heavenly Secrets Map. 33 124 172

He was accepted into Buddhism by Zhitong during childhood. Because Qing Kingdom rules prohibit imperial-clan members from cultivating Buddhism, Dugu Kang concealed his tonsure beneath a wig and publicly cultivated the image of a harmless, poetry-obsessed heir. 91 106 375

Appearance

Dugu Kang is a plump young man with a large head, broad ears, and a fortunate-looking face. He often tries to appear refined in scholarly clothes while carrying a folding fan. 33 47

• Chubby or obese build, with a round, expressive face. 47 133
• Shaved head, usually hidden beneath a wig while living in Songhe Prefecture. 106
• Frequently wears loose white robes or scholar's attire. 47 228
• Often carries a folding fan, prayer beads, or a large pancake. 33 91 353

Personality

Dugu Kang is publicly known for his “pure nature”: honest, simple, and kind-hearted rather than scheming or cruel. He dislikes bullying, condemning Ren Debiao for only fighting weaker trainees, and he repeatedly urges Meng Yuan to avoid needless killing. 33 47 133

His compassion is paired with timidity. Exposure of his monastic identity frightens him, and he is visibly uncomfortable around powerful people or open violence. Traveling with Meng Yuan gradually gives him more courage: he intervenes to halt a confrontation, mediates with Xuan Zhen, and eventually chooses to leave the Royal Residence to seek his own Dao. 91 133 137 241

He is intensely attached to poetry, discussion, and companionship. He repeatedly seeks Meng Yuan out for debate and verse, sometimes offering valuable information or even a Heavenly Secrets Map merely to keep their conversations going. 95 105 124

Abilities & Skills

Buddhist Cultivation

Dugu Kang is a Seventh Rank Buddhist practitioner. His cultivation emphasizes the mind, precepts, screening emotions, and illuminating emptiness rather than direct martial combat. 129 228

• Understands the gradual- and sudden-enlightenment traditions, Lanruo Temple's hierarchy, and the practices expected of wandering Martial Monks. 127 128
• Explains Buddhist and Martial Path concepts, including mental defenses, Thought-Planting, concealment techniques, and the relationship between technique and Dao. 128 130 174
• His advancement is stalled by the need to define his Buddha-nature. 228

Buddha Light and Guidance

Dugu Kang can channel Buddha Light into another person to compel disclosure and disrupt resistance.

• Used Buddha Light on the captured fox demon Qing Zhi Xian, allowing Meng Yuan to obtain information about the Mountain Lord, Cangshan Jun, and the planned attack on Songhe Prefecture. 241 243
• Initially found the effort difficult because Qing Zhi Xian was seriously injured and Dugu Kang had little prior experience using the method. 243
• Qing Guangzi later used Dugu Kang as a vessel through a segment of Buddha bone; Meng Yuan's Star Fire expelled the foreign influence and freed him. 365

Scholarship and Poetry

Dugu Kang is an eager student of poetry, Buddhist doctrine, and cultivation theory.

• Co-founded the Old Turtle Pit Poetry Club with Meng Yuan and Xiang Ling. 107
• Composes poems, hosts poetry gatherings, and treats poetic discussion as both companionship and spiritual practice. 47 107 228
• Retains extensive knowledge passed down by his mother, particularly concerning Heavenly Mystery Divine Powers and methods of concealing one's realm. 130

Equipment / Items

• Folding fan — Part of his cultivated scholarly persona. 33 47
• Wig — Used to conceal his shaved head while his Buddhist practice remained secret. 106
• Prayer beads — Associated with his monastic practice. 353
• Mist Rain Flying Rainbow Heavenly Secrets Map — His mother's Green Ram Palace inheritance; Dugu Kang gave it to Meng Yuan. 124

Relationships

• Meng Yuan — Poetry friend, fellow Old Turtle Pit Poetry Club founder, and trusted companion. Dugu Kang gives him the Mist Rain Flying Rainbow map, advises him on Buddhism and cultivation, and is later freed from Qing Guangzi's influence by Meng Yuan. 124 241 365
• Xiang Ling — President of the Old Turtle Pit Poetry Club. Dugu Kang treats her warmly, reunites with her after his travels, and brings her a sachet from Xiangji Country. 107 377
• Dugu Sheng — Father and Prince Xin. Their relationship is distant; Dugu Kang avoids discussing him, yet struggles with his death after Meng Yuan kills him. 108 364
• Yun of Green Ram Palace — Deceased mother. A Martial Path practitioner who wanted Dugu Kang to become more masculine and left him Mist Rain Flying Rainbow. 124 172
• Zhitong — Buddhist master who accepted Dugu Kang into Buddhism in childhood. 288 375
• Qing Guangzi — Captor and later guru. Dugu Kang initially speaks of Qing Guangzi with reverence, but Qing Guangzi ultimately possesses him through a Buddha bone. 248 353 365
• Xie KaiPing — Buddhist senior brother and frequent traveling companion after Dugu Kang's liberation. 359 366 374
• Ying RuShi — Advisor who identifies Dugu Kang's Buddha-heart but criticizes his lack of mental fortitude, encouraging him to travel as an ascetic monk. 92 137
• Mingyue — Imperial relative who openly distrusts Dugu Kang after learning he secretly interfered in her relationship with Meng Yuan. 352

Story Role / Major Arcs

Secret Monk of the Royal Residence

Dugu Kang first appears as Prince Xin's harmless heir, surrounded by retainers and more interested in composing poetry than watching martial sparring. Meng Yuan later discovers that his foolishness is partly an act concealing his identity as the monk Liao Kong. 33 47 91

Old Turtle Pit Poetry Club

Dugu Kang joins Meng Yuan and Xiang Ling in founding the Old Turtle Pit Poetry Club. The club gives him a rare place to remove his wig, speak freely, and form genuine friendships outside the Royal Residence. 106 107

Journey and Intervention

Dugu Kang travels with Meng Yuan's group, shares his knowledge of Lanruo Temple and Buddhist methods, and begins acting with more resolve. He intervenes to prevent a clash involving the Demon Suppression Division and later helps interrogate Qing Zhi Xian after Xiang Ling is abducted. 127 133 243

Capture by Qing Guangzi

After deciding to leave the Royal Residence and seek his own Dao, Dugu Kang is captured by Qie Yisheng's group and delivered to Qing Guangzi. He later operates as Qing Guangzi's disciple, though his actions and loyalties remain conflicted. 241 248 353

Liberation in Xiangji Country

Qing Guangzi descends through Dugu Kang's body, using him as a vessel for his Buddha Light. Meng Yuan defeats the possession with Star Fire, expels the implanted Buddha bone, and restores Dugu Kang's freedom. 365

Return and Continued Travels

Freed from both his royal disguise and Qing Guangzi's control, Dugu Kang travels with Xie KaiPing. He later reunites with Xiang Ling and Meng Yuan, returning as a more mature and courteous man. 366 377

Notable Quotes

“The world only sees my outward appearance, but my heart is truly pure, and I have not violated any precepts.” 92

“Only by living amidst the impermanence of joy and sorrow can one find the path to the Grand Dao.” 241

Trivia

• Dugu Kang is one of the three founding elders of the Old Turtle Pit Poetry Club; Xiang Ling is its president and Meng Yuan its vice president. 107
• He repeatedly uses large pancakes as food, poetic inspiration, and a prop during serious conversations. 91 92
• He calls Xuan Zhen his “grand-disciple” because Dugu Kang belongs to Lanruo Temple's “Liao” generation while Xuan Zhen belongs to the “Xuan” generation. 127