Zhang Lishi

Biodata

Feature	Information
Name	Zhang Lishi (张力士)
Alias(es)	Chief Escort Zhang
Species/Race	Human
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Flying Tiger Escort Agency; formerly trained at Tian Gu Temple
Occupation/Role	Chief Escort of the Flying Tiger Escort Agency; martial arts master
Status	Alive 379
First Appearance	Chapter 3

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Viscera Realm Perfection	93	Attempted to break through to the Yellow Court Realm but failed, injuring his liver. 93
Yellow Court Realm	112, 118	Refined True Qi and used it in battle against Murong Bai; Yuan Hua later confirms his breakthrough. 112 118
Yellow Court Perfection	130	Reached Yellow Court Perfection while concurrently cultivating two martial arts. 130

Background

In his youth, Zhang Lishi pursued martial arts and encountered the Daoist Taiyi, who taught him the foundations of the True Art of Lord Wei Huo Hu, including the Tiger Demon Fist, Demon Seduction Method, and Tiger Demon Worm cultivation. After Zhang reached Muscle and Tendon Perfection, Taiyi gave him the Wind-Calming Pearl. 110

He later trained at Tian Gu Temple, where he cultivated more than one martial art and was known for exceptional combat ability. His future at the temple ended after he killed the lecherous brother of his fellow disciple Yuan Jue in anger, creating an enduring enmity. 118 119

After leaving the temple, Zhang built the Flying Tiger Escort Agency in Chuqiu County alongside the Cui brothers. He married near the age of thirty; Madam Zhang became integral to establishing and managing the family's businesses outside the agency. 33 66

Appearance

Zhang Lishi is a seven-foot-tall, powerfully built man with a swallow-like jaw and tiger whiskers. His presence is compared to a tiger lying in wait, and he carries himself more like a military commander than a common escort. 22

• Wears a Five-Ridge Small Golden Crown and a red round-collared robe embroidered with gold-threaded tigers. 22
• Often carries a four-foot modao. 53 112
• In combat, his hair can turn fiery red, his face indigo, and his canine teeth protrude, giving him the appearance of a Yaksha. 53 112
• His Yellow Court cultivation allows rapid movement; while rushing to Prefecture City, each step covered roughly ten zhang. 132

Personality

Zhang Lishi is protective of his people, particularly those he considers family or true disciples. He intervenes for Li Cunxiao at the county yamen, angrily confronts the Inner City families when Li disappears during the Autumn Hunt, and refuses to yield when Li is nearly killed after an escort mission. 22 53 101

As the head of the agency, he is also cautious and pragmatic. He recognizes that hired experts and Inner City disciples may not be loyal, carefully evaluates Li Cunxiao before accepting him, and makes political arrangements—including proposing Li's marriage to Jiang Qi—to preserve the agency during Chuqiu's power struggle. 33 94

Though he is capable of harsh threats and decisive violence, he values loyalty, humility, and long-term trust. He is deeply concerned with securing a future for his family, disciples, and the Flying Tiger Escort Agency. 43 101 110

Abilities & Skills

Tiger Demon Fist

Zhang Lishi inherited the Tiger Demon Fist from Taiyi, who taught it as part of the True Art of Lord Wei Huo Hu. He later passed its cultivation methods, breakthrough techniques, and tendon, bone, and skin training to Li Cunxiao. 110 43

• Uses the Tiger Demon lineage's demonic cultivation methods and berserk-state power. 41 65
• Possesses formidable physical strength, speed, and Blood Qi control. 22 65
• Cultivated two martial arts to Yellow Court Perfection, though this dual cultivation harmed his prospects at Tian Gu Temple. 118 130

Minor Yaksha Saber Art

Zhang Lishi possesses the Minor Yaksha Saber Art but initially refuses to teach it to Inner City disciples whose loyalty he doubts. He ultimately imparts its mantra and Demon Seduction Great Medicine to Li Cunxiao when the agency faces Murong Bai's attack. 33 110

• Grants Yaksha-like speed and a ferocious demonic transformation. 64 112
• His movement is likened to a guardian Yaksha: “with a single thought, the saber arrived, and the person died.” 64
• He considers the art dangerous when practiced alongside other demonic martial arts. 106 109

Wind-Calming Pearl

A demonic treasure given to Zhang Lishi by Taiyi after Zhang returned to see him in his youth. 110

• Manipulates wind and traps enemies in the eye of a storm. 65
• Allows Zhang to move like the wind while fighting. 65
• Produced a tornado roughly thirty feet high during the battle against the Human Demon. 64
• Consumes substantial True Qi; Zhang states that activating it used roughly forty percent of his reserves during that battle. 65
• Zhang gives the pearl to Li Cunxiao after being severely depleted in the battle with Murong Bai. 112

Saber Mastery

Zhang Lishi is an experienced saber fighter capable of using True Qi in explosive, decisive attacks.

• Decapitated the Human Demon guarding the Black Tree Treasure Flower with a single swift strike. 64
• Wields a modao in direct combat against Murong Bai. 112
• Claims that, even without the Wind-Calming Pearl, he can kill ordinary Viscera Perfection martial artists within ten breaths through instantaneous True Qi bursts. 65

Equipment

• Wind-Calming Pearl — Demonic treasure bestowed by Taiyi; controls wind and supports Zhang's mobility and battlefield control. 65 110
• Modao — Four-foot saber used in Zhang's confrontation with Murong Bai. 53 112
• Great Xia Dragon Sparrow — Ancient demonic treasure saber recovered after the Human Demon battle; Zhang later allows Li Cunxiao to keep it due to their compatibility. 64 115
• Kasaya — Worn during his journey from Chuqiu toward Song Prefecture. 132

Relationships

• Li Cunxiao — Disciple. Zhang recruits him into the escort agency, recognizes his extraordinary talent, teaches him the Demon Seduction Method and Minor Yaksha Saber Art, and entrusts the agency's safety to him during the conflict with Murong Bai. 4 33 110 112
• Li Muxia / Mucha — Younger brother of Li Cunxiao. Zhang's household takes him in after recruiting Li Cunxiao. 4
• Madam Zhang — Wife and partner in building the Zhang family's foundation and businesses. 66
• Zhang Yuelu — Daughter. Zhang relies heavily on her judgment, particularly in deciding how to reward and cultivate Li Cunxiao. 22 31 33
• Shi Tie — Chief disciple, longtime loyal subordinate, and Zhang's eldest son-in-law. Zhang regards him as family. 23 41
• Cui Wei and Cui Yao — Old friends and longtime comrades who helped Zhang establish the Flying Tiger Escort Agency. 33 101
• Taiyi — Daoist benefactor and early martial arts teacher. Taiyi taught Zhang the Tiger Demon lineage's methods and bestowed the Wind-Calming Pearl. 110
• Yuan Hua — Former senior brother at Tian Gu Temple. Their relationship is strained but becomes cooperative when Yuan Hua helps arrange opportunities for Zhang's disciples at the Medicine King Institute. 118 123
• Yuan Jue — Old enemy from Tian Gu Temple; Zhang left the sect after killing Yuan Jue's brother. 116 118
• Murong Bai — Rival power in Chuqiu County. Their conflict culminates in a Yellow Court battle while the escort agency attempts to escape. 101 112

Story Role / Major Arcs

Recruitment of Li Cunxiao

Zhang first notices Li Cunxiao during the Flying Tiger Escort Agency's celebration and offers him work after being impressed by his appearance and character. He also brings Li Muxia into the Zhang household. 3 4

After Li Cunxiao demonstrates rapid progress and defends his family honor, Zhang supports him at the county yamen and teaches him the Internal Cultivation Method ahead of schedule. 22

Acceptance of a Disciple

Li Cunxiao reaches Blood Qi Perfection in under two months, leading Zhang to test his strength and formally accept him as a disciple. Zhang teaches him the Demon Seduction Method, transfers him to storeroom management, and later publicly recognizes him after his Muscle Realm breakthrough. 33 34 42 44

Crater Lake Expedition

Zhang joins Li Cunxiao, Shi Tie, and the Cui brothers at Crater Lake to confront a Human Demon guarding the Black Tree Treasure Flower. Using the Wind-Calming Pearl to create a tornado, Zhang decapitates the demon and helps recover the Great Xia Dragon Sparrow. 61 64

Chuqiu Crisis and Departure

As the Inner City families and Ming Cult close in, Zhang makes increasingly difficult choices to safeguard the agency. He agrees to a political marriage between Li Cunxiao and Jiang Qi, then decides to abandon Chuqiu for Song Prefecture after the agency's manor is attacked and its Demon Meat Seeds are exposed. 94 101

Before the final confrontation, Zhang offers Li Cunxiao a choice: leave with the Zhang family or remain and learn the Minor Yaksha Saber Art to fight beside the agency. Li chooses to stay. 110

Battle with Murong Bai

Zhang battles Murong Bai while wielding his modao, Wind-Calming Pearl, and Yellow Court True Qi. Although he exhausts himself protecting the agency, he entrusts the Wind-Calming Pearl, his family, and the agency to Li Cunxiao. 112

Return to Song Prefecture

In Song Prefecture, Zhang seeks help from old contacts at Tian Gu Temple and accepts Yuan Hua's offer for his disciples to enter the Medicine King Institute. He later brings Li Cunxiao's exceptional cultivation talent to Taiyi's attention. 118 123 131

After reopening the escort agency, Zhang is able to rely on Yuan Hua's support and Taiyi's protection rather than facing local opposition alone. 144

Notable Quotes

“If you wish to leave, please take my wife and children and leave tonight before the pursuers arrive.” 110

“If you wish to stay, then I will teach you the Minor Yaksha Saber Art right now.” 110

“Murong Bai, do you want to fight me?” 101

Trivia

• Zhang Lishi's name is derived from a Vajra Warrior, prompting Madam Zhang to describe him as having a connection to Buddhism. 4
• He is over fifty years old by the time he reunites with Taiyi. 130
• Although he once fled Song Prefecture in disgrace, he later states that Li Cunxiao's presence allows him to return home “in glory.” 217