Ma Xiu

Biodata

Feature	Details
Name	Ma Xiu (马修)
Alias(es)	Uncle Ma; Old Ma 21 49
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Demon Suppression Division
Occupation/Role	Eight-Star Demon Subduer; reconnaissance and support specialist 21 49
First Appearance	Chapter 21

Background / History

Ma Xiu was a seasoned Eight-Star Demon Subduer assigned to escort Rou Yan and Jiang Wu during an operation against a newly born Mortal-Grade Evil Spirit. Although he tried to train the two inexperienced youths and repeatedly warned them not to underestimate Evil Spirits, their influential backgrounds left him effectively acting as their bodyguard. 21 22

When the Evil Spirit revealed a symbiotic Ghost Infant, Ma Xiu recognized the danger too late to prevent the situation from escalating. His spiritual energy was nearly exhausted while trying to protect the group, leaving him unable to resist the Ghost Infant until Ling Yun intervened. Believing Ling Yun to be a senior named “Zhang Mu,” Ma Xiu thanked him and committed the false name to memory. 23 24 26

Ling Yun later confronted and interrogated Ma Xiu over suspected Evil Spirit possession. Intimidated by Ling Yun’s strength, Ma Xiu became cooperative and explained matters concerning Evil Spirits, Spirits, and the Demon Suppression Envoys. 25

Personality

Ma Xiu is cautious, responsible, and visibly burdened by the safety of those under his care. He tries to instill discipline in reckless teammates, even when their status makes it difficult for him to enforce his authority. 21 22

His early fear of Ling Yun gradually becomes trust and loyalty. Ma Xiu repeatedly relies on Ling Yun’s judgment during the Mount Taiyin investigation, publicly vouches for his strength, and later promises to repay Ling Yun for saving his life. 50 51 66

Abilities & Skills

Shadowfiend

Ma Xiu commands Shadowfiend, a Spirit that manifests from his shadow as distorted dark forms and tentacle-like appendages. 21

• Binding — Creates shadow restraints from walls and the ground to immobilize targets. 50
• Piercing attacks — Can form dozens of spikes from the ground through the command “Shadowfiend, Pierce.” 51
• Reconnaissance — Sends shadowy figures through buildings and across large areas to search for people, Evil Spirits, and hidden locations. 49 123 124
• Protection — Extends shadows into allies’ own shadows to reduce the mental effects of the Fox Demon’s laughter. 127
• Limitations — Shadowfiend consumes Ma Xiu’s spiritual energy heavily; hostile entities can devour or injure the Spirit, and powerful suppression can obstruct its senses. 51 123 124 129

Talisman Techniques

Ma Xiu is skilled in Demon Suppression Division talisman techniques.

• He sealed the Fox Demon’s severed head with a talisman, then compressed it into a palm-sized fox doll for use in tracking its master. 127
• He used powerful talismans to trap and attack Rat Devourer. 134
• Ling Yun entrusted him with a talisman requiring spiritual power and a special activation technique. 64

Demon Suppression Knowledge

Ma Xiu possesses practical knowledge of Evil Spirits, demons, Spirit Artifacts, and wanted factions.

• Identified the Ghost Infant as a rare symbiotic Evil Spirit that emerges when its mother body is threatened. 23
• Explained that Ghost King Tokens represent the twelve Ghost Kings of Ghost King Hall, with lower numbers denoting higher rank and strength. 134
• Identified the Soul Orb recovered from Rat Devourer as a vessel for storing souls. 134

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Shadowfiend — Ma Xiu’s Spirit, integrated with his shadow. 21 26
• Talismans — Used for suppression and capture of Evil Spirits. 127 134
• Fox doll — A transformed Fox Demon head, created to trace its master. 127

Relationships

• Ling Yun — Initially knew him only as “Zhang Mu,” the name Ling Yun used after saving him from the Ghost Infant. Fear gradually develops into cooperation, loyalty, and gratitude as Ling Yun repeatedly saves Ma Xiu’s life. 26 49 51 66
• Qin Wei — Ma Xiu’s captain and superior in the Demon Suppression Division. Ma Xiu places considerable faith in Qin Wei’s return during the Mount Taiyin crisis. 26 68
• Rou Yan — A novice under Ma Xiu’s supervision during the Ghost Infant operation; her family background limits his authority over her. 21 22
• Jiang Wu — Another reckless novice supervised by Ma Xiu during the Ghost Infant operation. 21 23
• Wen Qin — Fellow Eight-Star Demon Subduer and teammate. She temporarily restores Ma Xiu’s spiritual energy during their battle with the humanoid monster. 49 51
• Xu Huang — Fellow Eight-Star Demon Subduer. Ma Xiu attempts to mediate between Xu Huang and Ling Yun during the temple investigation. 49

Story Role / Major Arcs

Ghost Infant Incident

Ma Xiu leads Rou Yan and Jiang Wu against a Mortal-Grade Evil Spirit, only for its Ghost Infant symbiote to overwhelm the team. After Ling Yun saves them, Ma Xiu provides information about the incident and later about the Demon Suppression Division’s dealings with Evil Spirits. 21 23 25 26

Mount Taiyin Temple Investigation

Reunited with Ling Yun, who operates under the alias Zhang Mu, Ma Xiu joins his four-person investigation team. He scouts the silent monastery, restrains a limb-assembled humanoid monster, and endures spiritual-energy drain and a sonic attack before Ling Yun rescues the group. 49 50 51

During the illusion crisis, Ma Xiu trusts Ling Yun’s attempt to remove the Gu-worm poison despite not knowing whether it will work. Ling Yun successfully detoxifies him, and Ma Xiu pledges future assistance in return. 65 66

Enforcement Squad Confrontation

When Captain Li attempts to seize Ling Yun, Ma Xiu intervenes to delay the Enforcement Squad. His Shadowfiend forms a net around Li’s mid-tier Spirit Artifact, Soulchaser, but the chain breaks through the restraint. 115

Huangtu Village Investigation

Ma Xiu accompanies Ling Yun’s group to Huangtu Village, where he detects a force suppressing his senses but locates traces of living people. He expends substantial spiritual power scouting the village’s back mountain and identifies the shrine area as the likely source of the disturbance. 123 124 125

He later assists in subduing the Fox Demon by turning its head into a tracking doll, and identifies the Ghost King Token and Soul Orb found after Rat Devourer’s death. 127 134