Chen Gui

Biodata

Background and History

Chen Gui is one of Chen Ding's four sons. His three elder brothers have greater martial aptitude, leaving him little prospect of inheriting the family business. Unwilling to rely solely on his family, he joined the Seven Martial Alliance Outer Hall to improve his skills, build connections and establish a career of his own 23 81. After he came of age, the family entrusted him with one of its apothecary shops in Jingye City 29.

At the Outer Hall, Chen Gui befriended Wu Ming and came to value both his martial potential and his insights into business. He hired Wu Ming to guard his shop, offering a monthly wage, Bloodgrass Tea and payment of the Seven Martial Alliance's commission. He later gave Wu Ming a Crimson Serpent Spear 23 28 30.

The Chen family's successful medicinal tea business drew pressure from rival forces, including attacks on ingredient shipments and demands for a share of its profits and formula 59. Later, the Crouching Tiger Gang arranged for an assistant to replace the apothecary's ginseng with dried radish. When Wang Wufeng tried to take Chen Gui in for questioning, Wu Ming intervened; the assistant subsequently confessed to the substitution 78 79 81.

Chen Gui's friendship with Wu Ming became increasingly valuable to the Chen family as Wu Ming rose in status. Chen Ding eventually considered making Chen Gui the family's future leader, despite his weaker martial talent than his elder brothers 151. When the Demon Suppression Bureau requisitioned fields used to cultivate Bloodgrass Tea, Chen Gui again sought Wu Ming's help; Wu Ming offered to speak to the Household Registration Department about obtaining land elsewhere 156.

Personality

Chen Gui is sociable and ambitious. He befriends other young martial artists, invites Wu Ming to spar and recognizes that Wu Ming's business ideas could help him build a career 23. He is also generous to those working for him: after his guards defended the apothecary from a malevolent spirit, he rewarded them with Seven Flavor Blood Nourishing Powder and doubled their wages 35.

He is protective of his family's interests but aware of the limits of its influence. He calmly challenges a false-medicine accusation, then recognizes that he cannot resist Wang Wufeng's authority without help 78 79. As Wu Ming's standing rises, Chen Gui remains his friend but becomes noticeably more formal around him 59 81 157.

Abilities and Skills

Dual-Saber Martial Arts

• Chen Gui had practiced saber techniques since childhood and had reached the Proficient level with dual sabers while at First Blood Forging 24.
• He spars with Wu Ming at the Seven Martial Alliance, initially allowing him the first three moves 24.

Apothecary and Business Knowledge

• Chen Gui helps run the Chen family's apothecary and medicinal tea business 28 29 59.
• After examining medicinal residue, he identifies some of its ingredients and explains its likely effects, while acknowledging that he cannot identify them all 88.

Relationships

• Wu Ming — Friend and former employee. Chen Gui hired and equipped him early in his career; Wu Ming later protected him and the apothecary from Wang Wufeng's attempted intervention 28 30 81.
• Chen Ding — Father and head of the Chen Family. Chen Ding initially doubted Chen Gui's career ambitions but later considered him a possible successor because of his connection to Wu Ming 81 151.
• Chen Yan'er — Younger full sister. Chen Gui hoped to arrange a marriage between her and Wu Ming, though Chen Ding declined the initial proposal 85 156.
• Hu Yong, Sun Wang and Ma Liu — Guards employed at Chen Gui's apothecary 29 35.
• Zhang Yi — Apothecary assistant who replaced ginseng with dried radish under coercion and bribery from the Crouching Tiger Gang 79 81.