Ma Donghe

Biodata

Feature	Details
Name	Ma Donghe (马东赫)
Alias(es)	A He; Xiao He 79
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Special Search Team, Operations Department; formerly affiliated with the Poisonous Snake Gang 646 659
Occupation/Role	Operations Department operative, assigned to Fourth Squad 659 660
Status	Active 660
First Appearance	Chapter 16

Background / History

Ma Donghe is the son of Ma Jianguo, head of the Ma Family Tai Chi lineage. His father repeatedly chastises him for gang involvement and for dismissing the practical value of the family’s martial-arts inheritance. Ma Donghe grew up under harsh family expectations, including secluded cultivation enforced by his grandfather and later resumed by Ma Jianguo. 70 388 425

Before joining the Special Search Team, Ma Donghe was a familiar figure in Eastern Capital’s underworld. He had belonged to the old Poisonous Snake Gang, which was swallowed by the Red Tiger Gang; after leaving that life behind, he attempted to live more ordinarily. 104 646

His connections and strength kept drawing him into gang conflicts. He maintained a secret base, controlled subordinates, and helped Fang Cheng investigate criminal operations, though his activities made him a target of the Red Tiger Gang and later the Noah Organization. 98 104 207

Appearance

Ma Donghe is a heavily built, intimidating strongman, described as having a dark, broad face and a bear-like physique. His underworld appearance often causes strangers to keep their distance. 16

• More than 200 jin in weight, with a broad, muscular back and thick arms 97 607
• Tattoos on his hands and a prominent dragon tattoo across his shoulder and chest 16 574
• Numerous old scars and frequent fresh bruises from fighting 97
• Often appears scruffy and unshaven; he objects to being addressed as “Brother Ma” because it makes him sound older 79

Personality

Ma Donghe is loud, blunt, and easily irritated, with a habit of swearing, posturing, and forcing his way through social situations. He can be reckless and theatrical, whether distributing martial-arts flyers by intimidation or embellishing his exploits after the fact. 16 603

Beneath his rough exterior, he is deeply loyal. He refuses to expose Fang Cheng while captured and tortured, remains committed to accompanying his team into dangerous ruins, and considers Fang Cheng a brother rather than a partner to be paid off. 121 207 612 622

He is also practical about his future. After entering the Special Search Team, he seeks to learn Tui Na and bone-setting so he can be useful to injured Operations Department personnel rather than relying only on brute force. 574

Abilities & Skills

Physical Combat

Ma Donghe has combat training and considerable physical strength, though he initially considers his martial arts insufficient against true “monsters.” 16 70

• Fought through an Illusory Realm scenario involving a zombie and ghosts in a morgue. 603
• Wrestled an Operations Department strongman named Black Bear one-handed for five minutes despite a leg injury, eventually forcing his opponent’s arm down. 660
• Uses intimidation effectively against gang members and suspects. 16 98
• His direct, forceful style leaves him vulnerable against stronger opponents and ambushes. 89 207 622

Infiltration and Underworld Intelligence

His past underworld connections give him access to criminal information, hideouts, and people willing to follow his orders.

• Infiltrated a suspected trafficking and drug-processing den alone, posing as a customer before being discovered. 89
• Assisted Fang Cheng in raiding a drug factory and interrogating captured gang members about Sang Biao and the Red Tiger Gang. 93 98
• Warned Fang Cheng after learning that the Red Tiger Gang was staking out Fang Cheng’s residence. 104
• Was forced into hiding after the Red Tiger Gang targeted both him and Ma Jianguo’s home. 104

Mental Fortitude

Ma Donghe is unusually stubborn under coercion and injury.

• Endured torture after Bao Long captured him for the Noah Organization, refusing to betray his brother. 207
• Defied the Black Tide masked man after suffering a shattered leg and severe pressure injuries, refusing to reveal Fang Cheng’s identity or resources. 622
• Persisted through Ma Family secluded cultivation by relying on the Visualization Method despite cold, darkness, hunger, and sensory deprivation. 425

Tui Na and Bone-Setting

Ma Donghe is an inexperienced but enthusiastic student of Tui Na, studying under Lin Fusheng and Wen Huiyi.

• Sees injury treatment as a practical specialty for field work in the Operations Department. 574
• His excessive strength initially makes his technique painful enough to cause a patient to scream. 573
• Continues learning despite his lack of finesse, partly motivated by his growing closeness with Wen Huiyi. 573 574

Relationships

• Fang Cheng — Close friend and sworn-brother figure. Fang Cheng repeatedly rescues him, while Ma Donghe provides intelligence, operational support, and unwavering loyalty. 89 121 214 622
• Ma Jianguo — Father. Their relationship is strained by Ma Donghe’s former gang ties and lack of dedication to cultivation, but Ma Jianguo still trains and worries over him. 70 388 425
• Wei Zheng — Senior brother and Special Search Team mentor. Wei Zheng helps guide Ma Donghe through the selection process and places him with Operations Department Fourth Squad. 432 659
• Wen Huiyi — Tui Na instructor and developing romantic interest. Ma Donghe learns treatment techniques from her and shows sincere concern for her. 573 574
• Hou Peng — Fellow Special Search Team candidate and teammate. They travel with Fang Cheng during the Western Mountains examination and ruins incident. 603 612 622
• Bao Long — Former associate who betrayed the Three Wolves Gang and delivered Ma Donghe to the Noah Organization. Ma Donghe ultimately kills him. 207 214
• Lin Fusheng — Bone-setting clinic owner and one of Ma Donghe’s Tui Na teachers. 97 574

Story Role / Major Arcs

Underworld and Martial Arts Association

Ma Donghe first appears promoting Ma Family Tai Chi Qigong with aggressive flyer distribution. At this point, he is recognized as a debt collector with a broken hand and meets Fang Cheng again at the Martial Arts Research Association. 16 70

Red Tiger Gang Conflict

He infiltrates a suspected trafficking and drug den, but is trapped until Fang Cheng destroys the operation and rescues him. He later helps raid a drug factory, interrogate gang members, and investigate the Red Tiger Gang’s leadership. 89 93 98

After the Red Tiger Gang takes over former Three Wolves Gang territory, Ma Donghe is forced into hiding. He refuses to return home because he fears bringing more danger to Ma Jianguo. 104

Noah Organization Capture

Bao Long betrays Ma Donghe and has him captured, shot, and tortured at a garbage-processing factory. Ma Donghe refuses to give up information about Fang Cheng. 207

Fang Cheng storms the factory, defeats Ghost and the Noah forces, and finds Ma Donghe after he has killed Bao Long. The two dispose of the bodies and leave the scene together. 214

Special Search Team Selection

Seeking a more legitimate path, Ma Donghe undergoes brutal intensive training for the Special Search Team’s selection process. His poor preliminary results lead Ma Jianguo to force him into further secluded cultivation using the Ma Family Visualization Method. 358 388 425

He remains determined to pass despite complaining constantly about the training’s hardship. 330 432

Western Mountains Examination and Ruins Incident

During the examination’s Illusory Realm phase, Ma Donghe battles supernatural threats in a morgue scenario and later travels with Fang Cheng and Hou Peng into the fog-covered Western Mountains. 603 607

Although frightened by the ruins and high-dimensional contamination, he refuses Fang Cheng’s offer to leave the team behind. 612

He is badly injured by the Black Tide masked man, but refuses interrogation and warns Fang Cheng when he emerges from the ruins. 622

Special Search Team Operations Department

After joining the Special Search Team, Ma Donghe is assigned to Operations Department Fourth Squad. He immediately fits into the department’s rough culture, earning respect after defeating Black Bear in an arm-wrestling contest despite his injured leg. 658 659 660

Notable Quotes

“Since we came in as a team, how could I run the moment we run into danger?”
— Ma Donghe refusing to abandon Fang Cheng at the ruins entrance 612

“I just won’t tell you. What can you do to me?”
— Ma Donghe defying the Black Tide masked man while severely injured 622