Chen Zhengyang

Biodata

Feature	Value
Name	Chen Zhengyang (陈正阳)
Alias(es)	Master Chen; School Master
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Zhengyang Martial Arts School
Occupation/Role	Founder and master of Zhengyang Martial Arts School; Third-Rank Martial Artist 141 174
Status	Missing after departing for Luoshui Village; his disappearance is later suspected by Qinghe County officials 301 373
First Appearance	Chapter 120

Background / History

Chen Zhengyang founded Zhengyang Martial Arts School to pass on the Martial Dao, rather than to become entangled in Qinghe County’s factional conflicts. As one of the county’s few Third-Rank Martial Artists, he holds enough standing that Inner City constables and ordinary guards treat him with marked respect. 122 141

He possesses the school’s complete Five Tiger Severing Gate Saber Technique inheritance, including its treasured Fundamental Diagram. His school’s path is deliberately demanding: disciples must cultivate the technique’s five stances together from the outset, using this threshold to identify suitable inheritors. 172 174

Chen Zhengyang previously entered Luoshui Village and returned carrying a lingering Yin Cold injury in his dantian. The force continuously erodes his life force, and ordinary treatment has not cured it. He later turns to the internal Five Tiger Health Cultivation Method and Five Tiger Pills in hopes of recovery, though he remains wary of the method’s hidden dangers. 188 198

Appearance

Chen Zhengyang is a compact martial artist rather than an especially burly man. His composed bearing, steady steps, and restrained aura make him seem as deep and immovable as “deep pools and towering mountains.” 129

• Wears blue robes when traveling through Qinghe County and dark fitted martial attire at the Training Ground. 121 129
• Often appears mounted when traveling or intervening in county affairs. 120 301
• Can conceal his strength beneath a calm exterior, but his gaze and killing intent become intensely oppressive when provoked. 120 211

Personality

Chen Zhengyang is perceptive, measured, and highly discerning of martial potential. Upon first seeing Fang Yuan fight at the city gate, he identifies the precision of Fang Yuan’s force control, stable foundation, composure under pressure, and instinct to protect his family. 120

Though he prefers to avoid Qinghe County’s political struggles, he is not passive. He understands that Black Tiger Hall may eventually force his school to choose a side, and he prepares accordingly. Once he gives his word, he is fiercely protective; he openly declares that Zhengyang Martial Arts School will protect Fang Yuan even against Black Heart Tiger. 141 211

As a teacher, he values comprehension, temperament, and steady effort over empty displays of talent. His past experience with the gifted but traitorous Yuan Feng leaves him cautious of early fame, yet Fang Yuan’s loyalty and discipline gradually earn his deep trust. 170 175

Abilities & Skills

Third-Rank Martial Arts

Chen Zhengyang is a genuine Third-Rank Martial Artist with a complete inheritance capable of guiding disciples to the Third Rank. 141 174

• His presence alone silences the Zhengyang Training Ground and deters Black Tiger Hall’s gate extortionists. 120 129
• He clashes directly with Black Heart Tiger, meeting his claw techniques with saber attacks in a high-speed Third-Rank battle. 211
• His lingering Yin Cold injury weakens his condition and threatens his lifespan. 188 199

Five Tiger Severing Gate Saber Technique

Chen Zhengyang is the inheritor and principal instructor of Zhengyang Martial Arts School’s signature saber art. 130 172

• Demonstrates the technique form by form, allowing disciples to study its force application and essence. 130
• Teaches that the five stances must be cultivated simultaneously through Five Stances Combined Training. 172
• Uses the technique to temper qi and blood, rather than treating it as a collection of superficial movements. 131
• Maintains the technique’s Fundamental Diagram as a core inheritance reserved for personal disciples. 170

Fundamental Diagram

Chen Zhengyang safeguards the Fundamental Diagram of the Five Tiger Severing Gate Saber Technique, including the Fierce Tiger Descends the Mountain Picture. 170 171

• Explains that a Fundamental Diagram is the spiritual foundation of a Qi Gathering Method, not a fixed method by itself. 170
• Entrusts Fang Yuan with the diagram so he can comprehend a personal foundation for Qi Gathering. 170
• Treats a martial artist’s Qi-induction foundation as an absolute secret and forbids Zhao Tie from probing into Fang Yuan’s result. 172

Five Tiger Health Cultivation Method

Chen Zhengyang practices the Five Tiger Health Cultivation Method, an internal cultivation art focused on breathing, meditation, visualization, qi-and-blood harmony, and nourishing the five organs. 188 198

• Receives three Five Tiger Pills from County Lieutenant Wu to assist his cultivation and treat his Yin Cold injury. 188
• Finds the method exceptionally profound and initially makes little progress despite months of study. 188
• Later shares the method with Fang Yuan and Zhao Tie, believing it may contain knowledge relevant to the Fourth Rank Realm. 198

Martial Judgment and Mentorship

Chen Zhengyang quickly assesses a fighter’s foundation, temperament, battle experience, and future potential. 120 170

• Recognizes Fang Yuan’s refined strength control at the city gate before Fang Yuan formally joins the school. 120
• Notices Fang Yuan’s exceptional comprehension while he practices the saber technique and deliberately avoids interrupting his learning. 131
• Accepts Fang Yuan as a true disciple after judging his talent, loyalty, character, battle experience, and cultivation foundation. 170

Equipment / Inherited Items

• Fundamental Diagram of the Five Tiger Severing Gate Saber Technique — Zhengyang Martial Arts School’s treasured inheritance, used to guide core disciples toward Qi Gathering. 170
• Five Tiger Health Cultivation Method — Internal cultivation manual received from County Lieutenant Wu and later taught to Fang Yuan and Zhao Tie. 188 198
• Five Tiger Pills — Three pills provided by County Lieutenant Wu to support the Health Cultivation Method and potentially suppress Chen Zhengyang’s injury. 188
• Saber — Used in his confrontation with Black Heart Tiger. 211

Relationships

• Fang Yuan — Disciple. Chen Zhengyang protects Fang Yuan at the city gate, shelters his family, recognizes his potential, and ultimately accepts him as a true/direct disciple. 120 170 294
• Zhao Tie — Eldest disciple. Zhao Tie assists Chen Zhengyang in settling Fang Yuan, retrieving the Fundamental Diagram, and supporting Fang Yuan’s breakthrough. 122 170 172
• Chen Yin — Daughter. Chen Zhengyang is protective of her but repeatedly conflicts with her over Liu Chengfeng and her defiance of his authority. 122 143 152
• County Lieutenant Wu — Ally and source of cultivation resources, though Chen Zhengyang becomes suspicious of Wu’s unusual interest in his progress with the Five Tiger Health Cultivation Method. 188 214
• Yuan Feng — Former gifted disciple who failed to comprehend a personal Qi Gathering Method and later betrayed the sect; his memory continues to affect Chen Zhengyang’s expectations of Fang Yuan. 170 171
• Black Heart Tiger / Li Qingtian — Rival Third-Rank Martial Artist and Black Tiger Hall leader. Their conflict escalates when Chen Zhengyang refuses to surrender Fang Yuan. 191 211
• Luo Sihai and Liu Ting — Canal Gang and Green Wood Gang leaders who accompany Chen Zhengyang on the journey to Luoshui Village. 301

Story Role / Major Arcs

Protecting Fang Yuan and Bringing Him into Qinghe County

Chen Zhengyang intervenes when Black Tiger Hall attempts to extort Fang Yuan’s family at the city gate. He publicly places Fang Yuan under Zhengyang Martial Arts School’s protection, forcing Heizi and his men to retreat. He then brings Fang Yuan’s group into Qinghe County and offers them shelter and work at his school. 120 121

Evaluating and Training Fang Yuan

After observing Fang Yuan’s foundation and temperament, Chen Zhengyang permits him to remain at the school for observation. He personally demonstrates the Five Tiger Severing Gate Saber Technique and later recognizes Fang Yuan’s extraordinary ability to absorb its principles. 125 130 131

Acceptance of a True Disciple

Following Fang Yuan’s return with greater battle experience and killing intent, Chen Zhengyang formally accepts him as a true disciple. He immediately grants Fang Yuan access to the Fundamental Diagram so that he can establish a superior Qi Gathering foundation. 170

When Fang Yuan successfully induces qi, Chen Zhengyang protects the secrecy of his disciple’s personal Martial Dao foundation. Fang Yuan’s subsequent defeat of Zhang Meng confirms Chen Zhengyang’s decision before the entire school. 172 174

Conflict with Black Tiger Hall

Chen Zhengyang’s protection of Fang Yuan turns the school’s tension with Black Tiger Hall into an open conflict. When Black Heart Tiger personally comes to demand Fang Yuan, Chen Zhengyang refuses to break his promise and fights him directly. 203 211

Formal Apprenticeship Ceremony

To publicly establish Fang Yuan’s status and deter threats, Chen Zhengyang organizes a formal apprenticeship ceremony attended by Qinghe County’s influential figures. He officially accepts Fang Yuan as his direct disciple after Fang Yuan defeats a powerful challenger during the event. 216 289 294

Journey to Luoshui Village and Disappearance

With Luoshui Village’s danger escalating, Chen Zhengyang refuses to let Fang Yuan accompany him, insisting that his disciple’s path and battlefield lie elsewhere. He departs alongside Luo Sihai and Liu Ting, after which all three Third-Rank figures disappear. 301 373

Notable Quotes

“Your road is still long. Your battlefield isn't here.” 301

“But last night, Chen personally promised Fang Yuan that the Martial Arts School would protect him!” 211