Zhao Hei Hu

Biodata

Name	Zhao Hei Hu (赵黑虎)
Alias(es)	Gang Leader Zhao; local overlord of Black Stone County; “underground emperor of Black Stone County”
Species/Race	Human
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Black Tiger Gang
Occupation/Role	Gang leader; smuggler and trader dealing with Barbarian forces
Status	Deceased; killed by Ji Ye in one timeline and by Agula in the subsequent timeline 12 35
First Appearance	Chapter 9

Background / History

Zhao Hei Hu ruled the Black Tiger Gang and dominated Black Stone County for roughly ten years. His organization monopolized medicinal herbs, contraband salt, and the slave trade, while maintaining enough influence that even County Magistrate Zhou Dexing feared confronting him directly. Zhao also stockpiled armor, weapons, and medicinal resources while conducting trade with Barbarian groups. 10 13 34 37

His primary ambition was to enter the Bone Forging Realm. He amassed Bone-Penetrating Grass, Tiger Bone Paste, and an imperfect Dragon Tiger Great Pill for this purpose, but remained at the peak of Skin Grinding. His personal cultivation manual, Tiger Demon Bone Forging Fist, was later seized from his headquarters. 10 12 13

In the timeline before Ji Ye’s third life, Zhao retaliated after Ji Ye killed the Bone-Scraping Marquis and intercepted the gang’s medicinal shipment. He attacked the county yamen to kill Ji Ye, nearly defeating Wang Meng before Ji Ye intervened. Ji Ye ultimately impaled him on a broken stone pillar during a desperate close-quarters struggle. 9 11 12

After Ji Ye’s reincarnation, Zhao again led the Black Tiger Gang in Black Stone County. Ji Ye exploited Zhao’s existing cultivation blockage by convincing him that Crimson Blood Ginseng had infected him with “corpse poison.” The resulting fear weakened Zhao’s resolve and made him hesitant to use his full strength. 32 35

Ji Ye then framed Zhao for murdering White Wolf Tribe scouts and stealing their goods. White Wolf Tribe Centurion Agula invaded the gang headquarters and fatally stabbed Zhao through the heart. Zhao realized too late that Ji Ye had orchestrated the confrontation. 35

Appearance

Zhao Hei Hu was a muscular, middle-aged man whose presence was marked by both wealth and intimidation.

• Usually depicted bare-chested, displaying a fierce tiger tattoo across his chest. 11 12
• Wore a string of prayer beads around his neck. 11 12 32
• Often carried and manipulated two iron balls. 32 35
• Wore a black silk robe when confronting Ji Ye at Jishi Hall. 32
• Sat on tiger-skin furnishings within the Black Tiger Gang headquarters. 11 35

Personality

Zhao ruled through violence, fear, and displays of absolute control. When informed that a gang shipment had disappeared, he crushed a subordinate’s skull with one hand and ordered the county yamen surrounded so that no witness could survive. 11

He was ambitious and calculating enough to build a criminal network tied to Barbarian commerce, but his desire to break through to Bone Forging made him vulnerable. Ji Ye’s accurate knowledge of his cultivation blockages convinced Zhao that he had been poisoned, allowing fear and suspicion to override his usual confidence. 10 32 35

Abilities & Skills

Peak Skin Grinding Cultivation

Zhao was a peak Skin Grinding martial artist with vigorous Blood Essence and skin tough enough to withstand severe punishment.

• His peak Skin Grinding strength allowed him to overpower Wang Meng and break Wang’s injured leg with a single exchange. 12
• He withstood Ji Ye’s initial full-force charge, though it forced him back several steps. 12
• His Blood Essence was accompanied by faint tiger-roar-like effects when he confronted Ji Ye’s constables. 32
• He had not entered Bone Forging despite pursuing the realm through rare medicines and martial techniques. 10 12 13

Tiger Demon Bone Forging Fist

Zhao’s principal cultivation art was Tiger Demon Bone Forging Fist, a technique focused on tendon transformation and bone forging through the imitation of a fierce tiger’s movements. 13

• Enabled him to reach the peak of Skin Grinding and touch the threshold of Bone Forging. 13
• Its breathing method was later used by Ji Ye alongside other techniques. 25
• Zhao’s inability to resolve his Tanzhong and Tiantu acupoint blockages prevented his intended breakthrough. 32

Brute Strength and Close Combat

Zhao possessed exceptional physical power even among Skin Grinding martial artists.

• Reportedly shattered half a stone mill with a palm strike after emerging from seclusion. 9
• Used iron knuckle dusters to strike Wang Meng’s saber hard enough to buckle Wang’s leg. 12
• His fists could cave in Ji Ye’s flesh and crack ribs during their battle. 12
• Was weakened in his final confrontation with Agula because he feared circulating his strength at full capacity. 35

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Iron knuckle dusters — Used during the assault on the county yamen. 12
• Iron balls — Carried in hand and used as weapons against Agula. 32 35
• Ghost Head Saber — Drawn when Agula attacked the Black Tiger Gang headquarters. 35
• Tiger Demon Bone Forging Fist — His primary martial arts manual. 13
• Imperfect Dragon Tiger Great Pill — A treasured breakthrough medicine intended for Bone Forging. 13
• Tiger Bone Paste and Bone-Penetrating Grass — Medicinal resources gathered for cultivation. 10 12

Relationships

• Ji Ye — Enemy who stole Zhao’s breakthrough medicines, defeated him in the earlier timeline, and later engineered his death through Agula. 10 12 32 35
• Wang Meng — Opposing county constable captain; Zhao nearly killed him during the yamen assault. 12
• Agula — White Wolf Tribe Centurion and former Barbarian contact who killed Zhao after being deceived into believing Zhao had murdered White Wolf scouts. 35
• County Magistrate Zhou Dexing — Local official who accepted the Black Tiger Gang’s bribes and feared Zhao’s power. 34
• Black Tiger Gang — Zhao’s criminal organization, which controlled illicit trade and maintained private armed forces in Black Stone County. 13 34

Story Role / Major Arcs

Retaliation Against Ji Ye

After the Bone-Scraping Marquis was killed, Zhao threatened the Ding Squad and sought to eliminate Ji Ye. His gang’s shipment was subsequently robbed by Ji Ye, depriving Zhao of medicines, weapons, and Barbarian-bound cargo. 9 10

Assault on the County Yamen

Zhao personally led the Black Tiger Gang’s attack on the county yamen. He overwhelmed Wang Meng but was stopped by Ji Ye, who endured repeated blows before impaling Zhao on a broken pillar. 11 12

The Corpse Poison Deception

In Ji Ye’s later life, Zhao confronted him at Jishi Hall after Ji Ye moved to confiscate Crimson Blood Ginseng. Ji Ye exploited Zhao’s cultivation blockage and convinced him that the ginseng carried corpse poison, forcing Zhao to surrender the medicine and seal his own shop. 32

Death at the Black Tiger Gang Headquarters

Ji Ye planted evidence connecting Zhao to the deaths of White Wolf Tribe scouts. Agula attacked through Zhao’s secret smuggling passage, and Zhao—already psychologically and physically compromised by Ji Ye’s scheme—was killed by Agula’s Water-Splitting Dagger. 35

Notable Quotes

“Get out of the way. I only want that kid named Ji. Hand him over, and I'll leave you with a whole corpse.” 12

“Ji Ye! You set me up!!!” 35

Trivia

• Zhao’s seized wealth included cash, property deeds, medicinal herbs, weapons, and evidence of criminal dealings; in the later timeline, the Black Tiger Gang’s stores contained forty thousand taels of silver and five thousand taels of gold. 13 37
• Although Zhao had dominated Black Stone County for a decade, public notices after his death portrayed him as a traitor killed by Barbarians, allowing Ji Ye to claim the political benefit. 35 37