Zhu Huan

Biodata

Feature	Value
Name	Zhu Huan (朱环)
Alias(es)	Captain Zhu; Head Constable of Qingcheng's patrolmen 3
Species/Race	Human; later corrupted by Demonic Marks before being purified 6 8
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Qingcheng yamen; formerly aligned with demons; contract-bound to Wei Qing 3 6 8
Occupation/Role	Captain of Qingcheng's patrolmen; Wei Qing's servant and local subordinate 3 8
Status	Alive; serves Wei Qing under a Master-Servant Contract 8 41
First Appearance	Chapter 3

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Peak Ninth-Rank Martial Artist	3	His blood and qi are exceptionally vigorous; Wei Qing judges him slightly stronger than Chen Dong and close to an Eighth-Rank breakthrough.
Seventh-Rank Initial Stage (Demonic Mark release)	6	Activating Demonic Marks rapidly raises his aura from Eighth-Rank Initial Stage through Eighth-Rank Mid Stage, settling just short of Seventh-Rank Mid Stage.
Seventh-Rank cultivation, purified	8	Luo Liuli removes his Demonic Marks without reducing his cultivation; his body and cultivation are instead described as more solid and refined.

Background

Zhu Huan served as Qingcheng's head constable and captain of its patrolmen for seven years. Aside from Magistrate Fang Youting, he was the yamen's longest-serving official. He initially received Wei Qing as a Heavenly Realm Division investigator with marked deference and promised full cooperation in the Smiling Death case. 3

During the investigation, Zhu Huan supplied the known details of the unexplained deaths and the disappearance of eighteen corpses. He advised delaying the journey to Dragon Cave Village until daylight, arranged Wei Qing's lodging, brought him breakfast, and led him to the abandoned village. 3 4

Although he remained outwardly dutiful, Zhu Huan had already turned against humanity. He blamed the Imperial Court for his mother's death and accepted demonic power in pursuit of revenge. After Wei Qing defeated the Two-tailed Spirit Stream Demonic Cat, Zhu Huan attacked him, revealing Demonic Marks and a transformed body. 6

Zhu Huan was subdued when Wei Qing's mental attack disrupted his transformed body. As he attempted to flee, Luo Liuli appeared, forced him into a Master-Servant Contract, and purified the Demonic Marks from his body. She identified Wei Qing as Zhu Huan's true master. 7 8 35

After his conversion, Zhu Huan confessed his betrayal and informed Wei Qing that Fang Xiang had colluded with demons. He had personally witnessed Fang Xiang meet a disguised Half-Demon at Drunken Immortal Pavilion and later discovered that Fang Manor's merchant convoys were transporting people out of Qingcheng at night. 8 9

He thereafter assisted Wei Qing with the Fang Manor lockdown, restrained enraged civilians from attacking the estate, enforced Wei Qing's orders, and participated in the operation against the Ghost Corpse Sect at the City God Temple. 10 13 21 24 He remained active at the Qingcheng yamen after Wei Qing relinquished the acting magistracy. 41

Appearance

Zhu Huan is a sturdy, middle-aged man who dresses as a Qingcheng constable and carries a long blade at his waist. 3

• His face became covered in black Demonic Marks when he activated his corrupted power. 6
• A bizarre demonic eye appeared at the center of his brow during his transformation. 6
• His transformed body could deform unnaturally, including a neck that extended more than five meters and an abdomen that bent inward to absorb a strike. 6 7
• Following purification, the Demonic Marks melted away completely. 8

Personality

Before his betrayal was exposed, Zhu Huan presented himself as a conscientious and reliable local officer. He was visibly overwhelmed by Wei Qing's status but remained attentive, practical, and concerned for Qingcheng's villagers and yamen runners. 3 4 5

His demonic allegiance stemmed from consuming hatred. Zhu Huan regarded revenge for his mother as more important than the lives of others and openly wished destruction on those he blamed. 6

After purification and contracting with Wei Qing, he became intensely submissive and vigilant. He confessed without prompting, stood guard while Wei Qing recovered, and treated failures in carrying out Wei Qing's orders as serious personal faults. 8 13

Abilities & Skills

Constabulary Experience

Zhu Huan served as Qingcheng's patrol captain for seven years and commanded yamen runners during several crises. 3 10

• Investigated the Smiling Death incident across more than a dozen affected villages. 3
• Provided Wei Qing with local intelligence and guided him through Dragon Cave Village. 3 4
• Kept Fang Xiang under covert observation and identified his contact as a Half-Demon. 9
• Organized yamen personnel for the Fang Manor blockade and later supervised civilian evacuation and casualty arrangements. 10 24

Martial Arts

Before using demonic power, Zhu Huan was a peak Ninth-Rank Martial Artist approaching an Eighth-Rank breakthrough. 3

• Maintained a combat-ready stance in Dragon Cave Village, keeping his hand on his blade despite the oppressive cold. 5
• Used the breathing rhythm of the Heavenly Realm Division's Heart Illumination Art. 5
• His ordinary cultivation was greatly inferior to Wei Qing's demonstrated strength. 3 6

Demonic Mark Transformation

Zhu Huan could activate Demonic Marks to massively raise his cultivation and alter his body. 6

• Raised his strength to Seventh-Rank Initial Stage, nearly reaching Seventh-Rank Mid Stage. 6
• Manifested an unnatural claw attack capable of gouging a deep mark into bluestone. 6
• Deformed his abdomen to absorb Wei Qing's kick without suffering the expected injury. 6
• Extended his neck to bind and lift Wei Qing from a distance. 7
• Was vulnerable to Wei Qing's mental-power attack, which caused severe pain and ended his restraint of Wei Qing. 7

Master-Servant Contract

Luo Liuli bound Zhu Huan with an ancient Master-Servant Contract and designated Wei Qing as his true master. 8

• Wei Qing can determine Zhu Huan's life or death through the contract. 8
• The contract was accompanied by the complete removal of Zhu Huan's Demonic Marks. 8
• Zhu Huan's cultivation was retained rather than lost during purification. 8

Equipment

• Long blade — Carried as Qingcheng's head constable. 3
• Dagger — Used in his attempted assassination of Wei Qing. 6

Relationships

• Wei Qing — Initially his assigned Heavenly Realm Division investigator, then his intended victim; after Luo Liuli's intervention, Zhu Huan becomes Wei Qing's contract-bound servant and provides intelligence and operational support. 3 6 8 9
• Luo Liuli — The mysterious woman who subdued Zhu Huan, established the Master-Servant Contract, and purified his Demonic Marks. 8 35
• Fang Youting — Qingcheng's magistrate and Zhu Huan's long-serving superior; Fang entrusted him with assisting Wei Qing during the Smiling Death investigation. 3
• Fang Xiang — Zhu Huan secretly observed Fang Xiang's meetings with a Half-Demon and exposed his trafficking of Qingcheng residents to Wei Qing. 9
• Zhurou Rong — Zhu Huan stopped the grieving butcher from attacking Fang Manor, reminding him to consider his remaining family. 10
• Qingcheng yamen runners — Zhu Huan commands and coordinates them during the Fang Manor lockdown and later operations. 10 13 24

Notable Quotes

“Ever since they killed my mother, I've wished every moment for them all to perish!” 6

“Your servant was bewitched and betrayed the human race. Please punish me, Master.” 8