Zhao Ge

Biodata

Name	Zhao Ge (赵戈) 28
Alias(es)	Uncle Zhao; Master 30 31
Species/Race	Human 28
Gender	Male 28 29
Affiliation	His Martial Arts School; Zhao Qian; Li Yi 29 30
Occupation/Role	Martial artist, martial arts school founder and teacher, Li Yi's personal master 29 30
First Appearance	Chapter 28: Ghost Street

Background / History

Zhao Ge enters Ghost Street with his daughter Zhao Qian by faking their deaths, setting up spirit tablets, coffins, and Soul-Departing Incense to deceive Yin Soldiers. He seeks Coffin Grass to treat soul damage inflicted by a Yin God; without it, he believes he will not survive past the current season. 29

Disguised in paper clothes, Zhao Ge finds Li Yi exposed on Ghost Street and brings him to the safety of his courtyard. He gives Li Yi a mask to conceal his living aura, then learns that the youth has no martial-arts training despite possessing extraordinary strength and durability. 28 29

During a sparring test, Zhao Ge identifies Li Yi as having “Dragon Sinew, Tiger Bone,” immense physical potential, and an Innate Divine Ability. He neutralizes Li Yi's first use of Witness with Blood Essence, then offers to accept him as a personal disciple. 29

Li Yi accepts Zhao Ge as his master with an oath of lifelong filial loyalty. Because the Soul-Departing Incense is nearly exhausted, Zhao Ge rushes to establish Li Yi's foundation through the Punch Stance and Punch Force rather than attempting to teach more advanced martial practices. 30 31

When Zhao Ge chooses teaching Li Yi over immediately buying his medicine, Li Yi leaves Ghost Street to obtain Coffin Grass himself. Zhao Ge later learns that Li Yi paid sixty years of lifespan for it, reacts in anger toward Zhao Qian, and then falls into guilt over the debt he and his daughter owe his disciple. 31 33

Appearance

Zhao Ge is an elderly, initially frail-looking martial artist with a slightly hunched back, old eyes, and rough hands. Despite his age and soul injury, he retains formidable physical control and martial strength. 29 30

• First encountered wearing paper clothes to conceal his living aura on Ghost Street. 28
• His palm and fingers can accurately seize joints, muscles, acupoints, and tendons during combat. 29
• His Blood Essence can manifest around his fist when he attacks. 29

Personality

Zhao Ge is compassionate and protective toward Li Yi, rescuing him from Ghost Street without knowing him and immediately recognizing his potential. He respects Li Yi's need to return to his unconscious parents and does not force him to remain in Xingzhou, despite deeply regretting the possibility of losing such a gifted disciple. 28 30

As a master, Zhao Ge is intensely devoted and emotional. He sees Li Yi as the heir to his martial legacy, eagerly imagines his future accomplishments, and is willing to delay his own treatment to teach him the Fighting Style. 30 31

Zhao Ge also holds himself accountable for the consequences of his decisions. After learning Li Yi traded sixty years of lifespan for his medicine, he condemns Zhao Qian's hesitation but ultimately blames himself for placing both her and Li Yi in that position. 33

Abilities & Skills

Martial Arts Mastery

Zhao Ge is an accomplished martial artist who has tempered his sinews, bones, and skin, condensed Blood Essence, and channeled Force into his acupoints. He states that he has opened a martial arts school and taught thousands of students. 29

• Can suppress Li Yi in close combat despite Li Yi's evolved physique and repeated counterattacks. 29
• Uses precise strikes against acupoints, joints, muscles, and tendons to numb and disrupt an opponent's body. 29
• Is described as capable of sparring with Yin Gods. 29
• His injured soul and declining Blood Essence limit his remaining lifespan and urgency for treatment. 29 31

Blood Essence

Zhao Ge can concentrate Blood Essence into his fist and use it offensively. 29

• Shatters Li Yi's activated Witness with a Blood Essence-infused punch. 29
• Uses Blood Essence as the foundation for advanced Force control and martial practice. 30
• Explains that ordinary practitioners require Blood Essence to maintain and effectively develop Punch Force. 30

Punch Force Instruction

Zhao Ge teaches Li Yi the fundamentals of condensed force: drawing power from the ground through the feet, knees, waist, spine, arm, elbow, and fist. 30

• Demonstrates Punch Force by leaving a fist print in a wooden board without cracking or knocking it away. 30
• Corrects Li Yi's stance, posture, waist alignment, knee position, gaze, and force generation. 30 31
• Distinguishes between the Training Method, Fighting Style, and Nourishing Method. 31
• Cannot teach Li Yi the Fighting Style or complex Blood Essence nourishment methods before the Soul-Departing Incense expires. 31

Ghost Street Knowledge

Zhao Ge understands Ghost Street's methods of survival and its dangers. 28 29

• Uses paper clothes and a human-skin mask to conceal living aura from ghosts. 28
• Enters and exits through a staged-death ritual involving Soul-Departing Incense, spirit tablets, and coffins. 29
• Warns that failure to return before the incense burns out would leave a living person as a wandering ghost. 29

Equipment / Items

• Paper Clothes — Used to disguise a living person from ghosts and Yin Soldiers on Ghost Street. 28 31
• Human-skin mask/hood — Given to Li Yi to suppress his living aura while moving through Ghost Street. 28
• Soul-Departing Incense — Part of Zhao Ge and Zhao Qian's ritual for entering and safely departing Ghost Street. 29 33
• Coffin Grass — Life-saving medicine acquired by Li Yi to treat Zhao Ge's Yin God-inflicted soul injury. 32 33

Relationships

• Li Yi — Zhao Ge's personal disciple. Zhao Ge rescues him, recognizes his exceptional martial potential, and teaches him the Punch Stance and Punch Force under severe time pressure. 28 30 31
• Zhao Qian — Zhao Ge's daughter and companion in Ghost Street. He relies on her knowledge of the street, but later rebukes her over Li Yi's lifespan payment before regretting his reaction. 28 29 33
• Yin God — An unnamed entity that damaged Zhao Ge's soul, creating his need for Coffin Grass. 29

Notable Quotes

“Become my disciple! I will take you as my personal disciple.” 29

“We're family now, don't speak so formally.” 30