Uncle Jiu

Biodata

Feature	Value
Name	Uncle Jiu (九叔)
Alias(es)	Daoist Master
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Silent Village; master of Ah Qiang and Ah De 191 200
Occupation/Role	Taoist priest and exorcist; a respected local authority in supernatural matters 191 200
First Appearance	Chapter 191

Background / History

Uncle Jiu was already well known among nearby villages, towns, and fellow practitioners before Song Ren arrived at Silent Village. In his youth, he traveled extensively while transporting corpses; during the region's unrest, he also killed bandits, horse thieves, and warlords when necessary despite his fundamentally upright nature. 192 199

He trained Ah Qiang and Ah De, who became captain and vice-captain of Silent Village's security team largely because of their master's reputation. His residence serves both as his home and as a communal meeting place, with one room functioning as an ancestral hall for the village's families. 200

Appearance

Uncle Jiu is a middle-aged man with a rugged face and sharp, vigilant eyes. Even without Taoist robes, his bearing and knowledge identify him as an experienced Daoist practitioner. 191 193

• Carries Taoist implements on his person, particularly his Patriarch's Whisk. 193
• Moves with practiced agility in combat, including swift dismounts and Seven Stars Big Dipper footwork. 193 194
• Is physically less enduring than in his youth, and prolonged fights can wear down his stamina. 194

Personality

Uncle Jiu is alert, direct, and principled. Song Ren's overwhelming killing intent immediately puts him on guard, yet he still warns Song Ren about karmic retribution and invites him into Silent Village once he understands that Song Ren came to claim the bandit bounty. 191

He is hospitable but cautious, and his straightforward temperament sometimes causes him to question others too bluntly. After realizing that his interrogation annoyed Song Ren, he apologizes and changes his approach. 191

Although he recognizes Song Ren's value as an ally, Uncle Jiu remains firm in his moral boundaries. He refuses to teach Song Ren ghost-raising, believing their philosophies differ, but still gives him a Peach Talisman to mitigate the danger if Song Ren chooses that path. 199

Abilities & Skills

Taoist Exorcism

Uncle Jiu is highly skilled at identifying, restraining, and destroying ghosts, jiangshi, and other malicious entities.

• Recognized that Song Ren's Soul Suppressing Talisman could only temporarily restrain Granny Wang's lingering malice. 191
• Performed corpse-sealing rites by placing a talisman in Granny Wang's mouth and drawing on her face with blood ink. 192
• Used a compass to detect dense malevolent energy and determine that the dead bandits had reanimated. 193
• Quickly killed a falling ghost with his Patriarch's Whisk. 193
• Fought five coordinated evil ghosts using talismans, copper coins, footwork, and spiritual weapons, though the sustained battle exhausted him. 194
• Identified Granny Wang's evolved state as half-substantial and half-ethereal after she consumed other evil spirits. 196

Patriarch's Whisk Techniques

His favored tool is the Patriarch's Whisk, which he considers more versatile than a sword.

• The whisk's tassels can stiffen into a blade capable of cutting ghosts. 193
• Can be used offensively, defensively, and to draw talismans in the air. 193
• He prepares it with talismans and fingertip blood before attempting to subdue powerful spirits. 197

Copper Coin and Talisman Methods

Uncle Jiu augments his exorcism with consecrated coins and talismans.

• Uses blood-smeared copper coins to strike and injure fleeing evil ghosts. 195
• Carries multiple talismans for corpse suppression, spirit warding, and ritual work. 191 193
• Gifted Song Ren a Peach Talisman that wards off evil and helps curb bad luck. 199

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Patriarch's Whisk — Uncle Jiu's preferred implement; effective in offense, defense, and airborne talisman drawing. 193
• Peach Blossom — A peachwood sword made from millennium-old lightning-struck wood and nurtured by Uncle Jiu's Daoist magic for over a decade. It has slain numerous malevolent spirits and bears the inscription, “With three coins of peach blossom, I slay three thousand evil spirits.” He lends it to Song Ren and later allows him to keep it. 193 199
• Copper Coin Sword — Supplies copper coins for spirit-targeting attacks. 193 195
• Bagua Mirror — A Taoist artifact carried during the bandit-ghost investigation. 193
• Soul-Snatching Bell — A ritual tool carried alongside his other exorcism equipment. 193
• Compass — Detects concentrations of malevolent energy and reacts strongly near reanimated corpses or ghosts. 193
• Peach Talisman — A wooden talisman made from the same material as Peach Blossom; gifted to Song Ren in gratitude. 199

Relationships

• Song Ren — Initially regards Song Ren as a dangerous stranger because of his heavy malevolent aura and terrifying combat ability. Their cooperation against the bandit ghosts develops into mutual respect, though they disagree over ghost-raising. 191 194 199
• Ah Qiang — Disciple and captain of Silent Village's security team. Uncle Jiu repeatedly scolds him for speaking recklessly and later faces disgrace when Ah Qiang ignores orders concerning Granny Wang's corpse. 191 201
• Ah De — Disciple and vice-captain of Silent Village's security team. Like Ah Qiang, he is reprimanded for negligence after substituting ordinary firewood for peach wood during the cremation. 191 201
• Master Qian He and Master Si Mu — Fellow Daoists known to Uncle Jiu; Song Ren gains credibility by presenting items and accounts connected to them. 191 192
• Granny Wang — A heretical bandit leader whose corpse and later fierce ghost form become the central supernatural threat facing Uncle Jiu and Song Ren. 191 192 196

Story Role / Major Arcs

Silent Village Encounter

Uncle Jiu meets Song Ren after Song Ren kills Granny Wang and seals her soul with a talisman. Alarmed by Song Ren's power and malevolent aura, Uncle Jiu questions him, warns him of karmic consequences, and ultimately brings him to Silent Village to manage Granny Wang's corpse. 191

Bandit Ghost Investigation

After learning that the slain bandits practiced unorthodox arts, Uncle Jiu concludes that their corpses are likely to reanimate. He prepares ritual tools, lends Song Ren the Peach Blossom sword, and investigates the forest where the bandits died. 192 193

Uncle Jiu initially handles the bandits' evil ghosts alone, but their coordinated attacks drain his stamina. He asks Song Ren to join the battle, and the pair eliminate the ghosts before confronting Granny Wang's much stronger fierce-ghost form. 194 195 196

Granny Wang's Defeat

Uncle Jiu provides tactical guidance while Song Ren fights Granny Wang. Though he prepares his own ritual intervention, Song Ren ultimately defeats the fierce ghost through overwhelming force. Uncle Jiu is stunned by Song Ren's abilities, gives him Peach Blossom and a Peach Talisman, but refuses his request to learn ghost-raising. 197 198 199

Disciples' Negligence

Uncle Jiu orders Ah Qiang and Ah De to burn Granny Wang's corpse with peach wood. They replace it with ordinary firewood and leave to drink, allowing the corpse to revive and cause a deadly disturbance in Silent Village. Furious and ashamed, Uncle Jiu lets the villagers decide his disciples' punishment. 201

Notable Quotes

“I'm just reminding you, sir, to be careful of karmic retribution.” 191

“There's no need to mention raising ghosts. I cannot agree with your views on this matter, so I won't teach you the methods either.” 199

“If Peach Blossom cannot unleash its true potential in your hands, I won't give it to you.” 193