Hu Ruian

Biodata

Feature	Information
Name	Hu Ruian (胡瑞安)
Alias(es)	Lord Hu; Magistrate Hu
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Heavenly Brocade Guard Headquarters
Occupation/Role	Deputy Commander; imperial agent assigned to secure Sheng Province’s Heavenly Brocade Guard and support the campaign against Falling God Peak 195 247
Cultivation	Heaven-Man / Heavenly Human Realm expert 150 152
First Appearance	Chapter 130

Background

Hu Ruian was once mutually devoted to his cousin, Ruan Zhenhui. Her father rejected him because his family had declined and he was poor, while the Ruan Family faced destruction at the hands of assassins from Soul-Chasing Hall. To protect Ruan Zhenhui and her family, Hu Ruian broke their promises, left her behind, and entered the Heavenly Brocade Guard in Great Li’s imperial capital. He later investigated Soul-Chasing Hall with the intention of destroying it. 156

His past with Ruan Zhenhui also brought him into conflict with Shen Liancheng of Deer-Slaying Villa. Hu Ruian had sworn never to return to the villa or see Ruan again; breaking that promise gave Shen Liancheng the right to dispose of him as he wished. 152

Appearance

Hu Ruian is a wealthy-looking, middle-aged man with a round, somewhat bloated build. When secretly visiting Ruan Zhenhui, he wore lavish moon-white robes and a scholar’s cap. 130 150

• Uses a human-skin mask to alter his appearance when discretion is necessary. 143
• His imposing build contrasts with his careful, bureaucratic manner. 150

Personality

Hu Ruian is cautious, pragmatic, and politically aware. He prefers to avoid unnecessary conflict, disguises himself when attention may create complications, and assesses the larger implications behind seemingly isolated incidents. 143 144

He is deeply committed to his duties in the Heavenly Brocade Guard. Even when Sheng Province’s branch office appears haunted and its leadership is politically protected, he continues investigating in order to carry out the order to move its forces to Lanzhou. 163 177

Although initially inclined to rely on his own strength, Hu Ruian gradually develops profound trust in Li Musheng after repeatedly witnessing power far beyond his understanding. He remains conscious that, as Li Musheng’s subordinate, he should be the one standing in front of danger. 157 210

Abilities & Skills

Heavenly Human Realm Martial Arts

Hu Ruian is a Heaven-Man expert capable of wielding martial true qi and drawing upon the qi of heaven and earth. Even while weakened by Drunken Immortal Death, Shen Liancheng regarded him as a fighter whose strength was not inferior to his own at full capacity. 150 152

• Sent a carriage across the hundred-zhang Giant Deer River with inner energy. 144 145
• Killed more than a dozen Falling God Peak disciples with a casual sweep of true qi. 158
• Eliminated the Falling God Peak experts guarding a Lanzhou roadblock and sent a signal confirming his group’s arrival. 207
• Protected Murong Xiaoya from four attackers amid the ruins of the Murong Estate. 179
• Killed Mu Qingxia, the Cloud-Rainbow Lady, with a single palm strike. 199

Movement and Infiltration

Hu Ruian can move silently and rapidly enough to resemble a ghost, making him well suited to reconnaissance and covert operations. 164

• Vaulted alone over the walls of the Sheng Province Heavenly Brocade Guard residence to investigate its haunting. 164
• Used an afterimage-like movement technique while pursuing the ghostly shadow within the compound. 164
• Changed identities with a human-skin mask to avoid Deer-Slaying Villa’s attention. 143

Investigation and Command

Hu Ruian is an experienced investigator and field commander for the Heavenly Brocade Guard.

• Detected the scent of blood at the Sheng Province yamen and determined that all 176 officials and runners, including Governor Zhu Ziming, had been killed. 170
• Pursued the connection between Zhu Ziming, Mei Yan, the Heavenly Brocade Guard, and Falling God Peak. 167 195
• Questioned the imprisoned old woman and uncovered the death list connected to the persecution of Divine-Natured Persons. 190 191
• Was entrusted by Fu Qiwen to lead the Heavenly Brocade Guard toward Star-Control City during the Falling God Peak campaign. 247

Equipment

• Human-skin mask — Used to conceal his identity near Deer-Slaying Villa. 143
• Blue-gold flame signal — Fired after reaching Lanzhou to notify an unknown recipient of the group’s safe arrival. 207

Relationships

• Li Musheng — His superior and the Eighth Prince. Hu Ruian serves Li Musheng during the Sheng Province and Falling God Peak operations, increasingly placing absolute confidence in his strength. 130 210 233
• Fu Qiwen — Hu Ruian’s commander and longtime superior within the Heavenly Brocade Guard. Fu Qiwen considers Hu Ruian akin to a right-hand man and praises his handling of Sheng Province. 209 210
• Ruan Zhenhui — His cousin and former beloved. Hu Ruian left her to protect the Ruan Family, but still carries unresolved affection for her. 150 156
• Shen Liancheng — Master of Deer-Slaying Villa and Ruan Zhenhui’s husband. Hu Ruian’s return to the villa violates an old oath and nearly leads to Shen Liancheng killing him. 152
• Shen Anran — Ruan Zhenhui’s daughter. Hu Ruian protects and looks after her during the journey, while Shen Anran knows the history between him and her mother. 158 160
• Wu Shang — Thousand-Household Officer and subordinate who assists Hu Ruian’s investigations and missions. 134 163
• Cheng Zhong — Subordinate who later attempts to assassinate Hu Ruian, exposing his hidden loyalty to the Mei family. 199
• Murong Xiaoya — A traveling companion whom Hu Ruian protects during the fall of the Murong Family. 159 179

Story Role / Major Arcs

Journey to Deer-Slaying Villa

Hu Ruian accompanies Li Musheng toward Lanzhou and avoids drawing Deer-Slaying Villa’s attention due to his history with Shen Liancheng. He disguises himself, crosses the Giant Deer River by sending a carriage through the air, and accepts the villa’s invitation despite Li Musheng’s suspicions. 143 145

At the villa, Hu Ruian secretly meets Ruan Zhenhui but is poisoned by Drunken Immortal Death. Ruan retrieves Shen Liancheng’s antidote and saves him, after which Shen Liancheng confronts the pair over Hu Ruian’s broken oath. Li Musheng prevents Shen Liancheng from killing Hu Ruian. 150 152

Sheng Province Investigation

Assigned to bring Sheng Province’s Heavenly Brocade Guard to Lanzhou, Hu Ruian finds the branch office abandoned due to a deadly haunting. He investigates the compound alone, encounters the ghostly phenomenon, and retreats only after his attacks fail to affect it. 163 164

He presses Mei Yanyu to comply with the transfer order, investigates the massacre at the provincial yamen, and follows the black cat’s trail into the branch office dungeon. There, he discovers evidence that the Heavenly Brocade Guard had aided Falling God Peak in exterminating settlements connected to Divine-Natured Persons. 170 177 189 191

With Li Musheng’s support, Hu Ruian forces Mei Yan to submit to the transfer order and interrogates the Mei family’s involvement with Falling God Peak. He ultimately kills Mu Qingxia, accepting that her father, Martial Saint Mu Tianxing, will become his enemy. 196 199

Falling God Peak Campaign

Hu Ruian enters Lanzhou alongside Li Musheng’s group and kills the Falling God Peak experts who attempt to stop them at a roadblock. 206 207

After Li Musheng proceeds alone toward Hundred Refinement City, Hu Ruian reports his feats to Fu Qiwen and helps plan the broader assault on Falling God Peak. His confidence in Li Musheng remains firm even when Fu Qiwen doubts that the Eighth Prince can overcome the peak lords and Venerables. 210 231 247

Following Li Musheng’s victory, Hu Ruian remains behind with the Heavenly Brocade Guard to help take control of Falling God Peak’s remaining assets. 264

Trivia

• Hu Ruian once described Li Musheng’s martial cultivation to Fu Qiwen as being “about as high as a dozen or so stories.” 209
• He initially believed he needed to protect Li Musheng, only to later realize that Li’s strength was far beyond his own understanding. 264