Hong Decheng

Biodata

Feature	Information
Name	Hong Decheng (洪德昌)
Alias(es)	Master Hong
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Tiger Subduing Martial Arts School
Occupation/Role	Martial arts school master; martial arts instructor; Fang Chen's master
Status	Active 187
First Appearance	Chapter 3

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Tiger Subduing Fist — Major Accomplishment	Before Ch. 73	Hong learned Tiger Subduing Fist first; his own master only taught him Dragon Subduing Fist after he reached major accomplishment. 73
Viscera Realm	69	Has remained at the Viscera Realm for years without further progress. 69
Dragon Tiger Subduing Fist — Mastered	124	Mastered the restored superior fist art after a year of practice. 124

Background

Hong Decheng is the master of the Tiger Subduing Martial Arts School. He personally provides initial instruction to new disciples and requires those who cannot attain the First Realm within three months to leave the school. 3

His school teaches the intermediate-grade Tiger Subduing Fist. The technique was originally one half of the superior Dragon Tiger Subduing Fist, alongside Dragon Subduing Fist; the original inheritance was damaged, and later generations derived the two separate methods from its remnants. Ancestral rules forbade casually transmitting both fist arts, so Hong retained Dragon Subduing Fist in secret while seeking a disciple capable of restoring the complete inheritance. 24

Hong himself trained Tiger Subduing Fist before receiving Dragon Subduing Fist from his master after reaching major accomplishment in the former. 73

Appearance

Hong Decheng is an older, burly man whose presence is naturally imposing. 3 16

• Wears a short beard. 68 79
• Possesses an authoritative bearing that can silence his disciples with a low shout. 27 76
• Often rests in a rattan chair in the martial arts school's inner courtyard. 40 72

Personality

Hong is a strict but attentive instructor. He values diligence, sound foundations, and martial aptitude, and he directly corrects disciples whose progress is slow. 3 16 His early judgment of Fang Chen is shaped by repeated aptitude examinations, which consistently indicate below-average talent; Fang's subsequent rapid progress leaves him deeply puzzled rather than immediately convinced. 23 28

Once he recognizes Fang Chen's exceptional comprehension, Hong becomes fiercely supportive and proud. He entrusts Fang with the school's hidden inheritance, keeps his breakthrough confidential at Fang's request, and openly anticipates his disciple's victories. 62 63 73 His pride does not override his principles: he is willing to disown a Song Family disciple if that disciple is implicated in wrongdoing. 69

Abilities & Skills

Viscera Realm Cultivation

Hong is a Viscera Realm martial artist, placing him among Baihe County's strongest known practitioners, though he has been unable to advance beyond that realm for years. 65 69

• His presence, alongside Zhou Boyuan's recovery, deters Green Robe Gang Leader Xiao Yu from escalating after Zheng Lingfeng's death. 77
• The Green Robe Gang considers his backing a significant reason not to seek revenge against Fang Chen. 65

Tiger Subduing Fist

Hong teaches and has perfected the Tiger Subduing Fist. His demonstrations emphasize capturing the form and spirit of a tiger through fierce, sharp movements. 3 16

• Can demonstrate the complete fist art, culminating in a soul-stirring tiger's roar. 16
• Assesses a disciple's progress by observing their movements and Blood Essence circulation. 23 27
• Identifies the combat implications of advanced fist-art mastery, such as Zheng Lingfeng's two major-accomplishment techniques. 76

Dragon Tiger Subduing Fist

Hong safeguards the Dragon Subduing Fist and seeks to restore the superior Dragon Tiger Subduing Fist inheritance. 24 41

• Gives Dragon Subduing Fist to Fang Chen after recognizing him as the suitable inheritor. 62
• Receives Fang's completed Dragon Tiger Subduing Fist manual with overwhelming joy and astonishment. 87 88
• Later masters the restored fist art himself after a year of practice. 124

Martial Arts Instruction and Appraisal

Hong is an experienced instructor with a discerning eye for martial foundations and aptitude. 16 40

• Repeatedly examines Fang Chen's physique and confirms his below-average aptitude despite his abnormal rate of improvement. 23 28
• Recognizes Fang's broad martial comprehension and his ability to draw insights from similar techniques. 40 73
• Detects Fang's Sinew and Bone Realm breakthrough after seeing only several Tiger Subduing Fist movements. 62
• Guides Fang toward obtaining an internal cultivation method and seeking entry into the Myriad Phenomena Sect. 80

Inheritance Records

• Dragon Subduing Fist manual — Kept in a concealed long box before Hong passes it to Fang Chen. 24 62
• Dragon Tiger Subduing Fist manual — The restored superior inheritance completed by Fang Chen and presented to Hong. 87 88

Relationships

• Fang Chen — Personal disciple and chosen inheritor of the Dragon Tiger Subduing Fist lineage. Hong initially doubts Fang's progress because of his aptitude, then becomes his staunchest supporter and takes immense pride in his achievements. 24 62 73 124 187
• Tan Zongting — Old friend from their youth. They began with similar cultivation, maintained their friendship through correspondence, and Tan takes particular interest in Fang as Hong's personal disciple. 68 69 156
• Jiang Qiutong — Disciple who receives one of Hong's Demon Eradication Division recommendation spots after Song Ming's place becomes vacant. 87
• Zhou Hai — Disciple selected for Hong's other Demon Eradication Division recommendation spot at Fang Chen's recommendation. 87
• Song Ming — A disciple of the Song Family. Hong is prepared to disown him if he is found involved in wrongdoing. 36 69
• Ling Chengyue — Master of the Flying Eagle Martial Arts School. Hong invites him to observe the Tiger Subduing school and agrees to a sparring exchange between their disciples. 53

Story Role / Major Arcs

Discovering Fang Chen

Hong personally introduces Fang Chen to Tiger Subduing Fist and initially regards him as a poor but potentially diligent new disciple. 3 Fang's one-day initiation and rapid cultivation soon confound Hong, whose repeated examinations still show that Fang possesses below-average aptitude. 16 23 28

Hong begins considering Fang as a possible inheritor after observing his extraordinary comprehension and near-flawless breakthroughs. He gives Fang direct access to the backyard for martial questions and privately waits to see whether Fang can reach the Sinew and Bone Realm within two months. 28 40 41

Passing on the Hidden Inheritance

After Fang reaches the Sinew and Bone Realm, Hong fulfills his promise: he accepts Fang as a personal disciple and transmits Dragon Subduing Fist. 62 He supports Fang's wish to conceal the breakthrough and later introduces him to Tan Zongting, proudly describing Fang's unparalleled comprehension, perseverance, and solid foundation. 63 68

Hong is repeatedly astonished by Fang's speed in Dragon Subduing Fist and realizes that Fang can retain and apply insights from Tiger Subduing Fist while learning its counterpart. 73

Green Robe Gang Match

Hong leads his disciples to observe the Three Rivers Gang's territorial match and knows in advance that Fang will appear. 75 When Fang confronts Zheng Lingfeng, Hong correctly judges that Zheng has at least two major-accomplishment martial arts and worries whether Fang has completed his own breakthrough. 76

After Fang kills Zheng with a single punch, Hong responds with pride and steps forward to prevent Xiao Yu from retaliating against the Three Rivers Gang and his disciple. 77

Restoring the Dragon Tiger Subduing Fist

When Fang reports that he has perfected both component fist arts and already deduced Dragon Tiger Subduing Fist, Hong is stunned. He recognizes that the lost inheritance has been restored through his disciple and accepts the completed manual with joy. 87 88

A year later, Hong masters the restored technique himself. He also receives news that Fang has become a chief in Prefecture City and joined the Rookie Ranking, prompting him to celebrate publicly at the martial arts school. 124

Fang Chen's Return

When Fang returns to Baihe County, he gives Hong advanced-grade martial arts manuals and medicinal ingredients that can increase Blood Essence, accelerate cultivation, and potentially extend lifespan. Hong accepts the gifts with relief and complicated emotion, aware of the widening gap between his own path and Fang's. 187

Notable Quotes

“If you can deduce it, I will have no regrets even if I die.” 87

“Good boy! You've truly brought honor to your master!” 79