Chu Xiao

Biodata

Feature	Details
Name	Chu Xiao (楚骁)
Alias(es)	Junior Brother Chu; Brother Chu
Species/Race	Human
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Spirit Serpent Martial Hall; externally posted to Pin Hai Restaurant 11 12
Occupation/Role	Disciple of Song Qinghong; martial artist and Pin Hai Restaurant overseer
Status	Alive; permanently crippled after the Provincial Examination and later left nearly completely paralyzed 42 48
First Appearance	Chapter 8

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Ninth Rank	8	Reached Ninth Rank after only three days of training, earning Song Qinghong's recognition as a prodigy.
Ninth Rank, nearing Eighth Rank	11	Within less than half a month, approached the Eighth Rank threshold; his displayed combat power was 9~16, and Song Qinghong stated that his training methods were perfected.
Eighth-Rank examination contender	31 32	Emerged from seclusion with combat power of 27~50 and entered the Provincial Examination, which assessed Eighth-Rank martial artists.

Background

Chu Xiao and his elder sister, Chu Fang, relied on one another before he joined the Spirit Serpent Martial Hall. Recognizing both his talent and their circumstances, Song Qinghong waived Chu Xiao's tuition and offered Chu Fang work at his residence, allowing the siblings to remain near the martial hall 8.

His rapid advancement made him Song Qinghong's most prized disciple and a source of hope for the hall's future reputation 8 11.

Appearance

Chu Xiao is a tall, slender young man who carries himself with an upright, pine-like posture. His initially sallow complexion became healthier as his cultivation progressed 8 11.

• Often wears fitted martial attire, including a blue short-sleeved training uniform with tightly bound sleeves 11.
• Has a stern, proud expression and a notably straight posture 16 23.
• Following his defeat by Zhen Tianshuang, he becomes severely crippled and later nearly fully paralyzed 42 48.

Personality

Chu Xiao initially responds to Qi Yu's noble status with anxious deference and envy, but immediately feels ashamed of his own submissiveness. This shame develops into a strong desire to rise above his circumstances through martial achievement 8.

He is proud of his talent and deeply invested in his standing as Spirit Serpent Martial Hall's genius. He looks down on people he considers morally or martial-artistically inferior, including Han Yan before their fight and Qi Yu, whom he continues to regard as a corrupt dandy despite Qi Yu's help 16 23 36.

After Han Yan publicly defeats him, Chu Xiao briefly loses confidence but accepts Song Qinghong's special training. His later seclusion strengthens both his combat ability and his arrogance; he returns distant toward Qi Yu and Song Xue, determined to prove himself in the Provincial Examination 24 31.

His defeat and crippling intensify his jealousy toward Qi Yu, eventually contributing to a breakdown in which he coughs blood and loses consciousness 48.

Abilities & Skills

Spirit Serpent Battle Art

Chu Xiao practices the Spirit Serpent Martial Hall's core combat art to an exceptional standard, combining nimble footwork, precise hand techniques, and rapid strikes.

• Reached Ninth Rank in three days through exceptional comprehension and innate talent 8.
• Demonstrated the Spirit Serpent Battle Art in a wooden-stake formation, striking iron-clad posts with finger attacks described as spear-tip-like in force 11.
• Had perfected his training methods by the time of his martial-hall demonstration 11.
• Defeated Liu Zhen after nearly one hundred exchanges during the Provincial Examination 38.

Competitive Combat

Chu Xiao is a formidable unarmed competitor, though his emotional volatility can undermine his judgment.

• Advanced into the Provincial Examination's top sixteen and then top eight 37 38.
• Lost decisively to Han Yan in their first public confrontation, suffering facial injuries and humiliation 23.
• Attempted to attack Zhen Tianshuang after their match had already been declared over, leading to his crippling defeat 38 42.
• Song Qinghong believed Chu Xiao's loss to Han Yan resulted from failing to fully use his skills rather than a lack of potential 24.

Relationships

• Song Qinghong — Master and strongest supporter. Song waived Chu Xiao's tuition, arranged employment for Chu Fang, and personally trained him after his loss to Han Yan 8 24.
• Chu Fang — Elder sister and former sole companion. She later tends to him after his crippling and urges him to acknowledge the kindness of Qi Yu and Song Qinghong 8 48.
• Qi Yu — Senior brother and benefactor who secured Chu Xiao's favorable posting at Pin Hai Restaurant. Chu Xiao's outward gratitude is undermined by resentment, suspicion, and jealousy 12 16 19 36.
• Song Xue — Senior sister whom Chu Xiao regards highly. He hopes to keep her away from Qi Yu, while Wang Mingyong attempts to encourage a match between Chu Xiao and Song Xue 16 30.
• Han Yan — Rival from the Black Bear Martial Hall. Han Yan publicly defeats and humiliates Chu Xiao, damaging the Spirit Serpent Martial Hall's reputation 23 24.
• Zhen Tianshuang — Provincial Examination opponent who defeats and permanently cripples Chu Xiao after Chu Xiao attacks following the declared end of their match 38 42.
• Qian Fu — Daughter of Chu Xiao's employer's family. He rejects her demand that he provide her with physical assistance, regarding her behavior with disdain 16.

Story Role / Major Arcs

Spirit Serpent Martial Hall Prodigy

Chu Xiao enters the Spirit Serpent Martial Hall as Song Qinghong's newly accepted disciple. His three-day ascent to Ninth Rank establishes him as an extraordinary talent, and Song Qinghong places significant hopes on him 8.

During a martial-hall demonstration, his ability attracts recruitment offers from prominent families. Qi Yu outbids the Qian Family's offer and obtains Chu Xiao the best external posting at Pin Hai Restaurant, sparing him from Wang Yuan's attempt to recruit him as a personal display of talent 11 12.

Conflict with Qi Yu and Han Yan

Although he thanks Qi Yu for the posting, Chu Xiao privately resents him. He portrays Qi Yu favorably to Qian Fu in a way intended to pair Qi Yu with her and remove Qi Yu as a potential match for Song Xue 16 19.

When challenged by Han Yan, Chu Xiao arrogantly dismisses Black Bear Martial Hall's methods as crude. Han Yan then defeats him publicly, leaving him bruised and humiliated 23.

Special Training and Provincial Examination

Song Qinghong personally trains Chu Xiao for the Provincial Examination, framing a rematch with Han Yan as an opportunity to restore both Chu Xiao's confidence and the martial hall's prestige 24.

Chu Xiao returns from seclusion stronger but colder toward Qi Yu and Song Xue. He progresses through the Provincial Examination, defeating Liu Zhen to reach the top eight 31 38.

Defeat and Crippling

In the quarter-finals, Chu Xiao loses to Zhen Tianshuang. After the match is declared over, Chu Xiao attempts another attack; Zhen responds with a devastating strike that leaves Chu Xiao permanently disabled 38 42.

The incident damages Spirit Serpent Martial Hall's reputation, particularly because Chu Xiao had been publicly promoted as Song Qinghong's specially trained genius 39. By the time Qi Yu returns to the hall, Chu Xiao is nearly completely paralyzed, consumed by jealousy and despair over Qi Yu's success 48.

Notable Quotes

“A brute trained to be all muscle, can your arms still bend? Are they still flexible?” 23

“It’s a matter of the victor and the vanquished, what’s there to say?” 48