Xu Sheng

Biodata

Feature	Value
Name	Xu Sheng (徐盛)
Alias(es)	Zi Yi (courtesy name) 71
Species/Race	Human
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Bright Moon Pavilion; Crescent Moon Escort Agency
Occupation/Role	Escort; coal-transport contractor; chief and organizer of the Crescent Moon Escort Agency
Status	Active
First Appearance	Chapter 71

Background

Xu Sheng studied at Bright Moon Pavilion in his early years and later completed his apprenticeship. Around fifteen years before his coal venture, he worked under Elder Zhao Cheng as a forest-farm foreman; this prior connection remained valuable when he returned to the pavilion on business. 71 83

By the time he meets Lin Ze, Xu Sheng is an Eighth-Rate martial artist working as an escort. He earns money through transport work while supporting his son Xu Yang's martial education at Bright Moon Pavilion. 71 81

Personality

Xu Sheng is generous and attentive to people struggling to provide for their families. When he learns that a former Bright Moon Pavilion disciple is impoverished while trying to support a talented child, he discreetly gives him seventy taels of silver. 179

He is cautious about secrecy and understands the risks of revealing either sect intelligence or the advantages behind his operations. During his investigation of Bright Moon Pavilion, he keeps his surveillance distant and concealed; when handling the Wooden Railcar project, he accepts responsibility for preventing leaks. 73 85

His loyalty to Lin Ze is repeatedly demonstrated through business decisions. He insists that Lin Ze receive half of the transportation venture's shares and later declines to take an equal share of the Escort Agency's profits, believing his own contribution does not warrant it. 85 129

Abilities & Skills

Martial Arts and Escort Work

Xu Sheng is a practicing martial artist who initially stands at the Eighth-Rate threshold and supports himself through escort work. 71

• Has practical experience protecting goods, money houses, and commercial routes. 88
• Helps train the Coal Mine guards alongside their martial-arts instructor. 101
• Receives the Aperture Opening Method and Essence Solidification Nine Revolutions from Lin Ze as a reward for his work; the methods are intended to accelerate cultivation after reaching Essence Solidification. 129

Covert Reconnaissance

Xu Sheng uses modern surveillance methods to gather martial-world intelligence and acquire instruction inaccessible through conventional channels.

• Uses a drone to trace a Bright Moon Pavilion contact from Coastal County to Crescent Moon Island and locate the sect's Mountain Gate. 179
• Remotely observes Bright Moon Pavilion's training grounds through the Gates to Heavens. 73
• Installs seven hidden cameras around a training ground to record a superior sword technique from multiple angles. 73
• Cannot directly question instructors or safely expose his unusual methods, making the recordings less complete than formal instruction. 73

Logistics and Business Management

Xu Sheng converts martial-world connections into large-scale commercial opportunities.

• Promotes coal to Zhao Cheng by emphasizing its low cost and long burning time. 83
• Secures Bright Moon Pavilion as a major coal buyer and accepts responsibility for moving its coal from the mine to the dock. 84
• Plans the Crescent Moon Escort Agency around guarding Lin Ze's own properties and personnel before expanding into commercial escort work. 88
• Recruits trusted adults and sturdy children with clean backgrounds, establishes salaries, and oversees the agency's early organization. 101 102

Equipment / Items

• Drone — Used for aerial surveillance, route tracking, and long-distance observation of Bright Moon Pavilion. 179
• Hidden cameras — Placed around Bright Moon Pavilion's training ground to record martial instruction. 73
• Tablet — Used to monitor drone footage while maintaining an outwardly ordinary routine. 179
• Aperture Opening Method and Essence Solidification Nine Revolutions — Royal cultivation methods given to him by Lin Ze. 129

Relationships

• Lin Ze — Friend, business partner, and patron. Xu Sheng introduces Lin Ze to Bright Moon Pavilion's coal market, manages transport and escort operations for him, and is entrusted with sensitive projects. 81 85 101
• Zhao Cheng — Bright Moon Pavilion elder and former superior. Xu Sheng previously worked under Zhao at a forest farm and later addresses him as Martial Uncle while negotiating the coal supply. 83
• Xu Yang — Son. Xu Sheng works and travels to fund Xu Yang's cultivation at Bright Moon Pavilion, where the boy is considered more talented than his father. 81 83
• Wu Shi — Wife. She and their youngest son meet Lin Ze at Xu Sheng's Escort Agency residence. 101
• Xu Chong — Youngest son of Xu Sheng and Wu Shi. 101
• Wei Feng — Associate who discusses the Escort Agency's security limits and recommends beginning with protection of Lin Ze's own assets. 88

Story Role / Major Arcs

Bright Moon Pavilion Investigation

After learning about Bright Moon Pavilion and its importance in the martial world, Xu Sheng follows a pavilion-connected traveler to Crescent Moon Island. He locates the Mountain Gate, studies its hierarchy and scale, and covertly records superior martial instruction rather than waiting years for formal access. 179 73

Coal Supply Agreement

Xu Sheng recognizes that Bright Moon Pavilion's enormous fuel consumption could make it a stable customer for Lin Ze's coal mine. Using his longstanding relationship with Zhao Cheng, he arranges an inspection, helps secure the purchase agreement, and accepts the transportation assignment. 82 83 84

Wooden Railcar Transport

Following the coal contract, Xu Sheng becomes involved in the railcar system connecting the Black Stone Village Coal Mine to Fengping County's west wharf. He insists Lin Ze retain half of the transport venture's shares and agrees to protect the project's secrecy. 85

Crescent Moon Escort Agency

Xu Sheng proposes founding an escort agency to protect the planned Gold Bank, transport system, and Lin Ze's expanding properties. He recruits personnel, organizes guard training, introduces Lin Ze to his family and former escort companions, and directs the agency's early expansion. 88 101 102

Escort Agency Expansion

As Lin Ze's reputation brings in retainers and business, Xu Sheng places new recruits in transport-guard duties and monitors their backgrounds. Once the Crescent Moon Escort Agency begins operating successfully, he accounts for most profits as Lin Ze's salary rather than claiming an equal split. 111 129

Trivia

• Xu Sheng's courtesy name, Zi Yi, is the name he uses when introducing himself to fellow martial artists. 71
• He once worked as a Bright Moon Pavilion forest-farm supervisor after completing his apprenticeship. 82 83
• His first reaction to Lin Ze's proposal of becoming a guard is practical: he assumes Lin Ze wants a close-combat martial artist to protect a hidden-weapon specialist from being approached. 81