Zheng Hetong

Biodata

Feature	Information
Name	Zheng Hetong (郑和通)
Alias(es)	Third Elder; Master
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Blazing Blade Sect
Occupation/Role	One of the Blazing Blade Sect’s Four Great Elders; master of Zhao Ping'an and four other personal disciples
Status	Alive; recovered from severe injuries sustained during Zhao Xiuyun's kidnapping 42 48
First Appearance	Chapter 1

Background / History

Zheng Hetong is the Third Elder of the second-rate Blazing Blade Sect and one of its four Innate Martial Master elders. While passing a starving beggar by the roadside, he rescued the newly reborn Zhao Ping'an and brought him to Feather Mountain. He accepted Zhao as a personal disciple because the boy strongly resembled his deceased son. 1

For four years, Zheng and his wife Zhao Xiuyun gave Zhao Ping'an a home, education, and martial training. Zheng personally copied a new Body Tempering Art manual for Zhao, provided medicinal ingredients and baths, and guided his early cultivation with the Monkey Step Technique. 2 4

Before Zhao Ping'an exposed his true strength, Zheng believed his youngest disciple had mediocre talent and worried about his future. Zhao's sudden display of peak Grandmaster power during the Sun Family conflict shocked Zheng, but he supported Zhao's decision to destroy the family and assisted in securing its remaining forces and assets. 23 24 25

After the Sun Family's fall, Zheng chose to leave the Blazing Blade Sect, both to avoid bringing trouble to Zhao Ping'an and because Zhao Xiuyun had grown weary of his dangerous life in the jianghu. Zhao Ping'an subsequently arranged for Zheng and his disciples to manage the former Sun Family Alchemy Workshop. 27 28

Appearance

Zheng Hetong is a burly, powerful man with a handlebar mustache. He carries a large saber and ordinarily presents himself as gentle and refined, though his demeanor changes sharply when he draws his blade. 1 9

• Handlebar mustache. 1
• Carries the Hundred Refinement Blade. 1 9
• Projects the bearing of a saber master in combat. 9

Personality

Zheng is patient and attentive as a master. He personally prepares Zhao Ping'an's foundational training, regulates his exercise to prevent hidden injuries, and supplies medicinal baths and food to support his growth. 2 4

He is pragmatic and decisive in the martial world. He teaches his disciples to eliminate threats completely once a fight has begun, and he does not accept Sun Heyu's promise of surrender after the Sun Family attacks Zhao Ping'an. 7 23

Although disturbed by Zhao Ping'an's hidden power and ruthlessness, Zheng remains loyal to his disciple. He publicly identifies Zhao as a peak Grandmaster, defends his words before the Blazing Blade Sect, and continues to offer him intelligence and advice. 25 32

Abilities & Skills

Innate Martial Master Cultivation

Zheng is an Innate Martial Master at the seventh level, placing him among the strongest martial artists in South Ridge City before Zhao Ping'an's rise. 22

• Can project Innate True Qi as Blade Qi through his saber. 9
• His Blade Qi can cut metal and iron. 9
• His late-Innate strength was insufficient against the Grandmaster-or-higher kidnappers who abducted Zhao Xiuyun; he was severely injured protecting her. 41 42

Saber Technique

Zheng wields the Hundred Refinement Blade with high precision and speed.

• Forms ten ironwood practice sabers within minutes using Blade Qi. 9
• Uses a faint red Blade Qi extending roughly three inches from his blade. 9
• Taught senior disciple Ji Xiangming the first three forms of the Blazing Blade Sect's Explosive Blade Art as protection for his journeys. 9

Martial Knowledge and Tactical Awareness

Zheng possesses detailed knowledge of South Ridge City's factions and the Sun Family's structure.

• Identified the remaining Innate Martial Masters who had to be eliminated to prevent the Sun Family from recovering. 24
• Used the Blazing Blade Sect's emergency signal flare to summon reinforcements during the attack on the Sun Family ancestral home. 24
• Warned Zhao Ping'an that Tian Yiming possessed Shocking Heaven Thunders capable of threatening Grandmasters. 32

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Hundred Refinement Blade — Zheng's saber; used to project Blade Qi and craft ironwood training sabers. 9
• Blazing Blade Sect emergency signal flare — used to summon sect reinforcements during the Sun Family assault. 24

Relationships

• Zhao Ping'an — Personal disciple. Zheng rescued him as a starving child because of his resemblance to Zheng's deceased son, then trained and sheltered him for years. Zhao continues to treat Zheng with deep respect after surpassing him in cultivation. 1 2 32
• Zhao Xiuyun — Wife. The pair are mutually supportive; Zheng is willing to confront her Zhao Family relatives for her sake, while she supports his and Zhao Ping'an's actions against the Sun Family. 7 23
• Ji Xiangming — Eldest personal disciple. Zheng supports Ji's pursuit of Zhao Manling and makes an exception to teach him part of the Explosive Blade Art. 7 9
• Cui Kang'an, Mu Yunmeng, and Liu Zhe — Personal disciples under Zheng's instruction alongside Zhao Ping'an. 1 3
• Song Feichen — Fellow Blazing Blade Sect elder. Zheng summons Song and the sect's South Ridge City members during the Sun Family operation. 24 25

Story Role / Major Arcs

Zhao Ping'an's Early Training

Zheng rescues Zhao Ping'an, accepts him into the Blazing Blade Sect, and oversees his foundational body-tempering training. He prepares a handwritten Body Tempering Art manual, medicinal baths, and regular instruction. 1 2 4

Ji Xiangming's Marriage

When Ji Xiangming asks for help pursuing Zhao Manling, Zheng offers his support despite knowing Zhao Xiuyun's family disapproves of jianghu sects. He later travels with Zhao Ping'an and Zhao Xiuyun to South Ridge City for Ji's wedding. 7 13

Destruction of the Sun Family

Zheng initially confronts the Sun Family to protect Zhao Ping'an, then witnesses his disciple annihilate its attackers. He helps plan the assault on the ancestral home, provides intelligence on the family's remaining experts, calls the Blazing Blade Sect for support, and joins Zhao in seizing key Sun Family businesses. 22 23 24 25

Departure from the Blazing Blade Sect

Recognizing that his continued presence in the sect could endanger Zhao Ping'an and strain relations with Sect Master Song Lieyang, Zheng decides to leave. He later takes responsibility for managing the Sun Family Alchemy Workshop with his disciples. 27 28

Zhao Xiuyun's Kidnapping

Zheng is gravely wounded while Zhao Xiuyun is kidnapped. Zhao Ping'an uses water-attribute True Essence to repair his injuries, unblock his meridians, and stabilize him; Zheng later recovers steadily. 41 42 48

Notable Quotes

“If you don’t cut the weeds at the root, they’ll grow back with the spring breeze!” 24