Contents
Biodata
| Feature | Value |
|---|---|
| Name | Sky Patrol Guard (巡天卫) |
| Affiliation | Operates alongside local yamen forces and regional military authorities; receives Imperial Court appointments and edicts 11 183 242 |
| Occupation/Role | Regional law-enforcement and anti-demonic organization; suppresses bandits, investigates disappearances, protects strategic assets, and patrols dangerous territories |
| Status | Active |
| First Appearance | Chapter 3 |
Background / History
The Sky Patrol Guard was first dispatched to investigate recurring disappearances of young men around the North City dock, where even temporary patrol guards had vanished. The case was reported from the county yamen to the Prefecture City before the Guard’s intervention was announced 3.
Established by the Imperial Court to handle difficult Jianghu incidents, the Guard draws its members from martial sects and schools; even its weakest members are First-rate Realm martial artists 3. Its central purpose is the eradication of Demonic Cult remnants concealed throughout the Jianghu, using its Secret Agent network to uncover their activities 11 23.
Under Jin Mu, the Guard uncovered the Boat Gang leader Jin Kui’s collusion with the Refining Corpse Sect. It coordinated with county-yamen soldiers for an assault on the Boat Gang’s island, with Zhang Chu joining the operation 11. Jin Mu later died while protecting against the Refining Corpse Sect, leaving behind a blood letter warning, “There are ghosts” 23.
The organization subsequently recruited Zhang Chu to help defend a divine sword during Sword Forging Manor’s Sword Appraisal Convention, due to the Demonic Cult’s interest in the weapon 23. Guard recruitment required the completion of a mission rather than extensive formalities, and Zhang Chu joined in order to investigate the Demonic Cult and his master’s disappearance through its intelligence channels 23.
As Zhang Chu’s achievements grew, the Guard expanded its support and rewards for him, including access to regional Secret Technique Pavilions 61 106. His repeated destruction of Demonic Cult forces and the Horse Gang later led the Imperial Court, upon King Zhao’s recommendation, to appoint him a Sky Patrol Guard Special Envoy with exceptional investigative authority 183.
Organization and Command
| Position / Unit | Known Personnel | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Inspector Envoy | Li Gang | Delivered Jin Mu’s final letter and recruited Zhang Chu for the Sword Forging Manor mission 23 |
| Circuit Commander | Tu Xiong | Lingnan Circuit Commander; later assisted Zhang Chu in the Western Regions 34 132 |
| Four Town Generals | Unnamed | Mid-Jade Liquid Realm officers who confronted Ye Qingshan and the Red Dust Envoy at Hundred Leaf Forest 53 54 |
| Town General | Huang Zheng | Eastern Ridge Circuit Town General; later attempted to assassinate Zhang Chu and was killed in self-defense 103 104 105 |
| Town General | Sun Dai | Huangsha Dao Town General who participated in the Western Regions headquarters’ response to the Heavenly Evil Cult threat 140 |
| Marshal | Hong Yue | Southern Regions marshal who rewarded Zhang Chu and granted him access to the Secret Technique Pavilion 61 104 |
| Marshal | Shen Zonglin | Marshal of the Western Regions Sky Patrol Guard; mobilized reinforcements against the Horse Gang and uncovered the Heavenly Evil Cult’s rebellion plot 142 146 150 |
| Commander | Shen Xuan | Western Regions commander who cooperated with Zhang Chu during Sun Youwei’s disappearance investigation 132 |
| Vice Commander | Duan Yongzhong | Assisted Special Envoy Zhang Chu at Western Regions headquarters 183 |
| Commander-in-Chief | Gu Changfeng | Commander-in-Chief of the Zhongzhou Sky Patrol Guard; appointed Zhang Chu as Marshal of the East Sea Guard 223 226 |
| Commander | Zhao Tieshan | Led the Wanghai City Sky Patrol Guard as acting commander before Zhang Chu formally appointed him the Sea Region Guard’s first commander 227 228 |
| Special Envoy | Zhang Chu | Imperial Court-appointed Special Envoy, recommended by King Zhao; possesses independent investigative authority, authority to execute before reporting, and access to Sky Patrol Guard archives across all regions 183 |
| Marshal | Zhang Chu | Appointed Marshal of the East Sea Sky Patrol Guard, then the newly established Sea Region Sky Patrol Guard 226 227 |
Operations
Suppression of the Boat Gang
Jin Mu’s unit identified the Boat Gang as collaborators of the Refining Corpse Sect and assembled boats and county-yamen soldiers for a punitive expedition to the gang’s island 11.
During the assault, Guard members faced silver corpses, Gu insects, and Jin Kui’s demonic transformation. Guard Ma, an elderly monk serving within the unit, sacrificed himself to buy time for the others during the battle 15.
Sword Forging Manor Protection
Following Jin Mu’s death, Inspector Li Gang sought Zhang Chu’s aid in protecting a divine sword at the Sword Appraisal Convention. The Guard expected the Demonic Cult to attempt to seize it 23.
Nine Secrets Conflict
The Four Town Generals entered the conflict over the Nine Secrets Treasury at Hundred Leaf Forest. They initially withheld direct action while Ye Qingshan and the Red Dust Envoy opposed one another, but were severely wounded when Yuan Shidu attacked them with the late-Jade Liquid Realm technique Thread Play 53 54.
Zhang Chu intervened to save the generals, after which the Guard recognized his actions as the fulfillment of his duty and rewarded his achievements accordingly 56 61.
Southern Border Operations
Hong Yue selected Zhang Chu to represent the Southern Regions Sky Patrol Guard at the Southern Border’s Three Worlds Well emergence assembly, where the Guard sought to address threats related to the Gu God’s curse and the Secret Treasure of Emotion 64.
Following Zhang Chu’s successes in the Southern Border, the Southern Regions headquarters received him with full honors. Its commanders and Town Generals credited him with suppressing the Gu chaos and eliminating major Demonic Cult threats 104 105.
The Guard also investigated a series of unexplained disappearances in the Southern Regions, in which entire sects vanished overnight without signs of struggle or disturbance 109.
Western Regions Campaigns
The Western Regions branch investigated the disappearance of guard Sun Youwei after she was sent to notify an outpost of the Demonic Cult’s eradication. Zhang Chu ordered searches, while Tu Xiong, Li Gang, and Shen Xuan coordinated information and personnel 132.
The investigation established that Sun Youwei had been intercepted by the Heavenly Evil Cult and imprisoned at Ghost Cry Gorge. Zhang Chu moved to rescue her, destroyed the gorge’s Heavenly Evil Cult branch, and eliminated its Bone Law Realm master, Copper Refining Man; Guard personnel recorded and transmitted the battle report to Western Regions headquarters 134 140.
When Zhang Chu moved alone against the Horse Gang in Black Wind Camel City, Marshal Shen Zonglin prepared reinforcements. The Guard arrived after Zhang Chu had already annihilated the Horse Gang headquarters and its Heavenly Evil Cult members 142 146.
The operation exposed the Horse Gang as a Heavenly Evil Cult pawn in a broader rebellion plan. A secret letter revealed the cult’s intention to seize Black Wind Camel City, block routes to Zhongzhou, and exploit its infiltration of forces and garrisons across the Western Regions 150.
As Special Envoy, Zhang Chu was assigned to eliminate Sand Saint Cave, a bandit force responsible for plundering Western Regions trade routes and massacring members of the Tongyuan Escort Agency 185. The Western Regions Guard had also developed a rescue-signal system, allowing endangered parties to summon aid more rapidly than before 185.
Sea Region Patrol
After Zhang Chu’s appointment as Sea Region Marshal, Wanghai City became the temporary headquarters for the newly established Sea Region Sky Patrol Guard 227. The unit faced poor support and resource shortages, contributing to concern among local guards about Imperial Court intentions 227.
Zhang Chu earned the Wanghai guards’ respect by shattering offshore reefs, formally appointed Zhao Tieshan as commander, and planned a punitive expedition against the Black Flood Dragon Cave with him 228.
The Sea Region Guard’s jurisdiction also became involved in investigations of disappearances connected to the Red Boat and the surrounding coastal settlements. Zhang Chu identified himself with the Sea Region Guard token while responding to reports that residents had vanished from locked rooms without a trace 236 237.
An Imperial edict later ordered Zhang Chu to patrol the Seven Star Islands sea region and granted rewards including a Spirit Pill, access to the Great Ling Armory, and ten thousand taels of gold 242. The Guard’s Wanghai City records also preserve accounts concerning Sea Heart Cave, the Mist Sea Region, and methods of navigating the dangerous mist 242.
Unresolved River Investigation
In a separate river-disappearance case, local authorities transferred the matter to the Sky Patrol Guard after an initial investigator vanished. The Guard investigated reports of a glow beneath the riverbed, but no public resolution was known afterward 207.
Known Members and Associates
- Jin Mu — Sky Patrol Guard leader who investigated the Boat Gang and Refining Corpse Sect; died protecting against the sect 10 11 23.
- Guard Ma — Elderly monk serving with Jin Mu’s unit; sacrificed himself during the Boat Gang operation 15.
- Li Gang — Inspector Envoy; delivered Jin Mu’s final warning and recruited Zhang Chu for the Sword Forging Manor mission 23.
- Tu Xiong — Lingnan Circuit Commander who discussed Zhang Chu’s potential and later assisted with the Western Regions investigation 34 51 132.
- Hong Yue — Southern Regions marshal who rewarded Zhang Chu and provided intelligence and assistance for his Western Regions journey 61 104 107.
- Huang Zheng — Eastern Ridge Circuit Town General who attempted to assassinate Zhang Chu and was killed by him 103 104 105.
- Sun Youwei — Guard who succeeded her mother in the organization; her disappearance triggered an investigation in the Western Regions 109 132.
- Shen Xuan — Western Regions commander summoned during the search for Sun Youwei 132.
- Shen Zonglin — Western Regions marshal who dispatched support during the Black Wind Camel City operation and later responded to evidence of the Heavenly Evil Cult’s rebellion plot 142 146 150.
- Sun Dai — Huangsha Dao Town General at Western Regions headquarters 140.
- Duan Yongzhong — Vice Commander at Western Regions headquarters who assisted Zhang Chu as Special Envoy 183.
- Gu Changfeng — Zhongzhou Commander-in-Chief who appointed Zhang Chu to an East Sea marshalship 223 226.
- Zhao Tieshan — Former acting commander of Wanghai City’s unit; formally appointed commander of the Sea Region Guard by Zhang Chu 227 228.
- Zhang Chu — Joined the Guard during its campaign against the Demonic Cult, later becoming Special Envoy and Marshal of the Sea Region branch 23 183 227.
Trivia
- The Guard’s Secret Technique Pavilions can grant high-merit members access to supreme and profound martial arts 61 106 107.
- The organization’s regional branches vary significantly in resources and support; Wanghai City’s guards specifically complained of insufficient backing 227.
- Sky Patrol Guard members originate from numerous Jianghu sects and schools, and its weakest members are at least First-rate Realm martial artists 3.
- Because many members fear Demonic Cult retaliation against their families, sects, and livelihoods, some conceal their identities while conducting operations 13.
- The Special Envoy position is not a conventional permanent rank, but it can override ordinary regional boundaries through its authority to investigate independently, execute before reporting, and inspect Guard archives 183.