Li Hongye

Biodata

Feature	Details
Name	Li Hongye (李红叶)
Alias(es)	Senior Sister; Head Constable Li
Gender	Female
Affiliation	Sky Wind Martial Hall; Nanning County Martial Guard Division
Occupation/Role	Martial artist; Head Constable; Gu Chang'an's senior sister
First Appearance	Chapter 9

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Ninth Rank Martial Artist	9, 12	Her physique is measured at 231; she later states that reaching a rank took her nearly three years of practice.
Seventh Rank Martial Artist	61	Breaks through after sustained body-tempering cultivation, medicinal baths, and pill use.
Approaching Sixth Rank	127	The Unbreakable Golden Body continuously strengthens her qi and blood, allowing her to touch the Sixth Rank threshold.

Background / History

Li Hongye is the only daughter of Li Tianfeng, master of Sky Wind Martial Hall, and Xie Lanzhi. Before Gu Chang'an joined the hall, she was her father's sole disciple; his acceptance as a personal disciple makes her Gu Chang'an's senior sister 9.

She serves as a Head Constable in Nanning County's Martial Guard Division, leading a squad of constables with varied specialties. She personally brings Gu Chang'an into the Division and vouches for his character and ability after he helps capture Yellow Wolf Lu Kai 14 18.

Her family situation changes when Li Tianfeng reveals that Xie Lanzhi is being held by the Xie Family. Li Hongye is shocked by the revelation and shares Gu Chang'an's concern for her mother's rescue 109 111.

Appearance

Li Hongye has high-tied black hair, slightly tanned skin from years outdoors, delicate features, and a notably heroic presence 9.

• Usually wears a practical constable uniform and carries a silver-patterned waist token 11.
• Uses a dark-red training outfit while cultivating 61.
• In civilian clothes, she wears her long hair with a hairpin and presents a softer appearance than in uniform 27.
• Her eyes are described as sharp and resolute in combat, but can become gentle around those close to her 11 28.

Personality

Li Hongye is direct, teasing, and sometimes fierce in speech, particularly with Gu Chang'an. She initially warns him not to become arrogant over his status as their father's personal disciple, but immediately offers to answer his training questions and insists she does not bully her own people 9.

As a constable, she is decisive and vigilant. She takes criminal threats seriously, gives clear orders to her team, and remains composed in dangerous situations. Her protectiveness is equally prominent: she repeatedly checks on Gu Chang'an, offers him support against the Firewood Gang, and refuses to leave him alone in Black Wind Ridge 18 24 40.

She is diligent and calm outside combat as well. Xiao Yayun identifies these qualities as potential advantages in alchemy, and Li Hongye commits herself to learning the Crimson Spirit True Fire Alchemy Technique 112.

Abilities & Skills

Martial Arts

Li Hongye is an accomplished body-tempering martial artist who advances from the Ninth Rank to the Seventh Rank.

• Possessed a physique of 231 when first assessed by Gu Chang'an 9.
• Uses medicinal baths, Body Tempering Pills, and Qi Circulation Powder to strengthen her qi and blood 46 49.
• Receives the Unbreakable Golden Body, a Mysterious Grade body-refining technique evolved by Gu Chang'an from the Iron Cloth Shirt 126.
• The technique's effects allow her to approach the Sixth Rank after further cultivation 127.

Iron Whip Technique

Her principal weapon is a refined-steel iron chain-whip, used with speed, precision, and flexible angles of attack.

• Creates dense whip shadows capable of sealing an opponent's escape routes 11.
• Can entangle an opponent's weapon arm, break bone, and disarm them, as shown against Yellow Wolf Lu Kai 12.
• Uses the whip's soft, coiling movements to disrupt heavier opponents and target their joints and wrists 35 67.
• Successfully counters Pei Xuan's unpredictable snake-like swordsmanship through timing and control 36.

Saber and Swordsmanship

Li Hongye carries and uses bladed weapons in addition to her whip.

• Draws a longsword alongside her whip while fighting Lu Kai, combining simultaneous attacks from different angles 11.
• Later demonstrates swift and lethal saber strikes while pursuing black-clad assassins 99.
• Receives the Yellow Grade High Rank saber Red Tea from Gu Chang'an and begins training in saber techniques 105.
• Shows particular aptitude for body techniques and light sabers, quickly gaining an initial understanding of saber arts 105.

Alchemy

Li Hongye studies alchemy under Xiao Yayun of Medicine King Valley.

• Learns the fundamentals of fire control, medicinal-herb identification, and medicine preparation over five days 112.
• Begins cultivating the Crimson Spirit True Fire Alchemy Technique alongside Gu Chang'an 112.
• Xiao Yayun considers her calm disposition potentially well suited to alchemy 112.

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Iron chain-whip — Black refined-steel whip with a blade-sharp tip; her signature weapon 11.
• Longsword — Used in conjunction with her whip during the pursuit of Lu Kai 11.
• Red Tea — Yellow Grade High Rank battle saber with camellia patterns carved along its spine; given to her by Gu Chang'an 105.
• Body Tempering Pills — Received as a reward for killing Red Wolf Lu Tian and later as part of her share of Black Wind Ridge spoils 26 46.
• Blood Burst Pill — Received from Gu Chang'an for emergency self-preservation, though its use carries severe risks 46.

Relationships

• Li Tianfeng — Father and master of Sky Wind Martial Hall. He celebrates her Seventh Rank breakthrough and entrusts her with caring for the badly weakened Gu Chang'an 61 87.
• Xie Lanzhi — Mother. Li Hongye is deeply distressed to learn that the Xie Family is holding her captive 109 111.
• Gu Chang'an — Junior brother, fellow constable, and close combat partner. She introduces him to the Martial Guard Division, repeatedly protects him, and trains, investigates, fights, and studies alchemy alongside him 14 40 56 112. Their relationship grows beyond ordinary friendship but remains undefined 27 29.
• Xiao Yayun — Medicine King Valley disciple who treats Gu Chang'an and teaches Li Hongye alchemy 109 112.
• Shen Qingyan — Fellow constable and ally. Li Hongye fights beside her during the Black Tiger Stockade campaign and protects her from bandits 76 79.
• Liu Wei, Zhou Yue, Song Zong, Zheng Zhen, Lin Wan'er, and Gao Ling — Members of her Martial Guard Division squad 18.

Story Role / Major Arcs

Joining Gu Chang'an's Martial Journey

Li Hongye meets Gu Chang'an after Li Tianfeng accepts him as his personal disciple. She tests him with teasing remarks but recognizes his steadiness, talent, gratitude, and difficult background 9 12.

Martial Guard Division Service

As Head Constable, she leads the pursuit of Yellow Wolf Lu Kai. Although Lu Kai uses poison smoke to escape her initial assault, she later disables his sword arm with her whip, enabling Gu Chang'an to restrain him 11 12.

She helps Gu Chang'an join the Martial Guard Division and introduces him to her squad. When the Firewood Gang threatens him, she makes clear that he can rely on her and the team for support 14 18.

Red Wolf and Blood Pill Incident

Li Hongye fights beside Gu Chang'an to corner Red Wolf Lu Tian. She is injured while protecting him after Lu Tian uses a Blood Burst Pill, but continues warning Gu Chang'an until Lu Tian is killed 26.

During the Blood Pill incident at Black Wind Ridge, she battles Pei Xuan, assists in restraining Liang Hu, and refuses to retreat when Gu Chang'an lures dangerous enemies away. She follows him into the forest because of their promise not to go more than a mile apart 35 36 40.

Black Tiger Stockade Campaign

After reaching the Seventh Rank, Li Hongye joins the campaign against Black Tiger Stockade. She and Gu Chang'an trap Ma Dahu in a coordinated pincer, with her whip disrupting his movements while Gu Chang'an attacks from the front 61 67.

She later fights Li Xiong'an alongside Jiang Yuan and Shen Qingyan, agreeing to gamble on a joint maneuver to sever his leg tendons when his mad-demon state becomes overwhelming 76.

Wutian Cult Aftermath

Li Hongye helps investigate the Wu Family massacre, remains alert when assassins target her and Gu Chang'an, and works with him to defeat a demonized person through coordinated hard and soft techniques 54 55 56.

She also assists in protecting Zhang Qingying and Zhang Yi from black-clad attackers connected to the Flowing Gold Gang 99.

Family Crisis and Later Training

Li Hongye waits anxiously for her parents' return from Guangling Commandery and learns that her mother is imprisoned by the Xie Family 108 111.

After Xiao Yayun's arrival, she studies alchemy with Gu Chang'an. Later, she accepts the Unbreakable Golden Body from him, choosing to cultivate the technique and continue growing beside him 112 126.

“Junior Brother, how could I leave you and go down the mountain alone?” 40

Trivia

• Li Hongye's physique of 231 is the highest value Gu Chang'an had observed at the time outside of Li Tianfeng and Ma Dahu 9.
• She took nearly three years to enter the Ninth Rank, in contrast to Gu Chang'an's unusually rapid advancement 12.
• Despite her stern constable image, she rarely wears dresses; Xie Lanzhi considers her choice to do so around Gu Chang'an significant 27.