Shangguan Ru

Biodata

Feature	Details
Name	Shangguan Ru (上官如)
Alias(es)	Ninth Young Master; Tenth Young Master; Young Master Shi; Instructor Shangguan
Species/Race	Human
Gender	Female; publicly raised and titled as a male Young Master for much of her life 55 63
Affiliation	Golden Peng Fortress; Kun Society; Xiangji Kingdom
Occupation/Role	Tenth Young Master of Golden Peng Fortress; Hall Master and leader of the Kun Society; ruler of Xiangji Kingdom; instructor of its female army 149 508 509
Status	Alive; present after the fall of Golden Peng Fortress 1071
First Appearance	Chapter 31, “Accompanying the Fight”

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Early martial-arts proficiency	31	Fights Gu Shenwei for more than one hundred moves and demonstrates at least five martial arts; their daily sparring rapidly improves both combatants. 31
Wu Dao Divine Skill foundation	230, 240	Begins cultivating the Wu Dao Divine Skill with He Nu despite the missing final wooden board; her flawed cultivation nonetheless progresses quickly enough for her to wield the Heartless Sword Style skillfully. 230 240
Seven Revolutions Seven Apertures Heart Calming Finger	372, 374, 376	Learns the technique from Old Man Mu. She accidentally uses its dangerous form on He Nu, then studies its stances to remove the force she inflicted; she masters six stances within three days. 372 374 376
Hidden Fragrance Floating Shadow	371	Learns the basics of Old Man Mu’s Lightness Skill while fleeing through the desert; its full mastery requires months. 371
Fa Yan’s transmitted cultivation	655	Receives Fa Yan’s lifelong cultivation after studying the prerequisite method he gave her; the dying monk entrusts her with opposing the Great Awakening Sword Scripture’s destructive influence. 655
Partial access to transmitted power	656, 658	Initially can use only one or two tenths of Fa Yan’s power, but it is enough to employ Hidden Fragrance Floating Shadow and the Heart Calming Finger in non-lethal combat. 656 658
Accelerated absorption in battle	707	Under pressure against Central Plains experts, accesses five to six tenths of Fa Yan’s cultivation; her Lightness Skill becomes markedly faster and more fluid. 707
Near-complete absorption	1028	States that she has almost fully absorbed Fa Yan’s Xumi Jie Divine Skill cultivation. 1028
Wooden Sword’s true nature revealed	1035	Learns that her self-created Wooden Sword technique is effectively an expression of the Great Awakening Sword Scripture/Death Sutra, though she developed it without killing anyone. 1035

Background / History

Golden Peng Fortress

Shangguan Ru is the daughter of Shangguan Fa, the Unrivaled King, and Madam Meng. Although female, she is raised under the identity and expectations of a Young Master, dresses as a boy, and receives martial instruction unavailable to most girls in Golden Peng Fortress. Her early ambition is to become a formidable assassin and roam the martial world. 55 63

Competitive, impulsive, and used to winning, she takes Gu Shenwei—then known as Huan Nu—as her companion after he refuses to submit to her. Their fierce daily sparring develops into a complicated master-disciple bond when she accepts him as her disciple. 31 37

She leads games of mock assassination and theft alongside Shangguan Yushi, Shangguan Fei, and Huan Nu. These games become increasingly real when the group infiltrates Six Kill Hall and steals the Ink Jade Palm and wooden sabers. Shangguan Ru refuses to surrender the artifacts except to her father directly. 46 57 60

When Shangguan Yushi and Huan Nu face execution over the Six Kill Hall incident, Shangguan Ru takes Shangguan Fei hostage and defies Shangguan Chui. Her determination earns Shangguan Fa’s public recognition of her as his tenth son, the Tenth Young Master. 62 63

Kun Society and Shangguan Yushi’s Death

After receiving her own hall and assassins, Shangguan Ru appoints Shangguan Yushi as strategist and Gu Shenwei as Outer Hall Master. Her organization becomes the Kun Society, which competes with Meng Mingshi’s Qiu Society for commercial influence in Jade City. 149 155

She demonstrates practical leadership by moving to North City to direct her subordinates, confronting her mother over her independence, and overseeing the Kun Society’s protection-fee and bodyguard businesses. 155

Shangguan Yushi’s death devastates her. Shangguan Ru swears to avenge her, kidnaps Meng Mingshi despite a truce, and later attempts to reclaim the Kun Society from Shangguan Fei. Though she offers her brother a duel to the death, she cannot kill him when he is helpless. 177 184 200

Leaving the Fortress and Xiangji Kingdom

Disillusioned by Golden Peng Fortress’s cruelty and factional struggles, Shangguan Ru leaves to wander alone. She rescues Old Man Mu despite knowing his reputation, then becomes his reluctant student while resisting his repeated efforts to make her ruthless. 369 370 376

After Old Man Mu’s apparent death, Gu Shenwei asks her to remain in Xiangji Kingdom and govern its people. She agrees on the condition that the kingdom retain independence from Great Snow Mountain’s control. 397

As Xiangji Kingdom’s ruler, she confronts elder nobles who abuse female slaves and establishes a female army. She initially teaches basic swordplay and archery for defense, social integration, and female independence; the force later becomes a significant military asset. 508 509

Later Conflicts

Shangguan Ru repeatedly acts as mediator, ally, and counterweight to Gu Shenwei’s revenge-driven campaigns. She investigates threats around him, uses her Green Face Shadow Guard Qian Ying to monitor Little Yanzhi, and seeks to persuade him to pursue revenge without allowing hatred to consume him. 815 822

She commands Xiangji Kingdom’s female soldiers in Beiting’s wars, bolsters morale through deception when her troops are lost, and personally rides through battlefields to seek reinforcements. 842 843

After Golden Peng Fortress falls, Shangguan Ru returns to the fortress and reflects on the deaths of her father and family. She observes that the surviving residents chose surrender to spare the servants rather than continue a hopeless resistance. 1071

Appearance

Shangguan Ru’s presentation changes with her role. In childhood and during her tenure as a Young Master, she commonly wears male clothing and assassin garb; later, she publicly appears in women’s clothing and is recognized as a young woman rather than merely the Tenth Young Master. 55 275

• Large, dark eyes remain one of her most recognizable features as she grows older. 109
• Often wears black clothing and a face covering while operating as an assassin or traveling incognito. 120 222
• Carries a Wooden Sword as her customary weapon. 184 380
• Can pass as a young male swordsman or grassland rider when necessary. 109 762

Personality

Shangguan Ru begins as proud, adventurous, stubborn, and intensely competitive. She treats life in Golden Peng Fortress as a game to be won, craves martial adventure, and dislikes being restrained by servants, family, or convention. 31 57 120

Her loyalty is equally fierce. She risks her standing and safety to protect Shangguan Yushi, Huan Nu, He Nu, Shangguan Shaomin, and even Old Man Mu. This loyalty is not blind: after Shangguan Yushi’s death and the Kun Society’s collapse, she becomes more guarded, reflective, and politically aware. 136 232 394 548

The loss of Shangguan Yushi changes her relationship with violence. Though still capable of commanding assassins and leading soldiers, she increasingly rejects killing, refuses to harm innocents, and builds martial arts around restraint rather than lethal force. 200 396 685

She remains ambitious despite this compassion. In Xiangji Kingdom, she proves capable of organization, reform, and command; Shangguan Yun judges that she possesses both the Shangguan family’s ruling instinct and the kindness it lacks. 509 529

Abilities & Skills

Martial Arts

Shangguan Ru receives extensive instruction as the Unrivaled King’s daughter and develops through persistent sparring, practical missions, and later self-directed study.

• Combines multiple martial arts during combat rather than relying on a single style. 31
• Uses the Heartless Sword Style after cultivating the Wu Dao Divine Skill. 240
• Has limited practical assassin experience compared with dedicated killers, leaving openings despite her strong foundation. 1032
• Deliberately avoids killing-focused techniques when training others. 509

Hidden Fragrance Floating Shadow

A Lightness Skill taught by Old Man Mu and strengthened by Fa Yan’s transmitted cultivation.

• Enables abrupt changes of direction and rapid movement with little warning. 1032
• Is especially effective in confined terrain rather than open-ground pursuit. 371
• Lets her keep pace with or surpass Gu Shenwei during difficult climbs. 850
• Requires dispersing true qi through the body, which prevents her from carrying another person while using it effectively. 371

Seven Revolutions Seven Apertures Heart Calming Finger

A finger technique with both restraining and lethal applications.

• Can immobilize or seal opponents’ acupoints without immediately killing them. 658 685
• Its harmful form can provoke Qi Deviation, as when Shangguan Ru uses it on He Nu before learning its true nature. 374
• Shangguan Ru retains the restraining move in the Flower Soul Fist while discarding the other killing moves. 685

Flower Soul Fist

A non-lethal fighting style developed from Xiangji Kingdom martial arts with major assistance from Old Man Mu.

• Favors pressure-point strikes over vital attacks. 685
• Is difficult to counter but lacks the killing power expected of assassin techniques. 685
• Reflects Shangguan Ru’s attempt to create martial arts suited to protecting and restraining rather than murdering. 685

Wooden Sword Technique

Shangguan Ru’s self-created swordplay, designed to counter sword techniques.

• Uses “emptiness” and the overcoming of Yin and Yang rather than direct force. 1035
• Can redirect an opponent’s power until their attack carries them past her. 1035
• Is later identified as fundamentally linked to the Great Awakening Sword Scripture/Death Sutra. 1035
• Its relationship to the Death Sutra alarms her because she developed it without intending to become a killer. 1035

Leadership and Strategy

Shangguan Ru is an effective commander when personally invested in a cause.

• Organizes assassination squads, counterattacks, kidnappings, and deployments for the Kun Society. 172 177
• Builds Xiangji Kingdom’s female army from basic martial and archery training. 508 509
• Uses morale, reputation, and deception in war, including falsely promising reinforcements to prevent her soldiers from collapsing. 842
• Maintains the confidence of soldiers, who view her as an exceptional general. 677

Equipment

• Wooden Sword — Her signature weapon and the basis of her self-created swordplay. 184 1035
• Narrow Saber and dagger — Weapons used during covert operations and travel. 243 763
• Flame Colt — Her exceptionally fast mount, recognizable even while she is disguised as a grassland rider. 693 762
• Green Face Shadow Guard Qian Ying — A hidden protector assigned by Shangguan Fa and bound by oath to obey Shangguan Ru. 822

Relationships

• Gu Shenwei / Huan Nu / Dragon King — Former servant, disciple, confidant, ally, and enemy. Shangguan Ru repeatedly protects him, while he alternates between relying on her and viewing her as part of the Shangguan family he must oppose. Their relationship becomes openly intimate despite their conflicting loyalties. 136 318 722 850
• Shangguan Yushi — Cousin, closest friend, strategist, and partner in childhood adventures. Her death drives Shangguan Ru’s campaign to retake the Kun Society and seek revenge. 46 149 177 184
• Shangguan Fei — Twin brother and frequent rival. Shangguan Ru fights him for control of the Kun Society but repeatedly spares him despite his betrayals and cowardice. 155 185 200
• Shangguan Fa — Father and the Unrivaled King. He publicly grants her the Tenth Young Master title, but their relationship is defined more by political value and control than affection. 63 793
• Madam Meng — Mother. They clash over Shangguan Ru’s independence, but Madam Meng also shields her from factional threats within the fortress. 155 232
• He Nu — Former subordinate and later adversary. Shangguan Ru tries to save her from Qi Deviation and remains concerned for her even after their martial conflict turns hostile. 374 376 1042
• Old Man Mu — Captor, manipulative teacher, and eventual adviser. He teaches her Lightness Skill and finger techniques while continually attempting to corrupt her principles. 370 371 376
• Hong Fu — Xiangji Kingdom female official, soldier, confidante, and protector who worries about Shangguan Ru’s drinking and safety. 596 789
• Qian Ying — Her Green Face Shadow Guard, who gathers intelligence on Little Yanzhi and remains bound to Shangguan Ru’s command. 822

Notable Quotes

“Leave it to me. I won't let you die.” 136

“I will fight for another choice for you.” 679

Trivia

• Shangguan Ru is described as the first woman of the Shangguan family to enter Six Kill Hall. 59
• She is an exception to Golden Peng Fortress’s usual practice of training only male family members as assassins, though her training remains incomplete. 549
• Her reputation as the “Tenth Young Master” and later as leader of a female archer force causes many to perceive her as fierce even after she abandons killing. 529