Gu Han

Biodata

Feature	Information
Name	Gu Han (古翰)
Alias(es)	“Old drunkard” (derogatory); one of the Four Heroes of Hundred Flowers 80 87 200
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Hundred Flowers Sect, Capital branch; a marginalized resident of the sect 80 113
Occupation/Role	Bone-reading master; instructor of the Bone Touching Method; Jiang Shuo’s master 81 96 106
First Appearance	Chapter 80

Background / History

Gu Han was once one of the Hundred Flowers Sect’s highly regarded Four Heroes, alongside Fifth Yu, Yan Fu, and Feng En. At Sect Master Ji Wangu’s request, he taught the Bone Touching Method to ordinary sect disciples, believing it would be used to heal the sick and injured. 200

Gu Han and Feng En later uncovered the sect’s clandestine practice of harming civilians and harvesting human bones. Feng En reported the crime to the authorities, but Gu Han refused to testify and pretended ignorance; the sect consequently escaped punishment, and Feng En came to resent him. 200

His past brought disgrace, expulsion, and lasting public stigma. Gu Han considers his actions shameful even where circumstances may have mitigated them. His former master, Xue Li, eventually reconciled with him and reaffirmed that Gu Han remained his most accomplished disciple. 105

By the time Jiang Shuo arrives in the Capital, Gu Han lives alone in a secluded courtyard within the Hundred Flowers Sect, spending most of his time drunk and asleep beneath a large tree. 80

Appearance

Gu Han is an aged, bearded man with graying hair at his temples. His usual presentation is notably unkempt and alcohol-soaked, contrasting with the respect still shown to him by several older martial-world figures. 81 127

• Often lounges in a rattan chair beneath the tree in his courtyard. 80 86
• Keeps a wine gourd close at hand and is especially fond of Fen Jiu. 81 86
• His eyes can shift from dim and drunken to sharp and alert when confronted with matters tied to his past. 105 112

Personality

Gu Han is lazy, eccentric, and frequently irresponsible in his role as a master. He sends Jiang Shuo to procure wine, directs him to learn the Heavenly Origin Heart Method independently, and initially treats training as an inconvenience. 81 92

Behind this behavior is a proud and perceptive man burdened by guilt and old wounds. He reacts with visible fear to Fifth Yu, avoids involvement with Lingxiao Mountain, and remains deeply affected by the shame surrounding his past. 88 105 112

Despite his drunkenness, Gu Han can be protective and principled. He publicly challenges He Feng’s refusal to aid Su Tianyu, warns Jiang Shuo that Su Tianyu should leave the Hundred Flowers Sect, and risks confronting Ji Wangu to negotiate for Jiang Shuo’s life. 87 128 197

Abilities & Skills

Bone Touching and Bone Reading

Gu Han possesses an advanced form of bone-reading that allows him to assess bones through touch and perceive information beyond ordinary anatomy. When he first touches Jiang Shuo, Jiang feels as though his bones, muscles, and organs have been laid bare before Gu Han. 81

• Identifies animal bones and teaches Jiang Shuo to distinguish them through structure, texture, and internal perception rather than sight. 106 109
• States that bone-reading at its highest level can reveal a person’s heart, fate, and underlying nature through touch. 169
• Correctly identifies Zhang Dong’s extraordinary Gen Bone from Jiang Shuo’s description of a vision experienced during bone-reading. 169
• Possesses extensive knowledge of the Yin Yang Eight Bones, including their Eight Trigrams classifications, elemental alignments, and potential benefits or misfortunes. 169
• Holds other Hundred Flowers Sect practitioners in contempt, believing they have only grasped the surface of true bone-reading. 169
• Has no martial-arts foundation and is physically outmatched by trained fighters such as He Feng. 87

Teaching

Gu Han initially treats Jiang Shuo’s training casually, but begins teaching seriously after Jiang identifies most of a difficult collection of bone fragments despite receiving the wrong bag. 106

• Uses blindfolded tactile exercises involving beast corpses to train Jiang Shuo’s perception. 109
• Instructs Jiang Shuo to “see with his heart” and seek the essence of bones rather than rely on superficial details. 109
• Agrees to teach Jiang Shuo the Bone Touching Method after Jiang’s independent study of the Heavenly Origin Heart Method. 96

Equipment / Items

• Wine gourd — Gu Han’s constant companion; he repeatedly demands it be filled with Fen Jiu. 81 86 92
• Yin Yang Eight Bones booklet — A record of Gu Han’s life’s knowledge of bone manipulation. He secretly entrusts the genuine booklet to Mo Chen for Jiang Shuo, while offering Ji Wangu a fake version. 197 200
• Half jade chopstick — An important item Gu Han used in connection with saving Su Tianyu’s life. 127

Relationships

• Jiang Shuo — His sole documented disciple in more than a decade. Gu Han accepts him at Feng En’s request, teaches him bone-reading, and later risks bargaining with Ji Wangu to save him. 81 106 197 217
• Feng En — Junior brother and former fellow member of the Four Heroes of Hundred Flowers. They discovered the sect’s bone-harvesting crimes together, but Feng En resents Gu Han for refusing to testify. 81 200
• Xue Li — Gu Han’s former master. Xue Li forgives him, recognizes his original intentions, and calls him his most accomplished disciple. 105
• Ji Wangu — Hundred Flowers Sect Master who deceived Gu Han into spreading the Bone Touching Method. Gu Han later offers the Yin Yang Eight Bones to secure Jiang Shuo’s release. 197 200
• Fifth Yu — Former fellow Four Hero with an unresolved and intimidating history with Gu Han. Fifth Yu warns him not to pursue a forbidden path. 87 88 200
• He Feng — A hostile junior who openly dismisses Gu Han as a worthless drunkard and physically overpowers him. 87
• Su Tianyu — Gu Han advocates for her treatment, warns that she should leave the Hundred Flowers Sect, and receives her gratitude for saving her life. 87 128 127
• Mo Chen — A respected acquaintance entrusted with delivering Gu Han’s genuine Yin Yang Eight Bones booklet to Jiang Shuo. 84 200
• Zhou Datong — An old friend whose arrival with news from Lingxiao Mountain briefly shakes Gu Han out of his apathy. 112

Story Role / Major Arcs

Jiang Shuo’s Change of Master

Jiang Shuo arrives at the Capital Hundred Flowers Sect searching for Gu Han after being sent by Feng En. Gu Han deduces Feng En’s involvement, reads the letter announcing Jiang Shuo’s expulsion, and reluctantly accepts Jiang Shuo as his disciple before immediately sending him to buy Fen Jiu. 80 81

Su Tianyu’s Poisoning

Gu Han pushes for Su Tianyu to receive treatment for the Seven Dragon Soul Lock poison and exposes Fifth Yu’s personal grudge against Su Tianyu’s father as the reason treatment was initially refused. He is humiliated and attacked by He Feng while trying to intervene. 86 87

After Su Tianyu’s examination, Gu Han reacts strongly to Zhongyang’s methods, which resemble his own Bone Touching techniques. He later warns Jiang Shuo that Su Tianyu should leave the Hundred Flowers Sect as soon as possible, but refuses to reveal what he discovered. 89 128

Bone-Reading Training

Gu Han directs Jiang Shuo toward the Heavenly Origin Tower to learn the Heavenly Origin Heart Method, then begins instructing him in the Bone Touching Method. Though careless at first, he takes Jiang Shuo’s training seriously after witnessing his talent for identifying bones. 92 96 106 109

Past Exposed

Xue Li’s visit forces Gu Han to confront his expulsion and the guilt attached to his actions. Their reconciliation reveals that Gu Han’s usual drunken frivolity conceals lasting sorrow over his master, reputation, and former choices. 105

Conflict with Ji Wangu

When Jiang Shuo is imprisoned by Ji Wangu, Gu Han enters the sect master’s compound alone to negotiate. He offers the Yin Yang Eight Bones in exchange for Jiang Shuo’s safety, though the true record is later revealed to have been secretly preserved for Jiang Shuo. 197 200

Gu Han is later among the people Jiang Shuo identifies as having been captured by the Hundred Flowers Sect. 231

Notable Quotes

“Although the Seven Dragon Soul Lock is a world-class poison, it's not something Zhongyang alone can resolve. Within the Hundred Flowers Sect alone, your Master, Fifth Yu, can also cure it.” 87

“Bone-reading, when practiced to its extreme, only requires a touch to understand a person's heart, determine their fate, and get to the root of things.” 169

“Yin Yang Eight Bones, how about it?” 197

Trivia

• Gu Han’s supposedly stern reprimand of Jiang Shuo for staying out drinking was actually an attempt to secure invitations to future drinking sessions. 96
• Though treated with disdain by many younger Hundred Flowers Sect disciples, Mo Chen, Zhou Datong, Feng Decai, and Yu Yuhan all show him notable respect. 113 127
• He is unusually formal and restrained before an unidentified elderly visitor, a stark contrast to his normal carefree behavior. 171