Chapter Summaries

Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Lu Chen, the new Duke, challenges the Demon Suppression Army to a combat drill on the Dragon-Slaying Platform.
• He offers to fight any soldier at the early stage of the Longevity Realm, not killing but not going easy either.
• Lei Ba, the 'Vanguard Battalion's foremost fierce general,' accepts the challenge and fights Lu Chen multiple times, each time being sent flying but getting back up.
• Lu Chen tells Lei Ba to hold out for three moves next time, and the entire army erupts in cheers for Lu Chen.

Character Developments

• Lu Chen: Establishes his authority and might as the new Duke, showing no mercy but also no intent to kill.
• Lei Ba: Demonstrates his fierce determination and resilience, earning respect from his peers and Lu Chen.

Significant Themes

• Power and authority: Lu Chen's display of strength solidifies his position as the Duke.
• Resilience and determination: Lei Ba's persistence in fighting despite his injuries highlights these qualities.
• Unity and camaraderie: The army's collective response to Lu Chen's challenge shows their growing unity and respect for their leader.

Character Interactions

• Lu Chen and Lei Ba: Their fight showcases Lu Chen's overwhelming power and Lei Ba's unyielding spirit, fostering a mutual respect.
• Lu Chen and the Demon Suppression Army: Lu Chen's challenge and the army's response strengthen their bond and commitment to each other.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Lu Chen discovers clues suggesting that the Undead Monarch's true body might be suppressed beneath Dragon Head Peak, waiting for an opportunity to descend upon the human world.
• Yun Qingyue sends a letter to Lu Chen about a wandering Daoist entering an abandoned ancient tomb, suspected to be connected to the Undead Monarch.
• Xu Polu sends a letter to Lu Chen about strange occurrences at the frontier ruins of the Undead Kingdom, where a grayish-white mist is causing destruction, and survivors mutter "It is about to awaken."

Character Developments

• Lu Chen becomes more determined to uncover the truth about the Undead Monarch's scheme and its connection to the wandering Daoist and the ancient tomb.
• Mo Qianqiu shows concern for Lu Chen's safety and willingness to take responsibility in his absence.

Significant Themes

• The Undead Monarch's true intentions and its potential return to the human world.
• The connection between the wandering Daoist, the ancient tomb, and the Undead Monarch.
• The brewing threat in the Western Wasteland and the Northern Frontier.

Character Interactions

• Lu Chen shares his suspicions about the Undead Monarch with Mo Qianqiu, seeking his advice and support.
• Lu Chen and Mo Qianqiu discuss the situation in the Northern Frontier and the need for Lu Chen to travel to Medicine King Valley first.
• Lu Chen expresses his trust in Mo Qianqiu to handle matters in his absence, while Mo Qianqiu shows his concern for Lu Chen's safety.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Lu Chen, now a Duke, sets out on a mission, leaving Mo Qianqiu in charge of military affairs.
• He travels to Medicine King Valley, where Yun Qingyue awaits him at the entrance of an ancient tomb.
• They discover a dense deathly aura around the tomb, and Lu Chen enters to investigate.

Character Developments

• Lu Chen demonstrates his leadership and responsibility as a Duke, leaving Mo Qianqiu in charge while he investigates a potential threat.
• Yun Qingyue shows concern for Lu Chen's safety and provides him with an Evil-Warding Pill to protect against the deathly aura.

Significant Themes

• Responsibility and Duty: Lu Chen takes on the role of a Duke, demonstrating his commitment to his duties and the people under his command.
• Trust and Cooperation: Lu Chen and Yun Qingyue work together, showing trust in each other's abilities and concern for each other's well-being.

Character Interactions

• Lu Chen and Mo Qianqiu display a mutual respect and understanding, with Mo Qianqiu acknowledging Lu Chen's authority and Lu Chen entrusting him with military affairs.
• Lu Chen and Yun Qingyue show concern for each other's safety and work together to face the threat within the ancient tomb.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Lu Chen discovers an ancient tomb sealed with the same runes as those beneath Dragon Head Peak.
• A remnant soul of the Undead Monarch attacks Lu Chen and Yun Qingyue, leaving a mark on Lu Chen's shoulder.
• At Northern Garrison Pass, Lu Chen learns that the disturbance in the ancient battlefield ruin has worsened, with undead battle souls and a figure on a Bone Throne sighted.

Character Developments

• Lu Chen demonstrates his power and bravery by protecting Yun Qingyue from the remnant soul's attack.
• Yun Qingyue shows her concern and care for Lu Chen by healing his wound with her blood.

Significant Themes

• The threat of the Undead Monarch and its remnant souls.
• The connection between the ancient battlefield ruin and the dragon vein of Great Xia.

Character Interactions

• Lu Chen and Yun Qingyue's relationship deepens as they face danger together.
• Lu Chen meets with Commander Xu Polu and other generals to discuss the situation at the ancient battlefield ruin.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Lu Chen decides to enter the ruins alone to investigate the source of the undead death aura.
• He encounters an ancient battlefield filled with projections of undead war souls and human cultivators.
• At the center of the battlefield, he finds the Undead Monarch's avatar seated on a Bone Throne, awakening from its slumber.
• Lu Chen engages with the avatar, trying to break through its defenses to reach the Bone Throne.

Character Developments

• Lu Chen demonstrates his courage and determination by entering the ruins alone to face the Undead Monarch's avatar.
• The avatar reveals its immense power and mocks Lu Chen's weakness, showing its arrogance and confidence.

Significant Themes

• The power of the Dragon Soul Mirror mark is tested against the Undead Monarch's avatar, highlighting the importance of Lu Chen's heritage.
• The theme of ancient battles and lingering obsessions is reinforced by the projections on the battlefield.

Character Interactions

• Lu Chen interacts with the Undead Monarch's avatar, exchanging words and attacks.
• The avatar's projections on the battlefield interact with Lu Chen, attacking him relentlessly.

Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Lu Chen uses the Dragon-Suppressing Key to temporarily suppress the Undead Monarch's avatar in the ruins.
• The sealing formation is severely damaged and can only hold for about a year.
• Lu Chen discovers that the Undead Monarch's avatar and the entity beneath Dragon Head Peak are connected.

Character Developments

• Lu Chen demonstrates his bravery and resourcefulness by facing the Undead Monarch's avatar alone.
• Xu Polu shows loyalty and dedication to his duty as the commander of the North Suppression Army.

Significant Themes

• The ancient enmity between the dragon clan and the Undead Monarch.
• The Undead Monarch's long-term plans and the potential threat to Great Xia's dragon vein.
• The importance of vigilance and preparedness in the face of unknown dangers.

Character Interactions

• Lu Chen and Xu Polu discuss the situation and Lu Chen's plans to address the threat.
• Lu Chen entrusts Xu Polu with confidential letters to be delivered to Yun Qingyue and Mo Qianqiu.
• Lu Chen and Xu Polu express mutual respect and trust.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Lu Chen pursues a faint, concealed aura moving towards the Capital City, which leads him to a Mystic Heaven Sword Sect disciple, Li Hansong, possessed by the remnant soul from the ancient tomb.
• Lu Chen purifies the remnant soul using the Dragon Soul Mirror, saving Li Hansong.
• Li Hansong reveals he had been secretly trying to find a way to end his life to prevent the remnant soul from taking control and causing harm to his sect.

Character Developments

• Lu Chen demonstrates his determination and alertness in pursuing the remnant soul's aura and his compassion in saving Li Hansong.
• Li Hansong shows his integrity and selflessness in trying to prevent the remnant soul from causing harm to his sect.

Significant Themes

• The theme of possession and the struggle for control of one's own body is explored through Li Hansong's experience.
• The theme of selflessness and sacrifice is shown through Li Hansong's intention to end his own life to prevent harm to others.

Character Interactions

• Lu Chen and Li Hansong interact briefly, with Lu Chen saving Li Hansong's life and giving him advice on recuperation.
• Li Hansong expresses his gratitude to Lu Chen for saving him, vowing to repay the kindness.

Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Li Hansong reveals that the Undead Monarch's true body might be planning to descend into the human world.
• Remnants of the Third Prince's faction, along with remnants of the Shadow Council and the Ten Thousand Gu Sect, plan a mutiny in the Capital City's western market.
• Xiao Jinghong attempts to escape using the Ten Thousand Gu Sect's forbidden art, but Lu Chen stops him using his Lightning Magic.
• Lu Chen orders Xiao Jinghong's transfer to the Hidden Dragon Guard's secret prison.

Character Developments

• Li Hansong shows loyalty and bravery by revealing the Undead Monarch's plans to Lu Chen.
• Xiao Jinghong's desperation and madness grow as he attempts to escape, revealing his true nature.
• Lu Chen demonstrates his calm and decisive leadership, as well as his power, by stopping Xiao Jinghong's escape.

Significant Themes

• Power and Control: Lu Chen's power allows him to maintain control over the situation, while Xiao Jinghong's desperation for freedom highlights the theme of power dynamics.
• Planning and Counter-Planning: The mutiny and Xiao Jinghong's escape attempt showcase the theme of strategic planning and counter-planning in politics and warfare.
• Loyalty and Betrayal: Li Hansong's loyalty contrasts with Xiao Jinghong's betrayal, highlighting the importance of loyalty in relationships and alliances.

Character Interactions

• Lu Chen and Li Hansong: Lu Chen shows trust in Li Hansong, while Li Hansong demonstrates loyalty and bravery.
• Lu Chen and Xiao Jinghong: Lu Chen's calm and decisive actions contrast with Xiao Jinghong's desperation and madness, highlighting the power imbalance between them.
• Lu Chen and Chen Xiao: Lu Chen shows confidence in Chen Xiao's abilities, entrusting him with the task of digging up the Blood Sacrifice Forbidden Array.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Lu Chen receives a letter from the Sixth Prince, warning him that Ye Qingtian has emerged from seclusion and is heading to the Capital City.
• Three days later, Ye Qingtian arrives in the Capital City with four Mystic Heaven Sword Sect disciples, challenging Lu Chen to a battle on the Ironblood Horse Grounds' Dragon-Slaying Platform.
• The battle begins with Ye Qingtian using his peak middle-stage Longevity Realm cultivation against Lu Chen's early-stage Longevity Realm, demonstrating his formidable swordsmanship and intent.

Character Developments

• Lu Chen remains calm and composed, showing no fear despite the vast difference in cultivation levels.
• Ye Qingtian exhibits arrogance and confidence in his strength, underestimating Lu Chen's capabilities.

Significant Themes

• The power gap between cultivation stages, particularly in the Longevity Realm.
• Arrogance and overconfidence leading to underestimation of opponents.
• The determination and resilience of Lu Chen in facing overwhelming odds.

Character Interactions

• Lu Chen and Ye Qingtian's interaction is filled with tension and hostility, with Ye Qingtian provoking Lu Chen and Lu Chen remaining calm and focused.
• Mo Qianqiu and Lei Ba show concern for Lu Chen's safety and express doubt about his chances against Ye Qingtian.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Lu Chen and Ye Qingtian's battle on the Dragon-Slaying Platform ends in a draw, with both severely injured.
• Ye Qingtian's life-bound flying sword, the Frost Wyrm Sword, is ruined by the Dragon-Suppressing Key.
• Ye Qingtian challenges Lu Chen to a rematch at the Mystic Heaven Sword Sect's Sword Discussion Tournament in six months.
• Lu Chen decides to enter seclusion for cultivation and healing, leaving the Demon Suppression Army under Mo Qianqiu's command.

Character Developments

• Lu Chen's resolve and determination are further solidified, as he faces a formidable opponent and still stands his ground.
• Ye Qingtian's arrogance is humbled, as his life-bound flying sword is ruined, and he is forced to retreat.
• Mo Qianqiu demonstrates loyalty and concern for Lu Chen's well-being, offering to support him and take command of the Demon Suppression Army.

Significant Themes

• The power of determination and will, as Lu Chen refuses to back down despite his injuries and the odds against him.
• The consequences of underestimating one's opponent, as Ye Qingtian's overconfidence leads to the ruin of his life-bound flying sword.
• The importance of healing and recovery, as Lu Chen prioritizes his injuries and decides to enter seclusion for cultivation.

Character Interactions

• Lu Chen and Ye Qingtian's intense battle showcases their skills and determination, ending in a stalemate that leaves both injured.
• Lu Chen and Mo Qianqiu's interaction highlights their mutual respect and trust, as Lu Chen entrusts the Demon Suppression Army to Mo Qianqiu's care.
• Lu Chen's interaction with the Demon Suppression Army soldiers demonstrates his leadership and their loyalty, as they cheer for him despite his injuries.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Lu Chen awakens after refining seventy percent of the medicinal power, healing his injuries.
• He learns about anomalies at the Northern Frontier ruins and the death of a scout with a dark-green mark.
• Lu Chen decides to enter seclusion for three months to a half-year to prepare for the Mystic Heaven Sword Sect's sword-debate assembly.
• During seclusion, Lu Chen refines Dragon Marrow Spirit Crystals to replenish his lifespan and strength.
• On the thirty-seventh day, he completes refining all the crystals and heals his injuries, except for the remnant soul's mark.
• Mo Qianqiu informs Lu Chen that the Ten-Thousand-Year Soul-Returning Grass has been located by Medicine King Valley.

Character Developments

• Lu Chen focuses on healing and strengthening himself during seclusion, showing determination and resilience.
• Mo Qianqiu demonstrates responsibility and diligence in managing the Demon Suppression Army in Lu Chen's absence.

Significant Themes

• Healing and recovery: Lu Chen's focus on healing and strengthening himself highlights the theme of overcoming adversity and preparing for future challenges.
• Preparation: Lu Chen's actions emphasize the importance of preparation and planning for upcoming battles and events.

Character Interactions

• Lu Chen and Mo Qianqiu: Their interaction shows trust and mutual respect, with Mo Qianqiu keeping Lu Chen informed about important matters while Lu Chen delegates responsibilities to him.
• Lu Chen and the Demon Suppression Army: Lu Chen's speech to the army before entering seclusion demonstrates his leadership and motivation, inspiring the soldiers to train harder in his absence.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Lu Chen receives a jade slip from Yun Qingyue, revealing the discovery of the Ten-Thousand-Year Soul-Returning Grass in the Hundred Thousand Mountains of the Southern Frontier, guarded by remnants of the Ten Thousand Gu Sect and connected to the Undead Monarch.
• Lu Chen decides not to rush to the Southern Frontier due to his incomplete recovery, lack of peak Longevity Realm cultivation, and the unknown nature of the lingering soul mark on his shoulder.
• He learns about the spreading fog in the Northern Frontier, which has produced three peak Supernatural Power Realm demon kings, one suspected to be at the Longevity Realm.

Character Developments

• Lu Chen demonstrates strategic thinking and caution, prioritizing his cultivation and understanding the lingering soul mark before facing potential threats.
• Yun Qingyue shows concern for Lu Chen's well-being and is eager to work together to investigate the connection to the Undead Monarch.
• Xu Polu, the Marshal of the Northern Frontier, exhibits urgency and desperation in his plea for help against the advancing fog and demon kings.

Significant Themes

• Caution vs. Rashness: Lu Chen chooses to delay his journey to the Southern Frontier to better prepare, showing that careful planning and understanding one's limits are crucial for success.
• The Undead Monarch's Influence: The lingering soul mark on Lu Chen's shoulder reacts to mentions of the Undead Monarch, hinting at a deeper connection and foreshadowing potential threats.
• The Race Against Time: The fog's spread in the Northern Frontier and the half-year deadline for obtaining the Soul-Returning Grass emphasize the urgency of Lu Chen's tasks and the consequences of failure.

Character Interactions

• Lu Chen and Mo Qianqiu discuss the situation and Lu Chen's plans, with Mo Qianqiu showing understanding and support for Lu Chen's decisions.
• Lu Chen and Yun Qingyue, though not physically present, maintain a connection through letters, demonstrating their shared goals and mutual respect.
• Lu Chen and Xu Polu, though not directly interacting, have a clear chain of command, with Xu Polu seeking Lu Chen's aid in the face of overwhelming danger.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Lu Chen reads Marshal Xu's memorial about the mist and Corpse Puppets at the Northern Frontier.
• He visits the Northern Frontier and discovers a vast, empty mist with no signs of the three Demon Kings.
• He learns about the survivors from Blackstone Market, who exhibit strange behavior and are affected by deathly aura.
• Lu Chen waits at the edge of the mist and observes the three Demon Kings from afar. He notices a cave entrance-like shadow beneath the demon bear.

Character Developments

• Lu Chen demonstrates his patience and strategic thinking by waiting and observing before acting.
• The survivors from Blackstone Market show signs of mental deterioration and transformation into Corpse Puppets.

Significant Themes

• Patience and strategic planning in facing unknown threats.
• The slow, insidious corruption of the living by deathly aura.

Character Interactions

• Lu Chen interacts with North Suppression Army scouts and soldiers, gathering information and issuing orders.
• The three Demon Kings are observed from afar, with the demon bear sensing Lu Chen's gaze.

Lu Chen, after a night of waiting, decides to visit Blackstone Market to gather information from the escaped miners. He learns from an old miner, Old Qian, about a cave deep within the mist, guarded by three Demon Kings, and containing a "huge thing." Old Qian also senses an unknown aura on Lu Chen, possibly related to the cave's inhabitant. Lu Chen then realizes that the escaped ghostly green mote of light and the mist from the Northern Frontier ruins might be connected to this cave. He decides to find a way to probe the cave's situation without alerting its inhabitant or the Demon Kings. He plans to meet with another miner, Zhang Tiezhu, who is more mentally stable than Old Qian, to gather more information.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Lu Chen interrogates Zhang Tiezhu, a former Blackstone Market miner, about the Ghost Grotto and the three Demon Kings guarding it.
• Zhang reveals that the cave is connected to the ore veins of Blackstone Market and that miners sometimes heard strange cries that drove people mad.
• Lu Chen decides to visit the Ghost Grotto the next day.

Character Developments

• Lu Chen demonstrates his determination and courage in facing the unknown and dangerous Ghost Grotto.
• Zhang Tiezhu shows fear and reluctance but ultimately submits to Lu Chen's authority.

Significant Themes

• The sinister influence of the Ghost Grotto and its connection to the mines.
• The power dynamics between Lu Chen and Zhang Tiezhu, reflecting Lu Chen's growing authority.

Character Interactions

• Lu Chen and Zhang Tiezhu: Lu Chen questions Zhang, who initially hesitates but eventually complies due to Lu Chen's calm and authoritative demeanor.
• Lu Chen's determination contrasts with Zhang's fear, highlighting Lu Chen's resolve in pursuing the truth behind the Ghost Grotto.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Lu Chen spends the night meditating to prepare for the journey into the mist.
• He and Zhang Tiezhu reach the edge of the mist and enter, with Lu Chen using the Dragon Soul Mirror's power to protect Zhang Tiezhu from deathly qi.
• They navigate through the mist, avoiding dense deathly qi areas and demonic creatures, until they reach the Ghost Grotto, guarded by three Demon Kings.
• Lu Chen observes the Demon Kings' patterns and signals for three days, learning their coordination and patrol routes.
• On the fourth day, Lu Chen discovers the demonic bear's low growl signal and decides to infiltrate the cave the next day.
• On the fifth day, Lu Chen leads Zhang Tiezhu to a hidden valley with a fissure leading near Ghost Grotto. He decides to descend into the fissure.

Character Developments

• Lu Chen demonstrates his determination and strategic planning, meticulously observing and analyzing the Demon Kings' movements to find a way to infiltrate the cave.
• Zhang Tiezhu shows loyalty and bravery, leading Lu Chen to the hidden valley despite his fear.

Significant Themes

• Perseverance and Preparation: Lu Chen's careful planning and preparation, including his night of meditation and three days of observation, highlight the importance of perseverance and thorough preparation for challenging tasks.
• Loyalty and Courage: Zhang Tiezhu's actions demonstrate the themes of loyalty and courage, as he faces his fears to assist Lu Chen.

Character Interactions

• Lu Chen and Zhang Tiezhu work together, with Lu Chen protecting Zhang Tiezhu from deathly qi and Zhang Tiezhu leading Lu Chen to the hidden valley.
• Lu Chen and Xu Polu discuss the potential danger inside the cave and Lu Chen's plan to infiltrate it.
• The three Demon Kings coordinate with each other, demonstrating their teamwork and the threat they pose.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Lu Chen falls into an underground cavern through an earth fissure.
• He discovers a massive cavern filled with glowing moss and an underground river.
• A giant black python guards an egg in a pool at the cavern's center, emitting dense deathly aura.
• Numerous openings in the cavern walls house young snakes of varying sizes and cultivation stages.

Character Developments

• Lu Chen demonstrates his agility, strength, and stealth by navigating the cavern and observing its inhabitants without being detected.
• The giant python and its young snakes are introduced as formidable enemies, with the mother being particularly powerful.

Significant Themes

• The cavern represents a hidden, dangerous world beneath the surface, mirroring the unknown threats that lurk in the human world.
• The giant python and its young snakes symbolize the cycle of life and death, with the snakes feeding on the deathly aura and the creatures affected by it.
• The theme of observation and patience is highlighted as Lu Chen carefully studies his surroundings before acting.

Character Interactions

• Lu Chen interacts with the environment, using his senses and stealth to avoid detection by the snakes.
• The young snakes interact with their mother through hissing calls, demonstrating a hierarchical structure within their den.
• Lu Chen's presence is unknown to the snakes, creating a tense, cat-and-mouse dynamic.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Lu Chen discovers a complete snake colony with ten snakes, including a middle-stage Longevity realm giant python and nine late-stage Supernatural Power realm juvenile snakes.
• He decides to eliminate the colony to prevent it from expanding and threatening Northern Great Xia.
• Lu Chen observes the giant python and the egg for two days, waiting for the egg to hatch to create an opportunity for attack.
• On the third day, the egg hatches, revealing a unique, intelligent-looking little snake with golden vertical pupils.
• Lu Chen attacks the little snake, and the giant python and juvenile snakes respond aggressively.

Character Developments

• Lu Chen demonstrates strategic thinking and patience in planning his attack on the snake colony.
• The little snake exhibits unexpected intelligence and agility, dodging Lu Chen's initial attack.

Significant Themes

• The theme of patience and planning in facing overwhelming odds.
• The theme of hidden power and unexpected threats, as seen in the little snake's unexpected abilities.

Character Interactions

• Lu Chen's interaction with the snake colony is one of observation, planning, and eventual confrontation.
• The little snake interacts with the giant python and the other snakes, showing a level of dominance and intelligence unusual for a newborn creature.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Lu Chen battles and defeats a mid-stage Longevity Realm giant python and nine late-stage Supernatural Power Realm young snakes.
• A mysterious, newly hatched snake with strange abilities escapes into a small underground hole.
• Lu Chen retrieves Demon Cores from the defeated snakes, which can extend his lifespan.

Character Developments

• Lu Chen demonstrates his formidable combat skills, defeating powerful enemies with ease.
• The mysterious young snake shows unusual abilities and intelligence for a newly hatched creature.

Significant Themes

• The struggle for survival and power in a dangerous world.
• The potential threat posed by the mysterious young snake.

Character Interactions

• Lu Chen interacts with the young snakes and the giant python, ultimately defeating them.
• The mysterious young snake interacts with Lu Chen through its hissing commands, controlling the other snakes' actions.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Lu Chen realizes the little snake was artificially modified with restrictions (blood-red patterns on eggshell) that indicate it's from the Ten Thousand Gu Sect.
• He decides to postpone his trip to the Southern Frontier to find the little snake first.
• Lu Chen inspects the survivors from Blackstone Market and discovers a young man with the same eerie green light in his eyes as the little snake.
• The young man reveals that the little snake went to the Southern Frontier before dying.
• Lu Chen finds another survivor, Wang Ergou, with the same eerie green light in his eyes, who admits to having strange dreams about a snake.

Character Developments

• Lu Chen shows concern for finding the little snake, indicating his determination to protect the realm from potential threats.
• Wang Ergou, initially terrified, reveals his strange dreams when pressured by Lu Chen, showing a lack of resistance and a willingness to confess.

Significant Themes

• The pursuit of truth and answers, as Lu Chen seeks information about the little snake and its connection to the Ten Thousand Gu Sect.
• The power dynamic between captor and captive, as seen in Lu Chen's interrogation of Wang Ergou.

Character Interactions

• Lu Chen interacts with Xu Polu, his subordinate, who follows his orders without question.
• Lu Chen interrogates two survivors, the young man and Wang Ergou, demonstrating his authority and ability to extract information.
• The interaction between Lu Chen and the survivors highlights the power imbalance and fear they have for him.