Xiao He

Biodata

Feature	Information
Name	Xiao He (萧何)
Alias(es)	Young Master Xiao; Xiao Forty / Brother Forty; Guo Shan Feng (“Wind Crossing Mountains”); Sha Zhanhong; Taibai Jinxing
Species/Race	Human
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Shendu Xiao Clan; King Zhao Residence; Imperial City Directorate; Heavenly Sect
Occupation/Role	Imperial City Directorate operative; former head of the Fengxian County/Dezhou office; planner for the Southern Border; envoy and Heavenly Sect inner-sect chief steward
Status	Active
First Appearance	Chapter 17

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Innate Realm	233	Identified as one of the three sworn brothers at the Innate stage during Xiang Yuan and Xu Jixian's sparring session.
Spirit Transformation Realm	402	His concealed cultivation is exposed to Xiao Lingyue; he had used the Xiao Clan Breath Concealment Art to hide his realm.

Background

Xiao He is the fortieth son of King Zhao, Xiao Yan, and a member of Western Chu's Shendu Xiao Clan, its royal family. Although he presents himself as an idle, pleasure-seeking wastrel, he was regarded as a gifted child and protected his younger full sister, Xiao Lingyue, from other children when they were young. Their shared mother and his early protection left the siblings deeply attached. 21 97

He trained in the Xiao Clan's Biyong Division, studied divination in the Heavenly Supervision Division, and also learned pill refinement in the Tranquil Heart Division. He later entered the Imperial City Directorate, where he became one of the Twelve Earthly Branches under the Snake designation, Guo Shan Feng, with Wang Wenxu and Xu Jixian under his command. 43 45 314

Sent to Fengxian County under a secret imperial decree to prepare operations in the Southern Border, Xiao He maintained a deliberately unserious public image. He attended Yulin Academy under Wang Wenxu while living in a sparsely staffed residence on Willow Creek Street, concealing both his status and his intentions from most people around him. 21 43

Appearance

Xiao He is a handsome young man with sharp, hungry-looking eyes likened to those of a wolf or tiger. His good looks and naturally free-spirited bearing allow him to appear refined even when behaving like a shameless fool. 17 22 33

• Handsome, dashing features that contrast strongly with Xu Jixian's conspicuous appearance. 22
• Sharp eyes and an expressive, often sly smile. 17
• Carries an air of arrogance and nonchalance when acting seriously. 33
• Can alter his appearance with human-skin masks and disguises for undercover work. 70 238

Personality

Xiao He is relentlessly talkative, confident, and shameless. He treats an accidental shared umbrella as an invitation, immediately presses Xiang Yuan for conversation, and continues speaking even after being threatened. His chatter is so excessive that Xiang Yuan compares him to a swarm of flies. 17

Despite his royal upbringing, Xiao He does not act superior toward commoners. He addresses Xiang Yuan and Old Liu respectfully, rejects the notion that people are inherently noble or lowly, and is jovial with ordinary people. He is, however, perfectly willing to wield his princely status against people he dislikes, such as County Lieutenant Qin or Yue Huanjiang. 20 21 41

Behind the wastrel persona, Xiao He is calculating, ambitious, and willing to take dangerous risks for larger plans. He deliberately hides his learning and cultivation, orchestrates tests of Xiang Yuan, and seeks to destabilize the Southern Border rather than merely preserve the court's existing foothold there. Wang Wenxu considers him capable of steady progress but dangerously aggressive. 33 43 98

He is fiercely protective of Xiao Lingyue and reacts badly to Xiang Yuan's relationship with her, though his objections are mixed with banter, jealousy, and genuine concern. 397 402 414

Abilities & Skills

Divination

Xiao He is trained in the Xiao Clan's divination arts and uses them to judge fate, trace qi, identify opportunities, and plan routes.

• Claimed from his first meeting with Xiang Yuan that he could observe fate and trace qi. 26
• Uses divination to assess Xiang Yuan's unusual destiny and to support plans for the Southern Border. 33 71
• Teaches Xiang Yuan the Seven Hearts Divination method during their later journey south. 235
• His divinations can uncover threats, including information concerning Lingxiu's interest in Xiang Yuan. 245

Undercover Operations and Disguise

Xiao He is an experienced intelligence operative who sustains false identities, manages informants, and builds covert networks.

• Served as the Snake-sign member of the Twelve Earthly Branches, with Wang Wenxu and Xu Jixian operating beneath him. 45
• Uses a human-skin mask and altered identity while entering the Southern Border. 70
• Infiltrates Cloud Battle City as Sha Zhanhong, a supposed direct disciple of the Five Poisons Cult's Fire Elder, supported by a token and corroborating materials. 238
• Dissolves the Fengxian Imperial City Directorate office after Ana Heiyan's death and Xu Jixian's disclosures make the network unsafe. 397

Martial Cultivation and Concealment

Xiao He is a Spirit Transformation Realm cultivator who intentionally suppresses the impression he gives others.

• Uses a medicinal pill to sharply increase his true qi, speed, and strength during the Southern Border conflict. 76
• Secretly cultivates at night while maintaining the appearance of a lazy late sleeper. 98
• Conceals his Spirit Transformation cultivation with the Xiao Clan Breath Concealment Art, successfully deceiving even Xiao Lingyue. 402
• Is considered one of King Zhao's two most promising biological sons, alongside Xiao Qian. 357

Strategy and Political Maneuvering

Xiao He combines intelligence work with political opportunism and long-term planning.

• Arrived in Fengxian under a secret decree to prepare for Southern Border operations. 43
• Planned to infiltrate the Five Poisons Cult through Ana Heiyan and obtain the position of an Innate Realm elder under its banner. 233
• Rejects the position of crown prince, preferring the Imperial City Directorate or a less constrained role in the wider world. 414 415
• Serves as Western Chu and Heavenly Sect envoy to Northern Qi after receiving the titles of Heavenly Sect outer elder and inner-sect chief steward. 428 433

Equipment / Items

• Human-skin masks — Used to change appearance and build believable undercover identities. 70
• Cultivation-enhancing pill — Temporarily swells his true qi and physical combat capability. 76
• Imperial City Directorate identity network — Relies on covert contacts, coded hierarchy, and the Western Street pharmacy as a periodic communication point with his superior. 45
• Sha Zhanhong identity token — Supports his infiltration of Cloud Battle City as the Fire Elder's direct disciple. 238

Relationships

• Xiang Yuan — Initially an unwilling umbrella-sharing companion, later his personal guard, playmate, sworn younger brother, and closest co-conspirator. Xiao He recognizes Xiang Yuan's potential early, repeatedly recruits him into dangerous schemes, and becomes distressed by his engagement to Xiao Lingyue. 17 21 98 233 402
• Xiao Lingyue — His younger full sister. Xiao He protected her in childhood, while she continued to defend his reputation even when she believed he had become a wastrel. 97
• Xiao Yan — His father, King Zhao and later emperor of Western Chu. Xiao Yan recognizes Xiao He's concealed talent and considers him one of his few truly exceptional biological sons. 183 357
• Xiao Qian — His eldest brother and political opposite. Xiao He does not get along with him personally, but acknowledges Xiao Qian's talent and fitness for governance. 398 415
• Xu Jixian — His subordinate in the Imperial City Directorate and one of his closest companions. Their relationship is built on constant mockery, shared operations, and mutual support. 45 233 414
• Wang Wenxu — His academy teacher and Imperial City Directorate subordinate. Wang Wenxu respects Xiao He's ability but worries that his ambitions will get him killed. 21 33 45
• Ji Wuzhou — Grants Xiao He the posts of Heavenly Sect outer elder and inner-sect chief steward, enabling his diplomatic mission to Northern Qi. 428

Story Role / Major Arcs

Meeting Xiang Yuan

Xiao He first meets Xiang Yuan in the rain outside Yulin Academy, forcibly sharing Xiang Yuan's umbrella and introducing himself as a Shendu Xiao Clan member studying in Fengxian. He immediately tries to make Xiang Yuan his brother, invite him to Hongyun Garden, and direct him to return the umbrella at the Xiao Residence. 17

His status as King Zhao's son allows him to intimidate County Lieutenant Qin and secure Xiang Yuan's transfer from the county yamen. Xiang Yuan becomes Xiao He's nominal bodyguard and practical companion at the Xiao Residence. 20 21

Fengxian Intelligence Network

Xiao He gradually reveals that his idleness is an act. He is a Biyong-trained imperial operative whose assignment involves the Southern Border, and he offers Xiang Yuan access to the Imperial City Directorate's weapons, manuals, intelligence, and cultivation resources. 43 45

He also admits that he arranged the earlier ghost encounter to test Xiang Yuan, having divined that Xiang Yuan's origins and destiny were extraordinary. 33

Southern Border Operations

Xiao He travels with Xiang Yuan and Xu Jixian to the Southern Border, using divination and false identities to investigate local forces. He promises assistance to Miao Black Wolf, observes the Peace Creek Stronghold succession conflict, and later develops the plan to infiltrate the Five Poisons Cult. 71 75 233

As Sha Zhanhong, he enters Cloud Battle City as a direct disciple of the Fire Elder. His infiltration is complicated by Ana Heiyan's relationship with Xu Jixian and culminates in the aftermath of Xiang Yuan's battle with Ana Heiyan. 238 245

Family, Succession, and Diplomacy

After Xiao Lingyue's engagement to Xiang Yuan becomes undeniable, Xiao He remains protective and suspicious of his sworn brother, though he must accept that Xiang Yuan has become part of his family. 397 402

Though considered a candidate for crown prince, Xiao He has no desire to rule. He prefers intelligence work, travel, and the freedom to act outside a fixed court position; he ultimately accepts Xiao Qian as the better candidate than Xiao Dong. 414 415

He later acts as an envoy for both Western Chu and the Heavenly Sect, negotiating with Northern Qi while using his connection to Xiang Yuan as political leverage. 428 433

Journey to the West Role

Xiao He appears as Taibai Jinxing in the Journey to the West scenario, delivering the Jade Emperor's recruitment edict to Sun Wukong at Water Curtain Cave. 515

Notable Quotes

“Everyone walks on two legs in this life; there's no such thing as noble or lowly.” 17

“Since you've boarded this pirate ship, you can only follow your elder brother to the end.” 44

“I don't have the ass-power for it—I’m not someone who can sit still and settle down.” 415

Trivia

• Xiao He is called Xiao Forty because he is King Zhao's fortieth son when adopted brothers are included in the family ranking. 21
• He is one of the few people who recognized Xiang Yuan's extraordinary potential immediately, though his early behavior caused Xiang Yuan to dismiss him as an intolerable chatterbox. 17 26
• His sole recorded pill-refinement “graduation project” was a pound of fasting pills. 314
• He repeatedly uses the threat of speaking badly about Xiang Yuan to Xiao Lingyue as leverage over his sworn brother. 233