Wang De

Biodata

Feature	Information
Name	Wang De (王德)
Alias(es)	Old Patriarch; Master Wang
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Wang family
Occupation/Role	Wang family patriarch; former scavenger; wealthy merchant in Border City No. 3
Status	Deceased — killed by Li Yelai with the Hegemon's Spear Throw 19
First Appearance	Chapter 14

Background / History

Wang De began as a scavenger, venturing into abandoned wilderness cities for valuables. After acquiring a wish-granting altar, he sacrificed a drunkard in exchange for a treasure map leading to gold, then sacrificed five more people to obtain the blueprints for the Heat Gun. He used these gains to establish himself in Giant City, eventually becoming a wealthy merchant and the head of an expansive Wang family 14 16.

In his youth, Wang De encountered the perpetually young Black Umbrella Youth. Their association lasted for more than sixty years; official investigations later determined that the youth had supplied Wang De with both the Ghost Immortal altar and the silver bell used to control knightly summons 21.

As he faced old age and feared losing both his life and fortune, Wang De wished for longevity through the altar. For a decade, around late September, he secretly had blood relatives killed through his summoned knights, using their lives to extend his own. He had initially blamed the deaths on an unknown black-umbrella-bearing figure who had supposedly discovered and exploited his secret 16 17.

Appearance

Nearly ninety years old, Wang De was a white-haired but notably robust elderly man who had survived the chaotic era. He projected the image of a composed, kindly patriarch until his crimes were exposed 15.

• Wore a thick nightgown during the confrontation at his manor 15.
• Used a cane, though his steps remained steady 16.
• Maintained a kind smile and calm manner even while concealing his family’s deaths 15 16.

Personality

Wang De was calculating, adaptable, and utterly self-serving. He treated wealth, family, and human lives as resources to be spent in exchange for his continued survival. Even after being held at swordpoint, he quickly abandoned open intimidation in favor of trying to buy Li Yelai’s cooperation 16.

He held a cynical view of people motivated by justice, describing them as emotionally driven idealists destined for an early death. His apparent affection for his descendants was conditional: he intervened to preserve them only when their deaths could still provide him lifespan 16 17.

“A predestined early death!” 16

Resources & Methods

Ghost Immortal Altar

Wang De concealed a blue-brick house containing the Ghost Immortal altar beneath his manor.

• Granted wishes in exchange for offerings, including treasure maps, wealth, and longevity 16.
• Its protection initially prevented Cheese's compulsory suggestion from influencing Wang De 19.
• Released shadows and black arms that seized everyone in the basement after Wang De attempted to use it during his escape 18.
• Was destroyed by Li Yelai, leaving Wang De without the Ghost Immortal’s protection 18 19.

Silver Bell

Wang De possessed a silver bell connected to Nether Path-style undead summoning.

• Summoned and commanded armored knightly entities, including the Lancer Knight and Dual Blade Knight 16 17.
• Used the knights to stage accidents and murder relatives while concealing his involvement 16.
• The bell was recovered by Li Yelai after Wang De's death; official scans found it contained the ashes of a powerful knight from Black Source City 19 20.

Armed Retinue and Influence

• Maintained armed personnel within his manor and ordered them to kill Li Yelai and Detective when his secret was threatened 15 17.
• Claimed to have brought the Heat Gun blueprints back to Giant City, giving him connections within the City Lord's Mansion 15.
• Was not himself a Spirit Ability User, but used Forbidden Items and psionic equipment to threaten and suppress Spirit Ability Users 30.

Relationships

• Black Umbrella Youth — Longtime “friend” and benefactor who provided Wang De with the Ghost Immortal altar and silver bell; Wang De feared and deferred to him despite their association 21.
• Wang De's granddaughter — His eldest son's daughter. She hired investigators to uncover the family deaths and ultimately refused to let Wang De gain any lifespan from her death 15 17.
• Old Huang — His butler of thirty years. Huang defied Wang De by supporting the investigation into the deaths of the children he had watched grow up 15.
• Second Master Wang — Wang De's second son. Wang De attempted to have him killed during the annual period in which he could steal a relative's lifespan 15 17.
• Li Yelai — Adversary who uncovered Wang De's crimes, destroyed the altar, and killed him 16 19.
• Detective — Adversary who identified Wang De as the true killer and used Wang De's remaining relatives to restrict his options in battle 16 17.
• Cheese — Adversary whose Whisper Path abilities eliminated Wang De's reinforcements and compelled his Lancer Knight to commit suicide 17 18.

Story Role / Major Arcs

Wang Family Commission

At a banquet ostensibly held to protect him from a serial killer, Wang De dismissed Li Yelai and Detective after realizing they had not been hired by him. He attempted to force them out through threats, armed personnel, and his family’s influence, but they remained to protect his granddaughter 15.

Exposure of the Family Murders

Wang De led the investigators to his underground altar room and initially portrayed himself as the victim of an outside blackmailer. His deception collapsed when his summoned knights attacked Li Yelai and Detective, revealing that Wang De himself had arranged the annual deaths of his blood relatives to purchase more life 16.

Death

After Cheese's intervention ruined his armed backup and destroyed the Lancer Knight, Wang De attempted to escape through the Ghost Immortal altar. Li Yelai destroyed the altar, eliminating Wang De's protection and exposing him to Cheese's compulsory suggestion. Before Wang De could kill Cheese through the Dual Blade Knight, Li Yelai emerged from the ruins and threw his Crimson Longsword through Wang De's neck, killing him 18 19.

Trivia

• Wang De warned his relatives and subordinates to beware of people carrying umbrellas on sunny days, reflecting his fear of the Black Umbrella Youth 21.
• His death caused the Wang family's assets and businesses to be frozen during the authorities’ investigation, leaving his granddaughter unable to pay the remaining commission for the private job 20.