Lu Xuenning

Biodata

Feature	Information
Name	Lu Xuenning (陆雪宁)
Alias(es)	Head Constable Lu; Baihu Lu
Species/Race	Human
Gender	Female
Affiliation	Jinyiwei Dark Guard; Longyuan Prefecture Jinyiwei Commander's Office; formerly Ping'an County Yamen
Occupation/Role	Jinyiwei Baihu; former Rank 9 Black-Robed Head Catcher; investigator
Status	Active
First Appearance	Chapter 7

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Spirit Concealment Realm Peak	9	Had surpassed the five stages of Skin Devil King, Bone Vajra, Muscle Bodhisattva, Blood Martial Saint, and Marrow Asura before arriving at Ping'an County.
Sword Heart Illuminates / Spirit Aperture Realm	41	Comprehended the Sword Heart Enlightenment state amid the Black Willow Tree crisis, opened all thirty-six acupoints, and used externalized sword qi to clear black willow branches around Ping'an County.

Background / History

Lu Xuenning was born in Ping'an County to Lu Fang, a Jinyiwei officer and former Zongqi Officer. Lu Fang died while leading Jinyiwei against the demons and devils of Black Mountain; Lu Xuenning was only one year old at the time. Her mother later died from grief. Huang Chengyue, Lu Fang's friend, and his wife adopted and raised her. 28

Huang Chengyue supported her physical training with medicinal baths from childhood. At thirteen, he sent her to Longyuan Prefecture to study under a renowned master, allowing her to reach the peak of the Spirit Concealment Realm in five years. 28

Her master was Zuo Qianqiu, Commander of the Longyuan Prefecture Jinyiwei Commander's Office. She was dispatched back to Ping'an County under the public identity of a Rank 9 Black-Robed Head Catcher, while secretly serving as a Jinyiwei Dark Guard member investigating suspected official collusion with demonic creatures. 8 43

Appearance

Lu Xuenning is a young, pretty woman with a slender waist and a delicate appearance. While working in Ping'an County, she commonly wore the male-style uniform and hat of a black-robed constable; she also used scholar's clothing during undercover work. 7 9 49

• Wore a Rank 9 black robe as Ping'an County's Head Catcher. 8
• Used a blue scholar's gown during the Spring View Pavilion operation. 9
• Rarely wore women's civilian clothing, but appeared in a standing-collar brocade skirt when visiting Chen Fan in Longyuan Prefecture. 49
• Carries a longsword rather than the standard Jinyiwei Embroidered Spring Blade. 9 11

Personality

Lu Xuenning is fiercely righteous and unwilling to compromise with demons, devils, or the officials who enable them. Even when the Ping'an County Yamen was hostile or frightened, she continued gathering evidence and confronting demonic threats directly. 8 13 24

She is strategic enough to recognize that purging a corrupt county requires allies, evidence, and careful timing. However, her limited practical experience occasionally leaves her overly direct or less adaptable than Chen Fan during investigations. 8 9 20

She is deeply loyal to those she trusts. She protects Chen Fan's secret involvement in the death of the Great Ape Demon, worries about the harm caused by his Blood Sha Skill, and vows to seek a safer cultivation method for him. 12 39 44

Abilities & Skills

Innate Sword Heart

Lu Xuenning was born with an Innate Sword Heart, making her a natural sword cultivator. Her master delayed her Spirit Aperture breakthrough so that she could first comprehend a higher sword state and make a stronger advance. 38

• Comprehended Sword Heart Illuminates during the Black Willow Tree's assault. 41
• Opened all thirty-six acupoints immediately upon entering the Spirit Aperture Realm. 41
• Converts True Qi into large-scale sword energy capable of destroying black willow branches over several miles. 41
• Her strongest large-area attack severely exhausts her and cannot be used repeatedly at her then-current strength. 42

Swordsmanship

Before her breakthrough, Lu Xuenning was already a peak Spirit Concealment Realm martial artist with refined sword techniques. 9 11

• Fought the Marrow Asura-stage White Ape despite being injured by its physical strength. 11
• Used sword qi after reaching the Spirit Aperture Realm to defend Ping'an County's civilians from Black Willow branches. 41
• Her cultivation is based on orthodox methods taught by her master. 38 41

Spirit Cat Movement Technique

Lu Xuenning possesses an advanced movement technique that gives her exceptional speed and agility. 10

• Reached the sixth floor of Spring View Pavilion almost instantly. 10
• Knocked out guards before they could react. 10
• Slipped through a line of constables to force entry into County Lieutenant Liu Xuan's residence. 24

Investigation and Dark Guard Work

As a Jinyiwei Dark Guard member, Lu Xuenning investigates internal Jinyiwei corruption and tracks demonic activity. 43

• Reviewed county case files and found that more than fifty righteous officials had died in suspicious “accidents” over the previous decade. 8
• Investigated Ping'an County while posing as a county head catcher. 43
• Gathered evidence of the network linking officials, Jinyiwei personnel, and demonic creatures. 8 20 21

Equipment / Items

• Longsword — her principal weapon in combat. 11
• Flying Tiger Claw — a mobility tool she wished she had brought for the Spring View Pavilion infiltration. 10
• Top-grade healing pills — used to replenish Chen Fan's depleted qi and blood after his Blood Sha Skill breakthrough. 40
• Black-robed constable uniform — used for her public identity in Ping'an County. 8

Relationships

• Chen Fan — ally and fellow demon slayer. Their initial mutual suspicion became a trusted partnership during the purge of Ping'an County; she repeatedly supports his cultivation and official future. 8 12 39 44
• Huang Chengyue — adoptive father and guardian. He raised her after her parents' deaths, funded her early training, and guided her during the Black Willow crisis. 28 38 41
• Lu Fang — biological father and former Jinyiwei Zongqi Officer. His death during a Black Mountain campaign shaped Lu Xuenning's connection to Ping'an County's demon problem. 28
• Zuo Qianqiu — master and Commander of the Longyuan Prefecture Jinyiwei. She is his disciple and a Dark Guard member under his authority, though she openly challenges his plan to monitor Chen Fan for possible demonic transformation. 43 45 46
• Wang Teng — senior brother under Zuo Qianqiu. He delivers her promotion and helps explain Zuo Qianqiu's concerns about Chen Fan. 44 49
• Liu Xuan — Ping'an County Lieutenant. She condemned his submission to demons but later accepted his support in reclaiming authority from the demonic faction. 13 24 25

Story Role / Major Arcs

Ping'an County Investigation

Lu Xuenning approached Chen Fan after noticing him monitoring Huang Chengyue. She revealed her suspicion that Ping'an County's officials and Jinyiwei were entangled with demonic creatures, then sought Chen Fan as an ally to expose the conspiracy. 7 8

She led Chen Fan to Spring View Pavilion, where they uncovered the White Ape's demonic operation, killed its demonic residents, and rescued captive women. She kept Chen Fan's role in killing the Great Ape Demon confidential at his request. 9 11 12

Purge of Ping'an County

Lu Xuenning continued investigating demon strongholds and secret passages connected to Cao De and the County Magistrate's residence. 14 15 20 21

After Chen Fan killed the Black Tiger, Liu Xuan ceded authority to her. She used her office to arrest County Magistrate Li Shouyi and proceed against other officials harboring demons and devils; the group ultimately killed seventy-five such creatures during the purge. 25 27

Black Willow Tree Crisis

When more than two hundred demons and devils threatened Ping'an County, Lu Xuenning joined Chen Fan and Huang Chengyue in resisting them. The discovery that the Black Willow Tree was the true mastermind forced her to consider destroying her Innate Sword Heart for an emergency breakthrough. 34 38

She ultimately preserved her foundation, comprehended Sword Heart Illuminates, and entered the Spirit Aperture Realm. Her sword qi bought Ping'an County time until Chen Fan destroyed the Black Willow Tree's main body. The exertion left her unconscious for three days. 41 42 43

Dark Guard Revelation and Promotion

After recovering, Lu Xuenning disclosed her true status as a Jinyiwei Dark Guard member and Zuo Qianqiu's disciple. Her official cover as Ping'an County's Head Catcher had enabled her investigation of the county's corruption. 43

For her service, she was promoted from Zongqi Officer to Baihu of the Longyuan Prefecture Jinyiwei Commander's Office. She was assigned to temporarily lead the Tenth Brigade under Deputy Commander Chen Fan. 44 45

Notable Quotes

“Whether it's day or night, Ping'an County will forever belong to us humans!” 28

“Today, I achieve Sword Heart Illuminates!” 41

Trivia

• Lu Xuenning initially claimed that her Longyuan Prefecture connections came from her master and senior disciples; Chen Fan later learned that she was actually a Dark Guard operative. 32 43
• She considers Chen Fan a more talented martial artist than herself and would rather damage her own future than see him ruin his through the Blood Sha Skill. 39
• Her disguise at Spring View Pavilion failed because she wore government office boots, making her identity as an official obvious to the courtesans. 9