Wen Bucai

Biodata

Background and History

Wen Bucai's long life began as a Kunming fish; his VIP carriage later displays his evolution into a human and records his changing survival skills and relationships 99. His longevity comes with a severe cost: memories fade, and he has lived through the loss of multiple families and generations of friends 511 540.

In 1837, he fled overseas after becoming a wanted river pirate. He told Father Kevin Richard that he had previously worked as a peddler and barefoot doctor. After rescuing a sick scholar from a monster, he killed officials who tried to execute them as bandits. Kevin helped him seek a fresh start, named him Vincent, and planned to recommend him for work as a translator 511.

In North America, Wen Bucai recruited nearly 1,400 laborers for the Pacific Railway Company but did not visit their construction site. After receiving news of their deaths, he went west and considered ending his life on the railway tracks 833. His later history includes a close friendship with Victor and Jack Martin and a struggle against the Perfume Bottle gang 99 846.

As a Senior Passenger, Wen Bucai became known for slaying a dragon. Sixteen years after that feat, he helped Jiang Xueming, Bu Liuxing, and Jason Megan investigate the Skull and Bones Society at Freud Mine. He and Victor later confronted a corrupted dragon, and Wen Bucai continued pursuing the Society's intermediaries after the operation 83 93 95 98. When he returned to Nine Realms Station after sixteen years away, BOSS welcomed him and gave him a list of targets to hunt 117.

Appearance

Wen Bucai can appear youthful despite his long life; while recounting his past in 1837, he looked about sixteen or seventeen 511.

• Tanned, bronze-toned skin 540
• Sharp jawline and strong chin and neck 540
• A rough face in his appearance as Wen Luo 80

Personality

Wen Bucai is sociable and quick to praise craftsmanship. He welcomed Jiang Xueming's interest in his forged nunchucks and was delighted by the firearms Jiang made for him 81 82. In combat, he becomes terse and deliberate: he warns bystanders away, assesses what an enemy can do, and considers how to protect an injured ally before attacking 91 347.

His confidence does not make him free of doubt. Repeated bereavement and failing memories have left him prone to depression and fear for people close to him 540. He rejects the Immortals Alliance's lucrative invitation and says he would return to serve his country if needed 246 860.

Abilities and Skills

Soul Power: Alcoholism

Wen Bucai's Soul Power is named Alcoholism. It manifests in combat as phantom arms capable of attacks beyond the frequency of ordinary human punches 87 91 821.

• Uses the phantom arms to strike enemies while retaining his firearms for other targets 91.
• Can extend his arms with Soul Power for tasks outside combat 82.

Endurance and Regeneration

• Sustains prolonged fighting with unusually large reserves of mental and physical energy 93.
• Regenerates charred flesh, bones, and lost arms after battle 96.
• Still relies on tools and his physical condition to bring his abilities into an effective combat state 87.

Combat and Craftsmanship

• Combines Soul Power, firearms, blades, and tactical judgment; he waits to understand a regenerating enemy rather than risk an ineffective strike 91 347.
• Forged a layered-steel pair of nunchucks for Jiang Xueming, imbued with an effect that stimulates the wielder's nerves 82.
• Helped Jiang Xueming make firearms and identified reliability problems in a revolver's cylinder after sustained firing 81 91.

Equipment and Weapons

• Dragon Slayer — a greatsword he entrusts to Bu Liuxing during a fight with regenerating enemies 347.
• M500 revolvers — custom firearms made with Jiang Xueming; sustained firing caused cylinder failures that Wen Bucai asked him to correct 81 91.
• Short sword — used to finish an ogre after a Soul Power attack 91.
• Hunting List — a list of targets received in connection with BOSS's work 117.

Relationships

• Victor — his best friend and a companion across a long shared history; they reunite to fight the corrupted dragon 83 91 95.
• Jack Martin — an old friend whose connection to the Perfume Bottle gang's leader complicates Wen Bucai's pursuit of revenge 99 846.
• BOSS — welcomes him back to Nine Realms Station after sixteen years and entrusts him with dangerous work 117.
• Jiang Xueming — collaborator in weapons-making and the Skull and Bones operation; Wen Bucai gives him handmade nunchucks 81 82 91.
• Bu Liuxing — younger ally whom Wen Bucai guides and protects, later trusting him with Dragon Slayer 83 347.
• Father Kevin Richard — priest who helped him leave his past behind and gave him the name Vincent 511.
• Zhao Donglai — governor Wen Bucai supported before becoming a vigilante; Wen Bucai later became engaged to Zhao's daughter 540.

Notable Quotes

“Blood debt must be repaid with blood.” 819

“If I were to go and fight it, how would I protect you?” 347