Lu Hualong

Biodata

Feature	Information
Name	Lu Hualong (陆化龙)
Alias(es)	Flesh-Cutting Magistrate; Benevolent Magistrate; Demon County Magistrate 12
Species/Race	Originally human; later a Gu-Eating Spirit Monster with a Tiger Demon body 1 7
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Qiantang County yamen; Gu-Eating Spirit God; Yelü Family by marriage 4 10
Occupation/Role	County Magistrate of Qiantang County 1
First Appearance	Chapter 1

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Mortal Transformation Realm	7	Endured the Eternal Life Cult's Flesh Desire Fire, completed his Mortal Transformation, and emerged as a Tiger Demon/Gu-Eating Spirit Monster. The transformation severed his remaining humanity.

Background / History

Lu Hualong was born into the prominent Gusu Lu Family. A temple keeper's account claims that his mother dreamed of the Gu-Eating Spirit God before his birth; he was born covered in tiger marks and possessed tiger eyes. The same account portrays him as a prodigious youth who gathered young heroes, subdued demons, passed the imperial examinations in both civil and martial fields, and eventually became Qiantang's magistrate 5.

He was originally human, but cultivation altered both his body and disposition. After marrying into the Yelü Family and becoming a Gu-Eating Spirit Monster, he consumed former companions and refined them into ghouls. Zhang Buzu and Zhao Wuyou, later his Ghoul Generals, had once been among the young knights who followed him; Gongsun Xing was another such former companion 17.

As magistrate, Lu initially imposed the Thigh-Cutting Order and used human flesh to satisfy his vicious habits and raise Taisui Gu Worms. He cultivated a public reputation by compensating victims, allowing many residents to regard him as a capable or even benevolent official despite his predation 1 7.

Appearance

Lu Hualong was born with conspicuous tiger traits. After completing Mortal Transformation, he could manifest as a massive Tiger Demon that soared through the clouds 5 7.

• Tiger marks covering his body from birth 5
• Tiger eyes said to subdue ghosts and demons 5
• A full Tiger Demon body following Mortal Transformation 7
• A vast shadow visible while patrolling Qiantang's skies after his transformation 7

Personality

Lu Hualong is calculating, exploitative, and intensely self-serving. His apparent benevolence is a tool of husbandry: after becoming a Gu-Eating Spirit Monster, he abolished the Thigh-Cutting Order, distributed ordinary rice, and relaxed restrictions not out of compassion, but to keep Qiantang's population healthy, content, and valuable 7 11.

He is also opportunistic in political and personal alliances. He cooperated with his father-in-law's arrangements involving the Eternal Life Cult while privately planning to sell Qiantang County for resources that could support his own future advancement 11. When the situation at Sunset Mountain turned against his faction, he began considering escape and freedom from Yelü Family control 44 46.

Abilities & Skills

Tiger Marks and Tiger Eyes

Lu's inborn tiger traits were the foundation of his cultivation potential.

• Could perceive Chimei Wangliang and disregard the boundary between yin and yang from infancy, according to the temple keeper's account 5
• Said to suppress demons and ghosts within a ten-mile radius through tiger might 5
• Retained tiger-associated traits upon becoming a full Tiger Demon 7

Gu-Eating Cultivation

Lu cultivated under the Gu-Eating Spirit God's lineage and ultimately transformed into a Gu-Eating Spirit Monster.

• Released a powerful Gu-Eating Storm while resisting the Eternal Life Cult's Flesh Desire Fire 7
• Reached the Mortal Transformation Realm by shedding his human nature and adopting a non-human spiritual-monster existence 7
• Used human flesh, Taisui Grains, and Taisui Gu Worms as resources in his earlier cultivation 7

Ghoul Refinement and Control

Lu converted former human associates into subordinate ghouls.

• Refined former companions, including Zhang Buzu and Zhao Wuyou, into Ghoul Generals after consuming them 17
• Commanded numerous ghoul constables and Dao Entry Realm cultivators assigned to protect the Qiantang Propaganda Team 12
• Maintained a Corpse Dissolving Pool to feed Gu-eating demons 17

Relationships

• Yelü Yuyan — Wife and the madam of Willow Oriole Alley. Their marriage is strained; they cooperated in exploiting Qiantang but repeatedly argued over power, resources, and Ge Xian 10 11 35 44.
• Yelü Tianzheng — Father-in-law. Lu followed his political arrangements involving the Eternal Life Cult, but later lost influence when Yelü Tianzheng sold Jiangzhe Province himself 11 35.
• Zhang Buzu — Former youthful companion turned Ghoul General and subordinate 12 17.
• Zhao Wuyou — Former youthful companion turned Ghoul General and subordinate 12 17.
• Gongsun Xing — One of Lu's former “young knights”; Lu later publicly tortured him 5 17.
• Li Wa — Temporary ally during the Sunset Mountain conflict; they attempted to capture Bao Mingjing and Bai Fugui after the Eternal Life Cult's plan failed 44 46.
• Ge Xian — A Qiantang peddler whom Lu conscripted into the propaganda team and later attempted to recruit into the yamen; Ge chose to stand behind Yelü Yuyan instead 12 35.

Story Role / Major Arcs

Qiantang's Demon Magistrate

Lu is introduced as Qiantang's feared magistrate, a demon who eats human flesh but pays compensation to preserve his reputation among the county's residents 1. During the conflict with Eternal Life Cult remnants, he reveals his Tiger Demon form, tortures Gongsun Xing, and devours residents trapped by demonic performers' illusion music 5.

Mortal Transformation and “Benevolent” Rule

After using the battle's carnage and the Flesh Desire Fire as an opportunity, Lu completes Mortal Transformation. He immediately abolishes the Thigh-Cutting Order, replaces Taisui Grains with ordinary rice, and grants extra provisions to households with young children 7. The policy rapidly changes his public image from Flesh-Cutting Magistrate to Benevolent Magistrate 12.

Fattening and Selling Qiantang

Lu's reforms conceal a larger scheme. Together with Yelü Yuyan, he intends to raise Qiantang's population like livestock, recruit more refugees through propaganda teams, and sell the county and its inhabitants to outside buyers 11 12. He also keeps the population insulated from Yelü Yuyan's slaughter of dragon-type demons, since traumatized residents would be harder to control and sell 17.

Sunset Mountain Conflict

As Jiangzhe Province descends into conflict, Lu's influence weakens after Yelü Tianzheng sells the province ahead of his own plans 35. During the battle around Sunset Mountain, Lu and Yelü Yuyan join Li Wa in attempting to seize Bao Mingjing and Bai Fugui, but their side is overwhelmed by Bai Fugui's treasures and Bao Mingjing's support 43 46. With defeat imminent, Lu begins seeking a way to survive independently of the Yelü Family 44 46.

Trivia

• Lu's reputation changed from “Flesh-Cutting Magistrate” to “Benevolent Magistrate” in less than half an hour after his new policies were announced 12.
• Although Qiantang's residents hailed his reforms as mercy, Ge Xian recognized them as a method of preserving the population as valuable livestock 7 11.
• Lu's Mortal Transformation made him an example of how cultivation in this world can alter not only a cultivator's body, but their race, instincts, and moral nature 7.