Jin Family

Biodata

Background

The Jin Family is one of Quanzhou's foremost clans. Its landholdings, estates, medicinal-herb trade, and ore business give it influence across nearly half of Quanzhou. Its standing is reinforced by a Houtian Great Perfection ancestor, while Jin Zhen is one of the clan's three late-stage Houtian Martial Artists. 5 6

Shi Ting married into the family and became its son-in-law after leaving Shi Mu and his mother. Before his death, Shi Ting had rendered a major service to the Jin Family—said to have saved nearly half of its wealth—and left an estate for Shi Mu. 3 5 6

When Shi Ting became gravely ill, the family dispatched Steward Jin Cheng to bring Shi Mu from his fishing village to Feng City. Jin Zhen received Shi Mu, transferred his father's estate and property to him, and promised to exchange Shi Ting's unclaimed merit for a Spirit Qi Pill. 3 5 6

Holdings and Resources

• Land and estates — The family owns extensive land and estates in and around Feng City. Shi Ting's inheritance to Shi Mu alone included an outer-city manor and three to four hundred acres of farmland. 5 6
• Medicinal-herb and ore trade — Jin Zhen oversees the clan's medicinal-herb business and holds substantial authority within the family. 5 15
• Spirit Qi Pills — The family possesses access to highly valuable Spirit Qi Pills, though their allocation is controlled by the senior clan leadership. 5 27
• Tracking assets — The family maintains Blood Hounds and Green-Headed Eagles, trained to pursue targets over long distances. The eagles can fly a thousand li without tiring. 35 42
• Retainers — Jin Cheng serves as an external steward, while the Dog and Eagle Servants handle the family's tracking beasts. 5 35

Known Members and Retainers

• Jin Zhen (Aunt Zhen) — Late-stage Houtian Martial Artist, manager of the family's medicinal-herb business, Shi Ting's widow, and Shi Mu's nominal mother. She supports Shi Mu despite internal opposition. 5 15 27
• Shi Ting — Former son-in-law of the Jin Family, father of Shi Mu and Shi Yuhuan. His service to the clan earned merit later used in negotiations over Shi Mu's future. 3 5 6
• Shi Yuhuan — Daughter of Shi Ting and Jin Zhen; Shi Mu's half-sister. She sensed Qi at age twelve and reached the tenth layer of Body Tempering. 5 6
• Jin Tian — Son of Fifth Master Jin. He received the Spirit Qi Pill originally reserved for Shi Mu, later died accidentally during a confrontation with him. 27 34
• Fifth Master Jin — Jin Tian's father and a Houtian mid-stage Martial Artist. He personally led the pursuit of Shi Mu after Jin Tian's death. 34 35 43
• Jin Cheng — External steward who escorted Shi Mu to Feng City, managed his inherited estate, and later delivered compensation from Jin Zhen. 3 5 28
• Jin Yuzhen — A younger member of the Jin Family who acted as an intermediary for Jin Tian's attempt to persuade Shi Mu to relinquish the Spirit Qi Pill. 17
• Current Jin Family Head — Unnamed leader who reassigned Shi Mu's promised Spirit Qi Pill to Jin Tian after Shi Mu awakened the Stone Monkey waste bloodline. 27
• Senior Jin Family Patriarch — The clan's Houtian Great Perfection pillar. He authorized Fifth Master Jin's revenge expedition while restricting Jin Zhen from leaving Feng City. 6 35

Internal Politics

Jin Zhen's pledge to give Shi Mu a Spirit Qi Pill immediately caused objections because Shi Mu bears the Shi surname and was considered an outsider by many Jin Family members. Fifth Master Jin argued that the pill should instead go to his son, Jin Tian. 6 17

After Shi Mu awakened the Stone Monkey waste bloodline, the clan leadership revoked the promised pill and allocated it to Jin Tian. Jin Zhen protested, but the decision had been endorsed by the senior patriarch; she later sent Shi Mu thirty thousand taels from her own funds as compensation. 27 28

Shi Yuhuan consistently recognized Shi Mu as her brother and warned Jin Tian against using underhanded methods against him. Other relatives, including Jin Yuzhen, regarded the pill as wasted on Shi Mu. 17

Relationships

• Shi Mu — Nominal relative through Shi Ting's marriage to Jin Zhen. The family initially brought him to Feng City, conveyed his inheritance, and promised him a Spirit Qi Pill, but later treated him as expendable after his bloodline was deemed worthless. 3 5 27
• Jin Zhen — Influential internal member whose protection of Shi Mu repeatedly conflicted with the clan leadership's priorities. 5 27
• Wu Family — A powerful Feng City clan wary of provoking Shi Mu because of his connection to Jin Zhen; after Shi Mu fell out with the Jin Family, the Wus pursued Zhong Xiu and Shi Mu without that restraint. 15 36
• Bloodline Wang Clan — Ally of the Jin Family in Quanzhou. Wang Tianhao was sent to the Jin Family partly to meet a potential marriage match. 18

Story Role / Major Arcs

Shi Mu's Recognition and Inheritance

The Jin Family summons Shi Mu to Feng City after Shi Ting falls ill. Jin Zhen grants him Shi Ting's estate and offers him a choice between a low noble title and a Spirit Qi Pill; Shi Mu chooses the pill in pursuit of martial cultivation. 3 5 6

Revocation of the Spirit Qi Pill

Despite Jin Zhen's efforts, the clan head and senior patriarch cancel Shi Mu's claim after the Bloodline Tide identifies him as possessing the Stone Monkey waste bloodline. The pill is given to Jin Tian instead. 27

Jin Tian's Death

Jin Tian deliberately tramples Shi Mu's fields, attacks him with the Shadow-Splitting Sword Technique, and escalates the fight by using the clan's Wind-Fire Tube. During the ensuing struggle, he falls onto a broken sword blade and dies. 32 33 34

Pursuit of Shi Mu

Although the Jin Family Patriarch acknowledges that Jin Tian initiated the conflict and misused clan property, he permits Fifth Master Jin to pursue Shi Mu to preserve the clan's reputation. Fifth Master Jin leads the Dog and Eagle Servants with Blood Hounds and Green-Headed Eagles, tracking Shi Mu and Zhong Xiu to the Cloud Glow Mountain Range. 35 36 42