Chen Wu

Biodata

Feature	Details
Name	Chen Wu (陈武) 1
Alias(es)	Chen Gawa; “Jade-Faced Killing God”; Lu Xun; Deep Sea; Zhou Yucai 4 35 57 64 163
Species/Race	Human
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Golden Wind and Drizzle Tower; Yongjiu School; Wude Palace; One Heart Society 2 54 152 161
Occupation/Role	Assassin, martial artist, political writer, Wude Palace artillery student 1 55 152
First Appearance	Chapter 1: “Assassin”

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Borrowed Concentrated Spirit	9	Monk Zhongcheng transmits the essence of Tummo; Chen Wu uses the borrowed power to project the image of opponents and maintain the appearance of a high-level expert. 7 9
Jade Bone	24	Undergoes brutal medicinal-bath tempering, using internal vision and Concentrated Spirit to guide the medicine through his bones until they acquire a jade-like luster. 24
Borrowing the Mystic	27–29	Digests Old Jin’s awl-shaped natal sword and invokes the second level of the Heaven-Intercepting Dao-Exposition Method, temporarily borrowing Mystic Realm-level power through the power of heaven and earth. 27 28 29
Reforged Concentrated Spirit	52	Intentionally allows Qi Lin to shatter his borrowed spirit, then reconstructs it through the Nine Chapters of Profound Origin; his sword, spirit, and self become unified. 52
Fully Opened Meridians / Lesser Mystic	72	Achieves fully opened meridians and can absorb traces of the power of heaven and earth, giving his strikes greatly increased destructive force. 72
Borrowing a Grandmaster	77	Activates lingering Concentrated Spirit in Emperor Taizong’s writings and commands the power of heaven and earth within a three-foot radius. 77
Micro-Perception / Minute Detail Realm	78, 80	By exhausting his true qi and perceiving his own blood flow, heartbeat, breath, and organs, Chen Wu enters Micro-Perception and learns breath-concealment. 78 80
Mystic Realm	80	Enters the Mystic Realm, impressing Duke Chen and gaining further patronage. 80

Background

Chen Wu transmigrated into the Great Shun Dynasty after playing the game Shunhuonuan. He arrived with fragmented memories belonging to his new identity and found himself compelled to serve as an assassin for the Golden Wind and Drizzle Tower. Only three days after arriving, he was ordered to kill Qiao Weisheng, proprietor of Zhong’an Bank. 1 4

Qiao Weisheng subsequently hired Chen Wu to stage another public assassination attempt against himself, forcing Chen Wu to maintain the façade of a formidable martial expert while navigating a plot he did not understand. 3

Chen Wu’s early cultivation relied on the unorthodox Heaven-Intercepting Dao-Exposition Method. Its dangerous borrowing techniques enabled rapid advances beyond his true foundation, but repeatedly left him vulnerable to backlash, instability, and exposure. 18 27 28

Personality

Chen Wu is adaptable and quick-thinking under pressure. He routinely maintains false identities, improvises cover stories, and turns dangerous negotiations to his advantage, whether bargaining with Xu Songnian for a secret technique or using Duke Chen’s patronage to secure access to Wude Palace. 36 56

Despite beginning as an assassin, he is unwilling to abandon allies in danger. He returns to aid Old Jin against three stronger opponents and later works to protect Old Ma after the conflict with the Crown Prince’s Mansion. 17 32

He is ambitious but does not seek comfort or wealth for its own sake. His growing attachment to Great Shun drives him to oppose hereditary imperial rule and pursue the Yongjiu School’s Leaderless Dragons ideal. 54 55 74

Chen Wu also has a mischievous sense of humor. He adopts “Lu Xun” as a pen name, fabricates “Quantum Fluctuation Speed Reading” to deceive Count of Provence, and frequently uses anachronistic references that confuse those around him. 57 79

Abilities & Skills

Heaven-Intercepting Dao-Exposition Method

Chen Wu’s core cultivation method is an eccentric and dangerous system built around borrowing power beyond one’s own realm.

• Borrowing Concentrated Spirit — borrows and later rebuilds a Concentrated Spirit capable of internal vision, perception, and combat application. 18 24 52
• Borrowing the Mystic — requires digesting a Mystic Realm expert’s natal weapon; grants temporary access to the power of heaven and earth. 27 28
• Borrowing a Grandmaster — grants advanced comprehension of the power of heaven and earth rather than an immediate increase in combat strength. 77 78
• Borrowed Mystic power is temporary and can overwhelm or destroy an insufficiently tempered body. 28 183

Swordsmanship

Chen Wu is a highly adaptable swordsman who incorporates techniques from Wang Jiuyuan, the Nine Evolutions Dragon-Expelling Art, and his own combat observations.

• Uses spiral blade rotations to redirect or overpower an opponent’s weapon. 38 202
• Can use sword and movement techniques together while pursuing enemies across rooftops. 42
• Learns an opponent’s patterns during battle and turns defensive exchanges into a decisive advantage. 202
• Defeated Wellesley after identifying the linking stances in his two-handed sword style. 202

Mingyi Fist Technique

Chen Wu acquired Master Nanlei’s lost Mingyi Fist Technique from the lingering spirit within a paperweight.

• Its strongest documented move is Darkened Light Takes Flight. 53 92
• The technique is his foremost unarmed discipline and is effective against unfamiliar grappling styles. 79
• He earned a Grade A in Wude Palace’s martial examination by demonstrating it. 92

Concealment and Disguise

Chen Wu uses aliases, masks, altered clothing, and martial techniques to obscure his identity.

• His Yongjiu School concealment method can disguise his inner breath and Concentrated Spirit. 78
• He uses masks supplied by Wang Jiuyuan to operate without recognition. 105
• Wang Cong’er gives him a secret manual that temporarily changes his build and physique. 115
• He also employs the White Lotus Sect’s Bone-Shrinking Art while posing as Zhou Yucai. 163

Academic and Military Knowledge

Chen Wu combines knowledge from his previous life with formal study and practical observation.

• Studies mathematics under Wang Zhenyi in preparation for Wude Palace’s examinations. 68 69
• Places first in Wude Palace’s examinations, excelling in mathematics, geometry, and martial arts. 92
• Chooses the artillery branch over cavalry after enrollment. 152
• Drafts military training materials that argue for independent fire and tactics adapted to technological change. 159
• Writes political pamphlets and newspaper commentary under the name Lu Xun. 55 57 186

Equipment

• Treasure sword — custom-forged using a steel-sandwiching method; features a round pommel, octagonal blade, three-foot-six-inch length, and a distinctive sword hum. 8
• Dezhang Year Two Model revolver — used during the assassination of Qiao Weisheng to deter Guo Xuchu’s pursuing companion. 10
• Cloud-Pattern Pocket Watch — brought to Jinheng Watch Shop for repair and ultimately connects Chen Wu with Old Liu and Wang Jiuyuan. 36 37
• Master Nanlei’s paperweight — contains lingering Concentrated Spirit and leads Chen Wu to the Mingyi Fist Technique. 51 53
• Golden Wind and Drizzle Tower masks — used to conceal his identity during operations in Songjiang Prefecture. 105
• Powerful brush — received from Monk Zhongcheng at Guangji Temple. 148

Relationships

• Old Ma — Golden Wind and Drizzle Tower handler and early mentor; helps Chen Wu obtain weapons and cultivation guidance, then urges him to become a Great Grandmaster. 4 8 24 32
• Old Jin — senior member of the Golden Wind and Drizzle Tower who guides Chen Wu’s cultivation and entrusts him with secret manuals; Chen Wu buries him after his death. 17 18 19
• Monk Zhongcheng — initially agrees to delay Zhang Zhihe in return for a duel; later becomes Chen Wu’s traveling companion and trusted friend. 6 63 64
• Wang Zhenyi — journalist, Academy of Sciences affiliate, mathematics tutor, and close confidante; their relationship is marked by teasing, mutual trust, and shared intellectual interests. 7 68 69
• Wang Jiuyuan — Yongjiu School elder, master swordsman, and Chen Wu’s principal martial mentor; provides the paperweight that leads to the Mingyi Fist Technique. 37 38 53
• Old Liu — Golden Wind and Drizzle Tower informant who shelters Chen Wu, helps manage his public reputation, and publishes his political writing. 37 42 55
• Duke Chen — influential patron who recommends Chen Wu for Wude Palace, entrusts him with projects, and plans to assign him to France as an assistant military officer. 56 71 93
• Count of Provence — French noble who trades information and martial knowledge with Chen Wu after their encounter at the Imperial Clan Court. 79 80
• Wang Cong’er — White Lotus Sect member who recognizes Chen Wu’s identity, admires his actions, and gives him a physique-altering secret manual. 108 115
• Luo Siju — Wude Palace classmate and friend in the artillery branch; frequently interrupts Chen Wu’s work and follows Tian Wenjing’s political circle. 152 159 172
• Tian Wenjing — Crown Prince of the Duke of Qi’s household and leader of the One Heart Society; appoints Chen Wu acting Young General for half a year. 160 161

Story Role / Major Arcs

Jincheng Assassination and Revenge

• Arrives in Great Shun as an unwilling assassin and accepts the commission to kill Qiao Weisheng. 1 3
• Secures Zhongcheng’s help to delay Zhang Zhihe, obtains a custom sword, and carries out the public assassination. 6 8 10
• Learns that Qiao Weisheng’s death is tied to a larger struggle involving the Crown Prince’s Mansion and seeks revenge after Old Jin’s death. 22 26
• Uses Borrowing the Mystic to kill Yang Yuchun and confront Li Changgeng before fleeing Jincheng. 27 29 32

Yan’an and the Yongjiu School

• Meets Old Liu and Wang Jiuyuan in Yan’an, gaining shelter, intelligence, and martial instruction. 37 38
• Defeats an impostor who claims to be the Jade-Faced Killing God, allowing authorities to declare that identity dead while publicly commending Chen Wu as a righteous citizen. 42 43
• Learns the Mingyi Fist Technique, rebuilds his Concentrated Spirit, and studies Waiting for the Dawn. 51 52 53
• Writes Analysis of Waiting for the Dawn under the name Lu Xun, arguing against hereditary imperial rule. 55 57

Capital and Wude Palace

• Secures Duke Chen’s recommendation and travels to the capital to prepare for Wude Palace. 56 64
• Studies mathematics with Wang Zhenyi, develops an interest in scientific research, and receives help from Osi Han. 68 69
• Enters the Imperial Clan Court, discovers Emperor Taizong’s martial insights, and attains Micro-Perception after exhausting his true qi. 77 78
• Places first in Wude Palace’s examinations and later joins its artillery branch. 92 152

Political and Military Activity

• Joins the One Heart Society and accepts Tian Wenjing’s offer to serve as acting Young General. 160 161
• Uses his military knowledge to draft a training manual and advocate tactics suited to firearms and independent fire. 159
• Defeats Davout, establishing himself as Wude Palace’s foremost martial arts prodigy and gaining the French delegation’s respect. 176 177
• Rescues Daoist He and defeats the Nine Luminaries Patrol-Heavens Formation while using borrowed Mystic Realm power. 182 183
• Works with the People’s Daily to publish political commentary and fiction in support of Yongjiu School objectives. 186 187

Notable Quotes

“I am not the type to watch others die!” 17

“My good sir, the times have changed!” 10

“Whatever Lu Xun said had nothing to do with Chen Wu.” 71