Chai Yingtong

Biodata

Feature	Information
Name	Chai Yingtong (柴迎同)
Alias(es)	Former Firewood Gang Leader of Cloud Dragon County; Firewood Gang Leader of Copper Mountain County 145 150
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Chai Family; Firewood Gang
Occupation/Role	Firewood Gang leader, Chai Family elder, overseer of the Mysterious Essence Copper Mine 150 158
First Appearance	Chapter 145

Background / History

Chai Yingtong formerly led the Firewood Gang in Cloud Dragon County. After his son, Chai Song, reached Eighth Grade Meridian Opening, Yingtong relinquished the position and entered the Chai Family in Xuanning Prefecture. 150

Half a year before his return to Cloud Dragon County, Chai Ang—the Firewood Gang leader dispatched to develop Copper Mountain County—was murdered in his study. Chai Yingtong was sent to take over the county branch and investigate; he determined that Chai Ang's thirty-seven blade wounds and undisturbed surroundings pointed to a Seventh Grade Bronze Skin martial artist as the killer. 145 150

He returned to Cloud Dragon County for Chai Jin's full-month celebration, arriving in time to defuse Long Xiao's deliberate provocation: a golden coffin presented as a “gift.” Yingtong openly dismissed Long Xiao and berated Chai Song for tolerating the insult. 145

After Long Xiao's death threatened to destabilize Cloud Dragon County, Chai Yingtong and Chai Song sent Chai Ying and Shen Mu with him to Copper Mountain County for protection. There, Yingtong began positioning Shen Mu as a possible candidate for the county Firewood Gang leadership. 149 150

Personality

Chai Yingtong is blunt, hot-tempered, and fiercely protective of his family. He treats threats against the Chai Family as personal affronts, whether confronting Long Xiao's coffin provocation or approving Shen Mu's punishment of the Four Great Martial Halls' young masters. 145 154

Despite his temper, he is patient and politically calculating. He concealed the Mysterious Essence Copper Mine from the Chai Family, used Bai Xiao's involvement in Chai Ang's death as leverage, and preferred mutual deterrence over an open conflict that could cost him the mine. 157 158

He recognizes talent and invests heavily in Shen Mu, viewing his grandson-in-law as the Chai Family's route to future strength. He repeatedly supports Shen Mu's ambitions, from the Copper Mountain leadership contest to his appointment in the Xuanlin Army. 151 210 249 250

Abilities & Skills

Seventh Grade Copper Skin Martial Cultivation

Chai Yingtong is described as a mid-stage Seventh Grade Copper Skin martial artist; some accounts also refer to his rank as Seventh Grade Bronze Skin. His cultivation makes him one of the stronger martial artists in Copper Mountain County. 157 164

• Overpowered Wei Shaoting, a Meridian Opening martial artist involved in the Mysterious Essence Copper robbery. 187
• Could contend with multiple Eighth Grade battle pawns simultaneously without significant difficulty. 164
• His cultivation was sufficient to deter the Four Great Martial Halls from escalating their conflict with Shen Mu and Chai Ying. 153 154

Wither and Flourish Saber

Chai Yingtong wields the Wither and Flourish Saber, employing powerful saber techniques and forceful close-quarters attacks. 164 177

• Knocked aside an armored puppet's spear and sent it flying with a single exchange. 177
• Repeatedly cut apart Yu Luosheng's talisman-created battle pawns. 164
• Broke Yu Luosheng's defensive strategy by testing the duration of his invisible protective barrier with scattered debris. 164

Leadership and Strategy

Yingtong is an experienced gang leader who balances intimidation, rewards, and long-term planning.

• Secretly organized trusted Firewood Gang personnel to begin mining the Mysterious Essence Copper Mine. 158
• Negotiated an agreement with Lin Xingwei to jointly explore an ancient mausoleum rather than provoke the major powers of Copper Mountain County. 175
• Rewarded the Firewood Gang personnel involved in discovering the mausoleum with 300,000 taels each, then ordered the site concealed beneath soil and vegetation. 177
• Hired the Gu Master Jiang Yuqi to track the peak Seventh Grade shaman threatening his family and territory. 192

Equipment / Items

• Wither and Flourish Saber — His primary saber, used against shamans, battle pawns, and the mausoleum puppet. 164 177
• Storage Ring — Obtained from the ancient mausoleum during the division of its treasures. 176
• Essence-Receiving Ring — Claimed from the mausoleum; able to store one use of a beginner Mysterious Grade martial technique. 176
• Spirit-Communing Sand Gold — Obtained from the mausoleum's puppet; later used to secure Shen Mu's appointment as a Thousand-Man Commander. 177 249 250

Relationships

• Chai Song — Son and successor as Firewood Gang Leader of Cloud Dragon County; Yingtong is highly critical of Song's perceived weakness but protects his interests. 145 150
• Chai Ying — Granddaughter; Yingtong is openly affectionate toward her and supports her marriage to Shen Mu. 145
• Shen Mu — Grandson-in-law and favored junior; Yingtong mentors, protects, finances, and promotes him as a future leader. 150 151 249 250
• Chai Yingxian — Elder brother and senior Chai Family figure; they coordinate over threats to the family and the search for Xue Taihong's secret art. 180 185
• Hua Jinyang and Hua Jincheng — Close friends and co-in-laws who assist Yingtong against the peak Seventh Grade shaman. 192
• Lin Xingwei — Copper Mountain Garrison commander and temporary partner in exploring the ancient martial artist's mausoleum. 175 176
• Bai Xiao — Hundred Weapons Workshop Market Master and adversary over the Mysterious Essence Copper Mine; Yingtong uses Bai Xiao's suspected role in Chai Ang's death as leverage. 157 158
• Chai Ang — Murdered former leader of the Copper Mountain County Firewood Gang whose death brought Yingtong to the county. 150

Story Role / Major Arcs

Return to Cloud Dragon County

• Returns for Chai Jin's full-month celebration and forces Long Xiao to withdraw after the latter presents a golden coffin to provoke Chai Song. 145
• Assesses Shen Mu's cultivation and approves of his marriage to Chai Ying. 145

Copper Mountain County and the Copper Mine

• Takes charge of the Copper Mountain County Firewood Gang following Chai Ang's murder. 150
• Investigates Hundred Weapons Workshop's interest in Mist Peak Ridge and confirms the existence of the Mysterious Essence Copper Mine beneath Gorgeous Lake. 154 157
• Maintains control of the mine through a tense standoff with Bai Xiao while preparing Shen Mu for the contest over the gang leadership. 158

Ancient Martial Artist's Mausoleum

• Reaches an agreement with Lin Xingwei to explore the mausoleum while protecting the Firewood Gang's interests. 175
• Receives the storage ring, Essence-Receiving Ring, and Spirit-Communing Sand Gold during the treasure division. 176 177
• Gives Shen Mu the mausoleum's heavy armor after retaining the more valuable Spirit-Communing Sand Gold. 177

Conflict with the Shamans

• Hunts Yu Luosheng after the shaman kills Firewood Gang members through curses, but is deceived by a paper-effigy substitute. 162 164
• Is severely wounded and rendered unconscious by the peak Seventh Grade shaman Ge Songyue; Shen Mu escapes with him and later helps care for him in Xuanning Prefecture. 187 189 190
• Organizes a counter-operation with Hua Jinyang, Hua Jincheng, and Jiang Yuqi to track the shaman. 192

Shen Mu's Rise

• Supports Shen Mu throughout the Copper Mountain County leadership tournament, wagering five million taels on him. 208
• Celebrates when Shen Mu wins the final match and becomes Firewood Gang Leader of Copper Mountain County. 210
• Uses Spirit-Communing Sand Gold to obtain Shen Mu a Thousand-Man Commander post in the Xuanlin Army. 249 250

Trivia

• Chai Yingtong's arrival at Chai Jin's celebration was so intimidating that Long Xiao abandoned his attempt to provoke Chai Song into attacking first. 145
• He considers Shen Mu's martial talent exceptional enough to potentially reach Sixth Grade Iron Bone. 151 250
• Although he received the most valuable mausoleum treasure, he rewarded his subordinates generously rather than keeping all proceeds for himself. 177