Lu Bolin

Biodata

Feature	Value
Name	Lu Bolin (陆伯麟)
Alias(es)	Master Lu; Senior Brother; Bolin
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Golden Orchid Nunnery; Green Gang; associated with the Griffin Firm's overseas business 42 43
Occupation/Role	Mr. Ye Hai's eldest disciple; overseas operative and trade investigator
Status	Active
First Appearance	Chapter 42

Background / History

Lu Bolin is the eldest of Mr. Ye Hai's seven disciples. After a lengthy period abroad, he returns from England to Golden Orchid Nunnery, first paying respects to Ye Hai and presenting him with foreign curiosities. His familiarity with the tea service and deferential conduct reinforce Ye Hai's high regard for him 42 43.

During his overseas work, Lu Bolin arranges for villagers from the Great Yan Dynasty to work in Griffin Family factories under fifty-year contracts. He takes custody of their earnings, claiming that their inability to speak English prevents them from managing money abroad; deductions are to be settled when their contracts end 43.

Ye Hai also sends him to investigate the Griffin Firm's opium operations. Lu Bolin enters the East India Company as a nominal employee, travels through Patna and Benares, traces the sea route to Puxi City, and obtains documents indicating that the Griffin Firm earns roughly 180 times its purchase cost from opium 43.

Upon returning, he proposes three ways for Ye Hai's faction to enter the opium trade: piracy, becoming dependent on the Griffin Firm through marriage ties, or using militia escorts and warships to transport opium directly. Ye Hai considers the plans but warns that military confrontation with British warships is beyond their reach 44.

Ye Hai encourages Lu Bolin to compete for eventual control of Golden Orchid Nunnery, praising his drive and ruthlessness. Lu Bolin treats this as a major opportunity to inherit Ye Hai's influence and foreign-business connections 45.

Appearance

Lu Bolin is a tall man of about twenty-six or twenty-seven, dressed in an expensive, carefully tailored Western style upon his return from England 42.

• Bespoke dark-blue flannel suit with precise shoulder lines 42
• Polished English leather shoes with brass studs 42
• Presents himself as a refined, gentle senior disciple within Golden Orchid Nunnery 47
• In Xu Yi's spiritual vision, his body emits scarlet light accompanied by a pungent, ominous odor 47

Personality

Lu Bolin is devoted to Ye Hai and highly conscious of hierarchy. He openly credits Ye Hai for his Green Gang status, job opportunities, overseas contacts, and access to the East India Company, viewing Ye Hai's patronage as the greatest opportunity of his life 44.

He is ambitious, calculating, and willing to frame exploitation as practical management. His handling of the overseas workers' wages and his opium-trade proposals show an interest in profit, influence, and expansion 43 44.

His polished demeanor conceals jealousy and volatility. He believes himself to be Ye Miao's childhood sweetheart, resents her attachment to Xu Yi, and struggles to preserve the image of a magnanimous senior brother when she gives Xu Yi the costly Omega watch he intended for her 45 46 47. Outside the nunnery, he is known as “Master Lu,” a figure whose reputation was established through both his fists and his family's gang connections 50.

Abilities & Skills

Underworld Influence

Lu Bolin possesses a recognized standing within Puxi City's underworld.

• Earned a fierce reputation through fighting before his overseas period 50
• Receives deference as “Master Lu” from people of lower underworld status 50
• Benefits from the Lu family's deep gang background 50

Trade Investigation and Strategy

He can investigate international commercial networks and formulate long-term criminal-business strategies.

• Traced the Griffin Firm's opium supply chain from India to the South Sea and Puxi City 43
• Obtained and analyzed East India Company and Griffin Firm documents 43
• Calculated the trade's profit margin at nearly 180 times its purchase cost 43
• Proposed piracy, dependence on the Griffin Firm, and armed direct transport as separate opium strategies 44

Spiritual Anomaly

Xu Yi perceives an unexplained scarlet aura around Lu Bolin while using spiritual vision.

• The aura carries a heart-palpitating, pungent odor rather than a pleasant fragrance 47
• The Elephant God Cup later displays identical scarlet blood-light and a similarly disturbing curry-like scent 50
• Lu Bolin's precise spiritual nature is not identified in the documented chapters 47 50

Equipment / Items

• Elephant God Cup — An expensive consecrated pottery cup Lu Bolin acquires during his travels along the Ganges and gives to Ye Hai; it is later identified as a Spirit Remain 44 45 50
• Omega wristwatch — A limited-edition English watch purchased for Ye Miao at great expense; she subsequently gives it to Xu Yi 46 47
• Trade documents and map — Materials used to explain the Griffin Firm's opium routes and profits to Ye Hai 43

Relationships

• Mr. Ye Hai — Master and patron. Lu Bolin is Ye Hai's eldest disciple, relies on his resources and connections, and seeks to prove himself worthy of succeeding him 42 44 45.
• Ye Miao — Longtime object of his affection. He tutored her, brought her breakfast, and gave her money while she was growing up, but she remains cold toward him 45.
• Xu Yi — Junior brother and rival. Lu Bolin becomes intensely jealous of Xu Yi's relationship with Ye Miao and fears Xu Yi may encroach on his Griffin Firm interests 47 48 49.
• Griffin Firm — Foreign business partner through which Lu Bolin arranges labor contracts and investigates the opium trade 43.
• Xiao Lianxin — A star dancer at the Neon Grand Ballroom whom Lu Bolin angrily demands information about 50.

Story Role / Major Arcs

Return from England

Lu Bolin returns to Golden Orchid Nunnery with foreign gifts, reports the completion of his overseas work, and delivers intelligence on the Griffin Firm's labor and opium operations 42 43.

Opium Trade Deliberations

He presents Ye Hai with escalating plans to seize a share of the opium trade, including marriage into the Griffin family and armed transport from India. Ye Hai postpones action while recognizing Lu Bolin's potential 44.

Contest for Ye Hai's Favor

Ye Hai suggests that Lu Bolin could inherit Golden Orchid Nunnery after his promotion or transfer. Lu Bolin becomes increasingly invested in appearing loyal, capable, and fit to succeed him 45.

Rivalry with Xu Yi

Lu Bolin's resentment begins when Ye Miao turns to Xu Yi for comfort and gives him Lu Bolin's expensive watch. He subsequently sees Ye Hai's attempts to elevate Xu Yi—particularly a possible British Concession constable position—as a threat to his own influence 47 48.

Neon Grand Ballroom

After Xu Yi traces the Elephant God Cup's spiritual connection to the Neon Grand Ballroom, he overhears Lu Bolin pressuring a manager over the disappearance of dancer Xiao Lianxin, revealing the harsher persona hidden behind his nunnery image 50.