Zhou Xing

Biodata

Feature	Information
Name	Zhou Xing (周兴)
Alias(es)	Senior Brother Xing; Master Zhou; Chief Zhou
Gender	Male
Affiliation	True Martial County yamen; Elder Wu's household
Occupation/Role	City Gate Warden; former yamen coroner; Elder Wu's adopted son; Qin Fang's senior brother
First Appearance	Chapter 36

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Peak Bright Force	69	Reveals his cultivation while sparring with Qin Fang.
Dark Force	120	Breaks through under Qin Fang's guidance; resolves to seek the vacant City Gate Warden position.

Background / History

Zhou Xing is Elder Wu's adopted son and serves as a yamen official in True Martial County. He was assigned to the Wang Long murder case, bringing him into contact with circumstances that made him suspect Qin Fang's involvement. His loyalty to Elder Wu is strained when the latter reacts unusually to news that eight people were killed with throwing knives. 38

He first meets Qin Fang at Elder Wu's home. Zhou Xing immediately notices Qin Fang's injuries and recognizes his displaced-person background, but does not openly press the suspected connection to the Wang Long case. 47 Rather than expose him, Zhou Xing accepts him as a junior brother, teaches him martial arts, and later helps arrange his departure from True Martial County. 48 49 58

Zhou Xing had a long-standing feud with An Changyu, whom he joined the yamen alongside. Their conflict began because Zhou Xing could not tolerate An Changyu's conduct; after An Changyu accepted bribes and sought to force a confession from an innocent person, Zhou Xing confronted him and caused his transfer to the Household Department. An Changyu later used that position to obstruct Qin Fang's household registration. 120

After breaking through to Dark Force, Zhou Xing successfully obtains the City Gate Warden position left vacant by An Changyu's death. The appointment gives him direct authority over True Martial County's gates and substantially improves his ability to protect Elder Wu, Qin Fang, and their associates. 121

Personality

Zhou Xing is observant and professionally suspicious. He notices details such as Qin Fang's injuries, training progress, and Elder Wu's reactions to criminal information, often drawing conclusions without voicing them directly. 38 47

Despite his position in the yamen, he is protective of those he considers family. He keeps Qin Fang's circumstances private, uses his contacts to help him pass through the city gates, and repeatedly provides training materials and practical support. 58 70 104 He values gratitude and was favorably impressed by Qin Fang helping Elder Wu's wife with chores. 58

Qin Fang's rapid advancement leaves Zhou Xing astonished and envious, while also motivating him to pursue his own breakthrough to Dark Force. 68 101 120

Zhou Xing is forthright and principled. His refusal to overlook An Changyu's corruption created their enduring feud, while his willingness to gather Dark Force colleagues as a refuge for Qin Fang demonstrates the extent to which he will use his connections for family. 100 120

He possesses a profound attachment to True Martial County and a strong sense of public duty. Even amid the monster outbreak, he cannot bring himself to abandon the county and its people, choosing to fight despite the severe danger to himself. 127

Appearance

Zhou Xing is typically seen in black official robes when performing yamen duties. 55 98

• Retains the same outward appearance after three months apart from Qin Fang. 98
• Carries himself with the authority and alertness of a yamen official. 47 120
• Wears armor while acting as City Gate Warden during True Martial County's monster crisis. 126 127

Abilities & Skills

Martial Cultivation

Zhou Xing is a martial artist who reached peak Bright Force before later advancing to Dark Force. 69 120

• Spars with Qin Fang to test and assess his breakthroughs. 68 98 99
• Explains the principles and dangers of Dark Force cultivation. 99
• Understands the distinction between stance training and body-forging training methods. 69
• Receives guidance from Qin Fang during his own Dark Force breakthrough. 120
• Fights sarcoma monsters during the fall of True Martial County, continuing to wield his sword even after sustaining grave injuries. 127

Ox Demon Mountain-Opening Fist

Zhou Xing teaches Qin Fang the Ox Demon Mountain-Opening Fist after witnessing Qin Fang's rapid grasp of the Wild Ox Qi Force Stance. 48

• Demonstrates the technique's power and versatility to Qin Fang. 48
• Recognizes Qin Fang's exceptional comprehension and believes he has quickly grasped the technique. 49
• Elder Wu considers Zhou Xing's early instruction premature, since Qin Fang had not yet fully stabilized his stance training. 49

Yamen Connections and Investigation

As a yamen official and former coroner, Zhou Xing has access to city guards, official information, crime scenes, and the county's criminal underworld. 38 67 101

• Is responsible for the Wang Long case. 47
• Arranges guarded passage for Qin Fang through the South Gate and later the East Gate. 58 120
• Investigates the aftermath of Wang Hu and An Changyu's deaths, including the monsters that emerge from their bodies. 101 120
• Agrees to help Qin Fang locate Wang Hu at Sweet Dew Hall. 99
• Uses his friendship with several Dark Force head constables to prepare a sanctuary at the yamen should Qin Fang's assassination of Wang Hu go wrong. 99 100
• Secures the City Gate Warden post, gaining formal authority over entry and exit from True Martial County. 121

Equipment / Items

• Wild Ox Hundred Forgings training-method manual, delivered to Qin Fang. 70
• Dark Force and Transformation Force follow-up training methods, along with medicine prepared by Elder Wu. 104
• Official robes worn during yamen duties. 55 98
• Armor and a long sword used while defending True Martial County during the monster outbreak. 126 127

Relationships

• Elder Wu — Adopted son and disciple; Zhou Xing is loyal to him, though Elder Wu's secrecy over Qin Fang and the throwing-knife murders initially causes suspicion. 38 47
• Qin Fang — Junior brother. Zhou Xing initially suspects Qin Fang's connection to Wang Long's death, but chooses to protect, teach, and assist him. 47 48 58 99
• Elder Wu's wife — Treated as family; she warmly receives both Zhou Xing and Qin Fang in the household. 47 49
• Wu Xueci — Fellow disciple and Elder Wu's daughter. Zhou Xing identifies her as Qin Fang's senior sister, a Martial Registry holder and exceptionally gifted Transformation Force martial artist. 101
• Xu Meng — Trusted contact. Zhou Xing entrusts Qin Fang to Xu Meng's protection when Qin Fang leaves True Martial County. 58
• Monkey — Qin Fang's attendant and ally. Zhou Xing assists in protecting Monkey and his sister during the county crisis, later regarding Monkey as his personal guard. 121 126
• An Changyu — Former yamen colleague and long-term rival; their feud began after Zhou Xing objected to An Changyu's corruption and misconduct. 120

Story Role / Major Arcs

Wang Long Case

Zhou Xing seeks Elder Wu's advice over Qin Fang's identification documents while discussing a throwing-knife murder case. Elder Wu's suspicious reaction causes Zhou Xing to wonder whether his master knows the killer. 38

Qin Fang's Introduction to Elder Wu's Household

Zhou Xing meets Qin Fang as Elder Wu's nominal disciple, quietly observes his injuries and history, and requests a demonstration of his Wild Ox Qi Force Stance. 47 Impressed by Qin Fang's progress, he teaches him the Ox Demon Mountain-Opening Fist. 48

Departure to Yusheng City

Zhou Xing uses his South Gate connections to arrange Qin Fang's exit from True Martial County and entrusts him to Xu Meng. He warns Qin Fang that publicly relying on his help could expose him. 58

Training and Support

Zhou Xing visits Qin Fang after his Bright Force breakthrough, spars with him, and corrects flaws in his force generation. 68 He later sends the Wild Ox Hundred Forgings method and expresses concern for Qin Fang's safety in a letter. 70

Return to True Martial County

When Qin Fang returns to assassinate Wang Hu, Zhou Xing helps him enter the city and agrees to identify Wang Hu's location despite the danger. 98 99 He gathers trusted Dark Force head constables at the yamen to provide Qin Fang with a potential escape route. 99 100 After Wang Hu's death produces a monster, Zhou Xing participates in the official response and discusses the demonic threat with Qin Fang. 101

Dark Force Breakthrough and Appointment as City Gate Warden

Following An Changyu's death, Zhou Xing learns that Qin Fang was responsible and explains their feud. Qin Fang guides him through a Dark Force breakthrough. 120 Zhou Xing then competes for and secures An Changyu's former post as City Gate Warden, seeking authority to protect Qin Fang and Elder Wu. 121

Evacuation and Defense of True Martial County

As the monster crisis escalates and the city gates fall under military control, Zhou Xing uses official uniforms and his personal connections to help Elder Wu's household attempt an escape from the county. 126 Unable to forsake his home or his duty to its people, he later remains in the city to fight the monsters. Qin Fang finds and rescues him after he is severely wounded in battle. 127

Destruction of True Martial County

Zhou Xing joins Qin Fang and Elder Wu in surveying the devastated county, where sarcoma monsters and a mysterious faction occupy the city. Distressed by the destruction of his home, he agrees to withdraw to Old Ox Ridge and wait for the hostile forces to leave. 130

Trivia

• Zhou Xing recognizes Qin Fang's character partly from seeing him shovel snow and chop firewood for Elder Wu's wife. 58
• He reveals that he was once an orphan. 58
• He is surprised that Qin Fang's cultivation speed far exceeds ordinary expectations. 68 98 102
• It took Zhou Xing roughly a month to enter the Wild Ox Qi Force Stance and nearly half a year for the skill to become integrated into his body, in contrast to Qin Fang's three-day progress. 48
• Before his successful breakthrough, Zhou Xing had failed twice to reach Dark Force and suffered internal injuries from those attempts. 98