Hu Ma

Biodata

Feature	Details
Name	Hu Ma (胡麻)
Alias(es)	“Black Five-Short,” a mocking nickname used at Willow Pavilion 6
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Black Wind Gang; one of Jiaqing County’s two major gangs 5
Occupation/Role	Hall master of the Black Wind Gang; Eighth-grade Martial Way cultivator 5 7
Status	Deceased—decapitated by Li Qingsong; later refined into Lin Yi’s corpse puppet 12 15
First Appearance	Chapter 5

Background / History

Hu Ma was the long-lost biological son of Jiaqing County Magistrate Zhang Li and Madam Wang. Before being brought back into the Zhang household, he had spent years in the underworld and become a Black Wind Gang hall master. His criminal background, cruel habits, and conflict with Zhang Li’s adopted son, Zhang Xun, left his biological parents unwilling to favor him openly. 4 12

Seeking his parents’ approval, Hu Ma learned that Precious Meteorite Iron lay beneath the Lin Family Restaurant. He attempted to acquire the property through a manufactured debt owed by Lin Changgong, intending to demolish the restaurant and recover the meteorite iron. 4 5

Appearance

Hu Ma was a short, stocky man around thirty years old. His intimidating presence came less from stature than from his scarred face, Eighth-grade True Qi, and reputation for violence. 5

• Flat nose, triangular eyes, and a square face marked by a diagonal scar 5
• Dark-skinned, broad-faced, and shorter than Yu Qinglian 6
• Described by onlookers as having short limbs and a disproportionately large head while riding horseback 11
• His corpse puppet was fitted with a black-and-red demonic iron mask to conceal his face and heighten its intimidation 15

Personality

Hu Ma was ruthless, coercive, and feared even by his own subordinates. He had reportedly wiped out entire families and was prepared to use violence against Lin Hua’s household to seize the Lin Family Restaurant. 4 5 10

Despite his brutality, he was intensely devoted to Yu Qinglian. After receiving charity from her during a difficult period years earlier, he regarded her as his “white moonlight.” He never forced himself on her and endangered himself during their escape simply to buy her requested osmanthus cakes. 8 10 12

His fixation on Yu Qinglian ultimately overrode his judgment. He rushed alone to Willow Pavilion when he believed Li Baoyu was assaulting her, creating the circumstances that allowed Lin Yi to frame him. 10 11

Abilities & Skills

Martial Way Cultivation

Hu Ma was an Eighth-grade Martial Way cultivator with Grade-A Bone Structure. His True Qi was strong enough to cow civilians at Willow Pavilion and rapidly reach the pavilion’s backyard on horseback. 7 11

• Entered Qi through the Martial Way 5 7
• Could unleash True Qi to intimidate opponents and reinforce his speed 11 12
• His full-force escape was fast enough to flatten rice stalks and throw mud high into the air, though it could not outrun Li Qingsong 12

Long Rainbow Technique

Hu Ma practiced Rainbow Martial Hall’s Qi-entry method, the Long Rainbow Technique. Lin Yi later absorbed Hu Ma’s accumulated experience with the technique through Empathic Corpse Dissection. 14 15

• Used to enter the Martial Way and cultivate True Qi 14
• His experience allowed Lin Yi to progress through the Martial Pass at an abnormal rate 16 17

Elixir Release Scripture

Hu Ma had mastered the Elixir Release Scripture, a Martial Way technique that could be cultivated to the Eighth Grade. 14

• His knowledge of the scripture was absorbed by Lin Yi after death 14
• The technique later became Lin Yi’s post-breakthrough Martial Way cultivation method 37

Reckless Blade

Hu Ma possessed experience in the martial skill Reckless Blade, which Lin Yi inherited through corpse empathy. 14

• Lin Yi used Hu Ma’s accumulated insight to complete and rapidly advance the technique 26
• The skill was decisive in Lin Yi’s later victory over Martial Master Wang 29

Corpse Puppet Form

After retrieving Hu Ma’s body, Lin Yi refined it into a corpse puppet. This puppet retained roughly seventy percent of Hu Ma’s combat power. 12 15

• Can kill an ordinary Ninth-grade martial artist in a single blow 15
• Can contend with an Eighth-grade martial artist for a time 15
• Generates Corpse Puppet True Qi through cultivation, feeding that energy back to Lin Yi 15
• Guards Lin Yi’s savings and cultivates in a yin-rich secret base 15

Equipment / Possessions

• Long blade — Used to pin Li Baoyu’s guard to a wall and sever the guard’s arm during Hu Ma’s charge into Willow Pavilion. 11
• Savings and martial resources — Before leaving Yu Qinglian to buy osmanthus cakes, Hu Ma entrusted her with his banknotes, medicinal pills, Martial Way techniques, and other valuables. 12
• Black-and-red demonic iron mask — Added to his corpse puppet by Lin Yi after death. 15

Relationships

• Lin Yi — Enemy. Hu Ma’s attempt to seize the Lin Family Restaurant made him Lin Yi’s primary target; after Hu Ma’s death, Lin Yi used his corpse, techniques, and cultivation experience for advancement. 6 8 14 15
• Yu Qinglian / Lian Niang — Unrequited love interest. Hu Ma revered her after receiving her charity years earlier and risked his life to protect her, but she helped set the conditions for his downfall. 8 10 12
• Lin Hua — Target of Hu Ma’s coercion. Hu Ma used Lin Changgong’s debt and threats against Lin Hua’s family to pressure him into selling the Lin Family Restaurant. 5
• Zhang Li — Biological father and Jiaqing County Magistrate. Zhang Li concealed Hu Ma’s identity because of his gang affiliation and condemned him after the apparent murder of Li Baoyu. 4 12
• Madam Wang — Biological mother. She believed Hu Ma’s wild nature came from the hardship he endured while lost and regretted that his parents had not guided him properly. 12
• Zhang Xun — Adopted brother and rival. Zhang Xun resented Hu Ma’s status as Zhang Li’s biological son, planted spies around him, and welcomed his death as the removal of an inheritance rival. 4 8 12
• Li Baoyu — Apparent victim. Hu Ma was framed for Li Baoyu’s murder after arriving at Willow Pavilion to rescue Yu Qinglian. 10 11
• Li Qingsong — Executioner. Li Qingsong, Li Baoyu’s father and the master of Qingsong Hall, decapitated Hu Ma in revenge. 12
• Black Wind Gang subordinates — Followers who feared his temper and obeyed his orders to escalate violence against the Lin family. 10

Story Role / Major Arcs

Lin Family Restaurant Extortion

Hu Ma used Lin Changgong’s IOU as leverage against Lin Hua, demanded repayment, and offered three hundred taels for the Lin Family Restaurant. When Lin Hua refused, Hu Ma threatened disruption and injury to the family on the restaurant’s opening day. 5

Willow Pavilion Frame-Up

After hearing that Li Baoyu had taken Yu Qinglian into Willow Pavilion’s backyard, Hu Ma rushed to rescue her. He violently cut through Li Baoyu’s guards, then found Li Baoyu already dying from a wound inflicted through Lin Yi’s scheme. Public witnesses believed Hu Ma had murdered him. 10 11

Flight and Death

Hu Ma attempted to flee Jiaqing County after the frame-up. Yu Qinglian sent him away to buy osmanthus cakes, leaving him isolated on the road; Li Qingsong intercepted and beheaded him in the rice paddies. 12

Posthumous Use

Lin Yi secretly recovered Hu Ma’s body, absorbed his martial knowledge through Empathic Corpse Dissection, and refined the remains into a powerful corpse puppet. 12 14 15

Notable Quotes

“Where is Lian Niang!” 11

“I... I didn’t kill him... I only pushed him once...” 11

Trivia

• Hu Ma’s downfall began with his effort to obtain meteorite iron beneath the Lin Family Restaurant. 4
• Jiaqing County residents celebrated his apparent flight and placed multiple bounties on him after the alleged murder of Li Baoyu. 13
• His death provided Lin Yi with both a high-quality corpse puppet and the martial experience that accelerated Lin Yi’s Martial Way cultivation. 14 15