Tang Jiaren

Biodata

Feature	Information
Name	Tang Jiaren (唐家仁)
Alias(es)	Laughing Yama
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Tang Sect
Occupation/Role	Former top assassin of the Tang Sect; Qin Qi's private tutor and ancestor
Status	Deceased; appears within the Study Space
First Appearance	Chapter 2

Background / History

Tang Jiaren was a Tang Sect ancestor and one of its foremost assassins. After his death, he became available as a private tutor in Qin Qi's Study Space, where accelerated time allows him to train Qin Qi extensively. Learning that Qin Qi is family, he accepts him as a student and treats him like a grandson. 2

He passes down Tang Sect methods while stressing that their poison arts can injure the practitioner as well as the target. He repeatedly warns Qin Qi against pursuing rapid gains at the expense of a stable foundation. 3 26 48

Tang Jiaren later recounts the Tang Sect's development of Qi Poison and the Five Treasures Body Protection Method, including the sacrifices of earlier members who made Qi Poison safer to use. His teaching frames Tang Sect techniques as inherited knowledge that must be applied methodically rather than recklessly. 26

His philosophy of assassination prioritizes survival: an assassin must preserve their own life, adapt to danger, and retreat when necessary. He also explains that stealth techniques can fail against subtle detection and that intuition and information-gathering are essential countermeasures. 49 50

By the time Tang Shiying joins the Study Space, Tang Jiaren acts as an intermediary between him and Qin Qi. The two elders discuss the Tang Sect's changing circumstances and the need to adapt for its continued survival. 59

Later, Tang Jiaren works with Tang Shiying and Qin Qi on Spirit Ring research, including the Simulated Spirit Ring Absorption Technique. 89 103

Personality

Tang Jiaren is patient, experienced, and protective toward Qin Qi. He teaches through direct instruction, sparring, ambushes, and practical work rather than allowing Qin Qi to rely solely on talent. 5 15 47 48

He balances warmth with blunt warnings. Although pleased by Qin Qi's exceptional progress, he consistently redirects him toward patience, moderation, vigilance, and the value of a sound foundation. 15 36 40 48

He retains a strong sense of Tang Sect heritage and humanity. During New Year's celebrations in the Study Space, he is gratified that Qin Qi understands that becoming an assassin should not mean losing one's humanity. 58

Abilities & Skills

Tang Sect Instruction

Tang Jiaren is proficient in Tang Sect martial arts, poison methods, hidden weapons, observation training, and alchemy-related preparation.

• Taught Qin Qi the Five Treasures Body Protection Method within the Study Space. 2
• Instructed Qin Qi in Qi Poison, Poison Barrier, Bamboo Green Snake, Observation of Heart, Instant Strike, Catkin Step, Earth-Wood Flow, and Illusion Barrier. 3 6 15 36 49 50
• Explains the tactical principles behind Tang Sect techniques rather than teaching them as rote moves. 37 40

Qi Poison and Poison Barrier

Tang Jiaren understands the refinement, application, risks, and history of Tang Sect Qi Poison.

• Guides Qin Qi in refining Qi Poison and applying poison miasma to the body or weapons. 5 6
• Teaches Qi Poison: Bamboo Green Snake, which can attack, constrict targets, and spit venom. 6
• Introduces Poison Barrier techniques and later supervises Qin Qi's refinement practice. 5 6 49
• Warns that excessive refinement can cause toxins to accumulate within the user's body. 26

Observation and Combat Training

Tang Jiaren develops Qin Qi's awareness through sparring and surprise attacks.

• Spars with Qin Qi during his training in Observation of Heart; their exchange ends in a draw. 15
• Ambushes Qin Qi while teaching Hand Spike use, sharpening Qin Qi's reflexes and demonstrating the deeper purpose of Tang Sect observation. 47
• Uses surprise attacks to expose Qin Qi's overreliance on talent and motivate him to reinforce his foundations. 48

Hidden Weapons Crafting

Tang Jiaren can make and teach the use of Tang Sect hidden weapons.

• Works with Qin Qi over two days to craft a Hand Spike. 47
• Trains Qin Qi to employ the weapon through ambush-based practice. 47

Alchemy and Medicinal Preparation

Tang Jiaren assists with medicinal refinement and understands cultivation supplements.

• Helps Qin Qi refine Whale Glue into pills for physical constitution and Spirit Power. 36
• Processes medicinal herbs with Qin Qi to produce one hundred body-enhancing pills. 47
• Shows enthusiasm for rare, immortal-grade herbs that Qin Qi brings to the Study Space. 80

Spirit Ring Research

Tang Jiaren participates in Qin Qi's later cultivation research.

• Discusses Spirit Ring research with Qin Qi and Tang Shiying. 89
• Helps develop and refine the Simulated Spirit Ring Absorption Technique, culminating in Qin Qi's Marrow Cleansing through a nearly ten-thousand-year Spirit Ring. 103
• Continues refining the technique while observing Qin Qi's training under Tang Shiying. 105

Relationships

• Qin Qi — Descendant, student, and surrogate grandson. Tang Jiaren provides sustained instruction and protection, while Qin Qi promises that they will rely on one another. 2 16
• Tang Shiying — Distant relative and fellow Tang Sect elder. They discuss the Tang Sect's past and future, jointly guide Qin Qi, and work together on cultivation research. 59 60 80 103
• Tang Bingwen — Travels as part of the same elderly Tang Sect group during the journey toward the Tang Sect. 219
• Liu Wukui — Tang Jiaren shows concern for her difficult family situation while his group rests in Biyou Village. 219
• Wang Zhenqiu — Tang Jiaren warns him that they may be under surveillance despite their communication difficulties. 217

Story Role / Major Arcs

Qin Qi's First Tutor

Tang Jiaren enters the Study Space as Qin Qi's first private tutor. He establishes the foundation of Qin Qi's Tang Sect training through the Five Treasures Body Protection Method, Qi Poison, and Poison Barrier. 2 3 5

Foundation and Assassin Training

He expands Qin Qi's arsenal with Bamboo Green Snake, observation training, Instant Strike, Catkin Step, hidden weapons, Earth-Wood Flow, and Illusion Barrier. Throughout this period, he corrects Qin Qi's tendency to rely on talent and emphasizes the assassin's need to survive. 6 15 36 47 49 50

Tang Sect Legacy

Tang Jiaren teaches Qin Qi the history and costs behind Tang Sect poison arts, reinforcing the importance of inherited knowledge, restraint, and humanity. 26 58

Elder Mentor and Researcher

After Tang Shiying's arrival, Tang Jiaren becomes part of Qin Qi's circle of elder mentors. He contributes to research on artificial and simulated Spirit Ring absorption while continuing to oversee Qin Qi's cultivation. 59 89 103 105

Journey Toward the Tang Sect

Tang Jiaren travels with the other Tang Sect elders, recognizes potential surveillance near the Tang Sect, and later accepts the hospitality of Biyou Village before leaving with the group the following morning. 217 219

Trivia

• The Study Space in which Tang Jiaren teaches operates at twenty-four times the speed of real-world time. 2
• Qin Qi and Tang Jiaren spend New Year's Day making dumplings and paying respects to their ancestors. 58
• Tang Jiaren initially worries that Qin Qi's secret concerns learning alchemy at too young an age, before Qin Qi reveals the truth about Dan Shi. 16