Ye Feng

Biodata

Background / History

Ye Feng is a poor, low-status menial worker at Vermilion Bird Tower. His duties include carrying heavy buckets of leftovers from private rooms to the rear courtyard, where he delivers them for disposal. He initially refuses to let Yang Xiao enter the filthy rear courtyard and insists on handling the work himself. 3

After Yang Xiao helps him with a swill bucket and treats him to food and wine, Ye Feng becomes deeply grateful. Because he moves between private rooms while collecting swill, he is able to share information and rumors from across the tower; he also notices that Uncle Mute has recently begun behaving strangely. 3 4

Yang Xiao later encourages Ye Feng to spend time at the Martial Hall and provides him with silver. Ye Feng is tested as having medium aptitude, with a stated fifty-percent chance of completing blood exchange, and becomes Lei Jie's nominal disciple through Huo Zhen's recommendation. 7 10

Despite Huo Zhen's warning that Yang Xiao has no future in martial arts, Ye Feng remains loyal to him. He accepts further financial support for training and vows that he will not let Yang Xiao down if he achieves success. 11 12

Appearance

Ye Feng is a thin, frail young man whose work leaves him exhausted and stained by the smell of swill. 3 4

• Wears gray clothing while performing menial labor. 3
• Often pants and wheezes while carrying heavy swill buckets. 3
• Retains a faint swill odor even after changing clothes. 4
• Later appears in sweat-soaked training clothes after practicing at the Martial Hall. 14

Personality

Ye Feng is humble, inexperienced, and highly conscious of his low social standing. He initially considers it improper to store swill buckets in the waiters' room or to accept Yang Xiao's generosity, believing that a menial worker should know his place. 7 10

He is also sincere and loyal. Yang Xiao's food, money, and encouragement leave a lasting impression on him, and Ye Feng repeatedly resolves to train diligently and repay him. 7 10 11

His trust in Yang Xiao is strong enough that he follows instructions without demanding explanations, including acting as an interruption during Yang Xiao's confrontation with the Zhao Hu impostor and purchasing supplies on Yang Xiao's behalf. 12 26 27

Abilities & Skills

Martial Training

Ye Feng has begun training under Lei Jie as a nominal disciple.

• Tested as having medium aptitude and a purported fifty-percent chance of succeeding in blood exchange. 10
• Practices boxing at the Martial Hall. 21
• Has not been documented completing a blood exchange or attaining a martial realm.

Tower Work and Information Access

Ye Feng's job gives him access to Vermilion Bird Tower's private rooms and back areas.

• Collects leftovers and transports swill between private rooms and the rear courtyard. 3 7
• Hears and relays rumors, secrets, and observations gathered during his work. 4
• Uses swill buckets as a discreet method of transporting concealed purchases. 27

Equipment / Items

• Mystic Fire Buckle — A communication buckle paired with Yang Xiao's; tapping one three times allows the other to sense it while within Vermilion Bird Tower. 14
• Swill buckets — Used for his assigned work and, later, to conceal goods acquired for Yang Xiao. 7 27

Relationships

• Yang Xiao — Benefactor, self-proclaimed elder brother, and patron. Yang Xiao helps Ye Feng with his work, provides meals and silver, encourages his martial training, and relies on his loyalty for errands and diversions. Ye Feng is devoted to repaying him. 3 7 10 12 26 27
• Huo Zhen — Senior brother at Lei Jie's Martial Hall. Huo Zhen recommends Ye Feng for aptitude testing and helps him become Lei Jie's nominal disciple, though he considers Yang Xiao beneath Ye Feng's future status. 10 11
• Lei Jie — Martial Hall master who accepts Ye Feng as a nominal disciple. 10
• Uncle Mute — A rear-courtyard odd-job worker with whom Ye Feng has frequent contact through swill disposal. Ye Feng notices that Uncle Mute has recently acted out of character. 3 4