Yang Erhu

Biodata

Feature	Value
Name	Yang Erhu (杨二虎)
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Tiger-Subduing Sect; Yang Family Martial Arts Hall
Occupation/Role	Hall Master; head of the Tiger-Subduing Sect; martial artist; Hong Yuan's master
Status	Alive
First Appearance	Chapter 8

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
True Force — formerly Sending and Withdrawing at Will	13	States that he once barely reached the second level of True Force, where force could be controlled and recalled at will.
True Force — declined to initial level	24	Age and fading qi and blood have reduced him to barely grasping qi and blood for a single powerful eruption.
Grass on Wings art	111, 172	Begins practicing the art with a white snake that emerges from his wrist; later uses it to evade an attacker at the Longji River gathering.
Qi-blood restoration	226	Hong Yuan infuses him with qi and blood, remaking him internally. His vitality comes to surpass what it was at his peak, and his qi and blood become sufficient to enter the Pill Path without medicinal pills; he is not stated to have done so.

Background / History

Yang Erhu is Yang Lie's eldest uncle and a longtime friend of Master Qin. When Qin Ziyue disappeared, Yang Erhu personally investigated despite his limited connections, then summoned Wu Duxiong and Yang Lie from the prefectural city to assist in the search. He later learned that Qin Ziyue had been led astray by Old Third Yan's gang and suspected they had sold the youth into the Jade Wutong Immortal Realm. 9 28

In his youth, Yang Erhu traveled across seven provinces and fought many renowned martial artists. At his height, he was a True Force expert who had reached the Sending and Withdrawing at Will level. 24 28

He inherited the Tiger-Subduing branch of Grandmaster Dragon-Tiger's legacy under True Person Li. After True Person Li's death, Yang Erhu agreed to a three-match contest with the Dragon-Subduing Sect to determine which branch would lead a reunited Dragon Tiger lineage. He lost the first match; his younger brother Yang Jinbao won the second but was crippled from further martial practice. Yang Erhu placed his hopes for the final Qionghua Martial Assembly match on Hong Yuan. When Hong Yuan had not arrived at the Longji River gathering, Yang Erhu entered the arena himself to answer the Dragon-Subduing Sect's challenge, but an attack interrupted the proceedings. 29 58 171 172

Appearance

Yang Erhu is a bronze-skinned man of around fifty with a square face and curling beard. Despite his age, he retains the physique and bearing of a formidable fighter. 8 12

• Weathered, lined face. 12
• Broad, heavily muscled back and powerful palms. 12 28
• Described as standing like an iron tower rooted to the ground. 12
• Much of his formerly black hair turns white after the strain of repeated forced fights at Lanyue Garden. 45

Personality

Yang Erhu values loyalty and friendship deeply. He could not refuse Master Qin's plea for help, considers Qin Ziyue like family, and endures the Dragon King Society's coercion to rescue Master Qin. 9 28 45

He is blunt, proud, and severe in combat, but also capable of self-awareness. He openly acknowledges that age has diminished his strength and recognizes when Hong Yuan's ability has surpassed his own. 12 24 28

As a master, he is patient and invested in preserving the Tiger-Subduing Sect. Hong Yuan's exceptional aptitude gives him renewed hope that the sect's inheritance can be revived. 13 16 28

After Hong Yuan saves him at Lanyue Garden, Yang Erhu tells his disciple not to submit to threats on his account. He accepts the possibility of dying in the martial world and urges Hong Yuan to keep training rather than rush into revenge if an enemy captures him. Later, although Hong Yuan restores his vitality, Yang Erhu shows little interest in further cultivation and prefers a carefree life. 53 226

Abilities & Skills

True Force

Yang Erhu can guide qi and blood into explosive True Force, though his age initially limits him to brief, draining eruptions. Hong Yuan later restores his qi and blood to a level surpassing Yang Erhu's former peak; the extent of any resulting recovery in his True Force control is not stated. 12 13 24 226

• Cracked a thigh-thick jujube-wood stake with a single palm strike. 12
• His former level allowed him to send out and withdraw force at will. 13
• Before Hong Yuan restores his vitality, a full-power attack may leave him exhausted and unable to continue immediately. 12 24
• Age-related decline in physique and qi-blood significantly weakened his endurance and control. 13 24
• After Hong Yuan's intervention, his qi and blood alone are sufficient for him to enter the Pill Path without medicinal pills, though he does not pursue that advancement. 226

Tiger-Subduing Martial Arts

As inheritor of the Tiger-Subduing Sect, Yang Erhu teaches its core body-conditioning, guiding, breathing, and combat methods. 13 16

• Tiger-Subduing Stance — still-method training for strengthening the body and nourishing blood. 13
• Rock-Solid Skill — active body-tempering method requiring painful conditioning, weight training, nutrition, and medicine. 13
• Guiding Art — eighteen external movements and internal meditation intended to develop the entire body and sense qi and blood. 13
• Tiger Roar Breathing Method — method for governing qi and blood toward True Force. 16
• Tiger-Subduing Fist — a versatile fighting art using fists, palms, claws, and improvised weapon-like forms. 16

Grass on Wings

Yang Erhu begins practicing Grass on Wings, an unorthodox movement art associated with a white snake. At the Longji River gathering, the snake is visible at his wrist, and he uses the art to slip away from an attacker. It is not enough to evade a second attack aimed at his legs. 111 172

Weapon Skill

Yang Erhu is proficient with a long blade and spear. 16 46

• Demonstrated spearwork fast enough to resemble a flood dragon, piercing a thigh-thick jujube-wood post. 16
• Fought armed opponents at Lanyue Garden while under coercion by the Dragon King Society. 45 46
• Uses agile body movement and blade sweeps even against opponents equipped with iron wrist-rings. 46

Martial Knowledge

Yang Erhu possesses broad practical knowledge of martial cultivation and unorthodox arts. 11 13 17

• Explains the three levels of True Force: initial entry, Sending and Withdrawing at Will, and the minute realm. 13
• Distinguishes ordinary lightness skill from supernatural arts. 17
• Warns that most arts carry serious backlash, citing the Stone Skin Curse as an example. 17
• Shows interest in adapting the art Grass on Wings to the Tiger-Subduing inheritance and later practices it himself. 17 111

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Long blade — used during the Hero Arena fights at Lanyue Garden. 46
• Long spear — used in his demonstration of Tiger-Subduing Fist forms. 16
• Life-Taking Throat-Locking Spear — entrusted to him by Hong Yuan while the latter travels to fetch Yang Jinbao. 54
• White snake — associated with his practice of Grass on Wings; emerges from his wrist and is visible there during the Longji River attack. 111 172
• Miscellaneous Records of the Bai Sea — received from Master Qin. 16
• True Person Li's handwritten notes — secret manual passed to Hong Yuan before the Qionghua Martial Assembly. 29

Relationships

• Hong Yuan — personal disciple and chosen successor of the Tiger-Subduing Sect; Yang Erhu trains him extensively and pins the sect's revival on him. Hong Yuan later saves his life, restores his vitality, and continues to address him as “Master” despite becoming Dao Lord. 13 28 29 53 226 244
• Yang Lie — nephew; Yang Erhu is Yang Lie's eldest uncle. They reunite at the first-birthday feast of Yang Lie's son Kang. 9 244
• Yang Jinbao — younger brother and Yang Lie's father. Though the brothers bicker and trade blows, they remain close; after leaving Linjiang Prefecture, they travel together through Xingqing Prefecture. 29 58 111 244
• Wu Duxiong — junior martial brother; they spar as fellow True Force practitioners and acknowledge one another's skill. 12
• Master Qin — friend of roughly twenty years; Yang Erhu risks himself repeatedly to locate and rescue him. 9 28 45
• Qin Ziyue — Master Qin's son, whom Yang Erhu regards with paternal concern and attempts to rescue. 9 28
• Old Third Yan / Yan Tieshan — enemy connected to Qin Ziyue's ruin; Yang Erhu attacked his gambling den before Hong Yuan killed him. 18 28
• Dragon King Society — coercive adversary holding Master Qin to force Yang Erhu into fighting at Lanyue Garden. 27 30 45
• Dragon-Subduing Sect — rival branch of Grandmaster Dragon-Tiger's inheritance; bound to the Tiger-Subduing Sect through the Qionghua Martial Assembly pact. Dragon-Subduing prodigy Zhang Shenxiao later intervenes to protect Yang Erhu during an attack on the gathering. 23 29 172

Story Role / Major Arcs

Escape from Jade Wutong Immortal Realm

Yang Erhu escapes the Jade Wutong Immortal Realm alongside Hong Yuan, Yang Lie, Wu Duxiong, and Master Qin. He helps shelter the group, disposes of their conspicuous robes, and guides them toward Yangquan County. 8 9

Yang Family Martial Arts Hall

At his Yangquan County martial hall, Yang Erhu recruits Hong Yuan because of his outstanding talent. He formally accepts him into the Tiger-Subduing Sect, teaches the sect's core methods, and publicly names him his personal disciple. 11 13 14 16

Conflict with Yan Tieshan and the Dragon-Subduing Sect

Yang Erhu investigates and attacks Yan Tieshan's gambling den over the harm done to Qin Ziyue. After Hong Yuan exposes and kills the infiltrator Meng Yue, Yang Erhu explains the divided Dragon Tiger inheritance and entrusts Hong Yuan with representing the Tiger-Subduing Sect at the final Qionghua Martial Assembly match. 18 28 29

Lanyue Garden and Master Qin's Captivity

The Dragon King Society uses Master Qin as leverage to compel Yang Erhu to win arena matches. He wins four outer-field bouts, then is pushed into an inner-field battle; upon learning of Master Qin's death, he attacks Hua Feiyun in grief and fury. Hong Yuan intervenes to save him from capture. Amid the ensuing chaos, Yang Erhu captures and kills Old Jia, who had helped coerce him, before escaping with Hong Yuan. 45 46 50

Xingqing Prefecture and the Longji River Gathering

After Lanyue Garden, Yang Erhu and Yang Jinbao leave Linjiang Prefecture with Hong Yuan's help and travel to Xingqing Prefecture. Rather than seek shelter with their increasingly renowned disciple, the brothers roam the region. Their curiosity leads them to witness the Xie Family's attempt to capture an Abyssal Alligator Dragon and its threat against nearby villagers. 58 60 111

At the Longji River martial gathering, Dragon-Subduing prodigy Zhang Shenxiao calls for Hong Yuan to settle the sects' pact. With Hong Yuan absent, Yang Erhu asserts his responsibility as head of the Tiger-Subduing Sect and steps into the arena himself, reasoning that he can concede if outmatched. An attack interrupts the gathering; Yang Erhu evades one assailant with Grass on Wings, and Zhang Shenxiao drives back further attackers, citing the two sects' shared origin. Yang Erhu later watches in astonishment as Hong Yuan displays his power in the ensuing battle. 170 171 172 176

Later Life and Reunion

Hong Yuan later infuses Yang Erhu and Yang Jinbao with qi and blood, restoring their vitality beyond its former peak. Yang Erhu nevertheless prefers a carefree life to further cultivation, his hopes for the Tiger-Subduing Sect having been surpassed by Hong Yuan's achievements. More than a year later, he attends the first-birthday feast of Yang Lie's son Kang and reunites with Hong Yuan. Although Hong Yuan still bows to him as his master, the disciple's position as Dao Lord makes their former ease difficult to recover. 226 244

Trivia

• His given name was selected by a scholar hired by his late father; Wu Duxiong considers it much better than Yang Lie's name. 8
• Yang Erhu dismisses the Stone Skin Curse as impractical because it stiffens the body and causes fatal internal injury if broken. 17
• He once hoped Meng Yue might become his disciple, but sensed something suspicious about him and never accepted him formally. 28
• Yang Jinbao calls him “Er Gouzi” while teasing him about an old romantic attachment in Xingqing Prefecture. 58