Ma Zhankui

Biodata

Feature	Information
Name	Ma Zhankui (马占魁)
Alias(es)	Gang Leader Ma; Master Ma
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Green Snake Gang (leader)
Occupation/Role	Wealthy man of Pasture City; gang leader
Status	Deceased; killed by Lin Changsheng 8
First Appearance	Chapter 2

Background / History

Before reaching forty, Ma Zhankui became one of Pasture City’s wealthy men. His younger sister, Ma Qian, was County Magistrate Chen Ling’s concubine; Ma Zhankui leveraged this connection to obtain profitable ventures, cultivate official connections, and maintain more than one hundred Green Snake Gang members under his command. His manor on East Street was notably extravagant, with pavilions, terraces, lotus ponds, and a staff of servants. 2

After becoming infatuated with Yan Zhen, the widowed owner of Zhen’s Noodle Shop, Ma Zhankui arranged for her mother-in-law to be poisoned with Green Snake Powder and had Yan Zhen framed for the murder. He intended to coerce her into becoming his concubine by exploiting her imprisonment and concern for her child. 2

Lin Changsheng forced coroner Li Zhen to clear Yan Zhen’s name. Ma Zhankui complied outwardly, then attempted to portray himself as Yan Zhen’s benefactor, placing her under surveillance and expecting repayment for the supposed cost of securing her release. 3 5

When Yan Zhen continued to refuse him, Ma Zhankui issued a final ultimatum: she must either become his concubine or accompany him for one month. 6 On the night before the deadline, Lin Changsheng infiltrated Ma Family Manor and attacked him as a masked archer. 7

Appearance

Ma Zhankui was a sturdily built, middle-aged man who commonly wore brocade robes. 2 3

• Lived in an opulent East Street manor. 2
• Had two maidservants attending him during private meetings. 5
• Wore and wielded a sword during the attack on his manor. 8
• Lost his left eye, suffered wounds to his hand and thigh, and was later killed by an arrow through his remaining eye. 8

Personality

Ma Zhankui was calculating, possessive, and cruel. Rather than accept Yan Zhen’s rejection, he manufactured a murder case against her and used the threat of execution, poverty, and abandonment of her child to force her compliance. 2

He preferred manipulation to immediate violence when pursuing Yan Zhen, deliberately clearing her name only after Lin Changsheng’s intervention so that he could claim credit and create a debt she was expected to repay. He nevertheless became impatient when she did not yield. 3 5

He was also vindictive and suspicious. After Tie Yang and Li San were found killed by Iron Sand Palm, he suspected the Iron Hand Martial School and privately vowed to drive it out of Pasture City. 5 6

Abilities & Skills

Second-Rate Expert Realm

Ma Zhankui was recognized as one of Pasture City’s four great experts and possessed Second-Rate Realm strength. 7 8

• Could use Lightness Skill to leap over his manor wall while fleeing. 8
• Retained enough martial ability to cut apart an incoming arrow with his sword, despite severe injuries. 8
• Was considered powerful enough that townspeople initially believed only a First-Rate Master could have killed him. 8

Azure Snake Sword Technique

Ma Zhankui had mastered the Azure Snake Sword Technique. 8

• Used a sword in an attempt to defend against Lin Changsheng’s arrows. 8
• The Azure Snake Sword Technique manual was recovered from his residence after his death. 8

Equipment / Items

• Sword — carried during the assault on Ma Family Manor. 8
• Azure Snake Sword Technique manual — recovered by Lin Changsheng from Ma Zhankui’s room. 8
• Wealth and valuables — his manor held over 1,500 taels of silver, gold, jade, and other valuables. 8

Relationships

• Yan Zhen — target of his coercive pursuit; he framed her for poisoning her mother-in-law and demanded that she become his concubine or serve him for a month. 2 6
• Ma Qian — younger sister and County Magistrate Chen Ling’s concubine; her position helped Ma Zhankui establish his wealth and influence. 2
• Chen Ling — brother-in-law through Ma Qian; Chen later pursued Ma Zhankui’s killer and recruited martial-school masters to avenge him. 2 18
• Old Li — loyal subordinate who conveyed Ma Zhankui’s demands to Yan Zhen, monitored her, and reported gang affairs. 2 5
• Lin Li — capable enforcer ordered to seize Yan Zhen; killed by Lin Changsheng during the assault on the manor. 7 8
• Lin Changsheng — enemy and killer; Lin targeted Ma Zhankui for persecuting Yan Zhen. 7 8
• He Tieshou — master of the Iron Hand Martial School whom Ma Zhankui consulted over Tie Yang and Li San’s deaths. 5 6

Story Role / Major Arcs

Persecution of Yan Zhen

Ma Zhankui orchestrates the poisoning of Yan Zhen’s mother-in-law and frames Yan Zhen for the crime to pressure her into becoming his concubine. His plan is disrupted when Lin Changsheng uncovers his involvement through coroner Li Zhen. 2

False Benevolence and Ultimatum

After Yan Zhen is cleared, Ma Zhankui claims responsibility for saving her and expects her submission in return. He continues to surveil her, then gives her a three-day ultimatum when she refuses to yield. 3 5 6

Fall of the Green Snake Gang

Lin Changsheng attacks Ma Family Manor as a masked archer, first blinding Ma Zhankui in one eye and wounding his hand and thigh. Ma Zhankui attempts to flee, but Lin kills him by firing an arrow through his remaining eye. Lin then exterminates the gang members present, loots the manor, and burns it down. 7 8

Aftermath

Ma Zhankui’s death leaves the Green Snake Gang without leadership and creates a territorial opening that the Black Tiger Gang seeks to exploit. Ma Qian and Chen Ling offer a bounty and investigate the masked archer responsible. 9 16 18

Trivia

• Ma Zhankui’s death removed the immediate threat against Yan Zhen on the day before his final deadline. 8
• Lin Changsheng obtained both the Azure Snake Sword Technique and the Flying Eaves Lightness Skill from Ma Zhankui’s manor. 8