Chen Family Fort

Biodata

Layout and Defenses

• The fort has an open training square where residents practice body-tempering, stone lifting, and saber techniques. 1
• Lu Yun trained in a secluded courtyard beneath a willow tree in the fort's northwest corner. 2
• Its perimeter includes an earthen wall over four meters high. 3
• During Black Wind Stronghold's ultimatum, the residents dug simple anti-cavalry trenches and erected wooden barricades outside the wall. 3

Inhabitants

• Old Chen — Elderly resident who, alongside Chen Qing'er, found the starving Lu Yun in the mountains and brought him back to the fort. 1
• Chen Qing'er — Old Chen's twenty-two-year-old granddaughter; managed household affairs and treated Lu Yun as family before disappearing. 1
• Zhao Hu — A fort resident injured by Black Wind Stronghold while delivering its demand for grain. He helped organize the defense. 1 3
• Lu Yun — Taken in by the fort after transmigrating into the world. He trained there for three years, defended it from Black Wind Stronghold, and later departed for Clear Distance City. 1 6 7

History

Lu Yun arrived at Chen Family Fort after nearly starving to death in the mountains. Old Chen and Chen Qing'er discovered him while gathering firewood, carried him back, and allowed him to become one of the fort's people. The residents' kindness enabled him to recover from his initial disorientation and integrate into the community. 1

For three years, Lu Yun trained spear techniques daily in the fort's square and courtyards. Many residents admired his persistence, though they questioned why he neglected stance work and body cultivation. 1

Black Wind Stronghold Ultimatum

Black Wind Stronghold demanded 20,000 jin of grain within seven days, threatening to destroy the fort if it refused. The demand would have left the residents starving; they also lacked any Nourishing Qi martial artists to oppose the bandits' three chiefs. 1

The crisis worsened when Chen Qing'er disappeared after going out to gather mountain mushrooms. Old Chen searched for her without success, while Lu Yun promised to investigate her whereabouts. 1

The fort's residents rejected Zhao Hu's proposal to flee, believing Black Wind Stronghold's scouts, the long route to Clear Distance City, and the surrounding bandits and beasts made escape nearly impossible. They instead prepared to defend their home. 1 3

Liberation

On the seventh day, Zhang Qinglong, the Third Master of Black Wind Stronghold, arrived with six mounted bandits. Lu Yun confronted them outside the fort and killed all seven in a single spear strike, ending the immediate assault. 3

To ensure the fort would not face retaliation after his departure, Lu Yun rode to Black Wind Stronghold on Little Tiger Mountain. He killed more than 150 bandits, including the remaining chiefs Zhang Shanxiong and Zhang Shanhu, and eliminated the stronghold completely. 4

Lu Yun returned to Chen Family Fort that evening and announced that Black Wind Stronghold no longer existed. The residents celebrated with a feast, regarding his victory as the salvation of their home. 6

Lu Yun's Departure

The day after the celebration, Lu Yun left for Clear Distance City to join the Red Flame Army, seek cultivation resources, and investigate the Canal Gang's possible connection to Chen Qing'er's disappearance. The fort's residents bid him farewell and affirmed that Chen Family Fort would always remain his home. 7

Story Role

• Serves as Lu Yun's first home and the place where he develops the persistence that leads to the activation of his attribute panel. 1 2
• Provides Lu Yun with a personal reason to confront Black Wind Stronghold rather than flee from its ultimatum. 1 3
• Its destruction threat motivates Lu Yun to reveal his martial strength and eradicate Black Wind Stronghold at its source. 3 4
• Chen Qing'er's disappearance becomes one of Lu Yun's main reasons for entering Clear Distance City and joining the Red Flame Army. 7