Zhao Yan

Biodata

Feature	Information
Name	Zhao Yan (赵岩)
Alias(es)	Hall Master Zhao Yan; Master
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Zhao Family Martial Hall
Occupation/Role	Hall Master; martial-arts instructor; Xu Qing's master
Status	Alive
First Appearance	4

Background / History

Zhao Yan leads the Zhao Family Martial Hall in Qinghe County. A veteran of the martial world, he possesses the sharp judgment and intimidating presence of an experienced master; his gaze alone leaves Xu Qing feeling thoroughly exposed 4 18. He learned the Five Elements Fist and the first level of the Five Tigers Soul-Severing Spear through his own master’s inheritance from the Seven Absolutes Sect 94.

When Xu Qing first seeks apprenticeship, Zhao Yan personally examines his bones, sinews, channels, and blood vitality. He judges Xu Qing’s aptitude as middling-to-poor and accepts him under standard hall rules, placing Chen Wang in charge of his foundational stance training 4 11. Xu Qing’s rapid progress repeatedly challenges that conclusion, but Zhao Yan initially attributes it to an unusual compatibility with Five Elements Fist rather than exceptional innate talent 5 11.

Ning Yun’s advocacy gradually moves Zhao Yan to invest in Xu Qing. He authorizes training uniforms, three daily meat meals, medicinal broth, and regular Blood-Qi Powder, while instructing Chen Wang to present the support as a martial-hall rule rather than personal favoritism 12. After Xu Qing reaches Bright Force in twenty days, Zhao Yan continues the provisions despite believing further advancement unlikely for someone with Xu Qing’s assessed aptitude 24.

Zhao Yan gives Xu Qing a recommendation for an attached yamen post, advises him on the yamen’s dangers, and later accepts him as a direct disciple. The appointment includes ongoing meat, Vitality and Blood Soup, and three Vitality and Blood Pills each month 25 33. He publicly moves Xu Qing into the inner courtyard and forbids opposition to the decision 34.

After Xu Qing returns from the Yellow Dragon River covered in blood, Zhao Yan waits through the night and reacts with anger upon hearing of the Lin Family’s trap. Xu Qing then reveals his Dark Force cultivation and demonstrates his true Dragon Sinew, Tiger Bone physique, forcing Zhao Yan to recognize that his original bone reading had been mistaken 65. Zhao Yan subsequently retaliates against Lin Family-controlled gangs, with several Dark Force practitioners dying in the attack 66.

He remains protective of Xu Qing during major competitions, initially refusing to let him replace Guo Huan at the Laba Meeting because of the danger 45. At the Golden Scale Gathering and later the dockside fist match against Yan Wei, Zhao Yan trusts Xu Qing’s judgment but stands ready to intervene if his disciple is endangered 50 86. Following Xu Qing’s victory over Yan Wei, he receives him emotionally and brings him home to the martial hall 90.

Appearance

Zhao Yan is a lean elderly man with graying temples, sharply defined features, and knife-like eyes. Though his hands appear dry and thin, their grip is powerful enough to feel like an iron clamp 4.

• Usually wears a blue robe 4.
• Has thick knuckles and visibly prominent veins across his hands 33.
• Maintains a straight-backed, composed bearing even under pressure 45.
• His presence becomes markedly more imposing when demonstrating spear techniques 94.

Personality

Zhao Yan is reserved, disciplined, and sparing with outward emotion. He maintains strict martial-hall rules and expects disciples to respect their master, honor the Way, and refrain from using martial arts to bully others 4. He is also perceptive enough to recognize changes in a disciple’s bearing after bloodshed, even when Xu Qing says nothing directly 24.

His caution is shaped by regret over Ning Yun’s crippled leg and a former disciple, Chu Sheng. Zhao Yan fears repeating past errors, which makes him reluctant to expose Xu Qing to danger or overestimate his potential 5 44 86. Nevertheless, he values diligence, loyalty, gratitude, and quiet conduct over pedigree; Ning Yun’s description of Xu Qing’s character is decisive in Zhao Yan’s choice to cultivate him fully 24 33.

Beneath his stern manner, Zhao Yan is deeply protective of his disciples. He conceals special provisions to preserve Xu Qing’s dignity, waits anxiously for Xu Qing’s return from danger, and is visibly moved by Xu Qing’s victories 12 65 90.

Abilities & Skills

Transforming Force

Zhao Yan is a Transforming Force expert whose fists are capable of killing tigers 5. He teaches that this realm enables a martial artist to dissolve incoming force, borrow an opponent’s momentum, and use the entire body as a unified weapon 18.

• Demonstrates Bright Force with a casual punch that produces a sharp crack in the air 18.
• Possesses enough martial authority to intimidate the entire Zhao Family Martial Hall into silence with a look 34.
• Personally acts against Lin Family-controlled gangs after their attempt on Xu Qing’s life 66.

Bone Reading

Zhao Yan inherited a method of assessing martial aptitude through a person’s skeletal structure, sinews, channels, and blood vitality 4 11.

• Initially judges Xu Qing’s aptitude as middling-to-poor and believes Bright Force should be his limit 4 11.
• Revises this conclusion after discovering Xu Qing’s Dragon Sinew, Tiger Bone physique 65.
• His mistaken reading becomes a major source of self-doubt regarding his judgment of disciples 33.

Martial Instruction

As hall master, Zhao Yan personally teaches foundational stance work, the progression from Bright Force to Dark Force and Transforming Force, and combat applications of the Five Elements Fist 17 18 34.

• Personally trains Xu Qing in stance work, move breakdowns, and sparring after taking him as a direct disciple 34 44.
• Provides practical advice on employment, factional danger, and survival outside the martial hall 25 56.
• Recognizes that medicinal support is necessary for intensive martial cultivation, even if he is initially reluctant to spend the hall’s resources 12 24.

Five Tigers Soul-Severing Spear

Zhao Yan knows the first level of the Five Tigers Soul-Severing Spear, inherited from his master, who learned it during a period in the Seven Absolutes Sect’s outer sect 94.

• Demonstrates the technique with precise, forceful thrusts and weapon-clearing sweeps 94.
• Teaches Xu Qing only after judging his force sufficient to wield the technique 94.
• Uses a waxwood-shafted, refined-steel spear kept at the back of the martial hall’s weapon rack 94.

Equipment / Items

• Long spear — A Chinese-waxwood spear with a refined-steel head, used to demonstrate the Five Tigers Soul-Severing Spear 94.
• Blood ginseng root — A precious medicinal item from Zhao Yan’s early years, given to Xu Qing before the Yellow Dragon River operation 58.
• Vitality and Blood Pills — Supplies Xu Qing with three pills each month after accepting him as a direct disciple 33.

Relationships

• Xu Qing — Direct disciple. Zhao Yan initially misjudges his aptitude, then becomes his principal supporter, teacher, and protector 4 33 65.
• Ning Yun — Beloved senior disciple. Zhao Yan carries lasting guilt over Ning Yun’s injured leg and is strongly influenced by Ning Yun’s pleas on Xu Qing’s behalf 5 12.
• Chen Wang — Disciple and outer-courtyard senior brother who regularly reports Xu Qing’s progress to Zhao Yan 5 11 24.
• Peng Yue — Disciple reprimanded by Zhao Yan for remarks that harmed unity among the outer-courtyard disciples 25.
• Yu Tai — Hall master of the rival Rushing Thunder Martial Academy; their rivalry intensifies through Xu Qing’s defeats of Yu Tai’s disciples 49 52 89.
• Lu Chuan — Qinghe County’s commandant, who recognizes Xu Qing’s potential and later offers him Lu Family support 90 94.

Notable Quotes

“A-Qing, your master has wronged you...” 5

“If you do not cultivate someone like him, then whom will you cultivate?” 33

“Good... good... Come, go home with your master.” 90