Zhao Changshan

Biodata

Feature	Information
Name	Zhao Changshan (赵长山)
Alias(es)	Old Zhao; Brother Zhao 35 37
Species/Race	Human
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Cloud Mountain County yamen constabulary; later serves under Cui Lang's temporary command 4 35
Occupation/Role	Senior constable; Cui Lang's assigned guide and frequent field partner 4
Status	Active 53
First Appearance	Chapter 4

Appearance

Zhao Changshan is a rough-looking, large-framed man with thick brows and big eyes. 4

• Towering build. 4
• Carries and fights with a waist saber. 6 9
• Is nearly thirty and unmarried. 15

Personality

Zhao Changshan is indulgent, greedy, and shamelessly lecherous. He spends his wages on wine and courtesans while claiming that his silver went toward helping “pitiful women,” and he routinely seeks free food, drink, or brothel visits through his work. 4 11 17 20 His fixation on women often overrides his judgment, including when he initially mistakes Zhang Liushi's corpse for a woman in need and fails to recognize Peony as suspicious because of her beauty. 6 19

As an experienced constable, he begins with a strongly self-preserving outlook. He proposes framing a dead servant for Zhang Si's murder rather than risk confronting the real demon, arguing that a few taels of monthly pay are not worth dying for. 5 He is also easily tempted by money: the Toad Demon nearly manipulates him with the promise of a chest of silver. 14

Despite these flaws, Zhao repeatedly proves capable of courage and loyalty when others are in danger. He saves Cui Lang from the Tiger Demon's opening pounce at the cost of being badly injured, helps protect the children selected for the River God sacrifice, and fights alongside Cui against both the Tiger and Toad Demons. 6 12 14 He comes to regard Cui as a “blood brother” after Cui chooses not to abandon him. 6

Abilities & Skills

Martial Cultivation

Zhao Changshan is a martial artist at the peak of the Refining Essence Realm. 12 16

• Can effortlessly defeat several ordinary men in close combat. 12
• Uses the Blazing Sun Technique to cultivate and refine medicinal effects, including expelling the Toad Demon's poison after taking a Herbal Restoration Pill. 8 15
• His footwork and saber force are considered inadequate compared with Constable Li's, who defeats him with ease during a sparring test. 16
• His cultivation has stagnated in part because of his frequent visits to brothels and lack of discipline. 8 16

Eight Desolations Slash

Zhao teaches Cui Lang the Eight Desolations Slash, a saber art created by Chief Constable Murong. It comprises eight forms with eight variations each, for a total of sixty-four moves. 9

• Demonstrates the full technique and its accompanying footwork to Cui Lang. 9
• Uses the technique against the Tiger Demon and Toad Demon. 6 14
• Creates an improvised “ninth form” by hurling his saber into the Toad Demon's mouth, piercing its upper jaw and creating an opening for Cui Lang. 14
• Recognizes Cui Lang's exceptional aptitude after seeing him rapidly apply the technique in battle. 15

Constable Experience

Zhao has served in the constabulary for nearly a decade and understands its informal practices, local rumors, and institutional corruption. 35

• Initially attempts to resolve demon cases through scapegoats rather than direct investigation. 5
• Knows that prefectural constables are generally dispatched only for serious matters such as demon incidents. 29
• Provides Cui Lang with practical information about the River God Temple, local brothels, and the hierarchy within the county yamen. 10 17 35

Equipment / Items

• Waist saber — His primary weapon and the saber used for his improvised “Eighth Desolations Slash, Ninth Form.” 6 14
• Herbal Restoration Pill — A reward from Zheng Fengyun after the Tiger Demon incident; Zhao later uses it to purge Toad Demon poison. 8 15

History

Zhao Changshan is assigned as Cui Lang's senior partner when Cui first joins the Cloud Mountain County constabulary. Rather than seriously pursue their first demon-related case, Zhang Si's murder, Zhao suggests exhuming a recently buried servant and blaming the death on that corpse. He explains that the constables' low pay does not justify risking their lives against demons. 4 5

The plan collapses when Zhang Si's corpse-like wife appears near the river. Zhao promptly beheads her, then saves Cui from the Tiger Demon's first attack by kicking him away and taking the blow himself. Although injured, he continues fighting; Cui's decision to remain and help leads Zhao to call him his blood brother. Together, they return with the Tiger Demon's corpse and receive merit, leave, silver, and rewards from Zheng Fengyun. 6 8

Zhao passes the Blazing Sun Technique and, in exchange for Cui's reward silver, the Eight Desolations Slash to Cui. He expects Cui's advancement to be slow because Cui lacks money for cultivation resources, unaware that Cui has already rapidly broken through. 8 9

While accompanying Cui to the River God Temple, Zhao helps stop Sun Yuanwai's men from seizing children for sacrifice. He initially believes the River God is genuine and is tempted by its promises of wealth and powerful martial inheritances, but joins Cui in battling the revealed Toad Demon. His thrown saber wounds the demon decisively, though he is poisoned during the fight and saved by Cui. 12 15

Story Role / Major Arcs

Zhang Si Case and the Tiger Demon

• Assigned to guide the newly recruited Cui Lang on Zhang Si's case. 4
• Attempts to falsify the case with an exhumed servant's corpse, revealing the constabulary's established practice of avoiding demon cases. 5
• Kills Zhang Liushi after realizing she is an evil corpse. 6
• Saves Cui from the Tiger Demon, fights alongside him despite injury, and shares the credit for the demon's death. 6 8

River God Investigation

• Joins Cui's investigation because of the promise of a free feast, despite knowing nothing about the supposed River God. 11
• Physically protects the mothers and children targeted for sacrifice after Cui confronts Sun Yuanwai. 12
• Falls for the Toad Demon's disguise and promises, but ultimately assists in its defeat with his thrown-saber attack. 13 14
• Is poisoned after the battle and survives after Cui administers his Herbal Restoration Pill. 15

Dark Fragrance Pavilion Case

• Is assigned with Cui to investigate Master Ma's death at Dark Fragrance Pavilion. 17
• Treats the assignment as an opportunity to enjoy the brothel for free and repeatedly prioritizes the courtesans over the investigation. 17 18
• Remains oblivious to Cui's suspicions that Peony is not human, interpreting her unnatural beauty as the quality of a courtesan queen. 19
• Accepts the madam's hospitality and selects courtesans while Cui handles the case's substantive matters. 20

Cui Lang's Alibi and Rise

• Is invited to drink by Cui, unknowingly becoming his alibi while Cui secretly leaves to kill Xiao Yu. 23 25
• His sincere testimony that Cui slept at his home helps mislead Constable Li's investigation. 25
• Initially expects the vacant chief constable position to go to an experienced constable such as himself, but Zheng Fengyun instead appoints Cui to temporarily manage the unit. 35
• Quickly abandons rivalry and pledges himself as Cui's subordinate, recognizing the advantage of supporting Cui's rise. 35
• Remains one of Cui's trusted companions, accompanying him on village inspections and later providing him a horse when officials from Azure Cloud Prefecture arrive. 41 53

Relationships

• Cui Lang — Junior colleague, student, battle partner, and later superior. Zhao teaches Cui the Blazing Sun Technique and Eight Desolations Slash, fights demons alongside him, and eventually shifts from jealousy to open support after Cui assumes command. 8 9 35
• Constable Li — Superior officer. Li criticizes Zhao's weak footwork, lack of saber force, and brothel habit during training. 16
• Zheng Fengyun — County official who rewards Zhao for the Tiger Demon incident with a Herbal Restoration Pill and three days of leave. 8
• Shen Ruyu — Zhao admires her strength, reputation, and gallant bearing, having once seen her when she visited Cloud Mountain County. 41

Notable Quotes

“We only earn a few taels of silver a month. Why risk our lives?” 5

“Brother Cui, from now on, you're my blood brother.” 6

“Watch my Eight Desolations Slash, Ninth Form!” 14