Liu Changle

Biodata

Background / History

Liu Changle is the sixteen-year-old son of Liu Jun, born into a fishing family that has worked the Hun River for generations. His family lives near Wei Luo's, making the two youths neighbors and longstanding acquaintances. 1 3

He initially mocks Wei Luo for attempting to fish alone despite being unable to control a boat, but helps teach him the basics of rowing at his father's instruction. He is astonished and jealous when Wei Luo's first river outing yields fish worth nearly twice the value of the Liu family's substantial catch, including a Crimson Firefin treasure fish. 1 3

Liu Changle wants to enter the Sun Family, learn martial arts, escape the “lowly rolls,” and eventually marry Little Flower of the Yang family. His third uncle, Liu Qing, helps arrange a private aptitude examination; Liu Changle's bone aptitude is judged below average but barely sufficient for martial arts, and Liu Jun pays nearly five taels of silver to secure his admission. 1 4

He begins training with Wei Luo under Master Qin at the Sun Family. Although he practices the Stacked Waves Stance and receives Wei Luo's insights before the assessment, he lasts only eight breaths on the unstable platform—short of the ten breaths required to learn the Folding Waves Fist. 5 8

Appearance

Liu Changle is a sun-darkened youth with notably white teeth. 1

• Dark-skinned from time spent outdoors on the river. 1
• Sixteen years old. 3

Personality

Liu Changle is chatty, excitable, and prone to boasting. He eagerly shows off his family's fishing haul and initially attributes Wei Luo's exceptional catches to luck, which reflects both his jealousy and his impulsive temperament. 1 3

Despite his loose tongue, he is loyal to Wei Luo. He invites Wei Luo to accompany him to the Sun Family recruitment despite knowing Wei Luo's aptitude may be poor, celebrates when Wei Luo gains admission, and warns him when Feng Hao begins harassing Zhao Rong again. He also offers to ask Liu Jun for money to help settle the debt. 4 5 6

He can be blunt toward people he dislikes or distrusts. He dismisses Shen Wu's praise of Master Qin as bootlicking, but he also recognizes Wei Luo's greater steadiness and does not question Wei Luo's explanation that Feng Hao stopped causing trouble. 3 8

Abilities & Skills

River and Fishing Familiarity

Raised in a multigenerational fishing family, Liu Changle is familiar with the Hun River and the fish market.

• Helps Wei Luo learn how to maneuver a skiff with an oar. 1
• Sells knife fish through a fish-buying stall at the pier. 3
• Knows the value of experienced fishing and recognizes the rarity of treasure fish. 1 3

Martial Arts Training

Liu Changle trains in the Sun Family's Stacked Waves Stance under Master Qin.

• His bone aptitude is below average, though it barely meets the threshold for martial arts training. 4
• Fails the first boxing qualification assessment after lasting eight breaths on the unstable platform; ten breaths are required. 8
• Receives Wei Luo's explanation of the stance's stabilizing principles before his attempt. 8

Relationships

• Wei Luo — Neighbor, friend, and fellow Sun Family trainee. Liu Changle teaches him basic boat handling, helps connect him to the Sun Family recruitment, warns him about Feng Hao, and offers financial help for Wei Luo's family. 1 4 6
• Liu Jun — Father. Liu Jun is an experienced fisherman who criticizes Changle's boastfulness, supports his Sun Family admission, and pays heavily to secure it. 1 3 4
• Liu Qing — Third uncle and Sun Family accountant. His connection helps arrange Liu Changle's private aptitude examination and eventual registration. 1 4
• Master Qin — Martial arts instructor at the Sun Family. He teaches Liu Changle the Stacked Waves Stance and administers the assessment Liu Changle fails. 5 8
• Little Flower — Daughter of the Yang family whom Liu Changle hopes to marry after succeeding in martial arts. 1

Story Role / Major Arcs

• Hun River fishing — Meets Wei Luo on the river, ridicules his inexperience, then teaches him how to handle a skiff. He later reacts with disbelief to Wei Luo's unusually valuable catch. 1 3
• Sun Family recruitment — Pursues recruitment through Liu Qing's connections, barely passes the bone examination, and brings Wei Luo into the private examination process. 4
• Sun Family training — Trains beside Wei Luo in the Stacked Waves Stance, voices frustration with Master Qin's sparse instruction, and fails the first assessment for learning the Folding Waves Fist. 5 8
• Feng Hao warning — Informs Wei Luo that Feng Hao has been stalking Zhao Rong's home and offers his family's financial assistance. 6

Trivia

• Liu Changle's ambition to learn martial arts is tied both to improving his family's standing and marrying Little Flower. 1
• He is repeatedly criticized by Liu Jun for being boastful, flighty, and overly fond of talking. 1 3