Du Yuanxiu

Biodata

Background / History

Du Yuanxiu served alongside Xu Ye's father, Xu Xun, in the Demon-Suppression Bureau. The two frequently undertook missions together, and Du regarded Xu Xun as a close friend. He was away on a mission when Xu Xun died and remains guilty that he could not see his friend one last time. 11

He first meets Xu Ye after the destruction of the Clear Spring Gang and the death of its cat-demon ally. Recognizing Xu Ye as Xu Xun's son, Du intervenes when Lü Tao treats him as a suspect. After hearing Xu Ye's account, Du rules that the gang deserved its fate for colluding with demons and offers to handle the aftermath so that Xu Ye is not implicated. 11

Du openly admits that he lacks the influence to reverse the Su Family's seizure of Xu Ye's special-pardon warrant. Nevertheless, he promises that Xu Ye can seek his help at the Demon-Suppression Bureau and orders someone to discreetly watch over Xu Ye and Xu Zhizhi. 12

Personality

Du Yuanxiu is loyal to old friends and strongly protective of their families. His concern for Xu Ye is tempered by a realistic understanding of White Cloud County's power structure: he resents the Su Family's conduct but recognizes that, as an ordinary Bureau officer at the time, he cannot confront them directly. 12

As a captain, he is authoritative but measured. He investigates disputes before acting, rebukes subordinates who disrupt order, and tries to keep Xu Ye from making irreversible decisions in anger. 27 40 41 His support for Xu Ye is personal, yet he consistently frames it through Bureau rules, missions, and practical survival.

Story Role / Major Arcs

Clear Spring Gang aftermath

• Arrives with Lü Tao after sensing demonic aura at the Clear Spring Gang headquarters.
• Recognizes Xu Ye as Xu Xun's son and prevents Lü Tao from treating him as a criminal.
• Takes responsibility for classifying the gang as demon collaborators and concealing Xu Ye's involvement in their destruction. 11
• Confesses that he cannot challenge the Su Family over the stolen pardon warrant, but pledges future assistance and protection for the Xu siblings. 12

Demon-Suppression Bureau examination

• Oversees the Bureau's recruitment examination with Lü Tao, explaining that candidates must first demonstrate at least the third level of Meridian Opening before facing demons in live combat. 15
• Attempts to dissuade Xu Ye from joining through the examination route, warning that active Demon-Suppression Guards face the same lethal risks that claimed Xu Xun. He accepts Xu Ye's decision when Xu Ye insists that he needs strength to protect Xu Zhizhi. 16
• Announces the successful candidates as Black-Robed Demon-Suppression Guards and distributes their uniforms, tokens, Demon-Slaying Sabers, and copies of the Demon-Subduing Scripture. 21
• Awards Xu Ye the first-place prize: the rank-one Demon-Subduing Saber Technique and fifty taels of silver. 21

Training and patrol assignments

• Recognizes Xu Ye's overnight progress to beginner mastery of the Demon-Subduing Saber Technique after inspecting the saber marks left across the training ground. 27
• Instructs Xu Ye not to become complacent despite his extraordinary talent. 28
• Forms Xu Ye, Lin Yuyan, and Zhao Heng into a patrol group with Xu Ye as leader, then assigns them to Outer City North Street—where Xu Ye and Xu Zhizhi live—and requires Xu Ye to report directly to him. 28 29
• Assigns the group to investigate the North Street murders and later dispatches them to Mu Family Town to investigate a supposedly sixth-level Meridian Opening fox demon. 30 42

Su Yu conflict and Mu Family Town incident

• Intervenes after Xu Ye severely beats Su Yu, determines that Su Yu struck first, and invokes Bureau discipline against Su Yu. 39 40
• Stops Xu Ye from strangling Su Yu after Su Yu threatens Xu Zhizhi, warning that killing him within the Bureau would destroy Xu Ye's future and expose him to the Su Family's retaliation. 40 41
• Advises Xu Ye to become a White-Robed Demon-Suppression Guard, whose official residence would place Xu Zhizhi under direct Bureau protection. 41
• Is stunned to learn that Xu Ye advanced to the Qi Manipulation Realm and slew a demon of the same realm during the Mu Family Town mission. 54
• Treats the falsified fox-demon intelligence as a serious matter after Xu Ye demands an explanation for the team nearly being sent to its deaths. 55

Death of Su Yu

• Attempts to prevent further bloodshed after Xu Ye kills Su Yu at the Demon-Suppression Bureau.
• Rebukes Xu Ye for acting impulsively and urges him to flee White Cloud County before the Su Family retaliates. 61

Relationships

• Xu Xun — Former Demon-Suppression Bureau comrade and close friend. Du regrets missing Xu Xun's final moments after being away on a mission. 11
• Xu Ye — Son of Xu Xun; Du treats him as an old friend's child, handles the Clear Spring Gang aftermath for him, guides his Bureau career, and repeatedly tries to protect him from the consequences of confronting the Su Family. 11 12 16 41 61
• Xu Zhizhi — Xu Ye's younger sister. Du orders the Bureau to watch over her and personally assures Xu Ye that she will be protected while he undertakes missions. 12 42
• Lü Tao — Fellow Demon-Suppression Bureau officer and subordinate. They jointly oversee the recruitment examination and discuss Xu Ye's potential and safety. 11 15 16
• Lin Yuyan — A Black-Robed Demon-Suppression Guard under Du's command; assigned to Xu Ye's patrol group. 28 29
• Zhao Heng — A Black-Robed Demon-Suppression Guard under Du's command; assigned to Xu Ye's patrol group despite his objections to Xu Ye's leadership. 28 29
• Su Yu — A Su Family recruit whose conflict with Xu Ye repeatedly forces Du to maintain Bureau order and restrain Xu Ye from killing him prematurely. 40 41