Za Jiu

Biodata

Feature	Details
Name	Za Jiu (杂九)
Alias(es)	Gap-Toothed Za Jiu; Ninth Master; Master Jiu 45 46
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Thunder God Shed of Ever Joy; one of Dao Youming's Guangwang Street Five Tigers 59
Occupation/Role	Straw Sandal; Dao Youming's confidant; manager of Jinghai Casino 59 70
Status	Deceased — killed by Li Xiuwen during the Guangwang Street gang clash 72 74
First Appearance	Chapter 31

Background / History

Za Jiu rose from the position of a servant to the Snake Muscle stage by reading his superiors' moods and currying favor with them. Despite reaching the Second Gate, he had exhausted much of his potential and sought Dao Youming's patronage to reach Python Muscle. 54

He became one of Dao Youming's four trusted Straw Sandals alongside Copper Hammer, Golden Leopard, and Chang San. The five had grown up as street punks known collectively as the Five Tigers of Guangwang Street. 59

Appearance

Za Jiu favors a sharp suit and tie, maintaining a composed appearance even after personally dealing with enemies. He is also frequently depicted smoking cigars. 45 48 54

• Uses a ghost mask while conducting covert attacks. 46 56
• Concealed his badly damaged right arm beneath a sleeve and plaster cast after fighting Little Loudspeaker. 56 71

Personality

Za Jiu is cautious and calculating when dealing with uncertain threats. He rejects acting against Li Xiuwen without evidence, recognizing that openly provoking Huang Sihai and Four Seas Martial Arts Hall could bring consequences Thunder God Shed did not need. 45

His caution is paired with ambition. He undertakes the investigation into Brother Ji's death hoping to earn a Flood-Dragon Elixir and advance beyond Snake Muscle; even after Dao Youming tells him to abandon the matter, he continues pursuing Li Xiuwen's Binding Armor Skill as a greater contribution. 31 56 67

When confronting weaker opponents, Za Jiu is cruel and arrogant. During the Guangwang Street clash, he beats A Zhen, Silly Qiang, and Liu Chun, then orders his lackey to strip A Zhen. 72

Abilities & Skills

Snake Muscle Cultivation

Za Jiu is a Second Gate martial artist at the Snake Muscle stage, though his strength is regarded as average among practitioners of that level due to his age and limited future potential. 54 60

• His full-force kick could have split an ordinary peak Black Membrane fighter in half. 56
• He was unable to decisively overcome Li Xiuwen after Li's Binding Armor Skill dispersed the impact of his attacks. 56
• His right ulna and portions of his meridians were damaged by Little Loudspeaker's Vajra Lion Palm, substantially weakening him for roughly a month. 56

Thunder God Style

Za Jiu practices the orthodox Thunder God Style and specializes in its Whirlwind Kick leg technique. 60

• He concealed this style during his first assault on Li Xiuwen, instead using common street-fighting methods to protect his identity. 56
• He lacked a dedicated movement technique, leaving him unable to match Li Xiuwen's Thousand-Wave Floating Radiance in mobility. 63

Covert Fighting Methods

Za Jiu supplements direct combat with concealed weapons and underhanded tactics. 56 72

• Carries and uses a dagger in close combat. 56
• Throws hidden daggers as a surprise attack. 72
• Uses quicklime mixed with poison powder or iron sand to obstruct enemies and escape. 56 72
• His reliance on these tricks becomes a liability against Li Xiuwen, who had repeatedly studied his habits in the Grand Void Illusory Realm. 62 72

Equipment / Items

• Ghost mask used during covert operations. 46 56
• Concealed dagger and hidden throwing daggers. 56 72
• Quicklime and powdered irritants. 56 72
• Flood-Dragon Elixir given by Dao Youming while he recovered from his injury; Li Xiuwen later takes it from Za Jiu's private stash. 67 74

Relationships

• Dao Youming — Superior, confidant, and fellow member of the Five Tigers of Guangwang Street. Dao Youming entrusts him with Brother Ji's murder investigation and rewards him with a Flood-Dragon Elixir despite warning him not to pursue the case further. 31 54 67
• Li Xiuwen — Primary target and eventual killer. Za Jiu suspects Li of murdering the Thirteen Guardians, attacks him for his hard-qigong manual, and is later killed by him while both are masked. 45 56 72 74
• Little Loudspeaker — Enemy who intervenes in Za Jiu's attack on Li Xiuwen and cripples his right arm with the Vajra Lion Palm. 56 60
• Missing-Tooth Kid — Underling assigned to investigate Li Xiuwen; his disappearance intensifies Za Jiu's suspicions. 46 48
• A Zhen, Silly Qiang, and Liu Chun — Four Seas Martial Arts Hall disciples whom Za Jiu assaults during the Guangwang Street conflict. 71 72

Story Role / Major Arcs

Investigation into the Thirteen Guardians

Za Jiu volunteers to investigate Brother Ji's death, hoping successful service to Dao Youming will earn him a Flood-Dragon Elixir. His men identify Li Xiuwen as a suspect because of Li's rapid cultivation, his connection to Chen's Rice Noodle Factory, and the Thirteen Guardians' extortion of that business. 31 45

Although he suspects Li, Za Jiu refuses to have him seized without proof, fearing the repercussions of disrespecting Huang Sihai and Four Seas Martial Arts Hall. 45

Conflict with Li Xiuwen

After Missing-Tooth Kid disappears while investigating Li, Za Jiu personally attacks Li Xiuwen in a ghost mask. He discovers Li's hard qigong when his full-force kick fails to incapacitate him. 48 56

Little Loudspeaker interrupts the fight and breaks Za Jiu's right arm. Rather than abandoning Li, Za Jiu becomes determined to seize Li's hard-qigong manual and present it to Dao Youming. 56

Death at Guangwang Street

During the clash between Hesheng Tu and Thunder God Shed, Za Jiu avoids Little Loudspeaker and slips into an alley, where he overpowers A Zhen, Silly Qiang, and Liu Chun. 71 72

Li Xiuwen follows him while masked. Za Jiu's hidden daggers and quicklime escape tactic fail, and Li kills him with a blade strike followed by a hard-qigong-enhanced elbow to the head. 72 74

Za Jiu's death allows Dao Youming to accuse Hesheng Tu of orchestrating both Brother Ji's murder and the attack on Za Jiu, escalating the turf conflict into a larger confrontation. 74