Song Huai

Biodata

Feature	Value
Name	Song Huai (宋怀)
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Benevolent Heart Medicine Hall; Alchemy Hall
Occupation/Role	Chief Alchemist of the Alchemy Hall; Jiang Feng's teacher and employer
First Appearance	Chapter 10

Background / History

Song Huai serves as the chief alchemist of the Benevolent Heart Medicine Hall's Alchemy Hall, the institution's central source of wealth and reputation. Before Jiang Feng's arrival, he had repeatedly lost assistants due to his severe temper; apprentices described being beaten or berated for minor errors and rarely lasting a month. His previous attendant was dismissed for stealing pills. 10

When Xie Shu brought the apprentice Jiang Feng to him, Song Huai openly objected to receiving an apprentice rather than a guard. He gave Jiang Feng two days to memorize a worn herb manual and intended to send him away if he failed. Jiang Feng's accurate identification of both Rhodiola Powder and the light-sensitive Shadow Mist Herb changed Song Huai's opinion, earning him a place as an assistant. 10 11

Song Huai provided Jiang Feng with the basic Blood-Qi Pill prescription and trained him through hands-on work: preparing materials, responding immediately to requests during refinement, and observing the furnace process. His approval grew as Jiang Feng's diligence and ability improved, and he urged Xie Shu to keep Jiang Feng from being sent on the Black Wind Mountain herb-collection trip. 12 13 15

After Jiang Feng returned from the expedition and became a guard, Song Huai was furious that Xie Shu had transferred him away from the Alchemy Hall. He agreed without hesitation to take Jiang Feng as his alchemy boy, gave him lodging in the Alchemy Hall courtyard, and began teaching him more advanced knowledge after learning that Jiang Feng could manifest blood-qi. 46 47

Jiang Feng's first independent Blood-Qi Pill refinement produced six pills—four low-grade and two mid-grade—after he experimented with the pill-condensation process. Recognizing both Jiang Feng's talent and the value of his improved method, Song Huai offered to personally guarantee Jiang Feng's promotion to official alchemist. 49 50

Appearance

Song Huai is an elderly, white-haired man with slightly cloudy eyes, a beard, and a deeply lined face that becomes more pronounced when he smiles. 10 13 47

• Usually works beside the alchemy furnace in the smoke-filled Alchemy Hall. 46 47
• Often wears robes and sits on a meditation cushion while refining pills. 46 48
• His stern expression and forceful manner make him intimidating to assistants and guards alike. 10 46

Personality

Song Huai is blunt, irritable, and uncompromising about alchemy. He has little patience for incompetence, particularly when poor work threatens medicinal quality or delays the preparation of difficult pills. He is willing to berate subordinates, reject unreasonable production demands, and speak critically of the Wu family despite the political risk. 10 46

His harshness is tied to high standards rather than indiscriminate cruelty. He values diligence, observational ability, and genuine commitment to alchemy; once Jiang Feng demonstrates these qualities, Song Huai becomes unusually considerate, sharing breakfast with him, arranging his living conditions, and actively seeking his return to the Alchemy Hall. 13 46 47

Though proud and initially suspicious of Jiang Feng's unconventional refinement method, Song Huai listens once he sees evidence. He regards Jiang Feng's open sharing of the improved method as a favor he must repay, prompting his offer to stand surety for the younger man's advancement. 49 50

Abilities & Skills

Alchemy

Song Huai is the Benevolent Heart Medicine Hall's chief alchemist and an experienced Blood-Qi Pill refiner.

• Can refine up to five Blood-Qi Pills per furnace while maintaining stable quality. 46 50
• Sets a personal production limit of four furnaces per day; exceeding it would reduce pill quality and waste herbs. 46
• Recognizes the scent of a successful refinement before inspecting the furnace contents. 49
• Is preparing a Barrier-Breaking Pill, a second-grade pill substantially more difficult than a Blood-Qi Pill. 46

Fire Control and Furnace Work

Song Huai controls furnace fire with subtle, rapid adjustments while continuing to instruct assistants. His cultivation is sufficient for the blood-qi control required in alchemy, though his specific martial realm is not stated. 13

• Teaches that freely expanding and contracting blood-qi is necessary to practice Fire Control Art. 13
• Identifies the seventh layer of the Blood-Moving Realm as the minimum threshold for this control. 13
• Was prepared to intervene with his own blood-qi during Jiang Feng's dangerous pill-condensation attempt. 48

Alchemy Instruction

Song Huai evaluates potential assistants through practical tests and teaches through direct participation in the Alchemy Room.

• Tested Jiang Feng's memory using a herb manual and rare medicinal materials. 11
• Entrusted Jiang Feng with the Blood-Qi Pill prescription, material preparation, and live assistance during refinement. 12
• Allowed Jiang Feng to refine independently despite the risk of a furnace explosion, believing practical experience was essential to becoming a true alchemist. 48
• Recognized Jiang Feng's reproduction of his own unconscious habits, including hand seals, herb-smelling, and silent counting between stages. 48

Relationships

• Jiang Feng — Initially his reluctant apprentice-assistant, later his alchemy boy and student. Song Huai comes to view Jiang Feng as a natural alchemy talent, teaches him advanced knowledge, and offers to guarantee his promotion to official alchemist. 11 47 50
• Xie Shu — An old acquaintance and the Benevolent Heart Medicine Hall's resident manager. Song Huai argues with Xie Shu freely, particularly over Jiang Feng's reassignment and production demands. 15 46
• Wu Han — The Wu family's Second Young Master. Song Huai is tasked with refining a Barrier-Breaking Pill for Wu Han, though he openly criticizes Wu Han's conduct. 10 41 46
• Zhang Yong and Zhang Yang — Two assistants whom Song Huai considers incompetent; he dismisses them from the room while discussing Jiang Feng's proposed refinement change. 46 49

Notable Quotes

“Therefore, the 7th Layer of the Blood-Moving Realm is a hurdle. Jiang Feng, you must put in the effort; do not let your talent go to waste.” 13

“That kid Jiang Feng is a natural-born talent for the craft of alchemy.” 47

“Jiang Feng, you are a true alchemy genius. Surpassing me in the future is a certainty.” 50