Hu Bayi

Biodata

Feature	Details
Name	Hu Bayi (胡八一)
Alias(es)	Old Hu
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Grave-Robbing Trio; Panda Express
Occupation/Role	Former Gold-Seeking Commandant; Panda Express owner and former manager
Status	Alive; his memories of Huang Bai and related events are later sealed. 169
First Appearance	Chapter 3

Background

Hu Bayi arrives in the United States without legal status alongside Wang Pangzi. Unable to rely on any trade other than grave robbing and unwilling to ask Shirley Yang for support, he survives through small street trades while evading immigration raids. His chance encounter with Huang Bai changes his circumstances. 3

With Huang Bai's backing, Hu becomes manager of Panda Express and helps turn it into a successful business with plans for additional branches. He gains financial stability and confidence, no longer avoiding Shirley Yang; he also gathers unusual alchemical materials for Huang Bai. 4

At his wedding, Huang Bai transfers all Panda Express shares to Hu, leaving him in control of the business. 10

Power Progression

Chapter(s)	Development
3–4	Establishes a legitimate livelihood through Panda Express while retaining the practical knowledge and instincts of a Gold-Seeking Commandant. 3 4
7	Applies the Sixteen-Character Yin-Yang Feng Shui Secret Art to calculate the tomb's Gate of Life while under Ying Caihong's coercion. 7
9	Uses his memories of the Nine-Story Demon Pagoda to visualize demon insects within the Flower of the Other Shore illusion, helping eliminate the Khitan warriors. 9
69–71	Recognizes Huang Bai's use of the feng shui secret art and receives occasional guidance, improving his understanding of terrain, mountain qi, and route selection. 69 71
75	Arranges an ultimate-yang array eye at Bottle Mountain according to the Sixteen-Character Yin-Yang Feng Shui Secret Art and Huang Bai's instructions. 75
165–166	Acknowledges the limits of his own tombcraft when he cannot decipher the Wu Gorge jade lock, demonstrating that its mixed feng shui, shamanic, and mechanical design exceeds his knowledge. 165 166

Personality

Hu is proud and initially reluctant to accept help, particularly from Shirley Yang, but he is deeply loyal to his companions. He abandons his peaceful new life to accompany Wang Pangzi on one final expedition because he cannot leave a fellow member of the Grave-Robbing Trio behind. 3 5

He is practical, observant, and more reserved than Wang Pangzi. While he respects Huang Bai's extraordinary ability, he remains grounded in fieldcraft and evaluates dangerous terrain carefully rather than relying on mysticism alone. 69 70

Though initially skeptical of Huang Bai's Daoist cultivation, Hu gradually accepts the existence of ghosts, immortals, and supernatural forces after repeatedly witnessing Huang Bai's abilities. 4 69 72

Abilities & Skills

Feng Shui and Tombcraft

Hu is a Gold-Seeking Commandant versed in the incomplete Sixteen-Character Yin-Yang Feng Shui Secret Art.

• Identifies tomb formations, including the Water Dragon Halo formation in Worm Valley. 70
• Uses geomantic principles to navigate mountain terrain and assess routes through tombs. 7 71
• Calculates the Gate of Life within the Millennium Goddess Tomb while Ying Caihong's group forces him to lead the way. 7
• Recognizes Huang Bai's use of the Sixteen-Character Yin-Yang Feng Shui Secret Art and benefits from his occasional guidance. 69 71
• Constructs the ultimate-yang array eye at Bottle Mountain under Huang Bai's direction. 75
• Cannot solve every mechanism; he is unable to crack the jade lock encountered in Wu Gorge. 165

Field Combat and Survival

Hu remains capable in dangerous tomb environments despite intending to retire.

• Fights Khitan warriors in coordination with Wang Pangzi during the Flower of the Other Shore illusion. 9
• Visualizes the demon insects of the Nine-Story Demon Pagoda during the Flower of the Other Shore illusion, turning the memory into a weapon against the Khitan warriors. 9
• Uses firearms with Shirley Yang and Wang Pangzi against hostile creatures in Worm Valley. 70
• Joins Chen Lian and the Wrathful Sunny Rooster in carrying out Huang Bai's instructions within King Xian's underground burial chamber. 73
• Maintains composure in supernatural environments and warns the group when terrain is dangerous. 70

Equipment / Items

• Compass — Used to detect disruptions connected to the Worm Valley meteorite and its magnetic field. 71
• Gold-Seeking Talismans — Hu possesses three of the surviving talismans before giving them to Huang Bai after retiring from tomb raiding. 10
• Incomplete Sixteen-Character Yin-Yang Feng Shui Secret Art — Given to Huang Bai together with the talismans. 10
• Tactical Tomb-Raiding Gear — During the Worm Valley expedition, Hu equips himself with a gas mask, rope, explosives, an entrenching shovel, a submachine gun, and grenades. 70

Relationships

• Huang Bai — Benefactor, employer, teacher, and later a powerful ally. Huang Bai helps Hu establish himself in the United States; Hu later entrusts him with the Gold-Seeking Talismans and the incomplete feng shui manual. During the Worm Valley expedition, Huang Bai further guides Hu's understanding of the secret art and ultimately removes Hu's red eyeball curse. Huang Bai later seals Hu's memories along with those of the others. 4 10 71 76 169
• Shirley Yang — Wife and expedition partner. She stands with Hu during his final mission, accepts his proposal after their escape from the tomb, and marries him in San Francisco. 5 9 10
• Wang Pangzi — Closest friend and fellow member of the Grave-Robbing Trio. Hu returns to tomb raiding for one last mission rather than abandon him. 5
• Rongbao — Huang Bai's disciple, who introduces Hu and his companions to Huang Bai during their search for Worm Valley. Rongbao later asks Hu to locate Jin Wantang and have him inherit Heavenly Dao Temple. 68 69 70
• Ying Caihong — Enemy during the Millennium Goddess Tomb expedition; she threatens Hu's companions to force his cooperation. 7
• Chen Lian — Fellow participant in the Worm Valley expedition who enters King Xian's underground burial chamber with Hu. 73

Story Role / Major Arcs

Life in the United States

After meeting Huang Bai while fleeing immigration officers, Hu receives the opportunity to build a new life. He manages Panda Express, becomes a shareholder, and begins planning a future with Shirley Yang. 3 4

Millennium Goddess Tomb

Wang Pangzi's search for closure over Ding Sitian pulls Hu back toward tomb raiding. Hu reluctantly agrees to one final expedition, bringing Shirley Yang with him. 5

Inside the tomb, Ying Caihong attempts to coerce Hu by threatening Big Gold Tooth and the others. Huang Bai's intervention saves the group, while Hu contributes his feng shui knowledge to finding a viable route. 7

When the Flower of the Other Shore traps the group in illusions, Hu visualizes the demon insects from the Nine-Story Demon Pagoda to help repel the Khitan warriors. Afterward, he burns the remains of his former comrades, finds peace with the past, and resolves to abandon grave robbing. 9

Retirement and Marriage

Hu gives Huang Bai the three Gold-Seeking Talismans and the incomplete Sixteen-Character Yin-Yang Feng Shui Secret Art, declaring that he no longer needs them. Huang Bai subsequently transfers full ownership of Panda Express to Hu. He marries Shirley Yang in San Francisco. 10

Yunnan Worm Valley

Hu, Shirley Yang, and Wang Pangzi later seek Huang Bai's help to enter Yunnan Worm Valley and lift the red eyeball curse on Hu's shoulder. 65 69

Though Huang Bai makes clear that their goals are separate, Hu assists the expedition with feng shui analysis, identifies the Water Dragon Halo formation, and receives further insight into the Sixteen-Character Yin-Yang Feng Shui Secret Art. 69 70 71

Hu joins the descent into King Xian's tomb and participates in the ritual that causes King Xian's corpse to merge with the ten-thousand-year flesh ganoderma. 73

After the expedition, Huang Bai heals Hu's injured hand with a talisman. Hu then directs the construction of an ultimate-yang array eye at Bottle Mountain, enabling Huang Bai to open the Snake God's Eye with the Muchen Pearl. 75

When Huang Bai disappears after taking the Muchen Pearl, Hu discovers that the red eyeball curse has vanished from his shoulder. He regrets being unable to properly thank Huang Bai before his departure. 76

Later Expeditions

Hu continues exploring dangerous tombs with Wang Pangzi and Shirley Yang. During an expedition in Wu Gorge, he acknowledges that a jade lock exceeds his ability to decipher; Huang Bai later arrives, to Hu's visible relief. 165 166

Following the Wu Gorge expedition, Hu again states that he intends to leave tomb raiding behind and return to the United States with Shirley Yang. Huang Bai then exposes Hu, Shirley Yang, and Wang Pangzi to Five Zhi Pill powder; their memories of Huang Bai and the related events are subsequently sealed. 168 169

Notable Quotes

“The Grave-Robbing Trio lives together and dies apart. I can't just ignore Little Fatty.” 5

“From this day onward, there would be no more Gold-Seeking Commandants in this world.” 9