Chen Kuang

Biodata

Appearance

Chen Kuang is a burly, sinister-faced middle-aged man whose presence carries the aura of someone accustomed to bloodshed. 8 9

• Burly build and sinister features. 8
• Projects a violent, bloodthirsty aura that warns others to keep their distance. 9
• Often operates from a secondary residence south of Willow Alley rather than the public yamen. 28 29

Personality

Chen Kuang is calculating and cautious when protecting the conspiracy behind him. Rather than openly murder Lu Yuan, he arranges lethal escort missions because an unexplained death of a yamen runner could attract the Demon Suppression Office's scrutiny. 9 21

He is also ruthless and vindictive. He treats the deaths of constables as routine, sends assassins after Lu Yuan, and shifts his attention to Green Mountain Village when direct action becomes too risky. 9 28 29 His composure collapses when Lu Yuan overwhelms the Five Great Demon Houses, leaving him terrified enough to beg desperately for his life. 63 64

Background

Chen Kuang serves as captain of Pingyang County's constables' division, but secretly maintains dealings with demon beasts. Dou Chu reports directly to him after delivering Lu Yuan's escort assignment, revealing Chen Kuang's role in arranging the mission. 8

He deliberately designs the escort of a First-Order Perfected demon beast corpse and two female prisoners as a plausible way for Lu Yuan to die outside the county. He considers such deaths normal during troubled times and seeks to avoid attracting the Demon Suppression Office's attention. 9

Chen Kuang's arrangement includes an agreement with Bai Sanniang of the White Family: if Lu Yuan survives the initial journey, he is to escort the demon corpse alone to the Black Market Shrine, where harm could come to him without implicating the conspirators. 24

Criminal Dealings

• Arranged dangerous missions intended to kill Lu Yuan while concealing his involvement. 9 21
• Maintained an agreement with Bai Sanniang and the White Family concerning demon-beast corpses. 24
• Sent Dou Chu and four First-Rank Upper Martial Artists to assassinate Lu Yuan. 28 29
• Considered using Green Mountain Village and Lu Yuan's family to force Lu Yuan to expose his supposed backing. 27 29
• Communicated with Black Wind Stronghold by carrier pigeon after deciding to target Lu Yuan's family. 29
• Hosted the Five Great Demon Houses at his Willow Alley residence and sought to offer Green Mountain Village as blood food. 61
• Was connected to an unidentified force from the capital. 34 63

Story Role / Major Arcs

Plotting Against Lu Yuan

Chen Kuang initially regards Lu Yuan as disposable and repeatedly attempts to eliminate him through official assignments. After Lu Yuan returns alive from the Sea-Gazing County escort, Chen Kuang accuses him of colluding with demons and killing Shi Yun, but is unable to act openly once the Bao brothers testify. 21 27

Lu Yuan warns Chen Kuang that his connection with demons is known. In response, Chen Kuang threatens the safety of Lu Yuan's family in Green Mountain Village, turning their conflict into a fight to the death. 27

Failed Assassination and Escalation

Chen Kuang sends four First-Rank Upper Martial Artists and Dou Chu to kill Lu Yuan. The entire group is killed, and Yue Lun's investigation leads him to suspect that Lu Yuan may be an undercover operative of the Demon Suppression Office. 28 29

Unable to safely target Lu Yuan directly, Chen Kuang decides to attack Green Mountain Village instead. He sends a message toward Black Wind Mountain, linking him to the threat posed by Black Wind Stronghold. 29 61

Death

After Black Wind Stronghold is destroyed, Chen Kuang assumes Lu Yuan died there and meets the Five Great Demon Houses in his secondary residence. He attempts to appease them by promising Green Mountain Village as a source of human blood food. 61

Lu Yuan infiltrates the residence, kills the five demons, and confronts Chen Kuang. Chen Kuang admits that he had Black Wind Stronghold target Lu Yuan's family, claiming he acted under coercion from the demons. Lu Yuan beheads him. 63 64

Relationships

• Lu Yuan — Enemy. Chen Kuang repeatedly plots to kill him, threatens his family, and is ultimately executed by him. 9 27 64
• Dou Chu — Subordinate and confidant who delivers Chen Kuang's orders and participates in the assassination attempt against Lu Yuan. 8 28
• Shi Yun — Constable involved in Chen Kuang's escort arrangement with the demon houses. 24
• Yue Lun — Associate connected to the force above Chen Kuang; warns him not to directly target Lu Yuan due to suspected Demon Suppression Office ties. 29
• Five Great Demon Houses — Secret collaborators whom Chen Kuang supplies and attempts to appease with human blood food. 61 63
• Black Wind Stronghold — Criminal force Chen Kuang uses against Green Mountain Village. 29 61
• Han Tong — Pingyang County's chief clerk, who warns Chen Kuang against abusing his authority against Lu Yuan. 34

Trivia

• Chen Kuang's failure to conceal his demon dealings becomes the central reason Lu Yuan targets him before returning to Black Triangle Mountain. 61
• His death coincides with the destruction of the Five Great Demon Houses' local members and Black Wind Stronghold. 64