Shen Qingzhu

Biodata

Feature	Information
Name	Shen Qingzhu (沈青竹)
Gender	Female
Affiliation	Demon Suppression Office 50
Occupation/Role	Demon Suppression Office demon-slayer; formerly an escorted prisoner 21 50
Status	Injured and rescued by Lu Yuan; later believed dead by the Demon Suppression Office 54 81
First Appearance	Chapter 21

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
First-Order Mid-Rank Martial Warrior	25	Her surging qi and blood, cage-breaking inner qi, and soft-sword techniques reveal that she is a capable martial warrior.
Second-Rank Peak Realm	50	Reappears in Demon Suppression Office uniform with condensed vital blood and a razor-sharp aura. Chapter 51 describes her as Second-Rank Upper Realm while fighting the Ghost-Faced Lynx.

Background / History

Shen Qingzhu initially travels as a female prisoner under escort to Sea-Gazing County. Unlike A Xiu, she remains composed, refuses to be intimidated by the escorting bailiffs, and possesses enough status to make Shi Yun wary 21 22.

Her imprisonment is voluntary: escaping would implicate her family under collective-punishment laws, while her family had already arranged for her redemption upon reaching Sea-Gazing County. She later admits that she also regarded the experience of being escorted as a prisoner as something novel 26.

During the journey, she intervenes when Shi Yun harasses A Xiu. After Bao Tianbao pressures A Xiu to drink drugged wine, Shen Qingzhu drinks it herself and is subsequently locked in Lu Yuan's room by A Xiu. Lu Yuan helps her expel the aphrodisiac with ice water, internal-energy circulation, and pain to keep her conscious. Shen Qingzhu publicly clears Lu Yuan of Shi Yun's accusation the following morning, then promises to settle the score with Shi Yun after her sentence ends 22 23 24.

When Bai Sanniang attacks the escort party, Shen Qingzhu breaks out of the prison cart and confronts the First-Order Peak Hedgehog Demon with her soft sword. She is injured after failing to pierce the demon's defenses, but survives when Lu Yuan kills Bai Sanniang. At Sea-Gazing County, her family connections secure her immediate release, and she tells Lu Yuan that they had watched each other's backs 25 26.

She later resurfaces as a leading member of the Demon Suppression Office's team investigating demonic activity in the Azure Cloud Mountain Range. There, she confronts Azure Rock Sword Manor and the Celestial Spirit Control Office over their obstruction of demon-slaying operations 50.

Appearance

Shen Qingzhu is a clear and refined beauty with bright eyes and pearly teeth. Her cold, distant bearing remains evident even while she wears a coarse prison uniform 21.

• Initially wears a coarse prisoner uniform and shackles 21 24.
• Carries a silvery-white soft sword around her waist during the escort 25.
• Later wears the Demon Suppression Office's close-fitting black uniform, with her long hair tied high and a narrow-bladed saber at her waist 50.
• Her official appearance is marked by a frost-cold expression and heroic bearing 50.

Personality

Shen Qingzhu is proud, blunt, and fiercely protective of her dignity. She does not defer to Shi Yun or the Bao brothers despite being their prisoner, relying on her knowledge of Great Harvest law to force Shi Yun to back down 22.

She is also protective of others in weaker positions. She shields A Xiu from harassment, drinks the wine intended for her, and reassures her that the bailiffs would not dare touch her 22.

Her resolve persists under extreme pressure. While badly wounded and facing He Changqing, she refuses to disclose Demon Suppression Office secrets and prepares to make a final attack despite knowing she is outmatched 53 54.

Abilities & Skills

Martial Cultivation

Shen Qingzhu possesses substantial internal energy and combat training, far beyond what her status as a prisoner initially suggests.

• Shatters the wooden prison-cart cage with a burst of inner qi 25.
• Reaches at least the First-Order Mid-Rank Martial Warrior level during the escort 25.
• Later attains Second-Rank cultivation and serves in the Demon Suppression Office 50 51.
• Her vital blood is described as condensed like mercury at Second-Rank Peak Realm 50.

Weapon Proficiency

She is proficient with both a flexible soft sword and the Demon Suppression Office's narrow-bladed saber.

• Uses light, nimble, deceptive soft-sword techniques against Bai Sanniang, aiming for joints and eyes when unable to penetrate the demon's spikes 25.
• Draws her narrow-bladed saber to block the Ghost-Faced Lynx's claws and fight it at close quarters 51.
• Her saber supports her while she continues resisting He Changqing despite severe injuries 53.

Blood-Burning Art

A secret art used to burn blood essence for temporary fighting power.

• Allows her to continue holding off opponents after sustaining grave injuries 52 53.
• Costs several years of lifespan per use and leaves the user extremely weakened afterward 54.
• Its use ultimately causes her to collapse after Lu Yuan kills He Changqing 54.

Knowledge of Great Harvest Law

Shen Qingzhu knows the statutes governing female prisoners and uses them to protect herself and A Xiu.

• Cites the severe penalties imposed on bailiffs who violate female prisoners 22.
• Uses the law and her personal standing to deter Shi Yun from abusing A Xiu 22.

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Silvery-white soft sword — A flexible sword worn around her waist during the prison escort 25.
• Narrow-bladed saber — Her weapon as a Demon Suppression Office operative 50 51.
• Demon Suppression Office token — An official token belonging to Shen Qingzhu; Lu Yuan later possesses it after arranging her treatment 60 81.

Relationships

• Lu Yuan — Former escorting constable and repeated ally. He helps her survive the aphrodisiac, saves her from Bai Sanniang's attack, and later rescues her from He Changqing; she promises to intervene if he faces danger 23 25 26 54.
• A Xiu — Fellow prisoner whom Shen Qingzhu protects from Shi Yun and Bao Tianbao. A Xiu later locks Shen Qingzhu into Lu Yuan's room after the drug takes effect 22.
• Shi Yun — Escorting bailiff who attempts to exploit A Xiu and later accuses Lu Yuan. Shen Qingzhu invokes the law against him and slaps him after learning she was drugged 22 24.
• Bao Tianbao — Bailiff who pressures A Xiu to drink wine and is implicated in drugging Shen Qingzhu 22 23.
• Han Lie — Demon Suppression Office colleague with Second-Rank Upper Realm cultivation; accompanies Shen Qingzhu at Azure Cloud Mountain 50 51.
• Sun Yun — Demon Suppression Office colleague with Second-Rank Upper Realm cultivation; fights beside Shen Qingzhu against the Ghost-Faced Lynx 50 51.
• He Changqing — Azure Rock Sword Manor sword cultivator who pursues Shen Qingzhu, attempts to force Demon Suppression Office secrets from her, and is killed by Lu Yuan 51 54.
• Helian Zheng — Demon Suppression Office elder who later states that Shen Qingzhu was among three office members killed in the earlier ambush 81.

Story Role / Major Arcs

Sea-Gazing County Escort

Shen Qingzhu is introduced as an unusually composed female prisoner. She protects A Xiu from the escorting bailiffs, survives their drugging scheme with Lu Yuan's help, and exposes Shi Yun's involvement rather than allowing Lu Yuan to be framed 21 22 23 24.

Bai Sanniang's Attack and Release

She reveals her martial ability by breaking free from her prison cart and fighting Bai Sanniang. After Lu Yuan kills the demon, Shen Qingzhu is released at Sea-Gazing County through arrangements made by her family 25 26.

Azure Cloud Mountain Investigation

Now serving the Demon Suppression Office, Shen Qingzhu investigates a demonic presence near a cave claimed by Azure Rock Sword Manor and the Celestial Spirit Control Office. She refuses to yield jurisdiction over demon-related crimes 50.

Ghost-Faced Lynx Ambush

Shen Qingzhu battles the Ghost-Faced Lynx with Han Lie and Sun Yun, then is pursued by He Changqing after witnessing the opposing factions' collusion. She offers to remain behind so Lu Yuan can escape, burns her blood essence to resist He Changqing, and is rescued when Lu Yuan returns and kills him 51 52 53 54.

Notable Quotes

“Keep your filthy hands to yourself, they really ruin my appetite.” 22

“Sit down and eat, these people wouldn't dare touch you.” 22

“If I escaped, then under the Great Harvest Statutes, it would become a crime of collective punishment and implicate my family.” 26

“This time, we can count it as having watched each other's backs. But if you are in danger next time, this young lady will intervene once.” 26