Uncle Shui

Biodata

Background / History

Uncle Shui made a name for himself in the martial world in his youth and was known as a renowned hero with an unspecified martial moniker. As Xie Zhengtang’s sworn brother, he joined the Xie Household as head guard and steward rather than as an ordinary servant. Xie An has always treated him as an elder uncle, while the household guards regard him with marked respect. 2 3

He later reveals his full name, Su Shuibo, and his former martial-world sobriquet, “Iron-Armed Copper Gong.” He once destroyed the Cloudflight Gang. His Taishan Fist is a secret transmission of the Eight Extremes Sect in Nanyang Prefecture City. 5 70

When the Grain-Collecting Ghost appears at Li Family Village, Uncle Shui immediately identifies it as a spirit born from oppressive rule, massacre, and accumulated resentment. He warns that, because Li Family Village belongs to the Xie Household, the ghost may trace its way back to the landlord’s residence to collect its “taxes.” 2 11

At Xie Zhengtang’s order, he is tasked with locating condemned bandits for Returning Dragon Abbey’s sacrificial rite, demonstrating his willingness to take harsh measures to protect the household. 2

Initially convinced that Xie An lacks the endurance for martial training, Uncle Shui lends him the difficult Taishan Fist expecting the young master to give up. Xie An’s rapid mastery instead convinces him that he possesses rare Awakening Enlightenment or “divine martial talent,” and Uncle Shui formally accepts him as a student. 3 5 8

During the failed rites at Li Family Village, Uncle Shui reveals himself as a Dark Force master by killing the possessed corpse of Daoist Li Yunfeng. He later repeats this action against Zhang Yunhe after the second Daoist also returns from the village already dead. Neither intervention resolves the underlying supernatural danger. 12 21

As the threat escalates from Li Family Village to Zhao Hu’s residence, Uncle Shui directs the household’s emergency response: he isolates the affected residence, orders White Goddess Shrine lanterns hung around the Xie estate, and reports the crisis to Xie Zhengtang. He recognizes that his Dark Force cannot decisively defeat the Monster Strain born from Liu Fu’s womb. 26 28 29

He helps bring Xie Yu—long believed dead—back into the family’s response to the crisis. After she emerges under the identity of Daoist Master Yusu, Uncle Shui supports her decision to guide and protect Xie An without immediately revealing their sibling relationship. 30 31

Uncle Shui, Xie Zhengtang, and Xie Yu spent thirteen years preparing for the Xie Household to establish itself as a fourth power capable of performing rites against evil spirits in Qingwu County. He leads the household’s group to the public ceremony near Li Family Village while Xie Zhengtang goes to the inner city. 65 66 70

During the ceremony, Uncle Shui confronts Hua Qianxiong and reveals the full extent of his perfected Dark Force. Their battle leaves him gravely wounded. Although his Dark Force protects his vital organs and he survives, Physician Li Yuqiao fears that he may never regain his martial prowess. He remains under treatment during the conclusion of the Li Family Village rite. 70 74 79 82

Appearance

Uncle Shui is a lean, sharp-featured older martial artist who commonly wears a gray cloth robe or gray long robe. His bearing remains unusually keen and forceful even when performing household duties. 2 16

• Lean frame and a sharply defined martial presence. 2
• Callused hands from lifelong martial training. 4
• Usually dresses in plain gray robes rather than conspicuous martial attire. 2 8
• Possesses an immense, murderous Vital Breath that rises in surging waves when viewed through Xie An’s Qi-Gazing. 16
• His arms are extraordinarily durable; he wears hinged metal gloves when preparing to fight Hua Qianxiong. 70
• After fighting Hua, he suffers blackened chest wounds, severe blood loss, and faint breathing. 74

Personality

Uncle Shui is practical, disciplined, and deeply protective of the Xie Household. He does not romanticize martial arts or supernatural threats; his first instinct is to assess danger, establish taboos, prepare an escape route, and use whatever measures are necessary to safeguard the family. 2 4 11

He is initially blunt about Xie An’s weaknesses, believing the formerly idle young master cannot endure real training. Once Xie An proves otherwise, Uncle Shui becomes an encouraging mentor and openly takes pride in his extraordinary talent. 3 8 13

Although he can be ruthless when confronting possessed corpses or arranging sacrifices, he is emotionally attached to Xie Zhengtang and Xie Yu. He is visibly affected by Xie Yu’s decade of suffering and supports Xie Zhengtang through his guilt. 12 29 30

His commitment to the family’s long-prepared cause leaves him unwilling to retreat from Hua Qianxiong, even at the risk of his life. When Xie An defeats Hua, Uncle Shui responds with pride and relief rather than concern for his own wounds. 70 74 78

Abilities & Skills

Dark Force

Uncle Shui is one of the rare genuine Dark Force masters in Qingwu County’s outer city. His Inner Force can enter another body, detect whether its Vital Breath has ceased, and strike through the target rather than merely battering its exterior. 4 12 16

• Killed Li Yunfeng’s possessed corpse by sending Dark Force through its body and dispersing the resentful energy inhabiting it. 12
• Can examine another person’s body and Vital Breath by injecting Dark Force through their meridians and acupoints. 16 17
• Crushed Zhang Yunhe with a single palm after recognizing that the Daoist had also died at Li Family Village. 21
• Possesses enough force that Xie An believes Uncle Shui could shatter his muscles, bones, and organs within moments if hostile. 16
• Cannot directly and reliably kill powerful unbound ghosts; Dark Force is chiefly effective against Yin-Baleful Essence within possessed bodies. 4
• Could not inflict a fatal wound on the Monster Strain and feared provoking it while Xie An was nearby. 26
• Reached completion in Dark Force. In his battle with Hua Qianxiong, he channels it through successive Taishan Fist strikes; it later protects his heart meridians and internal organs from otherwise fatal injuries. 70 79
• His perfected Dark Force cannot break the defenses of Su Hongxiu’s ghost. Hua Qianxiong attributes this limitation to Uncle Shui’s lack of a Spirit Preservation Method. 74
• Physician Li Yuqiao considers his martial prowess unlikely to return after the battle, though its ultimate fate remains unconfirmed. 79

Martial Arts Instruction

Uncle Shui is an experienced instructor with extensive knowledge of external training, the Blood-Rushing Realm, and the Inner Martial Realm. He provides Xie An with both foundational techniques and the resources required to temper his body. 4 8

• Explains the external-training sequence: skin, sinews, bones, organs, and blood. 4
• Teaches the distinction between Manifest Force, Dark Force, and the Transformation Realm. 4
• Entrusts Xie An with Taishan Fist, the foundational art inherited from his own sect. 3 5
• Arranges Tiger-Skin Essence Decoction and sparring sessions to help Xie An enter Skin Tempering. 8
• Recognizes Xie An’s combat talent and attributes his sudden proficiency to Awakening Enlightenment. 8
• Uses the Eight Extremes Sect’s Taishan Fist in combat, stacking its five layers of force into a crushing strike. He also employs Eight Trigrams footwork and can block Hua Qianxiong’s hardened whisk strands with his durable arms. 70

Supernatural Knowledge

Uncle Shui understands the practical rules surrounding ghosts, possessions, Returning Dragon Abbey rites, and the Xie Household’s hidden defenses. 2 11 15

• Identifies the Grain-Collecting Ghost as a resentful entity connected to taxation, slaughter, and Li Family Village. 2 11
• Warns Xie An not to answer Li Yunfeng after the Daoist returns from the village, recognizing the danger of ritual taboos. 12
• Knows that the Xie Clan White Goddess Shrine and its yellow lanterns can provide temporary protection during supernatural emergencies. 28 29
• Participates in worship at the shrine despite its concealed statue, bloodstains, and other disturbing signs. 15
• Helps prepare the household’s thirteen-year plan to conduct its own public rites and challenge Qingwu County’s established supernatural powers. 65 66 70

Household Command and Stewardship

Beyond his martial role, Uncle Shui manages guards, inspections, accounts, escorts, and emergency deployments throughout the Xie estate. 3 16 28

• Supervises and evaluates more than forty Xie Household guards at the training ground. 3
• Inspects Xie Household business interests, including the Treasure Pawnshop. 3
• Directs convoy guards to retreat, turn the horses, and prepare to flee during Li Yunfeng’s ritual. 11
• Orders A San to seal off Zhao Hu’s residence and prevents anyone from entering or leaving. 28
• Mobilizes servants to hang White Goddess Shrine lanterns around the Xie estate at intervals of seven zhang. 28
• Supports Xie Yu’s plan to hold a large ceremony at Li Family Village and is ordered to spread word of it and arrange porridge kitchens for refugees. He subsequently leads the household’s group to the event. 60 65

Power Progression

Relationships

• Xie Zhengtang — Sworn brother, trusted adviser, and partner in protecting the Xie Household. They jointly discuss supernatural threats, sacrificial rites, shrine worship, and the decision to call upon Xie Yu. Their plans for the household’s public emergence span thirteen years. 2 15 29 66 70
• Xie An / Xie Mingxi — Elder-uncle figure and martial instructor. He initially underestimates Xie An’s resolve, then becomes one of his strongest supporters after witnessing his talent. He shields Xie An from Hua Qianxiong and later calls him the Xie Household’s “young qilin” after seeing him defeat the transformed Hua. 3 8 13 70 78
• Xie Yu / Daoist Master Yusu — Respects her as the Xie Household’s eldest daughter and supports her return to protect Xie An. He is emotionally affected by her suffering under Returning Dragon Abbey. Together with Xie Zhengtang, they prepare the household’s long-term plan. 30 31 66
• Zhao Hu — Fellow Xie Household retainer. Uncle Shui brings Zhao Hu into Xie An’s skin-tempering training and later responds to the danger surrounding Zhao Hu’s family. 8 25 28
• Chen Mo — Temporarily keeps her within Xie Residence after the Monster Strain incident and conceals the reason from her father for safety. She later carries the wounded Uncle Shui to Physician Li Yuqiao at Xie An’s request. 28 78
• Li Yunfeng — Hired Returning Dragon Abbey Daoist whom Uncle Shui kills after identifying that he returned from Li Family Village as a possessed corpse. 12
• Zhang Yunhe — Returning Dragon Abbey outer disciple killed by Uncle Shui after undergoing the same fate as Li Yunfeng. 21
• Hua Qianxiong — Returning Dragon Abbey Daoist and opponent during the Xie Household’s ceremony. Uncle Shui gravely wounds him but is left near death after Hua brings Su Hongxiu’s ghost into the fight. 70 74 75
• Li Yuqiao — Physician who stabilizes Uncle Shui after his battle with Hua Qianxiong. Xie An asks him to do everything possible to preserve Uncle Shui’s martial ability. 79

Story Role / Major Arcs

Li Family Village Crisis

Uncle Shui recognizes the danger of the Grain-Collecting Ghost, helps arrange the first sacrificial rite, and escorts Li Yunfeng’s convoy to Li Family Village. When the Daoist returns possessed, he kills him with Dark Force and confirms that the village’s threat remains unresolved. 2 11 12

Xie An’s Martial Training

He provides Taishan Fist as a test of Xie An’s commitment, explains the martial hierarchy, and ultimately becomes the young master’s formal instructor. His warnings establish Dark Force as Xie An’s original benchmark for surviving encounters with ghosts. 3 4 8

Escalation of the Haunting

Uncle Shui investigates Li Family Village again with Zhang Yunhe, but the second ritual fails in the same manner as the first. His inability to permanently resolve the village’s curse demonstrates the limits of even a Dark Force master. 21

Monster Strain Emergency

After the Monster Strain devours Zhao Hu and Liu Fu, Uncle Shui prioritizes containment over pursuit. He brings Xie An, Chen Mo, and Li Dao back to the estate, activates the household’s shrine-lantern defenses, and turns to Xie Zhengtang and Xie Yu for a solution beyond his own capabilities. 26 28 29

Xie Yu’s Return

Uncle Shui witnesses Xie Yu emerge after ten years in hiding and assists her in assuming the public identity of Daoist Master Yusu. He accompanies Xie Zhengtang, Xie Yu, and Xie An to Zhao Hu’s residence, where Yusu begins teaching Xie An how to understand supernatural entities. 30 31

Xie Household Ceremony

Uncle Shui supports the ceremony intended to establish the Xie Household as a fourth major power against evil spirits. He leads its group toward Li Family Village, then accompanies Xie An in pursuit of Hua Qianxiong. Confronted by Hua, he declares his identity as Su Shuibo and stakes his life on the household’s thirteen-year undertaking. 60 65 66 69 70

Battle with Hua Qianxiong and Aftermath

Uncle Shui initially presses Hua with perfected Dark Force and Taishan Fist, but Hua escapes toward Su Hongxiu’s ghost. Uncle Shui is gravely wounded and urges Xie An to flee; Xie An instead fights to protect him and ultimately defeats Hua. Uncle Shui survives and expresses pride in Xie An’s growth, though his injuries may permanently end his martial career. He remains in a physician’s care while the Li Family Village rite concludes. 70 74 78 79 82

Notable Quotes

“Manifest Force only strikes people; Dark Force can strike ghosts.” 4

“From the moment Li Yunfeng walked out of the village entrance, he was already dead.” 12

“Mingxi, take Chen Mo and Li Dao to the West Courtyard. Do not leave.” 28

“Because my surname is Su! Su Shuibo!” 70

“Our Xie Household’s young qilin has come into his own.” 78

Trivia

• Uncle Shui’s favorite treats are Peach Blossom Brew and Osmanthus Cake from Five Fragrances Studio. 10
• He privately admits that, despite already having a martial foundation, he needed one year and nine months to complete Taishan Fist. 5
• Xie An’s Qi-Gazing reveals that Uncle Shui’s Vital Breath is vastly greater than Zhou Ji’s and carries intense killing intent. 16
• “Iron-Armed Copper Gong” is the martial-world sobriquet behind the earlier rumors of his youthful fame. 2 70