Old Zheng

Biodata

Background / History

Old Zheng is the master Zhou Tian recommends to Zhou Chen because he considers Zheng’s character the best among the Outer City’s three major martial-arts halls. Zhou Tian entrusts Zhou with a lump of flesh taken from a Mist Monster battle, believing Zheng will assess it fairly rather than cheat him. 2

When Zhou first meets him, Zheng is lounging in a luxurious hall in a black silk robe, reading a frivolous novel while a maid feeds him grapes. He initially treats Zhou’s attempted enrollment as routine business, telling him to pay, register, receive a token, and return for a bone assessment. 3

Zheng immediately recognizes Zhou’s offering as supreme-grade Black Taisui, a treasure worth more than a thousand gold even in the Inner City. Although it could have been taken as payment, Zheng instead offers Zhou an opportunity equivalent to Direct Disciple treatment for three months. Zhou must become a Martial Warrior within that period to earn recognition; otherwise, Zheng permits him to remain at the hall as a steward. 4

After Zhou leaves, Zheng feeds the Black Taisui to Yingying, a mysterious woman residing inside his ice furnace. He tells her that the treasure will let her live comfortably for several more years. 4

Zheng later observes Zhou’s early training and concludes that Zhou’s lower-middle-grade bone aptitude and ordinary comprehension make success within three months impossible. Despite this assessment, he allows Zhou to continue under the agreed terms. 6

He enforces the hall’s three-month deadline, expelling a poor disciple surnamed Chen after the youth fails to break through to the First-Rank Skin Tempering Realm. 15

Recognition and Support of Zhou Chen

Zhou Chen subsequently disproves Zheng’s prediction by becoming a First-Rank Martial Artist within the allotted period. Zheng confirms his Skin Tempering cultivation, praises his diligence, and warns him against arrogance and impatience. He recognizes Zhou as an Ordinary Disciple and instructs Lian Taoze to teach him Wild Bull Fist. Privately, however, Zheng still believes Zhou’s aptitude will limit his future and withholds further investment because he is concentrating his resources on Zhao Tianhong and an undisclosed plan. 19

When Zhou later reports Minor Accomplishment in Wild Bull Fist, Zheng verifies the achievement after watching only a few punches. He acknowledges that he misjudged Zhou’s comprehension and praises his progress in just over a month, comparing him favorably to Zhao Tianhong. Nevertheless, he remains concerned that Zhou’s physical aptitude will prevent his cultivation realm from keeping pace with his technique. 36

Zheng invites Zhou to consult him about difficulties in fist practice. Although the hall’s income is being directed toward Zhao Tianhong’s tournament preparations, he makes an exception to its normal rules and extends Zhou’s free Qi-Blood Soup supply for another three months. 37

After Zhou demonstrates Major Accomplishment in Wild Bull Fist while still at the First Rank, Zheng personally examines his Blood Vitality and fist stances. His surprise turns to undisguised delight, though he continues to regard Zhou’s bone aptitude as a possible obstacle to the Second Rank. Remembering Zhou’s earlier help, he awards him five Blood-Boiling Pills to help perfect his Blood Vitality and prepare for a breakthrough. 52

Zheng also suggests that a wealthy marriage could provide Zhou with cultivation resources. He proposes Sun Yingying as a possible match, but she refuses. He does not press either disciple, stating that marriage is ultimately their own decision, and returns to reading a storybook. 53

Flesh-Cutting Tournament

The hall previously won the Flesh-Cutting Tournament through Gongsun Wuyang, whose performance earned him entry into the Inner City. After Gongsun’s departure, Zheng spent three years cultivating Zhao Tianhong as the hall’s principal hope for defending its position in the next tournament. The competition determines control of the Outer City’s flesh-cutting quota for three years. 27

The arrival of Azure City’s martial arts halls increases the tournament’s competition and visibly troubles Zheng. He continues to place great importance on the event and repeatedly warns Zhao Tianhong that nothing can be allowed to go wrong. Zhao consequently prepares to attempt a breakthrough to the Third Rank before the tournament. 39 66

Political Neutrality and the Ma Pengcheng Investigation

When the incoming City Lord invites the hall to an inauguration banquet, Zheng announces that the martial arts hall itself will not choose a side. Individual disciples may attend, but attendance effectively signals allegiance to the new ruler. He advises Lian Taoze against committing prematurely. 36

After Ma Pengcheng’s corpse is discovered, Zheng concludes that the killer possessed strength at First-Rank Perfection and was close to the Second Rank. This assessment removes suspicion from Zhou Chen, whose true capabilities remain concealed. Zheng briefly questions disciples who had grievances against Ma, discovers that Ma had numerous enemies among the weaker trainees, and dismisses the matter rather than devote further attention to a disciple of poor character amid the city’s instability. 39

The Zheng Family Martial Arts Hall later remains neutral despite recruitment efforts by the Four-Family Alliance. 57 Lian Yuanhong reveals that Zheng had personally visited him months before the new City Lord arrived, accurately anticipating the ensuing disorder and repeatedly advising the Lian Household to endure losses rather than join either faction. The Lian patriarch continues to follow this advice even as the family’s businesses come under severe pressure. 58

Despite declining enrollment and factional departures, Zheng is later seen beside the hall’s lotus pond, attended by a maid, humming, reading a storybook, and eating raisins with an outwardly contented air. 67

Appearance

Old Zheng is an elderly man whose indulgent presentation sharply contrasts with his martial authority. 3 4

• Wears a black silk robe. 3
• Has a goatee and aged eyes. 3 4
• Often lounges rather than maintaining a formal master’s bearing. 3
• Is frequently attended by maidservants who feed him grapes or pastries. 3 13
• Often strolls with his hands behind his back or strokes his beard while observing disciples and considering decisions. 19 36 52

Personality

Old Zheng presents himself as lecherous, lazy, and vulgar, openly flirting with maidservants and prioritizing novels, snacks, and comfort. 3 13 He is also prone to crude insults when teaching, particularly toward disciples who misunderstand the purpose of hidden weapons. 14

Beneath this exterior, Zheng is perceptive and pragmatic. He evaluates disciples’ aptitude and comprehension closely, refuses to exploit Zhou over the Black Taisui, and provides Zhou a meaningful chance despite judging his talent poor. 4 6 His combat teaching rejects honor-driven posturing in favor of concealment, surprise, decisive force, and survival. 13 14

Zheng explicitly notes that his youthful reputation for lechery caused others to mistake it for an exploitable weakness, presenting this as an example of the benefits of being underestimated. 14 Ma Ge considers him far more complicated than he appears and admits that years of service have not allowed him to truly understand the master. 19

He is cautious about accepting disciples into his closest confidence. Even Zhao Tianhong, who receives his full resource investment, has not been named a Closed-Door Disciple. Zheng also privately judges Zhang Shaojiu’s temperament to be impetuous and predicts that it will bring him a serious setback. 19

His support is selective rather than unconditional. He can revise an unfavorable judgment when a disciple proves himself, but balances personal gratitude and talent recognition against the hall’s limited resources and tournament priorities. 19 36 37 52 His dismissal of Ma Pengcheng’s death further demonstrates his unwillingness to expend effort on a poorly regarded disciple during a larger political crisis. 39

Zheng favors political restraint and long-term survival over immediate opportunities. His neutrality is deliberate, extending beyond his own hall to private warnings given to the Lian Household before the emerging conflict became public. 36 58

Abilities & Skills

Third-Rank Martial Arts

Old Zheng is a Third-Rank Martial Artist and the only known member of his hall to have reached the Force Realm of Wild Bull Fist. 5

• His martial standing is high enough that the masters of the other two Outer City martial-arts halls treat him politely. 5
• He possesses the Wild Bull Fist secret technique Wild Bull Force, which can kill an opponent from roughly a meter away. 5
• Lian Taoze states that even a high-grade Mist Monster would force Zheng to flee, illustrating the danger posed by threats beyond his rank. 12
• Inner City heavy armor and repeating crossbows represent a serious threat even to Zheng; Lian Taoze says he would have to avoid concentrated crossbow fire. 12
• Zhou Chen senses that the mysterious Shang Family carriage passenger’s pressure is several times greater than Zheng’s, providing another indication of the gap between him and stronger Inner City figures. 35

Physical Techniques

Zheng demonstrates overwhelming speed and control when examining Zhou Chen’s Black Taisui. 4

• He crosses the hall so quickly that Zhou cannot perceive when he moved or took the wooden box. 4
• A press on Zhou’s shoulder blade leaves Zhou numb and unable to move. 4
• He can assess bone aptitude by examining the shoulder blade, neck, and wrist. 4

Combat Instruction

Zheng teaches that combat begins with how one conducts oneself rather than with fighting alone. 13

• Advocates appearing ordinary so opponents underestimate and fail to prepare for the practitioner. 14
• Emphasizes that hidden weapons must remain genuinely concealed; public practice reveals a fighter’s methods and weakens their usefulness. 14
• Favors striking from the shadows and acting decisively once an opening appears. 14
• Includes retreat among the practical requirements of survival; Zhou Chen summarizes the lesson as ambush, strike, and run. 14
• Teaches Zhao Tianhong that managing human relationships is a necessary part of martial life, since antagonizing everyone can obstruct a warrior’s future regardless of fighting skill. 40

Assessment and Strategic Judgment

• Secretly observes new disciples to evaluate temperament, character, and martial comprehension. He considers a single session of practice sufficient to form an initial assessment. 6
• Confirms Zhou Chen’s First-Rank cultivation through the fluctuations of his Blood Vitality. 19
• Recognizes Minor Accomplishment in Wild Bull Fist from three to five punches, observing the technique’s momentum and the release and withdrawal of force. 36
• Personally checks Zhou’s Blood Vitality and fist stances when confirming Major Accomplishment. 52
• Infers the approximate strength of Ma Pengcheng’s killer by examining the scene, although his conclusion does not expose Zhou’s concealed power. 39
• Anticipates the Outer City’s political upheaval before the new City Lord’s arrival and advises the Lian Household to preserve neutrality. The source of his advance knowledge remains unexplained. 58

Power Progression

Equipment / Items

• Ice furnace — A bronze furnace within Zheng’s hall that houses Yingying. 4
• Black Taisui — A supreme-grade treasure Zheng receives from Zhou Chen, then feeds to Yingying. 4
• Storybooks — Frequently reads frivolous fiction, including Wife, Don’t at his first meeting with Zhou Chen. He later carries a storybook in his robes and reads while strolling or relaxing by the lotus pond. 3 53 67
• Qi-Blood Soup — A cultivation resource made from White Taisui Meat. Zheng grants Zhou access during his initial three-month arrangement and later authorizes three additional months without charge. 4 26 37
• Blood-Boiling Pills — Awards five pills to Zhou after confirming his Major Accomplishment in Wild Bull Fist. Each pill contains Blood Vitality equivalent to ten doses of Blood-Boiling Powder; Zhou consumes the reward over the following week. 52 55

Relationships

• Zhou Chen — Initially master and provisional disciple. Zheng grants Zhou three months of Direct Disciple-equivalent treatment after receiving the Black Taisui, though he initially expects Zhou to fail and become an odd-job worker. 4 6 He later recognizes Zhou as an Ordinary Disciple, acknowledges his exceptional fist comprehension, extends his Qi-Blood Soup allowance, and rewards him with Blood-Boiling Pills. He remains uncertain whether Zhou’s poor bone aptitude will permit advancement to the Second Rank and suggests a wealthy marriage as another source of support. 19 36 37 52 53
• Yingying — A mysterious woman inside Zheng’s ice furnace who calls him “Father.” Zheng is openly affectionate and protective toward her, feeding her the Black Taisui to sustain her. 4
• Lian Taoze — His eldest young disciple, who assists Zheng in managing and instructing junior disciples. 4 13 Zheng cautions him against premature political allegiance. Lian also invokes Zheng’s dignity when stopping Jiang Tianming from seizing Zhou Chen outside the hall, prompting visible caution from the attacker. 36 54
• Zhao Tianhong — His Third Direct Disciple and principal investment for the Flesh-Cutting Tournament. Zheng devotes substantial resources to his cultivation after Gongsun Wuyang’s departure, while remaining cautious about granting Closed-Door Disciple status. 19 27 37 He teaches Zhao the importance of social relationships and repeatedly emphasizes that the coming tournament must not go wrong. 40 66
• Gongsun Wuyang — His Fifth Direct Disciple, who won the previous Flesh-Cutting Tournament and entered the Inner City. Gongsun’s subsequent rise was sufficient that even Zheng treated him with respect when he returned. 27
• Ma Ge — The martial hall gatekeeper who introduces Zhou to Zheng and fears provoking the master during Zhou’s enrollment attempt. 3 4 Despite serving Zheng for years, Ma Ge admits that he has never fully understood him. 19
• Zhang Shaojiu — A talented disciple whose early progress Zheng praises. Zheng nevertheless privately regards his temperament as impetuous and likely to bring him trouble. 13 19
• Ma Pengcheng — An Ordinary Disciple whose death Zheng briefly investigates. After finding that Ma habitually bullied weaker disciples and had many enemies, Zheng declines to pursue the case further. His estimate of the killer’s strength inadvertently clears Zhou Chen. 39
• Sun Yingying — A female disciple, distinct from Yingying in the furnace. Zheng suggests her as a potential wealthy spouse for Zhou Chen but accepts her refusal and leaves the decision to the two disciples. 53
• Lian Yuanhong — Patriarch of the Lian Household. Zheng personally warns him in advance of the Outer City’s upheaval and urges him to endure pressure without joining a faction. Lian Yuanhong trusts this advice despite mounting business losses; the deeper history of their connection is not explained. 58
• Registered disciples — Zheng teaches them practical combat principles and strictly enforces their three-month deadline to reach the First Rank. 13 15

Notable Quotes

“The first point of actual combat is not fighting. It is the way of being human.” 13

“Hidden weapons, hidden weapons—the key lies in the word ‘hidden’!” 14

“Having others look down on you isn't a bad thing.” 14

“Your master misjudged you back then!” 36

“It was only a suggestion. Marriage is your own affair in the end. Decide for yourselves.” 53

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