Du Ruming

Biodata

Feature	Information
Name	Du Ruming (杜汝明)
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Lian Household; co-guard of Warehouse Number Two in Qingtian District 27 28
Occupation/Role	First-Rank Martial Artist; warehouse guard
Status	Deceased; killed by Zhou Chen 32
First Appearance	Chapter 27 (mentioned); Chapter 28 (physical appearance) 27 28

Background

Du Ruming was the original First-Rank Martial Artist assigned to guard the Lian Household's Warehouse Number Two, which stored medicinal materials. Concerned that one guard was insufficient, the household accepted Lian Taoze's recommendation to assign Zhou Chen as Du's partner. 27

When Zhou arrived, Du gave him a detailed introduction to the warehouse, its guards, and its patrol procedures. He advised Zhou to conduct two unpredictable patrols each day and leave inventory work to the accountant so he could focus on cultivation. 28

Behind this dependable façade, Du had been embezzling medicinal herbs with accountant Old Li. They replaced genuine goods with inferior stock, falsified records under Zhou's name, and used Chen He to smuggle herbs out through a concealed ventilation opening. Du intended to defect to the Shen Clan after the scheme was complete, using a hidden Flesh Lingzhi as an offering to Shen Ao. 30 32

Zhou uncovered the altered patrol schedules and caught Chen He stealing herbs. When Du arrived, he proposed that Zhou join the conspiracy, offering half the profits while threatening him with his superior saber experience. Zhou feigned agreement, blinded Du with poisonous powder, and struck him in the chest with Wild Bull Fist. 31

After Du revealed the Flesh Lingzhi's existence, Zhou decided that the secret could not spread and snapped Du's neck. The subsequent audit confirmed that Warehouse Number Two had lost more than a thousand taels through the embezzlement. 32 33

Appearance

Du Ruming was a heavily muscled man of about thirty with a rough, intimidating appearance that contrasted with his unexpectedly delicate voice. 28

• Round face and buzz cut.
• Short, bristly whiskers.
• Long saber carried at his waist.
• Broad, bulging musculature. 28

Personality

Du initially presented himself as sociable, capable, and meticulous. He welcomed Zhou as a partner, carefully explained security routines, and appeared willing to let Zhou devote most of his time to martial training. 28

He was secretly greedy, manipulative, and overconfident. Du justified stealing from the wealthy as a necessity for impoverished martial artists, manipulated Chen He with promises of money and status, and dismissed Zhou's combat ability as luck. 30 31

Du placed little value on honorable conduct when profit was involved, yet condemned Zhou for using an ambush against him. His confidence in his own experience prevented him from recognizing Zhou's Minor Accomplishment fist art and Copper Skin until he had already been defeated. 31 32

Abilities & Skills

First-Rank Skin Refining

Du was a First-Rank Martial Artist at Minor Accomplishment in skin refining, placing his cultivation on par with Lian Taoze's. 28

• Considered more dangerous than an ordinary martial artist of the same realm because of his saber training. 28
• Had cultivated for over a decade, but had only reached Iron Skin Perfection rather than Copper Skin. 31
• Was decisively defeated after Zhou Chen blinded him and exploited an opening. 31

Saber Art

Du had reached Minor Accomplishment in a saber art identified as the Plum Blossom Saber Technique; he later described his own art as the Plum Rain Saber Art. 28 31

• Relied on a long saber in combat. 28 31
• Claimed more than ten years of experience with the art. 31
• Had previously failed to kill the mutated Medicine Rat despite pursuing it several times; its hide resisted his blade and its agility allowed it to escape. 29 30

Equipment

• Long saber — his primary weapon, worn at his waist. 28
• Warehouse access and patrol authority — used to manipulate guard rotations and enable the herb-smuggling operation. 30 31

Relationships

• Lian Taoze — Employer and acquaintance; Taoze trusted Du to co-guard Warehouse Number Two with Zhou Chen. 27 28
• Zhou Chen — Assigned warehouse partner. Du attempted to frame him for adulterated medicinal herbs, then tried to recruit him into the theft scheme; Zhou killed Du after defeating him. 30 32
• Chen He — Subordinate and accomplice used to transport stolen herbs. Du exploited Chen He's poverty and ambition to secure his cooperation. 30 31
• Old Li — Accountant and co-conspirator who falsified ledgers and helped substitute inferior medicinal herbs. 30 33
• Shen Ao — Intended patron; Du planned to offer him the Flesh Lingzhi in exchange for Shen Clan protection. 30 32

Story Role / Major Arcs

Warehouse Number Two

• Became Zhou Chen's warehouse partner after the Lian Household reinforced Warehouse Number Two's guard detail. 27 28
• Established himself as a seemingly competent guard while directing Zhou away from the accounts he was falsifying. 28 30
• Underestimated Zhou after Zhou killed the Medicine Rat with one punch, privately attributing the feat to luck. 30

Embezzlement Conspiracy

• Organized the theft and replacement of medicinal herbs, placing falsified inspections under Zhou's name to make him the eventual scapegoat. 30
• Ordered Chen He to perform further smuggling and planned to leave the Lian Household for the Shen Clan. 30
• Tried to turn Zhou into an accomplice after Chen He was exposed. 31

Defeat and Death

• Was blinded by Zhou's poison pouch and struck through the chest after guarding against a feigned sweeping-leg attack. 31
• Revealed the hidden Flesh Lingzhi while attempting to bargain for his life. 32
• Was executed by Zhou, who then presented him to the warehouse staff as a corrupt thief killed while resisting capture. 32

Notable Quotes

“If you want a conscience, you will never make money!” 30