Chen Clan Martial Hall

Biodata

Background / History

Cheng Yang joined the hall after leaving the lower-ranked Spirit Crane Martial Hall, paying twenty taels of silver for two months of instruction. His first month included food and lodging. Hall Master Chen Feiyi accepted him after identifying him as a Skin Tempering martial artist and appreciating his direct answers about his poverty and prior training. 4

Chen Feiyi taught Cheng the Rock-Still Stance, which Cheng reproduced after seeing it once. A bone-structure examination then revealed Cheng’s exceptional innate potential, leading Chen to consider taking him as a personal disciple. 4 5

Only two days after entering the hall, Cheng was named its seventh core disciple. His public sparring victory over Qian Biao validated Chen Feiyi’s decision before the other disciples. 10

The martial hall became Cheng’s primary refuge against the Golden Tiger Gang and later the Four-Ping Gang. As a core disciple, Cheng was able to relocate his mother, Lin Xia, into the hall for safety. 8 12

During Commander Wei He’s bandit-suppression operation, Cheng led ten Chen Clan disciples. Only Cheng and two others returned after the operation and ensuing beast tide, leaving Chen Feiyi to arrange compensation for the seven dead disciples’ families. 43 46

Grounds and Organization

The hall is divided into three training areas:

• Front courtyard — for disciples below the Skin Tempering Realm. 6
• Middle courtyard — for Skin Tempering disciples. Chen Feiyi receives prospective students here. 4 6
• Rear courtyard — for higher-level core disciples. 6

Its facilities include:

• Bathhouses
• Dormitories
• Kitchen
• Spring Renewal Hall, the martial hall’s apothecary 6 7

Enrollment and Core-Disciple Privileges

Notable Members

• Chen Feiyi — Hall Master; Cheng Yang’s master. He teaches the Rock-Still Stance, Wild Bull Stance, and Vajra Fist. 4 9
• Cheng Yang — Seventh core disciple; appointed shortly after joining and becomes the hall’s foremost hope at the Ascending Dragon Conference. 10 62
• Chen Kaiyu — Second Senior Sister and Chen Feiyi’s daughter. 11
• Xiong Shan — Eldest Senior Brother; Chen Feiyi’s son-in-law. 11
• Bao Shun — Fourth Senior Brother and a Chen Clan competitor in the Ascending Dragon Conference. 11 62
• Yan Ze — Sixth Senior Brother; his family sponsors Cheng with exotic beast meat. 11
• Yan Shuai — Senior disciple who guides Cheng through the hall after his enrollment. 5 6
• Guo Shulan — Senior disciple who manages Spring Renewal Hall. 7
• Yang Zheng — Former Third Senior Brother; his death severely damages Chen Feiyi’s expectations for the Ascending Dragon Conference. 39 62

Martial Arts

Rock-Still Stance

The hall’s advanced stance technique. Chen Feiyi uses it as Cheng Yang’s entry technique and later teaches him its subsequent methods. 4 9 34

Wild Bull Stance

A stance art personally taught by Chen Feiyi to expand Cheng Yang’s foundation beyond Rock-Still Stance. 9

Vajra Fist

A martial technique taught alongside the later Rock-Still Stance methods and Wild Bull Stance. 9

Relationships

• Whale Breath Martial Hall — Fellow great martial hall in Qinglin County; Hall Master Liu Hongquan and Chen Feiyi are longtime friends. 23
• Shadow Wolf Martial Hall — Long-standing rival. Chen Feiyi and its Hall Master Ying Yi hold a personal grudge, and their disciples regularly clash at the Ascending Dragon Conference. 43
• City Guard — Chen Clan disciples participated in Wei He’s City Guard-led bandit-suppression operation. 43
• Lin Xia — Cheng Yang’s mother; granted housing and protection within the hall through Cheng’s core-disciple status. 12
• Wang Haowen — Cheng Yang’s childhood friend; begins martial training at the hall after Cheng pays his tuition. 54

Story Role / Major Arcs

• Cheng Yang’s rise — The hall gives Cheng access to advanced stance arts, food, lodging, mentorship, and a respected public identity after his expulsion from Spirit Crane Martial Hall. 4 6
• Core-disciple dispute — Cheng’s sudden promotion provokes Cai Qingwen and leads to Qian Biao’s failed challenge. 10 11
• Protection from local gangs — Its reputation deters the Golden Tiger Gang from acting openly against Cheng. 7 8
• Ascending Dragon Conference — The hall’s reputation and hopes become heavily tied to Cheng after Yang Zheng’s death and the underperformance of its other candidates. 39 62 64
• Night Kill — On the eve of the conference’s second round, Ying Yi, Gu Taibao, and Huo Changgeng plan to infiltrate the hall and kill Cheng. 65