Yang Zheng

Biodata

Feature	Information
Name	Yang Zheng (杨政)
Alias(es)	Night Ghoul
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Chen Clan Martial Hall; Four-Ping Gang; Star Tower
Occupation/Role	Third Senior Brother of Chen Clan Martial Hall; Four-Ping Gang hall master; Bronze Badge Assassin and undercover informant for Star Tower
Status	Deceased
First Appearance	Chapter 9

Background

Yang Zheng was the Chen Clan Martial Hall’s Third Senior Brother and one of its foremost candidates for the Ascending Dragon Conference. He possessed Copper Bone cultivation and had perfected an inherited martial skill, making him a major source of Chen Feiyi’s hopes for the martial hall’s standing at the tournament 9 30.

He was closely connected to the Cai Family, which sponsored him, and served as Cai Qingwen’s strongest supporter within the martial hall 9 12. Unknown to Chen Feiyi and the other disciples, Yang Zheng maintained a double life as the Four-Ping Gang’s hall master and Star Tower’s Bronze Badge Assassin, Night Ghoul. He was also Star Tower’s planted informant inside the Four-Ping Gang 36 37 47.

Appearance

Yang Zheng was a broad, burly man with an intimidating and openly fierce bearing.

• Leopard-like head and ringed eyes 11
• Heavy, restrained aura 12
• Fierce appearance that made his contempt and hostility especially pronounced 9 11

Personality

Yang Zheng was cold, calculating, and violently pragmatic. He treated murder, intimidation, and hostage-taking as efficient ways to gain information or remove liabilities. When Ge Tao truthfully answered his interrogation, Yang Zheng decided that Ge still had to die simply because he had seen his face 31.

He was also suspicious and politically ambitious. Yang Zheng resented Cheng Yang’s sudden rise, challenged Chen Feiyi’s decision to alter the Ascending Dragon Conference roster, and sought to uncover Cheng’s true strength through coercion rather than open confrontation 30. His growing independence and hostility led Chen Feiyi to believe that his “wings have grown strong” and that he no longer wished to remain obedient 30.

Abilities & Skills

Copper Bone Cultivation

Yang Zheng had forged a Copper Bone physique, placing him among the strongest young martial artists of Chen Clan Martial Hall.

• His Copper Bone had reached Minor Accomplishment by the time Cheng Yang became the seventh core disciple 9.
• Chen Feiyi considered him one of the leading contenders to win the Ascending Dragon Conference 30.
• His cultivation was strong enough that Four-Ping Gang members regarded him as comparable to Zhao Tiankuo 40.

Perfected Inherited Martial Skill

Yang Zheng had cultivated his inherited martial skill to Perfection.

• This skill, combined with his Copper Bone physique, formed the basis of his reputation as a conference contender 30.
• Its name and complete method are not identified.

Assassination Techniques

As a Bronze Badge Assassin of Star Tower, Yang Zheng possessed specialized killing and escape methods.

• Glimmering Light, Surpassing Shadow Hand — a concealed technique he had previously displayed to Cheng Yang 36.
• Poisoned hidden weapons — rapidly launched multiple poisoned projectiles from both hands 36.
• Poisoned short blades — carried paired blades for close-range ambushes 36.
• Star Tower smoke bomb — used a pungent medicinal smoke bomb to obscure vision, irritate the eyes and throat, and facilitate escape 36.
• Stealth and disguise — conducted assassinations in black clothing and a mask, including the killing of a yamen constable shortly before Cheng Yang attacked him 36.

Relationships

• Chen Feiyi — Master. Chen Feiyi valued Yang Zheng as a key contender for the Ascending Dragon Conference, but became troubled by his growing insubordination and later devastated by his death 30 39.
• Cheng Yang — Seventh Junior Brother and enemy. Yang Zheng resented Cheng’s rise, suspected him of killing Four-Ping Gang members, and ultimately died after Cheng avenged Ge Tao 30 36 37.
• Cai Qingwen — Supported Cai within Chen Clan Martial Hall and was closely tied to the Cai Family through its sponsorship 9 12.
• Ge Tao — Junior Brother and victim. Yang Zheng tortured Ge for information about Cheng Yang, then killed him after revealing his identity 30 31.
• Zhao Tiankuo — Fellow Four-Ping Gang hall master and collaborator. The two exchanged intelligence on Cheng Yang and discussed exploiting Cheng’s attachments through abduction 33.
• Star Tower Tower Master — Superior within Star Tower’s Qinglin County branch. The Tower Master treated Yang Zheng’s death as an acceptable loss and allowed Cheng Yang to inherit the Night Ghoul identity 37 38.

Story Role / Major Arcs

Support for Cai Qingwen

Yang Zheng first appears as Cai Qingwen’s powerful backer. He contemptuously informs Cai that Cheng Yang has claimed the seventh core-disciple position, then brings him to see the newcomer 9.

Ascending Dragon Conference Dispute

When Chen Feiyi offers Cheng Yang a chance to claim a place at the Ascending Dragon Conference, Yang Zheng alone objects to changing the prearranged roster. Ge Tao’s voluntary surrender prevents Yang Zheng from witnessing Cheng’s true strength, intensifying his suspicions 30.

Murder of Ge Tao

Seeking to learn why Ge Tao gave Cheng his conference position, Yang Zheng abducts and interrogates Ge in his home while threatening Ge’s wife and child. Once Ge reveals that the decision was spontaneous, Yang Zheng kills him because Ge has seen his face 31.

Yang Zheng later provides Zhao Tiankuo with information suggesting Cheng Yang may have been strong enough to kill Huang Xuan. The pair considers using someone close to Cheng as leverage, though Zhao postpones the plan 33.

Exposure and Death

After completing an assassination mission, Yang Zheng is attacked in his home by a masked Cheng Yang. Mistaking him for another Star Tower assassin, Yang Zheng deploys poisoned hidden weapons and a smoke bomb, but Cheng’s superior speed and strength overwhelm him 36.

Cheng Yang severs Yang Zheng’s right arm, crushes his chest, and reveals himself as Yang Zheng’s Seventh Junior Brother. Yang Zheng admits to killing Ge Tao but refuses to explain his motive, instead warning that Qinglin County and Chen Clan Martial Hall will soon face a major calamity. Cheng executes him before he can say more 36 37.

Posthumous Consequences

Cheng Yang discovers Yang Zheng’s Night Ghoul token and learns that he had secretly been a Star Tower assassin. Cheng then inherits Yang Zheng’s Star Tower identity 37 38.

Later, Old Zhou reveals that Yang Zheng had also been Star Tower’s most valuable informant within the Four-Ping Gang. His death deprived Star Tower—and unintentionally Cheng Yang—of a critical source of intelligence 47.

Trivia

• Yang Zheng was Chen Feiyi’s third core disciple and Cheng Yang’s Third Senior Brother 9 37.
• His Star Tower codename, Night Ghoul, was engraved on his iron assassin token 37.
• Chen Feiyi did not know that Yang Zheng had joined Star Tower 37.
• Cheng Yang initially planned to investigate Yang Zheng only after reaching Silver Bone, but acted sooner when he sought vengeance for Ge Tao 35 36.