Mu Zhengfeng

Biodata

Name	Mu Zhengfeng (穆正峰)
Species/Race	Human
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Yin Soul Sect; Overlapping Peaks
Occupation/Role	Outer sect disciple
Cultivation	Early Qi Refining Realm 19
Spiritual Root	Low-Grade Three-Spirit Root 5
Status	Captured by Hu Meier and taken away for further punishment; final fate unconfirmed 28
First Appearance	Chapter 4 (unnamed); identified in Chapter 5

Background / History

Mu Zhengfeng entered the Yin Soul Sect in the same intake as Hu Donghan. His Low-Grade Three-Spirit Root was among the worst in their batch, leaving him ashamed and unwilling to challenge disciples with better talent, strength, or backing. He instead mistreated servant disciples and sought out weaker targets to assert himself 5.

When he first learned of Hu Donghan’s Middle-Grade Four-Spirit Root, Mu suspected Hu had influential backing and acted obsequiously toward him. After confirming Hu was an ordinary outer disciple who had entered through Hu Meier’s recommendation, Mu reversed his behavior and began publicly ridiculing him 5.

Appearance

Mu Zhengfeng is a thin, small-framed man with a pockmarked face and lewd, wretched-looking features. His expensive robes stand in conspicuous contrast to his appearance and low standing among the disciples 4 5.

• Thin and small in stature.
• Face covered in pockmarks.
• Narrow eyes.
• Usually wears luxurious robes. 4 5

Personality

Mu is deeply insecure about his poor spiritual-root talent and low status. He flatters those he believes powerful, but bullies servants and weaker disciples when he thinks there will be no consequences 5.

His arrogance repeatedly overrides his judgment. He publicly provokes Hu despite being mocked by onlookers, attempts to influence Enforcement Hall proceedings with demands for Hu to kneel, and later makes a vulgar proposition to Hu Meier despite her overwhelming status 5 19 21.

When his position collapses, Mu becomes desperate and deceptive. He attempts to take Hu Donghan hostage, feigns mental collapse after Mu Ming’s death, pretends to be unconscious to avoid attention, and repeatedly begs for mercy under interrogation 24 25 27.

Abilities & Skills

Qi Refining Cultivation

Mu is an early-stage Qi Refining cultivator, though no specific techniques or combat accomplishments are documented 19.

• Possesses a Low-Grade Three-Spirit Root, considered poor compared with the many Two-Spirit Root and Heavenly Spirit Root disciples around him. 5
• Carries a sword from his storage ring, but is restrained before he can use it against Hu Donghan. 24
• Is physically overwhelmed by Hu Donghan during their confrontation and later relies on clan connections and false accusations rather than personal strength. 14 19

Relationships

• Hu Donghan — Rival and intended assassination target. Mu publicly mocked Hu for his Four-Spirit Root, arranged attempts on his life, and was beaten and interrogated by him. 5 14 27
• Hu Meier — Hu Donghan’s elder sister and feared enemy. Mu’s obscene insult toward her worsened his situation; she later tortured and took custody of him. 21 25 28
• Wang Linshu — Accomplice in the assassination plot against Hu Donghan. Wang was hired through Mu Ming to lure Hu into danger at Lonely Soul Ridge. 23
• Mu Ming — Clan cousin and late-Foundation Establishment cultivator. Mu involved him in the plot against Hu; Mu Ming eventually regarded him as an idiot whose actions had endangered everyone involved. 19 23 24
• Senior Brother Wu — Purported Jade Finger Peak disciple who offered Mu ten thousand Spirit Stones to kill Hu Donghan and promised an introduction to Lin Pushong. 27 28
• Lin Pushong — Influential Jade Finger Peak figure whose favor Mu hoped to gain through the assassination contract. 27 28

Story Role / Major Arcs

Bullying Hu Donghan

Mu first targets Hu Donghan as the weakest and least-connected outer disciple of their intake. At the Outer Affairs Hall, he sarcastically congratulates Hu for taking three months to reach Qi Refining First Layer, only for Hu to dismiss him as an “Idiot” before the laughing crowd 4 5.

Assassination Plot at Lonely Soul Ridge

After Hu’s dismissal, Mu escalates the conflict beyond public humiliation. Hu suspects Mu after Wang Linshu—an overwhelmingly stronger late Qi Refining cultivator—tries to lure him into Lonely Soul Ridge under the pretense of sharing an opportunity 9 10.

Mu later admits involvement in arranging Wang’s attack. The wider conspiracy reveals that Mu had accepted a contract from Senior Brother Wu, who offered ten thousand Spirit Stones and the prospect of Lin Pushong’s favor for Hu’s death 14 27.

Beating and Enforcement Hall Accusation

Mu visits Hu after Hu returns from Lonely Soul Ridge and taunts him about having spent sixteen days there. His remarks expose knowledge that strengthens Hu’s suspicions, and Mu privately admits arranging the attack; Hu responds by beating him until he loses consciousness 14.

Mu subsequently brings Wang Linshu, Mu Ming, and Enforcement Hall disciples to accuse Hu of attacking Wang with spells and injuring Mu with spiritual power. His reckless demand that Hu kneel and beg for mercy angers even the disciples ostensibly supporting him 18 19.

Exposure and Capture

Hu Meier’s intervention overturns the case against Hu. Mu worsens his position by insulting her, prompting both siblings to declare their intention to kill him 21.

The Soul-Seeking Technique used on Wang Linshu exposes the attempted murder plot and connected crimes. Terrified by Wang’s execution and the massacre of nearby witnesses, Mu tries unsuccessfully to seize Hu Donghan as a hostage 23 24.

After Mu Ming is executed, Mu feigns insanity, but Hu recognizes the deception by examining his soul. Under torture, Mu identifies Senior Brother Wu as the person who hired him to kill Hu 25 27. Hu Meier ultimately takes Mu away for further punishment after Hu refuses to intervene on his behalf 28.

Trivia

• Mu’s name is described as refined, while his conduct is said to have thoroughly sullied it. 5
• Other outer disciples regard him as a clown rather than a respected peer. 5
• Hu Donghan initially considered Mu an insignificant passerby and ignored his provocations until Mu’s actions became a genuine threat. 5 9