Liu Meng

Biodata

Power Progression

Background / History

Liu Meng begins as a gate guard at the Azure Dragon Martial Academy. He initially treats Chen Mu with contempt, but immediately changes his attitude after accepting silver to let him pass and direct him toward Qin Tieya. 4

After Chen Mu's rapid rise in strength, Liu Meng becomes visibly cautious and deferential. He reports Chen Mu's arrival to Qin Tieya and addresses him as “Junior Brother Chen,” recognizing that the former newcomer has surpassed him. 21

As a registered disciple, Liu Meng performs academy duties such as guarding the gate, mobilizing disciples, accompanying demon-slaying missions, and carrying out miscellaneous assignments. Registered disciples must have entered the Body Tempering Realm and are assigned rooms within the academy. 22

His parents are an elderly couple, and he is their only son. The family deals in furs and leather and is moderately wealthy. Chen Mu later uses a staged wedding at the Liu residence as bait in an operation to expose a demonic practitioner; Liu Meng wears the groom's wedding robes and persuades his parents to take part. 101

Personality

Liu Meng is initially opportunistic and status-conscious. His hostility toward Chen Mu disappears once money and later strength make clear that Chen Mu is someone he should not offend. 4 20 21

He becomes a loyal, if anxious, follower of Chen Mu. He is often frightened by demons and stronger enemies, but continues to take dangerous assignments, including scouting Clear River Ghost Village, serving as bait for the Golden-Wing Blood Eagle, and remaining with Chen Mu during the Mangdang Mountain expedition. 24 25 109 126

Liu Meng is outspoken and sometimes presumptuous, openly criticizing reluctant patrol members and questioning Chen Mu's decisions. He accepts rebukes quickly and follows orders once Chen Mu asserts authority. 109

Despite his rash manner, he notices when an escaped demon's trail looks deliberately laid and warns Chen Mu that it may be a trap. He admires Chen Mu's composure and judgment. 104

His loyalty sometimes conflicts with his instinct for survival. When Chen Mu is missing from their mountain camp and signs of Hu activity appear nearby, Liu Meng initially refuses to leave without him, then accepts Lü Liang's argument for relocating and leaving academy markers. 116

Abilities & Skills

Martial Cultivation

Liu Meng is a Body Tempering martial artist who advances from the Second Tier to the Fourth Tier. His Fourth-Tier breakthrough follows a meal of demon-beast meat, whose effects he works to absorb through boxing stances. 20 121

• Carries and uses a saber during academy missions. 24 25
• Participates in close-quarters battles against Refined Corpses, barbarians, and bandits. 25 111 112
• Is significantly outmatched by stronger supernatural enemies, including the Purple-Scaled Corpse King and Golden-Wing Blood Eagle. 25 126
• Was infected by Corpse Venom while fighting disguised Refined Corpses. 24 25

Field Operations

Liu Meng has practical experience in reconnaissance, coordination, and information gathering.

• Mobilizes and organizes academy disciples during emergencies. 22 77
• Uses hand signals with Chen Mu to clear houses containing Refined Corpses. 25
• Fires a signal arrow when the Purple-Scaled Corpse King attacks. 25
• Provides local intelligence on the Li family, Luo Family Fort, and A-Ning's suspected route. 41 43
• Assists in patrol leadership, prisoner handling, scouting, crossbow ambushes, and night watch. 99 109 111 113
• Gathers information on Lady Hongxiao's Ghost Market operations and the auction at which Liu Qingluo might be sold. 79 80
• Notices signs that a demon's trail toward the Mass Grave may be bait. 104

Equipment

• Saber / Goosefeather Saber — Carried during academy and patrol operations. 24 109
• Signal arrows — Uses one to alert the expedition after the Purple-Scaled Corpse King attacks. 25
• Route maps — Carries and consults expedition maps during the Mangdang Mountain patrol. 110
• Great bow — Retrieves and carries an exceptionally heavy bow discovered during the Mangdang Mountain campaign. 123

Relationships

• Chen Mu — Initially a gatekeeper who looks down on him, Liu Meng becomes Chen Mu's informant, subordinate, and frequent field partner. He apologizes for his earlier behavior and grows to admire Chen Mu's strength and judgment. He is also concerned for Chen Mu when the latter goes missing in Mangdang Mountain. 4 25 32 41 109 116
• Qin Tieya — Senior Brother and expedition leader. Liu Meng obeys his mobilization orders and joins the search for Liu Qingcang at Clear River Ghost Village. Qin later shields him from the Golden-Wing Blood Eagle. 22 23 24 126
• Liu Qingcang — Academy Master. Liu Meng is among the disciples responsible for academy duties and is distraught when Liu Qingcang appears to be missing. 22 23
• Liu Qingluo — Liu Meng is tasked with helping protect her at the Ghost Market, but panics when she disappears before the other direct disciples arrive. 77 78
• Lü Liang — Fellow member of Chen Mu's patrol force. Liu Meng works alongside him during investigations and the Mangdang Mountain expedition. Lü Liang persuades him that the mountain camp must relocate rather than continue waiting for Chen Mu. 99 109 111 116
• Liu Meng's parents — His elderly parents participate in the staged wedding operation used to lure out a demon. 101

Story Role / Major Arcs

Clear River Ghost Village

Liu Meng delivers the report that an Azure Dragon Token has been found on a floating corpse, helping trigger the academy's investigation into Liu Qi's death and Liu Qingcang's disappearance. At the docks, he speaks with a yamen bailiff and helps bring Liu Qi's body back to the academy. 22 23

He initially hesitates to volunteer for the dangerous search for Liu Qingcang, then joins the expedition after Chen Mu steps forward. Paired with Chen Mu at Clear River Ghost Village, he helps investigate the western houses. The pair discover Refined Corpses disguised as villagers; both are exposed to Corpse Venom after Chen Mu beheads two of them. 23 24

Liu Meng and Chen Mu develop an efficient door-breaking-and-saber-strike routine to eliminate Corpse Fiends. When a Purple-Scaled Corpse King ambushes them, Liu Meng fires a warning arrow and attempts to return to assist Chen Mu despite his injuries. Chen Mu ultimately knocks him unconscious and moves him out of danger. Liu Meng remains among the unconscious disciples carried away during the retreat from Clear River. 25 26 31

A-Ning Investigation and Luo Family Fort

Liu Meng identifies Granny Li, Li Susu, and A-Ning as members of the Li Family Caravan leaving through the north gate. His information lets Chen Mu conclude that A-Ning is temporarily safe but likely being taken against her will. 41

He accompanies Chen Mu to the Li Residence, openly defending him when Li Bingyan orders her guards to attack. 42

Liu Meng connects Luo Family Fort to Luo Dalong and the Red Whale Gang's water-transport operations, strengthening Chen Mu's suspicion that A-Ning's disappearance is not accidental. 43

He subsequently joins Qin Tieya and Chen Mu's disguised escort convoy toward Luo Family Fort. When rain forces the group into a ruined temple, Qin Tieya sends Liu Meng and two disciples to investigate its occupants. After a confrontation with mounted bandits, Liu Meng helps gather the bodies. 50 51 54

Ghost Market

At Floating Waves Reef, Liu Meng is left responsible for the academy group and is unable to explain Liu Qingluo's disappearance. He urgently briefs Chen Mu and Qin Tieya when they return. 77 78

He helps gather intelligence for their rescue attempt. His findings describe the guarded island where Qingluo may be held and reveal that Lady Hongxiao's servants abduct young women for sale at a Ghost Market auction scheduled for that night. 79 80

Everlasting Prosperity Town Investigations

After the group returns to the city, Chen Mu sends Liu Meng to investigate reports that Li Bingyan—whom Chen Mu believed dead—is about to marry Zhao Dong. Liu Meng returns convinced that the woman he saw is Li Bingyan. 90

Liu Meng helps investigate Zhao Dong's household massacre, divides academy disciples to collect intelligence, and reports the crisis to Chen Mu and Qin Tieya. 92

When Chen Mu suspects a Skin-Painting Ghost is connected to the Li Residence, Liu Meng receives orders to conduct distant surveillance with two other men and report any developments without approaching. 93

He later joins Chen Mu's temporary Patrol Office force and supports his authority when constables challenge it. While patrolling the western district, Liu Meng discovers another recently married household whose members have been killed in a manner matching the other demonic murders. 99 100

For a plan to lure the culprit out, Liu Meng reluctantly plays the groom in a staged wedding at his family's residence. He objects to bringing home a dead woman as his supposed bride, but accepts Chen Mu's assignment and persuades his parents to participate. 101

Mangdang Mountain Expedition

Chen Mu selects Liu Meng to accompany him on the demon-hunting expedition as a close-range team leader. Liu Meng objects when some government runners refuse to leave the city, but accepts Chen Mu's decision not to force them into the mission. 109

He assists in locating ruined villages, securing Broken Soul Cliff, capturing a barbarian scout, and launching the crossbow ambush against the Hu bandit camp. At Li Family Ravine, he and the other men are angered by the massacre; after the survivors are found, he helps continue the pursuit. 110 111

Liu Meng remains on sentry duty while the group camps in Mangdang Mountain and alerts Chen Mu when an unknown presence approaches. When Chen Mu later fails to return and nearby Hu activity threatens the camp, Liu Meng reluctantly agrees to relocate and leave markers for him. The white-robed monk Xuanzhen then confronts and incapacitates the group with a demonic gaze. 113 114 116

After eating demon-beast meat, Liu Meng breaks through to the Body Tempering Fourth Tier. He later volunteers to retrieve a great bow from Ironhead Huo's cellar and struggles to carry its enormous weight. 121 123

He is used as bait to draw out the Golden-Wing Blood Eagle. Though nearly killed by its wind blade, he attempts to fight back until Qin Tieya intervenes and Chen Mu kills the demon beast with the Howling Moon Twin Arrows. 126