Song Que

Biodata

Feature	Information
Name	Song Que (宋缺)
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Golden Saber Sect 17
Occupation/Role	Golden Saber Sect martial artist; Grade-A Weapon Examiner 17 61
First Appearance	Chapter 17

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Skin Tempering First Layer	17	Deliberately remained at this level for more than a year to build an exceptional foundation despite having access to breakthrough resources.
Skin Tempering Fourth Layer	47	Abandoned his former slow-and-steady approach after losing to Deng Qing; used sect resources and intensive training to cross several layers while mastering the Shadow Saber.

Appearance

Song Que later wears black fitted martial clothes and carries a long saber. Following his first defeat by Deng Qing, his bearing becomes markedly sharper and more restrained, likened to a saber concealed in its sheath. 45 56

• Carries himself with a stern, imposing martial presence after reaching the fourth layer. 47
• Uses a long saber and formerly concealed the Blacksteel Soft Sword as a belt. 18 49

Personality

Song Que begins as confident, flamboyant, and highly conscious of reputation. During the Blackwind Ravine duel, he treats his broad mastery of martial arts as a display, becoming frustrated when Deng Qing's unadorned Tiger-Subduing Fist withstands him. 17 18

His defeats transform that confidence into vindictiveness and urgency. He abandons his ideal of perfect foundations, advances rapidly, and learns the Shadow Saber specifically to reclaim his honor and the Blacksteel Soft Sword. 47 48 When his second challenge ends with Deng Qing cutting apart his clothes without harming him, Song Que develops genuine fear of Deng Qing's future potential. 50 57

Despite his pride, Song Que is capable of pragmatism. He later initiates a truce, pays Deng Qing five taels as compensation, accepts the loss of the Blacksteel Soft Sword, and becomes a cautious acquaintance rather than continuing a dangerous feud. 57 61

Abilities & Skills

Martial Arts Foundation

Song Que is reputed to be proficient in all eighteen martial arts. At the Skin Tempering First Layer, he combines fast footwork with palms, claws, kicks, grappling, and other varied techniques. 17 18

• Maintained the first layer for over a year to strengthen his foundation. 17
• Uses elegant, rapid chains of attacks that transition continuously between techniques. 17 18
• His diverse style initially pressured Deng Qing through more than forty exchanges. 18

Shadow Saber

A deep Golden Saber Sect secret technique that produces overlapping saber images, concealing the true attack among false shadows. 47

• Defeated Li Cheng after more than ten exchanges by forcing him to strike an illusion. 48
• Uses shifting saber shadows to attack from multiple directions in close quarters. 49
• Its transformations can be anticipated and countered by a sufficiently refined defensive sword art, as Deng Qing demonstrates. 49 57

Concealed Weapons

Song Que is willing to employ concealed tools when pressured.

• Fired a sleeve arrow at Deng Qing during their formal duel; the shot struck Deng Qing's chest but was stopped by concealed leather armor. 18
• Transformed his belt into the Blacksteel Soft Sword after failing to overcome Deng Qing empty-handed. 18

Equipment

• Long saber — Song Que's primary weapon during his later challenges and Shadow Saber techniques. 47 49
• Blacksteel Soft Sword — A flexible, black blade that can function as a belt, bend around defenses, wrap wrists, and threaten vital points. Deng Qing disarmed Song Que with it at Blackwind Ravine; it became Deng Qing's spoils of battle. 18 19
• Sleeve arrow — A concealed projectile used against Deng Qing during their Blackwind Ravine duel. 18

Relationships

• Deng Qing — Former rival and victor over Song Que at Blackwind Ravine. Song Que later challenged him again in Dongting County, suffered a humiliating defeat, then sought a formal truce and accepted Deng Qing's possession of the Blacksteel Soft Sword. 18 50 57
• Song Wuliang — Uncle and Golden Saber Sect Master. Song Wuliang provided Song Que with the Blacksteel Soft Sword and later maintained interest in its fate. 17 18 46
• Li Cheng — Defeated by Song Que at the Pacification Commissioner's banquet after being overwhelmed by the Shadow Saber. 47 48
• Chen Kong — Golden Saber Sect associate who led the sect's side at Blackwind Ravine and later found Song Que after his alley duel with Deng Qing. 18 50

Story Role / Major Arcs

Blackwind Ravine Duel

Song Que represents the Golden Saber Sect in the decisive contest for medicinal ingredients. Favored because of his sect background, broad martial knowledge, and deliberately tempered first-layer foundation, he mocks Deng Qing as the “Offal Martial Saint” before their fight. 17

Although his elegant attacks dominate the spectators' attention, he cannot break Deng Qing's defensive Tiger-Subduing Fist. Frustrated, he uses a sleeve arrow and the Blacksteel Soft Sword, but Deng Qing counters with the Silver Crow Handwraps, disarms him, and stops a lethal claw strike at his throat. 18

Pursuit of Revenge

After Blackwind Ravine, Song Que uses abundant resources and harsh training to reach Skin Tempering Fourth Layer and master the Shadow Saber. He defeats Li Cheng publicly at the Dongting banquet, intending to use the victory as a prelude to challenging Deng Qing. 47 48

Deng Qing refuses the public provocation, denying Song Que the public restoration of face he seeks. Song Que later blocks Deng Qing's path in a secluded alley to demand both a duel and the return of the Blacksteel Soft Sword. 48 49

The alley duel ends without visible injuries, but Deng Qing's delayed sword strikes reduce Song Que's clothing to strips while leaving his body untouched. The incident leaves Song Que humiliated and deeply aware that Deng Qing could have killed him. 50 57

Reconciliation and Weapon Examiner Selection

Song Que privately seeks peace with Deng Qing at the Yanshan Prefecture Martial Arts Hall. He acknowledges fault for both earlier conflicts, offers five taels of silver, and permits Deng Qing to keep the Blacksteel Soft Sword as long as its acquisition is publicly attributed to gambling. 57

He earns Grade A during the Weapon Examiner selection and later discusses the Saber Grove and the distant Martial Dao Lower Court with Deng Qing. Though still proud of the Shadow Saber, he becomes notably more careful in his dealings with Deng Qing. 61 67

Notable Quotes

“One day, I'll personally take it back. Keep it safe for me!” 18