Shopkeeper Lu

Biodata

Background / History

Lu first hires Qin Geng to take him to Osmanthus Fragrance Studio. Impressed by Qin’s fast, steady handling, he offers five silver dollars for a discreet return trip from Bell Mountain. Lu emerges from the mountain pursued by hopping corpses, and Qin carries him safely back. Lu pays as promised and explains that diligent work in any trade can lead to extraordinary abilities 3 6.

On their next trip, Lu is badly injured by creatures that imitate human speech. Zheng Tonghe keeps him alive using Paper Effigy Skinning while Qin races him to Hundred Herb Hall. After treatment, Lu pays Qin ten silver dollars and offers thirty for another expedition, conditional on Qin reaching the third tier of his rickshaw-pulling abilities 10 11.

Lu later tests Qin’s new danger sense and martial strength at Osmanthus Fragrance Studio. He recruits Qin for the Bell Mountain investigation, where Qin’s navigation skill helps the group escape and identify a clue concerning the corpses. Lu pays the promised thirty silver dollars and gives Qin a letter introducing him to Master Ye 22 24 35 36 40.

Appearance

Lu initially appears in a black robe and small round dark glasses. For the later Bell Mountain expedition, he wears a close-fitting black jacket and thick-soled boots 3 6 30.

• Distinguishing features — Small round dark glasses; a sharp, appraising gaze 6 22.
• Working attire — Bound cuffs and quick boots for travel in the mountain 30.

Abilities & Skills

Paper-effigy craft

Lu’s cosmetics storefront conceals a workshop of lifelike paper figures. His animated Boy Paper Doll attacks with great speed and a hardened arm; when Qin punches it, the doll disperses the force and lands unharmed 22 23.

• Makes paper figures detailed enough to earn him the name “Paper Effigy Lu” 14 30.
• Uses a paper doll to test Qin’s fighting ability 22 23.

Martial appraisal and cultivation knowledge

Lu recognizes Qin’s third-tier Step-Sensing Danger and identifies the force behind his punch as Dragon Spine Through the Back. He explains trade-based cultivation tiers to Qin, though his belief that Qin’s martial talent is innate does not match what Qin knows about the Book of a Hundred Trades 11 22 23.

• Describes the first two rickshaw-puller tiers as Wind-Fire Wheel and Ever-Burning Lamp 11.
• Identifies Step-Sensing Danger and Old Horse Knows the Way as third-tier abilities needed for safe travel through Bell Mountain 11.
• Tests Qin’s reflexes by throwing a cinnabar-stained brush at his head 22.

Equipment / Items

• Paper figures and black wooden case — Carries finely made figures for the Bell Mountain expedition 30.
• Cinnabar-stained brush — Used in his sudden test of Qin’s danger sense 22.
• Medicinal Dragon Well tea — Offers Qin a restorative bowl before the expedition 24.
• Letter of recommendation — Introduces Qin to Master Ye 36 40.

Relationships

• Qin Geng — Hires him as a driver, teaches him about trade-based cultivation, and later supports his search for a martial master. Qin saves Lu’s life and guides his investigative group out of Bell Mountain 6 11 24 35 36.
• Zheng Tonghe — Lu’s senior martial brother and the physician who treats his injuries after the second Bell Mountain trip 11.
• Master Ye — The martial arts master to whom Lu recommends Qin 36 40.
• Third Master Cao and Daoist Miaoxuan — Fellow members of the Bell Mountain investigative group 30 35.
• Abacus Song — Lu demands that Song compensate Qin for an earlier armed clash before discussing the Dragon King Society investigation 50.

Notable Quotes

“Master a trade through diligence, and you can commune with ghosts and gods.” 6

“In our line of work, if you don't stay alert every moment, your head will be gone before you know it.” 22