Zhang Youde

Biodata

Power Progression

Background / History

Zhang Youde comes from a small martial arts family with an expert who has undergone six Body Metamorphoses. By the time Chen Yiming joins the academy’s East City Branch, Zhang has trained there for over a year longer and is regarded as its strongest ordinary student and best swordsman 11 12 24.

Chen’s rapid improvement initially threatens Zhang’s standing. After his follower Hu Shixin disparages Chen, Zhang sends Hu away in an attempt to repair the relationship—despite Chen having neither requested an apology nor held a grudge 12 18 21. Zhang then tests Chen in a private sparring match, loses, and becomes convinced that Chen can fight above his publicly known cultivation level 22.

Zhang invites Chen to the Mutual Aid Association and offers to spar using his family’s Rainbow Swordsmanship, but Chen declines membership 23 24 25. They later cooperate to obtain three shops from the declining Li Family and agree to hold them through a new company. Zhang is subsequently sent to the front line 42 43 47 49.

Appearance

Zhang is taller and more heavily built than Chen Yiming, a foundation attributed to eating exotic-beast meat since childhood 22.

• Often wears a white shirt and jeans instead of academy training clothes 11 22.
• Wears a mechanical watch 11.

Personality

Zhang is attentive to status and connections. He joined the academy partly to meet capable people outside his family and build a network that could strengthen his future position within it 18 19. Chen’s emergence first makes him jealous, then prompts him to seek a working relationship rather than continue their rivalry 12 22 23.

He can be harsh toward a subordinate: he drives Hu Shixin from the academy after Hu’s remarks threaten his prospects with Chen 19 21. With Chen himself, Zhang is persistent but adaptable, shifting from offers of resources to sword sparring when he sees what interests him 24 25.

Abilities & Skills

Mantis Snake Swordsmanship

Zhang practices the academy’s swordsmanship and was regarded as the East City Branch’s best swordsman before Chen’s arrival 12 22.

• Uses it at full strength when testing Chen 22.
• Chen exploits weaknesses in Zhang’s grasp of the technique and disarms him 22.

Rainbow Swordsmanship

Zhang’s family sword art links varied attacks into a continuous sequence suited to pursuit and prolonged fights 24 28.

• Its attacks can bend or thrust straight and come from multiple directions 24.
• Zhang demonstrates it against Chen, continuing until his strength runs out; their public spar appears to end in a draw 24 25.

Relationships

• Chen Yiming — Fellow academy student, former rival, and later business partner. Zhang tests Chen’s strength, tries unsuccessfully to recruit him, and works with him to acquire three shops 22 23 25 47.
• Hu Shixin — Follower whom Zhang sends away after Hu’s remarks damage his relationship with Chen 21 22.
• Zhang Ziyi — Zhang’s third uncle, present among his family’s delegation at the Li Family banquet 43.