Old Song

Biodata

Background / History

Song Yongchang serves as Yuan Kuilong’s second-in-command at Hunlong Stronghold. He selects captives from different trades for a ritual intended to open Yuan’s jade thumb-ring bowl. His choice to abduct Lin Shaocong risks a conflict with the powerful Lin family. Song also insists that one of the six captives must come from another province 1 5.

In Yuedong Province, Song poses as a film-company interviewer and recruits Zhang Laifu under the pretense of an acting job. He tests whether Zhang is the particular sort of “fool” he needs, then uses acting instructions to explain away Zhang’s captivity and the impossible journey to Wansheng Province 1 2 3. Once back at the stronghold, he presents Zhang as the sixth captive. Song delays the ritual, telling Yuan that they still need a suitable seed; he then submits to a public search when Yuan demands to know what he brought back from the trip 5.

The trip also serves Song’s private interests. Aboard Train 1168, he buys a white top hat bowl from Regimental Commander Wang Jixuan and seeks Wang’s support for joining Governor Wu’s forces. Wang makes clear that Song will need a substantial gift to earn the governor’s favor and raises the possibility of conflict between Hunlong Stronghold and the Lin family 3. Song’s trusted subordinate Liang Yixin later hides the purchased bowl in a willow tree to keep it from Yuan 6.

Abilities & Skills

Cotton Fluffing

Song’s Cotton Fluffer technique, Flowery World, spreads fine cotton wisps across an area to obstruct escape and disorient its targets 18.

• At Fish-Tendon Wharf, people trying to flee find their legs caught, their sight covered, or their paths turning back on themselves 18.
• Cotton Song leaves on Zhang restricts his movement and cuts him when he breaks Song’s rules for staying still 3 5.
• Song wields a cotton-fluffing bow and uses flying cotton to surround He Shengjun during their confrontation at the wharf 19.

Recruitment and Deception

• Tests Zhang with interview questions and an uncanny drawing, recording traits he interprets as signs of foolishness 1.
• Maintains the film-production story to secure Zhang’s compliance, describing the flying train carriage as a set with special effects 2 3.
• Catches Zhang after an escape attempt; a single touch leaves Zhang feeling as though he is stepping on cotton and unable to keep running 2.

Equipment / Items

• Cotton-fluffing bow — drawn when Song prepares to fight He Shengjun 19.
• White top hat bowl — purchased from Wang Jixuan and hidden by Liang Yixin; Zhang Laifu later retrieves it 3 6 8.

Relationships

• Yuan Kuilong — stronghold chief and Song’s superior. Yuan relies on Song’s bowl-opening plan but suspects him of pursuing his own interests 1 5.
• Yuan Kuifeng — Yuan Kuilong’s sister. She orders Song to stand down during his confrontation with He Shengjun and later tells her brother that Song appears to be provoking the Lin family deliberately 19 50.
• Zhao Yingde — Hunlong Stronghold’s quartermaster, described as close to Song; he relays Song’s reasoning about the captives to Yuan 1 4.
• Liang Yixin — Song’s most trusted subordinate on the outer-province trip; hides Song’s purchased bowl 6.
• Zheng the Pipa and Yu Qiasuan — accompany Song in recruiting and transporting Zhang Laifu 2 4.
• Zhang Laifu — recruited as the sixth captive, restrained during the journey, and later escapes with Lin Shaocong 1 3 5.
• Wang Jixuan — sells Song a bowl and agrees to convey his wish to serve Governor Wu 3.
• Lin Shaocong — abducted for Yuan’s ritual. After Lin escapes, Song searches for him and openly admits to the kidnapping 1 18 49.
• He Shengjun — Lin family chief guard whom Song nearly fights at Fish-Tendon Wharf 19.

Story Role / Major Arcs

• The wharf search: Acting on Yuan Kuifeng’s order, Song blocks departures from Fish-Tendon Wharf while their party searches for Lin Shaocong. He moves to attack He Shengjun but obeys Kuifeng when she calls off the confrontation 18 19.
• Escalation with the Lin family: Song later fights his way into the Lin residence and kills two guards. By the time Yuan Kuilong and Kuifeng discuss his conduct, both suspect he has a motive beyond avenging Liang Yixin. Song subsequently leads men to a police station and orders it burned 49 50.