Old Helmsman

Biodata

Background / History

Old Helmsman tells Zhang Laifu that he once steered boats for the Lin family and kept a guest room at their old residence. His account of his past is not independently confirmed, and “Old Helmsman” proves not to be his real name 22 34.

As a Departed Soul, he haunts the abandoned Lin Family Old Residence at Whitegrass Marsh. When Zhang arrives to watch the property, Old Helmsman takes an interest in his top-hat Bowl and keeps him at the house overnight. He later sends Zhang into town for materials to open it, retaining the Bowl himself 21 22 23.

Appearance

He initially appears as a white-haired, white-bearded man who looks to be in his seventies 22.

• Corpse-like face — Bloodless skin, prominent pulsing veins, solid-black eyes, and tiny red pupils 22.
• Changing features — His skin regains its color, the veins vanish, and his eyes appear ordinary after he examines Zhang’s Bowl 22.

Personality

Old Helmsman alternates between praise and threats. He calls Zhang fortunate, feeds him after exposing him to yin energy, and gives him a drum for protection; he also prevents Zhang from leaving, demands errands, and threatens him over the Bowl 22 28.

He professes to hate lies and claims he can hear them in a person’s voice. His own assurances conceal a plan to merge Zhang with himself inside the Bowl. When Zhang confronts him, Old Helmsman admits that he lied because he considered Zhang a fool 22 33 34.

Abilities & Skills

Drum Skinning and sound attacks

Old Helmsman was a Drum Skinner, a trade specializing in the construction and tuning of great drums. His craft lets him produce destructive sounds by striking his own body 27.

• One-Stroke Sounding — A single strike gravely wounds Old Yu, while another kills Xiaozhuzi without harming Zhang, whom Old Helmsman distinguishes by ear 27.
• Projected sound — Knocking heard at the front gate is actually produced by Old Helmsman slapping his belly elsewhere in the courtyard 27.
• Repeated strikes — He injures Zhang with drumbeat attacks during their final struggle 33.

Hearing and perception

• Lie detection — He judges whether Zhang’s voice sounds truthful, though Zhang can still mislead him through omissions and by exploiting what Old Helmsman cannot perceive 22 33.
• Intermittent senses — At times he cannot see or hear Zhang and responds as though guessing what was said. Winding his Alarm Clock restores his hearing 26 28 32.
• Limits — He cannot reliably judge an object’s size or weight by sound, and repeatedly trips over a water cart he cannot sense 28.

Yin energy

• Coercion — His grip subjects Zhang to a severe supernatural chill when he demands an explanation 28.
• Danger to the living — Li Yunsheng diagnoses Zhang with Yin Qi Corrosion after their first encounter and warns that it could kill him 23.
• Treatment — Old Helmsman prepares spicy peppers that he says will counteract the chill he inflicted 28.

Knowledge of Bowls

• He recognizes Zhang’s top hat as a valuable Bowl by listening to it and eventually identifies snuff as material that makes it open 22 28 32.
• He extracts Craft Essence from Old Yu’s and Xiaozhuzi’s remains, then explains how Craft Essence planted in a Bowl can grow a Craft Spirit 27.

Equipment / Items

• Alarm Clock — A supernatural clock Old Helmsman winds during combat. At two o’clock, his hearing returns; he threatens Old Yu with different deaths depending on the time shown 26 27 32.
• Small drum — Given to Zhang for use once against a dangerous person. Old Helmsman warns him to face the target and not strike it while looking in a mirror 28.
• Zhang’s top-hat Bowl — Held by Old Helmsman while he seeks the material needed to open it and enact his plan 22 33.

Relationships

• Zhang Laifu — The Bowl’s owner. Old Helmsman protects him from two pursuers but intends to merge with him; Zhang defeats him instead 27 33 34.
• Lin family patriarch — Old Helmsman claims they were sworn brothers and once drank and gambled at the old residence 22.
• Old Yu and Xiaozhuzi — Hunlong Stronghold pursuers whom Old Helmsman kills after they enter the residence and attack Zhang 26 27.

Story Role / Major Arcs

• The old residence — Old Helmsman discovers Zhang’s Bowl, blocks his attempt to leave, and sends him to buy tobacco. Zhang subsequently learns that his encounter has left him dangerously affected by yin energy 22 23.
• The pursuers’ arrival — Old Yu briefly restrains him with a Celestial Master talisman. After Zhang disrupts the restraint, Old Helmsman kills Old Yu and Xiaozhuzi, then has Zhang collect their Craft Essence 26 27.
• Opening the Bowl — Snuff activates the top hat. Old Helmsman reveals that he means to make himself and Zhang “one person,” but pours his own ashes into the Bowl after mistaking them for snuff. Zhang drives a water cart into him, and he vanishes inside the hat 32 33 34.
• Aftermath — Zhang adds more snuff and Old Yu’s Craft Essence. The Bowl later produces a Craft Spirit that Zhang eats to become a Craftsman 34 35.

Notable Quotes

“My ears are exceptionally sharp. I can hear it the moment you lie, so tell me the truth.” 22

“With me around, nobody will ever bully you again!” 33