Wang San
Demon-Slaying Martial Saint: It Begins with Refining Insects
Biodata
| Feature | Value |
|---|---|
| Name | Wang San (王三) |
| Alias(es) | Wang San the Moocher 7 |
| Gender | Male 5 |
| Age | Early thirties 5 |
| Residence | Yunqian Village 5 |
| Affiliation | Accomplice of Niu Han’s gang; robbery group with Li Hu, Huang Tian, and Zhao Fu 7 8 10 |
| Occupation/Role | Village loafer, nominal mountain trekker, thief, and would-be extortionist 5 |
| Marital Status | Bachelor 5 |
| Status | Deceased; killed by Su Yan with an arrow 10 |
| First Appearance | Chapter 5, “Bow and blade” 5 |
Background / History
Life in Yunqian Village
Wang San inherited his deceased father’s mountain-trekking trade but rarely brought anything back from the mountains. Instead, he survived by stealing chickens, pilfering goods, begging for food, and following Niu Han’s thugs for scraps. He was widely despised in Yunqian Village 5.
Niu Han’s men assigned him to watch Su Yan. Their plan was to use the boy’s inherited debt to sell him as a companion boy to a wealthy city household and seize his house. Wang San cooperated in hopes of working his way into the gang 10.
Extortion and Robbery Plot
After hearing that Su Yan had sold a treasure plant, Wang San stopped him near the Mountain Market and demanded “lucky money.” He threatened to publicize the discovery if Su Yan refused. Su Yan grabbed his shoulder, struck his face with the flat of his saber, and shoved him into the mud. Wang San backed down, mistakenly believing that Su Yan had sold the plant on behalf of other trekkers 5.
Further news of Su Yan’s earnings exposed that bluff. Wang San considered informing Niu Han but decided the gang would leave him no share of the proceeds. Instead, he persuaded Li Hu that Su Yan must have discovered a productive “treasure patch.” They planned to follow him into the mountains, seize the location, and conceal their attack as a mountain accident. Wang San also demanded help taking Su Yan’s house, which he hoped to sell for drinking money 7.
Joined by Huang Tian and Zhao Fu, the pair followed Su Yan into Cloudridge Mountain after waiting several days for an opportunity. When his trail abruptly disappeared, Li Hu split the group into pairs, sending Wang San with Zhao Fu to search the undergrowth 8.
Defeat and Death
Su Yan’s Darkwater Centipede ambushed Wang San and mangled his ankle. Su Yan then killed Zhao Fu and Huang Tian and disabled Li Hu. Terrified, Wang San blamed Li Hu for organizing the attack, while Li Hu accused Wang San of instigating it 9.
After Li Hu’s interrogation and death, Wang San tried to save himself by revealing that Su Dahe’s fatal fall had been caused by Niu Han’s men. Under questioning, he explained that Su Dahe had borrowed ten taels after finding traces of a treasure plant and that the gang had ordered men to watch him. His account implicated them, but he had not witnessed the fatal fall himself 9 10.
Wang San attempted to bargain for his life, but Su Yan pierced his palm with an arrow and forced him to continue. After he disclosed the gang’s plans to sell Su Yan and seize his home, Su Yan killed him. A search of Wang San’s body yielded no money; Su Yan then used the centipede to destroy recognizable wounds and concealed the tracks 10.
Appearance
Wang San has a gaunt, monkey-like appearance 5.
- Build: Scrawny, with little flesh on his face 5.
- Lips: Thin as blades 5.
- Eyes: Shifty and triangular 5 9.
- Teeth: Yellow 7.
- Hands: Gaunt and pale, likened to chicken claws 7.
Personality
Wang San is shameless, idle, and intensely envious of Su Yan’s prosperity. He treats the younger orphan’s lack of family protection as an opportunity for exploitation and prefers a private robbery scheme over informing Niu Han because he wants a share of the wealth. Although willing to threaten and prey on others, he loses his bravado when overpowered: during the failed ambush, he begs for mercy, blames his accomplice, and reveals the gang’s secrets to prolong his life 5 7 9 10.
Abilities & Skills
Mountain Trekking
- Inherited the trade from his father, but his baskets usually returned empty 5.
- Struggles to keep pace while following Su Yan through rough mountain trails 8.
Criminal Scheming
- Uses threats of exposing wealth to attempt extortion 5.
- Recruits Li Hu by connecting Su Yan’s repeated valuable finds to a supposed treasure patch; the patch’s existence is Wang San’s assumption, not an established discovery 7.
Equipment / Weapons / Items
- Knife — Carries a sharp-pointed, keen-edged knife during the pursuit of Su Yan; it is inferior to Li Hu’s 8.
- Wooden stick — Uses it to beat the grass while searching for Su Yan immediately before the centipede attacks 9.
Relationships
- Su Yan — Fellow Yunqian Village orphan whom Wang San targets for extortion, robbery, and dispossession; ultimately his killer 5 7 10.
- Li Hu — Longtime criminal associate and partner in the treasure-patch scheme. Their alliance collapses into mutual accusations after their defeat 7 9.
- Niu Han — Gang leader Wang San trails for scraps and hopes to serve; his men employ Wang San to monitor Su Yan 5 10.
- Huang Tian and Zhao Fu — Accomplices in the mountain pursuit; Zhao Fu becomes Wang San’s search partner 8.