Zhao Da

Biodata

Feature	Value
Name	Zhao Da (赵达)
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Zhao Family; Ning Family through marriage 6
Occupation/Role	Ning Family bookkeeper; martial artist; organizer of the Zhao Family’s businesses and martial training 6 155
Cultivation Realm	Bone Tempering Realm—the second martial realm 96 100
Spouse	Ning Mu 7
Status	Alive; overseeing the Zhao Family’s development in County Town 155 156
First Appearance	Chapter 6, in the supplied passages 6

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Blood Condensation Realm	7	Already attained when he explains cultivation to Zhao Er. Using the Ning Family’s hereditary orthodox method, he succeeded on his first blood-condensation attempt after nearly four months of physical tempering.
Bone Tempering Realm	96	Announces his successful advancement after an earlier failed attempt. Before entering seclusion again, he receives Witch Toad essence blood from Zhao Er to improve his chances 67 85 86. His new strength renews his confidence in protecting Ning Mu.

Background / History

Education and Marriage

Born into a farming family, Zhao Da was diligent in his studies and particularly talented at arithmetic. His teacher recommended him for employment as the Ning Family’s bookkeeper in County Town. The Nings were a small, declining lineage whose smithies mainly produced metal implements and farming tools 6.

After two years of employment, his honesty, upright character, and reasonably handsome appearance attracted the Ning Family’s young lady, Ning Mu. They married, and the Ning Family paid off the Zhao household’s old debts. Zhao Da continued living with the Nings, although he had not formally married into their family 6 7.

Supporting Zhao Er

When Zhao Da learned that Zhao Er was catching Golden-Clawed Heavenly Dragons near the mountains, he rushed home to discourage the dangerous work. Unable to persuade him, he obtained a Poison Sand Palm manual so his younger brother could toughen his hands and cultivate using the creatures’ venom 6.

He later explained the first three martial realms and their breakthrough risks to Zhao Er. He also supplied another manual and pills, initially refusing the nearly ten taels Zhao Er offered in return. Zhao Er insisted because he did not want those purchases to reduce his elder brother’s own cultivation resources 7 8.

Their sparring match exposed both Zhao Da’s strong bodily defenses and Zhao Er’s dangerous poison attacks. After experiencing the toxin’s lingering pain and disruption of qi-blood circulation, Zhao Da stopped pressing for explanations about his brother’s unusual progress. He instead advised Zhao Er to prioritize movement and body-tempering techniques, explaining that martial artists generally turn to weapons after Blood Condensation 28 29.

Cultivation Setbacks and Changing Responsibilities

Zhao Da trained hard to establish himself within the Ning Family and obtain resources for Zhao Er. His infrequent visits home led to village gossip that he had become a live-in son-in-law, but his family understood that he was trying to support his marriage and both households 67.

A failed breakthrough left him doubtful about his Grand Exam prospects. Zhao Er’s disclosure that he had reached Bone Tempering showed Zhao Da that his younger brother could begin sharing the family burden he had carried 67.

After an attack on Zhao Er’s courtyard, Zhao Da hurried over to check for injuries. Zhao Er gave him Witch Toad essence blood for another breakthrough attempt and revealed that his poison cultivation had made ordinary contact—and potentially intimacy—dangerous. Distressed, Zhao Da offered to help him change methods, although Zhao Er explained that doing so would require starting over 85.

By Chapter 96, Zhao Da had successfully reached Bone Tempering. Shortly afterward, he and Ning Mu announced her pregnancy, celebrating the prospect of a third generation of the Zhao Family. Their happiness became troubled when they realized Zhao Er was keeping his distance to avoid exposing Ning Mu or the unborn child to his toxins 96 98.

Building the Zhao Family

Zhao Da took an active interest in Zhao Er’s Grand Exam prospects, scouting the preliminary test when his brother preferred to keep training. He objected when Zhao Er considered giving up a tournament place, but the family accepted his eventual withdrawal after learning that he already had admission to the Martial Academy 100 101 104.

Before leaving for the prefecture, Zhao Er entrusted the arrangements for a newly acquired family residence to Zhao Da. He also disclosed his forthcoming Martial Guard position to the county’s major powers, intending that connection to protect his elder brother from local pressure 106.

Zhao Da subsequently established businesses, hired martial artists, and arranged instruction for young people in Zhao Family Village. Promising students with good character were brought to the family compound in County Town; by his academy visit, a handful had reached Blood Condensation 155.

He declined the opportunity to join the Martial Academy himself, choosing to remain with his family and build a foundation for future generations. He and Zhao Er agreed to split profits equally from trading the latter’s hundred-forged fine iron allocation. Zhao Da’s convoy collected twenty thousand taels’ worth of iron, along with martial supplies for the family 155 156.

Appearance

• Reasonably handsome: His looks are specifically named among the qualities that attracted Ning Mu 6.

Personality

Zhao Da is honest, hardworking, and strongly conscious of his responsibilities as the eldest son. His cultivation efforts are directed toward securing his household’s position and helping both the Zhao and Ning families, rather than advancement alone. When offered an academy path, he chooses family administration and a lasting foundation for his descendants 6 67 155.

He is affectionate toward Ning Mu and protective of Zhao Er without demanding access to all his secrets. After testing Zhao Er’s poison, he accepts that his brother possesses unusual methods and does not pry further. At the Martial Academy, his caution becomes pronounced: unfamiliar with its hierarchy and the intentions of its staff, he avoids saying too much until Zhao Er arrives, hoping not to cause his brother trouble 29 30 154 155.

Abilities & Skills

Orthodox Martial Cultivation

• Practices the Ning Family’s hereditary cultivation method, an orthodox martial art 7.
• Combines internal and external cultivation, giving him strong bodily defenses and heavy punches 28.
• Can circulate qi-blood to purge poison, but Zhao Er’s enhanced centipede toxin leaves pain and impaired circulation even after its spread is stopped 29.

Unarmed Combat

• Uses balanced, steady techniques, with straightforward strikes rather than Zhao Er’s emphasis on speed and surprise 28.
• Reacts quickly to attacks aimed at his eyes and attempts to seize Zhao Er’s wrist during their spar 28.
• His practical combat experience is relatively limited; Zhao Er attributes his successful poisoned strike partly to catching him off guard 29.

Swordsmanship

• Has average weapon aptitude, with no special preference imposed by his physique 30.
• Practices swordsmanship at Ning Mu’s suggestion; she admires his graceful appearance while training 30.

Accounting and Family Administration

• Shows a particular talent for arithmetic and works professionally as a bookkeeper 6.
• Establishes businesses, hires martial artists, and organizes instruction for village youths 155.
• Coordinates the transport and sale of Zhao Er’s hundred-forged fine iron allocation with a convoy from the Wan Family Martial Arts School 149 155 156.

Relationships

• Zhao Er — Younger brother. Zhao Da supplies early training materials and martial advice; their roles later reverse as Zhao Er provides breakthrough resources, political protection, and opportunities for family trade 6 7 29 85 106 155.
• Ning Mu — Wife. Their marriage links the Zhao and Ning households. He practices swordsmanship partly to please her, and they jointly consider the Zhao Family’s long-term development 6 30 155.
• Zhao Dazhu — Father. Understands Zhao Da’s difficult position within the Ning household and avoids troubling him without good reason 6.
• Zhang Xuan’e — Mother. Shares his concern for the absent Zhao Er; Zhao Da agrees to visit his brother at the academy while arranging the iron trade 149.
• Zhao Shan — Younger sister. When she wants to accompany him to the academy, he encourages her to practice Zhao Er’s halberd art and aim to enter the academy herself 149.
• Jing Wei — Martial Academy gate attendant. Welcomes him courteously because of Zhao Er’s reputation, explains future travel credentials, and helps arrange the brothers’ private reunion 154 155.

Notable Quotes

“What kind of elder brother would I be if I took your money? How could I show my face back home afterward?” 8

“If you like it, Mumu, I'm happy to practice it...” 30