Bu Er

Biodata

Feature	Value
Name	Bu Er (不二)
Alias(es)	Guard Bu Er — a form of address used in Yan Prefecture 26 289
Species/Race	Human; described as possessing mortal flesh and blood 714
Gender	Male 302
Affiliation	Yang Family; Dark Alliance 48 123 302
Occupation/Role	Yang Qing’s personal guard, aide, messenger, and investigator; formerly his childhood book servant 26 48 66 257
Ancestry	Born into an unidentified imperial family; raised by the Yang Family without knowing his parents 302
Status	Alive during the confrontation with Heavenly Law 750
First Appearance	Chapter 1, “As though an old acquaintance had come” 1

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Established martial-world expert	212	Ranked alongside Jiang Zhizhou among the martial world’s top five experts. A later passage describes him more broadly as a top-ten expert; no intervening loss of rank is stated 263.
Able to travel between life and death	573	The masked stranger explains that entering the Yin-Yang Gate and walking the Soul-Guiding Path has given the companions this capability.
Awakened Divine Bloodline	673	By this point, the Old Clan Chief has helped awaken the companions’ Divine Bloodline. He describes its potential as powerful enough to battle heavenly gods, though its actual limits remain uncertain.
Black Tortoise Heavy Armor bearer	674	Emerges from the Lake wearing glowing armor. Its power allows him to travel underwater without Water-Repelling Garments.
Expanded formation expertise	712	His recent work with Mo Yang develops his understanding of troop deployment and formations; together they prepare Soul-Locking and Spirit-Erasing Formations against Emperor Zhetian.

Background / History

Bu Er grew up in the Yang household without knowing his parents. As a small child, he wore a jade ornament around his neck, but he no longer saw it after turning ten. Yang Qing later identified it as an object reserved exclusively for imperial use, although he could not determine which imperial family it belonged to. Bu Er’s blood subsequently opened a door requiring imperial-lineage blood, confirming the connection without identifying his parents or dynasty 302.

Originally Yang Qing’s book servant, Bu Er followed him from childhood and survived the catastrophe that destroyed the Yang residence. He rescued the severely injured Yang Qing from the fire, unaware that an unidentified figure had secretly parted the flames to make the rescue possible. The two learned of that intervention only when shown a memory of the event much later 257 572 573.

Their shared hardships lasted more than a decade. Yang Qing came to regard Bu Er as a brother and deliberately allowed him to make mistakes so that he could develop independent judgment. He also considered having Bu Er inherit his mantle someday 123 317.

Appearance

• Youthful: Described as a boy at his first appearance and as a young man during later travels 1 279.
• Black clothing: Appears among the two black-clad men waiting outside the government office 1.
• Expressive under strain: His normally controlled demeanor gives way to reddened eyes, tightly pressed lips, or visible anger when Yang Qing is endangered 149 279.

Personality

Bu Er is reserved, blunt, and reluctant to speak unnecessarily. He dislikes intrusive familiarity and firmly rejects the village chief’s questions about his weapon and parents. His restraint around strangers contrasts with his emotional openness toward Yang Qing, whose safety he considers more important than anything else 454 693.

His loyalty is practical rather than merely verbal. He carries out orders even when he does not understand their purpose, but protests when Yang Qing neglects his health or chooses an exceptionally dangerous course. He also preserves Yang Qing’s standards: when a restaurant offers extra food in gratitude, Bu Er pays rather than accept an unauthorized gift 26 140 149 590.

Protectiveness can turn into anger, especially when he believes Yang Qing has been killed or betrayed. Yang Qing repeatedly steadies him and teaches him to favor survival over vengeance. Bu Er nevertheless has a playful side, teasing his companions about matchmaking and answering overwhelming enemies with defiant humor 271 401 638 713.

Abilities & Skills

Swordsmanship and Internal Power

Bu Er is an accomplished swordsman who became famous at a young age. Ordinary opponents struggle to contend with him, but encounters with Zhao Shanming and other exceptional masters expose the limits of his strength 212 452.

• Kills the bandit attempting to seize the recovered register at the Land God Temple 15.
• Uses the Dragon-Howl Sword to disperse more than half of Zhao Shanming’s finger-force attack, though the remaining impact injures him 263.
• Swiftly severs the sword hand of the guard threatening Yang Qing under military law 363.
• Can be immobilized by superior martial power: Zhao Shanming’s Sword Qi seals his movement, while Pei Buji restrains his acupoints 262 280.

Movement, Protection, and Reconnaissance

Bu Er combines swift movement with close attention to Yang Qing’s surroundings and physical condition 20 149.

• Carries Yang Qing rapidly between investigation sites and later through a mountain cave 20 332.
• Moves discreetly enough to leave Yang Qing’s prison cell without answering aloud 48.
• Pulls Yang Qing clear of a collapsing carriage and conceals their escape with a smoke-producing medicinal pellet 241.
• Secretly follows Mo Beixing and the High Protector, then leaves marks for Yang Qing’s party to follow 370.
• Detects the treetop alignment forming a concealed route toward Rosy Cloud Mountain’s summit 700.

Investigation and Intelligence Work

Bu Er serves as a link between Yang Qing and the Dark Alliance’s intelligence network. His reasoning develops under Yang Qing’s instruction, progressing beyond simple obedience to inference from incomplete information 48 69 257.

• Coordinates with Phantom Shadow over surveillance in the capital and preparations along the travel route 48.
• Investigates the Northern Liang marriage delegation and people who contacted it 74.
• Reports Bei Chen’s disobedience after a difficult investigative journey 230.
• Provokes Yun Niang into revealing that the offer of Eastern Splendor status conceals another motive 613.
• Works with Wood to gather village accounts concerning Rosy Cloud Mountain and Emperor Zhetian’s visits 698.

Formation Work

Bu Er participates in both combat formations and preparations intended to counter supernatural opponents 578 712.

• Holds his position in the Heavenly Silk Strangling Formation despite a severe injury; his dagger strike creates an opening against Ji Shan 578.
• Helps Jiang Zhizhou carry out Yang Qing’s countermeasure against Zhetian’s resentment-gathering scheme 641.
• Sets a low-level Soul-Locking Formation with Mo Yang. It does not affect ordinary living people, but can interfere with abnormally altered divine souls 712.
• Helps prepare the Soul-Splitting Formation from the Wordless Heavenly Book and Jiangli’s account. Its effects also weaken the souls of the companions inside it 716.
• Formation preparation consumes substantial inner power 712.

Bloodline and Turtle Influence

Bu Er’s imperial ancestry and the Pure Yang Turtle’s influence give his blood unusual properties, but the two are established through separate events 302 668.

• Imperial blood: Activates the blood-sacrifice formation sealing the dragon-vein passage 302.
• Turtle influence: After the turtle bites him, Wood proposes using traces of its influence in Bu Er’s blood against Yin-Yang blood poison 665 668.
• Unreliable treatment: Two drops appear to clear Wood’s friend’s bloodshot eyes, but the supposed cure proves deceptive; the recipient seeks more blood to strengthen himself 668 669.
• Personal cost: Giving even that small amount leaves Bu Er exhausted, making treatment of hundreds of people impractical 668.

Healing Assistance and Shared Power

Bu Er can support Yang Qing through carefully directed energy and treatment, but these interventions require caution rather than brute force 333 638.

• Uses the Unity Method from the Origin-Returning Divine Art with Jiang Zhizhou to channel power through Yang Qing and restore his damaged physical foundation. Losing concentration could endanger all three 333.
• His strength contributes to Yang Qing’s crisis-only ability to draw on the combined power of Bu Er, Jiang Zhizhou, and Mu Feng 585.
• Cuts away corrupted flesh and applies burning wild peach wood to Yang Qing’s unnatural wound under his instructions 638.
• Helps gather Profound Power under Jiangli’s direction to strengthen Yang Qing’s body 710.

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Dragon-Howl Sword — His named sword, described as indestructible. It nevertheless bends under Zhao Shanming’s pressure 263.
• Dagger — Kept beside his boot; used to provide blood for the sealed stone door. He also wounds Ji Shan with a dagger after being struck near the heart 302 578.
• Life-Bound Sword — Intimately tied to his fate and reserved for situations of necessity; not explicitly identified as the Dragon-Howl Sword 693.
• Black Tortoise Heavy Armor — Enables underwater movement and resists blades, fire, water, and some Profound Power. Repeated blows to the same spot can compromise it, and transmitted internal force can bypass its protection. The armor also carries the dead Black Tortoise’s resentment and desire for revenge 674 679 693 713 714.
• Heavenly Maiden Scattering Flowers — A deadly, box-shaped weapon obtained by the companions in the ruins beneath the Lake. Bu Er threatens the village’s treasured tree with it to secure entry 693 694.
• Smoke-producing medicinal pellet — Creates a large black-and-yellow cloud during an escape from attackers 241.
• Childhood jade ornament — Evidence of imperial ancestry; its present whereabouts are not established 302.
• Heaven and Earth Bag — Handles the bag supplied for collecting demon grass. He initially mistakes it for a Sumeru Bag and discovers that the collected grass has vanished 736.

Relationships

• Yang Qing — Childhood master, employer, mentor, and brother-like family. Bu Er repeatedly risks his life for him, while Yang Qing hopes he will gain independence and possibly inherit his mantle 123 257 262.
• Jiang Zhizhou — Fellow protector and trusted traveling companion. They cooperate in combat, treatment, and formation work; Jiang also helps Bu Er understand Yang Qing’s decisions 117 333 440 641.
• Phantom Shadow — Dark Alliance associate. Their teasing familiarity accompanies serious coordination over Yang Qing’s safety and intelligence operations 48.
• Pei Buji — Powerful companion whom Bu Er initially distrusts. Pei offers to teach him moves, but his unpredictable treatment of Yang Qing repeatedly provokes Bu Er’s concern 283 286.
• Peerless Gentleman / Unrivaled — Rescuer who frees Bu Er from Zhao Shanming’s Sword Qi and prevents his death 262 263.
• Ouyang Lin — Traveling companion and fellow investigator at the Hard Tribe. Bu Er later joins Yang Qing and Mu Feng in performing his funeral rites 401 584.
• Mu Feng — Young fighter who defeats Bu Er, leaving him frustrated and suspicious of the newcomer’s motives 454.
• Wood — Ally who protects Bu Er from clansmen seeking his blood. Bu Er later brings Wood underwater to undergo the armor’s selection 669 674.
• Mo Yang — Formation partner whose recent travels with Bu Er help develop their tactical knowledge 712.
• Mo Beixing — Initially saved by Bu Er from an attacker. Their relationship becomes hostile when she demands the Rootless Wood 370 480.
• Emperor Zhetian / Sacred Emperor — Enemy who repeatedly injures Bu Er and uses his suffering to pressure Yang Qing into submission 713 714 716.

Story Role / Major Arcs

Yan Prefecture and the Capital

• Official arrival: Holds a sword to a government-office guard’s shoulder before presenting a yellow silk scroll that causes Dai Sheng to kneel 1.
• Bandit investigation: Saves the soldiers recovering the register, assists Yang Qing at the burned Li residence, and apprehends Master Deng 15 20.
• Defense and covert support: Takes a position beside Zou Donghai on Yan Pass’s gate tower, then coordinates intelligence while Yang Qing is imprisoned 33 48.
• Capital operations: Delivers Yang Qing’s message to Purple Smoke and investigates contacts surrounding the Northern Liang marriage mission 66 74.

Northern Liang and the Ancient Ruins

• Departure: Urges Yang Qing to abandon the dangerous Northern Liang journey, but ultimately supports his decision to continue 140.
• Medical crisis: Helps rush Yang Qing to a physician after his old injury becomes critical 166.
• Blooming City attack: Tries to sacrifice himself to secure Yang Qing’s escape from Zhao Shanming; Unrivaled intervenes before he is killed 262 263.
• Underground fighting: Holds off black-clad attackers while protecting his companions. Later, despite a head wound and suppressed internal energy, he insists they keep moving 271 274.
• Return home: Accompanies Yang Qing into the old Yang residence and supplies the dagger used to retrieve the hidden silk roll 292.
• Dragon-vein entrance: His blood opens the sealed door, allowing the group to reach the Golden Palace 302.

Wider Travels and Supernatural Conflict

• Martial-world journey: Protects Mo Beixing on the road to Azure Cloud Fortress and investigates suspicious nighttime burials at the Hard Tribe 370 401.
• City of Eternal Night: Helps evacuate vulnerable inn guests during a fire, then discovers that the legendary Wind-Chasing Horse is real 440.
• Hidden benefactor: Learns that his rescue of Yang Qing during the family fire depended on a stranger’s unseen intervention 573.
• Fight with Ji Shan: Stabs the enemy despite a disabling injury, creating an opening for his allies before collapsing 578.
• Hidden Clan crisis: Becomes a target because of his altered blood, then returns from beneath the Lake wearing Black Tortoise Heavy Armor 668 669 674.

Rosy Cloud Mountain and the Demon Abyss

• Preparation against Zhetian: Helps uncover the route up Rosy Cloud Mountain and prepares formations before the Emperor arrives 700 712.
• Desperate resistance: Continues taunting and fighting Zhetian despite grievous injuries. The Emperor briefly heals him only to prolong his usefulness as leverage against Yang Qing 713 714 716.
• Survival: Stands hand in hand with Yang Qing and Jiang Zhizhou as Heavenly Thunder targets Zhetian; the companions later descend the mountain alive 718 722.
• Demon Grassland: Accompanies the investigation, supports Yang Qing’s recovery, and handles the bag used to collect demon grass 729 735 736.
• Heavenly Law confrontation: Offers to accompany Yang Qing to the formation eye, but Yang Qing refuses because only he can complete the task 750.

Notable Quotes

“Young Master, no matter what, you must tell me the truth. You and I share life and death; our fates are bound together...” 149

“A true man should stand tall enough to hold up the heavens, yet here you are bullying women?” 370

“Of course, if you can still throw a punch.”
— Reply to Emperor Zhetian’s offer of another blow 713

Trivia

• Yang Qing offers to find Bu Er a wife, but Bu Er worries that marriage would separate them. He redirects the matchmaking jokes toward Ouyang Lin and Jiang Zhizhou 401.
• The mysterious turtle bites through the crotch of his trousers, prompting Jiang Zhizhou to joke that he nearly lost his “chastity” 665.
• His imperial ancestry remains unresolved: the jade ornament and blood-sacrifice formation establish a royal connection, but neither identifies his family 302.