Xi Men Kan Kan

Biodata

Feature	Information
Name	Xi Men Kan Kan (西门坎坎)
Alias(es)	“Hundred Not Born” — a joking self-styled nickname meaning the father of Duan Rong’s “Omniscient Scholar” persona 355
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Xi Men Family; Taiyi Sect; Internal History Department 523 552
Occupation/Role	Young Master of the Xi Men Family; Taiyi Sect Inner Sect disciple; Internal History Department worker 315 523 552
Status	Alive 715
First Appearance	Chapter 109, “Snow Covered Residence” 109

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Inner Breath Realm, Fourth Level — Major Accomplishment	121	Had reached this realm half a year earlier, making him the strongest documented young aristocrat in Xiangu County at the time. His grip is described as iron-like despite its relaxed appearance.
Minute Subtlety Realm	302	Broke through during a saber duel with Master Dong. His Thunder Smoke Saber became faster and more unpredictable, allowing him to wound Master Dong before the latter relied on Filthy Blood Divine Skill defenses.
True Qi Realm, Second Level	362	Entered the Outer Sect disciple assessment at the second level of the True Qi Realm and won after Duan Rong exposed the weakness in his opponent’s Sweeping Leaf Eighteen Saber.
Essence Qi Realm	538	Had advanced by this point; he infused his saber with Essence Qi and used his bodily aura to kill hornets while stealing a beehive. He had still been below the first Essence Qi level shortly after leaving the Pagoda Forest 509 538.

Background

Xi Men Kan Kan is the only son of Xi Men Yong, whose Xi Men Family operates a Crude Drug Store and ranks among the major powers of Xiangu County. His mother, Li Yilin, died of illness when he was three; Xi Men Yong never remarried and became notably overprotective of him. 124 176

Though he was raised in comfort, Kan Kan possessed exceptional martial talent. He reached the Major Accomplishment realm of the Inner Breath Realm while still young, yet disliked formal cultivation and preferred food, leisure, drinking, mischief, and collecting erotic paintings. 121 151 176

His friendship with Duan Rong changed his training habits. Frequent sparring forced Kan Kan to make fuller use of his talent, deepening his grasp of the Thunder Smoke Saber even when he remained largely unaware of his own progress. 164 176

Appearance

At his introduction, Xi Men Kan Kan is a short, extremely plump youth, approximately 1.5 meters tall, with broad shoulders, a thick waist, and a round face. His small stature contrasts with his surprising agility and combat ability. 109 163

• Initially described as short and stout, with the build of a “short winter melon.” 109
• Carries himself with an affectedly old-fashioned, worldly manner despite his youth. 109
• Lost so much weight during six months in the Pagoda Forest that Duan Rong initially failed to recognize him; he had become thin and tall-looking. 502
• Regained much of his former roundness after leaving the Pagoda Forest. 552

Personality

Kan Kan is playful, loud-mouthed, and fond of posing as more refined or authoritative than he is. He enjoys teasing Jiang Qingyu, Xiao Yu, Shen Mizhi, and Duan Rong, often using exaggerated language or improvised wordplay to get a reaction. 109 355 353

He is intensely obsessed with erotic paintings, treating especially impressive works with near-religious admiration. This fixation repeatedly places him in embarrassing situations, most notably when Xia Shuangshuang discovers a painting of herself among his belongings. 110 111 290

Despite his frivolous exterior, Kan Kan is intelligent, observant, and loyal. He trusts Duan Rong’s judgment, assists in dangerous plans without demanding full explanations, and repeatedly acts to help friends even when frightened or outmatched. 397 398 503 509

The Pagoda Forest profoundly tempered him. Its deprivation and constant threat of death reduced him to tears upon reunion with Duan Rong, but he emerged more willing to accept cultivation advice and confront the harsh reality of sect life. 502 503 504

Abilities & Skills

Thunder Smoke Saber

The Xi Men Family’s ancestral saber art, practiced by Kan Kan since before his first meeting with Duan Rong. It emphasizes the shifting interplay of real and illusory attacks, producing saber shadows that are difficult to read. 151 164

• Uses abrupt feints, concealed force, and unpredictable changes between false and genuine strikes. 164 302
• Was strong enough at Major Accomplishment to draw with Duan Rong’s Major Accomplishment Five Tigers Herd Sheep Saber and Three Forms foundation for nearly half an hour. 164
• His Moon Blade Curved Saber was specially made to complement the technique. 164
• The technique inspired Duan Rong’s own saber development after Duan Rong devoured the Moon Blade Curved Saber’s Artifact Spirit. 164

Cleaving Sky Saber

Kan Kan’s True Qi Realm saber technique, selected for him by Duan Rong because it matched his natural style and temperament. 355

• Uses forceful cutting attacks and a documented killing move. 419
• Helped him win an Outer Sect assessment match after Duan Rong identified the weakness in Sweeping Leaf Eighteen Saber. 362
• Could not overcome the vastly stronger baboon guardian in the Pagoda Forest; his saber was knocked away in a direct clash. 419

Martial Talent and Adaptation

Kan Kan’s natural aptitude is repeatedly noted by his father, Yuan Shouzhi, and Duan Rong. He can rapidly understand techniques once their principles are explained. 121 176 504

• Broke through to the Minute Subtlety Realm under pressure during his fight with Master Dong. 302
• Learned the essential considerations for an Essence Qi Realm breakthrough after Duan Rong explained them once. 504
• Can use agile movement techniques to evade opponents and reposition in combat. 163 290
• Demonstrated a grappling martial art and the use of a tiger-head stirrup, creating a sizable crater with a kick. 323

Resourcefulness

Kan Kan uses his family name, money, local connections, and unconventional thinking to support his allies.

• Used status and bribes to bring Shen Mizhi and Liu Shushan, disguised as servants, into Xiangu County. 376
• Retrieved the Xi Men Family’s hidden longbow and profound iron arrows from the abandoned residence for Duan Rong’s operation. 377
• Helped investigate Shen Yanliu’s case, gather information, dig a rescue tunnel, and carry out support tasks around the Prefecture City. 394 396 397 398
• Quickly memorized the Internal History Department’s personnel structure and duties by studying its records. 709

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Moon Blade Curved Saber — A dark, unusually shaped saber tailored to the Thunder Smoke Saber; formerly contained a Third Rank Artifact Spirit that granted Thunder Smoke Saber Major Accomplishment upon devouring. 164
• Brass Tiger-Head Stirrup — A toe-mounted weapon used with kicking techniques; Kan Kan demonstrated its use through the Muscle-Separating Bone-Dislocating Hand. 323
• Large bow and twenty profound iron arrows — Retrieved from a long iron box in the abandoned Xi Men Residence for Duan Rong’s ambush plan. 377
• Erotic painting collection — His most prized private collection, kept hidden from Xi Men Yong and a frequent cause of conflict with his companions. 109 110 153 377

Relationships

• Duan Rong — Closest friend, sparring partner, and informal mentor. Kan Kan calls him “Brother Duan,” trusts his plans, and receives guidance in selecting techniques and advancing his cultivation. 176 355 504
• Xi Men Yong — Father. Kan Kan fears his disapproval but cares deeply for him, especially after the Black Tiger Ridge ambush. Xi Men Yong entrusts Kan Kan’s safety to Duan Rong. 153 187 290
• Shi Kang — Personal servant who has served Kan Kan since childhood. Shi Kang follows his orders, worries about his safety, and reports his sparring with Duan Rong to Xi Men Yong. 150 176 376
• Xia Shuangshuang — Fellow caravan guard and the subject of Kan Kan’s obsessive paintings. She attacked him after discovering one; Kan Kan later mourned her death during the forest crisis. 290 302 303
• Xiao Yu — Companion and fellow disciple. They bicker frequently but cooperate in crises, including their search for Duan Rong after Xia Shuangshuang’s death. 303 315 523
• Shen Mizhi — Fellow disciple and frequent target of Kan Kan’s teasing. She strongly disapproves of his painting obsession, yet they work together on Duan Rong’s missions. 351 377 398
• Liu Shushan — Ally in the Xiangu County and Prefecture City operations. Kan Kan aided him against a Wei Mu Ni and later helped him investigate and dig the tunnel to Shen Yanliu’s cell. 394 398 509
• Jiang Qingyu — A childhood acquaintance and teasing rival. Kan Kan mocks Jiang Qingyu’s reserved personality and artistic taste. 109 176

Story Role / Major Arcs

Snow Covered Residence

Kan Kan meets Duan Rong at Snow Covered Residence after hearing praise for Duan Rong’s paintings. He challenges Duan Rong to create a work superior to paintings made for Jiang Qingyu and Xia Shuangshuang, then is delighted by the resulting Fierce Tiger Fighting Python Picture, which depicts him wielding his Moon Blade Curved Saber from atop a tiger. 109

He reveals his concealed erotic-painting collection and challenges Duan Rong to an art competition. Duan Rong’s explicit work overwhelms him, allowing Duan Rong to barter paintings for medicinal water, silver notes, and later assistance acquiring Dragon Flame Grease. 110 111 124

Sparring with Duan Rong

Kan Kan becomes one of Duan Rong’s most important sparring partners. Although he initially sees martial arts as an unpleasant chore, his Thunder Smoke Saber gives Duan Rong the practical pressure needed to improve his fusion of saber techniques. 150 151

Their repeated spars become mutually beneficial. Kan Kan’s own skill improves as Duan Rong’s rapid advancement forces him to fight seriously, while Duan Rong ultimately gains direct insight into the Thunder Smoke Saber through Kan Kan’s weapon. 163 164 176

Departure from Xiangu County

Kan Kan departs Xiangu County with Duan Rong and other young cultivators to become a Taiyi Sect Registered Disciple. Before leaving, Xia Shuangshuang finds one of his erotic paintings and attempts to kill him; Duan Rong intervenes to protect him. 290

During the subsequent forest crisis, Kan Kan battles Master Dong, breaks through to the Minute Subtlety Realm, and witnesses Xia Shuangshuang’s death. He then joins Xiao Yu in searching for Duan Rong. 302 303

Taiyi Sect Training and Covert Operations

Assigned to forge iron in the Weaponry Workshop, Kan Kan adapts more quickly than expected to sect labor and becomes concerned when Duan Rong repeatedly devours Artifact Spirits from discarded weapons. 315 350 351

He later supports Duan Rong’s covert return to Xiangu County, helping obtain weapons, evade surveillance, investigate Shen Yanliu’s imprisonment, and dig a tunnel toward the Prefecture City Dungeon. 376 377 394 397 398

Pagoda Forest and Return

Kan Kan enters the Pagoda Forest as punishment and is forced to challenge a family of baboons. He attempts to negotiate with the lead baboon before being decisively defeated, requiring Duan Rong’s intervention. 419

After six months in the forest, he emerges physically transformed and emotionally scarred by starvation, confinement, and the frequent deaths of trapped cultivators. He nevertheless agrees to help Duan Rong rescue Xiao Yu from the Pagoda Forest’s system of punishment. 502 503

Internal History Department

After becoming an Inner Sect disciple, Kan Kan is attached to the Internal History Department. His connection to Duan Rong earns him unusual respect and a private room, though he later complains that he has been left merely to guard the department while Shen Mizhi handles active cases. 523 560 715

Notable Quotes

“My name is Xi Men Kan Kan, the ‘Kan’ from ‘Kan Ke’ (difficulties)! Let me tell you! Names are all the opposite!” 109

“Fighting and killing, it’s like burning a zither and boiling a crane, completely ruining the mood!” 151

“If I don’t eat my fill, how can I cultivate?” 538

Trivia

• His father chose the name “Kan Kan,” meaning “difficulties,” in the hope that his life would instead be smooth and trouble-free. 109
• He calls himself “Hundred Not Born” solely to claim superiority over Duan Rong’s joking title, “Omniscient Scholar.” 355
• He once attempted to conceal an erotic painting from Xi Men Yong, only for Duan Rong to repaint it into an image of Kan Kan helping an elderly woman. 153