Zhao Erhu

Biodata

Power Progression

Background / History

Zhao Erhu entered university with an honest, easily bullied appearance. When an older student pressured him into buying something during freshman move-in, Jiang Chen intervened. Despite sharing a dorm with him, Jiang Chen initially knew nothing of his supernatural strength 15.

At some earlier point, Zhao Erhu failed to heed the warning that ghosts become monsters once they harm people. A senior fellow disciple died as a consequence. The loss shaped his uncompromising advice about dealing with dangerous ghosts 38.

His Dragon Elephant Temple affiliation becomes known during the resort crisis, when Zhang Xianhai recognizes his techniques. The revelation surprises Jiang Chen: the temple belongs to the six powers controlling the Dao Alliance and provides backing far beyond an ordinary practitioner’s reach 35 36.

Appearance

• Ordinary appearance: An honest, simple-looking young man, first shown wearing black clothing 15.
• Distinctive smile: Reveals two rows of stark white teeth when he grins 15.
• Combat appearance: Golden characters flicker in his eyes, his striking arm swells, and a metallic sheen spreads over his body when he activates his temple techniques 35.

Personality

Zhao Erhu is quiet, socially awkward, and remarkably food-focused. At his first cafeteria appearance, he is already eating over two empty trays. His reserved manner conceals firm loyalty: he refuses to distance himself from Jiang Chen over the conflict with Zheng Shaoming, and Jiang Chen knows that he follows through on his promises 15.

He has a blunt, deadpan sense of humor. When Li Jie fears ghosts will kill him in his sleep, Zhao Erhu suggests never sleeping again—even after explaining that a ghost’s pursuit can last a lifetime 26.

In a crisis, he prioritizes protecting others. He stays with the larger student group while Jiang Chen investigates the restaurant, but his usual simplicity gives way to defiance and fierce aggression against hostile ghosts. His warning about his senior disciple’s death reveals grief beneath that hardened outlook 31 35 38.

His caution is not absolute rigidity. Although he initially treats Sun Meiling as a monster, he revises his recommendation when evidence shows that she retains humanity, urging Jiang Chen to preserve her for the Netherworld instead 38 39.

Abilities & Skills

Dragon Elephant Prajna

A Buddhist combat technique invoked with “Dragon Elephant Prajna, Restrain Evil, Transform Calamity!” It enlarges Zhao Erhu’s arm and coats his fist in golden light 35.

• Knocks the half-step Vengeful Ghost Infant away with a punch 35.
• Does not prevent the infant from cutting his forearm and leaving wounds that emit black vapor 35.

Diamond Body

A reinforced bodily state accompanied by golden light, a metallic sheen, and the sound of bones and joints clanging like metal 35 36.

• Drives the Ghost Infant steadily backward before Zhang Xianhai strengthens it with blood 36.
• After the enhancement, the infant fights him to a standstill 36.
• His golden-light techniques also force Sun Meiling back into the lake, protecting the students from her attack 35.
• Even while using his techniques, he suffers further wounds when the enraged infant trades injuries with him 37.

Supernatural Knowledge

Zhao Erhu’s temple training gives him knowledge that Jiang Chen initially lacks.

• Ghost identification: Recognizes a ghost slave and identifies Zhang Xianhai’s Ghost Refining Sect affiliation 35.
• Combat tactics: Advises targeting the physically frail ghost refiner while he occupies the Ghost Infant 37.
• Dark Alliance Blood Talismans: Explains their Ghost King connection, the Hunting List, and the tenfold bounty multiplier; warns that removal below King level is almost impossible 38.
• Substitute Death Method: Explains how concealed targets redirect a ghost’s killings onto nearby people, then uses the method’s distance restriction to locate Zheng Shaoming 39.
• Residual humanity: Recognizes that Sun Meiling’s attempt to warn Sun Die makes her valuable for Netherworld ghost-sealing, which he says reduces mortality by more than forty percentage points 39.

Relationships

• Jiang Chen — Dormmate, friend, and combat partner. Jiang Chen once protected him from a coercive salesman; Zhao Erhu later protects their classmates and guides Jiang Chen through unfamiliar supernatural threats. He initially underestimates Jiang Chen as barely D-, then recognizes him as an equal during the resort battle 15 28 37 38.
• Li Jie — Fellow dormmate and friend. Joins him in supporting Jiang Chen against Zheng Shaoming and shares a resort room with both of them. Jiang Chen considers Zhao Erhu a safe person for Li Jie to stay near 15 26.
• Senior fellow disciple — An unnamed disciple who died because Zhao Erhu failed to heed a warning about ghosts. Zhao Erhu remembers the loss with visible grief 38.
• Zhao Sanlong — Possible younger brother. Chen Xue describes Sanlong’s second brother as a Dragon Elephant Temple disciple who returned in recent years; Jiang Chen suspects that this brother is Zhao Erhu, but the relationship is not explicitly confirmed 43.
• Zhang Xianhai — Enemy who targets him for Dark Alliance points. Zhao Erhu holds off his Ghost Infant while Jiang Chen attacks the refiner 35 37.

Story Role / Major Arcs

Revealing His Hidden Strength

During lunch, Zhao Erhu offers to help Jiang Chen fight Zheng Shaoming. Their brief eye contact triggers Jiang Chen’s instinctive sense of danger: Zhao Erhu’s presence feels slightly stronger than the top-tier Vicious Ghost Jiang Chen faced the previous night 15.

Protecting the Resort Students

On the class trip, Zhao Erhu recognizes the danger posed by the ghost approaching Jiang Xinyi’s room and prepares to intervene, believing Jiang Chen too weak to survive the encounter. Later, he remains with the assembled students while Jiang Chen searches the restaurant 28 31.

When Sun Meiling attacks, he forces her into the lake. Zhang Xianhai then releases the Ghost Infant against him, exposing his temple affiliation. Once the empowered infant occupies him and Sun Meiling returns, Zhao Erhu calls to Jiang Chen intending for him to evacuate the students—not charge at the water ghost 35 36.

Defeating Zhang Xianhai

Zhao Erhu proposes splitting their opponents: he will restrain the infant while Jiang Chen kills its master. On learning that Zhang Xianhai carries a blood talisman, he asks Jiang Chen to capture the man and let him deliver the killing blow. Jiang Chen accidentally breaks Zhang’s neck first and receives the mark 37.

Despite being wounded, Zhao Erhu tears off one of the infant’s arms and continues fighting until Jiang Chen destroys it. He then explains the resulting Dark Alliance bounty and urges his friend to seek protection 37 38.

Capturing Sun Meiling and Dividing the Rewards

Zhao Erhu identifies the flaw in the Substitute Death Method, helping locate Zheng Shaoming’s concealed RV. After discovering Sun Meiling’s remaining humanity, he recommends calling the Netherworld. He and Jiang Chen later foil her ambush inside the RV and subdue her before Xu Lei takes custody 39 40.

• Receives 800 Underworld App points for the jointly defeated Zhang Xianhai and Ghost Infant 40.
• Accepts only 1,000 points from the 3,000-point Sun Meiling reward, despite Jiang Chen offering him half 40.
• Returns with the surviving classmates, whose rescue is credited to both him and Jiang Chen 41.

Notable Quotes

“If there’s a fight, I can help.” 15

“Jiang Chen, you must remember this: humans are humans, ghosts are ghosts!” 38