Shen San

Biodata

Background / History

Shen San was a thief whose last theft brought him into contact with a child. He tied the child up to prevent him from shouting, unaware that the boy was the emperor’s younger brother-in-law. This prompted the Embroidered Uniform Guard to act and ultimately landed Shen San in the Death Row Camp. He insists that restraining the child did not constitute kidnapping 11.

Wei Yun selected him as one of five unusually capable prisoners to undertake dangerous assignments for the Mighty Camp. Shen San initially refused to work for the Imperial Court, but immediately reversed his position when offered restored household registration and freedom. To secure Old Ghost’s cooperation, he also agreed to test one dose of medicine 10.

Li Dao negotiated the arrangement down from ten assignments to three, with Wei Yun promising not to deliberately send them to their deaths. After realizing that Wei Yun had maneuvered the prisoners into testing and persuading one another, Shen San began checking the commander’s terms with Li Dao before accepting them 10 11.

Appearance

• Build: Plump and heavily built, weighing at least two hundred jin 16 23.
• Age impression: Consistently described as a middle-aged man 10 16.
• Unexpected agility: Despite his bulk, he moves remarkably nimbly when using his lightness techniques 13.

Personality

Shen San is outspoken, irreverent, and willing to abandon a grand declaration when a better opportunity appears. His categorical refusal to serve the Imperial Court lasts only until Wei Yun mentions freedom. He repeatedly challenges the commander’s promises and dismisses ceremonial praise in favor of practical rewards 10 18.

He is cautious about dangerous opponents and readily seeks Li Dao’s protection. He asks to be rescued if his assassination attempt fails, fears confronting Xiantian experts, and suggests fleeing when the Embroidered Uniform Guards appear outmatched. Nevertheless, he follows his companions into battle and helps endangered teammates rather than simply abandoning them 13 14 20 24.

His loyalty combines gratitude with pragmatism. Even after gaining freedom, he continues calling Li Dao “Boss,” reasoning that powerful friends create opportunities in the martial world. When Wei Yun tries to excuse his embarrassing promise to call him “Grandpa,” Shen San fulfills it rather than allow the gesture to cancel Wei Yun’s debt to Li Dao 28.

Abilities & Skills

Lightness Techniques

His principal specialty is rapid, agile movement, useful for infiltration, scouting, and escape 11 13 23.

• Returns to Wei Yun from the passage in the blink of an eye after hearing the offer of freedom 10.
• Slips into the Falling Cloud Tribe’s camp under cover of darkness and escapes after being discovered near the prince’s command tent 13.
• Scouts the Tamu Eldest Prince’s route and locates his caravan 23 24.
• Cannot easily shake off Little Madman despite his cultivation and lightness skills 12.
• Is overtaken by the half-step Innate martial artist Lie Xin while supporting Xu Hu 20.

Thievery and Mechanisms

The Registration Booklet lists hidden weapons, lockpicking, and mechanisms among his specialties 11.

• Sets traps incorporating Old Ghost’s poisons; they go unused when the target’s party camps less than a hundred paces short of them 13.
• Searches the Third Prince’s corpse for valuables and retrieves a good-quality string of beads 17.
• Searches the Tamu caravan for its betrothal treasure alongside his companions 24 26.

Dagger Use and Hostage-Taking

Shen San uses close-range threats to control the Falling Cloud Tribe’s Third Prince after Old Ghost incapacitates his guards 16.

• Holds a dagger against the prince’s neck to prevent his escape 16.
• Drives the dagger into the ground between the prince’s legs to force compliance 16.
• Uses the hostage to order the guards to retrieve Xu Hu and Little Madman, then approaches the injured pair himself when the guards hesitate 16.

Equipment / Items

• Confiscated equipment: Returned by Wei Yun before the first assignment; its individual contents are not specified 12.
• Dagger: Used to restrain and threaten the Third Prince of Falling Cloud 16 17.
• Looted beads: Taken from the prince’s corpse after Li Dao declines them 17.
• Identity plaque: Obtained with his new registered identity after Wei Yun secures the prisoners’ release 28.

Relationships

• Li Dao — Team leader and protector. Subdues Little Madman during Shen San’s failed persuasion attempt and later saves Shen San and Xu Hu from Lie Xin. Shen San continues acknowledging him as “Boss” after their release 10 20 28.
• Wei Yun — Commander responsible for recruiting and eventually freeing him. Their dealings feature frequent arguments and teasing, but Shen San remains concerned about Wei Yun’s survival because his release depends on him 10 18 28.
• Old Ghost — Teammate with whom he frequently bickers over medicine and poison. Shen San agrees to become a one-dose medicine tester, then grows alarmed after learning that an earlier experiment changed a dignitary’s son into a daughter 10 13 28.
• Little Madman — Bites and pursues Shen San during their first attempt at cooperation. Shen San is subsequently tasked with transporting him and later joins the journey to seek treatment for his condition 10 13 28.
• Xu Hu — Teammate whom Shen San supports while fleeing Lie Xin; later accompanies him toward the Southern Mountains 20 28.
• Princess Mingyue — The woman of his dreams, not an established personal acquaintance. Hearing of her chastity scandal enrages him and helps motivate his participation in the mission against her proposed marriage alliance 21 22.
• Embroidered Uniform Guard — Responsible for his arrest. He sets aside his hostility toward them to pursue both freedom and the mission concerning Mingyue 11 22.

Story Role / Major Arcs

Assassination of the Falling Cloud Third Prince

• Assigned the assassination because he is the team’s best lightness practitioner. His traps fail to intercept the party, and the subsequent poisoned night raid collapses after he is spotted and the wind changes direction 13.
• Joins the open assault, then works with Old Ghost to capture the prince and reach their wounded companions 14 16.
• Prepares to kill the captive, but Li Dao delivers the fatal blow. Shen San loots the corpse and credits Li Dao with the mission’s principal combat achievements upon their return 17.

Destruction of the Arrow Convoy

• Objects to attacking a shipment of one hundred thousand arrows, believing its escorts make the assignment excessively dangerous. Wei Yun answers by committing Mighty Camp troops and undertaking to face the Xiantian defender himself 18.
• Flees Lie Xin while supporting Xu Hu and calls for Li Dao’s help. Li Dao blocks the pursuing expert’s staff and saves both men before killing him 20.

Interception of the Tamu Eldest Prince

• Accepts cooperation with the Embroidered Uniform Guard despite his resentment toward them 22.
• Locates the caravan and participates in the ambush, then searches for the betrothal treasure while Li Dao assists the commanders against Snow Demon Zhao Dongyan 23 24.
• Rejoins the others after the prince and his defenders retreat, abandoning the convoy’s supplies 25 26.

Release and Departure

• Presses Wei Yun to honor the freedom agreement after Li Dao rescues him. The commander must first rebuild the Mighty Camp and contact his superiors 28.
• Receives a new identity and identity plaque about a month later 28.
• Undertakes to escort Old Ghost, Little Madman, and Xu Hu to the Southern Mountains, where Old Ghost hopes to treat Little Madman. Shen San intends to resume traveling the martial world afterward 28.

Notable Quotes

“What do you mean, work for the Imperial Court? I’m volunteering out of the goodness of my heart.” 10

“Looting the dead after killing them. Can’t let things go to waste.” 17

“Trying to wipe away your debt to my boss for saving your life with a single sentence? You think that’s possible?” 28