Gongshu Chou

Biodata

Background / History

Search for the Dragon Soul

Gongshu Chou joined the expedition assigned by Qin Shi Huang to seize the War Demon God sealed in Rōran. At a frontier garrison, he informed Kazuhiko Uchiha that the empire had located Old Man Lü, an envoy from Rōran believed to possess the Dragon Soul needed to activate the weapon 44.

Rather than enter Lü’s mechanically defended home himself, Gongshu Chou allowed Tianming to go first and expose its traps. He then released his Potu Qilang, asking Kazuhiko to destroy the wooden door so the mechanical creatures could enter and dismantle the defenses 44.

Inside, Kazuhiko identified a concealed compartment containing Tianming and the Dragon Soul. Gongshu Chou opened it and demanded the boy surrender the artifact. When Tianming refused, he ordered the Potu Qilang to attack, but the boy accidentally triggered an escape mechanism. Gongshu Chou subsequently joined the pursuit that ended with Tianming, Shaoyu, and Xiao Li captured 45.

Expedition to Rōran

Gongshu Chou arranged for his family’s disciples to construct a Mechanical Sand Ship. Using intelligence extracted from Old Man Lü’s memories, the expedition departed under Wei Zhuang’s command 45 46.

In the desert, Gongshu Chou recognized the Withered Fish as evidence of the underground current leading to Rōran. When the sand beasts guarding the entrance began reforming after their defeat, he ordered the ship to accelerate into the river. He then had torches lit for the passage, which took nearly half a day to navigate 47.

During Qin’s assault on Rōran, Gongshu Chou took command of the troops after Wei Zhuang moved ahead to secure the Dragon Soul. He ordered the Temple square surrounded, demanded that the high priestess be captured alive, and called for the remaining captives to be killed. After Gai Nie escaped with Tianming and Shaoyu, Gongshu Chou prioritized interrogating Temple personnel about the Chiyou Sword and War Demon God rather than pursuing them 48.

Awakening the War Demon God

Lesser Siming extracted the Dragon Soul from little Pixiu and entrusted it to Gongshu Chou. After leading the expedition to the sealing grounds, he used its power to awaken the War Demon God 48.

Through repeated attempts in the central control room, Gongshu Chou mastered the weapon’s controls. He directed the mountain-sized machine to destroy Rōran, burning the city and killing countless inhabitants. The War Demon God was subsequently escorted safely to Xianyang by tens of thousands of Qin soldiers 49.

After the mission, Kazuhiko used his assigned Chiyou Clan identity to obtain another visit inside the machine. He placed Gongshu Chou under the Fire Charm Technique, persuading him to open the Nine Suspended Gates protecting the Dragon Soul. Kazuhiko then rendered him unconscious and had Pixiu swallow the artifact, leaving the War Demon God without its power source 49.

Appearance

Gongshu Chou is an elderly man with a slightly hunched back 44.

• Facial hair: A short tuft of white beard on his chin, which he frequently strokes 44 45 49.
• Left arm: Mechanical; he raises it when issuing orders to the Potu Qilang 44.
• Expression: Often wears a harmless-looking or falsely reassuring smile when approaching others 44 45.

Personality

Gongshu Chou combines confidence in his mechanical expertise with calculated caution. Although he believes no mechanism can defeat him, he uses Tianming to expose Old Man Lü’s traps and enters only after the Potu Qilang have eliminated the threats. He also tests Kazuhiko’s strength before deciding how to treat him 44.

His courtesy is often strategic. He flatters Wei Zhuang and tolerates his brusque manner, while threatening Old Man Lü and turning cold when Tianming refuses to cooperate. His treatment of Rōran is ruthlessly utilitarian: he preserves the high priestess because she remains useful, orders others killed, and triumphantly directs the city’s destruction 45 48 49.

Abilities & Skills

Mechanical Arts

• Countering mechanisms: Uses the Potu Qilang to infiltrate gaps in walls and destroy an opponent’s mechanical defenses 44.
• Opening concealed structures: Manipulates Old Man Lü’s wall to expose a hidden compartment after Kazuhiko identifies its location 45.
• Operating ancient machinery: Learns the War Demon God’s controls through experimentation and operates the mechanism opening its Nine Suspended Gates 49.
• Limits: Does not practice martial arts himself; relies on mechanical creations and accompanying fighters for protection 44.

Expedition Command and Navigation

• Logistics: Organizes the construction of the Mechanical Sand Ship through Gongshu Family disciples 45.
• Route identification: Uses records, a map, and the appearance of Withered Fish to locate Rōran’s underground entrance 47.
• Field command: Directs ship crews and Qin soldiers, including troop assignments during the Temple assault 47 48.

Assessment of Fighters

• Experience: His position as Gongshu Family Patriarch has brought him into contact with many powerful martial artists 44.
• Judgment: Interprets Kazuhiko’s tangible flames as evidence of strength comparable to the Yin-Yang School elders 44.

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Potu Qilang: Hundreds of lifelike mechanical lizards, each approximately half a foot long, transported in a bronze chest. Used to dismantle mechanisms and attack Tianming 44 45.
• Mechanical left arm: A distinguishing mechanical limb visible when he commands his creations 44.
• Mechanical Sand Ship: Built by Gongshu Family disciples to traverse the desert; also carries the expedition through the underground river to Rōran 45 46 47.
• Dragon Soul: Temporarily entrusted to him as the War Demon God’s power source. He describes it as a crystal formed from a fallen star, containing an unimaginably vast amount of energy 48 49.
• War Demon God: Ancient weapon of war that he awakens and pilots. Its enormous body breathes flames capable of reducing Rōran to ashes 48 49.

Relationships

• Kazuhiko Uchiha — Expedition ally whom he initially tests and praises. Kazuhiko later exploits his trust and susceptibility to genjutsu to steal the Dragon Soul 44 49.
• Qin Shi Huang — Emperor who assigns him to the expedition to seize the War Demon God for Qin 44.
• Wei Zhuang — Commander of the expedition. Gongshu Chou supplies intelligence, transport, and deferential cooperation 45 47.
• Lesser Siming and Greater Siming — Yin-Yang School collaborators and protectors who assist with intelligence gathering, mapping, and securing the Dragon Soul 44 45 48.
• Old Man Lü — Rōran envoy and mechanical arts practitioner whose defenses Gongshu Chou dismantles and whose knowledge he seeks to extract 44 45.
• Tianming — Adversary who refuses to surrender the Dragon Soul and escapes his initial mechanical assault 45.
• Gongshu Family disciples — Subordinates responsible for building and operating the expedition’s Mechanical Sand Ship 45 46 47.