Ye Qinghong

Biodata

Power Progression

Background / History

Discipleship under Demon Venerable Fang

Demon Venerable Fang found Ye Qinghong and his four junior sisters ten years before the events described. The five grew up, played, and bathed together. Ye Qinghong became the eldest disciple and master of the Sword Hall, spending his time training except when ordered to descend the mountain to kill people and destroy sects 5 8 46.

His master’s cruelty produced deep hatred rather than loyalty. Ye Qinghong attempted to assassinate him several times over the years, but feared that failed resistance could bring punishment upon his junior sisters. He was familiar with the Rear Mountain Water Prison, where prisoners endured darkness and bone-chilling winds 7 24.

Return and Assassination Attempt

After hearing that Fang had spent a month in life-or-death seclusion and might have suffered cultivation deviation, Ye Qinghong traveled a thousand li overnight to investigate and kill him. His return was presented to the sect as concern for his master 2 5 6.

He thrust his sword toward Fang Yang’s brow, but withdrew when Fang Yang remained motionless and expressionless. Unaware that Fang Yang was immobilized by fear, Ye Qinghong concluded that the apparent weakness was another trap 6 7.

Fang Yang spared him imprisonment and instead struck him while he lay across a chair. Humiliated, Ye Qinghong prepared to fight to the death, but retreated when Fang Yang threatened his four junior sisters 7 8.

Visions and the Heart Demon

Fang Yang’s system linked Ye Qinghong to him as a Silk Binder, initially recording an affection score of −30, described as “Hatred to the marrow.” Later, Ye Qinghong’s system figure acquired the attribute “Watching the battle” 9 19.

Ye Qinghong began seeing vivid scenes of Fang Yang’s intimacy with Han Lingxuan. Believing these visions to be an inner demon, he repeatedly tried to suppress or destroy them with his Glazed Sword Heart. Instead, the state collapsed again and again; one confrontation left him coughing blood. He sought relief by submerging himself in the rear mountain hot spring 20 21 24.

The Pavilion Confrontation

Despite nightly exhaustion from the visions, Ye Qinghong answered the Bell of All Life and flew to the Demon Venerable Pavilion. He remained apart from the crowd while rebels attacked Fang Yang 32 36 44.

Fang Yang used a card derived from Ye Qinghong’s abilities and summoned the Azure Shadow Sword from his back. Ye Qinghong sensed a momentary loss within his body. After witnessing Fang Yang wield the complete God-Shocking Sword, his sword became reluctant to leave Fang Yang 39 40 43.

When Fang Yang confronted him for watching the rebellion without intervening, Ye Qinghong’s visions changed: his own face replaced Han Lingxuan’s. Overwhelmed, he asked to be punished. Fang Yang struck him twice, then rewarded him with the complete God-Shocking Sword Technique. After retreating to the hot spring, Ye Qinghong wondered whether the fiend had changed 44 45 46.

Appearance

Ye Qinghong has a strikingly beautiful face, long dark hair, and a cold, aloof bearing compared to deep winter snow 5 44.

• Wears plain blue-green robes or a fitted blue-green outfit, with cloth shoes 5 20.
• Secures his hair with a blue-green bamboo hairpin, sometimes in a simple high ponytail 5 46.
• Carries the blue-green Azure Shadow Sword on his back 5.
• Has clear, sharp eyes repeatedly compared to frigid pools 6 7.

Personality

Ye Qinghong is solitary, disciplined, and almost entirely devoted to swordsmanship. He habitually recites his sword art and hones his sword heart even while waiting. His persistence becomes self-destructive when he repeatedly forces the Glazed Sword Heart to activate despite worsening failures 5 21 24.

His composure does not mean indifference to others. His four junior sisters are his greatest vulnerability, and threats against them can stop him from resisting his master. Beneath his outward coldness, the visions provoke embarrassment, anger, and an attraction to Fang Yang that he interprets as a heart demon 8 44 45.

Abilities & Skills

Glazed Sword Body

His constitution accelerates sword cultivation and strengthens his swordsmanship 9.

• Increases swordsmanship cultivation speed tenfold.
• Increases swordsmanship power twofold.
• Described elsewhere as a swordborn physique 5 39.

Glazed Sword Heart

A coveted state that allows continuous communication with his sword and the honing of his sword heart 23.

• Normally activates as naturally as eating or drinking 23 24.
• Gives him minutely precise awareness of his own body 39.
• Functions as a mental barrier, although the recurring visions appear directly within it 24.
• Can collapse when his emotions become disturbed, interrupting cultivation 20 24 45.

God-Shocking Sword Technique

A Heaven-tier sword technique that Ye Qinghong has brought to perfection in its incomplete form 5 40.

• His assassination thrust seals off Fang Yang’s apparent avenues of retreat 6.
• Receives the substantially stronger complete version from Fang Yang 40 45.
• Fang Yang’s system can reproduce his peak combat power for ten minutes through a use card; this is a system effect, not an independently demonstrated ability of Ye Qinghong 15.

Sword Qi and Sword Control

Ye Qinghong controls the Azure Shadow Sword through gestures and his sword heart 23 43.

• Makes the sword fly and circle him 23.
• Shatters a falling leaf with a wave of his hand 23.
• Releases bone-chilling cold and frost when angered; Sword Qi and falling snow accompany his departure from the hall 8 43.

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Azure Shadow Sword — His life-and-cultivation-bound weapon, tempered for more than a decade. It possesses a sword spirit, shares some of his emotions, and has absorbed a trace of his divine light. After Fang Yang uses it, it seeks his attention and spiritual energy, angering Ye Qinghong 39 43 44.
• Bamboo hairpin — A simple blue-green hairpin used to secure his hair 5 46.
• Complete God-Shocking Sword Technique jade slip — Given by Fang Yang after their second punishment encounter 45 46.

Relationships

• Demon Venerable Fang / Fang Yang — Master and assassination target. Ye Qinghong’s hatred stems from the original Demon Venerable’s cruelty; Fang Yang’s unexpected gift later causes him to question his master’s apparent change 6 24 44 46.
• Four junior sisters — Childhood companions whom he fiercely protects. Fang Yang uses their safety to restrain his resistance 7 8.
• Han Lingxuan — The Princess Consort of the Southern Pacifying King. Visions of her intimacy with Fang Yang disrupt his cultivation and make their later exchanged glance uncomfortable 20 36.
• Azure Shadow Sword — A spiritually aware companion closely attuned to his soul. It warns him when his heart demon nearly overwhelms him, but its newfound attachment to Fang Yang also destabilizes him 43 44.

Notable Quotes

“Enough. Wherever this inner demon arose from, to me, it is no more than a candle flame. One stroke of my sword will extinguish it!” 24

“This fiend seems to have changed.” 46

Trivia

• Blue-green is his favorite color. His clothing, shoes, sword, hairpin, and cultivation petals share it. He also selects blue stone paths and replaces a brown rock with a blue-green one when choosing where to stand 5 8 20 36 43.