Lu Chenyang

Biodata

Background

Lu Chenyang manages all affairs of Windrise Martial Academy despite formally holding only the vice-dean position. The city lord serves as its nominal dean but does not participate in its administration. Lu also enjoys the city lord’s deep trust, placing him among Windrise Stronghold’s influential officials 12 20.

His pursuit of Tao Yaoyao is both romantic and political. As the local Hundred Flowers Pavilion mistress, she represents an organization with extensive connections throughout the Desolate Ruins; winning her would strengthen Lu’s position within the stronghold 13.

Appearance

• Clothing: Introduced wearing white robes 12.
• Facial detail: His face is described as aged when he reddens at the suggestion that Tao Yaoyao doubted his ability to compose Yaoyao Song 22.

Personality

Lu is coercive and quick to threaten disproportionate punishment. Before reading Chen Shi’an’s letter, he orders that the supposed impostor have a leg broken and be thrown into the water dungeon. During their negotiations, he repeatedly threatens Chen’s family as well as Chen himself 12 22.

His warmth depends heavily on what others can offer him. He shifts from threats to praise when Chen supplies valuable poetry, then later dismisses a violent attack as a joke once Chen persuades him to preserve their arrangement. Fu Nantian explicitly warns Chen that Lu is “sinister and vicious” 12 22.

Lu genuinely admires fine poetry and recognizes accomplished calligraphy, but he also uses literary prestige to advance his courtship. He names Chen’s supplied poem Yaoyao Song and subsequently claims to Tao Yaoyao that her beauty inspired him to compose it 12 13.

Abilities & Skills

Origin Force Control

Lu possesses Origin Force and is recognized as one of Windrise Stronghold’s foremost martial experts 12 22.

• Precision: Flicks an ink-filled brush toward Chen Shi’an, making it move rapidly before slowing to a gentle drift 12.
• Suppressive pressure: Releases an aura that throws Chen backward into a door. Chen deliberately suppresses his own Origin Force rather than resist 22.
• Combat superiority: Chen considers himself far below Lu’s level and judges resistance within the academy to be futile 22.

Institutional and Political Influence

Lu uses academy personnel and his relationship with the city lord to investigate, pressure, and recruit others 12 37.

• Orders a thorough investigation into Chen Shi’an’s background 12.
• Directs Fang Ruyu to capture Chen’s affection and make him obedient 13.
• Pressures Wang Tianye into ordering his men not to touch Chen Tiantian 13.
• Acts as Xiang Chuxiong’s intermediary in recruiting Chen into the city lord’s service 37.
• Remains subordinate to Xiang: he stops arguing with Wang Tianye when the city lord intervenes 21.

Relationships

• Chen Shi’an — A valuable source of poetry whom Lu tries to recruit and control. Their dealings move from conditional protection to threats, then to a political alliance declared by Lu after Chen accepts the city lord’s patronage 12 22 37.
• Tao Yaoyao — His romantic interest and a potential route to greater influence. He gives her a jade bracelet and declares that he will marry no one else; she doubts his authorship of Yaoyao Song and investigates its source 13.
• Xiang Chuxiong — His superior and political patron. Lu conveys Xiang’s gifts, assurances, and expectations of personal loyalty to Chen 20 37.
• Wang Tianye — A rival official whose pursuit of Chen Tiantian brings him into conflict with Lu. Their hostility becomes public during the Spirit Medium selection 13 20 21.
• Fang Ruyu — An academy disciple used to influence and summon Chen. Lu assigns her the task despite knowing she has already broken off her engagement to him 13 16 37.
• Fu Nantian / Old Dog Fu — His enslaved attendant, formerly the city lord of Azure Sun Stronghold. Lu controls visits to Fu’s daughter as a reward, while Fu secretly warns Chen against him 12 22 38.
• Song Yuan — A fellow official whom Lu warns not to interfere with the city lord’s plans for Chen, despite Song’s resentment over the pills given to him 38.

Story Role / Major Arcs

Poetry Bargain and Protection

Chen Shi’an approaches Lu seeking protection for his ten-year-old niece from Wang Tianye. After Chen completes a poem, Lu names it Yaoyao Song and offers him admission to the academy. Chen refuses, recognizing that joining would place him under Lu’s control 12.

Lu’s intervention initially stops Wang’s men from touching Chen Tiantian, but Wang later personally threatens the family. Chen returns with half of another poem and claims Wang’s intimidation made him forget its remaining lines. Lu renews his promise of protection while imposing a fifteen-day deadline for completing the poem 13 15 16.

Spirit Medium Selection and Attempted Coercion

Wang Tianye mistakenly assumes Lu arranged Chen Tiantian’s entry into the selection’s final round. Lu challenges the accusation, but Xiang Chuxiong ends their quarrel before Tao Yaoyao reveals that she recommended the girl 20 21.

On the final day of the poetry deadline, Lu accuses Chen of using a poetry manuscript to manipulate him, Wang, and Tao. He attacks Chen with martial pressure and demands the entire manuscript, offering to spare Chen’s sister-in-law and niece in exchange 22.

Chen argues that Tao traced the poems to him independently and deliberately created suspicion between them. After Chen supplies another pair of verses, Lu abandons his threats, calls the confrontation a joke, and insists that the manuscript remain secret—especially from Tao 22.

Recruitment for the City Lord

After Chen becomes a Demon Hunting Team squad leader, Lu delivers three Marrow-Washing Pills on Xiang Chuxiong’s behalf. He explicitly corrects Chen’s pledge to serve the team: the loyalty expected is to the city lord personally 37.

Lu relays assurances that Song Yuan and Wang Tianye will not obstruct Chen and holds out the prospect of a future deputy-commandership. To keep Fu Qingyang unaware of the arrangement, he permits Chen to retaliate against Song Yuming if provoked, even if Yuming is injured 37 38.

Notable Quotes

“Use your charms to capture Chen Shi’an’s heart. Make him obey your every wish.” 13

“You should be serving the city lord, Squad Leader Chen, not the Demon Hunting Team.” 37