Pi Hou

Biodata

Power Progression

Background / History

Meeting Chen Shi'an

Pi Hou first approaches Chen Shi'an as a tournament opponent, urging him to concede in exchange for future protection in the Demon Hunting Team. Despite his talkative manner, he attacks decisively when refused. After Chen Shi'an effortlessly blocks his blows and restrains him, Pi Hou recognizes the difference in their strength and concedes 34 35.

The two then cooperate in a staged fight. Pi Hou pretends to slip out of the white circle, making Chen Shi'an’s victory look accidental, while Chen promises that they will be friends and that Pi Hou will eat and drink well under him. Chen later identifies Pi Hou as the first subordinate to choose him 35 112.

Black Saber Alliance and West Mountain Hollow

During the assault on the Black Saber Alliance, Pi Hou worries that sparing women and children will leave their squad behind in the kill tally. He nevertheless follows Chen Shi'an’s lead and urgently opposes his proposed pursuit of Jiang Beiwang, an Eighth Acquired Stage fighter. When Chen disappears, Pi Hou becomes anxious; on his return, Pi Hou is the first to reach him and tries to take his heavy bundle 47 49.

At West Mountain Hollow, Pi Hou becomes a useful intermediary between Chen Shi'an and the other soldiers. He builds friendships throughout the old and new squads and supplies information, including Qianshan Xue’s connection to Tian Wenguang. Chen concludes that Pi Hou’s intelligence and social instincts make him one of only two current subordinates suitable for important future responsibilities, alongside Du Gang 62 67.

Pi Hou also speaks for the men over their promised rewards. He publicly maintains confidence in Chen Shi'an but privately asks whether the accumulated payments are affordable. After returning to Windrise Stronghold, he raises the issue again, explaining that some soldiers need money for parents’ medicine or family marriages 72 76.

Protecting Chen Su Ji and Beginning Ranked Cultivation

Pi Hou persuades Du Gang to visit Chen Su Ji to investigate Chen Shi'an’s relationship with its proprietress. Their visit places them at the shop when the Four Thoroughfare Trading House attempts to extort its owners. Pi Hou first tries to negotiate, then fights while shielding Su Qingrou and Qin E'na. He is beaten before Chen Shi'an arrives 80 81.

Chen subsequently invests heavily in his cultivation. When the first five Marrow-Washing Pills fail, Pi Hou fears wasting more of his leader’s resources, but Chen supplies the rest of his available pills and insists that he continue. Pi Hou succeeds on the eleventh pill and is moved to tears. He and Du Gang later receive the Three Yang Collapsing Fist manual to help them strengthen their bodies and cultivate Origin Force 86 89.

Blackwater Ridge and the Deputy Commander Contest

During the Blackwater Ridge mission, Pi Hou volunteers to scout, but Chen refuses because his strength is insufficient against Blazing Fire Lizards. Pi Hou also participates in driving a Three-Eyed Civet from cover and later helps surround it, not realizing that it has already died 94 97.

On the return journey, Pi Hou gathers news about the disappearance or expulsion of Fu Qingyang’s followers and the approaching Deputy Commander selection. Unlike Du Gang, who considers Song Yuming the chief rival, Pi Hou identifies Yun Feng as a serious threat and suspects that someone is financing him. Back in Windrise Stronghold, he publicly announces their squad’s successful demon-beast hunt, supporting Chen Shi'an’s bid for promotion 98 99.

Prison Rescue and the Ghost-Killing Squad

When Chen Shi'an goes to rescue Hou Fang from the City Guard Battalion prison, Pi Hou interrupts his breakthrough preparations to join him without demanding an explanation. He and Du Gang overwhelm Hu Wanli’s guards, revealing that both have reached Martial Dao Entry-Rank. Pi Hou then attacks Hu Wanli with Three Yang Collapsing Fist but stops immediately at Chen’s command 189 190 191.

As leader of the Ghost-Killing Squad, Pi Hou later joins Du Gang in ambushing Bao Long. Pi Hou wounds Bao Long’s arm, and Du Gang delivers the fatal thrust. Their squads also raid the residences of Song Yuan, Xiao Yi, and other senior officials, taking them captive. Pi Hou subsequently reports that Chen’s named targets are imprisoned and is sent to search the City Lord’s Mansion for Fu Nantian 201 203.

Three-Killing Battalion Duties

Chen Shi'an entrusts Pi Hou, Du Gang, Zhu Neng, and Iron Bull with maintaining order in Windrise Stronghold, pursuing the great families, and watching suspicious arrivals while he is absent. Pi Hou offers to accompany him instead, arguing that his new ranked strength could ease Chen’s workload, but is told that work in the stronghold takes priority 213.

By Hou Fang’s wedding, Pi Hou has become notorious for the important figures killed by his Ghost-Killing Squad. On Chen’s orders, he nevertheless performs the practical work of decorating the wedding venue and later helps serve the guests. Fang Ming subsequently seeks help from Pi Hou and the other officers to expand his business; Chen orders them to imprison Fang Ming if he continues pestering them 285 286 335.

Appearance

Pi Hou is short, thin, and scrawny, with a face that repeatedly becomes the target of Chen Shi'an’s teasing 59 76 83.

• Eyes: Narrow and squinting, described as reduced to slits in Chen Shi'an’s imitation of him 125 267.
• Hair: Thinning 267.
• Movement: Exceptionally nimble; his agility is compared directly to a monkey’s 35.
• Squad attire: Wears a Ghost Mask when leading the Ghost-Killing Squad 201 269.

Personality

Pi Hou is clever, talkative, and quick to read a situation. His immediate cooperation in concealing Chen Shi'an’s strength establishes a pattern of adapting rather than stubbornly resisting. His networking ability later gives him access to information across the Demon Hunting Team, while his suspicion of Yun Feng shows that he can look beyond an opponent’s visible qualifications 35 62 67 98 99.

His interest in women is his most persistent weakness. He eagerly tries to rescue Zhang Qiaoqiao, celebrates merely walking beside her, and repeatedly turns conversations toward attractive women. Chen warns that this habit could ruin him and later reprimands him for allowing indulgence to consume time and energy that should go into cultivation 58 59 62 65 112.

Beneath his joking and flattery, Pi Hou is deeply loyal. He worries about Chen’s safety, represents the soldiers’ financial concerns, and initially offers back an Origin-Strength Pill because Chen may need it more. His response to the dangerous prison rescue is simply to fetch his saber and join the ranks 47 72 76 135 189.

His public behavior combines intimidation with irreverent humor. He threatens obstructive City Guard soldiers and leads lethal raids, yet also trades jokes with ordinary residents after Chen kicks him into the street. Watching him banter with the crowd as an equal helps improve Chen’s mood 125 201 270.

Abilities & Skills

Agility and Hearing

Pi Hou is repeatedly distinguished by his speed and responsiveness 35 49 96.

• Reaches Chen Shi'an ahead of the other squad members when he returns from the Black Saber Alliance headquarters 49.
• Recognizes a distant cry as a woman’s voice before Du Gang can distinguish it 58.
• Reacts fastest when Chen requests men to follow him into a grove 96.
• At Entry-Rank, closes on Hu Wanli too quickly for the Eighth Acquired Stage officer to evade 191.

Three Yang Collapsing Fist

Chen Shi'an gives Pi Hou and Du Gang this cultivation manual to support physical strengthening and the refinement of Origin Force 89.

• Pi Hou judges it superior to the cultivation arts available through the Demon Hunting Team’s military-merit exchange 89.
• Uses its fist technique against Hu Wanli after attaining Martial Dao Entry-Rank 191.

Raging Tide Blade Technique

Pi Hou learns this saber technique from Chen Shi'an and uses it alongside Du Gang during their ambush of Bao Long 201.

• Attacks from one side while Du Gang strikes from the other.
• Cuts Bao Long’s arm before Du Gang kills him; the fight lasts fewer than six exchanges 201.

Networking and Intelligence Gathering

Pi Hou’s social connections make him an important source of information for Chen Shi'an 67 98.

• Befriends soldiers across roughly a dozen old and new squads 67.
• Reports personnel purges following Fu Qingyang’s fall and news of the Deputy Commander selection 98.
• Infers that Yun Feng likely has a hidden backer because his family’s apparent finances do not explain his cultivation resources 99.

Squad Leadership

Pi Hou commands the Ghost-Killing Squad and handles both armed operations and routine assignments 201 285.

• Directs his men to remove traces after Bao Long’s death 201.
• Participates in coordinated arrests of senior officials 201.
• Clears crowds around Chen Shi'an and organizes Hou Fang’s wedding preparations 270 285.

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Horizontal Saber — His regular weapon. While sleeping in camp, he ties it to his waist with a thin cord, frustrating a small creature’s attempt to steal it 54.
• Soft Porcupine Armor — Worn on patrol and during dangerous operations; initially worn even while sleeping to prevent theft 54 58 189.
• Ghost Mask — Identifies him with the Ghost-Killing Squad during raids and street duties 201 269.
• Marrow-Washing Pills — Supplied by Chen Shi'an; eleven are required for his successful marrow-washing 86.
• Origin-Strength Pills — Received to accelerate cultivation and later used during his attempt to enter the ranked realm 135 182 189.

Relationships

• Chen Shi'an — Leader, cultivation sponsor, and trusted friend. Promises to take Pi Hou out of the Desolate Ruins if the opportunity arises, provided he cultivates diligently enough not to become a burden 35 62 112.
• Du Gang — Frequent fighting partner and target of Pi Hou’s teasing. Their contrasting weaknesses—Pi Hou’s attraction to women and Du Gang’s love of wine—repeatedly draw Chen’s criticism 62 98 112 201.
• Zhu Neng — Fellow subordinate and officer. Pi Hou clashes with him over whether to attack the Commander-in-Chief’s Residence, requiring Chen to reconcile them 128.
• Zhang Qiaoqiao — An object of infatuation whom he escorts back to her squad. She privately finds him distasteful, while Chen warns that she is suspicious 58 59.
• Liu Qingyi — Welcomes her as one of Chen’s people and offers the Ghost-Killing Squad’s assistance. Her polite address of “Senior Pi” prompts him to complain that she makes him sound old 240.
• Hou Fang — Joins the operation to rescue him and later organizes his wedding decorations. Hou Fang knows Pi Hou’s fearsome reputation before formally meeting him 189 285 286.

Notable Quotes

“If you go back on your word someday, I'll tie myself to your belt. Wherever you go, I'll go.” 62

“Boss, wait for me. I'll go get my saber.” 189

“Getting kicked in the ass by our boss is a blessing! An honor!” 270

Trivia

• After Pi Hou remarks that Chen Shi'an’s constant saber-drawing wears out the scabbard, Chen assigns him responsibility for making replacement scabbards 51.
• Chen Shi'an uses Pi Hou as an unwitting scapegoat when Qianshan Xue catches him with a romance novel. Ordered to take the “filth” and crawl out, Pi Hou literally leaves on his hands and knees 64.
• Pi Hou is the first appearance Chen Shi'an demonstrates after mastering the Hundred Transformations Bone-Shedding Art. The imitation reproduces his voice and manner closely enough that Liu Qingyi would have mistaken it for the real man had she not witnessed the transformation 267.