Lao Denuo

Biodata

Background / History

Mount Song Infiltrator

Lao Denuo accepted an assignment to infiltrate Mount Hua because Zuo Lengchan had once shown him great kindness. He spent more than a decade undercover without complaint, joining Mount Hua with prior martial training and becoming its second senior disciple. He regarded himself as outside the succession to sect leadership and initially expected to leave eventually 4 32.

His long absence from Mount Song left him with few close connections there. Concerned about his future after Zuo Lengchan’s death, he considered bringing Tian Hao to Mount Song after the Five Mountains merged, believing that Tian Hao’s forging skills and their friendship would help them support each other 8.

Training Tian Hao

Unlike the disciples who ostracized Tian Hao, Lao Denuo regularly brought him breakfast, shared meals with him, and helped him practice external martial arts. He admired Tian Hao’s dedication while lamenting how his poor aptitude limited his progress 4 13.

At Tian Hao’s request, he assisted with the Horizontal Crab Iron Shirt’s harsh body-tempering regimen. He administered leather-whip training twice daily for a month, helping Tian Hao reach the introductory stage of the Iron Shirt and minor achievement in Embrace Origin Force. As Tian Hao’s skin toughened, he prepared to replace the whip with wooden rods 8 9.

He also reported Tian Hao’s unexpectedly rapid progress to Yue Buqun, prompting an examination for hidden injuries. Later, Tian Hao’s relentless training encouraged Lao Denuo and the other Mount Hua members to intensify their own practice 11 27.

Choosing Mount Hua

Tian Hao asked Yue Buqun to spare Lao Denuo, arguing that his assistance had been genuine and that he had not yet committed any grave wrongdoing against Mount Hua. Yue Buqun agreed, but required a pledge of allegiance. Tian Hao proposed obtaining the head of one of Mount Song’s Thirteen Guardians and using Lao Denuo’s undercover identity to feed Zuo Lengchan false intelligence; neither proposal is shown as completed in these passages 30 31.

Outside the town gate, Tian Hao confronted Lao Denuo with his exposed identity and offered him a choice between Mount Hua and Mount Song. Lao Denuo chose Mount Hua, attracted by its ties to the Imperial Tutor and Mount Hua Academy. He also privately feared that Yue Buqun would kill him if he actually attempted to leave for Mount Song 31.

Lao Denuo nevertheless wanted to repay Zuo Lengchan once before severing his obligation. Tian Hao authorized him to send Zuo a copy of the Evil-Warding Sword Manual once Mount Hua obtained it, together with letters. Tian Hao intended this gift to preserve Zuo’s trust and make Lao Denuo useful for misleading him 32.

Capturing the Desert North Duo

At Fleeting Years, Lao Denuo attempted to pursue the white-clad man who attacked Tian Hao, but Lu Dayou blocked him. He then investigated the attacker, collecting a broken hand-bone fragment and identifying the two suspicious men as possible members of the Desert North Duo 33 34 37.

The bone fragment helped Mount Hua’s disciples track the duo with hunting dogs. Lao Denuo joined Zhao Bulu, Tian Hao, and the authorities in surrounding their hiding place. He fought the already-injured White Bear, wounded his shoulder with a sword thrust, and helped suppress him 38.

Discovering the victims’ remains in the kitchen made Lao Denuo vomit. Afterward, he accompanied the group back to Mount Hua. Yue Buqun’s continued restraint reassured him that Tian Hao’s promise of protection was genuine 39 42.

Personality

Lao Denuo combines practical self-interest with genuine gratitude. His friendship with Tian Hao includes hopes of future support, but he also sincerely celebrates Tian Hao’s breakthroughs and worries about the dangers of his training. His wish to repay Zuo Lengchan persists even after he decides that Mount Hua offers better prospects 8 32.

He is cautious about both personal survival and sect discipline. He warns Tian Hao against speaking carelessly about Linghu Chong, reminds Yue Lingshan that real combat is treacherous, and criticizes Linghu Chong’s public conduct at a pleasure house as damaging to Mount Hua’s reputation 4 10 34.

His patience has limits: Lu Dayou’s obstruction enrages him, though he restrains himself rather than attacking a fellow disciple. He is also repeatedly baffled by Tian Hao’s rough treatment of Yue Lingshan, urging him at least not to leave her unconscious on the cold ground 14 33.

Abilities & Skills

Internal Qi and Swordsmanship

• Body reinforcement: Uses internal qi to withstand Tian Hao’s powerful barehanded blows during sparring 5.
• Weapon reinforcement: Coats his longsword with internal qi and cleanly slices a corner from a stone table 5.
• Sword proficiency: Tian Hao acknowledges that swordsmanship is Lao Denuo’s main strength and says he would not last a single move against him with a sword at that point 5.
• Cultivation limitation: Believes his insufficient aptitude leaves him no hope of advancing to the Houtian Realm in his lifetime 5.

External Martial Arts Instruction

• Guides Tian Hao in Embrace Origin Force using his previous experience with external arts 4.
• Teaches Eagle Claw Stele-Smashing Hand’s timing, grappling, and use of an opponent’s strength against them 5.
• Explains why outside-in cultivation can produce highly compatible internal energy and advises Tian Hao not to divide his attention prematurely 6.
• Assists Horizontal Crab Iron Shirt training with carefully staged implements, progressing from a leather whip toward wooden rods; later uses a softwood rod 8 9 20.

Martial Knowledge and Investigation

• Explains the Internal Power, Inner Breath, Inner Qi, and Houtian realms, including the risks of damaging fragile meridians through improper cultivation 5.
• Draws on records studied at Mount Song to explain Shaolin’s outside-in cultivation methods 6.
• Uses Mount Hua’s local intelligence resources to investigate White Bear, assessing his accent, complexion, and association with another unusually thick-armed man 37.
• Preserves physical evidence that enables hunting dogs to track the Desert North Duo 34 38.

Lightness Skill

• Uses lightness skill to deliver Tian Hao’s purchased varnish quickly and to vault the courtyard wall during the raid on the Desert North Duo 32 38.

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Longsword — His principal combat weapon; supports internal-qi reinforcement 5.
• Leather whip — Used to administer Tian Hao’s introductory Horizontal Crab Iron Shirt training 8.
• Wooden rods — Replacement training implements as Tian Hao’s body becomes tougher; softwood precedes hardwood 9 20.
• White Bear’s hand-bone fragment — Collected after the Fleeting Years fight and supplied to the disciples tracking the duo 34 38.

Relationships

• Tian Hao — His closest companion within Mount Hua, junior disciple, and training partner. Tian Hao repays his early assistance by securing mercy for him and offering him a future in the sect 8 30 31.
• Zuo Lengchan — His Mount Song master and original benefactor. Gratitude motivated his infiltration, and he seeks one final repayment after choosing Mount Hua 8 32.
• Yue Buqun — His nominal master at Mount Hua, who already knows his undercover identity. Yue spares him at Tian Hao’s request and allows Tian Hao to handle his conversion 14 30 31.
• Yue Lingshan — His junior sister. He appraises her century-old notoginseng, witnesses her wager with Tian Hao, and takes responsibility for preventing irreversible injuries during their spar 9 10.
• Linghu Chong — Mount Hua’s eldest senior disciple. Lao Denuo assumes his duties when he is absent, but later condemns conduct that threatens the sect’s reputation and disregards Yue Lingshan 4 6 34.
• Lu Dayou — A fellow disciple who prevents him from pursuing White Bear, provoking anger that Lao Denuo keeps under control 33.
• Zhao Bulu — Martial uncle and combat ally during the capture of the Desert North Duo 38.