Fang Ming

Biodata

Power Progression

Personality

Fang Ming is enthusiastic about food and quick to find reasons to secure another meal. During Chen An’s first popcorn test, he supported Zhao Hai’s suggestion that repeated testing was necessary—an obvious attempt to keep returning. He later encouraged Chen An to leave chores to them, then admitted that finishing cultivation earlier might also mean starting dinner earlier 7 8.

His appetite does not make him idle or ungrateful. He fetches firewood, prepares ingredients, washes dishes, and helps unload supplies. When Uncle Zhou jokingly questioned whether his cooking was inedible, Fang Ming sincerely promised to help even while Chen An was away, recognizing how often Uncle Zhou looked after them 7 28 50.

He also takes training seriously. While assisting Chen An’s evasion lessons, he listened closely to Chen Xin, corrected his own stance, and asked about points he did not understand. During formation practice, he acknowledged a missed opening and corrected it on the next round 9 10 30.

Abilities & Skills

Feints and Footwork

• Distracted Chen An by waving his left hand, then touched his shoulder with his right in less than two breaths during an evasion drill 9.
• Studied positioning and foot placement while serving as Chen An’s practice opponent under Chen Xin 9 10.
• Practiced controlled palm-pressure exchanges with Shao Heng, using footwork without activating their Martial Souls 31.

Formation and Support Coordination

• Trained to rotate between three wooden posts, filling gaps as companions withdrew and watching the space behind the formation 30.
• Initially failed to cover an opening, then successfully moved into it during the next round 30.
• Served as Ning Rongrong’s support target. When she timed her strength boost correctly, he stopped losing ground and redirected Shao Heng’s hand 31.
• His Soul Power recovery could delay another training round; Chen An’s popcorn shortened the group’s rest enough to complete both rounds before lunch 30.

Kitchen Assistance

• Peels and deveins shrimp, trims vegetables, chops scallions, and minces meat 30 45 48 53.
• Helps tend the stove, replenish water and firewood, set tables, and wash bowls 7 30 53 54.
• Remains a helper rather than an accomplished cook: when Shao Heng suggested learning Guobaorou, Fang Ming admitted that he had only learned to chop the scallions 45.

Background / History

First Soul Skill Test

Ning Fengzhi brought Fang Ming, Zhao Hai, and Lu Yuan to test Chen An’s first Soul Skill. After eating BB Popcorn and meditating, they confirmed that their Soul Power recovered faster, with the benefit lasting about an hour. The aroma of Chen An’s fried rice repeatedly distracted them, prompting Ning Fengzhi to move them into a neighboring room to finish testing 7.

Each disciple subsequently ate two bowls of fried rice. When Ning Fengzhi discussed bringing different disciples for later tests, the three immediately volunteered to return. Chen An permitted them to attend mealtimes, initially restricting the arrangement to those three. Fang Ming began helping by fetching firewood after his companions took charge of the bowls 7.

Training with Chen An

Chen Xin selected Fang Ming to help teach Chen An how to evade an approaching opponent. Fang Ming’s feint demonstrated why watching an attacker’s hands was insufficient; later drills used a tree to force him to circle around before approaching. Fang Ming benefited from the instruction himself and used Chen An’s breaks to ask Chen Xin questions 9 10.

Securing a Place for Han Cheng

Fang Ming tried to obtain a dining place for his senior brother, Han Cheng, by suggesting that an absent regular’s seat could be used. Xu Cheng promptly rejected the possibility that he might miss breakfast 13.

When Shao Heng prepared to leave for his second Soul Ring hunt, Fang Ming obtained Chen An’s permission for Han Cheng to use the vacant place. He brought Han Cheng for lunch, but refused to take Shao Heng’s breakfast seat before departure, arguing that Shao Heng should not go Soul Hunting hungry. Han Cheng subsequently received a regular place when the kitchen expanded 17 18.

Recovery Food and Training Schedules

After missing the first tasting of Chen An’s second-Soul-Skill soup, Fang Ming stayed to clean ingredients for the next day and asked Shao Heng to wake him for breakfast. He nevertheless woke early on his own. When he finally tried the soup after training, it eased his aching fatigue 26 27.

Fang Ming later arrived before dawn to prepare shrimp in exchange for two extra shrimp in his fried rice. That morning, Chen An supplied popcorn for formation practice, allowing the disciples to recover faster between rounds. Fang Ming then participated in Ning Rongrong’s lessons on timing support skills 30 31.

He also requested popcorn for disciples training in the afternoon. Chen An established that groups must provide their schedules a day ahead and that preparation depended on his available time and Soul Power. Ning Fengzhi upheld those limits, and Fang Ming passed the arrangements to the afternoon group 31 32.

Later Kitchen Activities

Fang Ming spread the news of Shao Heng reaching rank thirty and proposed celebrating with a new dish. Chen An insisted that stabilizing Shao Heng’s Soul Power came first 42 43.

He continued assisting with new recipes, including Guobaorou and Twice-Cooked Pork. During Xue Qinghe’s visit, he helped carry bowls and move furniture as part of the kitchen’s established routine. Months later, he still regularly requested Twice-Cooked Pork, although he enthusiastically finished the scallion oil noodles served instead 45 53 54 56.

For the later Salted Duck gathering, Fang Ming helped Han Cheng carry in rice and hurried to set out chopsticks as the platters arrived 58.

Relationships

• Chen An — Cook, fellow sect member, and training partner. Fang Ming is an early tester of his recovery food and frequently exchanges kitchen help for meals or extra portions 7 9 30.
• Zhao Hai and Lu Yuan — Fellow original testers and dining companions. The three jointly secured permission to return and began helping with kitchen chores 7.
• Han Cheng — His senior fellow disciple. Fang Ming repeatedly sought a dining place for him and eventually brought him to Chen An’s kitchen 13 17 18.
• Shao Heng — Senior fellow disciple and frequent training partner. They practice formations, exchange teasing remarks, and discuss training arrangements over meals 30 31 54.
• Ning Rongrong — Support-training partner. She practices timing her strength boost around his movements; afterward, they jokingly dispute who caused their earlier coordination problems 31 32.
• Chen Xin — Senior instructor whose guidance Fang Ming receives while helping train Chen An 9 10.
• Uncle Zhou — Kitchen elder who regularly assigns him work and teases him about his appetite. Fang Ming appreciates his care and helps even when Chen An is absent 28 45 48.
• Ning Fengzhi — Sect master who selected him for the initial Soul Skill test and later supported limits protecting Chen An’s cultivation time 7 32.

Notable Quotes

“If you finish early, won't you be able to start dinner earlier too?” 8

“A meal is a meal. This isn't a meal.”
— Explaining why he still wanted popcorn after breakfast 30

“Why shouldn't I tell people good news?”
— Defending his enthusiastic announcement of Shao Heng’s breakthrough 43