Zhang Lata

Biodata

Background / History

Earlier Life

Zhang Lata recalls being handsome and popular with women in his youth. Despite possessing renowned martial arts, he had no successor when Qin Enuo approached him about teaching Li Ziye, and he claimed to have refused many talented prospective students 3 12.

He once lost a contest to someone from the Western Regions whom he dismissively calls a “charlatan.” Watching Li Ziye’s relentless practice later makes him reflect that greater diligence in his own youth might have changed that result 21.

Helping Li Ziye Become a Disciple

While staying at the Li residence in Yuzhou City, Zhang Lata helped Li Baiwan promote rumors about Li Ziye’s supposed talent to attract Qin Enuo. Knowing that Li Ziye could not cultivate, he nevertheless suggested that Qin Enuo might possess a solution beyond his own abilities 1.

When Qin Enuo made a duel against Third Prince Mu Yao the final condition for discipleship, Zhang Lata judged that Li Ziye had no chance of winning. Li Ziye instead persuaded him—with an offer of a large quantity of wine—to incapacitate the prince before the contest 5.

Zhang Lata attacked Mu Yao at the Yuelai Inn, leaving him needing roughly ten days of bed rest. Qin Enuo intervened and recognized the masked attacker as the Sword Maniac during their exchange of Sword Qi, but could not easily detain him without a fight to the death. Mu Yao’s absence allowed Li Ziye to win the trial by default 5.

Teaching the Flying Immortal Art

Zhang Lata initially treated Li Ziye’s training as a source of entertainment, but Qin Enuo persuaded him to help teach the Flying Immortal Art. He accepted the challenge of training someone whose eight meridians had all been blocked, intrigued by the possibility of recreating the first Sword God’s achievements 12.

After Li Ziye opened his first Divine Repository while cultivating in anger, Zhang Lata and Qin Enuo reconsidered the art’s accepted practice. They concluded that strong emotions might accelerate its cultivation rather than cause the harm normally expected from an unsettled mind 13.

When Qin Enuo left for the capital to obtain medicine, Zhang Lata took responsibility for Li Ziye’s training and affairs at the residence. He later accompanied Li Ziye to the capital after news arrived that something had happened to Li Youwei 20 21.

Treatment in the Capital

At Li Garden, Zhang Lata administered Li Ziye’s medicinal baths in Qin Enuo’s absence. The treatment exhausted him as well as his student 24.

Using the thousand-year-old fleeceflower root supplied by Kong Qiu, he shattered and repaired another of Li Ziye’s blocked meridians. This opened Li Ziye’s second meridian and enabled his breakthrough to the middle stage of the First Martial Dao Realm. Zhang Lata then demonstrated the Flying Immortal Art’s third form, while warning that Li Ziye lacked the cultivation normally needed to execute it 32 33.

Appearance

• Elderly and slovenly: Consistently described as a shabby or slovenly old man 1 2 3.
• Long hair: A lock is cut away by Qin Enuo’s Sword Qi during the attack on Mu Yao 5.
• Habitual drinking companion: Often found reclining beside the Li residence’s lake with a wine flask or jar 1 3 11.

Personality

Zhang Lata prizes personal freedom. He hesitates to become the Li family’s honored retainer because he is accustomed to wandering and dislikes staying anywhere for long. Nevertheless, fine wine readily persuades him to undertake work he initially rejects—including attacking a prince 3 5.

His humor is blunt, sarcastic, and frequently aimed at Li Ziye. He enjoys watching others lose their composure and eagerly anticipates confrontations between Li Ziye and Qin Enuo. He is also difficult to deceive, repeatedly recognizing Li Ziye’s schemes beneath his claims of sincerity 2 3 9 11.

His mockery conceals genuine concern. He warns against exposing the inexperienced Li Ziye to lethal combat, fears for him during possible Qi deviation, and advises him not to train beyond his body’s limits. Although experienced in violence, he still dislikes killing 9 11 13 21.

Abilities & Skills

Fifth Realm Cultivation

• Has opened all five Divine Repositories; their simultaneous activation reveals his Fifth Realm strength during Li Ziye’s treatment 21 32.
• Is slightly below Qin Enuo in cultivation, though close enough that she cannot readily prevent his escape 1 5 15.
• Explains that “sword immortal” is a popular title, not proof of literal immortality or a realm beyond the Fifth 21.
• Cannot draw upon Fortune as Kong Qiu does, acknowledging that his own realm is insufficient 21.

Swordsmanship and Sword Qi

• Generates Sword Qi with two fingers held together as a sword, without needing a blade in hand 5 32.
• Summons swords from a distance, including an ancient sword from his room 12 13.
• Overwhelms the newly advanced Li Ziye with a sheathed sword, sending him into a courtyard wall 13.
• Moves rapidly across streets and rooftops while exchanging attacks with Qin Enuo 5.

Flying Immortal Art

• Jointly demonstrates the first Sword God’s art with Qin Enuo and becomes one of Li Ziye’s instructors 12.
• Demonstrates the second form, using eighteen steps before a two-handed strike that splits a towering tree lengthwise 20.
• Demonstrates the third form, consisting of twenty-seven steps and powerful, sweeping sword strikes 33.
• Explains that performing forms beyond one’s realm requires exceptional True Qi strength and bodily control; the first Sword God used such mastery to defeat higher-realm opponents 33.
• Cannot teach the final three of the art’s nine forms; Qin Enuo shares this limitation 20.

Meridian Treatment

• Prepares and administers medicinal baths to support Li Ziye’s damaged meridians 24.
• Uses precise Sword Qi to shatter a blocked major meridian while channeling medicinal essence into the body to repair it 32.
• Recognizes the danger of repeated meridian destruction and the declining effectiveness of ordinary potent medicines as Li Ziye develops resistance 6 16.

Knowledge of Rare Materials

• Identifies blazing fire divine iron when Qin Enuo cannot, revealing its nature by channeling True Qi into it 15.
• Explains that forging the supreme-yang material requires an extreme-yin object of comparable quality 15.
• Knows the history and contents attributed to the Essential Arts of Heavenly Craft, an incomplete work recording rare treasures and unusual events 19.

Equipment / Items

• Unnamed ancient sword — A three-foot blade used in demonstrations and sparring; he can wield it without unsheathing it 12 13.
• Wine flask and jars — Regularly carried or kept nearby while he rests and teaches 1 12 20.
• Monkey wine — A scarce wine from his personal supply, shared with Li Ziye during their journey to the capital 21.
• Mask — Worn to conceal his identity when attacking Mu Yao 5.

Relationships

• Li Ziye — Student and frequent target of his insults. Zhang Lata’s early dismissal of his aptitude develops into respect for his adaptability, determination, and willingness to be ruthless toward himself 1 11 12 21.
• Qin Enuo — Fellow sword expert and teaching partner. They trade barbs but cooperate in developing Li Ziye’s swordsmanship and overcoming his blocked meridians 6 12 13.
• Li Baiwan — Host and collaborator in the effort to attract Qin Enuo; commissions Zhang Lata’s help spreading rumors about his son 1.
• Mu Yao — Target of Zhang Lata’s paid attack, which prevents the prince from contesting Qin Enuo’s discipleship 5.
• Hongzhu — Recognizes her unusual abilities and questions her about her teacher, remaining unconvinced by her claim to be self-taught 18 19.

Notable Quotes

“Wine and a sword are enough.” 12

“I've practiced martial arts for most of my life, yet today a junior has broadened my horizons.” 13

“Everything needs moderation. Going too far is as bad as falling short.” 21