Bai Wangyu

Biodata

Power Progression

• Projected potential: Venerable Law Confucian and the Head of the Confucians believe his comprehension should allow him to reach the Fifth Realm, although advancing beyond the five realms would be difficult 27.
• Restricted cultivation: Suppresses his cultivation for Li Ziye’s training, initially to the early First Realm and later to the middle First Realm; these restrictions are not changes to his actual realm 25 44.

History

Taking Residence at Li Garden

Venerable Law Confucian sends Bai Wangyu to stay with Li Ziye after the Head of the Confucians recommends that his rigid disciple spend more time with him. Li Ziye welcomes both his strength and his distinguished position, then arranges for him to serve as a sparring partner while suppressing his cultivation 25.

Bai Wangyu’s presence immediately benefits the Li Family’s business negotiations. At Apricot Garden, representatives of the Merchant Alliance, Yin Family Bank, and Zhangsun Family reassess Li Ziye after learning that Bai Wangyu came at his invitation. Bai Wangyu remains unmoved by their flattery 26.

He subsequently teaches Li Ziye Wind Passes, Leaving Traces and accompanies him to the Flower Cultivation Garden. Imperial Academy students are scandalized to recognize their eldest senior brother at the pleasure house. After Li Ziye antagonizes the guests, the pair spend much of the night fleeing their pursuers and return to Li Garden near dawn 27 28 29.

Protecting and Teaching Li Ziye

At Li Youwei’s request, Bai Wangyu intervenes when Chen Yifei sends two Embroidered Robe Guards against Li Ziye. His Taiyi Sword blasts the guards away, forcing Chen Yifei to retreat. He then agrees to ask his master to relay Li Ziye’s request for an audience with the Head of the Confucians 31.

Although the audience is refused, Bai Wangyu brings Li Ziye the thousand-year-old fleeceflower root supplied by the Head of the Confucians. Later, he advises Li Ziye to obtain the Divine Hall’s incoming King of Medicines through its eventual recipients at court rather than attempt an ambush 32 36.

Kong Qiu summons Bai Wangyu back to the Imperial Academy and instructs him to learn independent judgment from Li Ziye. Asked to enter Kong Qiu’s courtyard, Bai Wangyu cannot overcome his reverence for the Head’s authority. Kong Qiu sends him back with orders to help Li Ziye grow stronger and protect him from hidden attacks 40.

The Divine Hall’s Arrival

After hearing that Li Ziye questions even his own master, Bai Wangyu begins to understand Kong Qiu’s intentions. He studies the Flying Immortal Art through the night to improve his instruction. He also learns that six of Li Ziye’s eight meridians remain blocked and promises to keep the condition secret 41.

When Liu Rongnü attacks them during the Divine Hall procession, Bai Wangyu pulls Li Ziye behind him and takes the blow, suffering an injury. Kong Qiu retaliates against Liu Rongnü and rebukes Bai Wangyu’s insistence on extending courtesy to someone who has shown none 42.

Despite his injury, Bai Wangyu continues teaching. He constructs a red-thread formation with twenty-seven bells to guide Li Ziye through the third form of the Flying Immortal Formula, maintaining it throughout a punishing day of practice 43.

Rematch and the Court’s Wager

Bai Wangyu intercepts Yan Xiaoyu when the Divine Son attacks Li Ziye and Hongzhu after the Yin residence fire. Their duel ends without a winner, repeating the result of their encounter two years earlier. Bai Wangyu deliberately prolongs the fight so Li Ziye can study their techniques 46 47.

When the Divine Hall challenges Great Shang with three questions, Bai Wangyu recognizes that Li Ziye likely knows the answers. After persuasion fails, he relays Kong Qiu’s warning that the Confucian School also wants the Water-Fire Pearl needed for Li Ziye’s sword-forging plans. Li Ziye eventually agrees to help 48 49 50.

During Mu Rong and Mubai’s visit to Li Garden, Bai Wangyu takes Li Ziye’s place as Mubai’s sparring opponent, anticipating the danger posed by the martial-minded prince’s interest in him 50.

Appearance

• Clothing: Usually wears white Confucian robes 25 27 31.
• Features: Handsome, with “starry brows” and “sword-sharp eyes” 27.
• Bearing: Tranquil and composed, accompanied by a powerful aura of righteousness 27 31.
• Hair: Normally tied up; it becomes disheveled during the overnight flight from the Flower Cultivation Garden 29.

Personality

Bai Wangyu is earnest, respectful, and famously rigid. He follows his teachers’ instructions without demanding explanations, but his reverence can prevent him from exercising independent judgment. Kong Qiu explicitly identifies this obedience as both a strength and a weakness 25 40.

He is a patient teacher who initially interprets Li Ziye’s difficulties generously, even assuming that Confucian swordsmanship simply does not suit him. Learning about Li Ziye’s blocked meridians and watching his relentless practice deepen his respect for his friend’s determination 27 41 43.

Life at Li Garden brings out a sharper sense of humor. Bai Wangyu begins laughing at Li Ziye’s mishaps, trading sarcastic remarks, and occasionally swearing when his patience breaks. His growing familiarity does not diminish his protectiveness: he continues intervening when Li Ziye is threatened and helping him train 40 43 47 48 50.

Abilities & Skills

Confucian Swordsmanship

Bai Wangyu is the foremost fighter among the Confucian School’s younger generation and can fight Yan Xiaoyu to a draw 47.

• Commands the Taiyi Sword with sword gestures and can send it flying ahead to intercept attacks 27 31 46.
• Combines sword strikes with Vast Righteous Qi, producing powerful clashes against the Divine Son’s palm techniques 47.
• Maintains precise defensive swordplay even while restricting his cultivation during practice 44.

Wind Passes, Leaving Traces

A Confucian sword technique that produces over a dozen blade afterimages and streaks of sword light 27.

• Shatters a large rock during his demonstration 27.
• Bai Wangyu recalls learning it after seeing it once 27.
• Considers it flashy but of limited practical use against experts 27.

Vast Righteous Qi and Palm Techniques

Bai Wangyu can use righteous True Qi for both defense and unarmed combat 42 47.

• Shields Li Ziye from Liu Rongnü’s attack, though the Fifth Realm cultivator’s power still injures him 42.
• Meets Yan Xiaoyu’s close-range palm strike head-on after the Divine Son catches his sword 47.
• Treats palm techniques as a foundational part of Confucian martial training rather than relying exclusively on swordsmanship 47.

Martial Instruction and Perception

His reading and martial understanding allow him to analyze techniques and devise practical training methods 43.

• Studies the Flying Immortal Art specifically to help Li Ziye, testing every step used in his training formation 41 43.
• Uses twenty-seven bells to mark correct footwork and tough red threads to help correct positioning 43.
• Detects cultivation fluctuations and Li Ziye’s breakthrough from elsewhere in Li Garden 32.
• Examines Li Ziye’s meridians by sending True Qi into his arm 41.

Equipment & Training Tools

• Taiyi Sword / Taiyi Ancient Sword — His principal weapon, carried in a sheath on his back and controlled through gestures or direct swordplay 27 44.
• Red-thread formation — A training installation with twenty-seven bells, built for the third form of the Flying Immortal Formula. Its threads support positional correction but can cut a practitioner who moves off course and eventually break under repeated strain 43.

Relationships

• Li Ziye — Friend, host, pupil, and frequent source of exasperation. Bai Wangyu teaches and protects him while learning from his willingness to question authority 25 40 41 43.
• Venerable Law Confucian — His master. Bai Wangyu obeys his instructions and uses this connection to convey Li Ziye’s requests to the Head of the Confucians 25 31 32.
• Kong Qiu / Head of the Confucians — Revered authority who regards Bai Wangyu as the Confucian School’s future successor and seeks to free him from excessive deference to ritual and hierarchy 40.
• Li Youwei — Li Ziye’s elder sister, who asks Bai Wangyu to rescue her brother from danger 31.
• Hongzhu — Recognizes his strength and the protection his status offers Li Garden; later witnesses his deliberate effort to turn his duel with Yan Xiaoyu into a lesson for Li Ziye 25 47.
• Yan Xiaoyu — Martial rival. Their first encounter and their rematch two years later both end in draws 35 47.
• Mubai — Fellow young martial expert whom Bai Wangyu agrees to spar with in Li Ziye’s place 50.

Notable Quotes

“Learning martial arts is a gradual process. You can't reach the summit in a single bound.” 35

“Palm techniques are also a foundation of the Confucian School's martial arts. As the Imperial Academy's senior brother, how could I dare not practice diligently and lead by example?” 47