Shi Lei

Biodata

Power Progression

Background

Shi Lei began practicing the Bloodstone Saber Technique in childhood. His early training included bruising sparring sessions, and his first Heavenly Meridian breakthrough was delayed when he lost his composure near the final step 16 17 19.

By Chen Xiuyuan’s arrival, Shi Lei was helping injured tribesmen, delivering beast meat, and escorting herb gatherers into the mountains. He first appears supporting an injured hunter’s arm during treatment, releasing it only after Chen finishes securing the bandage 4 8 10.

Personality

Shi Lei is cautious about the safety of those under his protection. Before accepting Chen Xiuyuan on a gathering trip, he checks how well Chen can walk and asks Elder Shi whether the injured leg can manage the journey. During the Broken Stream ambush, he rejects an escape proposal that would get one fighter across exposed ground while leaving the herb gatherers trapped 9 12.

As an instructor, he is blunt, patient, and willing to use humor. He exposes mistakes through controlled sparring, adjusts exercises around Chen’s injury, and stops practice when fatigue begins replacing sound technique with force. He also shares his own childhood failures rather than treating a beginner’s mistakes as shameful 16 17 26.

He distinguishes observation from certainty. When a detained man’s belt resembles that of a masked attacker, Shi Lei explicitly says that the resemblance alone cannot establish his identity. He applies similar care to Chen’s experiments, rejecting comparisons affected by extra strength or insufficient rest 23 27 32.

Although initially accustomed to overcoming tougher material with strength or a heavier saber, Shi Lei accepts correction from his former student. After seeing Chen’s revised cut, he studies the results, learns the method himself, and joins Chen in refining its transitions 33 34.

Abilities & Skills

Cultivation and Physical Strength

• Has opened at least his first Heavenly Meridian; his total number of opened meridians is not stated 19.
• Demonstrates the complete standing posture of the Savage Elephant Great Strength Art for Chen when Elder Shi’s legs make the demonstration difficult 8.
• Holds Ironback Ox meat steady with an ease that prompts Chen to ask whether he has cultivated 7.
• Remains stronger and faster than Chen during their later training, even after Chen has developed the revised saber path 25 34.

Bloodstone Saber Technique

• Uses coordinated footwork, waist turns, blocks, and blade withdrawals rather than relying on cutting speed alone 16.
• Exploits overextended strikes, exposed elbows, rigid stances, and straight retreats during sparring 16 24 25.
• Demonstrates cutting a rope while moving clear of the attached wooden piece’s return path, keeping room to withdraw the blade 25.
• Learns Chen’s revised path but initially forces his way through resistance, concealing technical flaws with superior strength 34.
• Cannot cut deeply into the thicker black armor sample with his usual strength 33.

Archery

• Identifies two concealed archers by comparing the angles of their shots 11.
• Uses suppressive shots and a wrist-guard decoy to reveal enemy positions without exposing a companion’s hand 11.
• Shoots the gray-clad archer through the upper arm after Chen’s basket lure draws him out of cover 13 15.
• Covers the group’s descent into the gully and Shi Duo’s retreat from the masked pursuer 13.
• Conserves arrows once the enemy positions are known rather than firing repeatedly at protected targets 11.

Scouting and Fieldcraft

• Examines beast tracks and diverts the gathering party away from a potentially dangerous gully 10.
• Recognizes deliberate knife cuts in the bridge rope and immediately orders the group into cover 10.
• Creates false tracks in wet ground, retraces his steps, and leads the survivors away over stones to avoid leaving a clear trail 14.
• Scouts narrow escape routes and damaged roads before taking the rest of the group through 14 37.

Instruction and Escort Work

• Breaks saber training into manageable movements, explaining where Qi and blood are involved before increasing speed 16.
• Uses restricted training spaces, hanging ropes, moving targets, and changing obstacles to test whether technique holds under unfamiliar conditions 17 25 26 33.
• Helps Chen compare original and modified cuts under consistent conditions, separating technical improvement from increased cultivation strength 27 32.
• Trains Chen to guard a moving cart without becoming trapped beside its wheel or obstructing the driver 35.

Equipment

• Bow and arrows — His principal ranged weapons during mountain escorts and the Broken Stream ambush 10 11 13.
• Saber and scabbard — Used in combat and patrol work; he also uses the scabbard to stop a cart, restrain a suspect, and hook fleeing reins 23 28.
• Old wrist guard — Attached to a branch as a decoy to draw an enemy shot 11.
• Wooden sabers, strips, and staffs — Training implements for controlled sparring and testing blade recovery 16 24 33.
• Borrowed heavy, blunt-edged saber — Arranges its loan from the hunting shelter for Chen’s strength and blade-path training 25 26.

Relationships

• Chen Xiuyuan — Initially a newcomer he assists and protects, then his saber student and sparring partner. Their relationship becomes reciprocal when Chen teaches him the revised blade path 4 16 34.
• Elder Shi — Cooperates with him in treating injuries and teaching Chen. Accepts his medical restrictions and corrections during practice 4 8 16 34.
• Shi Qiren — Reports expedition findings to him and carries out patrol assignments during the investigation into Du Huai 15 23 28.
• Shi Duo — Fellow warrior during the Broken Stream ambush. They divide rear-guard and covering duties, with Shi Lei supporting Shi Duo’s descent under attack 11 13.
• Auntie Sang — Escorts her gathering and trading trips; directs Chen to follow her expertise in finding and identifying herbs 10 34 37.
• Ge Ping — Protects him during the ambush and scouts an escape route using his directions after he is wounded 13 14.
• Meng Cheng — Works with him on the eastern-slope delivery and helps stabilize the damaged cart during his rescue 37 38.

Story Role / Major Arcs

Broken Stream Ambush

Shi Lei leads the herb-gathering party into the mountains and recognizes that the broken bridge has been deliberately sabotaged. Under arrow fire, he organizes cover, identifies the archers’ positions, and supports Chen’s attempt to recover the bridge rope 10 11.

After Chen proposes a basket decoy, Shi Lei wounds the exposed archer and covers the party’s escape into the gully. He then lays a false trail and scouts a route around the old charcoal kiln. All five members return to Bloodstone Gate alive 12 13 14 15.

Chen Xiuyuan’s Saber Training

Following the ambush, Shi Lei becomes Chen’s regular saber instructor. He begins with slow, injury-conscious movements before progressing to changing attacks, precision cutting, restricted footwork, and a heavy-saber obstacle test 16 17 24 25 26.

When Chen begins developing a cut beyond the original technique, Shi Lei helps test its reliability and defensive recovery. After witnessing the completed method cut through ironback hide, he learns it himself and works with Chen to adapt it against opponents who can withdraw, press forward, or grab 27 32 33 34.

Du Huai Investigation

Shi Lei intercepts a fleeing medicine cart and restrains a suspect before the man can draw his blade. During the later nighttime attack, he leads guards outside while Chen holds the rear entrance, then stops the cart carrying the concealed Du Huai and a bound driver 23 28 30.

Afterward, Shi Lei reviews Chen’s defense of the gate without embellishing uncertain details, emphasizing the importance of terrain, restraint, and choosing the right moment to strike 31.

Red Sand and the Eastern-Slope Delivery

Shi Lei travels with the tribe’s caravan to Red Sand after testing Chen’s cart-guarding skills. For Zhu Qinghe’s additional delivery, he scouts the damaged road and leads the group while Chen guards the rear 34 35 37.

When the cart tilts and traps Meng Cheng, Shi Lei steadies its front during the rescue. He subsequently drives back an Armored Mane Beast with a pole, helps free and repair the cart, and reaches the eastern-slope medicine shed with the group 37 38.

Notable Quotes

“Wherever the saber needs to come back through, your feet have to make room first.” 25

“First, understand how to use what you already know. Holding the gate that night wasn't all down to a fast saber.” 31

“Armor doesn't run away on its own.” 34