Zhao Pengju

Biodata

Background / History

Cangshan Training and Life in Sanhe Town

Zhao Pengju studied martial arts at the Cangshan Sword Sect but lacked the talent to be cultivated as a direct disciple. After leaving the mountain, he made his living in the martial world and worked with the Hua'an Escort Agency 4 12.

After returning from his training, he destroyed the notoriously wicked Heavenly Dragon Gang and befriended Sun Zhenjiang, leader of the better-regarded Dry Flood Dragon Gang. The Heavenly Dragon Gang's destruction left the Dry Flood Dragon Gang and River Crocodile Gang as Sanhe Town's two dominant dockside powers 4 6.

He returned from an escort journey in time for the Mid-Autumn Festival, bringing gifts for his mother, pregnant wife, and unborn child. His arrival fulfilled Zhang Qingyuan's prediction to Auntie Li, strengthening her belief in the young fortune-teller 3 4.

Guiding Zhang Junbao

When his son was born, Zhao Pengju intended to name him Zhao Jian and eventually send him to the Cangshan Sword Sect. He instead accepted Zhang Qingyuan's suggestion of Zhao Yun, courtesy name Zilong, because he thought it sounded more imposing 5.

Zhao initially regarded Zhang Qingyuan as a swindler and tolerated him only because Auntie Li enjoyed his company. When his mother pressed him to teach the two young Daoists martial arts, he confronted Zhang Qingyuan with a sword, suspecting an attempt to obtain his sect's techniques 5.

After seeing Zhang Junbao studying a meridian chart and hearing Zhang Qingyuan's account of their hardships, Zhao agreed to explain general cultivation principles. He corrected Junbao's mistaken circulation routes and continued teaching over dinner without revealing his sect's swordsmanship or internal cultivation method. His explanations gave Junbao the foundation to begin devising his own circulation methods 6.

River Crocodile Gang Conflict

The River Crocodile Gang hired six members of the Twelve Fiends of Xuetuo to eliminate Zhao and the Dry Flood Dragon Gang. Knowing that Zhao and Sun Zhenjiang were sworn brothers, the gang also seized Zhao's family as hostages 8.

Zhang Qingyuan and Zhang Junbao found Zhao suffering from an injured left arm and severe internal injuries while fighting one of the Fiends. Zhao repeatedly urged them to escape and offered to hold off the enemy himself. Instead, the two killed his opponent with overwhelming palm force, astonishing him with the results of their half-year of training 8 9.

Zhao then led them to the River Crocodile Gang's headquarters, where they rescued his mother, wife, and son unharmed. After fleeing town, he wanted to accompany the brothers back to rescue Sun Zhenjiang, but they persuaded him to remain with his defenseless family 9 10.

Departure and Later Inquiry

Following Sun Zhenjiang's rescue, Zhao decided to leave rather than risk retaliation from the Blood Lump Sect. He unsuccessfully urged Sun to abandon his property and do the same. Before they parted, Zhang Junbao gave Zhao the Purple Firmament Thunder Ultimate Sword Technique, which he treasured. Zhao headed north to seek refuge with his senior brother 13.

Investigators later found him on the road to Ji Province while tracing Zhang Qingyuan and Zhang Junbao's origins. Zhao explained that he had taught them meridian principles and that they had subsequently developed their own martial arts. Disbelieving him, the investigators challenged him, defeated him within ten moves, and beat him again when he tried to clarify his limited teaching role 20.

Personality

Zhao is filial and protective of his family. He initially overlooks Zhang Qingyuan's fortune-telling fraud because it makes his mother happy, but becomes furious when he believes that trust is being exploited to obtain sect secrets 5.

His chivalry is expressed through both action and personal loyalty: he destroys an abusive gang, teaches Junbao carefully despite expecting little from him, and offers to cover the brothers' escape while already badly injured. He also remains deeply concerned for Sun Zhenjiang after securing his own family's safety 6 8 10.

He respects the boundaries of his sect's teachings. Sympathy persuades him to offer general instruction, not to disclose protected techniques. Later, he speaks proudly of his small contribution to the brothers' rise, while insisting that their martial arts were their own creations 6 20.

Abilities & Skills

Swordsmanship

Zhao trained in the Cangshan Sword Sect's martial arts and carries a sword 5 6.

• Destroyed the Heavenly Dragon Gang after returning from the mountain 6.
• Was outmatched by one of the Twelve Fiends of Xuetuo; he judged each of the six hired Fiends to be at least his equal 8.
• Received the Purple Firmament Thunder Ultimate Sword Technique, but no subsequent mastery or cultivation breakthrough is documented 13.

Internal Cultivation Knowledge

Zhao understands the rules governing internal-force circulation and the connections between meridians 6.

• Identifies invalid routes on Zhang Junbao's meridian chart and explains how to complete a circulation circuit 6.
• Teaches underlying principles without transmitting a specific internal cultivation method 6.
• His instruction helps Junbao understand how to circulate the internal force he already possesses 6.

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Sword and scabbard — Carries a sword during his confrontation with Zhang Qingyuan and his battle against the Blood Lump Sect fighter; uses the scabbard to indicate errors on Junbao's meridian chart 5 6 8.
• Purple Firmament Thunder Ultimate Sword Technique manual — An original sword manual given to him by Zhang Junbao before their departure from Sanhe Town 13.

Relationships

• Auntie Li — His mother. Her friendship with Zhang Qingyuan brings Zhao into contact with the two young Daoists 3 5.
• Unnamed wife — Mother of his son; rescued alongside Auntie Li after the River Crocodile Gang takes the family hostage 5 9.
• Zhao Yun / Zhao Zilong — His son. Zhao hopes he will follow him into the Cangshan Sword Sect 5.
• Sun Zhenjiang — His sworn elder brother and leader of the Dry Flood Dragon Gang. Their alliance makes them joint targets of the River Crocodile Gang 8 9.
• Zhang Qingyuan — Initially distrusted as a swindler; later becomes Zhao's rescuer and helps free his family 5 8 9.
• Zhang Junbao — Receives Zhao's foundational cultivation guidance, then repays his kindness by helping save him and gifting him an original sword manual 6 8 13.
• Unnamed senior brother — The person Zhao intends to seek out for refuge after leaving Sanhe Town 13.