Tang Shan

Biodata

Background

Tang Shan comes from a prominent family in Tiannan Commandery. An ancestor who helped establish the Tang Family’s standing had served in the Demon Suppression Bureau’s elite Shadow Guard, whose reputation Tang Shan learned about from his elders 7 31.

Two years before his request for Su Yu’s help, Zhou Tong, master of the Blood Demon Hall, slaughtered the Tang Family. Tang Shan survived at the cost of his relatives’ lives and fled to Nanhe County. Lin Xiao introduced him as a transfer from Tiannan Commandery and temporarily placed him under Su Yu’s command 7 13 42.

Appearance

• Bearing: Stands ramrod straight and initially displays greater composure than ordinary Demon Suppression Guards 7.
• Hands: Has thick calluses in the webs of his hands 7.
• Clothing: Wears a Demon Suppression Guard uniform and is later described wearing leather armor 13 23.
• Weapon: Initially carries a long saber on his back; later replaces his damaged weapon with a refined-iron goose-feather saber 7 40.

Personality

Tang Shan initially carries the ingrained pride of a prominent-clan scion. His formal courtesy does not conceal his sense of superiority toward martial artists in remote Nanhe County. Watching Su Yu repeatedly defeat opponents beyond their apparent capabilities dismantles that confidence, replacing it with fear, awe, and deference 7 9 12.

His obedience does not begin as uncomplicated loyalty. After Blackwater Village, he accepts Su Yu’s appropriation of the treasures he discovers because he is injured, outmatched, and aware that Su Yu saved his life. He nevertheless comes to regard following Su Yu’s ruthless leadership as a practical means of survival 13 20.

Despite frequently showing fear, Tang Shan acts under pressure. He assists Su Yu while wounded, confronts Liu Ang, rallies demoralized guards, and steps forward to support Su Yu against an expert he cannot match 10 12 21 27 30. His desire to avenge his family ultimately outweighs his pride: recognizing his own limitations, he places his hopes in Su Yu 41 42.

Abilities & Skills

Saber Combat

Tang Shan uses precise attacks aimed at vulnerable points rather than relying solely on force 7 10.

• Targets a Corpse Dog’s soft lower jaw and the third cervical vertebra of a Bone Demon 7 10.
• Fights Ying San outside the ancestral hall, though the assassin steadily forces him back 8.
• Cuts down a zombie attempting a sneak attack during the battle at the Liu estate 25.
• His early weapon cannot penetrate the Bone Demon’s protective keratin; the failed strike chips his blade and injures his hand 10.

Demonic and Martial Knowledge

His Tiannan Commandery background gives him familiarity with dangerous techniques, poisons, and demonic behavior 7 8 9.

• Recognizes that Corpse Dogs gathering victims in one place suggests control by a higher-tier demon 8.
• Identifies Gut-Severing Powder on Ying San’s weapons and warns Su Yu 9.
• Recognizes the Demon God Cult, an ultimate killing move, and a Mystic Realm expert’s remote voice transmission 10 11 12.
• Notices the poisoned crossbow bolts aimed at Su Yu outside Nanhe County 22.

Exceptional Fortune

Su Yu interprets Tang Shan’s repeated accidental discoveries as evidence of extraordinary luck and begins using him as a “treasure radar” 13.

• A fall into a rotten stump reveals mature Vermilion Fruit, though it also exposes him to a venomous snake 13.
• Dislodging a rock uncovers Blood Stabilizing Grass 13.
• Taking a wrong turn leads him to a concealed spiritual spring guarded by a venomous toad 13.
• These discoveries are accidental; Tang Shan is not shown consciously controlling his fortune 13.

Battlefield Resourcefulness

Tang Shan can recover his composure long enough to create openings or maintain discipline 12 27.

• Bites his tongue to overcome the Blood Baleful Intent Demon Corpse’s oppressive presence, then throws fierce-burning oil into its eyes. The resulting opening allows Su Yu to attack its blood core 12.
• Knocks down a retreating guard with the back of his saber and orders the others to stand firm 27.
• Efficiently harvests demonic materials, gathers supplies, and burns battlefield corpses after the escort battle 20 21.

Equipment & Items

• Refined-steel saber: An early weapon damaged when he attacks the Bone Demon 10.
• Short saber: Carried at his waist and used during investigations and the escort mission 13 16 17.
• Refined-iron goose-feather saber: His replacement weapon by the time of Lu Cang’s visit 40 42.
• Fierce-burning oil: Carries two jars at his waist and expends them against the Blood Baleful Intent Demon Corpse 12.
• Body Tempering Pills: Receives a bottle from Su Yu following the confiscation of the Liu Family’s assets 32.
• Two cultivation jade slips: Gives Su Yu a supreme-grade Spirit Realm saber technique and a high-grade Mystic Realm spirit-refining cultivation technique as payment for avenging his family. Neither technique is named in the provided chapters 42.

Relationships

• Su Yu — Squad leader, protector, and eventual hope for revenge. Tang Shan’s initial condescension becomes submission and then active support. Their relationship culminates in Su Yu accepting his request to kill Zhou Tong 7 13 30 42.
• Lin Xiao — Bureau superior who assigns him to Su Yu’s squad and directs their investigations and escort duties 7 15 16.
• Tang Family — His slaughtered relatives and the source of his former status. He credits his survival to their deaths 42.
• Zhou Tong — Master of the Blood Demon Hall and the Earth Realm cultivator responsible for the Tang Family massacre; Tang Shan’s principal revenge target 42.
• Yue Rao — Hostile prisoner whose charm arts briefly enthrall him. Su Yu breaks the effect by striking him in the chest 16.
• Liu Ying — Escort commander who deliberately abandons him and Su Yu during Liu Xiong’s ambush 17.

Story Role / Major Arcs

Blackwater Village

Tang Shan’s first assignment under Su Yu takes him into the Blackwater Village disturbance. He guards the ancestral hall entrance against Liu Family assassins, suffers serious injuries fighting a Bone Demon, and follows Su Yu underground despite being told to wait. His oil attack contributes directly to the defeat of the Blood Baleful Intent Demon Corpse 7 8 10 12.

On the return journey, his accidental treasure discoveries attract Su Yu’s attention. Su Yu makes the injured Tang Shan lead the way, then takes the spiritual herbs and spring water under the stated pretext of keeping them safe. Tang Shan yields rather than challenge him 13.

Corpse Theft and Escort Ambush

Tang Shan brings news of a murdered morgue guard and stolen half-yao corpses, then accompanies Su Yu into the western alleys to investigate. The inquiry leads to a Corpse-Eating Hound, a Ghost Shadow Sect elder, and the questioning of Yue Rao 14 15 16.

During Yue Rao’s escort, Liu Ying abandons Tang Shan and Su Yu beneath the cliffs while Liu Xiong attacks. Tang Shan survives, follows Su Yu in pursuit of the escaped prisoner, and handles battlefield cleanup after the fighting 17 20 21.

Fall of the Liu Family

At Nanhe County’s gate, Tang Shan steps in front of Su Yu and accuses Liu Ying of colluding with the Demon God Cult. Liu Ang sends him flying with a palm strike 21.

During the ensuing crisis, he alerts Su Yu to the monster attacking the Bureau, fights zombies at the Liu estate, and rallies guards whose morale is collapsing. Even after the red-haired monster’s defeat, he moves to support Su Yu when the unfamiliar masked expert approaches 23 25 27 30.

Entrusting His Revenge

When Shen Yang demands Su Yu’s Shadow Guard invitation token, Tang Shan attempts to intervene and is kicked to one knee by Shen Yang’s tall companion. After witnessing Su Yu withstand Lu Cang’s pressure, he resolves to seek strength beyond his own for revenge 40 41.

Tang Shan subsequently offers his two valuable jade slips and names Zhou Tong as his target. Su Yu accepts while explicitly acknowledging that he cannot yet kill an Earth Realm cultivator. Tang Shan leaves after a solemn salute, placing his hopes in Su Yu’s future growth 42.

Notable Quotes

“Grip your sabers!”
“We are the Demon Suppression Guard!” 27

“If I rely on myself to take revenge, I'm afraid there'll be no hope in this lifetime. I can only borrow someone else's strength!” 41

“Two years ago, he slaughtered my entire Tang Family. This life of mine was built on the piled bodies of all my blood kin.” 42