Ye Chen

Biodata

Background / History

Childhood and Orphanhood

Ye Chen was born three years after his parents adopted Ye Yun. His parents regarded Ye Yun as having brought the family good fortune and continued treating him as their own child 1.

When Ye Chen was four, bandits killed his parents on the road. They left thirty taels of silver and ten mu of paddy fields. His paternal uncle, Ye Liqiang, took the brothers into his household under the pretense of caring for them, then appropriated their inheritance 4.

Life in Eldest Uncle Ye’s Household

Ye Chen was made to feed livestock, cook, clean, and work in the fields despite his age. The brothers were forbidden from eating at the family table and often survived on leftovers, wild fruit, and cold steamed buns. Chen Guihua also punished Ye Chen whenever Ye Yun returned late from work, using the younger child to control his brother 4 14.

During one incident, Ye Chen spilled a pot of hot water he had been ordered to move, burning his legs. Chen Guihua whipped him rather than helping him. Ye Yun shielded him from further blows, cooled his burns, and sought medical advice 4.

Ye Yao and Ye Bao later attacked him over the longevity lock his parents had given him. After they falsely accused him of hurting Ye Yao, Chen Guihua whipped him until he bled. Ye Yun surrendered the lock to protect him and promised to take him away when they were older and had enough money. Afterward, Ye Yun increasingly brought Ye Chen along while working rather than leaving him alone with the family 13.

Meeting Rong Zheng and Leaving the Household

Ye Chen accompanied Ye Yun when they helped Rong Zheng at his parents’ graves, offering him a water flask. They later encountered him while gathering medicinal herbs deep in the woods. Rong Zheng shared roast pheasant with them and subsequently discovered the bruises on both brothers 1 5 6.

When Chen Guihua tried to force Ye Yun to marry Gu Tie, Ye Chen shoved her away and bit her arm in his brother’s defense. Ye Yao dragged him off and kicked him until he could no longer get up, but he continued insisting that Ye Yun would not marry Gu Tie 15.

Rong Zheng intervened and threatened to bring the abuse before the authorities. Ye Chen joined Ye Yun in asking to leave the household. With the village chief and Third Granduncle Ye overseeing the division, the brothers recovered ten mu of land and fifteen taels. Rong Zheng then took them for medical treatment and arranged temporary accommodation at an inn 16 17.

A New Home

After Ye Yun married Rong Zheng, Ye Chen joined their household. Initially, he feared displeasing his brother-in-law and apologized for oversleeping, offering to rise early to tend the fire. Rong Zheng reassured him that he was family and offered martial arts training to improve his health, confidence, and ability to defend himself 19.

With regular meals, lessons, and time to play, Ye Chen became healthier and more outgoing. He befriended Wang Liang, joined other village children in their games, and moved into the family’s newly completed house 25 26 32.

Rong Zheng also planned to send him to school. When Ye Chen admitted that he preferred practicing martial arts at home and did not yet want to leave his village friends, Rong Zheng agreed to postpone enrollment for another year or two while continuing his education at home 20 28 42.

Appearance

• Features: Sword-like brows, obsidian-like eyes, and a youthful face 30.
• Early condition: Thin, small, and frail from inadequate food and excessive work; his arms bore bruises from abuse 4 5 6.
• Later condition: Improved nourishment and training gave him a sturdier build, a healthier complexion, and a straighter, more confident posture 26 30.
• Notable clothing: A white brocade outfit with a blue silk sash, purchased by Rong Zheng for him 30.

Personality

Years of abuse left Ye Chen timid, withdrawn, and unusually attentive to adults’ moods. He instinctively tried to please Rong Zheng because he feared making him angry. He also stopped running from Chen Guihua’s beatings after realizing that she would retaliate against Ye Yun afterward 13 19.

Despite his fear, Ye Chen is fiercely protective of his brother. He pushed Rong Zheng away when he initially mistook his inspection of Ye Yun’s bruises for improper treatment, and later physically resisted Chen Guihua’s attempt to force Ye Yun into marriage 6 15.

In a secure home, he becomes affectionate, cheerful, and eager for praise. His enthusiasm for martial arts is genuine: he wants to protect himself and those around him, practices consistently, and perseveres through difficult exercises. Rong Zheng considers both his understanding and determination signs of strong potential 21 26 33 42.

Abilities & Skills

Martial Arts Fundamentals

Rong Zheng teaches Ye Chen basic self-defense and physical conditioning before introducing swordplay 19 33.

• Quickly applies corrections to his stance and breathing during water-carrying exercises 26.
• Never misses his daily horse-stance sessions during the period Rong Zheng observes 26.
• Remains a beginner in swordplay; no completed assessment or permission to use the metal sword is shown 33 36.

Reading and Writing

• Studies basic characters at home under Rong Zheng’s guidance 20 26.
• Completes regular copybook exercises alongside his martial arts practice 39.
• Reports continuing to work on his writing during Rong Zheng’s absence 42.
• Has not yet entered formal schooling when the family discusses enrollment 42.

Practical Skills

• Herb gathering: Assists Ye Yun in collecting medicinal herbs and recognizes a patch of beggar-ticks in the woods 5.
• Household work: Learns cooking, cleaning, fire-tending, livestock feeding, and fieldwork while living with his uncle 4 11 14.
• Grass weaving: Makes Ye Yun a grasshopper from grass each year as a birthday present 14.
• Fishing: Catches fish with Wang Liang and the other children 29.

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Short sword: An eighth-birthday gift designed by Rong Zheng and commissioned from a blacksmith for five taels. Made of pure iron, it has a thin, blue-green gleaming blade and a golden star engraved on its hilt. Its light weight and size suit Ye Chen’s hand, but its use is conditional on passing Rong Zheng’s assessment 33.
• Practice branch: Used in place of a sword while learning and repeating basic movements 33 36.
• Child-sized buckets and carrying pole: Training equipment commissioned by Rong Zheng for strength, endurance, balance, and breathing exercises 26.
• Longevity lock — formerly owned: Given by his parents when he turned one. He once spoke to it believing they could hear him; Ye Yun later handed it to Ye Yao to prevent further violence 13.
• Handmade shoes: Ye Yun’s gift for his eighth birthday 33.

Relationships

• Ye Yun — Adoptive elder brother and principal protector after their parents’ deaths. Ye Chen trusts his judgment and repeatedly risks injury to defend him 1 6 13 15.
• Rong Zheng — Brother-in-law, martial arts teacher, and home tutor. Ye Chen’s initial wariness develops into admiration and close attachment 6 10 19 26.
• Parents — Killed by bandits when Ye Chen was four. His attachment to their longevity lock reflected his difficulty understanding and accepting their deaths 4 13.
• Ye Liqiang / Eldest Uncle Ye — Paternal uncle and former guardian who seized the brothers’ inheritance and permitted their abuse 4 16.
• Chen Guihua — Aunt by marriage and primary abuser; used violence against Ye Chen to punish and control both brothers 4 13.
• Ye Yao and Ye Bao — Cousins who took the brothers’ possessions and participated in their mistreatment 4 13 15.
• Wang Liang — Friend who invites him out to play; they later fish together with other children 25 29.
• Xiao Le — Wang Ze and Tao Miao’s son, who eagerly greets Ye Chen as “Brother Xiao Chen” after receiving sweets from him 47.

Foreshadowed Future

• The narrator states that Ye Chen’s birthday sword will accompany him through life-and-death experiences in the years ahead 33.
• The same passage foreshadows that the formerly timid child will one day perform victory rites on Mount Langjuxu 33.

Notable Quotes

“My brother won't marry him! My brother won't marry him!” 15

“Brother Rong, if you want me to go to school, I'll go and study hard.” 42