Ye Xuan

Biodata

Background / History

Great Black Mountain

Ye Xuan was raised and taught by the qi refiners of Great Black Mountain. These elders belonged to the remnants of a former bandit community: they no longer opposed the state, but also refused incorporation into its ranks. They considered Ye Xuan talented enough to be a genius and sent him down the mountain to establish himself 29 31.

Through their connections with the Four Seas Group’s four founders, the elders arranged for him to seek support in Yunhai. They also encouraged him to develop a relationship with Xie Shunan, preferably leading to marriage. Ye Xuan believed his mountain background prevented him from joining Bureau 749, despite his confidence that its recruiters would otherwise compete to accept him 29.

Ancient Tomb Dispute

After arriving in Yunhai, Ye Xuan investigated a ground collapse and killed the White-Haired Hou that had escaped from the site. He then defeated Bureau 749 investigators Ming Jun and Bei Heguang together, securing the ancient tomb’s development rights. He allowed the two investigators continued access as a gesture of goodwill toward the bureau 29.

Ye Xuan transferred the development rights to Xie Shunan and became a security captain. While searching the tomb for treasures, he discovered a sealed burial chamber but could not open it despite repeated attempts. He eventually involved Xie Shunan, and they arranged for explosives and a construction crew to force entry 29.

Confrontation and Death

On the day of the planned demolition, Ye Xuan learned that an armed officer had entered the site. He blocked Lu Ding and Yan Feifan on the road, insisting that neither State Security nor Bureau 749 could enter property he had won from the previous patrol officers 29 30.

When Lu Ding challenged his claim, Ye Xuan adopted the Tiger and Crane Dual Forms stance. He intended to seize Lu Ding’s hand and shatter his finger bones, but Lu Ding overpowered him instead. Lu Ding dislocated his right arm, pulverized the bones of all five fingers, and struck him across the chest with an elbow 30.

Ye Xuan protested that they had only been sparring, then demanded Lu Ding’s name and promised to repay him later. Lu Ding treated this as a threat and moved to kill him. Xie Shunan called for mercy, while Elder Huang raised earthen walls and placed himself between them. Lu Ding knocked Huang aside and beheaded Ye Xuan, who died less than a month after leaving Great Black Mountain 30 31.

Aftermath

Huang attempted to avenge Ye Xuan, declaring that he had failed the mountain elders who entrusted their sole disciple to him. Lu Ding subsequently killed Huang as well 31 32.

The incident prompted Xie Shunan to reject further introductions to people from Great Black Mountain. Her father agreed that their family would withdraw from its affairs and arrange an apology to Lu Ding. Bureau 749 later investigated both deaths; Lu Ding left the inquiry without punishment 32 34.

By the time Great Black Mountain representatives arrived at the Four Seas Group’s office, Xie Shunan had obtained a Baleful Qi-Nurturing Gourd as an apology gift for Lu Ding. Their young leader seized it from her 50.

Personality

Ye Xuan was proud of his talent and quick to interpret disputes as contests of strength. He regarded his victory over the previous patrol officers as sufficient authority to exclude their replacements, and he challenged Lu Ding while warning him to pass off any injuries as an accident. After losing, however, he accused Lu Ding of being excessively vicious 30.

His interest in Xie Shunan also fueled his resentment of Lu Ding. He disliked the attention she gave the investigator, believed he could match Lu Ding’s achievements, and attributed the difference in their treatment to official status and earlier fame 29 30.

Xie Shunan found his bandit-like behavior uncomfortable and considered his outlook outdated. Ye Xuan’s unfamiliarity with modern arrangements also showed when he failed to understand why a guard had identified Bureau 749 personnel as State Security 30 31.

Abilities & Skills

Tiger and Crane Dual Forms

Ye Xuan practiced a martial art combining the tiger form’s power with the crane form’s agility 30.

• Tiger claw: Could leave marks in refined steel; Ye Xuan intended to use its grip to crush Lu Ding’s finger bones 30.
• Crane form: Supplied the style’s nimble component, represented by a crane-beak hand held behind his forward tiger claw 30.
• Limitations: Lu Ding judged his execution inferior to the master recorded in Bureau 749’s archives and overwhelmed him in their first exchange 30.

Combat Record

• Killed the White-Haired Hou that had escaped the ancient tomb 29.
• Defeated Ming Jun and Bei Heguang despite fighting both at once 29.
• Failed to force open the sealed burial chamber, necessitating the planned use of explosives 29.

Relationships

• Great Black Mountain elders — Teachers and patrons who sent him to Yunhai, arranged support through the Four Seas Group, and hoped to match him with Xie Shunan 29.
• Xie Shunan — Romantic interest and business associate. Ye Xuan admired her looks, competence, wealth, and intelligence; she did not reciprocate his interest and dealt with him because of her family’s instructions 29 31.
• Huang Zuo / Elder Huang — Protector connected to his mountain teachers. Huang tried to save him and then fought Lu Ding to avenge his death 31 34.
• Lu Ding — Rival in Ye Xuan’s eyes and ultimately his killer. Their conflict escalated from a dispute over access to the tomb into a lethal confrontation 29 30 31.
• Ming Jun and Bei Heguang — Defeated opponents who surrendered control of the tomb site to him but retained permission to enter 29.