Senior Brother Li

Biodata

Power Progression

Appearance

• Cold expression: Introduced as a cold-faced youth whose imposing manner matched his reputation among the disciples 17.
• Long saber: Carries a gleaming long saber, worn on his back when he visits Divine Hand Valley 17 24.
• Clothing: Wears inner-disciple clothing during his collapse beside the stream; changes into a white brocade robe for his subsequent meeting with Han Li 20 24.

Personality

Li Feiyu maintains a cool, restrained public persona. His reputation crosses the divide between wealthy and poor disciples: both groups cheer for him when he enters the arena. With Han Li, however, he becomes talkative, teasing, and playful, even laughing uncontrollably over his friend’s reaction to the enormous bundle of Blinking Swordsmanship manuals 17 34 35.

He is fiercely protective of his secret dependence on the Marrow Extraction Pill. After Han Li saves him, he threatens to kill him to prevent its disclosure. His resolve softens when reminded of the rescue, and he withdraws his saber after securing an oath of secrecy. He then sincerely acknowledges his debt and promises whatever help lies within his power 21.

Li Feiyu also recognizes ability in others. Although he can defeat Han Li through superior True Qi, he openly admits that Han Li’s technical skill is exceptional. He repeatedly urges him to abandon his apparently ineffective cultivation mnemonic and pursue martial arts, but stops pressing when he realizes that Han Li may have private difficulties of his own 33.

Abilities & Skills

Saber Techniques

• Wind and Thunder Saber Technique: An ordinary, mid-level Seven Mysteries Sect martial art that he uses to achieve outstanding competition results 18.
• Rushing Thunder Saber Technique: Named by Little Abacus as his signature technique and praised as fierce enough to shatter stone and sever metal 17.
• Rapid combinations: Opens his match against Zhao Ziling with more than ten saber shadows, forcing the soft-sword practitioner onto the defensive 18.
• Overwhelming force: Disarms Zhao Ziling through a succession of strikes, injuring his sword hand with the force transmitted through their weapons 19.

Internal Cultivation

• Follows a vigorous, masculine cultivation method and selects similarly forceful secret arts 33.
• Can defeat Han Li within a few moves by using True Qi to overpower finesse; he concedes that without it, he might fail to subdue Han Li within a hundred moves 33.
• Possesses enough developed True Qi to be ineligible for Blinking Swordsmanship, whose requirements exclude practitioners who have made progress in internal cultivation 37.

Lightness Skill and Combat Shout

• Lightness skill: Leaves the training ground with an agile movement that earns further praise from the spectators 19.
• Thunderous shout: Begins his duel with a shout that leaves the audience’s ears ringing and momentarily unsettles Zhao Ziling 18.

Martial Instruction

• Teaches Han Li martial arts through their private exchange of instruction for medicine, including Mad Python Force and Silk Entangling Hands 33 35.
• Recognizes Han Li’s need for a technique usable without True Qi and directs him toward Blinking Swordsmanship 33.
• His access to Seven Ultimates Hall’s techniques is restricted; he cannot freely select or teach every art housed there 33.

Marrow Extraction Pill Enhancement

The Marrow Extraction Pill increases present ability by exhausting the body’s future potential and lifespan 20.

• Dependence: Once taken, it must be consumed at regular intervals. Missing doses risks paralysis or death 20.
• Pain: Causes extreme agony, convulsions, and loss of bodily control; even another dose brings a prolonged painful reaction before recovery 20 21.
• Lifespan limit: According to Han Li, continued use still causes death within ten years of the first dose 20.
• Pain relief: Han Li supplies medicine intended to reduce the suffering, not reverse the pill’s life-shortening effects 21 24.
• Unrevealed motive: Li Feiyu’s precise reason for taking the pill is not disclosed, and Han Li deliberately refrains from questioning him 22.

History

Reputation and Duel with Zhao Ziling

After repeated successes in sect competitions, Li Feiyu was selected for major operations outside the mountain. His service earned him the name “Li Hu” in the martial world, while rumors circulated that the sect would make an exception to admit him to Seven Ultimates Hall 18.

Han Li first sees him representing Wang Dapang’s side in the final match of a contest between younger disciples. Zhang Changgui’s group hesitates before sending out Zhao Ziling, the Fifth Elder’s disciple. Li Feiyu overwhelms Zhao’s Brushing Willow Swordsmanship and knocks his flexible sword from his hand. Shortly afterward, his expression changes, and he abruptly leaves through the pine forest, citing urgent business 17 18 19.

Rescue and Secret Agreement

Following groans upstream, Han Li discovers Li Feiyu convulsing beside a stream and revives him with silver needles. On finding his medicine, Han Li identifies the Marrow Extraction Pill and explains its consequences. Li Feiyu nevertheless chooses to take another dose 20 21.

Once recovered, Li Feiyu holds his saber against Han Li’s neck and demands a reason to spare him. Han Li secures his safety by swearing secrecy. Li Feiyu then gives his full name, promises to repay the rescue, and accepts Han Li’s offer to prepare pain-relieving medicine 21.

At their next meeting outside Divine Hand Valley, Han Li delivers a year’s supply of medicinal powder. Li Feiyu, whose previous painkillers had offered little relief, gratefully accepts it and hurries away to test its effects 24.

Private Martial-Arts Exchange

Their arrangement develops into a continuing exchange of medicine for martial instruction. When Han Li requests an art that does not require True Qi, Li Feiyu introduces Blinking Swordsmanship. Although he initially repeats the belief that nobody—including its creator—had mastered it, he agrees to obtain the neglected manuals for Han Li 33 34.

Li Feiyu secretly brings out the originals rather than copying them. Their unexpectedly large number becomes the occasion for a joke at Han Li’s expense. He briefly takes an interest in the technique himself, but abandons the idea upon learning that his existing True Qi disqualifies him 35 36 37.

Capture of the Wild Wolf Gang Spies

Han Li passes Li Feiyu an opportunity to earn merit by catching spies, leaving Li Feiyu delighted and deeply grateful 41.

Li Feiyu subsequently leads more than a dozen disciples in capturing two Wild Wolf Gang infiltrators alive. The spies had intended to steal the list of disciples being sent down the mountain for training. Sect Leader Wang publicly rewards him with the position of protector, further increasing his renown 43.

Equipment & Items

• Long saber — His principal weapon, used in his duel with Zhao Ziling and his threat against Han Li 19 21.
• White jade medicine bottle — A valuable, tightly sealed container holding his pink, foul-smelling Marrow Extraction Pills 20.
• Han Li’s medicinal powder — Supplied in a palm-sized packet containing enough for one year. Han Li instructs him to drink a spoonful mixed with cooled boiled water before each Marrow Extraction Pill 24.

Relationships

• Han Li — Rescuer, secret keeper, medicine supplier, and close friend. Li Feiyu repays his help through martial instruction and by obtaining the Blinking Swordsmanship manuals 21 24 33 34 35.
• Unnamed protector — His martial master after basic training; teaches him ordinary techniques rather than the sect’s elite arts 18.
• Wang Dapang — Li Feiyu represents his side in the younger disciples’ contest 17.
• Zhao Ziling — Sparring opponent whom he decisively disarms; Zhao openly acknowledges defeat 18 19.
• Jin Dongbao / Little Abacus — An enthusiastic admirer who recounts Li Feiyu’s achievements to Han Li and confidently predicts his victory 17 18 19.
• Sect Leader Wang — Publicly appoints him protector in recognition of the spies’ capture 43.

Story Significance

• Turning point in Han Li’s outlook: The narration explicitly links Li Feiyu’s threat after being rescued to Han Li’s growing reluctance to help others without sufficient benefit and certainty of safety 21.
• Source of martial training: His instruction and access to Seven Ultimates Hall give Han Li practical alternatives to the seemingly ineffective combat applications of the Eternal Spring Art 33 34 35.