Hu Yun

Biodata

Feature	Information
Name	Hu Yun (胡云)
Alias(es)	Red Fox; Cloud Stepping Red Fox; Fox Immortal 1053 1064
Species/Race	Red fox demon; later recognized as a Fox Immortal 180 1064
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Niu Kui Mountain; Ju'an Pavilion; disciple of Xiezhi 421 857
Occupation/Role	Demon cultivator; Ji Yuan's companion and student; protector of the Sun family during the “Unbroken Past” events 460 1071
Status	Alive
First Appearance	Chapter 172

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Refined Horizontal Bone	180, 200	Refined his Horizontal Bone in only six years, a speed the Old Turtle calls “Heaven-Sent Talent.” His faint demonic energy drew only weak thunderclouds.
Early demon cultivation	180	Ji Yuan identifies him as newly embarked on cultivation: spiritually charming but ignorant of its hardships.
Human transformation	556	Takes the form of a young man in a red vest. Ji Yuan judges the transformation traces faint, but notes that Hu Yun still cannot fully conceal demonic energy or convincingly mimic human qi.
Four-tailed manifestation	866	During a fight at the Riverside Banquet, reveals four fox tails; the fourth manifests from his ink-colored shadow.
Fox Immortal	1064	Described as a great demon who has cultivated for nearly a thousand years and become a true Fox Immortal.
Enlightened sword intent	1091	She Ji's sacrifice brings a spiritual awakening. Hu Yun realizes his path as a Fox Immortal and unleashes a sword intent powerful enough to cleave the boundary between Yin and Yang.

Background / History

Hu Yun was a red fox of Niu Kui Mountain whose intelligence awakened before he met Ji Yuan. Ji Yuan named him “Hu Yun” in a dream, giving the fox formal recognition by name 172 200.

He refined his Horizontal Bone after only six years of cultivation, but initially lacked a clear understanding of the Dao. Ji Yuan taught him beside Lord Lu on Niu Kui Mountain, emphasizing that demon cultivation required mental cultivation as much as power 180 200. Hu Yun later regretted leaving Ji Yuan's side and missing further opportunities for guidance 200.

He became a frequent visitor to Ju'an Pavilion, where he observed Ji Yuan's talisman craft, cultivated diligently, and gradually learned paper-cutting techniques. His first successful creation was a rudimentary shadowy “Strongmen” talisman 284 460 462.

As Hu Yun's cultivation advanced, he travelled with Ji Yuan, befriended Yin Qing and the inhabitants of Ju'an Pavilion, and learned to adopt human forms. Xiezhi later accepted gold from Hu Yun in exchange for guidance, becoming his master in demon cultivation 556 856 857.

During the “Unbroken Past” events, Hu Yun took responsibility for the Sun family and became entangled in She Ji's pursuit of Sun Yiqiu. He entered the Underworld to rescue them, repeatedly evaded Great Sage Mihuang, and finally awakened his sword intent after She Ji sacrificed herself 1071 1082 1088 1091.

Appearance

Hu Yun's original form is a red fox with fur compared to fire. In human guise, he commonly appears as an exceptionally attractive, delicate young scholar or a red-clothed woman; his appearance is striking enough that ordinary people frequently mistake his gender 556 726 1053.

• Bright red fox fur and a large, storage-capable tail 460 856.
• Human transformation initially takes the form of a young man in a red vest 556.
• Later disguises include a red-robed scholar and a red-clothed woman 1053 1057.
• His human appearance carries an innate charm even when he does not use magic 1054.
• Can reveal multiple fox tails in combat; four are documented at the Riverside Banquet 866.

Personality

Hu Yun begins as timid, excitable, and easily intimidated by stronger beings. When the Old Turtle turns hostile, he immediately begs for mercy and tries to distance himself from any offense Ji Yuan may have caused 200. He remains wary of dogs, powerful demons, and Ji Yuan's more overwhelming divine abilities 460 556 724.

He is also curious, playful, and prone to admiration. He openly watches Ji Yuan perform rituals, asks to learn paper-cutting, and takes great pride in his own creations 284 460 462. Though he sometimes becomes frustrated by his perceived slow progress, he can devote days of concentrated effort to learning a skill 434 460.

Over time, Hu Yun becomes more compassionate and responsible. He worries about Yin Qing's future, assists vulnerable elders, protects Sun Yiqiu and She Ji, and ultimately risks his life in the Underworld rather than abandon them 434 1071 1088 1091.

Abilities & Skills

Illusion and Transformation

Hu Yun specializes in illusion techniques, using them for disguise, evasion, misdirection, and combat.

• Can transform into a human, though early forms retain detectable demonic energy and imperfect qi imitation 556.
• Crafted a fox mask that changes a wearer's appearance according to their intention and can deceive ordinary sight 427 428.
• Can conceal his own demonic aura and imitate the bearing of an orthodox immortal cultivator 1057.
• Uses illusions to divide into multiple apparent bodies and obscure the distinction between reality and deception 1076 1077.
• Escaped a Ghost God's pursuit by dispersing himself into clear qi, though the Ghost God could still identify the deception 1082.
• His illusions are effective enough to repeatedly mislead Mihuang during their pursuit through the Underworld, but maintaining them leaves him mentally exhausted 1089.

Talisman Craft and Shadow Strongmen

After studying Ji Yuan's paper figures, Hu Yun learns to craft and animate talismans.

• Uses scissors through demonic energy channeled into his claws 460.
• Completed thirty-six paper figures without wasting a single sheet despite the strain on his mind and spirit 460.
• Refined a basic gray-black Strongmen figure from two paper talismans and his own fox blood 462.
• His Strongmen lacks the form and power of Ji Yuan's Golden Armored Strongman, but can move swiftly as a phantom using Hu Yun's ghostly contemplations 462.
• Can summon a Golden Armored Divine General from his shadow; the technique manifests in battle as a heavily armored combatant 866 867.

Swordplay and Sword Intent

Hu Yun's swordplay combines illusion with genuine killing power and is strongly influenced by his long observation of Ji Yuan.

• Uses illusory sword strikes that can feel real to their target; She Ji is able to receive one only with difficulty 1054.
• Breaks a Ghost God's Eerie Luo Net by releasing a long-preserved breath of golden qi as sword qi 1082.
• Awakens a personal sword intent after realizing that life, death, joy, decay, and sacrifice are all part of the Dao 1091.
• Uses the technique “Sword, Out, Roam, Dragon” to pierce Mihuang's arms and shoulder, splitting the boundary between Yin and Yang in the process 1091.
• The enlightenment strike severely exhausts and wounds him 1091 1092.

Movement and Escape Arts

Hu Yun has developed exceptional mobility, especially when retreating from superior opponents.

• Can step on the wind, leap several zhang at a time, and glide through the air 727.
• Uses Wind Riding Escape to carry She Ji and Sun Yiqiu through the Underworld 1088.
• Alters his routes through illusion and spiritual instinct to keep Mihuang from accurately locating him 1089.
• Can render himself inconspicuous among mortals before departing on the wind 1074.

Divination and Spiritual Perception

• Uses incense to form hexagrams and detect imminent danger 1074.
• Tracks She Ji's and Sun Yiqiu's auras through the Underworld, though dense black fog eventually disrupts his senses 1082.
• Can identify She Ji's true form as a Five-Colored Spirit Lynx despite her exceptional aura concealment 1054.
• Uses Deity Restraint to summon the Mountain God of Banana Leaf Mountain 1064.

Demonic Fire and Charm

• Uses fox-tail fire control to counter Thunder Division lightning 1057.
• Possesses natural charm that affects ordinary people even without deliberate magic 1054.
• Can restrain his charm more effectively with age and cultivation 1054.

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Darkwood Plaque — Given to Hu Yun by Ji Yuan; the Old Turtle recognizes it as a significant gift 200.
• Fox Mask — A fiery red mask Hu Yun refined himself. It transforms its wearer according to their heart's desire and was gifted to Yin Qing 427 428.
• Strongmen Talismans — Paper figures cut, infused with fox blood, and animated through Hu Yun's own contemplations 460 462.
• Protective Talisman — Given by Ji Yuan to guard Hu Yun against the Nine-tailed Fox Tu Xin 724.
• Gold Nuggets — Hu Yun keeps gold in his tail, using it both as gifts and to secure Xiezhi's cultivation guidance 459 856.

Relationships

• Ji Yuan — Benefactor, teacher, and the person Hu Yun trusts above all others. Ji Yuan named him, taught him cultivation and talisman craft, protected him from Tu Xin, and ultimately intervened when Hu Yun reached his limit against Mihuang 172 460 724 1092.
• Xiezhi — Hu Yun's formal master in demon cultivation. Hu Yun persuades Xiezhi to teach him with gold and quickly changes his address from “Mister Xie” to “Master” 856 857.
• Lord Lu / Lu Wu — Fellow demon and senior companion. Lord Lu's diligence influences Hu Yun, while Hu Yun often acts as messenger between him and Ji Yuan 251 352 1071.
• Yin Qing — Hu Yun's close human friend. Hu Yun worries about Yin Qing's marriage and future family, gives him the fox mask, and hopes to remain part of his life 428 434.
• Mother Jujube — A nurturing elder figure who treats Hu Yun like a child and welcomes him to visit Ju'an Pavilion 724.
• Old Turtle — An early acquaintance whose jealousy over Hu Yun's opportunity becomes a lesson about cultivation and missed chances 200.
• She Ji — A fellow demon whose devotion to Sun Yiqiu profoundly affects Hu Yun. He tries to protect her, then reaches enlightenment after her sacrifice 1054 1088 1091.
• Sun Yiqiu — A mortal Hu Yun protects during the Sun family's calamity and the Underworld crisis 1071 1088.
• Great Sage Mihuang — A powerful enemy who targets Hu Yun and pursues him through the Underworld 1088 1091.

Story Role / Major Arcs

Early Cultivation

Hu Yun receives his name, refines his Horizontal Bone, and begins learning the difficulties of demon cultivation under Ji Yuan's influence. He initially misses further guidance by leaving, then recognizes the rarity of Ji Yuan's teachings 172 180 200.

Ju'an Pavilion Training

Hu Yun becomes a regular presence at Ju'an Pavilion, observing Ji Yuan's rituals and learning paper-cutting. He creates his first Strongmen talisman and begins treating cultivation as a discipline rather than a pastime 284 460 462.

Human World Travels

He accompanies Ji Yuan to Jingji Prefecture, grows closer to Yin Qing, creates the fox mask, and later achieves human transformation. Ji Yuan's vision of a nine-tailed fox gives Hu Yun an important opportunity to consolidate his path 421 428 556 557.

Xiezhi's Disciple

Hu Yun secures Xiezhi as a master by offering gold, then develops combat techniques including a shadow-born Golden Armored Divine General. His victories at the Riverside Banquet give him greater confidence 856 857 866 867.

The Unbroken Past

While overseeing the Sun family's affairs, Hu Yun investigates She Ji, helps vulnerable mortals, and becomes increasingly involved in the consequences of Mihuang's schemes. He fails to protect the Sun family's fortune, responds with anger and resolve, and pursues the truth to Banana Leaf Mountain 1071 1075 1076.

Underworld Crisis

Hu Yun enters the Underworld to rescue She Ji and Sun Yiqiu. Though outmatched by Mihuang, he relies on illusions, Wind Riding Escape, spiritual perception, and Ji Yuan's lingering energy signature to keep them alive 1082 1088 1089.

After She Ji sacrifices herself, Hu Yun abandons his fear of death and awakens his own sword intent. His strike gravely wounds Mihuang and tears open the boundary between Yin and Yang, but leaves Hu Yun near collapse until Ji Yuan arrives 1091 1092.

Notable Quotes

“An ordinary life is like this snowflake, falling from the sky to touch the earth, and then melting away quickly. Brief, fragile, and very beautiful.” 1053

“The vitality of all things is the Dao, the decay of all things is the Dao, the joy of life is the Dao, and a worthy death is also the Dao!” 1091

“Mister, you're finally here!” 1092