Fang Tao

Biodata

Background / History

Recruiting Chen Ye

Fang Tao first approached Chen Ye at a noodle stall after learning that he had stolen a pouch on another group’s territory. Rather than punish him or reclaim the money, Fang Tao recognized his quick hands and offered him membership in the Rong Character Gate, promising food, shelter, and instruction 4.

He explained that the Rong Character Gate was the Thieves’ Sect and that his own specialty, Brushing Walls, meant picking pockets and stealing purses in the streets. Before accepting Chen Ye, he outlined the gate’s three iron laws 4 5:

• Do not steal money needed to save a life.
• Do not steal a chaste woman’s hairpin.
• Do not steal gift money for weddings or funerals.

Fang Tao warned that violations could cost an offender a finger or, at worst, result in crippled limbs and expulsion. Once Chen Ye agreed to join, he introduced him to the courtyard residents as a new brother, assigned him a room and bedding, and promised to begin teaching him the next day 4.

The Eight Great Schools’ Gathering

After the New Year, Fang Tao brought Chen Ye to the Eight Great Schools’ annual spring gathering to broaden his understanding of the jianghu. He explained that the demonstrations determined each faction’s territory and share of earnings for the coming year 7.

His longtime rival, Yang Ze, challenged his group to retrieve a coin from boiling oil, demanding Fang Tao’s East Market territory if they failed. Fang Tao could perform the feat himself, but taking the stage personally would suggest that none of his subordinates were capable. With his veterans unwilling to risk their hands, Chen Ye volunteered 7.

Fang Tao initially warned Chen Ye against attempting such a dangerous technique after only six months in the trade. When Chen Ye succeeded without injury, Fang Tao was the first to stand and applaud. He then confronted Yang Ze over a proposed second contest, suspecting an attempt to recover lost face at Chen Ye’s expense 8.

Chen Ye also won the knife contest, preserving Fang Tao’s position within Brushing Walls. He received an exceptional seat beside Fang Tao at the subsequent banquet, and Fang Tao continued praising him after they returned home 9 10.

Admiration for Treading the Moon

After the attack on the Lin Family’s Granary Full of Fortune, Fang Tao hosted a celebratory meal for his group. He praised the unknown attacker as a chivalrous thief who had eliminated a public menace and distributed hoarded grain, unaware that the man he admired was Chen Ye 18.

The gate’s elder instructed Fang Tao to listen for news of the mysterious expert and treat him courteously if contact became possible. Fang Tao enjoyed the attention the incident brought his sect and urged Chen Ye to work hard enough to become a similarly outstanding figure 18.

When authorities ordered the Eight Great Schools to search for Treading the Moon, Fang Tao and his men merely strolled through the streets before settling into teahouses. After the attack on Duke Anguo’s residence intensified the crackdown, however, he ordered everyone to remain in the courtyard to avoid arrest 20 28.

Wu Xiaorui’s Capture and Chen Ye’s Departure

Fang Tao teased Chen Ye when Wu Xiaorui visited the courtyard and quietly supplied copper coins for their outing, telling him not to be stingy when treating a young woman 23.

Later, he informed Chen Ye that the Arrest Bureau had seized Wu Xiaorui and the other girls of the Cai Character Gate. Believing the two shared a close attachment, he prepared to comfort Chen Ye but was unsettled by his outwardly calm response 34.

When Chen Ye subsequently announced plans to hide in the countryside, Fang Tao assumed he was grieving over Wu Xiaorui. He approved the departure and gave him ten-value copper coins for the journey, unaware of Chen Ye’s actions inside the palace 37.

Defense of the Capital

During the steppe army’s siege, Fang Tao joined other members of the Eight Great Schools in fighting alongside the capital’s defenders. Wearing padded armor, he kicked an enemy off a siege ladder and, between fighting, grinned at a Cai Character Gate girl tending the wounded nearby 43.

Appearance

Fang Tao is introduced as an ordinary-looking young man with unusually bright eyes 4.

• Clothing: A half-worn, short blue-cloth jacket at his introduction 4.
• Expression: An appraising gaze when assessing Chen Ye’s potential 4.
• Teeth: Described as slightly yellow when he first grins at Chen Ye 4.
• Wartime attire: Padded armor during the capital’s defense 43.

Personality

Fang Tao is welcoming toward promising newcomers and treats his group as an extended family. His support for Chen Ye includes shelter, instruction, public praise, and money for both a social outing and travel 4 10 23 37.

He takes the gate’s ethical boundaries seriously and admires theft used to punish exploitative elites rather than merely enrich the thief. His enthusiasm for the masked hero also carries strong sect pride: he delights in the prestige the exploits bring to the Rong Character Gate 4 18.

Despite his hearty, teasing manner, Fang Tao is cautious when his followers face danger. He tries to protect Chen Ye from Yang Ze’s challenges and restricts his group’s movements when the authorities’ search becomes hazardous 8 28.

Abilities & Skills

Street Thievery

Fang Tao leads practitioners of Brushing Walls, the Rong Character Gate specialty concerned with street pickpocketing and purse theft 4 5.

• Recognizes Chen Ye’s natural hand speed while identifying his technique as unpolished 4.
• Offers practical instruction and introduces Chen Ye to an established community of thieves 4.
• Works the streets alongside Chen Ye and the others during their continued practice 13.

Fishing Coins from Boiling Oil

Fang Tao is stated to be capable of retrieving coins from boiling oil, although he does not personally demonstrate it at the spring gathering 7.

• His reluctance to compete is a matter of leadership standing, not inability: a Shaojun stepping in for his men would effectively concede his group’s weakness 7.

Close-Quarters Combat

• Kicks an attacking soldier off a siege ladder during the defense of the capital 43.

Equipment

• Short saber — Seen cleaning it while discussing the spring gathering with Chen Ye 7.
• Padded armor — Worn while fighting on the capital’s walls 43.

Relationships

• Chen Ye — Recruit, subordinate, and protégé. Fang Tao provides him with a home and training, while Chen Ye protects his territory and reputation at the spring gathering. Fang Tao remains unaware of his identity as the celebrated masked thief 4 7 8 9 18.
• Yang Ze — Rival Shaojun within Brushing Walls. Their longstanding hostility culminates in Yang Ze’s attempt to take Fang Tao’s East Market territory 7 8.
• Wu Xiaorui / Little Bell — A Cai Character Gate member whom Fang Tao associates closely with Chen Ye. He encourages their outing and later brings news of her capture 23 34.
• Rong Character Gate elder (“Elder Uncle”) — A senior authority whom Fang Tao obeys during the contest dispute and who tasks him with gathering news about the masked expert 8 18.

Notable Quotes

“We're all family from now on, so look after him.” 4

“Take them. Live frugally at home, but travel well provisioned. Don't shortchange yourself.” 37

Trivia

• Fang Tao is the first person whose face Chen Ye copies after becoming a Thousand-Faced Thief Saint. The resulting likeness is described as indistinguishable from the original 33.