Xiao Qiujun

Biodata

Background / History

Xiao Qiujun is described as a former general who fought on the battlefield and rendered distinguished service to Hua Country before ill health forced him into retirement. During his military service, he formed a lifelong friendship with Li Xin through shared life-and-death experiences. Li Xin later became a Grandmaster whose association helped safeguard the Xiao Family’s standing 16 19 34 35.

An injury sustained while fighting in his youth troubled Xiao Qiujun for many years. Numerous renowned physicians in Hua Country failed to treat it, and it could cause violent coughing fits. Su Ye eventually provided the treatment that cured him 15 17 35.

His family includes three sons—Xiao Zhentong, Xiao Fengyang, and Xiao Zhiyan—and one daughter, Xiao Xiao. The Xiao Family is a distinguished provincial clan with influence extending into politics, business, and martial society 16 19.

Appearance

• An elderly man; Li Xin is described as looking a few years younger and more energetic than him 14 35.
• Wears a light red outfit at his birthday banquet, where his smiling expression makes him appear several years younger 36.

Personality

Xiao Qiujun is courteous toward strangers but firm with his family. When Xiao Xitong confronts Su Ye in the park, he stops her and apologizes on her behalf. After recognizing Su Ye’s apparent strength, he warns her against further disrespect and explains why modern weapons do not make a Grandmaster harmless 14 15.

He combines gratitude with practical judgment. He regards Su Ye as someone the Xiao Family must befriend rather than offend, and readily exchanges financial backing and protection for exclusive crop distribution rights. He also arranges for Xiao Xiao to work closely with Su Ye, hoping their association will develop into affection 15 17 19 37.

With Li Xin, he is playful and a conspicuously poor loser at Chinese chess: he takes back moves, makes excuses, and scatters the pieces when a meal offers an escape from defeat. His leisure interests include antiques, paintings, calligraphy, and tea 34 35.

Abilities & Skills

Martial Arts Practice and Knowledge

Xiao Qiujun practices boxing and explains the martial world to Su Ye. His own martial realm is not established in the supplied chapters 14 34.

• Identifies the five major realms as Houtian, Xiantian, Grandmaster, Great Grandmaster, and Legend, noting that no martial artist has reached Legend in nearly a century 14.
• Explains how martial arts developed from simplified Qi Refining methods after spiritual qi became depleted, using true qi and body-tempering instead 15.
• Recognizes Su Ye’s effortless interception of Ziliang’s attack and apparent external qi healing as signs of Grandmaster-level ability. He mistakes Su Ye’s spiritual qi for true qi 15.
• Can circulate qi through his meridians, an action Su Ye instructs him to perform after taking his medicine 17.

Family Influence and Connections

Xiao Qiujun uses the Xiao Family’s prestige and trusted relationships to support Su Ye’s agricultural business 17 19.

• Commits funding for a crop research laboratory in Lingnan County and places Xiao Xiao in charge of overseeing it 17 19.
• Turns away people investigating Su Ye, including state representatives 19.
• Introduces Su Ye to Grandmasters Tang Shan, Ye Hao, Chen Yuan, and Sun Feng during his birthday gathering 36.
• Cannot prevent the military from approaching Su Ye over his enhanced watermelons; instead, he warns Su Ye and supplies the representative’s contact details 43.

Relationships

• Su Ye — Physician, friend despite their age difference, and business partner. Xiao Qiujun provides backing and protection after Su Ye treats his hidden injury 15 17 36.
• Li Xin — Lifelong friend and former battlefield comrade; a Grandmaster allied with the Xiao Family. Their friendship includes frequent chess games and teasing arguments 19 34 35.
• Xiao Xiao — Youngest child and only daughter. He entrusts her with the laboratory and Su Ye’s business dealings while hoping to bring the two together romantically 16 19 37.
• Xiao Xitong — Granddaughter. He reins in her temper and cautions her against offending powerful martial artists 14 15.
• Xiao Zhentong — Eldest son, who works in politics 16.
• Xiao Fengyang — Second son, who works in business 16.
• Xiao Zhiyan — Third son, described as spending his time idling and relying on the family’s prestige 16.
• Ziliang — Xiantian-level guard who accompanies him to Lingnan and attempts to stop Su Ye’s emergency treatment before understanding his intentions 15 43.

Story Role / Major Arcs

Meeting Su Ye and Receiving Treatment

Xiao Qiujun meets Su Ye while practicing martial arts in a city park. After settling Xiao Xitong’s confrontation with him, he explains the martial ranking system. Their conversation ends abruptly when Xiao Qiujun suffers a severe coughing fit, prompting Su Ye to protect his heart meridian with spiritual qi 14 15.

Convinced that Su Ye is a young Grandmaster, Xiao Qiujun accepts his offer of treatment. At Xiao Xiao’s villa, Su Ye supplies three portions of medicine, each lasting three days, with instructions to take it daily and circulate qi afterward. By the birthday visit, Xiao Qiujun explicitly credits Su Ye with curing his ailment 16 17 35.

Agricultural Partnership

When Su Ye discovers that his vegetables have attracted intense interest from martial families, he asks Xiao Qiujun to fund a laboratory and shield him from interference. Xiao Qiujun agrees in exchange for the Xiao Family’s exclusive distribution rights 17.

The laboratory is subsequently established in Lingnan County, with Xiao Xiao serving as supervisor and Su Ye’s contact. Xiao Qiujun also blocks inquiries into Su Ye’s identity and operations 19.

Birthday Gathering

Su Ye visits Guanhai City for Xiao Qiujun’s birthday and presents him with roughly five or six jin of personally roasted tea. Xiao Qiujun welcomes him warmly and seats him at his right during dinner, making his importance to the family apparent 34 35.

During the celebration, Xiao Qiujun introduces Su Ye to several Grandmasters. When Tang Shan proposes a spar, he quietly coordinates with Li Xin to intervene if Su Ye is disadvantaged, concerned that the younger man may lack combat experience 36 37.

Military Interest

Xiao Qiujun later informs Su Ye that the military wants to discuss his watermelons, which improve the physical condition of ordinary people and Houtian martial artists. He apologizes for being unable to block the approach and regrets the prospect of losing the Xiao Family’s exclusive advantage 43.

Trivia

• He locks Su Ye’s gifted spirit tea in his bedroom safe, serving visiting Grandmasters only one cup each before claiming there is no more 37.
• When Li Xin suggests introducing his granddaughter to Su Ye instead of Xiao Xiao, Xiao Qiujun insists that young men prefer mature women and argues that his daughter is twenty-nine by actual age, not thirty 37.