Chen Hu

Biodata

Power Progression

Appearance

• Build: Burly, with a fierce-looking face 2 7.
• Facial hair: A full, bushy beard, which Lu Feng teasingly contrasts with Chen Lan's petite, gentle appearance 7.
• After Chen Lan's death: Appears haggard and bloodshot-eyed, with his earlier cheerfulness replaced by a cold expression 16.

Personality

Chen Hu is hot-tempered, outspoken, and intensely protective of his younger sister. When Chen Lan disappears, he threatens to fight Lu Feng to the death; even after her rescue, he distrusts Lu Feng because the kidnapping originated with him. His protectiveness leads him to confront Lu Feng again when Chen Lan voluntarily visits his home 2 3 6.

He is also capable of changing his judgment. After fighting alongside Lu Feng, he defends his achievements, helps care for him, and entrusts Chen Lan with nursing him through his recovery. He openly condemns Lin Yuan for colluding with demons and harming the people 13 14 15.

Chen Lan's murder turns his grief into a determination to kill Lin Shan himself. This urgency makes him impatient with cultivation setbacks and willing to accept a life-and-death duel. Despite his gratitude toward Lu Feng, he initially conceals the duel and resists accepting another expensive pill 16 20 21 50.

History

Chen Lan's Abduction and Rescue

Chen Hu first confronts Lu Feng after learning that his missing sister was last seen with him. The original owner of Lu Feng's body had arranged for Chen Lan to be delivered to the North Mountain wolf demons as tribute. Lu Feng promises to retrieve her and races ahead of Chen Hu's party, killing the two juvenile wolves carrying her 2.

Chen Hu arrives after the fight and rushes to his unconscious sister. Although Lu Feng helps revive her, Chen Hu refuses to thank him for resolving a kidnapping he had caused. When Chen Lan later visits Lu Feng to cook for him, Chen Hu assumes she has been deceived and demands her release 3 6.

The following morning, he gives Lu Feng the Iron Cloth Shirt manual as repayment for saving Chen Lan, while insisting that Lu Feng stay away from her 7.

Fighting the North Mountain Wolf Demons

Chen Hu and five men accompany Lu Feng to North Mountain after the wolf demons kill Qian San and abduct local families' children. Inside the den, the sight of demons feeding on human flesh enrages him, and he draws his saber to charge them 7 8.

During the battle, Chen Hu holds off five unranked wolf demons alone, though he begins to struggle. After Lu Feng finishes the remaining enemies, An Shi orders Chen Hu to search the den for survivors and recover the victims 8 9.

At the mountain pass, Chen Hu trusts Lin Shan's offer to transport the rescued villagers and demon corpses back to the city, leaving to assist Lu Feng elsewhere. Lin Shan subsequently claims credit for the wolf demons' deaths. Chen Hu testifies that Lu Feng killed them and protests when Zhao An demands that the badly injured Lu Feng fight Lin Shan to prove himself 10 13.

After Lu Feng wins, Chen Hu helps him home and arranges for Chen Lan to nurse him. He later warns Lu Feng that Lin Yuan's proposed celebratory banquet may be a trap 14.

Chen Lan's Death and the Revenge Vow

At Lin Yuan's residence, Chen Hu witnesses the deputy magistrate reveal twelve first-tier demonic beasts intended to kill Lu Feng. He denounces Lin Yuan's collusion, and Lu Feng takes his saber to fight the demons 15.

After the demons are defeated, Lin Yuan brings out Chen Lan as a hostage and fatally stabs her. Lu Feng kills Lin Yuan, but cannot save her. Chen Hu buries his sister that night and withdraws from others 16.

When Lu Feng visits him, Chen Hu reveals that Lin Shan is actually Lin Yuan's son, rather than his nephew. He resolves to join the Demon-Slaying Bureau and kill Lin Shan personally. Lu Feng gives him a Jin Origin Pill and stands guard while he begins his breakthrough 16.

Joining the Demon-Slaying Bureau

After reaching Late Ming Jin, Chen Hu accompanies Lu Feng to Jinguan City. Unable to maintain Lu Feng's traveling pace, he is carried the rest of the way using Lu Feng's lightness skill. At the Bureau, Zhao An denies having promised Lu Feng admission, but Lu Feng's Demon-Catching Token secures access to Commandant Su's residence 17.

Qin Shuang approves Chen Hu's admission at Lu Feng's request, and Xiaolian assigns him to Inspector Li Mu. He receives a Demon-Slaying Guard's token, uniform, and equipment, along with the standard hundred Merit Points for newcomers 18 19.

Chen Hu spends all his starting points on two Body-Tempering Pills, hoping to advance before taking revenge. When the attempt fails, he vents his frustration by defeating a hostile guard with one punch. Li Mu witnesses the result, praises him, and takes him to meet his fellow guards 20 21.

Injury and the Planned Duel

Chen Hu later undertakes missions with Li Mu. He returns from one with injuries to his limbs and face; Lu Feng treats him with a healing pill and channels Nei Jin through his body, allowing him to recover quickly 26 49 50.

Lu Feng then overhears a colleague demanding repayment of two hundred Merit Points before Chen Hu's scheduled life-and-death duel with Lin Shan. Chen Hu claims confidence because his Late Ming Jin cultivation exceeds Lin Shan's Early Ming Jin, but Lu Feng warns that Lin Shan may have a hidden advantage 50.

To improve his chances, Lu Feng buys him a new saber and a Jin Burst Pill, then supplies another Jin Origin Pill. Chen Hu accepts the help and prepares for the following day's duel; its outcome is not shown in the provided chapters 50.

Abilities & Skills

Saber Combat

• Fights five unranked wolf demons simultaneously with steady movements, though their combined attacks strain him 8.
• Uses a long saber; no named saber technique is established for him in the supplied chapters 8 50.

Unarmed Combat

• Defeats a burly Demon-Slaying Guard in a single exchange of punches without being moved from his position 21.
• His Late Ming Jin strength intimidates the surrounding hostile guards, whose strongest member is only at Middle Ming Jin 21.

Mobility Limits

• Cannot sustain Lu Feng's overland traveling pace, becoming exhausted after two hours on the road to Jinguan City 17.

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Original long saber — Used during his constable service; borrowed by Lu Feng to fight Lin Yuan's allied demons 8 15.
• Replacement saber — Chosen before the duel with Lin Shan and purchased by Lu Feng for 1,000 Merit Points 50.
• Demon-Slaying Guard token and uniform — Issued after his admission to the Bureau 19.
• Iron Cloth Shirt manual — Received from Records Officer An and later given to Lu Feng. Chen Hu's own mastery of the art is not established 7.
• Body-Tempering Pills — Bought two for his entire starting allowance of 100 Merit Points; taking both did not produce another breakthrough 20 21.
• Jin Origin Pills — The first enabled his advancement to Late Ming Jin. Lu Feng later supplied a second, worth 1,000 Merit Points, before the duel; its consumption and result are not shown 17 50.
• Jin Burst Pill — Acquired before the duel for 50 Merit Points. Temporarily raises cultivation by one minor realm, but causes a one-minor-realm decline after its effect ends 50.

Relationships

• Chen Lan — Beloved younger sister. Her murder prompts his departure from Lin'an County and his pursuit of revenge 2 16.
• Lu Feng — Fellow constable turned trusted companion and benefactor. Chen Hu pledges his life to him after avenging Chen Lan; Lu Feng later proposes having Chen Hu transferred to his command once he becomes a Demon-Slaying Envoy 17 50.
• An Shi — His superior at the county yamen, who rewards him with Iron Cloth Shirt and directs his search of the wolf den 7 9.
• Li Mu — His assigned Bureau inspector and mission leader. Initially praises Chen Hu's strength; Chen Hu later expresses eagerness to leave his current assignment when Lu Feng proposes a transfer 18 21 26 50.
• Lin Yuan — Former county superior and Chen Lan's murderer 15 16.
• Lin Shan — Target of Chen Hu's revenge because he is Lin Yuan's son; his opponent in the scheduled life-and-death duel 16 50.