Peng Shulan

Biodata

Power Progression

Background / History

First Encounter with the Fox Immortal

Peng Shulan rose through the county yamen to become head constable. Having destroyed numerous illicit shrines and evil gods, he initially regarded Yin Yunze with little respect. He first visited the Fox Immortal Temple with his disciple, Yu Liu, bringing one thousand taels of gold to obtain grain for the county 27 29.

When Yu Liu threatened to demolish the temple, Yin Yunze enclosed both men in green Fox Fire beneath the manifestation of a gigantic nine-tailed white fox. Peng Shulan pleaded for his disciple and emphasized that their mission concerned the livelihood of the entire county 28.

Yin Yunze ultimately granted ten thousand jin of grain without payment and ordered them not to return. Peng Shulan interpreted the gift—and the absence of any demand for public credit—as evidence of selfless compassion. His gratitude produced genuine Incense of Faith, making him a believer 29.

Recruitment by Yin Yunze

Peng Shulan later attended a banquet with Song Zhao and Song Ran at the Song Grain Shop. After getting him drunk, Yin Yunze used an Illusion Character Talisman to question him about Xu Hanxian and the magistrate’s opinion of the Fox Immortal 67 68 69.

The following morning, Peng Shulan escorted Yin Yunze to Shuntong Money House and used his authority to expedite an exchange of silver for gold. Yin Yunze subsequently offered him valuable glass beads and asked him to enter his service. Peng Shulan accepted two beads, pledged himself to his new patron, and received his first assignment: arrange a meeting with Xu Hanxian 70 71 72.

He secured the meeting by announcing that a merchant could provide two million jin of grain at five copper coins per jin. During the resulting negotiations, he tried to mediate while concealing the closeness of his allegiance to Yin Yunze. Afterward, he also brought Yin Yunze to Xu Hanxian’s residence under the introduction of a doctor who might treat Xu Yue 73 74 75 77.

Protecting the Relief Operation

After negotiations with Xu Hanxian failed, Yin Yunze assigned Peng Shulan to maintain order at the porridge shelter and prevent official interference. He was permitted to seek Zuo Xiaoyu’s assistance, promised alternative employment if he lost his post, and allotted fifty jin of Fox Rice daily for his own use 85.

Peng Shulan also received instructions to select ten girls, pay their families with Fox Rice, and arrange their training. He hired a carriage for Yin Yunze and received two beauty paintings as an advance reward. He later used those paintings to secure Zhang Yufei’s freedom from her exploitative master 86 112.

When Xu Hanxian ordered the porridge shelter demolished and its recipients arrested, Peng Shulan refused outright. He argued that depriving the starving people of their daily porridge would amount to killing them, then left to help protect the shelter 88.

He subsequently supported reconciliation between Xu Hanxian and Yin Yunze. At the temple ceremony, he vouched for the magistrate’s repentance and carried the scroll granting the Fox Immortal official recognition as the “World-Saving Immortal Fox” 114.

Becoming Lady Qingnü’s Blade

Yin Yunze deliberately stirred Peng Shulan’s desire for advancement by having the newly Innate Zhang Yufei defeat him, then allowing him to watch Sun Qin reach the same realm in one hour. Peng Shulan accepted an offer of empowerment in return for becoming Lady Qingnü’s blade, retaining one exception: he would not kill his family or friends 145 146.

He volunteered to kill Xu Hanxian, but Yin Yunze instead ordered him to protect the magistrate and his family. After his oath was bound through Forge Oaths, he studied the Frost Instruction and received the promised advancement to the Innate Realm 146 147.

His subsequent work included monitoring suspicious sales of fox-marked weapons and armor, escorting Xu Hanxian, and physically handling officials on Yin Yunze’s orders. He threw visiting magistrates into Qingnü Temple and later carried out the repeated mutilation of Magistrate Li’s hand while Yin Yunze healed it between attacks 147 148 156 158.

Personality

Peng Shulan is pragmatic, politically experienced, and responsive to both danger and material rewards. His official salary was only two taels of silver per month, supplemented by under-the-table income; the glass beads Yin Yunze offered represented years of earnings. He readily shifted allegiance once convinced that the Fox Immortal possessed both genuine power and the means to reward service 29 72.

His loyalty nevertheless developed beyond payment. He was moved by Yin Yunze’s refusal to demand that subordinates die over an impossible assignment, contrasting this treatment with magistrates who provided inadequate resources and then blamed their staff. He also openly defended relief recipients against Xu Hanxian’s retaliation 86 88.

Peng Shulan can be coarse and mischievous: he curses at subordinates and repeatedly requests honey lemon tea partly to tease Zhao Wan. He is also deeply ambitious as a martial artist. Zhang Yufei’s breakthrough provoked intense envy, but he congratulated her, encouraged her service to Lady Qingnü, and began treating her more as a peer than a child 70 145.

Abilities & Skills

Martial Arts

• Experience: Has more than twenty years of martial training and can assess another person’s aptitude, physical condition, and internal-force development 145.
• Original cultivation: Practiced the Cloud and Water Instruction, the same internal cultivation method as Zhang Yufei 146.
• Improved cultivation: Studied the Frost Instruction, Yin Yunze’s refinement of that method, before being empowered to the Innate Realm 146 147.
• Speed and strength: After advancement, moved like a phantom and threw magistrates into Qingnü Temple by their collars, handling two at a time 156.
• Empowerment limitation: His forced breakthrough produced weaker cultivation and poorer affinity with Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi than Zhang Liuyun’s self-achieved Innate breakthrough 185.

Investigation and Official Connections

• Knows local institutions and businesses, including Shuntong Money House, and uses his position to secure prompt cooperation 70.
• Detects unusual increases in martial artists visiting the county and investigates the circulation of fox-marked treasure sabers and protective soft armor 147.
• Provides information, introductions, escorts, and local protection for Yin Yunze’s activities 72 77 85 148.

Mortal Enforcer

• Can act against officials without the Divine Dao restrictions that complicate Yin Yunze’s direct attacks on people protected by Dynastic Karmic Luck 146.
• His oath obliges him to kill Lady Qingnü’s designated enemies, except his family and friends; Yin Yunze binds the pledge through Forge Oaths 146.

Equipment / Rewards

• Two glass beads: Recruitment gifts regarded locally as precious liuli. Yin Yunze advised him to delay selling them or sell them in another county 72.
• Two beauty paintings: Received as an advance reward and later exchanged for Zhang Yufei’s freedom 86 112.
• Daily Fox Rice allowance: Granted fifty jin per day, with discretion over its use provided his assigned operation remained secure 85.

Relationships

• Yin Yunze / Lady Qingnü — Deity, patron, and commander. Peng Shulan progresses from dismissive visitor to believer, paid subordinate, and oath-bound blade 29 72 146.
• Yu Liu — His disciple. Peng Shulan pleads for him during the Fox Fire confrontation, then blames his threats for ruining their grain mission 27 28 29.
• Zhang Yufei — Junior martial sister whom he freed using Yin Yunze’s paintings. Despite envying her advancement, he remains affectionate and encourages her to serve their patron faithfully 112 145.
• Xu Hanxian — Official superior. Peng Shulan challenges his handling of the famine but supports his reconciliation with Yin Yunze and later accepts responsibility for protecting his family 87 88 114 146.
• Zuo Xiaoyu — An ally whom Yin Yunze authorizes him to approach for help protecting the porridge shelter 85 88.
• Guo Jing — Former neighbor. Despite Guo Jing’s earlier criticism of his conduct, Peng Shulan sustained his spirit with offerings and introduced him to Yin Yunze through a divine statue 143.

Notable Quotes

“My lord, do you know how many people outside the city are relying on that bowl of porridge to get through the day? Your order is no different from killing them!” 88

“I am a blade. I see only the person, not the robes!” 146