Chen Youliang

Chen Youliang (simplified: 陈友谅, traditional: 陳友諒, pinyin: Chén Yǒuliàng, jyutping: can4 jau5 loeng6) was a disciple of Cheng Kun (the Primordial Chaos Thunderbolt Hand) and an Eight-Bag Elder of the Beggars’ Guild. He served as Cheng Kun’s inside agent, using his position in the Beggars’ Guild to carry out Cheng Kun’s schemes against various factions, including manipulating Song Qingshu of the Wudang Order and participating in plots to capture Xie Xun and Zhou Zhiruo.

Biography

Early years and training

Chen Youliang became a disciple of Cheng Kun, the Primordial Chaos Thunderbolt Hand (混元霹雳手), learning martial arts and scheming techniques from his master. As Cheng Kun’s disciple, Chen Youliang was trained not only in martial arts but also in manipulation and intrigue, skills that would make him an effective agent for Cheng Kun’s schemes.

Position in the Beggars’ Guild

Chen Youliang rose to become an Eight-Bag Elder (八袋长老) within the Beggars’ Guild, one of the highest positions in the organisation. The Beggars’ Guild used a ranking system based on the number of bags carried, with more bags indicating higher seniority and status. As an Eight-Bag Elder, Chen Youliang held significant authority and respect within the guild.

However, his position was also a cover that allowed him to serve as Cheng Kun’s inside agent, using his status and access within the Beggars’ Guild to further his master’s schemes against various factions in the jianghu.

Schemes with Cheng Kun

After the attack on Bright Peak, Cheng Kun continued his schemes against other major factions. He used Chen Youliang as an inside agent to infiltrate and manipulate various organisations. Chen Youliang’s position in the Beggars’ Guild gave him credibility and access that made him an effective tool for Cheng Kun’s plans.

Involvement with Shi Huolong

Cheng Kun fought with Shi Huolong, the 25th leader of the Beggars’ Guild, who used the strongest but incomplete Twelve Dragon Subduing Palms (降龙十二掌) to severely injure him. Although Cheng Kun was wounded and vomited blood, Shi Huolong was also injured by Cheng Kun’s Primordial Chaos One Qi Skill (混元一气功) and was ultimately killed.

Chen Youliang’s role in this confrontation is not explicitly detailed, but as Cheng Kun’s disciple and inside agent in the Beggars’ Guild, he likely played some part in the schemes that led to Shi Huolong’s death.

Capturing Xie Xun and Zhou Zhiruo

Cheng Kun and Chen Youliang captured Xie Xun and Zhou Zhiruo after they returned from overseas. This capture was part of Cheng Kun’s ongoing schemes against the Ming Order and other factions. Xie Xun, the Golden-Haired Lion King, was a key target due to his connection to the Ming Order and the Dragon-slaying Sabre (屠龙刀).

Zhou Zhiruo, a disciple of the Emei Order who had feelings for Zhang Wuji, was also captured. Chen Youliang would use Zhou Zhiruo as a tool in his manipulation of Song Qingshu.

Manipulating Song Qingshu

Chen Youliang’s most significant role involved manipulating Song Qingshu, the son of Song Yuanqiao, the most senior of the Wudang Seven Xias. Song Qingshu had spied on the Emei Order’s female disciples, including Zhou Zhiruo, whom he was infatuated with. When Mo Shenggu, the youngest of the Seven Xias, discovered Song Qingshu’s misconduct, Song Qingshu conspired with Chen Youliang to ambush and kill Mo Shenggu.

After this murder, Chen Youliang used Song Qingshu’s crime to manipulate and control him. He threatened to expose Song Qingshu’s murder of Mo Shenggu, forcing him to comply with various schemes. This manipulation demonstrated Chen Youliang’s skill at exploiting people’s weaknesses and using their crimes to control them.

Scheme to poison the Wudang Seven Xias

Chen Youliang used Zhou Zhiruo to force Song Qingshu to poison the Wudang Seven Xias, including Zhang Sanfeng and Song Yuanqiao. This scheme was part of Cheng Kun’s broader plan to weaken and destroy his enemies.

However, this plan was thwarted by the Yellow Dress Maiden, the Wudang Seven Xias, and Zhang Wuji. The intervention of these powerful figures prevented the poisoning and exposed the scheme, demonstrating that even well-laid plans could be foiled by vigilance and powerful allies.

Imprisonment of Xie Xun

After the failed poisoning scheme, Xie Xun was transferred to and imprisoned in Shaolin Temple. Chen Youliang’s role in this transfer and imprisonment is not explicitly detailed, but it was part of the broader schemes orchestrated by Cheng Kun.

Personality & traits

Cunning and manipulative

Chen Youliang demonstrated significant cunning and manipulation skills. His ability to manipulate Song Qingshu by exploiting his crimes showed his understanding of human psychology and his willingness to use people’s weaknesses against them. He was skilled at identifying vulnerabilities and using them to achieve his goals.

Loyalty to Cheng Kun

Chen Youliang demonstrated complete loyalty to his master Cheng Kun, serving as his inside agent and carrying out his schemes without question. This loyalty showed his dedication to Cheng Kun’s cause, even when it involved manipulating and harming others.

Opportunistic nature

Chen Youliang’s manipulation of Song Qingshu demonstrated his opportunistic nature. He was quick to exploit situations and use people’s mistakes and crimes to gain leverage over them. His willingness to work with Song Qingshu in killing Mo Shenggu and then use that crime to control him showed his ability to turn any situation to his advantage.

Lack of moral restraint

Like his master Cheng Kun, Chen Youliang showed a lack of moral restraint in pursuing his goals. His involvement in schemes to kill Shi Huolong, capture Xie Xun and Zhou Zhiruo, and manipulate Song Qingshu to poison the Wudang Seven Xias demonstrated his willingness to commit immoral acts without hesitation.

Relationships

With Cheng Kun

Chen Youliang’s relationship with Cheng Kun was one of complete loyalty and service. As Cheng Kun’s disciple, he learned from his master and served as his inside agent, carrying out schemes and manipulations to further Cheng Kun’s goals. This relationship demonstrated the master-disciple bond, though in this case, it was used for evil purposes.

With Song Qingshu

Chen Youliang’s relationship with Song Qingshu was one of manipulation and exploitation. He used Song Qingshu’s crimes and vulnerabilities to control him, forcing him to comply with various schemes. This relationship demonstrated Chen Youliang’s skill at manipulation but also showed how people could be trapped by their own mistakes.

With the Beggars’ Guild

Chen Youliang’s relationship with the Beggars’ Guild was marked by deception. While he held a high position as an Eight-Bag Elder, he was actually serving as Cheng Kun’s inside agent, using his position to further schemes that ultimately harmed the guild and its leader Shi Huolong.

Behind the scenes

Character significance

Chen Youliang represents the role of the inside agent and manipulator in Cheng Kun’s schemes. His ability to infiltrate the Beggars’ Guild and manipulate people like Song Qingshu demonstrated how a single well-placed agent could cause significant damage to multiple factions.

His character also illustrates the theme of manipulation and exploitation, showing how people’s weaknesses and mistakes could be used against them. His manipulation of Song Qingshu demonstrated how a single crime could trap someone in a cycle of further wrongdoing.

Role in the narrative

Chen Youliang’s role connects several plot elements: his involvement with Shi Huolong’s death links the Beggars’ Guild to Cheng Kun’s schemes, his manipulation of Song Qingshu drives Song Qingshu’s descent into treachery, and his capture of Xie Xun and Zhou Zhiruo furthers the broader conflicts in the novel.

His character also serves to demonstrate the reach and effectiveness of Cheng Kun’s schemes, showing how one master manipulator could orchestrate events across multiple factions through the use of inside agents and manipulation.