Duanmu Yuan

Duanmu Yuan (simplified: 端木元, traditional: 端木元, pinyin: Duānmù Yuán) was the cave master of Chiyan Cave (赤焰洞) on Hainan Island in Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils. He was known for his mastery of the Di Fire Skill (地火功) and the Five Dou Rice Divine Skill (五斗米神功), and participated in the Ten Thousand Immortals Conference to discuss resistance against Tianshan Tonglao.

Biography

Cave master of Chiyan Cave

Duanmu Yuan served as the cave master of Chiyan Cave on Hainan Island’s Wuzhi Mountain. The cave masters of Chiyan Cave all shared the compound surname “Duanmu” (端木), indicating a family tradition of leadership within this martial arts organisation.

Position in the martial world

Despite his significant martial arts abilities, Chiyan Cave was considered a relatively unknown and minor faction in the jianghu. Duanmu Yuan’s participation in the Ten Thousand Immortals Conference demonstrated his willingness to challenge the established order and seek greater recognition for his faction.

Lingjiu Palace

Chiyan Cave was under the jurisdiction of Lingjiu Palace, though Duanmu Yuan participated in discussions about resisting Tianshan Tonglao’s authority. This showed the complex relationship between the palace and its subordinate cave masters.

Martial arts and abilities

Di Fire Skill mastery

Duanmu Yuan was a master of the Di Fire Skill (地火功), the foundational martial art of the Chiyan Cave faction. This technique involved the manipulation of fire-based energy and was known for its effectiveness in combat situations.

Five Dou Rice Divine Skill

Duanmu Yuan also practiced the Five Dou Rice Divine Skill (五斗米神功), a more advanced and sinister technique. This skill was so dangerous that he publicly claimed it was merely a variation of the Di Fire Skill to avoid revealing its true nature.

Combat techniques

Duanmu Yuan demonstrated his martial prowess by using a technique that allowed him to control thick phlegm to turn and strike opponents. This unusual ability showed his mastery of internal energy manipulation and his willingness to use unconventional methods in combat.

Key plot involvement

The Ten Thousand Immortals Conference

Duanmu Yuan participated in the Ten Thousand Immortals Conference, where various cave masters and martial artists gathered to discuss resistance against Tianshan Tonglao’s rule. His presence demonstrated his faction’s willingness to challenge the established order.

Encounter with Wang Yuyan

During the conference, Wang Yuyan correctly identified Duanmu Yuan’s martial arts background and techniques. She recognized his use of the Di Fire Skill and his attempt to conceal the Five Dou Rice Divine Skill, showing her extensive knowledge of martial arts.

Confrontation with Li Furen

Duanmu Yuan was confronted by Li Furen (黎夫人), the island master of Nanhai Yedao Island, who accused him of killing her husband and brother through his practice of the Five Dou Rice Divine Skill. He denied these accusations, claiming he had never met her husband.

The confrontation with Li Furen

The accusation of murder

During the Ten Thousand Immortals Conference, Duanmu Yuan was confronted by Li Furen, the island master of Nanhai Coconut Flower Island, who accused him of killing her husband and brother. Li Furen claimed that Duanmu Yuan had used the “Five Dou Rice Divine Skill” to harm her family members, demonstrating the dangerous and deadly nature of this technique.

The confrontation revealed the dark side of Duanmu Yuan’s martial arts practice and showed how his pursuit of power had led to the deaths of innocent people. This accusation demonstrated the consequences of practicing dangerous martial arts techniques and the impact they could have on others.

The denial and deception

When confronted by Li Furen, Duanmu Yuan denied any knowledge of the “Five Dou Rice Divine Skill” and claimed that he had never met her husband. He attempted to maintain his facade of practicing only the legitimate “Di Fire Skill” while avoiding responsibility for the deaths he had caused.

This denial showed Duanmu Yuan’s willingness to deceive others to protect his reputation and avoid the consequences of his actions. It demonstrated his lack of moral character and his unwillingness to take responsibility for the harm he had caused.

The relationship with Li Furen

Despite the serious accusations against him, Duanmu Yuan maintained a superficially polite relationship with Li Furen, referring to her as his “fragrant neighbor” since they both resided in the South Sea region. This politeness was likely a facade to avoid further confrontation and to maintain his position in the martial world.

The relationship demonstrated the complex dynamics of the martial world, where individuals could maintain polite relationships even when serious conflicts existed between them. It showed how social conventions could mask deeper conflicts and animosities.

The encounter with Wang Yuyan

The recognition of his techniques

Wang Yuyan’s extensive knowledge of martial arts allowed her to recognize Duanmu Yuan’s techniques and identify him as the cave master of Chiyan Cave. She was able to see through his attempt to disguise the “Five Dou Rice Divine Skill” as a variation of the “Di Fire Skill,” demonstrating her exceptional understanding of martial arts.

This recognition showed Wang Yuyan’s value as an ally and demonstrated how her knowledge could be used to identify and understand various martial artists and their techniques. It also showed how difficult it was to hide one’s true martial arts abilities from knowledgeable observers.

The attempt to maintain secrecy

When Wang Yuyan revealed his true identity and techniques, Duanmu Yuan was initially concerned but then became grateful when she helped him maintain the secrecy of the “Five Dou Rice Divine Skill.” He appreciated her discretion and was willing to show her favor as a result.

This reaction demonstrated Duanmu Yuan’s desire to keep his dangerous techniques secret and his appreciation for those who helped him maintain this secrecy. It showed how important reputation and secrecy were in the martial world.

The impact on his reputation

Wang Yuyan’s recognition of his techniques and her willingness to help him maintain secrecy had a significant impact on Duanmu Yuan’s reputation and standing in the martial world. Her acknowledgment of Chiyan Cave as a well-known faction, even though it was relatively obscure, helped to enhance his status.

This impact demonstrated how recognition from knowledgeable individuals could enhance one’s reputation in the martial world and showed the importance of maintaining positive relationships with influential figures.

Participation in the Ten Thousand Immortals Conference

The purpose of the conference

Duanmu Yuan participated in the Ten Thousand Immortals Conference to discuss resistance against Tianshan Tonglao’s authority. This participation showed his willingness to challenge the established order and seek greater recognition and independence for his faction.

His participation demonstrated the complex political dynamics of the martial world, where subordinate factions could seek to resist their overlords and gain greater autonomy. It showed how power relationships could be challenged and renegotiated.

The strategic importance of his position

As the cave master of Chiyan Cave, Duanmu Yuan’s participation in the conference was strategically important because it represented the interests of a faction that was under Lingjiu Palace’s jurisdiction but was willing to consider resistance. His position made him a valuable ally for those seeking to challenge Tianshan Tonglao’s authority.

This strategic importance demonstrated how even relatively minor factions could play important roles in larger political conflicts and showed how the martial world’s power dynamics could create opportunities for various groups to advance their interests.

The risks of participation

Participating in the conference carried significant risks for Duanmu Yuan, as it could have led to retaliation from Tianshan Tonglao and Lingjiu Palace. His willingness to take these risks showed his desire for greater independence and recognition, as well as his belief that the potential benefits outweighed the risks.

This risk-taking demonstrated Duanmu Yuan’s ambition and his willingness to challenge established authority to achieve his goals. It showed how individuals could be motivated by both personal ambition and factional interests.

Character and personality

The deceptive nature

Duanmu Yuan’s character was characterized by deception and a willingness to hide his true nature and abilities. He practiced dangerous martial arts techniques while presenting himself as a legitimate practitioner of more conventional techniques.

This deceptive nature demonstrated his lack of moral character and his willingness to use any means necessary to achieve his goals. It showed how the pursuit of power could corrupt individuals and lead them to engage in morally questionable behavior.

The ambition for recognition

Despite his relatively minor position in the martial world, Duanmu Yuan was ambitious and sought greater recognition and status. His participation in the Ten Thousand Immortals Conference and his attempts to maintain positive relationships with influential figures showed his desire to advance his position.

This ambition demonstrated how even individuals in relatively minor positions could seek to improve their standing and showed how the martial world’s competitive nature could motivate various forms of advancement-seeking behavior.

The lack of moral responsibility

Duanmu Yuan’s unwillingness to take responsibility for the deaths he had caused demonstrated his lack of moral responsibility and his prioritization of personal interests over moral considerations. His denial of involvement in the deaths of Li Furen’s family members showed his willingness to avoid accountability for his actions.

This lack of moral responsibility demonstrated how the pursuit of power and status could lead individuals to abandon moral principles and showed the importance of moral character in martial arts practice.

The impact of his actions

The consequences for his victims

Duanmu Yuan’s use of the “Five Dou Rice Divine Skill” had devastating consequences for his victims, including the deaths of Li Furen’s husband and brother. These consequences demonstrated the destructive power of dangerous martial arts techniques and the impact they could have on innocent people.

The consequences showed how the pursuit of martial arts power could lead to harm to others and highlighted the importance of using martial arts abilities responsibly and morally.

The impact on his faction

Duanmu Yuan’s actions and reputation had a significant impact on Chiyan Cave’s standing in the martial world. His involvement in deaths and his deceptive nature could have damaged the faction’s reputation and made it more difficult for other members to gain recognition and respect.

This impact demonstrated how individual actions could affect entire factions and showed the importance of maintaining positive reputations for both individuals and groups in the martial world.