Duanmu Yuan

Duanmu Yuan (simplified: 端木元, traditional: 端木元, pinyin: Duānmù Yuán, jyutping: dyun1 muk6 jyun4) was the cave master of Chiyan Cave (赤焰洞 — Chìyán Dòng) on Hainan Island. He was known for his mastery of the Di Fire Skill (地火功 — Dìhuǒ Gōng) and the Five Dou Rice Divine Skill (五斗米神功 — Wǔdǒu Mǐ Shéngōng), 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 jianghu

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.

Participation in 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.

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. Participating in the conference carried significant risks, as it could have led to retaliation from Tianshan Tonglao and Lingjiu Palace.

Confrontation with Li Furen

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.” Her acknowledgment of Chiyan Cave as a well-known faction helped to enhance his status.

Personality and traits

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 jianghu, 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 jianghu’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.

Martial arts 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 neili manipulation and his willingness to use unconventional methods in combat.

Relationships

Duanmu Yuan’s relationships were primarily professional and strategic. His interactions with other cave masters and martial artists were based on mutual interests and political considerations rather than genuine friendship or loyalty.

Behind the scenes

The impact of his actions

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.

Duanmu Yuan’s actions and reputation had a significant impact on Chiyan Cave’s standing in the jianghu. 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.