Ma Wude

Ma Wude (simplified: 马五德, traditional: 马五德, pinyin: Mǎ Wǔdé, jyutping: maa5 ng5 dak1) was a wealthy tea merchant and martial artist from Pu’er. At fifty-four years old, he was known throughout the jianghu for his exceptional hospitality and generosity, earning him the reputation of having the spirit of Lord Mengchang. Despite his modest martial arts abilities, his kindness and generosity made him a respected figure in the jianghu.

Biography

Identity and background

Ma Wude was a successful tea merchant based in Pu’er, Yunnan, who had amassed considerable wealth through his business ventures. His position as a prominent merchant in the tea trade gave him both financial resources and social connections that extended throughout the region. Despite his wealth, he maintained a humble and approachable demeanor that endeared him to the martial arts community.

Specific business details

As a “大茶商” (major tea merchant), Ma Wude had built a substantial business empire in the tea trade. His wealth allowed him to maintain an open-door policy for martial artists in need, demonstrating how commercial success could translate into social influence in the jianghu.

Regional influence

Ma Wude’s influence extended throughout the Yunnan region, particularly in Pu’er and its surrounding areas. His reputation as a hospitable host had made him a well-known figure among martial artists traveling through the region, establishing him as a key social hub in the local martial community.

Personality and traits

Hospitality and Generosity

Ma Wude’s defining characteristic was his exceptional hospitality and generosity. He was known throughout the jianghu for welcoming any martial artist who came to his door, regardless of their status or background. This open-door policy earned him widespread respect and gratitude, making him a beloved figure in the jianghu.

Humility and Self-Awareness

Despite his wealth and social standing, Ma Wude demonstrated remarkable humility about his martial arts abilities. He readily acknowledged that his skills were mediocre and often referred to his techniques as three-legged cat skills. This self-awareness and honesty contributed to his likable personality.

Diplomatic Skills

Ma Wude showed considerable diplomatic skill in his interactions with other martial artists. He was able to defuse tense situations and mediate conflicts, often using his hospitality and generosity to smooth over disagreements. His ability to navigate complex social situations demonstrated his wisdom and experience.

Specific dialogue examples

Ma Wude’s diplomatic nature was evident in his interactions with Zuo Zimu when defending Duan Yu: “Although Brother Duan and I do not have a profound friendship, we came here together. Brother Duan seems like a refined gentleman. I doubt he knows any martial arts. His laughter earlier must be unintentional. Come on, I’m hungry. Please prepare the feast, Brother Zuo. We’ll drink three toasts to you. It’s an auspicious day today, let’s not ruin it by arguing with a junior.”

Emotional intelligence

When Duan Yu was injured, Ma Wude demonstrated genuine concern: “You really don’t know any martial arts, young brother. Then why did you come here and cause trouble?”

This showed his ability to read situations and respond with appropriate concern rather than judgment.

Meeting with Duan Yu

One of Ma Wude’s most significant appearances occurred when he met Duan Yu in Pu’er. The young prince, who had run away from home, sought refuge with Ma Wude, who welcomed him with his characteristic hospitality. When Ma Wude planned to visit Mount Wuliang, Duan Yu expressed interest in accompanying him to see the scenic beauty.

According to Duan Yu’s own account, he had run away from home and wandered around. When he reached Pu’er, he had no money left. He heard people say that Ma Wude was very hospitable, so he went to his house to eat free meals. This demonstrated how Ma Wude’s reputation for hospitality preceded him and attracted people in need.

Journey to Mount Wuliang

During their journey to Mount Wuliang, Ma Wude introduced Duan Yu to the Wuliang Sword School and its leader Zuo Zimu. This introduction set in motion a series of events that ultimately led to Duan Yu’s involvement in the jianghu and his discovery of his own abilities.

Ma Wude’s original purpose for visiting Mount Wuliang was to attend the Wuliang Sword School’s sword competition between the Eastern and Western sects. This demonstrated his active participation in the jianghu’s social events, despite his limited martial abilities. His willingness to bring Duan Yu along showed his generosity and his inability to refuse reasonable requests from those he had taken under his care.

Defending Duan Yu

When Duan Yu’s lack of martial arts skills became apparent and he faced potential harm from the Wuliang Sword School, Ma Wude stepped in to protect him. He acknowledged that Duan Yu was not his disciple and tried to defuse the situation, showing his protective nature and diplomatic skills.

Ma Wude employed several strategies to protect Duan Yu:

Immediate clarification: He quickly clarified that Duan Yu was not his disciple to prevent Zuo Zimu from holding him responsible for Duan Yu’s actions
Diplomatic intervention: He attempted to redirect the situation by suggesting they focus on celebrating the sword competition victory instead of punishing Duan Yu
Character assessment: He described Duan Yu as refined and scholarly to suggest his refined nature made him unlikely to intentionally offend
Appeal to reason: He reminded Zuo Zimu that it was a great day and suggested they shouldn’t waste it on disciplining young people

When Duan Yu was physically attacked and injured by Gong Guangjie, Ma Wude’s protective instincts took over. He couldn’t bear to see it and rushed over to help him up, demonstrating his genuine concern for those under his care, regardless of their martial arts abilities.

Support at Wanjie Valley

Later in the story, Ma Wude appeared at Wanjie Valley where he continued to support Duan Yu and his family. He took responsibility for any trouble that may have arisen during their journey to Mount Wuliang and demonstrated his ongoing commitment to helping those he had befriended.

When Duan Yu faced trouble at Wanjie Valley, Ma Wude actively intervened on his behalf. He explained that Young Master Duan had come to his humble home in Pu’er, and they had traveled together to Mount Wuliang for sightseeing. He acknowledged that he hadn’t taken good care of him, which led to many problems, and asked for mercy on his behalf.

During the confrontation with Nanhai E Shen, Ma Wude demonstrated his protective nature by physically positioning himself in front of Duan Yu. Wanting to please the Duan brothers, he quickly moved to shield Duan Yu. This showed his willingness to put himself in harm’s way to protect those he cared about, even against powerful opponents.

Relationships

Duan Yu

Ma Wude’s relationship with Duan Yu was central to his role in the story. He provided refuge and protection for the young prince, demonstrating his hospitality and protective nature. Their friendship showed how kindness and generosity could create lasting bonds in the jianghu.

Wuliang Sword School

Ma Wude maintained relationships with various martial arts schools, including the Wuliang Sword School. His participation in their sword competition demonstrated his integration into the jianghu’s social events, despite his limited martial abilities.

Other martial artists

Through his hospitality and generosity, Ma Wude built an extensive network of friends and acquaintances throughout the jianghu. This network provided him with both protection and influence, demonstrating how kindness and generosity could be valuable assets in the dangerous jianghu.

Behind the scenes

Ma Wude’s reputation extended beyond his immediate region. He was recognized as a figure of influence at major martial arts events, such as the Wuliang Sword School competition, where he served as one of the judges alongside other notable figures like the Diancang School’s Liu Zhixu and the Yuzhen Temple’s Lingxiaozi.

Ma Wude represented the ideal of hospitality and generosity in the jianghu, demonstrating how kindness and generosity could earn respect and create valuable social connections, even when martial arts skills were limited. As a character with limited martial abilities but high social standing, he served as a contrast to the typical martial arts hero, showing that there were multiple paths to respect and influence in the jianghu.

Based on the available information, Ma Wude’s martial arts level placed him in the lower tier of practitioners in the jianghu. His abilities were consistently described as mediocre and ordinary and unremarkable, indicating that while he had received some training, his skills were not sufficient for serious combat situations. Despite his martial limitations, he compensated through social intelligence, diplomatic skills, resource management, and network building.