Tang Xiong

Tang Xiong was a veteran Silver Moon Knight who joined Yu Jing Qiu, Dong Bo Xue Ying, and Si Bai Rong on the expedition into Black-Wind Deity Palace. His experience helped the party survive its early defenses, but he was killed immediately upon recognizing the final chamber's overwhelming danger. (Chapters 38–49)

Biography

Black-Wind Deity Palace expedition

At one hundred sixty years old, Tang Xiong knew he had no realistic prospect of reaching Legend rank and accommodated Si Bai Rong because the Si Clan could destroy a knight of his standing on a pretext. Inside the palace, however, age made him useful rather than merely deferential: he recognized ambushes, organized the defense of four directions, blocked a mass of giant arrows with his short sword, and killed a distracted guardian. After seeing the monster-like Demonic God Emissary, Tang Xiong abandoned treasure hunting and ordered everyone to flee. The judgment was correct but came too late; an unseen force slowed him, and a casually thrown piece of metal pierced his head before he could react. Xue Ying later recovered Tang Xiong's storage ring for return to his family and regarded his accumulated wealth as the result of repeatedly tempering himself through danger. (Chapters 38–45 and 49)

Appearance and personality

Tang Xiong was a white-haired old man with a prosperous appearance. He was socially cautious around Si Bai Rong but calm under mortal danger, experienced enough to issue immediate tactical orders, and willing to praise Xue Ying's skill without jealousy. His instant decision to flee the Emissary shows that his confidence did not prevent him from recognizing an unwinnable fight. (Chapters 38–44 and 49)

Abilities and cultivation

Tang Xiong had remained at Silver Moon Knight rank for many years because he could not comprehend “One with the World,” leaving Legend rank beyond his reach. He fought with a short sword, using experience and full effort to deflect heavy projectiles and exploiting a guardian's distraction for a precise strike between the eyebrows. His reaction and defense were adequate against Silver Moon-level threats but useless against the Demonic God Emissary's suppressive force and projectile speed; the attacker did not need to use his true weapon to kill him. (Chapters 38, 41, and 43–45)

Relationships

• Dong Bo Xue Ying: Tang Xiong recognized Xue Ying's superior spear skill, followed his lead, and split recovered gold with him. (Chapters 43–44)
• Yu Jing Qiu: He trusted the Silver Moon Mage's decisions and valued the Frost Snake she created to shield the expedition's advance. (Chapters 41–42)
• Si Bai Rong: Tang Xiong deferred to Bai Rong because of Si Clan power while privately avoiding entanglement with his character. (Chapters 38–44)

Items

No item link is required by the scoped manifest. Tang Xiong's short sword supported his defense and his storage ring was recovered after his death for return to his family. (Chapters 43 and 49)