Zheng Zhong
Zheng Zhong is a quiet, experienced Little Mountain Jie sword xiu who leads a small group seeking a newly formed secret realm. He becomes Zuo Mo's strongest temporary ally in the trap that kills Huang Zhuo Guang.
Biography
Little Mountain Jie and Golden Crow City
Zheng Zhong meets Zuo Mo near Clear Sky Sect's captive spell users, notices recent killing intent on him, and warns his own people not to cause trouble. When an opening appears, Zheng releases a water dragon and challenges Huang Zhuo Guang in the air. Though slightly higher in cultivation, he is pressured by Huang's sky-supported sword essence and changes his goal from victory to delay. He later joins Zuo Mo's group trap, times sword attacks to protect allies, follows Zuo Mo's instructions when Huang targets the weaker fighters, and helps create the opening for Zuo Mo's killing blow. Impressed by the result and the approaching troop's discipline, Zheng chooses to follow Zuo Mo. (Chapters 271–278)
Appearance and personality
Zheng Zhong usually keeps his eyes lowered or half-lidded and rarely speaks; no other stable physical description is supplied. He is solemn, perceptive, cautious, skilled in fighting, and focused on objectives rather than pride. He can recognize an opponent's superiority and prolong battle without treating retreat from a duel as dishonor. (Chapters 271–277)
Abilities and cultivation
Zheng Zhong is a third-stratum ningmai sword xiu. A jade card releases a small, intelligent blue water dragon that naturally controls water, while his low fourth-grade silver-white flying sword produces multiple snowy energies and resists the corrosive mist from Huang's armor. (Chapters 271–275)
His cultivation is slightly higher than Huang Zhuo Guang's, but Huang's hidden, sky-based method suppresses him and weakens his battle spirit. Zheng survives through experience, cooperation, and timely attacks; without Zuo Mo, the group could not have completed the trap. (Chapters 272–276)
Relationships
- Liu Gui and companions: Zheng leads the group, restrains their risk-taking, and receives immediate obedience when he accepts Zuo Mo's tactical order. (Chapters 271–277)
- Huang Zhuo Guang: Zheng duels and delays him, then participates in the coordinated encirclement that ends in Huang's death. (Chapters 272–276)
- Zuo Mo: Zheng first studies him cautiously, then coordinates with him and decides that following him is worthwhile regardless of whether he has a great-sect background. (Chapters 271–278)
Items
- Silver-white flying sword: A low fourth-grade weapon able to withstand Huang Zhuo Guang's corrosive sand mist. (Chapters 275–276)
- Water-dragon jade card: Releases a small intelligent water dragon skilled in water control. Its later custody is unstated. (Chapter 272)
- Spoils: Zheng receives one item from Huang Zhuo Guang's equipment, but the corpus does not identify which item. (Chapter 276)