Shan Zi

**Shan Zi** *(Chinese: 山子 Pinyin: Shānzi)* is a human and the **Fifth** **Brother** of the **Eight Brothers**, primarily focused on running Dishan Village's medicine production at Chengshou Hall.

## Appearance

Shan Zi is an older man with a strong build, sharp, dark-green eyes and matching hair he keeps in a half-bun with the rest of his hair hanging just above his shoulders. He has large bang swept to the left side of his face and styled a triangular soul patch on his chin.

For clothing, Shan Zi wears a pale red long-sleeved shirt adorned with black ridged armor on the outward side of the right sleeve that extends up to the shoulder. He wears matching pants with an open-circle design on the outward side of the pant legs just above the knees and tucks them into black and green boots with gold trim and soles. Over his shirt he wears a single-sleeved, dark green coat with a purple trim that he holds in place with a two-toned purple waist-cloth and yellow waist band with the knot to the right side.

During Season 2, purple markings begin to form around his brow, shoulders, and hands from undergoing Demonification.

## Personality

While not as social as his fellow Brothers, Shan Zi stands as a pillar of character and trust among the villagers. While still involved with the creation of the Juxian Pills, Shan Zi is wary of their use and their harmful effects and helps more out of a desire to help the village thrive than personal gain. He's also willing to take Yu Qing as a disciple, knowing the young man not only wants to avenge the Yu Dan's death but the village is losing its ability to defend itself.

Shan Zi is also a disciplined and ruthless fighter. Even into his later years practices his spear techniques on a constant basis, and is not afraid to kill if it means protecting Dishan Village. Due to ingesting Juxian Pills, he has started to undergo demonification. Unlike his older Brother Chi Ji, Shan Zi does not want to rely on the pills powers and fears what the pills will do to his mind.

## Abilities and Powers

**Demonification:** Due to use of the Juxian Pills, Shan Zi has begun turning into a Demon. His already impressive strength, speed, and skill are starting to exceed normal humans, but he lacks fine control and now has issues findings spears durable enough to handle his growing power.

**Spear Proficiency:** Shan Zi is a trained master of the Qiang, a spear with red horse-hair under the blade. In combat, he emphasizes quick, fluid and whip-like slashes and swipes that take advantage of the shaft's flexibility to increase his striking power. He will occasionally attempt to stab at the enemy but has only shown using them for surprise attacks. His skill is great enough he can knock incoming projectiles out of the air well before they get near him, slash at opponents behind him while running, turn the spear into a make-shift drill and push it by the pommel to disrupt his opponent's footing, and even kick the spear while bent to speed up a slash.

**Knife Proficiency:** Shan Zi keeps a double-bladed dagger hidden within his spear's pommel. While he has not demonstrated a variety of techniques, Shan Zi can throw it with extreme accuracy and it for surprise attacks when his enemies try to get past his spear's range.

## Trivia

* Shan Zi, like the other Eight Brothers, is named after one of the eight steeds driven by the famous charioteer **Zaofu** *(Chinese: 造父; pinyin: Zàofù)* in the story *Tale of King Mu, Son of Heaven.* He is named after the Fifth Horse, **Shan Zi**, an off-white horse that represents Happiness and Harmony.