Zhang Yusen

* Adult
* Young

**Zhang Yusen** (张玉森, *Zhāng Yùsēn*) was the leader of the Jing Hu Sect, the fourth youngest brother of the Five Lakes Alliance and the father of Zhang Chengling, Zhang Chengfeng and Zhang Chengluan.

## Appearance

Zhang Yusen is a man well into his forties, he has eyebrows sharp like a sword and bright eyes, his face is akin to a crown jade. Zhang Yusen wears white basic robes.

In his youth, Zhang Yusen wore more colourful robes with cloud patterns.

## Personality

In his youth, Zhang Yusen was a bright person, laughing alongside his brothers and sparring with Rong Xuan. Zhang Yusen was an loyal person, where when he heard about the hunt against Rong Xuan, he wanted to fight alongside him despite the consequences, and when Zhang Yusen knew of his brother's stance against Rong Xuan, he held a deep grudge that lasted two decades.

As an adult, Zhang Yusen is an honourable man, kind-hearted and generous, he values love and righteousness. Despite his grudge against the Five Lakes Alliance, he still holds his promise of keeping the Liuli Armour safe until his last breath, no matter the cost.

Zhang Yusen is said to be a man loved among the nobles, as he had helped those in need and gave money from his own wealth.

## History

### The Five Brothers

As the fourth brother, Zhang Yusen was one of the brothers in the Five Lakes Alliance alongside Gao Chong, Zhao Jing, Lu Taichong and Shen Shen.

Zhang Yusen was in support of Rong Xuan's theory, which was that all sects must come together and share their learnings, so he partook in stealing scrolls from his own and others sects alongside his brothers. One the Armoury was created, the key to it was created and split into five parts where each brother had a piece.

Therefore, Zhang Yusen held one piece of the Liuli Armour.

One day, Zhao Jing was seen taking scrolls from Mount Tai, the master at the time, referred to Gao Chong's father for investigation. This had put Zhao Jing in danger of being banished from his sect, or have his martial arts taken. Zhang Yusen was one of the people to protest Zhao Jing's choice to confess.

Rong Xuan came up with the idea of sparring the five brothers together at once in order to solve the matter. A Battle ensued and Rong Xuan came out victorious, however, he immediately collapsed afterwards. When Gu Miaomiao announced that Rong Xuan was poisoned through his wound, everyone, including Zhang Yusen, looked at Gao Chong in shock, as he was the one to injure Rong Xuan.

Afterwards, Rong Xuan went mad, and started a killing rampage. Once Zhang Yusen heard about the battle happening in Mount Qingya between the sects and Rong Xuan, he intended to go there and fight alongside Rong Xuan. However, his father forbade it, and broke both of his legs so he wouldn't be able to go until it was too late.

Zhang Yusen considers this one of his deepest regrets, and held a grudge for decades.

### Divided Brotherhood

Due to the other brothers fighting against Rong Xuan and turning a blind eye, Zhang Yusen cut all informal ties with the Five Lakes Alliance, having low communication with them and not attending any of Gao Chong's mid-autumn festivals despite the invites.

Despite Zhang Yusen's anger towards Gao Chong for going against Rong Xuan, he did not believe that Gao Chong was responsible for Rong Xuan's poisoning, and instead knew that it was a scheme set up by Zhao Jing who framed Gao Chong in the process. Zhang Yusen wrote a letter detailing his findings with the intent to send it to Ye Baiyi.

### Havoc in Jianghu

Twenty years after the incident, Zhang Yusen distanced himself from his brothers and from the affairs of the martial world, he had settled down in his own sect with his wife and three children, Zhang Chengfeng, Zhang Chengluan and Zhang Chengling.

One day, Zhang Chengfeng was telling him the news of the martial art world, in which Zhang Yusen told him that their matters don't concern the Jing Hu Sect anymore. Once Zhang Chengfeng told him about the news of the altered saying of the Five Lakes Alliance, Zhang Yusen became worried, and ordered Zhang Chengfeng to take extra care of his brothers and to not let them go out of the island from this day, even morose when he noticed the beggar and knew that Zhang Chengling brought him in.

### The Jing Hu Sect Massacre

During nighttime on the same day, the Ghost Valley attacked the Jing Hu Sect, killing everyone in sight and searching for the Liuli Armour piece. Zhang Yusen decided to cut a wound in Zhang Chengling's stomach so he can hide the Liuli Armour piece in it, give him the letter intended to Ye Baiyi, and afterwards he had sent him away in servant clothes with Uncle Li guarding him, while he and his other two sons remained in the sect.

Eventually, most of the sect's disciples have been killed, and the Ghosts overpowered Zhang Yusen and his sons and restrained them. The Ghosts started to interrogate Zhang Yusen through torture, where they cut his right arm. The Ghosts gave Zhang Yusen a "chance" if he told them about the Liuli Armour piece whereabouts, but he refused and stood his ground, even when the Ghosts started to torture his sons in front of him.

Eventually, Zhang Yusen had been severely tortured to the point of mutilation, and bashed his own skull before his death, possibly to conceal the Liuli armour piece whereabouts and to not witness his sons' suffering.

### Legacy

Zhang Yusen was mourned severely by many, especially his brothers, Shen Shen and Gao Chong. He was considered a respected figure among not just the Five Lakes Alliance, but other sects. Everyone expects Zhang Chengling to become as much of a good figure as him, which is placing high expectations for him.

## Novel Difference

In the Novel, Zhang Yusen had no strong association with Rong Xuan, and his only child was Zhang Chengling.

When Rong Xuan wanted to severe his own meridians to achieve the ultimate martial art technique, all of the five brothers, including Zhang Yusen, backed off in fear, and decided not to align themselves with Rong Xuan when he had gone mad.

According to Gu Xiang, he has quite a reputation. Zhang Yusen had his glory days back when he was younger. The family and business recently has been doing really well. After becoming successful, he settled here and half detached himself from society, never engaging in any affairs. The holdings were also said to house guests who are pretty decent at martial arts, thus no one dared stir up troubles.

Zhang Yusen had only reached fifty not long ago, and it was not an exaggeration to deem him someone of virtue and prestige, he was the best well-doer you can find, and was the most honourable, kind-hearted and generous, he would always help people even when he had no idea who they were. If there was ever a grand event, it’d still be obligatory to send him an invitation. He had not been doing a lot of Jianghu business ever since he started building a family for himself.

When the massacre of the Nan He Sect occurred, he had sent away Zhang Chengling with Uncle Li with no piece of the Liuli Armour.

## Trivia

* According to the Commemorative Artbook, Zhang Yusen was Gao Chong's closest brother.

## References

1. ↑ Web-Series, Episode 19
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Web-Series, Episode 11
3. ↑ Word of Honor: Official Commemorative Artbook
4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Web-Series, Episode 02
5. ↑ Web-Series, Episode 03
6. ↑ Web-Series, Episode 07
7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Novel, Chapter 05
8. ↑ Novel, Chapter 51