Characters

Rao Singha

Rao Singha ( 拉奥·辛哈) is a mysterious world traveling magician skilled in the martial arts who holds the legendary Chinese wine, The Everlasting Shenjiu. In his stop to Yishu Village, a village famous for its performing arts in Guilin, China, Rao was impressed with beautiful Chinese dancer Fenghua Jian at a festival and was befriended by her while others in the village shunned him due to him being an outsider. When hearing about Fenghua’s illness, Rao was determined to find a cure and knowing about the legend of the Everlasting Shenjiu, he used his ability to connect with the celestial world to meet the Eight Immortals at Mount Penglai. Rao was given the opportunity and ultimately earning the Everlasting Shenjiu by passing the trials given by the Eight Immortals. The exploit made Rao a legend throughout the village and became well known throughout China. Always loving a challenge, Rao made it known that whoever beats him in a contest can win a gourd of the Everlasting Shenjiu. Rao has received many challenges from various people, most of them fighters, only for them to fail in defeating him. Drinking the Shenjiu has amplified Rao's fighting skills creating a powerful signature attack known as the Singha Fist. Rao uses a variety of fighting styles such as Wing Chun, Boxing, Grappling, Muay Thai, Baji Quan, Drunken Fist and many more, making him a very dangerous, well-rounded combatant. Rao is fond of the arts and often gets involved in the performing arts. It is for this reason that Rao has made his residence in Yishu performing for and with the villagers and living comfortably nearby his ginkgo tree and the Lijiang River. Fenghua, who grew devoted to Rao after saving her life, often visits to drink and dance with him. Rao's meeting with the American dancer Cat Hellshire will trigger events that will involve the Everlasting Shenjiu.

Cat Hellshire

Catherine Hellshire is an American dancer from New York City. Nicknamed Cat, she was raised by her father after her mother passed shortly after Cat was born. With her father involved in the performing arts, Cat became involved as well, mostly with ballet and modern dance. As Cat got older, she discovered her ability to create powerful impacts with her hips, a talent that runs in the female side of her family and in great use when defending herself. Cat is a fan of pro wrestling, as she uses pro wrestling moves in her repertoire of attacks which includes very powerful and swift hip attacks known as the Hell Hip Whip and Hell Hip Cannon. Cat is a quick learner and isn't afraid of getting into fights when it comes to standing up for her friends. But has very impulsive tendencies that often gets her into trouble. Cat also enjoys traveling the world with her friends with her favorite destination being Japan. While traveling throughout China, her traveling partner, fellow dancer Henry Tian, became very sick with what seemed to be an incurable illness. It was during their stop at Guilin that Henry told her about Rao Singha and the Everlasting Shenjiu. Little did she know that her meeting with Rao and challenging him to win a gourd of the Everlasting Shenjiu will change the trajectory of her life forever.

Fenghua Jian

Fenghua Jian ( 风花· 剑) is a Chinese dancer living in Yishu Village in Guilin, China. As an only child, Fenghua has been trained in Chinese classical dance by her mother at a very young age and has devoted her life to dancing. She is very friendly and popular throughout the village often performing in the village’s annual dance festivals captivating audiences who have the privilege of witnessing her dance. Rao Singha was one of them when he first arrived in Yishu. Fenghua’s life was in danger when she suffered a serious illness. Her illness was cured, however, by The Everlasting Shenjiu to which Rao has won for her. In addition, the divine wine has given her extraordinary powers of flight as well as weather manipulation which she can do at will. Grateful that her life is saved, Fenghua became loyal and devoted to Rao and became his best friend and student of the fighting arts. Fenghua would often call Rao, Rao Xiansheng ("Xiansheng" means "Mister" in Chinese) out of respect. Through Rao’s teachings, Fenghua learned how to incorporate her dancing into a fighting style and created a signature move called Fan Shen Quantou or the Rolling Turnover Fist based on the dance, Chuan Fan Shen. Fenghua enjoys her time with Rao often drinking and dancing with him and for him. Spending time with Rao made Fenghua curious of the world outside of Yishu Village. Fenghua's desire is to learn more dance styles to share with the villagers and to see the world with Rao. Destiny will fulfill those desires when she meets another dancer from the United States, Cat Hellshire…

Henry Tian

Henry Tian is a dancer who was born in Yishu Village in Guilin, China but is raised in New York City. Henry is a very talented dancer who has a lot of female admirers during his time in New York University. However, he had his eye on Cat Hellshire and formed a friendship with her when she needed help with her dance routines for her classes. Henry mostly acts jokingly and sarcastically around Cat and is always willing to help her whenever she needed anything. After graduating from NYU, Henry invites Cat to take a trip with him throughout China to see the performing arts in the country. Henry's goal is to join a prestigious touring dance company and become a world famous dancer. During a stop to Wuhan, Henry confronted a bunch of ruffians harassing Cat and ended up breaking his hand after punching one of them. He also ended up sick with a strange illness endangering his health. When Henry and Cat visited Yishu, Henry witnessed villagers reasoning a sick erhu player to not perform but the player stubbornly refused. A moment later, the erhu player was playing happily in front of the crowd, no longer sick. Curious on what just happened, Henry spoke with the villagers and they explained that it was the work of Rao Singha and the Everlasting Shenjiu and he was told stories about the legendary figure and his wine. Henry tells Cat about Rao and the divine wine at their hotel room and inadvertently influences a concerned Cat to challenge Rao on her own to win a gourd of the Everlasting Shenjiu.

Erhu Player Po

Erhu Player Po is a musician in Yishu Village who entertains and enjoys playing his erhu. Stubborn but kind hearted, Po would always keep the village festive and lively with the beautiful sound of his erhu. Po was once cured by the Everlasting Shenjiu by Rao when he was ill at the resistance of his fellow villagers, when Po stubbornly wanted to perform for the village's annual performance festival. When Rao was aware of the situation, Rao personally cured Po simply to get the show going. Since then, Po became Rao's confidant and would always be open to play a song for Rao.

Spider Fist Gang

The Spider Fist gang are a villainous martial arts gang based in Zhizhu Village in Guilin, China. They are involved in various illegal activities, such as robbery and murder, and kill whoever gets in their way. They rely on strength in numbers and have abilities to crawl like an actual spider to confuse and repulse their opponents. Though seven members are introduced in Scene 2 of Everlasting Shenjiu, only three of them are focused upon, including its leader, Spider Fist Zhu (middle). Zhu is arrogant, rude, and vile but also a fierce fighter who is a master of the Spider Fist style and deals in poison using his signature poison needle attacks. After knowing about the Everlasting Shenjiu from his right hand man Chow (left), Zhu became skeptical about the existence of such a wine. But when Zhu heard that Rao Singha owns it and that he is challenging anyone who can beat him for a gourd of the divine wine, Zhu became very curious and overconfident that he can beat Rao and win the wine. Zhu gathers his gang including Chow and his big enforcer Yuen (right) and travels to Rao's residence to see if the legendary wine is true.

Milton Cheng

Milton Cheng is a millionaire from Hong Kong. Raised with a silver spoon in his mouth, Milton is spoiled by his rich parents who deal in Pharmaceuticals. Cocky, smug, but insecure, Milton is always accompanied by bodyguards, most of whom are rumored to be triad. Milton has a hidden grudge against Curtis Lo, who is Hong Kong's top billionaire, who would often see Milton as a spoiled degenerate involved in illegal activities. Furious at being condescended by Lo, Milton is determined to get rid of Lo and surpass him as the top billionaire of Hong Kong. Wanting to make his own wealth away from his parents, Milton started investing within the entertainment industry, becoming a director at Hong Kong Stadium for its events, as well as often gambling within the Hong Kong underground fight circuit. Milton's wealth grew when he began betting on a young prodigy named Ligon Wu who have been making a name for himself in the circuit. The more Ligon won his fights, the more money Milton made. When Ligon retired from underground fighting to live a healthy and honest life, Milton went to Ligon's bar, Bar Fei Hung, and tried to convince Ligon to come out of retirement. It was around this time when Milton heard of the stories of the Everlasting Shenjiu from Ligon and his customers. Milton traveled to Yishu Village in Guilin to see the divine wine for himself when he witnessed Rao Singha cure one of the villagers suffering from a mysterious sickness. Since witnessing this, Milton saw dollar signs and becomes obsessed in buying a gourd from Rao, only to be constantly turn down by him. But knowing what the Everlasting Shenjiu can do for his wealth and his image throughout the world, Milton would be willing to go to great, and even dastardly lengths, to get the wine from Rao. Milton's luck would change when one day he meets a mysterious mercenary named Kurokage...

Kurokage

Not much is known about this mysterious mercenary named Kurokage other than he is reputed as a highly paid mercenary with supernatural powers in the criminal underworld. Kurokage has unusual powers who posesses close to supersonic speed as well as an ability to teleport. His signature attack is Blinding Blast, an explosive ki attack that affects the vision while blasting whatever comes near it. Kurokage has sadistic tendencies and has zero remorse in hurting others in route to being paid. Kurokage is hired by a mysterious client who is interested in doing business with Milton Cheng and makes a deal with Milton to obtain Rao's Everlasting Shenjiu in exchange for financial cooperation with the client. Kurokage's involvement would trigger unusual events in the world.

Ligon Wu

Ligon Wu, better known by Hong Kongers as "The Dancing Fist of Wan Chai" is a man who holds a variety of jobs to make ends meet in the tough economic climate of Hong Kong. He's popular in the city for his amazing work ethic, positive attitude, and amazing skills as both a dancer and a fighter. He's the head instructor at the Dancing Fist Kung Fu School, which his family ran for generations, in Wan Chai teaching kung fu and lion dance classes. He owns a bar called Bar Fei Hung named after the main character of Drunken Master and Chinese folk hero, Wong Fei Hung. He is a multiple time Lion Dance Champion where his team won the national championships in Hong Kong Stadium for 5 years straight. He is a director of dance concerts within the Hong Kong performing arts community. Ligon was an underground fighter where he is once considered a prodigy due to fighting at the young age of 18. It was during this time where he met Milton Cheng, who made a fortune from Ligon's victories. His English name 'Ligon' (pronounced Lai-ghen) means half lion/half dragon due to his great abilities as both a lion and dragon dancer. He would later retire from street fighting after a couple of years to focus on the school and his bar. Ligon would be entertained by his elderly customers at his bar who would tell wonderful tales that deal in Chinese mythology. One of these stories would be of Rao Singha and the Everlasting Shenjiu. Ligon had no idea that he would be involved in the tale of the Everlasting Shenjiu that would begin one fateful day when two women signed up for his Lion Dance class: Cat Hellshire and Fenghua Jian.

Barty McGuigan

Barty McGuigan, known throughout the world as "The Barbarous Bad Boy", is a Mixed Martial Artist who is currently the undefeated world middleweight champion for the Super Fighting Championships League. Growing up in Belfast, Ireland, Barty had a rough upbringing relying on criminal activities to survive and would eventually be involved in the Irish mob. Barty entered MMA as a way out of the life. His brutal striking power which has developed in his involvement in several street fights over the years along with his brash charisma would make him popular in the sport, gaining a record of 12-0, all by first round knockout. Barty would become a superstar when he won the world middleweight championship from the then undefeated and feared Brazilian fighter, Serpent Morais, in the first round by knockout. It was in this fight that he debuted his signature attack, the Barbarous Rush, a series of brutal non-stop consecutive strikes. Along with successful title defenses, fame, and money comes controversy and infamy as his hot temper would get him in trouble with the law numerous times including DUI and assault charges. However, Barty would use his influence and wealth to have those charges dropped. Barty became acquainted with Milton Cheng who convinced Barty to stop by Hong Hong to help train for his next title defense in Japan. Milton's true intentions was for Barty to challenge and defeat Rao Singha for a gourd of the Everlasting Shenjiu, an encounter that would change Barty's life.

Grace Yi

Grace Yi is a dancer from Hong Kong who trains at the Dancing Fist Kung Fu school. Grace is trained in a variety of dances including Classical Chinese Dance where she developed a variety of tricks with water sleeves. She can use water sleeves for grabbing objects from afar as well as for self-defense. Grace is a dedicated dancer and a reliable friend who doesn't hesitate to do the right thing. Grace has developed feelings for Ligon Wu ever since Ligon saved her from local thugs in Wan Chai. Grace takes classes from Ligon on how to defend herself and would always audition for him for his dance concerts. Grace always arrives at rehearsals and performances very early for concerts that Ligon directs before anyone. She also helps out at the Dancing Fist Kung Fu School, sometimes looking after the school while Ligon is away. Ligon would realize how great of an asset Grace is to the school, as the number of male students has increased ever since she joined.

Giant Guai

Giant Guai is a seven-foot, five-hundred-pound street fighter who fights at the Monster Building at Quarry Bay where he would often offer money challenges to anyone who can knock him down or throw him over a wrestling ring, which would usually result in a violent end for his challengers. Guai is incredibly cruel, vulgar, and overconfident in his power and size, always referring to himself in third person. No one has ever succeeded in defeating Guai's challenge, until Rao, Cat, and Fenghua took him on during their sightseeing venture at the Monster Building.

Maltia Kamiyama

Maltia Kamiyama is a stage actress from Japan who stands at an imposing 6'3''. It is revealed that she is Kurokage's client and is working on a special project which requires "financial assistance" from Milton Cheng. Though a stage actress, Maltia seems to have connections at very high places and has influence in the criminal underworld throughout Asia. Maltia owns a winery called Kamiyama Winery in Tokyo and is a lover of wines.

Not much else is known about Maltia at this point of the tale and the project she is working on is currently unknown.