Ding Chenglie

The captain of the Zaoyang County Lady Meng Xianyao's personal guards. A native of Fangcheng in Tangzhou, he withdrew south with the army after the Northern Expedition and settled in Zaoyang. Whether he still has family there, not even he knows.

He was frail from childhood, and only built up a physique after Qiu Zhirang, a Daoist of the Huashan Sect, started him on Quanzhen Calisthenics. He wields the Yang Family Pear-Blossom Spear, and the forbidden move Little Overlord Spear was passed down to him by that same Drill Instructor. Diligent in study and training since youth, he earned the high regard of the County Lady's father, Meng Zongzheng (written "Meng Zhengzong" in most of the game's scripts).

He secretly loves his master Meng Xianyao, and dreams of winning glory and becoming a great general so he can marry the County Lady honorably.

Xiaomei's Journey to Xiangyang

On the eve of the decisive battle at Jiangling, Yu Xiaomei slips down the mountain and heads for Xiangyang to bring the General of Dao Techniques Danxiazi back to Kongtong. If Zhao Huo travels with her through Jiangling, they meet Ding Chenglie in Xiangyang.

• On the night they arrive in Xiangyang, on the County Lady's orders he levels his spear at Zhao Huo and Xiaomei, fighting one against two. How it goes depends on victory or defeat. If he loses to Zhao Huo, a single glance from his master is enough to make him ready the forbidden move Little Overlord Spear.
• The next morning he thanks Zhao Huo for not attacking the County Lady with throwing darts despite being a Tang Clan Disciple. The County Lady scolds him and makes him stand as punishment, and before he goes he leaves Zhao Huo with one line: "I'm the same as you."
• When the envoy from the Jin Kingdom's Dragon Nurturing Courtyard stakes Red Ridge Fort on a contest, he signs a military pledge and boasts he will take on four men alone with his spear. He defeats his old Drill Instructor Qiu Zhirang and the other Dragon Nurturing Courtyard experts, winning bout after bout, and earns the favor of Commandant . That night he swears in his heart that sooner or later he will become a great general and marry the County Lady honorably.

Ding Chenglie's Affinity

During the Xiangyang journey, Zhao Huo's words and deeds raise or lower a hidden Ding Chenglie affection value that never shows on screen, affecting his attitude when they meet again in Chasing Nangong Qian.

• If you lose the duel on the night of arrival, the next morning's options:
  • "I didn't show mercy": +1
  • "That's right, I lost to you on purpose (what a thick face)": no change
• If you win that same duel and your Worldliness ≥60: −1 (showing off the win)
• Next morning, Morality >40: +1 (saying you won't strike women and children)
• Next morning, Temperament ≥60 and Worldliness ≥60: +1 (speaking up for Ding Chenglie after the County Lady scolds him)
• When talking with the County Lady about the duel with Ding Chenglie, if you won and your Worldliness <60: +1 (saying you only won with Xiaomei's help, and that Ding Chenglie was distracted guarding the County Lady)
• When choosing "volunteer yourself" for the Dragon Nurturing Courtyard contest: −1 ("let Ding Chenglie do it" gives no change)

Afterwards

Around the time of the Wulin Assembly, he is no longer the County Lady's guard, having gone over to the side at war with the Great Song.

• Chasing Nangong Qian: If you have become the Kongtong Sect Leader, then in the duel with Yuan Wuxian, the one who joins the enemy side to aid him is Ding Chenglie instead of Jing Hong. His attitude after your victory is as follows:
  • If you went through the Xiangyang journey and Ding Chenglie's affection ≥3: he bears Zhao Huo no ill will, says there is no reason he must kill him, and hopes there never will be, then leaves.
  • Same as above and affection ≥1: he envies Zhao Huo for getting what he wanted and becoming the Kongtong Sect Leader, but still says there is no reason he must kill him, then leaves.
  • Same as above and affection <1: he is mad with jealousy, says he will come for Zhao Huo's head once it is worth more, then leaves.
  • If you did not go through the Xiangyang journey: he agrees to settle it another time, then leaves.
• East-West Wulin Alliance Battle: If you are the Kongtong Sect Leader and followed the Eldest Senior Brother during the Incident at Woyun Ridge, there is a scene where he watches the battle as Yuan Wuxian's new peer.

Notes

• The County Lady's maid Xiaohui secretly loves Ding Chenglie. She is glad to see him make something of himself, yet fears that once he rises he will look down on her low birth.
• Meng Gong values Ding Chenglie's martial skill and has long meant to promote him. When Ding Chenglie signed the military pledge, Meng Gong was rather disappointed that he put his own small gain ahead of the great good of the nation.
• After he defeats the Dragon Nurturing Courtyard, urges him to start a family and tells him to study military texts.