Kou (Hi Shin)

Characteristics	Gallery

Kou
Manga S5 S4 S2
Chinese	Áng
Kanji	昂
Romaji	Kou
Biographical Information Status Alive Marital Status In a Relationship Age 20s Gender Male Eyes Brown Hair Dark Brown Skin Brown Relatives Unnamed Mother Kyou Rei (Lover) State Qin Residence Jouto Village, Qin Location With the Hi Shin Unit, Zhao Birth Place Jouto Village, Qin
Professional Information Classification Infantry Occupation Soldier Affiliates Qin Military Hi Shin Unit Bi Hei Unit Military Rank 100-Man Commander
Media Japanese VA Shō Okumura
Appearance Manga Debut Chapter 110 Anime Debut Episode 26

Kou is a seasoned 100-Man Commander in the Qin Military, serving under the Hi Shin Unit. As one of the oldest veterans in the unit, Kou has been with Shin and his comrades since their early days as a small 100-Man Unit. He holds a deep and enduring bond with the unit, particularly with Shin, and has played an integral role in its development into the powerful force it is known as today.

Kou hails from Jouto Village, where he grew up alongside Shin and Hyou, Bi Hei, Bi Tou, and Kei, other key members of the Hi Shin Unit. Throughout their youth, they supported one another through countless challenges, forging a bond that would last throughout their military careers.

Before leading his unit, Kou was a member of the Bi Hei Unit, where he initially served as the de facto right-hand of Bi Hei. During his time there, Kou honed his tactical and leadership skills, gaining a reputation for his reliability, strength, and steadfast loyalty. His time in the Bi Hei Unit helped shape his military expertise, which he later brought to the Hi Shin Unit, where he became a trusted officer under Shin's command.

Kou’s experience and wisdom make him a valuable asset to the Hi Shin Unit, and he continues to be a guiding figure for the newer soldiers, especially as the unit grows and faces new challenges. His loyalty to Shin and his comrades is unwavering, and his presence remains a steadying influence in the unit's ever-evolving journey toward greater military achievements.

Appearance

Kou is a young man in his 20s, a few years younger than his close friends Shin and Hyou. Growing up in Jouto Village, he experienced a humble childhood, raised by his mother after his father's death. Kou dressed in commoner robes as a teen, but after the Battle of Bayou, he earned a more uniformed look, adopting the standard infantry armor of the Hi Shin Unit when they upgraded to a 1000-Man Unit. Even in times of peace, he wears regular robes and military-issued boots or hanfu shoes.

Personality

Kou is driven by a strong sense of duty and care for his family, particularly his mother, whom he strives to provide a better life for. He has a deep respect for others, often showing deference to his comrades, such as Bi Hei. Despite his warm and compassionate nature, Kou is extremely honest, sometimes to the point of bluntness. This can occasionally lead to awkward situations, but it also shows his sincerity.

A testament to his fortitude, Kou displayed remarkable resilience during battle. After being stabbed, he chose to stay silent and remained hidden under corpses, determined not to give up despite his injuries. His courage and ambition to rise through the ranks and become part of the warrior class reflect his unyielding resolve.

Relationships

His Mother

Kou cares deeply about his mother as he wanted to improve and give her a better as she raised him single-handily after his father's death. His devotion to her is so strong as it plays a huge part in him fighting as a soldier.

Kyou Rei

Kou catching Rei.

Despite their initial rocky encounter in which Rei threatens him with death, Kou didn't hold it against her as he saw that she was struggling with her sister, Shiki's death. After Rei officially joined Hi Shin Unit, Kou started to spend time with her and started to greatly care about her as he answers her questions regarding the outside world and supports her whenever she does something reckless.

During the aftermath of the Battle of Hika, he was greatly worried about her as he frantically asked anyone if she and the Kyou Kai Unit had returned from the protecting the rear of their retreat and waited with Shin as they awaited their return. Since then, Kou realized that he had romantic feelings for her.

History

Kou was born in Jouto village where he was raised by his mother. As a child, Kou grew up alongside the Bi brothers, Bi Hei and Bi Tou, Kei, Shin and Hyou who were all older than him as he was youngest amongst them. Kou would often get dragged into trouble during many of Bi Hei's shenanigans or watched one of Shin and Hyou's training bouts with the rest of them.

Story

Battle of Bayou Arc

Kou was recruited during the emergency draft after Zhao's invasion of Qin, Kou went on to his first real war campaign with Kei and the Bi brothers.

Sanyou Campaign Arc

When the unit became a 1000-man unit and was having a losing streak, he was the first to notice that Kyou Kai leaving was a huge loss to the unit. When Shin tried to argue about her contributions he pointed out that Kyou Kai was the one who came up with all their strategies and tactics. Everyone agreed and was shocked to discover Shin and En were coming up with the tactics causing their string of defeats.

Shiyuu Conflict Arc

During a battle with a Zhao unit, Kou and the Bi Hei Unit were nearly overwhelmed by the sheer numbers of the enemy. As the Zhao forces pushed forward, the Bi Hei Unit began retreating, but Kou stays behind to cover their escape. In the heat of the fight, Bi Hei and Kei were forced to leave him behind and he is nearly killed by Zhao soldiers but just as it seemed all hope was lost, the battlefield fell eerily silent. A familiar humming sound fills the air, and a figure descended from above, swiftly dispatching the Zhao soldiers in an instant.

The figure revealed herself to be Kyou Rei, who informed them that she was searching for her sister, Kyou Kai. A few days after Rei joined the Hi Shin Unit, Kou approached her while she was vomiting. With instinctive skill, he used the Sound Muffling Technique to approach her, surprising the Shiyuu. He thanked her for saving his life and invited her to get to know the rest of the unit.

Rei, however, is hostile and asked Kou if he was afraid of her. Kou admitted that he was but still wanted to become familiar with her now that she was part of the army. Rei, angered by his perceived weakness, tells him not to look down on her. She then pinned him to a tree and slowly pressed her blade against his neck, but she stopped when she heard the other members approaching. Kou later shared this unsettling encounter with the Hi Shin Unit, revealing the tension between him and Rei.

Battle of Eikyuu Arc

During the climbing of the cliff to reach the army of Gaku Haku Kou, although he is already wearing his armor, his shield and his spear, Kou manages to catch Kyou Rei who had fallen down with one hand.

Three Pillars Arc

He is promoted to a 100-Man Commander.

Abilities

As one of the oldest veterans in the Hi Shin Unit, Kou has grown into a capable and battle-hardened soldier, able to hold his own against elite enemy forces. Having been part of the unit since its early days as a mere 100-Man Unit, Kou has witnessed and contributed to its evolution into one of Qin’s most formidable armies.

Initially fighting as an infantryman in Bi Hei's unit, Kou gained valuable battlefield experience through numerous campaigns, including the Battle of Bayou, the Sanyou Campaign, and the Coalition War. His resilience and combat skills were further refined during the Western Zhao Invasion, where the Hi Shin Unit faced off against some of Zhao’s most powerful armies.

Despite not being a high-ranking officer, Kou’s determination, adaptability, and loyalty make him an essential part of the Hi Shin Unit. He has engaged in brutal close-quarters combat against some of fiercest warriors from the Zhao Military and Wei Military, demonstrating his ability to survive in high-stakes battles. His experience allows him to hold the line even against superior enemy forces, and his battlefield awareness ensures that he can react swiftly to changing conditions.

Kou's journey mirrors the growth of the Hi Shin Unit, which started as a ragtag group of foot soldiers and has since risen to become a feared 10,000-strong army under General Shin’s leadership. Through sheer willpower and camaraderie, Kou has played his part in this transformation, proving himself as a seasoned and reliable soldier in Qin’s expanding military force.

Physical Abilities

Above Average Strength: Kou is physically strong despite his frail looks. While not monstrously strong like Shin and Kyou Kai, his strength is a far above the norm than most infantry units. During the Battle of Eikyuu, he was able to catch and hold Rei with one arm.

Spearmanship: Kou is capable of using a spear, possessing expert skill as he has fought against harden and well-trained soldiers of a formal Military background.

Hand-to-Hand Combatant: Kou was taught joint locking techniques by Kyou Kai. With these techniques he can grappled with larger opponents as he nearly broke Rouga's arm.

Immense Endurance: Kou is able endure incredible wounds as he took a spear to the shoulder and remained conscious while stopping himself from screaming in pain.

• • Sound Muffling Technique: Kou was able to mimic Clan Shiyuu's special footwork technique that used to hide the sound of one's footsteps. He first showed his use of the technique when he went to check up on a sick Kyou Rei.

Learned Skills and Abilities

Skills	Arc	Taught by
Joint Locks/Hand-to-Hand Combat	Before Conspiracy in the Court Arc	Kyou Kai
Gouriki	Before Conspiracy in the Court Arc	Kyou Kai
Sound Muffling Technique	Before Shiyuu Conflict Arc	Himself

Series Appearances

TBA Arc
845. The Atsuyo Army	Absent
846. The Name I Wanted To Give	Appears
847. Ultimate Formation	Absent
848. A King's Demeanor	Absent
849. The Vow	Absent
850. The Main Force	Absent
851. Full-Scale Assault	Absent
852. Deployment Complete	Absent
853. TBA	Absent
854. TBA	Absent
855. TBA	Absent
856. TBA	Absent
857. TBA	Absent
858. TBA	Absent
859. TBA	Absent
860. TBA	Absent

Trivia

• Kou, while not always confident, has shown himself to be far braver and courageous than Bi Hei or Kei.
• Kou may be a martial artist prodigy as he able was to learn Clan Shiyuu's martial arts from observing Kyou Kai's actions as even Rei was surprised by his movements.
• Sometime after Bi Hei and Tou Bi's wedding, Kou asked Kyou Rei for her hand in marriage towards the end of the Hango Campaign.

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