『The Old Nine Gates, also known as the Nine Gates Commander, is the name for the nine grave-robbing families of Republican-era Changsha, divided into the Upper, Middle, and Lower Gates. The nine master』
The Old Nine Gates
The Old Nine Gates, also known as the Nine Gates Commander, is the core prequel setting of Nan Pai San Shu's The Lost Tomb universe, referring to the nine grave-robbing families that lorded over Changsha during the Republican era. Ancient tombs blanket Changsha, and the underground trade in antiques is entirely monopolized by the Nine Gates: no funerary object unearthed can leave Changsha without passing through one of the nine families. Just as the old city had nine gates that no one in business could bypass, insiders could never cut deals without them — hence the name 'Nine Gates Commander.' The Nine Gates are divided into three tiers, each with a clear role: The Upper Three Gates (Officials): wealthy and influential families, respectable on the surface, who rarely go down into tombs themselves; they handle overall coordination, channels, and connections. The Middle Three Gates (Thieves): the true backbone of tomb raiding, fierce and formidable, who brave ancient graves year-round and carry a mixed reputation. The Lower Three Gates (Merchants): they never touch tombs, dealing exclusively in reselling, collecting, and trading funerary objects to make their living. II. Complete Roster of the Nine Masters of the Nine Gates The Upper Three Gates Zhang Qishan (Big Buddha Zhang): head of the Nine Gates; a mixed-blood descendant of the Zhang family and a warlord officer of immense martial might. Holding military and political power, he commands the Nine Gates as a whole and spends his life chasing the secret of immortality. Er Yuehong: a celebrated dan (female-role) opera star of Changsha. Skilled in tomb raiding, mechanisms, and stage magic, gentle and deeply devoted, and Chen Pi Asi's master, he excels at cracking the intricate traps of ancient tombs. Banjie Li: crippled by a sneak attack in his early years, vicious and fiercely protective of his own. His reach spreads throughout the underworld, and he is a master of the poisons and traps of ancient tombs. The Middle Three Gates Chen Pi Asi: Er Yuehong's disciple. Brutal by nature and ruthless in his methods, he surpasses his master in tomb-raiding skill and operates with absolutely no bottom line. Wu Laogou: Wu Xie's grandfather. Expert at raising dogs to scout tombs and posting covert sentries, he is keen and clear-sighted — one of the few members of the Nine Gates to die a peaceful death. Heibei Laoliu: the only one without kith or kin; a blade-wielder by origin with top-tier martial skill, a lone wolf who keeps his word. His fate is a tragic one. The Lower Three Gates Huo Xiangu: the woman at the helm of the Huo family, a lady of noble upbringing skilled in antique appraisal and social maneuvering, with real weight in Beiping's antique circles. Qi Tiezui: a fortune-teller and diviner. Master of the esoteric arts, the Eight Trigrams, feng shui, and geomancy, he reads the hexagrams to foresee the dangers of tombs — a man whose calculations never miss. Xie Jiuye (Xie Jiu): a meticulous strategist and a titan of the business world. A master of laying schemes and plots, he has quietly shielded the people of the Nine Gates more than once.