Deng Yang
Deng Yang (邓阳) is a renegade Thousand-Man Commander (千户, Qianhu) of the Jinyiwei who serves as the boss encounter in the game's demo mission. He wields fire-based attacks and has fled to a mountain location after breaking from the Jinyiwei's authority.
The pursuit mission
The demo mission frames Deng Yang's capture as a competition between the Northern Commandery (the protagonist's faction) and the Southern Commandery's elite squad. Both divisions are pursuing Deng Yang simultaneously. The player's approach determines which faction reaches him first and under what conditions.
Approach paths
Speed-run path Approximately 10 minutes. The player parkours directly to Deng Yang, skipping all side encounters. The boss fight is harder because the player lacks fire-resistance gear and upgraded weapons.
Methodical path The player encounters four Southern Commandery officers along the way, each functioning as a mini-boss in an enclosed arena. Defeating these officers yields fire-resistance equipment that directly counters Deng Yang's flame attacks, superior weapons, and recovery consumables.
Boss fight
Deng Yang fights with fire-attribute attacks (火属性攻击). Without fire-resistance gear, his elemental strikes deal heavy damage. Players who explored thoroughly and found the appropriate equipment face a meaningfully easier fight. Some exploration paths also allow players to weaken Deng Yang's combat effectiveness before the confrontation.
Endings
The boss encounter alone has five distinct ending variations. Three confirmed outcomes:
Kill Deng Yang Execute him after the fight.
Spare Deng Yang Refuse to kill him. This triggers the arrival of the Southern Commandery's lockdown force, who turn hostile. Deng Yang fights alongside the player as an ally against the Southern Commandery squad.
Face the Southern Commandery solo Confront the arriving Southern Commandery without sparing Deng Yang.
The remaining two variations have not been detailed in previews. They likely involve combinations of approach method, items carried, and Heavenly Deduction rewind choices.
Rank
Thousand-Man Commander (千户) is a mid-to-senior rank within the Jinyiwei. Historically, a Qianhu commanded roughly a thousand soldiers. Deng Yang's renegade status means he has abandoned the Jinyiwei's authority while retaining his combat training and officer experience.