Lan Di (translating as Blue Emperor), otherwise known by his real name Longsun Zhao, is a high ranking member of the Chi You Men, and killed of Ryo Hazuki's father, Iwao Hazuki.
Lan Di is a tall Chinese man, with a cold stare, a jagged scar across his cheek, and his hair worn in a long braided ponytail. He is constantly wearing a green and blue chinese ceremonial robe with a dragon printed upon it.
History[]
Lan Di's father, Sunming Zhao was good friends with Iwao Hazuki and the two trained together in Bailu village. Sunming had plans to retrieve the Phoenix and Dragon Mirrors before they fell into the hands of the Chi You Men. Somewhere along the way, Sunming Zhao was killed, with Lan Di believing Iwao Hazuki himself killed him in Mengcun. Lan Di was subsequently orphaned as a result of Sunming Zhao's demise and was picked up and raised by the Chi You Men.
Many years later Lan Di was sent to locate the Dragon Mirror his father had tried to protect, with his search bringing him to Iwao Hazuki's home and dojo. When Ryo Hazuki, Iwao's son returned home, he discovered his father and Lan Di arguing, with Lan Di demanding to know where the mirror was hidden, and Iwao refusing to tell him. The two have a short fight, which Lan Di wins with relative ease, knocking him to the ground with a kick to the face. Ryo, concerned for his father rushes to fight Lan Di but is easily swatted away.
Lan Di asks again, this time more impatiently for the location of the Dragon Mirror, but Iwao refuses to talk stating no matter what Lan Di does to him, he will refuse to tell him. Lan Di walks over to Ryo who is still catching his breath from being beaten away, and lifts him into the air with ease by the throat. He threatens to kill Ryo if Iwao doesn't tell him the location, forcing Iwao to do so in order to save his son.
Having obtained the knowledge that the mirror is hidden underneath the cherry blossom tree, Lan Di releases Ryo and approaches Iwao, asking if he remembers his father's name and reminds him of where he was killed. Iwao looks stunned and works out who Lan Di is, but is interrupted from further talk by Lan Di telling him to get to his feet and he'll let him die like a warrior. Iwao attempts to fight Lan Di off, but is hit with a deadly assault of the Tiger Swallow Fist and is mortally wounded. His men during this time have managed to retrieve the mirror. Lan Di, satisfied he has obtained everything he came to the dojo for, turns and walks away, letting Ryo cradle his dying father.
After murdering Iwao Hazuki, Lan Di's car left town, leaving Ryo to try and gather clues on how to find him in order to seek his own revenge. He spent a short while longer in Japan before travelling to Hong Kong via the harbour.
Whilst in Hong Kong, Lan Di attempts to kidnap Yuanda Zhu, another former friend of his father's, although Ryo and Wuying Ren manage to rescue Yuanda Zhu, forcing Lan Di to leave empty handed via helicopter. Lan Di stares down at Ryo seeming to acknowledge his persistence. Zhu reveals Lan Di's real name to Ryo, his history with his father as well as the location he was heading to next; Bailu Village in the mountains of Guilin Mountains.
After chasing Lan Di to China, Ryo finally comes face to face with Lan Di in Niaowu Castle. Lan Di had been working alongside fellow high ranking Chi You Men, Niao Sun. Ryo and Ren arrive in the castle, defeating Lan Di's men one after another. Ryo faces off against Lan Di again. Lan Di comments that Ryo has improved, but he is still no match for him. Niao Sun attempts to betray Lan Di by burning him alive in the castle in order to cease power whilst this is going on.
Lan Di, believing Ryo's path for vengence is a death wish, promises to reunite Ryo and Iwao. Ryo is saved when Ren offers a fake Phoenix Mirror to him promising to give it to him in exchange for letting Ryo go. Lan Di releases Ryo, with Ren throwing the fake mirror out the window, temporarily distracting Lan Di and allowing Ryo and Ren to escape. Lan Di is last seen standing in the burning building as flames and smoke engulf him, although he remains calm indicating this is unlikely to kill him.
Trivia[]
Lan Di seems to be heavily based off of Virtua Fighter's Lau Chan, with both being chinese martial artists with the same hairstyle and fighting style. As Shenmue started production as Virtua Fighter RPG, this is likely not a coincedence.
In Shenmue, if Ryo Hazuki remains at his home until April 15th, 1987, Lan Di returns to the dojo demanding Ryo hand over the Phoenix Mirror. Ryo refuses stating he'll avenge his father's death, and Lan Di murders him with the exact same move he used to kill Iwao Hazuki.
In Shenmue II, if Ryo takes too long to complete the main quest, the Phoenix Mirror will crack, and Lan Di will appear and kill him, before approaching Shenhua Ling praying on a cliff edge claiming he will take her power for the Chi You Men.
After killing Iwao, Lan Di's car nearly runs over a customer of Tom Johnson who argues with Lan Di for the incident, and runs over the orphaned kitten's mother. In Shenmue the Animation, Lan Di's car smashes into Tom's hot dog stand rather than nearly running a customer over and the cat is not mentioned.
