Lan Di is the main villain across both Shenmue games, and his actions set the entire story in motion. He kills Ryo's father, Iwao Hazuki, in the opening of the first game—a murder driven by revenge. Lan Di blames Iwao for his own father's death, Sun Ming Zhao. During the killing, he steals the Dragon Mirror, an ornate stone mirror carved with a dragon motif. This artifact is one half of a pair; the other is the Phoenix Mirror. The theft of the Dragon Mirror becomes the driving force behind Ryo's relentless pursuit across both games, though he consistently finds himself chasing Lan Di's shadow rather than catching him.
Behind the scenes, Lan Di holds serious weight in the criminal underworld. He's a high-ranking member of the Chiyoumen, a powerful Chinese crime syndicate, and he's no slouch in a fight either—he's a master of Tiger Swallow Style, a legendary martial arts technique. His combination of criminal influence and martial prowess makes him a formidable opponent, which is part of why Ryo's quest proves so difficult.
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