In the Imperial China chapter of Live A Live, you take on the role of a dying kung fu master who must pass on his martial arts to the next generation. The chapter revolves around training three disciples, but only one will survive to carry on your legacy. This emotional and strategic choice is one of the chapter’s key gameplay elements, and knowing how to recruit and train your disciples efficiently can significantly shape your experience.
This guide will walk you through how to recruit each student, how training works, and which disciple is arguably the strongest for the final fight.
Spoiler Warning
This guide contains heavy story spoilers for the Imperial China chapter. If you want to experience the chapter blind, now’s the time to stop reading.
Recruiting the Disciples
You’ll encounter three potential students:
- Yuan Jou – The meek underdog with low starting stats but high potential.
- Lei Kugo – Fast and agile, with moderate starting strength.
- Hong Hakka – Strong defensive tank with slow speed.
Whichever disciple you recruit first will be the one who survives to the end. The other two will die during the story, so your first decision is the most important.
How to Recruit Yuan Jou First
- Head to the forest and pick up the Tuft of Nature’s Providence.
- Go to the village and give it to the old woman with the flag marker.
- Defeat the bullies in the ensuing battle.
- When prompted, refuse to take Yuan as a disciple at first (choose “I’m afraid I must decline”), then accept him afterward when he offers again.
Yuan is the most complex to recruit first and is often missed due to the specific trigger needed.
How to Recruit Lei Kugo First
- Go into the forest until you encounter Lei.
- Choose the correct dialogue to proceed into a fight.
- Defeat her, and you can recruit her immediately.
How to Recruit Hong Hakka First
- Travel east to the marketplace.
- Speak to Hong. Depending on dialogue choices, you may or may not have to fight him.
- He starts at level 5 and joins quickly afterward.
Who Is the Best Disciple?
Each disciple has pros and cons:
Yuan Jou (Best Overall)
- Starts at level 1, making him the weakest at first.
- Highest physical and special attack by endgame.
- Learns Fire and Ice elemental attacks, plus a version of the Shifu’s Lion’s Dismissal.
- Becomes a versatile powerhouse who can handle any enemy weakness.
- Has decent defenses and moderate speed—making him a true all-rounder.
Lei Kugo
- Starts at level 3.
- High speed but low physical defense.
- Has ranged attacks, but their accuracy can be unreliable.
- Her Cat’s Reproach is her signature move—it’s stylish but not especially strong.
- Best suited for hit-and-run tactics but lacks overall damage output.
Hong Hakka
- Starts at level 5.
- High physical defense, very slow speed.
- Specializes in food-based martial arts with a creative move set.
- One notable attack is Pork Stir-Fry, which deals big damage but debuffs the user.
- Excellent tank, but his special defense is poor and he lacks speed.
Ultimately, Yuan Jou has the highest ceiling. With proper training, he becomes not only the most powerful in raw stats but also the most versatile in combat style.
How Training Works
Training takes place over three days, each focusing on a different stat. You can train any disciple four times per day, and each session increases a specific stat by 5. However, you should focus all training on your first disciple, since the other two will not survive.
Training Schedule:
- Day 1: +5 Physical Defense per session (Max +20)
- Day 2: +5 Speed per session (Max +20)
- Day 3: +5 Physical Attack per session (Max +20)
Do not spread your training evenly—it will weaken your surviving disciple. Pick one and invest fully.
Post-Training Tips
After completing training and returning to the village, talk to every NPC. Many will reward you with rare equipment and items that can help significantly in the final fights.
Yuan Jou, if trained exclusively, will reach around level 7–8 by the time training ends and can hit level 10 through additional battles. At level 8 or 9, he learns a strong Ice attack, and at level 10, a powerful Fire move. Both are elemental counters to bosses you face.
Final Thoughts
The Imperial China chapter is one of the most emotional and strategic in Live A Live. Choosing your disciple isn’t just about preference—it’s about long-term planning. Yuan Jou may be the weakest at the start, but his versatility and high offensive growth make him the most effective and satisfying choice.
- If you want speed and flair, go with Lei.
- If you want defense and a creative moveset, pick Hong.
- But if you want the strongest and most balanced fighter, Yuan Jou is the one to train.
Just remember: your first pick is your final pick.
Train wisely, and may your disciple carry on your legacy with strength and honor.
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