Xuan Ji
宣姬 “DECLARE,” “PROCLAIM” / “CONCUBINE [ARCHAIC]”
A former general of the Kingdom of Yushi, now a wrath-level ghost. Also known as the Ghost Bride. She is obsessed with Pei Ming, who rejected her affections after she tried to take their physical-only relationship to the next level. Her fury at being scorned led to the gruesome deaths of many happy brides-to-be and her eventual imprisonment under heavenly law.
Yin Yu
引玉 “ATTRACT,” “JADE”
Yin Yu, also known as the Waning Moon Officer (下弦月使), is Hua Cheng’s right-hand man, subordinate, and all-around errand runner. He has been described by some as having a very weak sense of presence and a forgettable appearance. He bears a cursed shackle on his wrist, which marks him as a banished heavenly official. Yin Yu is the former Martial God of the West, who was cast out of Heaven after an incident where he endangered the life of his shidi, Quan Yizhen. He has mixed feelings toward his shidi, and even more mixed feelings over said shidi’s dogged insistence on rekindling their former friendship.
Yin Yu’s name is taken from the idiom 抛砖引玉/ “pao zhuan yin yu,” or “throwing out a brick to attract a jade.” It describes the act of making a rudimentary suggestion that is intended to prompt others to come forward with better ideas.
MORTAL REALM & MORTAL REALM ASSOCIATES
Guzi
谷子 “MILLET”
A young human child who Qi Rong kidnapped as a byproduct of stealing the body of the boy’s father. Because Qi Rong is possessing Guzi’s father, the poor little boy seems blissfully unaware that he’s in any danger at all, though that hardly prevents him from enduring plenty of suffering at Qi Rong’s hands.
Lang Ying
郎英 “YOUTH,” “HERO”
A Yong’an man who Xie Lian made the acquaintance of in the Xianle era. He is a troubled man who has lost much—some might say everything—to the drought and famine that struck his home region. After toppling the Kingdom of Xianle in a bloody civil war, he was named king of the new Kingdom of Yong’an.
Heaven’s Eye
天眼开 “HEAVEN’S EYE”
A wealthy, pompous human cultivator who leads a team of cultivators with a similar member profile. Despite his personality flaws, his powers are the real deal. His third eye can see the unseen, and in the process inadvertently reveal exactly how you’ve been “borrowing spiritual energy” recently.
Mei Nianqing
梅念卿 “PLUM BLOSSOM” / “TO LECTURE,” “TO LONG FOR” / FRIENDLY DIMINUTIVE BETWEEN SPOUSES/CLOSE FRIENDS (ALSO USED BY EMPERORS TOWARD THEIR MINISTERS)
A mysterious and powerful cultivator who specializes in the art of astrological divination. He is very easily distracted by the allure of a game of cards.
In the Xianle era, he was the leader of a quartet of cultivators who served as the kingdom’s state preceptors—however, he was not a Xianle native and deliberately obscured his true origins as a citizen of the ancient kingdom of Wuyong and close friend and confidant of Jun Wu. He was the religious leader and head instructor at the Royal Holy Temple, Xianle’s premiere cultivation school and largest place of worship for several gods. Mei Nianqing has a close relationship with Xie Lian, his most cherished student (and his biggest headache), and a very complicated relationship with Jun Wu.
The plum blossom in Mei Nianqing’s name is a symbol of endurance in Chinese flower language, as it blooms in the depths of winter. The plum blossom is also one of the four flowers of the junzi (the ideal Confucian gentleman).
Xianle Royal Family
The king and queen of the Kingdom of Xianle, and Xie Lian’s parents. Xie Lian’s father is of the ruling Xie (谢 “to thank/to wilt”) clan, and his mother is of the Min (悯 “to feel pity for/commiserate with”) clan. Xie Lian is very close with his mother, who is a doting—if rather naive and sheltered—parent. Xie Lian has a more contentious relationship with his father and frequently squabbles with him.
When Xie Lian’s given name (怜 / lian) and his mother’s clan name (悯 / min) are written together, they form the word “compassion” (怜悯 / lianmin).
SENTIENT WEAPONS AND SPIRITUAL OBJECTS
Brocade Immortal
锦衣仙 “BROCADE,” “IMMORTAL”
A semi-sentient brocade robe possessed by the ghost of a human man, Bai Jing. The name of this object is meant to be a play on the name of the spirit of the man who inhabits it. The Brocade Immortal is an immensely powerful and dangerous artifact—those who wear it can be controlled like puppets if they were given the robe by a person with nefarious intent, and even gods are not immune to its effect.
Eming
厄命 “TERRIBLE/WRETCHED,” “FATE”
Hua Cheng’s sentient scimitar. With a single bloodred eye that peers out from its silver hilt, it is a cursed blade that drinks the blood of its victims and is the bane of the heavens. It enjoys nothing more than receiving praise and hugs from Xie Lian, and its childish, forward personality is a great embarrassment to its ghostly master.
Fangxin
芳心 “AFFECTIONS OF A YOUNG WOMAN”
An ancient black sword with ties to Xie Lian. An antique, it easily
tires when dealing with high-flying heavenly adventures. Xie Lian used the sword’s name as an alias while serving as the State Preceptor of Yong’an.
Fangxin originally belonged to the Crown Prince of Wuyong, and its true name as given by Jun Wu is Zhuxin (誅心, “Intent to Execute” / “Executed Heart”). It is far less feeble in the hands of its true owner. Jun Wu gave it to Xie Lian while in the form of White No-Face in the hope that he would continue the blade’s calamitous legacy, but he saw his wishes frustrated time and again.
Mingguang
明光
Pei Ming’s famously broken sword named after a portmanteau of the sounds from Pei Ming and Rong Guang’s names. Rong Guang fused with it to seek revenge.
Ruoye
若邪 “LIKE/AS IF,” “EVIL” OR “SWORD”
Xie Lian’s sentient strip of white silk. It is an earnest and energetic sort, if a bit nervous sometimes, and will go to great lengths to protect Xie Lian—quite literally, as it can stretch out to almost limitless dimensions.