He Ming

Biodata

Power Progression

Background and History

He Ming was a high school student in Xihe City. When a supernatural disaster darkened the sky and disrupted communications, he left the city out of concern for his grandmother in the countryside. After encountering green-skinned monsters, he escaped and encountered Shi Chang’s Supernatural Bus 58.

In Xihe City, Hu Jiu explained Ghost Tamers and their risks to him. He Ming later found the Human Skin Paper, which warned of his death and directed him to a ghost on Apricot Tree Street. He risked merging with the apparition and became a Ghost Tamer; after discovering his new ability, he decided to return and save people 60 65.

Following the disaster, Headquarters praised He Ming’s actions, recruited him, and promised him a reward and an operator. His public reputation as the Ghost Tamer who resolved the country’s first S-class supernatural incident later gave him authority to lead missions 68 119.

Personality

Initially clever but inexperienced, He Ming admired the idea of extraordinary power and imagined himself as brave and chivalrous. When he was too frightened to return to help Hu Jiu, he reproached himself and resolved to become a Ghost Tamer so he would not have to hide again 60 61 64.

His willingness to help made him vulnerable to pressure. Experienced Ghost Tamers repeatedly persuaded him to handle their incidents, and Spirit Cat warned him that they were exploiting a newcomer without backing 85 86. After an ambush and a disappointing response from Headquarters, he became more wary of both the Human Skin Paper and the people around him 95.

He Ming grew more composed as a mission leader, but remained uncertain about his goals. He had originally intended to study, attend university, and find a good job; becoming a wealthy Ghost Tamer left him unsure what to pursue. After struggling against the Chu Family’s attackers, he developed a stronger desire to grow more powerful 109 119 145 163.

Abilities & Skills

Insubstantiality

He Ming can turn his body into a phantom-like state, allowing attacks and other matter to pass through him 65.

• Escaped the Ghost Grass after it wrapped around his legs and passed unharmed through a Ghost Slave during the ancient tomb mission 65 122.
• Can use the ability to pass through objects, as he did when confronting Principal Liang 146.
• Gold can affect him despite Insubstantiality; an attacker forced him to flee by scattering gold dust 133.
• The ability offers little offensive power, so he uses gold weapons in combat. Ghost-Drawing Talismans were also able to suppress his supernatural power 90 163.

Phantom Creation

He Ming can create phantoms to deceive observers. His phantoms cannot affect reality 76.

• Used optical invisibility and a false phantom to escape while two attackers fought 91.
• Created a phantom of Hu Jiu to accompany him to Principal Liang’s office while the real Hu Jiu investigated Langzhou University separately 145 146.

Supernatural Power Connection

He Ming believed he had controlled the Mirage Ghost independently, but Hu Jiu had secretly lent him its supernatural power. Hu Jiu could increase that power remotely, and instability in Hu Jiu’s own power later affected He Ming 76 91 131.

Equipment and Items

• Human Skin Paper — A sheet that produces messages written as if by He Ming’s future self. It directed him to the ghost he merged with, but sometimes remained silent and was used by Hu Jiu to observe and manipulate him 65 91 95.
• Golden Box — Used to contain the Human Skin Paper after He Ming grew suspicious of it, temporarily interrupting Hu Jiu’s connection 95.
• Gold dagger — Used to compensate for his limited offensive power; he wounded a Ghost Tamer and severed Chu Leng’s attacking tongue with it 163.
• Satellite phone — Used to communicate with Headquarters and respond to incidents 101 163.

Relationships

• Hu Jiu — Protected He Ming during the Xihe City crisis and became someone he trusted for dangerous missions. Secretly, Hu Jiu treated him as a pawn, manipulated him through the Human Skin Paper, and lent him the Mirage Ghost’s power 63 76 91 119 136.
• Fu Youhua — Praised and recruited He Ming for Headquarters, but expected him to shoulder a heavy workload and persuaded him to accept compensation after his ambush 68 95 101.
• Shen Jiliang — Invited He Ming to join Headquarters and later recruited him toward the Research Department. He disclosed the connection between Wish Fulfillment and the Capital’s frequent incidents 68 101.
• Spirit Cat (Ji Jiacheng) — A companion at Headquarters who warned He Ming that other Ghost Tamers were exploiting him. He later turned to Spirit Cat for help when trapped in Langzhou City 86 88 136.
• Ghost Relative — A Ghost Tamer who posed as He Ming’s second aunt. Despite learning that her abilities brought misfortune to those around her, he sympathized with her wish for an ordinary life 70.
• Chu Shan — A Chu Family descendant who sought the Mirage Ghost. He offered He Ming a place in the family but warned that it would reclaim the ghost if he refused; He Ming rejected the offer 156.

Story Role and Major Arcs

Capital and the ambush

Headquarters arranged training, a commendation, meetings, and health assessments for He Ming in the Capital. A warning from the Human Skin Paper made him wary of the examination and the Ghost Contract 76 78.

After leaving the Capital, he was ambushed by a talisman-controlling Ghost Tamer and Yan San. He escaped while they fought, reported the attack, and subsequently requested a transfer to the Capital for greater safety 90 91 95.

Overworked and worried about control by Headquarters, He Ming captured Someone Under the Bed and gave it to the Human Skin Paper in exchange for protection from the Ghost Contract’s restrictions. He then contacted Shen Jiliang, who explained the role of Wish Fulfillment in the Capital’s supernatural incidents 101.

Lanqiong Mountain and the Ghostly Ancient Tomb

He Ming took charge of the Lanqiong Mountain cases and ordered a hundred-kilometer area sealed after an attack on search personnel 109.

He later led a provisionally X-class exploration of the Ghostly Ancient Tomb, recruiting Hu Jiu as a trusted partner. He transported the team by Ghost Bus, warned them about emotion-affecting laughter, and led the surviving explorers back down the mountain before the deadline 119 121 126.

Langzhou City

Assigned to investigate deaths and a suspected cover-up at Langzhou University, He Ming was attacked on arrival and trapped in the city. Hu Jiu eventually rescued him from three pursuing Ghost Tamers, and the two continued the investigation together 132 133 134 139.

At the university, He Ming obtained information on Chu Shan from Principal Liang and helped plan a way to draw Chu Shan out. After Chu Shan revealed the Chu Family’s interest in the Mirage Ghost, He Ming rejected an invitation to join the family. He reported most of the resolved case to Headquarters while concealing Hu Jiu’s abilities and certain connections involving the ghosts 146 151 156 158.

When Chu Family attackers struck the municipal government building, He Ming fought them with a gold dagger until Hu Jiu arrived. The pair escaped a further assault after defeating Chu Yan and the Snow Woman. He Ming later considered seeking a second ghost, taking particular interest in the contained Snow Woman 163 165 166.