Vermilion Bird

Biodata

Power Progression

Appearance

Vermilion Bird appears to be a beautiful woman in her early twenties, with exquisite features and a graceful, alluring figure. In official settings, she wears the red Flying Fish Robe of the Imperial Guard, combining an imposing presence with a striking appearance. 134 214

• Red Flying Fish Robe, particularly associated with her role as Pacification Commissioner. 134 214
• Curvaceous yet agile build; her small frame and movement are well suited to stealth. 164 190
• A few tiny freckles on her cheek, which she privately worries Huang Shaojie may dislike. 193

Personality

Vermilion Bird is confident, flirtatious, and provocative, especially toward Azure Dragon and Huang Shaojie. Her teasing manner conceals a calculating mind: she initially attempts to draw Huang into her and Princess Pingyang's political circle through seduction and the offer of a dual-cultivation technique. 134 151

As an investigator and commander, she is decisive and pragmatic. She directs surveillance operations, authorizes harsh interrogations, and quickly recognizes the significance of the Western Shu restoration conspiracy behind the Ministry of Revenue embezzlement case. 147 150

Her usual public demeanor is cold and imposing, but she becomes openly affectionate after entering a relationship with Huang. She also shows loyalty toward his household, treating his parents as her own family. 193 332

Abilities & Skills

Nine Yin Manual

Vermilion Bird cultivates the peerless Nine Yin Manual, which she uses for offense and body protection. 220 222

• Fires five streams of True Qi in a plum-blossom formation. 220
• Uses Nine Yin Soft Palm, a Yin and flexible palm technique. 221
• Maintains Nine Yin Body Protection True Qi capable of stopping the physical penetration of Miyajima Ayaka's Chidori Sharp Spear. 222
• Her techniques can be restrained by the Divine Ninja's Four Pillars Binding Technique, leaving her vulnerable to the lightning carried through the spear. 221 222

Lightness Skill and Stealth

Among the four Pacification Commissioners, Vermilion Bird is regarded as having the most agile Lightness Skill; her figure is particularly easy to conceal. 164

• Uses the Shifting Form and Changing Shadow movement technique to evade the Sky-Rending Thunder Serpent. 220
• Can rapidly travel across the Capital City and infiltrate guarded residences without alerting ordinary guards. 218
• Was able to evade Blood Monk Wangxin's direct attacks, though his superior cultivation prevented her from confronting him head-on. 190

Investigation and Command

Vermilion Bird leads major Western Pacification Office investigations and makes use of specialized personnel, surveillance, and interrogation. 134 147

• Borrowed Huang Shaojie from Azure Dragon to investigate Luo Ming's suspicious death and the missing 2.3 million taels of silver. 134 135
• Ordered Commander He to monitor Xinglong Realty and investigate Liu Neng's movements. 147
• Identified the seriousness of the Shenghe Merchant Association's links to Western Shu restoration forces after Xuan Wuji was exposed as its hidden controller. 150
• Independently investigated suspected Japanese spy Blood Monk Wangxin and later coordinated with Azure Dragon against Japanese Imperial Consort Miyajima Ayaka. 190 218 220

Equipment

• Short sword — Used against Miyajima Ayaka during the confrontation at the desolate tower. 219
• Red Flying Fish Robe — Her distinctive Imperial Guard official attire. 134 214

Relationships

• Huang Shaojie — Initially recruits him for the Luo Ming investigation and attempts to win him over politically; they later become romantic partners. She protects his parents during his absences and considers them her own family. 134 151 193 234 332
• Azure Dragon — Fellow Pacification Commissioner. She frequently teases him, borrows Huang from his office, and later fights beside him against Miyajima Ayaka. 134 218 220 222
• Princess Pingyang (Xiang Qingyang) — Her primary political allegiance. Vermilion Bird states that she would obey Princess Pingyang even if those orders conflicted with the Emperor's commands. 151 215
• Xiao He — Huang Shaojie's maid and partner. Vermilion Bird invites Xiao He to call her “Sister,” accepting her as part of Huang's household. 332
• Huang Baiwan and Madam Huang — Huang Shaojie's parents. Vermilion Bird stays at Huang Manor to help protect them and later says that caring for them is her duty. 234 332

Story Role / Major Arcs

• Luo Ming embezzlement case: Vermilion Bird brings Huang Shaojie to the Western Pacification Office to investigate Luo Ming's apparent suicide and the disappearance of 2.3 million taels of embezzled imperial silver. Their investigation exposes Liu Neng, Shenghe Merchant Association, and the Western Shu remnants led by Xuan Wuji. 134 147 150
• Recruitment of Huang Shaojie: She attempts to use seduction and a proposed dual-cultivation technique to bring Huang into Princess Pingyang's faction, but Huang initially refuses because of Xiao Qiuyue. 151
• Blood Monk investigation: While secretly observing Blood Monk Wangxin, she unexpectedly encounters the disguised Huang Shaojie. They cooperate to investigate him, though Huang's Soul Search ultimately proves Wangxin is not a Japanese spy. 190 191
• Japanese Imperial Consort conflict: Vermilion Bird tracks Xie Jin, alerts Azure Dragon, and joins him against the Divine Ninja Miyajima Ayaka. Despite fighting with the Nine Yin Manual and her sword, she and Azure Dragon are bound and shocked before Huang returns to rescue them. 218 220 222
• Protection of Huang Manor: When Huang leaves the Capital City to investigate the Imperial Uncle's murder, Vermilion Bird agrees to stay at Huang Manor and guard his parents. 234
• Political crisis: Acting on Princess Pingyang's orders, Vermilion Bird leads more than a hundred Imperial Guard confidantes to Taizhou and sails toward Japan to locate Huang Shaojie and order his return for the campaign against Prince Ning. 447