Dong Xuebin

Biodata

Background / History

Dong Xuebin was raised in a modest household. His mother was an ordinary teacher, his father a laborer, and his maternal relatives lived in the countryside; he rejects assumptions that he was born into power or wealth. He describes himself as an unremarkable student who advanced through hardship, determination, and work rather than inherited status 124.

After graduating from college, Dong obtained his unexplained time-manipulation ability while preparing for the civil-service examination. He entered public service and developed a reputation for confronting crises personally, often through unconventional and dangerous methods 1871 837.

His relationship with Xie Huilan, whom he later married, brought him into contact with the influential Xie family. Nevertheless, Dong maintains that his political advancement rests primarily on his own achievements 176 772 1935.

Appearance

Dong Xuebin is frequently underestimated because of his plain, harmless-looking appearance. Observers often find it difficult to reconcile his ordinary build and demeanor with his public record and combat ability 402 1997.

• Described as having an ordinary figure, appearance, and temperament. 402
• Was in his mid-twenties while serving as a Central Discipline Inspection Committee leader. 78
• His youthful appearance causes strangers to doubt that he could be responsible for the feats attributed to him. 1522

Personality

Dong is outspoken, stubborn, and prone to confrontation. He has a notoriously bad temper, refuses to yield simply for the sake of etiquette, and can turn arguments into prolonged verbal battles 352 332. He is also politically shrewd: when cornered, he seeks unconventional ways to reverse a crisis rather than accept defeat 837.

Despite his reckless reputation, Dong repeatedly risks himself for others, including rivals and civilians. He is driven by a strong personal conscience; when fellow department members were trapped beneath a collapsing wall, he intervened despite believing his own strength was inadequate 109. As a leader, he prioritizes practical public benefit over superficial achievements and is willing to work through holidays while sending subordinates home 1665 1294.

Dong is openly ambitious about promotion and political achievement, but views ambition as motivation to improve conditions and produce tangible results for the public 1665.

Abilities & Skills

Time Manipulation

Dong possesses an unexplained ability that allows him to manipulate time. Its documented functions include rewinding events, freezing time, and reversing a limited portion of a damaged structure.

• “Back” — Dong can return to an earlier point and retry events. He used it after failing to protect Qu Yunxuan and Aunt Xuan, allowing him to change the outcome of the assault. 669
• Stored uses — His ability can be accumulated; he once held seven uses in reserve and spent them without hesitation to reach Xie Huilan in time. 712
• Time freeze — He has frozen time while confronting criminals, allowing him to act while others are immobilized. 142
• Structural reversal — During a building collapse, Dong used his ability to reverse part of the ruins; the alteration was buried beneath the wreckage and escaped investigation. 1398
• Limitations — The ability does not give him perfect foresight. Dong acknowledges that some disasters and deaths remain impossible to anticipate. 419

Combat and Reflexes

Dong is an exceptionally dangerous close-range fighter, particularly when facing multiple armed opponents.

• Dodges gunfire by reading muzzle flashes and predicting bullet trajectories before shots reach him. 304 342
• Defeated and killed eight armed soldiers while armed only with two dining knives. 647
• Continued incapacitating armed thugs despite severe injuries and repeated blows to the head. 1497
• Easily subdued Fang Wenping’s guard twice without rising from his seat. 1000
• Has fought opponents ranging from gangs and escaped prisoners to a Northeast tiger. 615

Physical Strength and Endurance

Dong considers his natural strength ordinary, even weaker than that of some physically stronger people. However, his documented feats under pressure far exceed normal expectations 109.

• Held up a collapsing wall for several minutes so Liu Hanqing and Ning Shaoyang could escape. 109
• Moved roughly a ton of rubble alone to rescue a trapped person from a collapsed building. 809
• Carried two critically injured students down a mountain, one in each hand, after participating in the rescue operation. 510
• Remains capable of fighting and moving after injuries that leave others convinced he should be incapacitated. 1975 1497

Marksmanship

Dong has demonstrated exceptional firearms proficiency.

• Killed four soldiers inside a Jeep with four distant shots without being seen by his companions. 657
• Retrieved weapons from defeated soldiers before preparing to infiltrate the Research Institute. 647

Political and Strategic Ability

Dong combines a confrontational style with sharp crisis management and a practical understanding of political timing.

• Reverses apparently hopeless political situations in ways that resolve the immediate conflict while protecting—or improving—his own position. 837
• Built an alliance with Qin Yong to counter Hu Yiguo’s faction within the County Public Security Bureau. 244
• Led communication work for the Chinese Academy of Sciences Experimental Base after Zhenshui County secured the project. 1665
• Advocates for projects with durable public value rather than short-term “face projects” that leave problems for successors. 1665
• Can out-argue multiple officials in committee meetings while securing resources for his departments. 332

Gambling and Appraisal

Dong has repeatedly displayed improbable success in games of chance and antiques.

• Found a hidden Hetian jade hairpin concealed inside a modern Guanyin statue. 1201
• Defeated a casino representative known as the “Card God,” prompting rumors about his gambling ability. 1613
• Revealed consecutive Big Three Dragons and Big Four Winds Heavenly Hands in mahjong despite opponents changing the set and dice. 981

Career and Story Role

Relationships

• Luan Xiaoping — His mother. Dong is filial toward her and remains attentive to her needs despite his career demands. 6
• Xie Huilan — Wife. Their relationship began when Xie Huilan publicly chose Dong over an arranged engagement; he later risked his life beside her during a bomb incident. 176 1019
• Xie Guojian and Ci Lifen — In-laws who treat Dong with paternal and maternal concern; they considered assigning him a bodyguard after his injuries. 37
• Xu Yan — Former leader and close confidante. She can openly scold Dong when his actions become excessive, yet intervenes to protect him from the consequences. 1861 1050
• Qu Yunxuan — A woman Dong repeatedly protects, including using “Back” to prevent her and Aunt Xuan from being harmed during a robbery. 669
• Zhang Longjuan — Companion during the Research Institute operation. She shows strong concern for Dong’s safety and is among the few who understand how extraordinary he is. 647 342
• Qin Yong — Public Security Bureau colleague and political ally against Hu Yiguo’s faction. 1201 244
• Liang Chengpeng — Public Security Bureau director whose mother Dong helped obtain surgery for; the incident deepened Liang’s respect for Dong and revealed the extent of Dong’s connections. 1402
• Fang Wenping — Frequent adversary in arguments and political clashes. Their relationship later softened enough for Fang Wenping to give a Longevity Lock to Qian Qian. 1000 1294

Notable Quotes

“It's not that I cause trouble, it's that trouble finds me.” 754

“That's just my temper, no one's face works!” 352

Trivia

• Dong’s “Plague God” nickname is used even by the Xie family, reflecting his tendency to become the center of major incidents. 1877
• He once replaced a controversial stage act by making ten bricks disappear in a magic performance, earning applause from the audience. 374
• Although others describe him as someone who causes trouble wherever he goes, Dong attributes the attention he receives to “personal charm.” 520