Run Sheng

Biodata

Feature	Details
Name	Run Sheng (Lu Runsheng; 润生)
Alias(es)	Brother Run Sheng; Runsheng Hou
Species/Race	Human
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Lu Shan's household; later Li Sanjiang's household
Occupation/Role	Corpse retriever; laborer and Li Zhuiyuan's physical protector
First Appearance	Chapter 13

Background / History

Run Sheng is Lu Shan's adopted grandson. Lu Shan states that he picked Run Sheng up and expects him to suffer alongside him; he also tells Li Sanjiang that Run Sheng should work for Li after Lu Shan dies. 13

As a child, Run Sheng ate “tainted meat,” leaving him unable to keep down clean food. He instead eats meals accompanied by incense, and can even eat incense itself. 13 16 22 Li Sanjiang ultimately takes him in to perform corpse-retrieval work and other labor, intending to rely on his earnings in old age. 16

Run Sheng joins Li Zhuiyuan at Niu Lian's funeral, where he carries three elders on a flatbed cart and performs physically demanding banner work. When Lu Shan and Liu Jinxia are affected by the Corpse Demon's miasma, he follows Li Zhuiyuan's instructions and forcibly slaps them awake despite Lu Shan being his grandfather. 14

He subsequently becomes Li Zhuiyuan's regular partner in supernatural investigations. Li Zhuiyuan plans and directs their responses, while Run Sheng handles transport, tool use, construction, protection, and direct combat. 29 31 39

Appearance

Run Sheng is a large, powerfully built young man with a physique considered highly suited to corpse retrieval. His body is notably cold and dry even in summer, and he is often depicted barefoot or shirtless while doing physical labor. 13 14 21

• Possesses exceptionally great physical strength. 14 31
• Frequently carries carts, corpse-retrieval tools, or Li Zhuiyuan himself. 14 31 48
• Often works covered in sweat, dirt, or blood without losing effectiveness. 16 40 48

Personality

Run Sheng is simple, honest, and deeply obedient toward those he accepts as family or as wiser than himself. Lu Shan tells him to listen to either his grandfather or wise people; Run Sheng consequently follows Li Zhuiyuan's instructions with little hesitation. 33 45

He is protective and loyal, regularly placing himself between Li Zhuiyuan and danger. Even when frightened, he returns with a weapon when Li Zhuiyuan is threatened and remains beside him during encounters with corpses and dead floats. 14 31 42

His usual meekness gives way to fierce excitement in combat. He can become visibly exhilarated by violence, though he tries to follow Li Zhuiyuan's limits, such as crippling opponents rather than killing them. 32

Abilities & Skills

Exceptional Physical Strength

Run Sheng's greatest asset is his natural strength, which makes him highly effective at corpse retrieval and close-quarters combat.

• Pushes a loaded flatbed cart carrying three elders down a dam with steady control. 14
• Pries a resisting corpse from a pond bed and carries the recovered body out one-handed. 31
• Smashes a card table with a single punch. 33
• Overpowers living opponents and Death Collapses with grappling, strikes, and the Yellow River Shovel. 32 44 47
• Carries Li Zhuiyuan through dangerous terrain and back home after strenuous ritual work. 40 48

Corpse Retrieval

Run Sheng has practical experience retrieving bodies through Lu Shan and quickly adapts to Li Zhuiyuan's specialized equipment.

• Uses the Yellow River Shovel, Seven Star Hook, Soul Returning Basket, and Homecoming Net during the recovery of Jiang Dongping's body. 31
• Can operate corpse-retrieval tools under Li Zhuiyuan's direction, though he cannot reproduce Li Zhuiyuan's calculations for applying ritual ink. 31 48
• Handles the physical stages of containing and transporting Zhou Yong after his defeat. 48
• Is a strong swimmer with experience fighting dead floats underwater. 40

Combat

Run Sheng is frighteningly fierce once a fight begins.

• Defends Li Zhuiyuan against miasma-possessed attackers, though he initially refuses to strike Lu Shan out of filial concern. 14
• Cripples two ghost-controlled thugs with the Yellow River Shovel and his teeth after Li Zhuiyuan orders him to avoid killing them. 32
• Defeats four attackers during a fight involving Tan Wenbin. 44
• Pins Zhou Yong down and repeatedly strikes him until Li Zhuiyuan can take control of the situation. 47

Supernatural Awareness

Run Sheng can perceive certain supernatural entities and conditions, though his awareness is neither universal nor as analytical as Li Zhuiyuan's.

• Notices the physical presence of dead floats and reacts strongly when Li Zhuiyuan summons Little Yellow Oriole. 36
• Can see Zhou Yong's deceased wife and daughter because they are connected to his village, while Tan Wenbin cannot perceive them in the same way. 46
• Cannot see Brother Leopard and Zhao Xing during the funeral-banquet encounter. 28
• Relies on Li Zhuiyuan to identify formations, locate threats, and determine ritual procedures. 31 48

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Yellow River Shovel — His primary digging and combat tool; used to excavate corpses, break formations, and restrain enemies. 29 31 47
• Seven Star Hook — A segmented corpse-retrieval hook used to block, restrain, and pry out submerged corpses. 29 31
• Soul Returning Basket — Used with the Homecoming Net to contain a Death Collapse. 29 48
• Homecoming Net — A protective and restraining net; it conceals Li Zhuiyuan from a pursuing entity and later binds Zhou Yong. 29 32 48
• Black Canvas — A Wood Flower Roll-lined cloth used to suppress dead floats; Run Sheng deploys it on Li Zhuiyuan's orders. 29 32
• Formation flags — Helps craft, carry, and plant flags for Li Zhuiyuan's planned confrontation with the Water Monkeys. 39 40

Relationships

• Li Zhuiyuan — Partner, younger-brother figure, and commander in supernatural matters. Run Sheng trusts Li Zhuiyuan's judgment, protects him physically, and follows his orders in combat and corpse retrieval. 29 31 45
• Lu Shan — Adoptive grandfather and original mentor in corpse retrieval. Run Sheng remains loyal even when Lu Shan harms him while under miasma influence. 13 14
• Li Sanjiang — Elder employer and guardian after taking Run Sheng into his household for corpse-retrieval work. Li Sanjiang also worries about Run Sheng's health and safety. 16 40
• Tan Wenbin — Fellow member of Li Zhuiyuan's group. Run Sheng protects him during dangerous encounters and warns him to keep away from A Li. 39 47
• A Li — Her presence makes Run Sheng uncomfortable, and she reacts negatively to his proximity; he keeps his distance from her. 13 29

Story Role / Major Arcs

Niu Family Funeral

Run Sheng first accompanies Li Zhuiyuan and the elders to the Niu family ceremony. He acts as transport, banner-bearer, and emergency muscle when the Corpse Demon's miasma overtakes Lu Shan and Liu Jinxia. 14

Jiang Family Pond Retrieval

Working under Li Zhuiyuan's instructions, Run Sheng retrieves Jiang Dongping's corpse from the pond with specialized tools. The case establishes the pair's division of roles: Li Zhuiyuan provides calculations and strategy, while Run Sheng executes the physical work. 31

Graveyard Confrontation

Run Sheng battles Brother Leopard and Zhao Xing's possessed enforcers, revealing a far more violent side of himself. He follows Li Zhuiyuan's order to cripple rather than kill them and helps test the effectiveness of the new corpse-retrieval tools. 32

Water Monkey Incident

Run Sheng assists in producing formation materials and infiltrating Big Beard's fish pond through an underwater route. He escapes the Water Monkeys' apparent massacre with Li Zhuiyuan, but loses the formation flags and equipment left behind on the rooftop. 39 40

Zhou Yong Case

Run Sheng accompanies Li Zhuiyuan and Tan Wenbin to investigate a Death Collapse created through a Corpse Raising formation. He withstands the disturbing meal offered by Zhou Yong, wakes from the dream trap after Li Zhuiyuan strikes him with a bowl, subdues Zhou Yong, and later restrains and carries him away. 45 47 48

Trivia

• Run Sheng's unusual diet requires incense with his meals; he enjoys incense, soy sauce, and heavily scented food. 13 22
• He is enthusiastic about television and gangster films, which influence his mannerisms when he goes out at night. 25 31
• He does not know how to ride a standard bicycle, but regularly rides a three-wheeled cargo bicycle. 14 33
• He is afraid of Li Zhuiyuan at times, sensing a side of the boy that others do not notice. 28 35