A Li

Biodata

Feature	Details
Name	A Li (阿璃)
Alias(es)	Qin Li; A'Li
Species/Race	Human; explicitly not a Death Collapse 44
Gender	Female
Affiliation	Li Sanjiang's household 6
Status	Alive 50
First Appearance	Chapter 6

Background / History

A Li is introduced as Liu Manting's daughter, living at Li Sanjiang's home. She is initially described as being in a trance-like state, and Li Zhuiyuan is warned not to approach her because she can react violently to strangers; when Li Sanjiang first gave her candy after her family moved in, she threw it away and scratched and bit him. 6

Liu Yumei identifies A Li's condition as an illness and devotes herself to preventing episodes, which can harm both A Li and people around her while worsening her state afterward. 7 13 A Li initially spends much of her time motionless in the East Room, but begins watching Li Zhuiyuan after he arrives. 8 12

After accompanying Li Zhuiyuan into the Cat-faced Old Woman's dream, A Li gradually becomes comfortable reading, eating, walking, and playing Go with him. Her family regards her willingness to hold his hand and follow his routines as a major improvement. 9 12 13 She later becomes his regular companion and collaborator in crafting equipment for confronting Death Collapses. 27 29

Appearance

A Li is repeatedly described as exceptionally beautiful, with an elegant appearance enhanced by Liu Yumei's carefully selected traditional-style clothing. 8 13 33

• Often wears retro garments, including qipaos, horse-face skirts, and fitted traditional-style outfits. 8 13 25
• Has worn a wooden hairpin with a white top and black horse-face skirt. 13
• Wears a silver-decorated belt that is actually a soft sword. 25
• Her expression is usually quiet and restrained; emotional shifts are often shown through trembling, fluttering eyelashes, or physical gestures rather than speech. 13 25

Personality

A Li is initially withdrawn, wary of strangers, and prone to freezing in place or becoming overwhelmed by stimulation. She does not verbally answer Li Zhuiyuan's questions in the documented encounters, but increasingly communicates through eye contact, gestures, following instructions, and physical closeness. 12 13 29

Her attachment to Li Zhuiyuan is intense and direct. She keeps his towel near the family Spirit Tablets, waits beside his bed through the night, imitates his embrace of Li Sanjiang, and helps care for him after he temporarily loses his sight. 13 29 49

She is also highly focused and adaptable. Once she begins playing Go seriously, she adjusts her style into a patient, nearly impenetrable defense that defeats Li Zhuiyuan despite his use of fortune-calculation concepts. 22

Abilities & Skills

Spiritual Perception

A Li can perceive phenomena beyond ordinary sight. Li Zhuiyuan notes that her eyes can see the frightening hidden side of the world, and Uncle Qin recognizes that she can see an entity in Xue Liangliang's hospital ward. 24 29

• Participated in Li Zhuiyuan's encounter with the Cat-faced Old Woman through a dream. 9
• Li Zhuiyuan's attempt to practice the Black Book's Death Collapse-control method unexpectedly reaches her presence rather than a Death Collapse. 43 44
• Her perception does not make her a Death Collapse herself. 44

Craftsmanship

A Li is a quick and meticulous craftworker who becomes Li Zhuiyuan's primary assistant in making specialized tools. 27 28

• Learns processes from Li Zhuiyuan's drawings and can produce components with the available materials. 28
• Carves the Wood Flower Rolls placed inside the Black Canvas, contributing to its protective and suppressive effects. 29 32
• Helps carve spirit tablets and prepare scripture banners for Li Zhuiyuan's formations. 39
• Successfully sends one of Li Zhuiyuan's talisman papers flying into the center of a doorframe with a simple gesture. 29

Go

A Li is an accomplished Go player whose style develops alongside Li Zhuiyuan's own studies. 13 22

• Initially plays with Li Zhuiyuan and accepts his deliberate losses meant to make her happy. 13
• Later defeats him in two consecutive games through a steady, defensive style that leaves him almost no openings. 22

Equipment / Items

• Soft-sword belt — A silver-carved belt that can be removed and used as a soft sword. 25
• Matching bracelet — Wears the red bracelet Li Zhuiyuan buys for her; he wears the matching blue one. 22
• Carving knife — Used for wood-carving work, including the Wood Flower Rolls incorporated into Li Zhuiyuan's Black Canvas. 29

Relationships

• Li Zhuiyuan — Her closest companion. Their relationship begins through reading and shared dreams, grows into mutual reliance, and later includes collaborating on equipment, playing Go, and caring for one another. 12 22 27 49
• Liu Yumei — Her grandmother and principal caregiver. Liu Yumei closely monitors A Li's condition, protects her from distress, and personally designs much of her clothing. 7 13 25
• Aunt Liu — A member of A Li's household who helps care for her and witnesses her recovery through Li Zhuiyuan's companionship. 12 49
• Uncle Qin — A member of A Li's household, though not her biological parent. He helps maintain the household and trains Li Zhuiyuan in the horse stance. 14 25 50
• Li Sanjiang — Shares a household with A Li and notices her growing bond with Li Zhuiyuan. 6 37

Story Role / Major Arcs

Recovery through Li Zhuiyuan

A Li's early role centers on her gradual recovery after Li Zhuiyuan begins treating her as a companion rather than avoiding her. Their routines of reading, eating together, walking hand in hand, and playing Go visibly reduce her isolation and improve her behavior. 12 13 17

Toolmaking Partner

After Li Zhuiyuan begins creating his own corpse-retrieval implements, A Li becomes an essential collaborator. Her precision and manual skill allow him to assemble more effective tools, particularly the Black Canvas and its carved Wood Flower Rolls. 27 29 32

Reconciliation and Little Yellow Oriole

When A Li withdraws after Li Zhuiyuan's emotional crisis, he enters the dream to apologize. She forgives him, and their renewed connection motivates him to summon Little Yellow Oriole so A Li can communicate with the dead float. 36 37

Support during Li Zhuiyuan's Blindness

After Li Zhuiyuan overuses Yin Walking and loses his sight temporarily, A Li assists him with daily tasks, brings him water, washes towels, and continues playing chess with him. Her care is presented as part of her own continuing recovery. 49