Sun Xiaoqing

Biodata

Feature	Details
Name	Sun Xiaoqing (孙晓晴)
Alias(es)	King of a Thousand — ARIA codename 345
Gender	Female
Affiliation	Ancient Ruins Investigation Association (ARIA), formerly; subsequently serves Li Qi 345 350
Occupation/Role	Card-cheating specialist; former underground-casino consultant; ARIA Codenamed Member 349 371
Status	Active; accompanies Li Qiao and Li Qi's Doll during exploration in the American Federation 415
First Appearance	Chapter 339

Background

Sun Xiaoqing joined ARIA as a teenager and remained with the organization for more than a decade. She became a Codenamed Member under the alias King of a Thousand, though she considered herself low-tier among Codenamed Members because card cheating was her only outstanding specialty and she had chosen the losing side in ARIA's internal conflicts. 345 349

She was connected to Zhang Fengyun, codenamed Mystic Phoenix, who had cared for her when she first entered ARIA. After learning that Zhang Fengyun's grandson, Li Qi, was living in Huaguo, Sun Xiaoqing initially sought him out to offer protection; Zhang Fengyun's death instead led her to suspect that ARIA rivals had arranged the killing. 345

Before the Apocalypse, she worked as a consultant at an underground casino in Ao City. Her investigation of Li Qi's gambling exposed Wang He as Li Qi's puppet and convinced her that Li Qi was far from an ordinary child. 339 344

Sun Xiaoqing fell under pressure from Goddess Star, an ARIA Twelve Star who had defeated Zhang Fengyun in an earlier contest for a core position and continued to suppress Zhang's former faction. Sun Xiaoqing became a particular target after refusing a nominal marriage proposal from one of Goddess Star's direct-line Codenamed Members. 348

She investigated the ARIA-affiliated truck driver responsible for Zhang Fengyun's death and traced him to Missouri in the American Federation. While escorting Li Qi's Substitute Doll there, she was intercepted by Iron Fist and Dancer, agents sent to take her in on Goddess Star's orders. 347

After using the Doll to frighten off her pursuers, Sun Xiaoqing chose Li Qi as her protector and accepted a candy containing his Spiritual Seed. The Seed gave Li Qi direct control over her loyalty and severed ARIA's spiritual monitoring trace from her consciousness. 348 350

ARIA and the AAB subsequently treated her as the apparent owner of Li Qi's Doll, naming it the Psychic Doll and classifying it as a B-Class Strange Item. To escape ARIA pursuit, she entered Dream Town, becoming one of its permanent residents. 371 372

Later, Sun Xiaoqing accompanied Li Qiao through the snowbound American Federation. The pair discovered a ruin in Dream Town, became trapped after attempting to leave, and were spatially transferred to a rainforest with a drastically different time flow. 407 411 413

Appearance

Sun Xiaoqing is a young-looking woman who presents herself with confidence even when dealing with dangerous people.

• Wore a red leather jacket and sunglasses when she approached Li Qi in Suhe City. 344
• Has blonde hair, often tied in a ponytail. 354
• Her sun-tanned skin, sharp upturned eyes, and neutral-looking features give her a cool, somewhat unapproachable appearance. 354

Personality

Sun Xiaoqing is observant, pragmatic, and skilled at assessing danger. She recognized Li Qi's abnormality from casino footage, sought information rather than direct confrontation, and quickly changed her plans after witnessing his Spiritual Authority and Doll-making abilities. 344 347

Though initially motivated by self-preservation, she retains loyalty to Zhang Fengyun and concern for Zhang's remaining family. Her decision to investigate Zhang Fengyun's death and seek out Li Qi began as an attempt to protect the grandson of someone who had helped her. 345

She is easily frightened by direct supernatural threats but does not freeze under pressure. When Goddess Star's agents tried to seize her, she used Li Qi's Doll as leverage; when Li Qi ordered her toward a giant python, she obeyed despite being visibly terrified. 348 415

Abilities & Skills

Card Cheating

Sun Xiaoqing's principal personal skill is cheating at cards, which earned her ARIA codename and her work at an underground casino.

• Identifies and manipulates cards through practiced cheating techniques. 345 349
• Was unable to overcome Li Qi's unexplained card manipulation during their information-exchange game. 345
• Considers her own card skill insufficient compared with elite international gamblers in ARIA. 349

Investigation and ARIA Intelligence

Her ARIA access and contacts allow her to pursue information that ordinary investigators cannot obtain.

• Identified the truck driver involved in Zhang Fengyun's death as an ARIA outer member. 347
• Used ARIA's internal network and contacts to trace the driver to the American Federation. 347
• Explained ARIA's hierarchy, its corporate backers, and its internal struggle to Li Qi. 345

Survival and Field Judgment

Sun Xiaoqing has no documented combat specialty beyond possible marksmanship, but she is capable in dangerous field situations. 350

• Concealed Li Qi's identity from ARIA members in Dream Town. 358 359
• Gathered local intelligence on Springwood Town's nighttime disappearances and origin. 356
• Guided Li Qiao through snow-covered American Federation streets and took the lead in exploring unfamiliar ruins. 406 411

Equipment / Items

• Psychic Doll / Substitute Doll — A Doll created and controlled by Li Qi, not Sun Xiaoqing. She transported it to the American Federation and used its presence to deter Iron Fist and Dancer; the AAB mistakenly identified it as her B-Class Strange Item. 347 348 371
• Invisible Hands — A Strange Item confiscated from Dancer and kept by Sun Xiaoqing for self-defense while in Dream Town. 358
• Clone Doll — A palm-sized military-officer figure Li Qi gave her to carry; Li Qiao later used it as a relay for Li Qi's consciousness. 413

Relationships

• Li Qi / Meng An — Initially approached him as Zhang Fengyun's grandson and a possible person to protect. After ARIA targeted her, she accepted his protection and became his subordinate through a Spiritual Seed. 345 349 350
• Zhang Fengyun / Mystic Phoenix — Former benefactor and ARIA senior who cared for Sun Xiaoqing when she joined the organization. Sun Xiaoqing suspects ARIA rivals were behind her death. 345
• Li Qiao — Companion in Dream Town and the American Federation. Sun Xiaoqing acts protectively toward her, while Li Qiao relies on Sun Xiaoqing's experience during exploration. 407 411
• Knight Errant — Former fellow student under Zhang Fengyun. He entered the dangerous Small Town to find and save Sun Xiaoqing despite her betrayal of ARIA. 358 359
• Goddess Star — ARIA Twelve Star and hostile superior faction leader who targeted Sun Xiaoqing because of her ties to Zhang Fengyun's faction and her refusal of a political marriage proposal. 348
• Iron Fist and Dancer — Goddess Star's agents sent to forcibly bring Sun Xiaoqing back to ARIA; Li Qi later killed them. 347 350
• Zhao Hong — A senior ARIA member concerned that Sun Xiaoqing's actions and enemies could endanger Li Qi, whom he knew as Zhang Fengyun's grandson. 352