Elder Deng

Biodata

Feature	Details
Name	Elder Deng (邓老)
Species/Race	Human
Gender	Male
Occupation/Role	Folk customs shop owner; former ghost exorcist and powerful Daoist priest; later works as a detective investigating supernatural cases
First Appearance	Chapter 8

Background

Elder Deng entered Jiangliu City decades earlier as a ghost exorcist. With five fellow exorcists, he investigated the haunted house outside the city, where the group found overwhelming resentment, performed a Ghost Questioning ritual, and encountered numerous vengeful spirits and Fierce Ghosts. They later discovered and sealed a blood-covered rusty iron door that had appeared inside the house. 47

The seal did not end the tragedy. Within a week, his companions began repeatedly dreaming of the red iron door, suffered mental collapse, and eventually died violently. Elder Deng survived, carrying both the knowledge of the door and the conviction that young people should not risk their lives as exorcists. 47

He eventually retired from ghost exorcism and operated a secluded folk customs shop in Jiangliu City, selling incense, paper offerings, Ghost Jade, and other supernatural supplies. 8 70 His resentment toward the Special Task Force stems from the death of his son, Deng Wenping, who was abandoned near an escape route after staying behind to cover his teammates during a mission. 70

Later, Elder Deng returned to supernatural investigation as a detective. He tracked a familiar malevolent presence in an apartment-building disappearance case, identified a mutilated corpse as a ghost servant, and subsequently went missing within the Red Gate. 158 159 160 He later severely injured the red door, leaving it inactive after its prior battle with the red embroidered shoes. 162

Appearance

An elderly, white-haired man with sharp eyes, Elder Deng is usually seen behind the counter of his incense-scented shop, smoking a pipe. Though once known as a powerful Daoist priest, age has left him visibly frail. 8 70 103

• Sharp-eyed and white-haired. 8 70
• Commonly carries and smokes a pipe. 8 416
• Elderly and physically weakened compared with his former self. 103

Personality

Elder Deng is blunt, experienced, and deeply cautious around supernatural matters. Having watched fellow exorcists die and lost his own son to a mission, he repeatedly urges others to value survival over reckless heroism. 47 70

His concern is especially evident around Liu Haoyu and Deng Xiaolin. He can be stern with Xiaolin when she pursues ghosts, but his strictness is rooted in fear for her safety. 46 47 He is outwardly cold toward the Special Task Force, yet still provides Wang Wenqi with information that may protect Jiangliu City. 70

When a group faces possible annihilation by a Fierce Ghost, Elder Deng chooses to enter a dilapidated room alone, accepting the risk so that others may escape. 111

Abilities & Skills

Ghost Exorcism and Sealing

Elder Deng was once a powerful Daoist priest and ghost exorcist with experience confronting major supernatural threats. 47 103

• Participated in sealing the blood-covered iron door in the Jiangliu City haunted house. 47
• Severely injured the red door after returning to supernatural investigation. 162
• Recognizes the danger posed by powerful Fierce Ghosts and contaminated spiritual sites. 23 70
• His age and frailty limit him compared with his former strength. 103

Spiritual Vision

Elder Deng possesses exceptionally strong spiritual vision, allowing him to sense supernatural presences and their effects on ordinary people. 158

• Detected a familiar malevolent energy while investigating an apartment-building disappearance. 158
• Recognized the ominous aura of red embroidered shoes as a sign of severe misfortune. 110

Occult Knowledge

Through decades of experience, Elder Deng is knowledgeable about supernatural artifacts, rituals, entities, and hauntings.

• Identified red jade as Ghost Jade, an item capable of sealing ghosts. 8
• Diagnosed a blackened Ghost Jade as polluted by the materialized resentment of a powerful Fierce Ghost. 23
• Knows that consecrated silver mirrors, rather than ordinary mirrors, can ward off evil. 23 46
• Identified a bound and mutilated corpse submerged in a sealed water tank as a ghost servant. 159
• Performed Ghost Questioning during the original investigation of the haunted house. 47

Equipment / Items

• Pipe — Frequently smoked while working or speaking with visitors. 8 416
• Ghost Jade — Red jade pieces he sells to Liu Haoyu; used to seal ghosts. 8
• Incense and paper offerings — Kept and burned in his folk customs shop. 23
• Consecrated silver mirror — Arranges to obtain one for Liu Haoyu. 46

Relationships

• Liu Haoyu — Mentor and master figure. Elder Deng repeatedly warns him against the dangers of exorcism, supplies him with Ghost Jade, and treats him as family; Liu considers him closer than a relative. 8 47 70 160
• Deng Xiaolin — Granddaughter. He is protective of her and strongly opposes her entering ghost exorcism, though he also recognizes her attachment to Liu Haoyu. 16 47 70
• Deng Wenping — Son and former Special Task Force member. Wenping died after remaining behind to cover his teammates, shaping Elder Deng’s hostility toward the organization. 70
• Wang Wenqi — Special Task Force officer. Their interactions are tense because of Deng Wenping’s death, but Elder Deng still warns Wang about the haunted house and urges him not to die. 70
• Wu Yixuan — Associated with Elder Deng in the decision to send Liu Haoyu away for the latter’s safety. 441
• Qin Liu — Shares a moment of reflection with Elder Deng concerning Liu Haoyu’s changes after Beiming City. 432

Story Role / Major Arcs

Folk Customs Shop and Ghost Jade

Elder Deng first appears as Liu Haoyu’s supplier of Ghost Jade. He gives Liu three pieces of red jade, warns him not to underestimate supernatural opponents, and unsuccessfully tries to persuade him to abandon ghost hunting and settle down with a family. 8

After one Ghost Jade becomes blackened, he identifies the contamination as powerful resentment and explains that the item has been claimed or affected by a powerful ghost or monster. 23

The Haunted House Warning

Elder Deng recounts the original expedition into Jiangliu City’s haunted house, including the appearance of the blood-covered iron door and the horrific deaths of his companions after they sealed it. He explicitly tells Liu Haoyu not to investigate the site. 47

When Wang Wenqi seeks information about a rise in supernatural incidents, Elder Deng identifies the haunted house as the likely source and warns that its resentment can pollute the earth veins. 70

Red Embroidered Shoes and Sacrifice

Elder Deng recognizes a pair of red embroidered shoes as an omen of calamity because of their festive appearance in a gloomy setting and their terrifying aura. 110

During a crisis involving a Fierce Ghost, he enters a dilapidated room alone so that the rest of the group may have a chance to survive. 111

Return to Investigation

Having returned to his old work as a detective, Elder Deng investigates a disappearance in an apartment building, senses a familiar evil presence, and identifies evidence of a ghost servant. 158 159 His disappearance into the Red Gate prompts Liu Haoyu to search for him. 160

Later Appearances

Elder Deng remains reluctant when Liu Haoyu decides to leave Jiangliu City, fearing another prolonged separation. 207 Liu later reunites with him at the folk customs shop after a long absence. 416

During funeral preparations at the folk customs shop, Liu Haoyu returns and is confronted by Deng’s granddaughter, Lian'er, over his absence. 433