Li Rongjun

Biodata

Feature	Details
Name	Li Rongjun (李荣军)
Alias(es)	Officer Li
Species/Race	Human
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Jiangquan City Public Security Bureau (formerly) 92 95
Occupation/Role	Police officer; later offered a position at Liu Haoyu's company 7 95
Status	Alive; recovered from the Red Gate's curse and was later dismissed from the police force 69 95
First Appearance	Chapter 7 7

Background / History

As a child, Li Rongjun wandered near a mountain cemetery and developed an unexplained fever and worsening cough that eventually caused him to cough blood. A strangely dressed passerby gave him charmed water, curing the illness after doctors had failed to diagnose it. The person instructed him never to tell anyone; as an adult, Li Rongjun came to believe he had been possessed and that his rescuer was a Daoist priest. 53

By the time of the Jiangquan City cases, Li Rongjun was a middle-aged police officer. He initially approached supernatural incidents through ordinary investigative procedure, questioning Liu Haoyu over Wang Faqiang's unexplained mental collapse following a cliffside crash. 7

Appearance

Li Rongjun is a middle-aged man of roughly 140 jin. Following his encounter with the Red Gate, he becomes notably haggard, with tired, unfocused, bloodshot eyes and a visibly shaken demeanor. 53 56 61

• Middle-aged police officer. 53
• Weighs approximately 140 jin. 56
• Wears a hospital gown during his recovery from the curse. 69

Personality

Li Rongjun is observant, professional, and persistent in his work. He carefully evaluates evidence, quickly rules Liu Haoyu out as a suspect in the reservoir case, and recognizes that the body disposal site must have been nearby. 18

His childhood experience leaves him more open than his colleague Li Suqin to supernatural explanations. As violent cases become increasingly impossible to explain, he openly asks whether ghosts exist and decides that investigating Zhu Xingxue's house is necessary to uncover the truth. 52 53

Although terrified by the haunted house, he remains protective of Li Suqin. He shields her when she faints, orders her to take his gun and flee when the Red Gate pulls him away, and later carries her from the house after escaping. 55 56 57

Abilities & Skills

Criminal Investigation

Li Rongjun applies police procedure and close observation to abnormal cases.

• Questions witnesses and evaluates scene details surrounding Wang Faqiang's crash. 7
• Rules out Liu Haoyu as a suspect in Liu Xiaoxiao's murder because the estimated time of death predates Liu's arrival in the area. 18
• Infers that the reservoir victim was likely dismembered and disposed of close to where the remains were discovered. 18
• Notices Liu Haoyu's evasiveness during questioning about the deaths connected to the three murderers. 23

Resolve Under Fear

Li Rongjun continues acting despite extreme supernatural stress.

• Privately enters Zhu Xingxue's house when an official operation cannot be approved. 53
• Follows Qin Liu upstairs rather than risk becoming trapped in the shifting corridors again. 57
• Escapes the haunted house while carrying the unconscious Li Suqin. 57

Limit: The Red Gate's curse overwhelms his mental state, causing hallucinations, panic, and hospitalization. 61 62

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Service handgun — Carries a handgun loaded with three bullets while trapped in the haunted house; he hopes it may offer some protection against ghosts. 55
• Body camera — Used during the private investigation of Zhu Xingxue's house, but malfunctions after recording a blood-covered woman. 53
• Cigarettes — Turns to smoking during periods of severe distress, despite not usually smoking. 57 61

Relationships

• Liu Haoyu — Initially a witness whom Li Rongjun questions in multiple cases. Li grows suspicious that Liu knows more than he admits; after Li's dismissal, Liu—described as his former colleague and friend—offers him work at his company. 7 23 95
• Li Suqin — Police colleague and partner during the unauthorized investigation of Zhu Xingxue's house. Li takes the lead to protect her, while she remains with him after he loses consciousness. 53 55 56
• Qin Liu — A ghost who rescues Li and Li Suqin from the haunted house, warns him never to enter the blood-red iron door, and guides them through the shifting corridors. 56 57
• Wang Wenqi — Special Task Force officer who hears Li's account of the haunting, has him sent to the hospital, and later confronts him at the Public Security Bureau over his involvement in a sensitive case. 61 62 92

Story Role / Major Arcs

Early Police Investigations

Li Rongjun first questions Liu Haoyu over Wang Faqiang's crash and subsequent mental breakdown. He later responds to Liu's report of a human head found at the reservoir and leads the investigation into the dismembered remains of Liu Xiaoxiao. 7 17 18

After two of Liu Xiaoxiao's killers die in detention and the third killer's family is found mutilated, Li shares the confidential developments with Liu. He suspects that Liu has information he is concealing but cannot prove it. 22 23

Zhu Xingxue House Incident

While reviewing the deaths of Zhu Xingxue's family and two missing university students, Li recognizes that conventional explanations are failing. Against Li Suqin's objections, he enters Zhu Xingxue's house privately to pursue the truth. 52 53

Inside, his body camera fails, he encounters apparitions and a ghostly phone call, and the Red Gate attempts to drag him away. Qin Liu saves him from the house, but Li later sees the Red Gate outside Li Suqin's home as well. 53 55 56 57

Red Gate Curse and Dismissal

The Red Gate continues appearing in Li's dreams and visions, leaving him frightened, unstable, and convinced he is haunted. Liu Haoyu identifies the condition as a curse connected to the blood-red iron gate and attempts to stabilize him with talismans; Li eventually recovers enough to leave the hospital. 61 62 69

Wang Wenqi's later confrontation places Li under scrutiny for his involvement in the sensitive case. Li narrowly avoids jail time but is fired after admitting to a major mistake. Liu Haoyu subsequently offers him a new job. 92 95