Ma Yuan

Biodata

Feature	Information
Name	Ma Yuan (马原)
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Kyushu Divine Shield Security Bureau, Qiantang Branch 53
Occupation/Role	God Hunter; squad captain 34
First Appearance	Chapter 34: Rule Pollution Begins

Background / History

Ma Yuan led a small team tracking the Lost Coast operative Black Shark III aboard the G1955 train. Black Shark III had already discovered them and used a God's Taboo Object to flood the train with anesthetic seawater, incapacitating ordinary passengers. Ma Yuan immediately recognized the incident as Rule Pollution and ordered the team to kill Black Shark III and recover the object before the passengers died. 34

The operation quickly collapsed when Black Shark III killed Ma Yuan's big-nosed teammate and used the flooded carriage to maximize his underwater mobility. Ma Yuan realized too late that his team had walked into a prepared trap. 39

During the subsequent Clay Figure Rule Pollution, Ma Yuan worked alongside Lin Baici, Xia Hongyao, and other survivors. Though initially skeptical of Lin's deductions, he followed his lead when the situation demanded it: coating himself in red mud, operating the furnace bellows, and removing charcoal by hand. 46 48 49

After Lin Baici escaped the Rule Pollution and killed Black Shark III, Ma Yuan inspected the corpse and formally thanked him on behalf of the Kyushu Divine Shield Security Bureau. He explained that Black Shark III carried a one-million-yuan bounty and offered to expedite the verification process. 52 53

Appearance

Ma Yuan is presented as a professional, elite-looking man before the train disaster. By the time he reaches Lin Baici's carriage, his suit is wrinkled and disheveled from the fighting and flooding. 40

• Usually wears a suit. 40
• Initially projects an elite, professional image. 40
• Appears visibly battered after Black Shark III's ambush. 40

Personality

Ma Yuan is duty-driven and pragmatic. Upon recognizing Black Shark III's Rule Pollution, he immediately prioritizes eliminating the target and recovering the God's Taboo Object to save the passengers. 34

He is cautious in unknown Rule Pollution scenarios, often urging Xia Hongyao not to act rashly and refusing to risk her safety after Lin Baici exits the Clay Figure challenge. His concern is partly practical: he fears the consequences of Xia Hongyao, Xia Hongmian's sister, dying under his watch. 41 51

Ma Yuan can reassess people quickly. Though doubtful of Lin Baici's unorthodox reasoning at first, he comes to trust Lin's judgment during the furnace trial and later recognizes him as an exceptional prospect worth sponsoring for the Security Bureau. 46 48 40

Abilities & Skills

God Hunter Combat Training

Ma Yuan is an active God Hunter capable of leading a field squad against Lost Coast operatives.

• Possesses enough speed to launch an immediate attack on Black Shark III. 39
• His movement is severely hindered when fighting in deep seawater, an environment that favors Black Shark III. 39
• Demonstrates quick situational awareness, identifying which Clay Figure participants were being burned through their linked figures. 47

Rule Pollution Assessment

Ma Yuan can identify the scale and dangers of supernatural incidents, though he is not always able to solve their underlying rules alone.

• Identified Black Shark III's flooding as a Rule Pollution event caused by a God's Taboo Object. 34
• Recognized the Nautilus as a rare object capable of exempting its user from Rule Pollution. 41
• Followed Lin Baici's deductions during the Clay Figure challenge after failing to establish a reliable answer himself. 45 48

Relationships

• Lin Baici — Survivor and promising new God Hunter whom Ma Yuan attempts to recruit; he offers to sponsor Lin's entry into the Security Bureau and helps process Black Shark III's bounty. 40 53
• Xia Hongyao — Fellow God Hunter known throughout the Security Bureau as Xia Hongmian's sister. Ma Yuan repeatedly tries to restrain her impulsiveness and protect her during the Clay Figure challenge. 40 41 51
• Black Shark III — Lost Coast target Ma Yuan's squad was assigned to track. Black Shark III ambushed the squad, killed Ma Yuan's teammate, and escaped their direct confrontation. 34 39
• Ma Yuan's squad — His team was tracking Black Shark III when the train was flooded; at least four members accompanied him, including the big-nosed young man killed by Black Shark III. 34 39

Story Role / Major Arcs

Black Shark III Train Incident

• Leads the pursuit of Black Shark III aboard the G1955 train. 34
• Recognizes that the flooding seawater is anesthetic and will kill the ordinary passengers unless the Rule Pollution is stopped. 34
• Loses a teammate to Black Shark III and discovers the target's superior combat ability in water. 39
• Reaches Lin Baici and Xia Hongyao after the battle, where he offers to sponsor Lin for Security Bureau recruitment. 40

Clay Figure Rule Pollution

• Participates in the Clay Figure Monster's “graduation assessment” alongside the surviving passengers. 41
• Hesitates over the correct facial expression for the clay figures and remains skeptical of Lin Baici's explanation. 45 46
• Adopts Lin Baici's furnace-survival methods, including covering himself in red mud and manually operating the kiln. 48 49
• Prevents Xia Hongyao from immediately attempting to leave the challenge, insisting on waiting until Lin Baici's method is proven safe. 51

Aftermath

• Verifies Black Shark III's death and identifies Lin Baici as the killer despite Lin's vague explanation. 52
• Introduces himself formally as a Qiantang Branch member of the Kyushu Divine Shield Security Bureau. 53
• Explains the one-million-yuan bounty on Black Shark III and promises to help accelerate its payment. 53