A Miao

Biodata

Feature	Information
Name	A Miao (阿喵)
Alias(es)	Ling Dang
Species/Race	Half-Orc
Gender	Female
Affiliation	Pal's family; disciple of Nian Ling / the Way of Thought
Status	Alive
First Appearance	Chapter 228

Background / History

A Miao grew up in an orphanage in the Wind Wolf Capital. At age eight, she was adopted by a childless merchant couple and given the formal name Ling Dang. She moved with them to Dawn City, where she was treated as their daughter. 232

Her adoptive mother died when A Miao was ten. Her adoptive father later remarried and had a son; his new wife wanted A Miao sent away. To stop the household arguments, A Miao ran away from home. 232

She later lived alone in Rain Harbor Town, working deliveries from the Villain Tavern. After fishing the unconscious Pal out of a river and sheltering him in her shack, she immediately regarded him as family: in her view, she had “caught” him. 228 230 233

Appearance

A Miao is a petite beast-eared Half-Orc girl, just over one meter tall despite being fourteen when she meets Pal. 232

• Green vertical pupils. 230
• Cat-like ears and a tail; her tail bristles when threatened. 233
• Wears a bell around her neck, originally a rusty iron bell from her orphanage. 233 240
• Later receives and wears a silver Ling Dang from Pal. 240
• Has retractable claws, which she uses to cut through restraints. 236

Personality

A Miao is innocent, cheerful, and deeply affectionate. Although fourteen, she behaves more like a much younger child, speaks of herself in the third person, and frequently ends her speech with “meow.” 233

She longs for family and quickly assumes a caring role toward Pal, sharing her food, working to support their household, and worrying that he might abandon her. 230 233 235 249 Her kindness is paired with selflessness: she left her adoptive home to preserve her father's family harmony and initially tried to downplay the severity of her illness so as not to burden Pal. 232 271

Abilities & Skills

Physical Strength

Despite her small frame, A Miao possesses unusual physical strength.

• Can restrain a struggling Red Scale Fish around fifty centimeters long. 233
• Broke free from hemp rope bindings with her retractable claws. 236

Swordsmanship

A Miao is the accepted disciple of the silver Ling Dang's remnant soul, Nian Ling, and trains in the swordsmanship of the Way of Thought. 260 269

• Nian Ling controls her sleepwalking body to practice an unpredictable sword art. 259 269
• Used a White Jade Thin Sword to kill a Devouring Earthworm in one strike. 285
• Was invited in a dream to become the 182nd Sword Saint of the Way of Thought. 274
• Shou Mo Sword Saint recognizes her as an ancestor of the Way of Thought and kneels before her. 300

Night Sleep Disorder

A Miao suffered from Night Sleep Disorder, a Half-Orc bloodline conflict between her Orc and human bloodlines. 238

• She could not be awakened once asleep; her sleeping time progressively began earlier. 228 235
• The worsening condition was expected to become fatal, with Yuzu estimating at least three months remaining. 238 240
• Pal cured her using a Magic Potion made with a Seven-Colored Rongrong Flower, after which she remained awake past her usual sleeping time. 271 272

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Silver Ling Dang — A silver bell given by Pal; it contains the remnant soul of Sword Saint Nian Ling and enables A Miao's connection to the Way of Thought. 240 259
• White Jade Thin Sword — Used during Nian Ling's swordsmanship demonstration to kill a Devouring Earthworm. 285
• Wooden Sword — Used for regular practice while under Nian Ling's guidance. 259 269

Relationships

• Pal — Her rescuer, family, and primary caretaker. A Miao saved him from the river, calls him family because she “caught” him, and trusts him completely; he ultimately cures her Night Sleep Disorder. 228 233 271 272
• Nian Ling — A Sword Saint remnant soul residing in the silver Ling Dang; Nian Ling accepted A Miao as her disciple and trains her in the Way of Thought. 259 260
• A Wang — Her “bestest friend” from the orphanage period. They reunite in Ronghua City, and A Wang remains concerned about A Miao's illness. 267 272
• Adoptive father — A merchant who adopted her with his first wife and still cares for A Miao after she ran away. 232 238
• Yuzu — An Elf magic potion maker who examines A Miao's condition and helps identify the treatment needed for Night Sleep Disorder. 239 240
• Shou Mo Sword Saint — A Gold-level Sword Saint who recognizes A Miao's connection to the Way of Thought and reveres her as its ancestor. 300

Story Role / Major Arcs

Rain Harbor Town

A Miao shelters the incapacitated Pal after fishing him from the river, then brings him into her daily life of fishing and tavern delivery work. She is captured by the Dog Head Gang while delivering food, but Pal rescues her. 228 230 233 235 236

Night Sleep Disorder

After Pal discovers that A Miao cannot be awakened during sleep, he takes her to Dawn City and learns that her bloodline conflict is worsening. He commits to finding a cure in the Elf Race's territory. 238 239 240

Journey to the Elf Race

A Miao travels with Pal and his companions toward the Elf Race. Pal gives her the silver Ling Dang, which is later revealed to house Nian Ling, a Sword Saint remnant soul who accepts A Miao as a disciple. 240 259 260

Cure and Sword Saint Path

Pal obtains and cultivates a Seven-Colored Rongrong Flower, then creates a potion that cures A Miao's Night Sleep Disorder. Freed from the condition, she continues sword training and is identified as an ancestor of the Way of Thought. 271 272 285 300

Notable Quotes

“What A Miao catches is A Miao's. A Miao caught you, so you are A Miao's family.” 233

“Pal, meow fishing you was meow's greatest luck.” 272

Trivia

• A Miao's formal name, Ling Dang, means “bell” in context; she has a longstanding attachment to bells. 232 233 240
• Her favorite snack is a soft candy with fruit fragrance and honey sweetness. 238
• She finds magic potion lectures difficult to follow and avoids Yuzu's lessons when possible. 260 267