Li Xunhuan

Biodata

Feature	Details
Name	Li Xunhuan (李寻欢)
Alias(es)	Little Li Flying Dagger; Li Tanhua
Species/Race	Human
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Baoding Li Family; formerly associated with the imperial court
Occupation/Role	Former official; martial artist and hidden-weapon master
Status	Alive
First Appearance	Chapter 6 6

Background / History

Li Xunhuan was born into the Baoding Li Family, a scholarly household renowned for passing down both literature and martial arts. The family’s prestige was summarized by the saying, “Seven Jinshi in one generation, three Tanhua in father and son”; Li Xunhuan, his elder brother, and his father all attained the Tanhua degree. 3 5

His mother died while he was young. After his elder brother succumbed to terminal illness and his father died, Li Xunhuan resigned from office and returned home. The public account held that Old Scholar Li died from grief, but Pei Ju later told Zhou Ming that Li’s father had been caught in a succession struggle and was likely eliminated by Zhu Wushi; Pei Ju admitted to having aided the circumstances because Old Scholar Li had been his political opponent. 3 15

Having trained in martial arts from childhood, Li Xunhuan later received his flying-dagger art from an extraordinary senior rather than inheriting it as Li family martial arts. He built a reputation in the jianghu, made numerous friends, and became known as the “Little Li Flying Dagger.” 3 10

Li Xunhuan was once gravely injured in an ambush and saved by Long Xiaoyun. The two became sworn brothers, with Long as the elder brother. When Long fell in love with Li Xunhuan’s cousin and beloved, Lin Shiyin, Li yielded both Lin Shiyin and Li Garden to him before leaving beyond the Great Wall for ten years. 3 5

Pei Ju believed Li’s apparent self-sacrifice may have concealed a longer plan: distancing Lin Shiyin from the political danger surrounding the Li family while strengthening himself and investigating his father’s death. 15

Appearance

Li Xunhuan is a white-clad, exceptionally handsome man with a gaunt face and a forlorn bearing. On returning to Xingyun Manor, he appeared pale, thin, and frequently coughing, giving the impression of severe, long-term illness. 6

• Wears white clothing. 6
• Has a gaunt, pale face and a thin frame. 6
• Retains a striking appearance despite his illness. 6
• His poor health is attributed to prolonged emotional anguish over Lin Shiyin. 7

Personality

Li Xunhuan is outwardly restrained and composed. When Zhou Ming publicly challenged him over the Li family ancestral hall, he prevented Tie Chuanjia from retaliating and calmly acknowledged that he had been unfilial for not returning in ten years. 7

His control collapses where Lin Shiyin is concerned. Zhou Ming’s fabricated account of her unhappy life drove Li into visible regret, self-blame, and distress; he fled while repeating that it was impossible. 9

Abilities & Skills

Little Li Flying Dagger

Li Xunhuan’s signature art is an exceptionally fast hidden-weapon technique, famed by the saying: “Little Li Flying Dagger, never misses its mark.” 6 13

• His flying-dagger technique was taught by a jianghu senior and is not a Li family inheritance. 10
• Ten years before his return, he was credited with killing an expert at the Innate Perfected Realm. 2
• His dagger was ranked third on Bai Xiaosheng’s Exotic Weapons Ranking. 9
• Despite his illness and Xiantian cultivation, the technique is described as lethal even to a Grandmaster. 6
• Bai Xiaosheng was killed instantly when Li struck his throat as he attempted to flee. Witnesses could not clearly see the throw because it was only a flash of light. 13

Martial Cultivation

Li Xunhuan had reached the Xiantian Realm by the time he returned to the Central Plains, though his visibly weakened condition limited how much of that strength he appeared able to display. 6

• His combat ability is treated as distinct from his apparent cultivation level. 6
• He retained extraordinary movement speed even while emotionally distressed and physically unwell; Lu Xiaofeng failed to catch him. 9
• His mastery of hidden weapons fueled rumors that he was the Plum Blossom Thief, though the accusation was false. 2 3

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Flying daggers — Li Xunhuan’s signature hidden weapons and the basis of his martial reputation. 6 13
• Small carving knife — used during his years beyond the frontier to carve images of Lin Shiyin. 7

Relationships

• Lin Shiyin — his cousin and lifelong beloved. Li gave her and Li Garden to Long Xiaoyun, but remained consumed by concern for her throughout his ten-year absence. 3 7
• Long Xiaoyun — sworn younger brother and former savior. Long saved Li after an ambush, later married Lin Shiyin, and resided at Li Garden after it was transferred to her. 3 5
• Tie Chuanjia — loyal servant, groom, and longtime retainer who served Li for ten years after receiving great kindness from the Li family. 6 7
• A’Fei — the “Flying Swordsman” and a friend Li met while returning to the Central Plains. 6
• Zhou Ming — an antagonist who despised Li’s decision to yield Li Garden and Lin Shiyin. Zhou repeatedly provoked him and deliberately fabricated claims about Lin Shiyin to force him into emotional distress. 3 7 9
• Lu Xiaofeng — investigator of the Plum Blossom Thief case who doubted the accusations against Li and witnessed his emotional collapse after Zhou Ming’s deception. 6 9
• Pei Ju — a political figure who helped push the circumstances surrounding Old Scholar Li’s death and later feared Li might uncover the truth. 15
• Bai Xiaosheng — compiler of the Exotic Weapons Ranking; Li killed him with a flying dagger after Bai attempted to escape. 9 13

Story Role / Major Arcs

Return to Xingyun Manor

After ten years beyond the Great Wall, Li returned to the Central Plains amid rumors identifying him as the Plum Blossom Thief. His destination, Li Garden—now called Xingyun Manor—became crowded with martial artists, reporters, and opportunists waiting for him. 2 3 5

Li arrived with Tie Chuanjia and A’Fei. His frail appearance led observers to question how the famed dagger master remained only in the Xiantian Realm, though Zhou Ming stressed that no one should underestimate his flying daggers. 6

Plum Blossom Thief Case

At Xingyun Manor, Zhou Ming confronted Li over the Li family ancestral hall. Li accepted the criticism without anger and joined the group in paying respects to his ancestors. 7

Zhou Ming later fabricated a theory portraying Lin Shiyin as miserable, abandoned, and potentially involved in the Plum Blossom Thief case. Li overheard the conversation, reacted with profound regret and anguish, and fled before Lu Xiaofeng could catch him. 8 9

When speculation turned toward a supposed Li family hidden-weapon manual, Li clarified that his flying-dagger art had not been inherited from his family. 10

Death of Bai Xiaosheng

After Bai Xiaosheng’s role in the conspiracy was exposed, he attempted to escape. Li Xunhuan immediately killed him with a flying dagger to the throat, conclusively demonstrating the fearsome speed of his signature technique. 13

Continuing Threat

Before her death, Lin Xian’er warned Lu Xiaofeng that a black-clad group led by someone called “Gin” would not leave Li Xunhuan alone. 21

Notable Quotes

“This humble one is unfilial. I haven't returned in ten years since being stationed beyond the frontier, so I truly don't know the current state of the ancestral hall.” 7

“Little Li Flying Dagger, never misses its mark!” 6 13

Trivia

• Li Xunhuan’s flying dagger is ranked third on Bai Xiaosheng’s Exotic Weapons Ranking, behind Old Man Tianji and Shangguan Jinhong. 9
• His suspected possession of the Golden Silk Armor helped intensify the false rumors connecting him to the Plum Blossom Thief. 3
• Zhou Ming’s novel Famous Detective Lu Xiaofeng publicized the decline of the Li family, Old Scholar Li’s death, and the mystery of Li Xunhuan’s decade beyond the frontier. 21