Xiao Hong Tang

Biodata

Feature	Information
Name	Xiao Hong Tang (小红棠)
Alias(es)	Little Hong Tang; Sister Hong Tang
Species/Race	Ghost Envoy; little ghost
Gender	Female
Affiliation	Old Woman's ghost servant; later accompanies Hu Ma and the Hu Family
Occupation/Role	Messenger, protector, scout, and transporter
Status	Active 897
First Appearance	Chapter 4

Background / History

Old Woman found Xiao Hong Tang in the Imperial Capital after the girl had apparently been refined into a Ghost Envoy. Her soul root was broken, she bore scars, carried her own birth ledger, and could not enter the Yin Mansion. Old Woman brought her to Old Yin Mountain, fed her Blood Food, and nursed her back to health. 863

She grew up beside Old Woman in Great Sheep Village, where she learned the village's Old Fire Pit customs and acted as Old Woman's ghost servant. She was initially responsible for delivering Hu Ma's meals and messages while he recovered. 6 18

Before Old Woman departed for the ancestral shrine, she entrusted Hu Ma with Xiao Hong Tang's birth date sticker. The sticker allows Hu Ma to keep her near and summon her with incense if she wanders too far. 35 56

Xiao Hong Tang later becomes Hu Ma's regular Ghost Envoy and protector. Though initially reluctant to hurt others, she repeatedly aids him in combat, reconnaissance, ritual protection, and the movement of supplies. 48 253 261 518

Her origin becomes clearer in the Nether Hall. The Emperor Ghosts identify her as a maidservant and burial object who entered the mortal world by imperial decree but escaped punishment. Her body contains Purple Qi connected to the Nether Hall, which she absorbs in great quantity while fighting alongside Hu Ma. 867 868

Appearance

Xiao Hong Tang appears as a small girl, usually dressed in red and carrying a cloth-covered basket. In the Nether Hall, the Purple Qi within her becomes visibly stronger, tinting her clothing purple and making her appear several years older. 21 699 869

• Wears red clothing; her attire later gains a purple sheen in the Nether Hall. 867 869
• Has pigtails resembling sheep horns. 699
• Often carries a small basket covered by a red cloth. 21
• Was found with numerous scars before Old Woman cared for her. 863
• Can manifest as a gust of cold Yin wind. 517

Personality

Xiao Hong Tang is innocent, artless, and notably literal. She follows Hu Ma's instructions closely—even refusing to retrieve a dropped object because he had previously told her not to pick it up. 6 253

She is playful and curious, often wandering off to find other ghosts to talk to or collecting unusual objects in her basket. She loves meat, Blood Food, and Old Artifacts, which make her feel secure. 56 63 72

Despite her greed for Blood Food, she possesses unusual self-control. She refuses to steal after recalling Old Woman's teachings and can refrain from eating Blood Food when Hu Ma explains why it must be preserved. 301 517

She is fearful of powerful foes and the Nether Hall, but remains protective of Hu Ma even when frightened. 56 750 867 889

Abilities & Skills

Ghost Envoy Manifestation

Xiao Hong Tang can travel as Yin wind, appear or disappear suddenly, and be summoned through incense connected to her birth date sticker. 35 56 517

• Can return to Hu Ma when he burns incense to call her. 56
• Originally relied on Old Woman's lit incense to find her way home. 27
• Can be blocked by ancestor ash barriers. 26
• Is repelled by Second Master's intense Yang energy, which burns her on contact. 21 56

Concealment and Delivery

As a little ghost, Xiao Hong Tang can conceal items from ordinary sight and deliver supplies or messages without being easily noticed. 72 120

• Objects she holds usually become invisible to ordinary people. 72
• Can conceal people from others' sight; those concealed also cannot see others. 72
• Delivered food and Old Woman's instructions to Hu Ma. 18
• Delivered Blood Ganoderma and gathered information from Yang Gong's besieged group. 120 184
• Can swim and dive, though hostile river entities and incense warnings may prevent her from crossing safely. 120

Protector and Disruption

Ghost Envoys serve as protectors for Ghost Walkers conducting altar rites. Xiao Hong Tang can patrol the surroundings, interfere with hostile entities, and disrupt supernatural techniques. 253

• Grabbed Cui Xie'er's legs and disrupted his footing during Hu Ma's fight. 21
• Rode on Master Shou's head and broke his spell during the battle against the Beggar Gang leaders. 261
• Helped Hu Ma subdue a Thievery and Disaster sect opponent by seizing the hidden figure's leg. 708
• Repeatedly uses leg-grabbing as her preferred combat tactic. 750 757
• Can be overwhelmed by stronger opponents, including Nu'er Hong. 750

Physical Strength

Though small, Xiao Hong Tang possesses exceptional strength for a little ghost. 518

• Carried Hu Ma into the house after he collapsed from refining the Meng Family Fourth Master's soul. 506
• Removed ten enormous Blood Food vats from a guarded warehouse. 518
• Each vat was estimated by Hu Ma to weigh more than two thousand catties. 518
• In the Nether Hall, she pulled down a purple-gold armored general and fought him without either side gaining a clear advantage. 869

Purple Qi Affinity

Xiao Hong Tang possesses an unusual connection to Purple Qi and the Nether Hall. 686 867

• Had previously consumed Purple Qi-stained Blood Food Pills. 686
• Appears to be molded from Purple Qi within the Nether Hall, allowing her to support Hu Ma where his own control of Purple Qi is limited. 867
• Absorbed large quantities of Purple Qi after the Nether Hall's power leaked into the mortal world. 868
• Her red clothes visibly turned purple as her power increased. 868 869

Blood Food Restraint

Unlike ordinary little ghosts, Xiao Hong Tang can resist the temptation of Blood Food when given a clear reason not to consume it. 516 517

• Never secretly ate Blood Food while living with Old Woman. 18 301
• Refused Hu Ma's initial request to move Blood Food because she believed it was stealing. 517
• Successfully transported Blood Food without consuming it during the warehouse operation. 518

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Birth date sticker — Given to Hu Ma by Old Woman; binds Xiao Hong Tang to him and lets him call her back with incense. 35 56
• Basket — Her usual cloth-covered basket, used to carry food, letters, strange objects, and recovered spoils. 21 253 681
• Redwood sword — An Old Artifact she enjoys holding because Yin Qi can flow through it and it makes her feel secure. 72
• Blue cloth wrist ribbon — A remnant of the Green Robe Evil Spirit tied to her by the Old Tree Stump; it appears to protect her from harm. 209 261
• Punishment Official's Great Saber — Carried by Xiao Hong Tang when threatening enemies near Great Sheep Village. 709
• Red Lantern — Used to signal Hu Ma and guard ritual sites. 479 468

Relationships

• Hu Ma — Her master and closest protector after Old Woman entrusts her birth date sticker to him; they rely on each other for protection, errands, and combat support. 35 261 867
• Old Woman — Her original caretaker and master, who rescued and raised her after finding her in the Imperial Capital. Xiao Hong Tang deeply misses her. 18 416 863
• Old Tree Stump / Mountain Lord — An old acquaintance from Old Yin Mountain who considers her well-behaved and gives her the blue cloth wrist ribbon. 209
• Immortal Aunt Miaoshan — Receives Xiao Hong Tang's secret letter and eagerly plans to visit her. 712
• Hu Family ancestral spirits — Xiao Hong Tang can sense their presence when Hu Ma returns to the Imperial Capital. 777
• Emperor Ghosts of the Nether Hall — Regard her as an escaped burial maidservant and seek to reclaim her Purple Qi and punish her. 867

Story Role / Major Arcs

Great Sheep Village

Xiao Hong Tang introduces Hu Ma to the supernatural rules of Great Sheep Village, explains the Old Fire Pit, delivers his food, and helps him defeat Cui Xie'er. 6 18 21

When Old Woman vanishes into the woods, Xiao Hong Tang becomes lost because she can no longer sense Old Woman's incense, alerting Hu Ma and Second Master to the seriousness of the disappearance. 26 27

Hu Ma's Ghost Envoy

After Old Woman leaves, Xiao Hong Tang stays with Hu Ma through her birth date sticker. She becomes his messenger, scout, and ritual protector while he learns Ghost Walker and Talisman Suppression methods. 35 72 253

Blood Food Warehouse Operation

Hu Ma employs the Five Ghosts Moving Wealth Method to send Xiao Hong Tang into a protected Blood Food warehouse. After Sweet Potato Shochu removes the defensive inscriptions, Xiao Hong Tang transports all ten massive vats to Qing Shit Town, exhausting herself. 517 518

Hu–Meng Conflict

As the conflict with the Meng Family escalates, Xiao Hong Tang guards Hu Ma's interests, carries messages, brings him critical supplies in the Yin Mansion, and assists in battles against supernatural enemies. 542 681 708

Nether Hall

Xiao Hong Tang accompanies Hu Ma into the Nether Hall despite being terrified of returning. The Emperor Ghosts recognize her as an escaped burial maidservant and try to take back her Purple Qi. She absorbs more Purple Qi, grows stronger, and fights alongside Hu Ma through the halls. 863 867 869 889

Trivia

• Xiao Hong Tang ranks herself below Miss Red Wine's Ghost Envoy, Jin Ge, in intelligence, according to Hu Ma's comparison. 517
• She considers a single Blood Food Pill per transported vat an insufficient reward. 518
• Her direct combat strategy often consists of grabbing an opponent's leg, climbing onto them, and refusing to let go. 261 750 757
• She once told Fourth Miss Zhou to “Quick, kiss him!” when Hu Ma required transferred vital energy. 768