Qu Hui Division

Biodata

Background / History

The Qu Hui Division is one of Huangming's “Three Bureaus of Strange Affairs,” alongside the Monster Extermination Army and the Shanhe Division. Its jurisdiction overlaps with the other two agencies, creating routine competition over credit, authority, and difficult cases. Unlike the others, it was specifically established to handle Malevolent Spirits, making it the most specialized of the three in this field 42.

The division first enters Xu Yuan's story after the Qihetan Town incident. Fu Jingyu and Song Lu visit River Worker Alley to question him over Qiao Zi'ang's death 42. Ma Tianshou later offers Xu Yuan a choice: remain hidden while the division takes over the case, or join its investigation as a firsthand witness capable of breaking the deadlock 60. Xu Yuan ultimately joins during the crisis threatening Shanhe County 69.

Jurisdiction and Duties

• Investigates and resolves incidents involving Malevolent Spirits, Evil Spirits, Yin Ghosts, mutations, and other Strange phenomena 42 276.
• Pursues escaped Evil Spirits and issues bounties for either their capture or reliable information about their whereabouts 415.
• Conducts city-wide sweeps and suppresses minor Evil Spirits during major disturbances 301.
• Handles supernatural crime scenes, including the disposal or suppression of contaminated remains and dangerous materials 276.
• Maintains case records from across Huangming; local offices send reports to the North Capital General Division, which develops and distributes countermeasures against particular types of Evil Spirits 305.
• Operates under the Imperial Astronomical Bureau, whose major annual responsibility is compiling the Almanac 42.

Organization

Personnel and Recruitment

Entry standards are high. Cultivators who are unable to “Enter Stream” have limited opportunities to be assigned to the division, while successful members receive high pay, merit rewards, and potential advancement opportunities 177.

Uniforms

Qu Hui Division officers wear black satin, sword-sleeved robes with red-silk dragon patterns at the collars and cuffs. Cloud-pattern counts on the cuffs can differ between officers 42.

The division's black uniforms have led hostile martial-world figures to derisively call its officers “black-skinned dogs” 158.

Methods and Resources

• Specialized countermeasures — The division maintains equipment tailored to different Evil Spirit types, including calligraphy scrolls for resisting Bewitching Ghosts. Better-equipped regions may receive dedicated Craft Items instead 305.
• Soul interrogation — Its officers possess methods to preserve a target's memories while erasing consciousness, allowing them to extract intelligence from captured souls 105.
• Inner Fire — A common combat and cleansing tool used against Evil Spirits and Yin entities 276.
• Containment and cleanup — Officers may dissolve contaminated flesh with corrosive substances, use Auspicious Items to suppress hazards, or delay burning until taboos permit it 276.
• Mounted mobility — Captains can use calligraphy such as “Soaring Cloud” and “Riding Wind” on their mounts for rapid deployment 135.
• Squad tactics — Captains are trained to surround targets, ready their respective Methods, divine abilities, and Pills, then combine their techniques under command 489.

Inter-agency Relations

Story Role / Major Arcs