Tang Yao

Biodata

Feature	Information
Name	Tang Yao (唐瑶)
Alias(es)	Third-rate Painter; Third-rate Teacher
Gender	Female
Affiliation	Wenxin Hall's Big Comic Editorial Department; Avalon
Occupation/Role	Manga editor; manga artist; CEO of Avalon; game producer and lead designer
Status	Active
First Appearance	2

Background / History

Tang Yao initially works as an editor for Wenxin Hall's Big Comic, managing Ou Congquan, Shao Changqing, and Tang Xuan. Her position leaves her responsible for delayed manuscripts and artists who disregard editorial advice, while Editor-in-Chief Ding Yilong places the blame on her when problems arise. 2 6 7

Though initially reluctant to confront established artists, she becomes increasingly direct. She opposes Ou Congquan's planned plot developments because she knows readers will react badly, presses Shao Changqing over late work, and refuses to accept responsibility for Ding Yilong's failures. 2 24 29

Tang Yao lives with her younger sister, Tang Xun, in a small shared home. After arriving in this world, she initially speaks of having “dreamed,” but later works to adapt to Tang Yao's identity and body while ensuring that Tang Xun's life is not harmed by her presence. 4 150 300

While still an editor, Tang Yao secretly creates manga. Her works, including Fate/Zero and Uzumaki, gain recognition through the Wenxin Manga Award promotion and the Literature Pavilion's recommendation system. She ultimately resigns from editorial work to pursue manga and game development full-time. 14 38 45 46

She builds Avalon around game development, beginning with a Fate/Zero-based project. As the company expands, she becomes its central creative and managerial force, contributing to game systems, art, proposals, marketing, voice-acting plans, and platform strategy. 62 70 234

Appearance

Tang Yao is a young woman with fair skin, delicate features, long black hair, and a notably curvy figure. Her appearance often causes others to underestimate her professional authority or focus on her looks before recognizing her ability. 8 102 219

• Usually dresses casually in T-shirts, jeans, sweaters, or cardigans. 104 219 313
• Wears her long hair loose or tied into a high ponytail. 219 300
• Has shallow dimples when she smiles. 14
• Has a youthful appearance that makes her seem more like a student than Avalon's boss. 219
• Is occasionally persuaded by Tang Xun and Li Xue to try more formal or feminine outfits, including dresses. 270 321

Personality

Tang Yao is calm, principled, and highly responsible. As an editor, she regards herself as a bridge between manga artists and readers, continuing to protect readers' interests even when she has little authority over a difficult creator. 23

She is assertive when challenged and refuses to become a scapegoat for incompetent management. Her directness can be cutting—particularly when confronting Ding Yilong or Ou Congquan—but she approaches problems with a focus on responsibility and practical solutions rather than revenge. 7 24 29

In business and game development, Tang Yao is decisive, strategic, and willing to take risks. She recognizes emerging opportunities, acts quickly to secure technical resources and staff, and prioritizes quality, user experience, and long-term development over short-term commercialization. 62 82 219

Outside work, she can be lazy, playful, easily embarrassed, and reluctant to be the center of attention. She is particularly awkward about public recognition of her manga identity and about her developing feelings for Li Xue. 4 45 232 300

Abilities & Skills

Manga Creation

Tang Yao is an exceptionally skilled manga artist, capable of producing acclaimed work across distinct styles and genres.

• Created Fate/Zero, Uzumaki, and Chainsaw Man. 45 155 161
• Her horror manga is regarded by Li Xue as exceptionally skilled and “genius.” 14
• Completes high-quality illustrations quickly, including promotional-standard concept art and card illustrations. 167 313
• Uses the pseudonym “Third-rate Painter” / “Third-rate Teacher” to separate her public identity from her manga work. 45 170 231
• Her identity as the woman behind the pseudonym is exposed through an ANF livestream. 231

Editorial Judgment

Tang Yao understands manga structure, reader expectations, and the practical role of an editor.

• Identifies the likely reader backlash to Ou Congquan's proposed plot direction. 2
• Reviews storyboards with composure despite limited formal editorial experience. 34
• Understands that editorial work must convey reader feedback while preserving professional responsibility. 23 29
• Provides plot and setting contributions that help resolve the Girl, Boy, and Sword controversy. 36

Game Design and Production

Tang Yao possesses broad expertise in game design, development planning, and technical decision-making.

• Determines game-engine and server requirements for Avalon's early projects. 62
• Establishes Fate/Zero's website, content structure, and animated promotional plans. 70
• Designs systems and cards for Dou Pai / Night's Decree, including an initial set of 500 cards. 151 154 198
• Proposes a development model centered on a core loop, modular layered design, and toolchain support. 158
• Introduces “fragmented narrative” for Dou Pai, allowing players to reconstruct story details while prioritizing gameplay. 159
• Provides detailed critique focused on quality and player experience when evaluating Wei Chi's game Yun. 219
• Develops project concepts, art direction, and promotional material for titles including Hearthstone, Dungeon & Fighter, Ronin, and an open-world experimental project. 167 251 313 330

Leadership and Business Strategy

Tang Yao leads through clear direction, confidence, and tangible recognition of her staff.

• Recruits and interviews early Avalon members, ensuring they understand the project and are paid for their work. 70
• Recruits former Mingyu Technology staff while acknowledging their concerns about past failure. 82 115
• Rewards Avalon's staff with bonuses and stock options after Spinning Around earns 94 million on its first day. 102
• Forms the Dou Pai project team as executive producer and lead designer. 151
• Plans platform expansion, cross-media cooperation, overseas testing, and the AG Summer Game Celebration. 206 234 318
• Intends to gradually delegate direct control after Ronin and LOL are completed, focusing on core concepts for future projects. 330

Works

• Fate/Zero — Manga created under Tang Yao's pseudonym; later adapted into Avalon's game project. 32 45 62
• Uzumaki — Horror manga featured alongside Fate/Zero in a Literature Pavilion recommendation. 45
• Chainsaw Man — Manga serialized under the “Third-rate Teacher” identity; becomes a major draw for ANF's manga section. 155 161 231
• Spinning Around — Avalon game that earns 94 million on its first day. 102
• Dou Pai / Night's Decree — Card-game project for which Tang Yao serves as executive producer and lead designer. 151 198
• Yun — Game Tang Yao evaluates and supports through Wei Chi's recruitment. 219 220
• Hearthstone — Card-game project for which Tang Yao develops art direction and illustrations. 167
• Dungeon & Fighter — Project for which Tang Yao writes music and reassures the development team about its 2D direction. 251

Relationships

• Tang Xun — Younger sister and housemate. Their relationship is affectionate and mutually supportive; Tang Yao encourages Tang Xun's ambitions and worries about restricting her future. 4 32 300 321
• Li Xue — Friend, colleague, investor, and emotional confidante. Li Xue supports Tang Yao's career and workload, while their relationship develops into mutual affection and increasing intimacy. 15 38 162 270 300
• Kang Ming — Early collaborator who assists Tang Yao with servers, computer environments, website work, and game development. He grows increasingly respectful of her capabilities. 7 62 67 70
• Ou Congquan — Manga artist formerly under Tang Yao's editorial responsibility. Their relationship is contentious due to his resistance to feedback and poor handling of reader criticism. 2 29 36
• Ding Yilong — Former editor-in-chief who repeatedly blames Tang Yao for departmental failures and threatens her position. Tang Yao openly challenges his negligence. 6 7 24
• Si Jinliang — Avalon collaborator and producer on the Dou Pai project. Tang Yao buys technical equipment from his company and later works with him to restructure game development. 67 151 158
• Chu Yuxin — Avalon staff member and lead artist for Dou Pai. Tang Yao reassures her regarding the project's future and collaborates with her on art and story direction. 115 151 159
• Wei Chi — Developer of Yun. Tang Yao recognizes his potential, gives detailed feedback on his game, and offers him a position at Avalon. 219 220
• Guan Qian / Teacher Rumi — Established manga artist Tang Yao meets while arranging a collaboration involving Into the Night. 161 162

Story Role / Major Arcs

Wenxin Hall Editor Arc

Tang Yao begins as a low-ranking Big Comic editor struggling with delayed submissions, difficult artists, and Ding Yilong's hostile management. Her disputes with Ou Congquan establish her commitment to readers and professional standards. 2 6 24 29

Manga Award and Secret Creator Arc

Tang Yao submits her own work to the manga award while concealing that she is the artist. Fate/Zero and Uzumaki gain promotional support, strengthening her resolve to leave traditional publishing. 14 36 38 45

Avalon Founding Arc

After choosing entrepreneurship over slow manga serialization income, Tang Yao develops a game proposal, secures infrastructure, recruits staff, and launches the Fate/Zero website. 15 38 62 67 70

Avalon Expansion Arc

Tang Yao develops Avalon into a successful studio through strategic hiring, project planning, and staff management. The success of Spinning Around gives the company momentum and validates her leadership. 82 102 115

*Dou Pai* / *Night's Decree* Arc

Tang Yao leads the card-game project as executive producer and lead designer, creating its large initial card pool, production structure, and fragmented narrative approach. 151 158 159 198

Third-rate Teacher Reveal Arc

The ANF livestream exposes that Tang Yao's manga pseudonym belongs to a woman. Though embarrassed by the attention and worried about Chainsaw Man's future reception, she continues serialization rather than undermine her colleagues' work. 231 232 234

AG Platform and Future Projects Arc

Tang Yao expands Avalon's influence through the AG Summer Game Celebration, platform partnerships, overseas plans, and multiple new game projects. She also begins considering a future where she steps back from day-to-day control after establishing Avalon's long-term direction. 318 321 330

Trivia

• Tang Yao initially keeps her manga ability secret from colleagues. 11 14
• She considers herself lazy and becomes sleepy if she has nothing to do after dinner. 4
• Her usual confidence contrasts with strong embarrassment when readers connect her to Chainsaw Man. 232
• She prefers swords and cold weapons, which influences her enthusiasm for the Ronin project. 313
• Tang Xun knows that Tang Yao is the “Third-rate Teacher.” 332