Jiang Cheng

Biodata

Feature	Details
Name	Jiang Cheng (江城)
Alias(es)	Dr. Jiang / Doctor; Hao Shuai; Yin Zhiping 20 108 222
Species/Race	Human; host to the entity Wu 440 507
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Associated with Deep Red; leads survivor teams during major missions 326 1165
Occupation/Role	Psychologist and doctor; relationship consultant/matchmaker; investigator 20 21 239
Status	Active 1754
First Appearance	Chapter 20

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Internal anomaly detected	440	Jiang Cheng senses a second heartbeat and an ominous presence within himself, communicating through laughter and footsteps.
Host–Wu connection awakens	507	Wu awakens in response to Huai Yi's Kirin Arm, causing Huai Yi's power to recede and establishing Jiang Cheng's terrifying deterrent.
Borrowed manifestation of Wu's power	775	Jiang Cheng confirms that he used Wu's power to break a sculpture's neck during the art-school mission.
Black-energy absorption	1526	A black arm emerges from Jiang Cheng's body and forcibly retrieves black energy that attempts to flee from him.
Otherworld retrieval	1741	After regaining consciousness during the battlefield confrontation, Jiang Cheng reveals that he has brought someone back from the other world.
Blood-red berserk manifestation	1750	His hidden power erupts: red eyes, blood-red clouds, and a black blade accompany his slaughter of powerful monsters and battle with the Old President. He loses control and must be saved by Fatty.

Background / History

Jiang Cheng operates an office under the title “Dr. Jiang,” where he handles psychological and relationship cases. His clientele includes wealthy figures such as Pi Ruan, whose relationship troubles reveal Jiang Cheng's discreet matchmaking business. Fatty, initially his client, becomes his closest companion after Jiang Cheng helps him survive nightmares. 20 21

Unlike people who can relay the warning of a dream door before entering it, Jiang Cheng and Fatty are drawn directly into the nightmare world the moment they dream of the door. Jiang Cheng subsequently becomes an experienced survivor, repeatedly taking charge of investigations, negotiations, and escape plans. 20

His history before the nightmares remains deliberately obscure. Criminals who capture him recognize him as a wanted criminal, while later intelligence identifies him as possessing a special organizational survival priority. His resemblance to a man named Lu Jianli—whom the River Goddess once loved—becomes central to the mystery surrounding his identity. 245 325 1123 1328

Jiang Cheng ultimately rejects the Lu Jianli identity, insisting that Lu Jianli is dead. Nevertheless, his connection to Wu, the River Goddess, the Newspaper Man, and other high-level anomalies suggests that he is entangled in a much older scheme. 1541

Appearance

Jiang Cheng is a good-looking young man in his early twenties with an ordinary fashion sense, a composed bearing, and an athletic physique. Others frequently notice the contrast between his refined appearance and his unsettling confidence. 108 237

• Often carries himself with broad, relaxed movements and little visible nervousness. 108
• His eyes are described as holding “seven parts arrogance and three parts indifference.” 108
• Looks slim while clothed but has evenly developed, streamlined muscles. 237
• Can adopt convincing personas ranging from a polished gentleman to a vulnerable victim or scholarly young master. 98 115 1383

Personality

Jiang Cheng is calm, observant, and difficult to intimidate. He retains his composure when facing ghosts, criminals, hostile teammates, and supernatural entities, often using conversation to test an opponent before acting. 98 223 423

He is also theatrical, shameless, and fond of provoking people. Jiang Cheng regularly fabricates stories, assumes false identities, and manipulates others' impressions of him for information or advantage. His jokes frequently cross into deliberate psychological pressure. 56 108 115 672

Chen Xiaomeng suspects that Jiang Cheng has antisocial personality disorder due to his callous humor, manipulative habits, revenge-mindedness, and apparent disregard for conventional morality. This is her assessment rather than a confirmed diagnosis. 131 143

Despite this reputation, Jiang Cheng repeatedly protects people he considers his own. He shows professional empathy toward vulnerable clients, treats Fatty as a younger brother, rescues Wu Yujiao and her mother, and assumes responsibility for teams that place their trust in him. 170 313 1165 1420

Abilities & Skills

Psychological Analysis and Profiling

Jiang Cheng is an experienced psychologist with exceptional skill at identifying inconsistencies in behavior, emotional needs, and hidden motives.

• Profiles clients' emotional trauma and explains their needs to concerned family members. 239
• Notices that Li Lu's sudden enthusiasm conflicts with her previously dependent personality. 114
• Produces detailed profiles of two missing women from sketches and limited information. 168
• Uses psychological pressure and controlled politeness to extract information from frightened opponents. 98 315

Investigation and Deduction

He excels at linking minor clues into workable theories, particularly in supernatural cases.

• Identifies the Xiaoshijian Village chief as Qian Jianguo by comparing a registry with a photograph. 153
• Deduces that the little beggar is the maid of a female ghost from her previous life and recognizes the importance of her torn embroidered pouch. 313
• Determines that the ghost in the paper-figure storage room is Shopkeeper Zhou's missing wife and devises a trap around the safe figure. 1063
• Recognizes patterns in supernatural environments, including the tally marks and eye symbol on the statue-disguise garment. 768

Deception and Social Manipulation

Jiang Cheng uses lies, suggestion, impersonation, and feigned authority as practical survival tools.

• Invents supernatural stories to frighten Fatty and mislead competing teams. 56
• Claims false identities such as “Yin Zhiping,” a KTV model, and uses fabricated intimacy with Chen Xiaomeng to influence a group. 108 112 115
• Exploits Liu Xueyi's fear of a powerful “adult” by presenting himself as that figure's envoy. 1324
• Feigns scholarly status, aristocratic confidence, or professional concern to gain access to guarded information. 672 728 1383

Drawing and Visual Memory

Jiang Cheng possesses strong visual recall and can reproduce useful information quickly.

• Draws a detailed operational map of Feng Manor from memory. 594
• Sketches portraits accurate enough for others to recognize subjects. 776 1398
• Recreates Monk Huicong's back tattoo from memory for later identification. 1625
• Sees forty-seven lines on the supernatural blackboard, the highest perception count in his group. 743

Combat and Survival

Though not primarily a fighter, Jiang Cheng is physically capable, decisive, and willing to use violence.

• Maintains an athletic, muscular build and demonstrates practical fighting ability. 237 768
• Kills a villager during the Anping Inn conflict and uses the village chief's son as leverage to open a secret door. 158
• Defeats moving statues alongside Wang Qi and personally tests the dangerous statue-disguise garment. 768
• Confronts threats at close range, including Chen Ran, Wang Changguo, Huai Yi, and multiple supernatural entities. 222 487 507 972

Connection to Wu

Wu resides within Jiang Cheng and is both his greatest protection and his greatest danger.

• Wu's presence can suppress or frighten other supernatural powers, including Huai Yi's Kirin Arm. 507
• Jiang Cheng can sometimes borrow Wu's strength, but Wu remains an independent and unpredictable entity. 775 1034
• The connection causes erosion, physical exhaustion, and fear that Jiang Cheng is becoming detached from his own body and soul. 440 541
• Wu's power may awaken without Jiang Cheng's full consent, especially when Jiang Cheng is threatened. 507 1113

Hidden Monstrous Power

Jiang Cheng possesses a deeper power beyond his link to Wu.

• Black energy reacts to him as though drawn to his body, producing an autonomous black arm. 1526
• His full manifestation creates overwhelming pressure comparable to the Old President's and forms a black blade wreathed in dark flames. 1750
• This state is extremely dangerous: Jiang Cheng becomes bloodthirsty, loses control, and may not return to himself without outside intervention. 1750

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Su Xiaoxiao's dagger — Used against Chen Ran; its poison incapacitates Chen Ran after the confrontation. 222 223
• Statue-disguise garment — A hooded garment that hides Jiang Cheng's human traits from ordinary moving statues; its tally marks track active sculptures. 768
• White paper — A sheet containing information intended to counter Lu Qin/Shao Tong's ability. 1437
• Soul Suppressing Bell — A bell placed around Jiang Cheng's neck through Wu's manipulation; it is revealed to be a curse connected to Wu Yingying. 1134
• Gift box — An unusually heavy patterned box entrusted to him by a hostile child spirit on the ghost bus. 816

Relationships

• Fatty / Wang Fugui — Jiang Cheng's closest friend, frequent mission partner, and emotional anchor. Jiang Cheng guides and protects him, while Fatty ultimately sacrifices his life force to save Jiang Cheng from his berserk state. 20 313 1750
• Wu — The entity within Jiang Cheng. Their relationship is volatile but increasingly cooperative; Wu protects Jiang Cheng, while Jiang Cheng can influence Wu through reasoning and appeals to their shared interests. 440 507 1511
• Chen Xiaomeng — An acquaintance from Jiang Cheng's first mission and a recurring partner in the Anping Inn incident. Their relationship begins with antagonistic teasing and deception but develops into functional cooperation and mutual respect. 107 151 158
• Lin Wan'er — Jiang Cheng's boss and a powerful ally. Their relationship is marked by sharp power dynamics, strategic cooperation, and mutual recognition of each other's influence. 170 440 1541
• Pi Ruan — A wealthy client who becomes a loyal contact and errand runner. Jiang Cheng helps him with relationship and business problems, while Pi Ruan provides information, resources, and surveillance. 20 168 548
• Huai Yi — Initially intimidated by Wu's presence, Huai Yi becomes a dependable teammate in supernatural investigations and missions. 507 540 938
• Wu Yingying / River Goddess — A powerful ghost connected to Jiang Cheng through his resemblance to Lu Jianli. She comes to believe that Jiang Cheng has lost memories of their past and accepts his professed affection. 1123 1526
• Chen Ran — A dangerous rival who clashes with Jiang Cheng during a mission. Their relationship later shifts into wary understanding as Jiang Cheng recognizes the cost of Chen Ran's choices. 222 223 1561

Story Role / Major Arcs

Anping Inn Incident

• Reunites with Chen Xiaomeng and joins the investigation into Anping Town and Xiaoshijian Village. 107
• Uses local records and photographs to uncover the village chief's former identity as Qian Jianguo. 153
• Works with Chen Xiaomeng to seize the village chief's son and force the opening of a secret door. 158

Real-World Investigations

• Uses Pi Ruan's network to locate women connected to his sketches and investigate unresolved matters from earlier missions. 167 168
• Is captured by a criminal organization but delays them until the police arrive. 245
• Investigates disappearances in Rong City while becoming increasingly aware of Wu's presence within him. 440

Jiangtan University and Art School Missions

• Manipulates his way into Professor Wu's confidence and investigates the abandoned sports field, library, and equipment room. 672 709 737
• Reveals exceptional aptitude by perceiving forty-seven lines on a supernatural blackboard. 743
• Survives the sculpture hall incident by exploiting the disguise garment and Wu's power. 768 775

Ghost Bus and the Targeted Mission

• Boards the ghost bus with Fatty and Huai Yi, learning its rules and accepting supernatural requests to survive. 816 948
• Reunites with former mission survivors and concludes that a later mission has been constructed specifically around him. 1163 1164
• Becomes the group's accepted leader and assigns tasks based on each survivor's strengths. 1165

Lu Jianli and Jile Lou

• Learns that the River Goddess's former beloved, Lu Jianli, has a face identical to his own. 1123 1328
• Faces the implications of this connection while navigating the Jile Lou conflict and Wu Yingying's memories. 1334 1526
• Insists that he is Jiang Cheng rather than Lu Jianli, even as evidence links him to multiple high-level anomalies. 1541

Final Conflict with the Old President

• Helps coordinate forces against the Old President and confronts the Closed Door Old Man's ability. 1740 1741
• Unleashes his hidden power to kill multiple monsters and engage the Old President directly. 1750
• Survives after Fatty's sacrifice and Wu's intervention heal the battlefield and break the prophecy. 1750

Notable Quotes

“Lu Jianli is dead, I am Jiang Cheng.” 1541

“Those who understand, will understand.” 1324

Trivia

• Jiang Cheng jokingly explains his name as the “Jiang” of dangerous rivers and lakes and the “Cheng” of scheming and planning. 673
• He has described himself as an “angel in white” when asked about his profession. 680
• During the blackboard trial, he initially answers “four” before revealing that he actually sees forty-seven lines. 743