Yao Shunyu

Biodata

Feature	Details
Name	Yao Shunyu (尧舜禹)
Species/Race	Human 1402
Gender	Male 1592
Affiliation	Independent mission participant; recurring ally of Li Bai, Jiang Cheng, and Wang Fugui 1263 1334
Occupation/Role	Nightmare mission participant
Status	Active 1732
First Appearance	1211

Background

Yao Shunyu grew up herding sheep in his hometown, where he learned to use thrown stones accurately. His parents are deceased, though he says other relatives are doing well. 1602

A survivor of repeated betrayals and abandonment in missions, Yao became intensely distrustful of others. He moves residence roughly every week, chooses isolated rooms, avoids light, and does not consider anyone a friend because he sees trusting another person with one’s back as a fatal mistake. 1351 1368

He previously encountered a Call-the-Mountain practitioner who saved a trapped group but used an injured teammate as bait, reinforcing Yao’s view that survival can demand cruelty. 1640

Personality

Yao is observant, suspicious, and calculating. He watches others without their knowledge, collects leverage, and is willing to use violence or intimidation when he believes it necessary. He secretly recorded Li Shanru’s final conversation with Wang Fugui and admits to torturing her for information. 1263

Despite his cynicism, Yao repeatedly shows courage and loyalty once he accepts someone as an ally. Wang Fugui’s decision to save him from the hangman’s trap fundamentally changes his view of friendship; afterward, Yao comes to regard Wang Fugui, Jiang Cheng, and Li Bai as friends rather than disposable partners. 1301 1368 1396

He has an exceptional tolerance for pain and a pragmatic survival instinct. When trapped by a noose, he cuts off his own ear rather than the rope, correctly reasoning that damaging the rope could provoke the ghost and endanger the others. 1300

Abilities & Skills

Occult and Folk Knowledge

Yao possesses practical knowledge of Yin-Yang customs, ghosts, and traditional supernatural countermeasures.

• Explained the connection between the three Yang fires and blood from the left fingertip, tongue tip, and forehead. 1242
• Identified grave dirt as a way to suppress a living person’s Yang energy and pass among ghosts unnoticed. 1402
• Explained that Shuishu can communicate with resentful, cultivated ghosts under special circumstances. 1468
• Recognized a Sumeru pedestal in the Heishui Village temple and used the temple’s layout to investigate the missing central statue. 1630
• Identified Heishui Village as a nest of Zhusheng Niangniang’s monstrous offspring. 1687

Investigation and Deduction

Yao is adept at reading dangerous situations and linking environmental clues.

• Narrowed the suspected murderer of Zhang Shiwei to five people and helped expose Li Shanru as an accomplice. 1211 1218
• Determined that wind was the key to distinguishing the true Bodhisattva statue from Zhusheng Niangniang’s false vessel. 1631
• Observed that water severely harms the monstrous villagers of Heishui Village, then used that discovery to turn the Blood Mother Festival’s cruelty trial against his opponent. 1687 1688
• Correctly suspected that the immense lotus pond he encountered was Spring God Lake and that its floating bodies were victims of the lake. 1402

Combat and Physical Resilience

Yao can fight at close range and remains effective while injured.

• Pursued and exchanged several blows with Li Shanru, though her fighting ability forced him back before Luo Tianhe intervened. 1218
• Quickly subdued the newspaper boy who rushed toward Wang Fugui, then released him after learning why he had come. 1309
• Escaped a hanging trap by cutting off his own ear and removing the noose. 1300
• Endured severe self-inflicted wounds during the Blood Mother Festival, including mutilation and repeated stabs to his arm, to defeat a monstrous opponent in a ruthlessness trial. 1685 1688

Stone Throwing

Yao developed precise stone-throwing while herding sheep as a child.

• States that he could control a stubborn lead sheep with three stones. 1602
• Used this accuracy during the Life and Death Gathering, contributing to his and Li Bai’s escape. 1602

Equipment / Items

• Mobile phone — Used to secretly record Wang Fugui and Li Shanru’s conversation, later presenting the recording as proof of his surveillance. 1263
• Lightning-struck wood token — Snatched from a shop assistant; Yao urged Wang Fugui to keep it despite the warning attached to it. 1450
• Grave dirt — Held in his mouth overnight to conceal his living Yang energy from ghosts. 1402
• Explosives — Took and distributed military-grade explosives to his group after Li Bai explained their use. 1679
• Stillborn infant — Received as a reward after winning a Blood Mother Festival trial and concealed it inside his clothing. 1686

Relationships

• Li Bai — Close ally and frequent mission partner. They formed an alliance with Jiang Cheng and Wang Fugui, protect one another during missions, and share personal history and trust. 1263 1602 1632
• Jiang Cheng — Initially approached with caution, but later regarded as a dependable ally. Yao repeatedly defers to Jiang’s judgment while continuing to offer his own suspicions and deductions. 1262 1457
• Wang Fugui — The person whose rescue of Yao from the hangman’s trap reshaped Yao’s belief in friendship. Yao comes to see Wang as brave, trustworthy, and stronger than he first appears. 1301 1368 1396
• Luo Tianhe — Distrusted adversary within the Wu Manor mission. Yao believed Luo was treating other participants as expendable tools and later blamed him for placing allies in danger. 1262 1267
• Yuan Shanyuan — Another hostile mission rival whom Yao considered aligned with Luo Tianhe’s schemes. 1267 1333
• Wu — Yao fears Wu’s overwhelming killing intent and strength, but is spared after Wang Fugui identifies Yao and Li Bai as friends. 1333
• Shao Tong — Hostile relationship marked by mutual suspicion. Yao attempted to move against Shao Tong during the Water Lord confrontation, only for Jiang Cheng to stop him. 1505 1507
• Lü Zhangyuan — Initially suspected of being Deep Red; Yao later recognizes that Lü’s memories may have been altered and accepts that the two are badly mismatched in strength. 1632 1693

Story Role / Major Arcs

• Zhang Shiwei murder investigation — Yao helps narrow the suspect list, exposes Li Shanru’s role as an accomplice, and moves to capture her when she attempts to flee. 1211 1218

• Four-person alliance — After learning that Jiang Cheng and Wang Fugui defeated Yu Chengmu’s group, Yao sincerely proposes cooperation with them and Li Bai. He provides surveillance evidence as proof of goodwill. 1262 1263

• Wu Manor and Blood Corpse Tomb mission — Yao loses a Yang fire, investigates the Vengeful Infant threat, and becomes trapped in the hangman’s illusion. He survives through self-mutilation and Wang Fugui’s rescue, beginning a lasting friendship with Jiang Cheng’s group. 1267 1284 1300 1302

• Rong City aftermath — Yao and Li Bai are nearly killed by Wu after witnessing him eliminate Yuan Shanyuan and Luo Tianhe. Before departing, they leave contact information for Jiang Cheng and Wang Fugui. 1333 1334

• Yin Residence investigation — Yao survives a night alone by concealing his Yang energy with grave dirt, discovers the hidden graveyard and lotus pond, and supplies critical clues connecting them to Spring God Lake. 1396 1402

• Water Lord conflict — Yao’s attempt to attack Shao Tong leads Jiang Cheng to restrain him. He later frees himself and rejoins the group as the conflict escalates. 1505 1507

• Welfare Home incident — Yao arrives after Lin Wan’er sends Deep Red No. 6 as reinforcements, then serves as Jiang Cheng’s liaison with the nearby guards to prevent an armed misunderstanding. 1554 1555

• Heishui Village missions — Working primarily with Li Bai, Yao investigates the Zhusheng Convention, discovers Zhusheng Niangniang hidden inside a false Bodhisattva statue, and protects Li Bai when he believes she may be in danger. 1586 1630 1631 1632

• Blood Mother Festival — Yao leads Huang Jun and Luan Lihui toward the festival, identifies the villagers’ true nature, survives a brutal self-harm contest, and exploits the creatures’ vulnerability to boiling water. 1677 1680 1685 1687 1688

• Yan Zhen curse — Yao and Li Bai are afflicted by a technique that makes them resemble corpses until Tang Qisheng identifies and destroys the formation’s focal point. 1729

Notable Quotes

“Friends don't need to apologize.” 1602

“Anyone else want to join? I can play with a few of you by myself...” 1687