Ji Qiufeng

Biodata

Feature	Information
Name	Ji Qiufeng (姬求峰)
Alias(es)	Huaisu's Father; Mr. Ji
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Dragon's Return City; City Lord's Manor; associated with the Resurrection Corps
Occupation/Role	City Lord of Dragon's Return City; mentor and evaluator of Resurrection Corps operatives
Status	Alive; gravely ill from Outsider contamination, with his life temporarily extended while he preserves a potential cure for the right moment 26 38
First Appearance	Chapter 3, as “Huaisu's Father” 3

Background / History

Ji Qiufeng is the City Lord of Dragon's Return City and Ji Huaishu's adoptive father. Although he initially appears to Chu Hengkong as a relaxed, fan-carrying elder, he is recognized as the figure whose continued life holds the city together; his death is expected to coincide with Dragon's Return City's destruction 3 7 13 49.

After Chu Hengkong is detained over the summoning incident, Ji tests his unusual abilities and correctly identifies his tabletop strike as Force Transmission. He later approves Chu's employment as combat support for the Resurrection Corps after Chu defeats the demon-possessed Hugos 3 6.

Ji privately observes the Path of Ascension with his Heavenly Eye despite his worsening condition. Impressed and concerned by Chu Hengkong's talent, he concludes that exceptional talent inevitably draws a person into the Tide's dangers 13.

He evaluates Chu's conduct as an inspector, supports his promotion to Senior Inspector, and personally oversees Chu's ascension into Mutation Hand. Ji then subjects Chu to severe martial training, including the full three thousand sets of Dragon Village Boxing, to establish a foundation for future advancement 18 19 20.

Ji's illness becomes impossible to conceal when he coughs gray blood capable of rotting wood. Though a panacea is eventually created, he refuses to consume the sole Saha Everjoy Pill immediately, choosing instead to reserve it for the most advantageous moment 24 38.

As the Maiweia Family's ritual threatens to summon an overwhelmingly powerful aberration, Ji orders the destruction of Maiweia Club within twenty-four hours 44.

Appearance

Ji Qiufeng is a black-haired, black-eyed man who usually presents himself with an easy smile and a folding fan. His terminal illness can strip away that composed image, leaving him visibly frail and close to death 24 39.

• Commonly carries a paper or folding fan, which he also uses in combat and instruction 3 40.
• Often dresses and behaves with the casual air of an unassuming older man despite being the city lord 3 38.
• Coughs blood after exerting his Heavenly Eye or when his illness worsens; the later gray blood is corrosive 13 24.

Personality

Ji is composed, humorous, and deliberately unruffled even when discussing his own death. He deflects concern with jokes, insists that keeping a level head matters most, and maintains a relaxed manner around his subordinates 13 26 38.

Beneath that levity, he is highly vigilant and responsible. He worries about Huaishu's future, recognizes the danger surrounding gifted Ascendants, and carefully restricts dangerous knowledge that could corrupt another person's fate 13 31.

As a teacher, Ji is demanding to the point of ruthlessness. He drives Chu through ascension rituals, overnight training, thousands of martial forms, defensive drills, and daily sparring; however, his goal is to give Chu a durable foundation rather than short-term strength 19 20 40.

Abilities & Skills

Heavenly Eye

Ji can use the Heavenly Eye to perceive the Path of Ascension and examine profound spiritual phenomena.

• A minimal use of the ability—described as releasing only “a thread of spirit”—was enough to observe the Path of Ascension 13.
• Its use severely burdens his already failing body, causing him to cough blood 13.
• He uses the insight gained from it to assess Chu Hengkong's talent and the danger of his connection to the Tide 13.

Ascension Knowledge and Ritual Guidance

Ji is an expert on the Path of Ascension, Quarks, Points, and the safeguards required to advance safely.

• Explains the hierarchy of Points and the existence of higher lifeforms to Chu Hengkong 12.
• Conducts Chu's Mutation Hand ascension through the Sealing Formula 19.
• Warns that ascension sites must be uncontaminated and that even slight alterations to the Sealing Formula are unacceptable due to the world's pervasive malice 19.
• Understands advanced techniques including Cornerstone and Faint Light, while withholding knowledge he considers dangerous to learn 31.

Martial Arts Mastery

Ji is a highly skilled martial artist and instructor from Dragon Spring Township's Dragon Village Boxing tradition.

• Uses a folding fan to disrupt force transmission, exploit openings, and halt Chu's attacks with minimal movement 40.
• Can evade and counter Chu's tentacle-based attacks while sparring one-handed 40.
• Raises a massive stone barrier from the temple floor to test Chu immediately after his Mutation Hand ascension 19.
• Personally teaches and demonstrates portions of the Dragon Village Three Thousand Sets when Chu exhausts the available training dummies 20.

Training and Tactical Instruction

Ji identifies weaknesses in Chu's combat style and develops training specifically to correct them.

• Recognizes Chu's overconfidence and lack of defensive planning as the cause of his near-fatal encounter with Adali 40.
• Teaches an unconventional defensive stance requiring precise tension and rotation of individual muscles 40.
• Emphasizes that martial artists must not become arrogant, regardless of their strength 40.
• Pushes Chu's Mutation Hand comprehension period to its limit, prioritizing long-term fundamentals over comfort 20.

Equipment / Items

• Folding fan — Ji's signature accessory and a precise close-combat tool 3 40.
• Saha Everjoy Pill — A Level 5 pill capable of removing certain Outsider contamination, temporarily isolating deeper contamination, and enhancing the user. Ji possesses the only completed pill but delays taking it 38.

Relationships

• Ji Huaishu — His adoptive daughter and a Resurrection Corps captain. Ji worries about her future, while Huaishu struggles to accept his impending death 13 24 49.
• Chu Hengkong — Mentor, evaluator, and martial-arts instructor. Ji approves Chu's promotion, oversees his Mutation Hand ascension, and trains him extensively 18 19 20 40.
• Youyou — Team doctor and scholar who monitors Ji's illness and openly scolds him for overusing the Heavenly Eye 13 19.
• Jie An — Longtime subordinate and medicine-maker whose efforts keep Ji alive; together with the team, he helps create the Saha Everjoy Pill 24 25 38.
• Dragon's Return City — Ji is its city lord, and the city's survival is directly tied to his continued life 7 13.

Story Role / Major Arcs

• Chu Hengkong's recruitment — Tests Chu's Force Transmission, evaluates his usefulness, and allows him to join the Resurrection Corps after the Hugos mission 3 6.
• Path of Ascension — Introduces Chu to ascension, administers the Mutation Hand ritual, and forces Chu through the Dragon Village Three Thousand Sets 12 19 20.
• Senior Inspector evaluation — Judges Chu's handling of a case and confirms his promotion to Senior Inspector 18.
• Illness and Panacea search — His collapse motivates the search for a cure; the team ultimately produces the Saha Everjoy Pill 24 25 38.
• Maiweia Club operation — Orders the club's destruction when its ritual threatens to summon an aberration with power beyond ordinary Point classifications 44.

Notable Quotes

“Talent that is too great is a curse.” 13

“Malice is everywhere. It seeps through every crack.” 19

“We martial artists may be strong, but we must not be arrogant.” 40