Lin Qi

Biodata

Feature	Value
Name	Lin Qi (林齐)
Alias(es)	Muxian (courtesy name) 3
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Jichuan County School 14
Occupation/Role	Scholar; Chen Xu's classmate and former close friend 3
Status	Deceased; killed on his twenty-second birthday 25 26
First Appearance	Chapter 3

Background and Downfall

Lin Qi initially presents himself as Chen Xu's closest classmate. He visits Chen during his recovery, praises his cooking, and appears sincerely relieved by Chen's improved health. He later urges Chen to seek treatment from a renowned doctor, but retreats when Chen publicly draws Old Madam Lai's attention to their conversation. 3 4

Behind this friendship, Lin Qi had spent years stealing Chen Xu's Fortune through an evil cultivation method. He selected Chen partly because their birthdays shared a peculiar resonance, befriending him outwardly while Chen's luck deteriorated, his examinations failed, and his leg injury left him vulnerable. 26

During a rainstorm, Lin Qi attacks Chen with an inferior incarnation and attempts to exchange their heads. He intends to take Chen's intellect and literary talent for himself, allowing him to succeed in the imperial examinations through Chen's head. Chen breaks free of the Soul-Cutting Silkworm Silk and decapitates the incarnation. 9 10

The loss of his incarnation leaves Lin Qi critically ill and bedridden in the Lin residence. Though conscious, he cannot move or warn his family that Chen is responsible. Chen ultimately burns three hairs taken from Lin Qi with a method taught by Mr. Zhou, destroying Lin Qi's soul and ending the karmic connection between them. 10 22 25 26

Appearance

Lin Qi is introduced as a well-dressed young scholar with an imposing bearing. During his final illness, his face becomes unnaturally pallid, while his lips darken red and carry a strange fishy odor. 3 24

• Wears a Cloud-Reaching Scarf and Lake Silk Robe. 3
• Square face, thick eyebrows, and large eyes. 3
• His inferior incarnation resembles a life-sized figure molded from black, soft mud. 9
• The severed incarnation head shrinks to the size of a chicken egg, retaining distorted versions of Lin Qi's features. 10

Personality

Lin Qi is calculating and highly ambitious. He masks his intentions with concern, respectful language, and the appearance of friendship, but views Chen's talent as something he can exploit for his own advancement. 3 9 26

He is contemptuous of Chen's humble origins and doubts that a peasant's son can succeed through the imperial examinations. When his scheme fails, his composed manner collapses into panic and desperation. 9

Abilities & Skills

Head-Swapping Art

Lin Qi's primary evil technique is a prepared head-swapping ritual intended to seize Chen Xu's talent, body, and future.

• He planned to exchange heads with Chen so that he could use Chen's intelligence and literary ability to pursue the imperial examinations. 9
• Mr. Zhou explains that a successful exchange would have allowed Lin Qi to control Chen's body and soul. 22
• The technique required extensive preparation and was connected to the resonance of Lin Qi and Chen's shared birthday. 22 26
• It failed when Chen resisted the technique and destroyed Lin Qi's incarnation. 9 10

Fortune Theft

Lin Qi secretly used evil cultivation to siphon Chen Xu's Fortune over several years.

• Chen's repeated misfortunes and failures began after he passed the Child Scholar examination. 26
• The theft gradually weakened Chen's Fortune, worsening his bad luck and driving him toward despair before Lin Qi attempted the final head swap. 26

Soul-Cutting Silkworm Silk

Lin Qi uses pale silk produced by a strange silkworm to restrain his target during the head-swapping attempt.

• The threads bind Chen from his ankles to his waist, making his legs feel heavy and powerless. 9
• The victim may fail to realize that they have been bound, mistaking the effect for weakness. 9
• The associated Soul-Cutting Silkworm possesses the power to stitch together bodies and souls. 10
• Chen overcomes the restraint through his enhanced physical attributes. 9

Inferior Incarnation

Lin Qi can act through a mud-like avatar rather than exposing his true body directly.

• His attacker at Chen's home is an incarnation made from black, soft mud rather than Lin Qi's true body. 9
• Its remains are identified as a Millet Paste Mud Embryo, a material used to make inferior incarnations. 10
• Destroying the incarnation causes a severe reaction in Lin Qi's true body but does not immediately eliminate him. 10 25

Equipment / Items

• Short saber — A finely made weapon with a gold- and gemstone-inlaid hilt, carried by Lin Qi's incarnation during the head-swapping attack. 10
• Soul-Cutting Silkworm — The strange silkworm responsible for the binding silk used in his technique. 9 10
• Millet Paste Mud Embryo — Material forming his inferior incarnation. 10

Relationships

• Chen Xu — Former closest classmate and secret victim. Lin Qi befriends Chen while stealing his Fortune, then attempts to take his head and future; Chen ultimately destroys him. 3 9 26
• Xu Wenyuan — Classmate and friend who anxiously seeks help for Lin Qi during his illness, unaware of Lin Qi's enmity with Chen. 12 13
• Lin Yuan — Brother who kneels outside Mr. Zhou's Star Array in hopes of saving Lin Qi and later becomes obsessed with discovering the truth behind his death. 14 34 35
• Madam You — Mother who desperately seeks doctors and Daoist Master Xuanjing to cure him. 24 25
• Lin Zhongliang — Father who invites Daoist Master Xuanjing to treat Lin Qi. 25
• Song Yan — Personal servant who witnessed Lin Qi's final collapse and later recounts his recent actions to Lin Yuan. 10 34 35

Notable Quotes

“Why not exchange your head for mine? From then on, with your intellect and literary talent, I will surely soar through the imperial examinations!”
— Lin Qi to Chen Xu 9