Bai Qi

Biodata

Feature	Details
Name	Bai Qi (白祁)
Species/Race	Merfolk; outwardly human, but capable of transforming his lower body into a malformed blue fish tail 26
Gender	Male
Occupation/Role	Skilled healer; former Emperor Yao He's lover; master of a secluded coastal manor 21 26
Status	Alive 40
First Appearance	Chapter 21: “Don't Move”

Background

Bai Qi was the former Emperor Yao He's only known lover. After Yao He's death, he withdrew from public life and lived in seclusion at a private estate near the sea. His past and identity became obscure, though the people in his manor remain deeply devoted to him and speak highly of his generosity and medical ability 21.

Nearly ten years after Yao He's death, Bai Qi continues to play chess with an AI modeled on him. He treats the program as if it were Yao He himself, repeatedly seeking affection and asking why Yao He has not returned 26.

Bai Qi rescued Chi Li after the latter escaped his kidnappers and collapsed near the coast. He provided medical treatment and sanctuary without demanding an explanation, but Chi Li found the timing of the rescue suspicious 21. Bai Qi later admitted that members of his bloodline can sense a summons when one of their own is in danger; this was why he found Chi Li 26.

Appearance

Bai Qi has an elegant, almost otherworldly appearance that initially conceals his nonhuman nature. He is physically frail and suffers from a persistent illness, including bouts of coughing blood 21 26.

• Pale blue hair and a warm, gentle demeanor 21
• Usually wears white robes trimmed in gold 21
• Has an unusually striking, refined bearing that Chi Li compares to an elf in a secluded paradise 21
• Transforms below the waist into a blue, scaled fish tail 26
• His tail is malformed: rather than ending in fins, it narrows into a bare, snake-like fleshy point without scales 26

Personality

Bai Qi presents himself as kind, private, and reluctant to interfere in other people's conflicts. He treats Chi Li's injuries, allows him to recover freely at the manor, and refuses to press him for information. His attendants view him as compassionate and harmless 21.

Behind this gentle image, Bai Qi is observant, secretive, and highly calculating. He investigates Chi Li's memories without permission, deduces the connection between Chi Li's Merfolk Core and Si Jinyan's royal bloodline, and uses Yao Di's ambition to direct the Emperor against Si Jinyan 26 39.

His grief over Yao He remains central to his behavior. Bai Qi knows the chess-playing AI is only an imitation, but continues recreating their former intimacy rather than letting go of the past 26.

Abilities & Skills

Healing and Medical Treatment

Bai Qi is an accomplished healer whose treatment saves Chi Li after severe blood loss, gunshot wounds, and pheromone extraction.

• His attendants describe his medical skills as exceptional 21
• He treats Chi Li's wounds and arranges continued dressing changes at his manor 21
• Chi Li's condition improves substantially under his care 21

Merfolk Transformation

Bai Qi can transform his lower body into a Merfolk tail.

• His tail is blue and scaled along most of its length 26
• The malformed, finless tail tip distinguishes him from an ordinary Merfolk 26

Bloodline Sensing

Bai Qi claims that members of his people can sense a distress summons when a blood relative is endangered.

• He says this ability led him to Chi Li after Chi Li was wounded near the coast 26
• He suspects Chi Li has a connection to his people, though Chi Li cannot confirm it 26
• Bai Qi later determines that Chi Li is human but carries a Merfolk Core 39

Memory Exploration

Bai Qi can probe another person's memories, though doing so severely harms him.

• He secretly examines Chi Li's memories after inviting him to the manor 26
• Using this ability causes him to cough blood and requires his servant to intervene 26

Political Manipulation

Bai Qi is capable of using limited knowledge and carefully framed lies to influence powerful figures.

• He presents Yao Di with fabricated “visions” about Chi Li, Si Jinyan, and a coming shift in imperial power 39
• He exploits Yao Di's fear of Si Jinyan and desire to control him 39
• He later reveals that his supposed prophecy was based on deduction rather than foresight 39

Equipment / Items

• Chess-playing AI modeled on Yao He — An artificial intelligence with Yao He's voice and preprogrammed affectionate responses; Bai Qi uses it to reenact their past relationship 26.
• Black-and-white chessboard — Bai Qi frequently plays with the AI, ignoring the rules and moving pieces as he wishes 26.
• Mermaid-scale bullet plan — Bai Qi arranges for a scale bullet to graze Chi Li's heart and trigger resonance with the Merfolk Core embedded near it 40.

Relationships

• Yao He — Bai Qi's deceased lover and the former Emperor. Bai Qi remains unable to let go of him, preserving an imitation of their companionship through an AI replica 21 26.
• Chi Li — Bai Qi rescues and heals Chi Li, then investigates his possible connection to Bai Qi's bloodline. He later treats Chi Li as a crucial piece in the struggle over the Merfolk Core 21 26 39 40.
• Si Jinyan — Bai Qi identifies Si Jinyan as a royal Merfolk descendant who lacks a Core Scale. He manipulates surrounding events while observing Si Jinyan's increasing loss of control 39.
• Yao Di — Bai Qi feeds the Emperor a fabricated prophecy to encourage him to move against Si Jinyan 39.
• Yuan Ru — Bai Qi's servant negotiates with Yuan Ru, ultimately persuading him to release Chi Li from Si Jinyan's residence 40.
• Manor attendants — Bai Qi's attendants admire him deeply, care for his health, and obey his instructions without question 21 26.

Story Role

Rescue of Chi Li

Bai Qi finds Chi Li gravely wounded near the shore and brings him to his coastal manor. He provides a safe place to recover while deliberately withholding his reasons for being there 21.

Investigation of Chi Li's Heritage

When Chi Li returns to thank him, Bai Qi reveals the bloodline-summons ability that led him to Chi Li. He secretly searches Chi Li's memories, confirming enough to deepen his suspicions despite the severe backlash 26.

Manipulation of the Imperial Conflict

Bai Qi uses Yao Di's trust in his supposed foresight to make the Emperor view Si Jinyan's instability as an opportunity. In private, he concludes that Chi Li carries a Merfolk Core while Si Jinyan possesses royal Merfolk blood without its corresponding Core Scale 39.

The Merfolk Core Plan

Bai Qi arranges the Mermaid-scale bullet that strikes Chi Li near the heart, intending to activate resonance with the Core Scale rather than kill him. He later has his servant secure Chi Li's release before Yao Di can seize the Core 40.