Lin Yi

Biodata

Feature	Information
Name	Lin Yi (林一)
Alias(es)	“Dream-Sleeping Constable” 24
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Weishui yamen; Linshui Street constabulary 23 24
Occupation/Role	Constable of Linshui Street 24
Status	Alive 36
First Appearance	Chapter 23

Background / History

Lin Yi became a constable because he wanted to punish evil, uphold good, and defend justice. His martial-arts teacher challenged him to consider what he would do if a constable’s authority proved insufficient to preserve justice—a question he could not answer at the time 35.

His early experience in the yamen disillusioned him. A man he arrested for assault was released through Blackwater Gang connections; Lin Yi protested and was punished with two months of docked pay 23. Despite this, he continued pursuing cases in Linshui Street.

Personality

Lin Yi is idealistic, hot-blooded, and deeply committed to justice. He is willing to work through the night, follow physical evidence, and confront superiors when he believes they are protecting criminals 24 32.

He takes failures personally. After the chief constable arranges for the Ji brothers’ key evidence to be replaced, Lin Yi collapses in guilt and apologizes to what he believes is Zhang San’er’s ghost 33. The incident ultimately hardens his beliefs: when the law fails, he becomes prepared to use personal violence against those who escape lawful punishment 35.

Abilities & Skills

Criminal Investigation

Lin Yi investigates cases through autopsies, witness testimony, physical evidence, and interrogation.

• Identified knockout powder in Jiang Sanyu’s body, soup bowl, and household, then used a night watchman’s testimony to force a confession from Jiang’s wife and her lover 24.
• Compared the boot recovered with Zhang San’er’s corpse against the Ji brothers’ footwear, matching their style, wear, and deformation 32.
• Continued seeking eyewitness testimony even after obtaining enough evidence to pursue the Ji brothers’ conviction 32.

Martial Training

Lin Yi has martial training from the corpse carrier, whom he addresses as his master 35 36.

• Carries and is prepared to use a saber, iron ruler, and rope while on duty or pursuing criminals 35.
• Is not an Innate Realm martial artist; Yu Chen judges his training to be far below Xie Qing’s level 25.
• Resolves to wield his saber personally when official authority cannot punish the guilty 35.

Equipment

• Saber — Lin Yi’s primary weapon; he draws it when attempting to prevent the Ji brothers’ release and later carries it while intending to confront them 33 35.
• Iron ruler — Carried at his waist during his nighttime pursuit of the Ji brothers 35.
• Rope — Carried alongside his weapons on the same pursuit 35.

Story Role / Major Arcs

Jiang Sanyu Murder Case

After receiving a vivid dream from what he believes is Jiang Sanyu’s ghost, Lin Yi orders the Weishui River searched and finds the cook’s body. He follows the resulting evidence to Jiang’s wife and her lover, proving that they drugged and drowned him; both are convicted and publicly executed 24.

The public credits the case to a ghostly dream and gives Lin Yi the nickname “Dream-Sleeping Constable.” In truth, Yu Chen used a paper effigy to present Jiang’s memories to him 24.

Zhang San’er Murder Case

Lin Yi receives another apparent ghostly visitation concerning Zhang San’er’s death and uses the boot clutched in the victim’s hands to identify the Ji brothers as suspects. He arrests them and builds a strong physical case despite their denials 31 32.

Chief Constable Xiao Zihua later has the crucial boot replaced, allowing the Ji brothers to be released. Lin Yi openly denounces Xiao but is powerless to stop the manipulation of evidence 33.

The Head-Plucking Ghost Case

Crushed by the Ji brothers’ release, Lin Yi decides to kill them himself. Before he reaches their residence, however, an unidentified masked avenger captures and executes them at Zhang San’er’s home 35.

Lin Yi is assigned to investigate the killings after Xiao Zihua is dismissed and placed under investigation. He learns from Qinghong that the killer wore black clothing and a mask, and the autopsy establishes that the brothers’ heads were forcibly twisted off after severe torture 36.

Relationships

• Yu Chen — Unknowingly receives Yu Chen’s assistance through paper effigies disguised as Jiang Sanyu and Zhang San’er. Lin Yi believes the apparitions are genuine ghosts, while Yu Chen recognizes him as an upright constable capable of pursuing justice through the law 24 32.
• Corpse Carrier — Lin Yi’s martial-arts master. The corpse carrier follows him to prevent him from killing the Ji brothers himself and warns him not to confront the masked killer alone 35 36.
• Jiang Sanyu — Murder victim whose apparent posthumous dream leads Lin Yi to uncover the truth behind his drowning 24.
• Zhang San’er — Murder victim whose case Lin Yi nearly solves before Xiao Zihua sabotages the evidence 30 32 33.
• Xiao Zihua — Former chief constable who undermines Lin Yi’s investigation by replacing the decisive boot evidence and ordering the Ji brothers released 33 36.
• Ji Family’s Three Brothers — Murder suspects arrested by Lin Yi; their release drives him to question whether the law can truly deliver justice 32 35.
• Qinghong — Sole surviving witness at the Ji brothers’ residence. Lin Yi finds her traumatized, brings her back to Huaqing Tower, and later relies on her account during the investigation 35 36.

Notable Quotes

“If the identity of a constable and the law were not enough to preserve justice, then he would use something else.” 35