Old Li

Biodata

History

Years before the events at the Happiness Internet Cafe, Old Li and his colleagues discovered that monsters had long ruled Cihang City and that people who investigated or resisted them could disappear. Believing knowledge of the monsters would put Zhang Ruobing in danger, he discouraged her from investigating abnormal incidents without telling her why 164. At the Nanshan Police Bureau, Zhang protested when Hu Qing was promoted to captain despite Old Li’s greater experience and case-closure rate. Old Li stopped her from accusing their superiors of favoritism 132.

Old Li and his apprentice Zhang Ruobing investigate the disappearance of homeless men near the Happiness Internet Cafe. Although their search finds no evidence, he cautions Zhang against ruling out the cafe. When Chen Feng claims to be stranded and hungry, Old Li offers him a meal and a place at a shelter 3.

A call takes the officers to Cihang Bridge, where Old Li tells Chen the local story of a businessman murdered by his wife who became a Water Ghost. In one sequence of events, Old Li dives into the river to rescue a young woman. She takes the rescue rope and pushes him underwater; he still pushes her toward shore before disappearing 4. After Chen reloads, he stops Old Li from diving. Old Li instead fires at the invisible ghost and shoots through the rope it is climbing, allowing the group to escape 6.

When the ghost follows them, Old Li fights it alongside Zhang and Chen. He refuses to retreat toward his home for fear of leading it to his wife. Chen ultimately destroys the ghost using Old Li’s windproof lighter 7. In a later loop, Old Li witnesses Chen subdue the ghost and agrees to investigate the cafe despite the lack of conventional evidence. He leads officers into the building, where they encounter disguised monsters 8 9 10. In another sequence, Chen warns him not to enter the water; Old Li later rescues the girl from the bridge with a rope instead. She and her mother criticize him for not jumping in despite his saving her 12 88.

After the sun falls and monsters spread through Cihang City, Old Li tells Zhang what he learned years earlier. They establish a base at a convenience store and take in survivors, but their growing numbers create a shortage of food; Zhang proposes moving to a large shopping mall 164. In a later sequence of events, Old Li goes out to find food and is killed by the Flesh Willow. Zhang names a half-yokai in her care Li Cha to commemorate him and hopes the child will share his sense of justice 155.

Personality

Old Li is willing to risk his life for a stranger, but he also heeds Chen’s warning when jumping into the river could cost more lives 4 6. He is protective of Zhang: after their encounter with the ghost, he tells her to leave the case because he fears having to face her late father if she is hurt 6. He takes ghost stories seriously, even before seeing the Water Ghost himself 3 4.

His caution about abnormal cases comes from firsthand knowledge of the monsters ruling the city. He conceals that knowledge from Zhang to protect her, but helps shelter survivors when the danger becomes impossible to hide 164. He does not share Zhang’s indignation over Hu Qing’s promotion and refuses to let her continue accusing their superiors 132. He smokes despite having promised his wife he would quit 132.

Equipment

• Windproof lighter — engraved “For Dad.” Chen uses it to ignite the oil-coated Water Ghost 7 22.
• Pistol — Old Li shoots the invisible Water Ghost, severs its rescue rope with a shot, and fires on monsters inside the cafe 6 10.
• Police rescue rope — kept in his patrol car for emergencies at the bridge; in one sequence, he uses it to rescue Zhong Jielian without entering the water 6 88.
• Heavy-duty telescopic baton — Chen takes it from Old Li and uses it against the cafe landlady 12.

Relationships

• Zhang Ruobing — his apprentice; he tries to keep her out of danger, while she worries about what would happen to his wife if he died 3 6. He withholds his knowledge of the city’s monsters to protect her, then reveals it after the sun falls 164.
• Li Guolong — his son. Guolong’s existence has been erased from his parents’ memories after his capture by the academy; the lighter’s inscription remains a clue to their relationship 17 22. Guolong asks his fellow escapees to find Captain Li and tell him that he has not disgraced him 22.
• Chen Feng — initially helps him as a stranded stranger, then works with him against the Water Ghost and investigates the cafe on Chen’s warning 3 6 8. Chen’s warning also helps him rescue Zhong Jielian without entering the river in a later sequence 88.
• Old Yang — his police colleague and longtime partner; Old Li fears for him when the cafe raid goes wrong 9 10.
• Li Cha — a half-yokai adopted by Zhang Ruobing in a sequence where Old Li dies. Zhang names him in Old Li’s memory and hopes he will inherit his sense of justice 155.