Ji Cheng

Biodata

Appearance

• Square face: His face is conspicuously square; Yu Qian avoids staring for fear of offending him 2.
• Official uniform: Wears a black Flying Eagle Uniform with two lotus petals embroidered on the cuffs. The petals indicate his personnel rank within the Court 2 10.
• Leisure clothing: Wears a flowing-cloud robe woven from Shu brocade when leading the office to the Fragrant Garden 4.
• Habitual posture: Often lounges with his legs crossed. When Yu Qian first joins the office, he reclines with a book covering his face 2.

Personality

Ji Cheng treats his subordinates as “brothers” and encourages them to call him “Boss.” His relaxed leadership shapes the Dingyou Office’s idle, informal atmosphere: he delegates Yu Qian’s orientation to Sun Shoucheng, joins communal meals, and organizes welcome outings. He also grants compensatory leave after the nighttime ghost hunt and arranges treatment for injured officers 2 3 6 32.

He enjoys pleasure houses while maintaining a deliberately upright public pose. He lectures his men about martial self-control immediately before leading them into the Fragrant Garden, then later describes his visit to the Red Sleeve House as an investigation involving cooperative “witnesses.” His reading material includes Chronicles of Passion and Romance 4 7 32.

His easygoing manner disappears when the office’s standing is threatened. He takes the attempted assassination of Yu Qian personally as an attack on the Dingyou Office and regards excessive caution as a loss of face. His protection can be coercive: he makes Yu Qian sign a retention agreement without first allowing him to read it 10 11 12 24.

Ji Cheng combines ruthlessness with selective restraint. He initially acknowledges that the evidence against the Green Garment Gang is insufficient, but later executes Wang Kaitian for failing to supervise Kong Xing. After accepting Prince Zhao’s Residence’s guarantee of the gang leader’s innocence, he closes the case and forbids Yu Qian from investigating privately 11 25.

Abilities & Skills

Sixth-Grade Martial Cultivation

Ji Cheng is a Sixth Grade Cinnabar Sea Realm expert and the strongest member of the Dingyou Office; Shi Da ranks immediately below him in strength 3 5.

• Overwhelming striking power: A single kick sends Wang Kaitian through a large stone saber-toothed tiger sculpture. The resulting debris destroys the entrance and kills several nearby guards 24.
• Speed: Yu Qian cannot clearly perceive the movement of that kick 24.
• Aerial movement: During the Feather-Robed Ghost hunt, he launches directly from a watchtower and travels through the air, while Sun Shoucheng and Guo Yi follow across rooftops 6.

Blood-and-Qi Power

Ji Cheng can project force and use concentrated Blood-and-Qi Power against ghostly entities 1.

• Strikes toward a corpse’s abdomen from a distance, forcing out the snake-shaped spirit left by a Feather-Robed Ghost 1.
• Seizes the escaping spirit and burns it away with crimson, flame-like Blood-and-Qi Power 1.

Saber Combat

• Carries a saber and uses its sheath to intimidate Bao Dawei by tapping his cheek 10.
• Executes Wang Kaitian with a swift backhanded slash that leaves an afterimage 25.

Investigation and Command

• Evidence assessment: Questions Yu Qian’s unusually polished killing techniques and delayed report; does not initially treat suspicion of the Green Garment Gang as proof 11.
• Case oversight: Authorizes inquiries, assigns escorts, and directs Guo Yi and Yu Qian to apply for a Fugitive-Hunting Warrant against Kong Xing 14 21.
• Force coordination: Obtains Imperial Guard support through official channels and assigns Commandant Li’s soldiers to secure the gang hall’s perimeter 24.
• Cultivation assessment: Examines Yu Qian’s arm and recognizes that his Blood-and-Qi Power is unusually solid for a supposedly recent Eighth Grade breakthrough 28.

Equipment / Items

• Saber and sheath — Used for intimidation and execution 10 25.
• Black Flying Eagle Uniform — Bears two lotus petals on the cuffs 10.
• Shu-brocade flowing-cloud robe — Worn during the Fragrant Garden outing 4.
• Yu Qian’s retention agreement — Secures Yu Qian’s continued placement in the Dingyou Office; Ji Cheng produces it when Du Hui attempts to recruit him 12 29.
• Chronicles of Passion and Romance — His reading material while the office discusses the White Lotus Cult operation 32.

Relationships

• Yu Qian — Subordinate whom he welcomes, protects, and seeks to retain after discovering his exceptional cultivation talent. Yu Qian appreciates his support but becomes wary of his ruthlessness 2 12 25 26.
• Sun Shoucheng — Officer entrusted with orienting Yu Qian. Sun serves Ji Cheng tea, flatters him, and reinforces his accusations during the confrontation with the Green Garment Gang 2 6 25 28.
• Wang Zhen — Deputy chief of the Dingyou Office. Ji Cheng leaves him and Wu Wancai behind to investigate the gang’s background while the others mobilize 2 24.
• Guo Yi — The office’s Spirit Inspector, whose findings inform Ji Cheng’s supernatural cases and assassination investigation 1 11 21.
• Shi Da — The office’s second-strongest fighter. Ji Cheng assigns him to escort Yu Qian and Guo Yi during their investigation 3 14.
• Wu Wancai — Handles paperwork and finances, including banquet requisitions, Yu Qian’s agreement, and the request for Imperial Guard assistance 3 7 12 24.
• Gongsun Yan — Minister whose instructions constrain his handling of the Green Garment Gang. She summons him after Wang Kaitian’s execution 25 26.
• Du Hui — Deputy minister who challenges Ji Cheng’s assessment of Yu Qian’s cultivation and attempts to recruit the newcomer into the division’s central office 28 29.
• Commandant Li — Imperial Guard officer who cooperates with Ji Cheng by securing the Green Garment Gang hall’s perimeter 24 25.

Story Role / Major Arcs

Feather-Robed Ghost Case

Ji Cheng first demonstrates his strength by extracting and destroying the spirit inside a murdered scholar. He orders the case reported to the Ding Division and promises that the Dingyou Office will resolve it within two days. He subsequently leads the nighttime hunt; after Yu Qian destroys the ghost, Ji Cheng dismisses the team and grants the three officers a day off each 1 6.

Retaining Yu Qian

After witnessing Yu Qian demonstrate ranked Blood-and-Qi Power, Ji Cheng learns that the newcomer has cultivated with the Sun Scroll for only about three days. He immediately has Wu Wancai prepare an agreement keeping Yu Qian in the Dingyou Office and moves to formalize his appointment. Once Yu Qian becomes an official officer, Ji Cheng directs him to select a martial technique 12 21.

When Du Hui later identifies Yu Qian as an Eighth Grade cultivator, Ji Cheng is startled by the speed of his advancement. He presents the agreement to resist Du Hui’s recruitment attempt, although Yu Qian ultimately chooses to remain with the office himself 28 29.

Green Garment Gang Investigation

Ji Cheng arrives at Bao Dawei’s branch hall after Yu Qian’s confrontation with the gang. He challenges Bao’s accusation that the Court is abusing its authority, accepts five hundred taels offered as an apology, and takes charge when Yu Qian reports the assassination attempt. He promises a thorough inquiry because the intended victim belongs to his office 10 11.

After Kong Xing’s apparent suicide, Ji Cheng finds the confession suspicious and rejects Yu Qian’s attempt to let the matter rest. He mobilizes the Dingyou Office with Imperial Guard support, severely injures Wang Kaitian, and demands an explanation from the gang leadership 24 25.

Political intervention limits the confrontation: Prince Zhao’s Residence guarantees Meng Qiu’s innocence, and Minister Gongsun cautions against killing without clear evidence. Ji Cheng nevertheless beheads Wang Kaitian for supervisory failure, orders Yu Qian to pronounce the case closed, and prohibits further private investigation. Minister Gongsun summons him upon his return 25 26.

Later Assignments

Following the White Lotus Cult raid, Ji Cheng directs the injured Yu Qian and Shi Da toward medical treatment and tells the office not to interfere in other divisions’ affairs. He later assigns the pair to watch the surroundings of the Fifth Prince’s hunt at Returning North Mountain, calling it an easy assignment 32 42.

Notable Quotes

“Now that you've joined the Dingyou Office, you're one of our brothers. Just call me Boss from now on.” 2

“They tried to assassinate an officer of the Dingyou Office. There's no reason to let that slide.” 11

“In Tai'an City, blades do the talking. You shouldn't keep yours in its sheath.” 24