Chang Yanping

Biodata

Feature	Value
Name	Chang Yanping (常延平)
Species/Race	Human
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Chang Clan Group, also called Chang Corporation 27 34
Occupation/Role	President of Dian City’s largest business group; involved in real-estate development 27 31
Status	Alive; spared at the conclusion of the Wormless Gu confrontation 42
First Appearance	Chapter 27

Background / History

Charity reception and illness

Chang Yanping is introduced at a charity reception as a businessman whose influence can shake Dian City. Meng Huai recognizes that he has an illness ordinary doctors will not detect and predicts that his condition will worsen within two days 27.

When Meng’s conspicuous drinking attracts his attention, Chang dismisses Yun Zimo’s charitable foundation and withdraws his stated interest in donating. Meng rebukes the reception’s extravagance and refuses any future help-seeking from Chang. Following Chang’s angry reaction, associates attack the foundation, shutting it down and freezing funds that they subsequently pocket; the passages do not establish an explicit order from Chang 28 29.

Chang is soon hospitalized, unable to move easily despite remaining mentally clear. Yuan Yan’s examinations reveal no conventional illness. Hoshino Aki’s attempted supernatural treatment causes severe pain, convulsions, and unconsciousness, leaving Meng as the person his supporters believe can save him 28 29.

Apology and temporary protection

Chang’s secretary, Qin Xiuying, arranges restitution for the foundation and apologizes to Meng and Yun on his behalf. Meng refuses a hospital visit and instead sends a cup containing his phlegm mixed with an additional remedy. Chang vomits violently after swallowing it, but regains his strength 29 30.

The humiliation prompts Chang to acknowledge that success has made him arrogant and caused him to forget his original values. He proposes marriage to Qin if he survives, then visits Meng personally with more than a hundred cases of Hengshui Laobaigan and apologizes 30.

Meng confirms gu affliction but cannot locate an insect or identify the technique. Chang purchases a protective gu and agrees to expose the wrongdoing connected to his illness. He regrets that the expense of covering up the matter was no less than compensation would have cost 31 32.

Building-collapse scandal

Meng connects the attack to a building collapse that killed more than a hundred people. The avenger lost his wife and unborn child in the disaster; Meng considers Chang culpable, though not the person bearing the main responsibility, and also acknowledges his past good deeds 32.

At Chang Corporation, Qin reveals that the company intended to shield its second-largest shareholder, the person most directly responsible, to protect the business and its tens of thousands of workers. As implicated employees die, Chang begs for protection and admits his failure to control his subordinates. He eventually accepts Meng’s refusal to protect the perpetrators shown in a recovered video 34 35 36.

Rooftop confrontation and survival

Chang trains with Meng at Zhao Zhen’s base to improve his ability to detect and evade Wormless Gu. On the appointed day, he accepts Meng’s argument that an open rooftop offers better escape routes than his office 40.

The attacker identifies himself as Ye Yin, the Night God Church’s Right Protector. Although Ye Yin claims he will spare Chang, he immediately launches a concealed attack; Meng detects it and pulls Chang to safety. Chang watches the ensuing gu battle—and its unexpected turn into a fistfight—in disbelief 41.

He Huaying interrupts the confrontation and announces that orders from above require them to spare both men. Chang thanks Meng with a company equity stake, accepts his advice about approaching the Black-and-White Witch Cult, and immediately orders repairs to the damaged rooftop 42.

Appearance

• Middle-aged man with an exceptionally businesslike appearance; first seen smiling before the reception’s guests 27.
• His imposing public bearing disappears during the crisis, when he paces anxiously in his office and repeatedly pleads for rescue 35.

Personality

Chang’s success has made him overbearing and accustomed to looking down on others. He reacts angrily when Meng openly challenges him, but later recognizes this arrogance himself. His illness makes him willing to apologize, acknowledge wrongdoing, and revisit his neglected relationship with Qin Xiuying 28 30.

He is pragmatic and quick to understand how power operates. He grasps why the Night God Church might value a talented practitioner more than a wealthy businessman, and later recognizes the value of access to occult organizations. His remorse does not erase his self-interest: during the rooftop confrontation, his immediate concern is his own survival rather than the fate of others 35 41 42.

Abilities & Skills

Business influence

• Leads Dian City’s largest business group and commands substantial financial and social influence 27.
• Understands the Church’s shifting priorities: recruiting Ye Yin takes precedence over protecting him, but his wealth may become useful afterward 35.
• Recognizes Meng’s information about the Witch Cult’s contact points as a valuable route into an otherwise inaccessible circle 42.

Evasion training

• Trains with Meng using air-gun pellets to sharpen bodily sensitivity and reactions to moving air 40.
• The drills leave both men extensively bruised but improve their sensitivity severalfold 40.
• The training is intended to help him evade Wormless Gu’s straight-line attacks; Meng still has to pull him out of danger during the confrontation 40 41.

Equipment / Items

• Protective greenbottle-fly gu — Supplied by Meng for ten million and swallowed by Chang. Meng initially promises at least three months of protection, then specifically assures him of safety through the seven-day confrontation period. It is an externally supplied safeguard, not evidence that Chang practices gu arts 31 35.
• Phlegm-based remedy — Meng’s unconventional emergency treatment restores his strength but provides only temporary safety 30.
• Hengshui Laobaigan — Brings more than a hundred cases to Meng’s villa when making his personal apology 30.

Financial Commitments

Payment / Commitment	Purpose and terms
Ten million	Payment for Meng’s most expensive protective gu; Qin writes the check 31.
100 million over five years	Agreed donation to Yun Zimo’s foundation as a separate condition for Meng’s work 32.
One billion within three years	Revised corporate donation demanded after the attempted concealment of responsibility; Meng later cites this pledge as his reason for protecting Chang 34 41.
One-percent company equity stake	Offered freely in gratitude for Meng saving his life. At Meng’s request, it is to be registered in Yun Zimo’s name 42.

Relationships

• Meng Huai — Initially an offended stranger, later his healer and protector. Chang apologizes, pays for protection, trains under him, and rewards him after surviving Ye Yin’s attack 28 30 31 40 42.
• Qin Xiuying — Secretary and steadfast supporter. She organizes restitution, obtains Meng’s remedy, and helps him recognize how he has changed. Chang proposes marriage if he survives 29 30.
• Yun Zimo — Initially dismisses her foundation; later agrees to substantial charitable support. She is also the intended recipient of the equity stake offered to Meng 28 32 34 42.
• Yuan Yan — Physician who finds no conventional explanation for his illness and identifies Meng as a possible source of help 28.
• Hoshino Aki — Attempts to cure him, but her spell worsens his condition 29.
• Ye Yin — Vengeful gu practitioner targeting people connected to the collapse. Attempts to kill Chang despite claiming he will spare him 32 41.
• He Huaying — Ends the immediate threat by announcing orders to spare him. Her suggestion that they might become friends alarms him; he wants no further encounters 42.

Notable Quotes

“You're right. I forgot what mattered to me at the start. If I make it through this, let's get married!” 30

“I'll never forget that you saved my life. I have an idea: I'd like to give you a one-percent equity stake in the company, free of charge, as a token of my gratitude.” 42