Biodata
| Feature | Value |
|---|---|
| Name | Zhang Li (章立) |
| Species/Race | Human 33 36 |
| Gender | Male 36 |
| Affiliation | Archaeological team; later recognized as a resident of Cabinet Mountain Village 20 23 33 |
| Occupation/Role | University student and archaeological-team member 33 40 |
| Status | Alive but held captive by Chen Xianxian in her underground chamber at his last direct appearance; subsequently reported missing by Zhong Zhicheng 40 48 |
| First Appearance | Among the four captured outsiders 4; first named in the supplied passages 6 |
Appearance
- Build: Tall and thin 30.
- Features and bearing: Initially resembles a refined, cultured scholar; Chen Xianxian later describes his face as his one redeeming feature 24 36 40.
- Signs of exhaustion: During confinement in the Mountain God Temple, his eyes become heavily bloodshot and his clothes and cuffs filthy 11.
- After the escape attempt: His formerly timid manner gives way to a sickly, gloomy expression and open hostility 24.
Personality
Zhang Li initially appears timid and anxious, but is willing to act for his companions. He helps free the others from their bonds and attempts to revive the unconscious Gu Yiren. When Zhang Jun harasses her, Zhang Li objects despite being physically outmatched and badly beaten 7 9.
His protectiveness becomes increasingly controlling. He conceals Gu Yiren’s condition, blocks Luo Bin’s access to her, and repeatedly ties her up, insisting that restraint is necessary during her episodes. He also recognizes that her apparent predictions are valuable and deliberately withholds information to avoid exposing her ability 10 11 12 29 33.
Repeated deaths and supernatural attacks leave him volatile, suspicious, and quick to use force. He blames Zhong Zhicheng for his companions’ suffering and later attacks Luo Bin for supposedly abandoning them. His moral outrage has limits: although he condemns the villagers’ treatment of Zhang Jun, he refuses to help the prisoner when doing so might jeopardize his own escape 8 21 24 32.
History
Arrival and confinement
Zhang Li belongs to an archaeological team that encounters a cave-in at the Cabinet Mountain Ancient Tomb. While seeking help, he and three companions stumble into Cabinet Mountain Village, where the villagers bind them and confine them in the Mountain God Temple 4 20.
Inside the temple, Zhang Li describes Gu Yiren as having mild epilepsy and stress-induced hallucinations. After freeing himself, he unties the others and tries to revive her by pressing the groove above her upper lip. He is eager to accept help from four apparent rescuers, but Gu Yiren refuses to admit them. The strangers subsequently reveal their predatory nature and kill the group’s driver, Xu 6 7.
The next morning, Zhang Li accuses Zhong Zhicheng of causing Xu’s death and attacks him from behind. Zhong kicks him several meters away. Zhang Li is later beaten again while trying to defend Gu Yiren from Zhang Jun; Luo Bin intervenes and drives the bully away 8 9.
Escape by car
Zhang Li keeps Gu Yiren’s apparent knowledge secret and declines Zhu Qianqian’s suggestion that they invite Luo Bin into the temple for safety. He checks the temple’s windows repeatedly but chooses not to pass on a warning that might reveal Gu Yiren’s ability 12.
Taking advantage of the village’s distraction, he traces the route along which their car was moved, finds it, retrieves its spare tire, and starts the engine using wires. He then collects food and water from Luo Bin’s hut, takes the temple’s oil lamp, and helps move Gu Yiren into the vehicle. His initial plan is to return to the landslide and seek surviving teammates or a rescue team 17 21.
The group returns to the village after Gu Yiren tells him they can escape by following evil spirits. Zhang Li locks the car and refuses Luo Bin’s warning to enter a house before dark, relying instead on the oil lamp. When spirits surround and rock the vehicle, the escapees plead for shelter but are not admitted 21 22 23.
Zhang Li drives through the night with his companions. Near dawn, he is too frightened to follow the retreating spirits, and the group returns with almost no fuel remaining. Having survived the required three days, they are recognized as villagers and assigned a courtyard beside a bamboo grove 23 24.
Conflict and loss of his companions
When Luo Bin visits their new home to explain why he could not reopen the door, Zhang Li kicks him into the doorway and accuses him of deceit. Luo Bin retaliates before leaving. Zhang Li later attempts to punch him after finding Gu Yiren with him at the temple, only for her to explain that Luo Bin saved her 24 28.
Zhang Li continues restraining Gu Yiren. While he is occupied tying her up, Zhu Qianqian leaves with Chen Xianxian and disappears. He attends the village’s drawing of lots but is exempted from that round of mountain exploration because he has only recently arrived 29 30.
After Zhu Qianqian’s mutilated remains are discovered, Zhang Li accuses Zhong of failing to search for her. Villagers counter by questioning his treatment of both women. He identifies Gu Yiren as his cousin and defends tying her up, but his explanation exposes her condition. Zhong orders her transferred to the shamaness’s custody while other men restrain Zhang Li 32 33.
Captivity under Chen Xianxian
Chen Xianxian approaches Zhang Li with a supposed clue about Zhu Qianqian’s death and invites him home. She knocks him unconscious with a hammer, binds him, and drags him into an underground room occupied by her evil-spirit twin sister 33 36.
Zhang Li avoids being fed to the sister by working the gag out of his mouth and claiming that he knows how to leave the village. When Chen dismisses the claim, he reveals Gu Yiren’s predictions, including her warning about the Luo family’s open window. Chen keeps him alive with food and water but refuses to release him or accept his proposal to rescue Gu Yiren together 40.
Luo Bin repeatedly finds Zhang Li’s courtyard empty. Zhong later confirms that Zhang Li has not returned since Gu Yiren was taken away and has failed to collect his lamp-oil ration 36 40 48.
Abilities & Skills
Vehicle recovery and operation
- Traces the car’s relocation from the site of its burst tire 21.
- Retrieves a spare tire and starts the engine using wires 21.
- Drives the group through a night of pursuit, although their fuel is nearly exhausted by morning 23.
Escape information
- Learns from Gu Yiren that following evil spirits at the transition between night and dawn may provide an escape route 21 40.
- Does not successfully test the proposed route: fear prevents him from following the spirits at dawn 23.
- Uses this information, together with Gu Yiren’s earlier predictions, to persuade Chen Xianxian to keep him alive 40.
Equipment / Items
- Santana car — Recovered for the group’s escape attempt and used during their night-long flight 20 21 23.
- Oil lamp — Taken from the Mountain God Temple and hung inside the car; later left in his village home when he disappears 17 21 40.
- Hemp rope — Used to bind Gu Yiren to a temple pillar; he continues restraining her after they receive a village home 11 29 33.
- Food and water flask — Taken from Luo Bin’s hut for the escape attempt 21.
Relationships
- Gu Yiren — His cousin. He defends her against harassment but conceals her apparent ability and repeatedly restrains her, claiming it is for her protection 9 12 29 33.
- Zhu Qianqian — His college classmate and archaeological teammate. They attempt to escape together; after her death, he insists that someone murdered her 21 32 33.
- Xu — Fellow outsider and driver whose death prompts Zhang Li’s first violent confrontation with Zhong Zhicheng 7 8.
- Luo Bin / Luo Shan — Initially a helpful guard who protects the group and delivers food. Their relationship deteriorates after Zhang Li interprets the refusal of shelter as betrayal 9 10 11 24.
- Zhong Zhicheng — Village chief whom Zhang Li repeatedly blames for failing to protect his companions. Zhong nevertheless grants him village status after the three-day survival period 8 23 32.
- Chen Xianxian — His deceiver and captor. She exploits his search for answers about Zhu Qianqian, then spares him only after learning about Gu Yiren’s predictions 33 36 40.
Notable Quotes
“You got Xu killed!!!” 8
“You don't know anything about Yiren! I'm doing this for her own good!” 33