Jiang Nanjing

Biodata

Power Progression

Background / History

Bright Light Hall Heir

Jiang Nanjing is the only son of Jiang Yuexing, born to his principal wife. His uncle, Jiang Yanxing, governs Bright Light Hall and has chosen neither to marry nor have children. With no other children born to Jiang Yuexing despite his wife and concubines, the hall's main lineage depends entirely on Nanjing 29.

Pursuit of the Thin Daoist

Near Poyang Lake, Nanjing witnessed the Thin Daoist murder and rob a purchasing steward from the White Reed Zhou Family. Recognizing the notorious fiend, he pursued him alone. A witness identified Nanjing by his distinctive pipa and alerted Bright Light Hall 32.

During the fight, Nanjing forcibly wielded his life-bound treasure and injured his lung aperture. Cheng Yunqi intervened with four single-word incantations, blocked the Thin Daoist's attacks, and wounded him before he fled. Nanjing's father, uncle, and tutor arrived to retrieve him; his injury initially prevented him from speaking 27 32.

Gratitude and Instruction

After his condition improved, Nanjing and his parents thanked Yunqi. Nanjing presented a Void Grotto Stone bracelet supplied by his father and uncle, then persuaded Yunqi to accept a seal from his personal collection. He engraved it with Yunqi's chosen studio name, Humble Caution Studio, and requested its first impression as a keepsake 29 30.

In return for these gifts, Yunqi offered to teach him the Great Sun Radiance Mantra. Nanjing struggled with its hand seal and incantation but successfully cast it after seven days. His elders recognized its compatibility with his cultivation and urged him to pursue the internal-vision method as well. Though reluctant to impose further on his benefactor, he resumed studying when Yunqi offered the next lesson 31 32.

Yunqi's Departure

On the fifteenth day of Yunqi's stay, Nanjing played “Wang Hui's Farewell-to-Teacher Song.” Their conversation turned to famous zithers, and Nanjing recounted the origin of Heavenly Wind Over Pine and Snow, made by Immortal Lei for a Green Chi-Dragon. His account prompted Yunqi to reconsider the connection between that legendary instrument and the young Green Chi-Dragon at Pine Green Lake 33.

Nanjing also arranged talisman arrow blanks in place of the magical nail snails Yunqi had requested, explaining that his family's trade allowed them to supply the finished blanks easily. He then accompanied Yunqi to Bright Light Hall's ferry landing for the farewell 33.

Appearance

• Handsome, with an elegant, unrestrained bearing and an imposing presence 25.
• A bright, refined face, clear eyes, and delicately spaced brows 25.
• His distinctly heroic appearance contrasts with the Thin Daoist's; Yunqi later remembers the pair when confronted with less easily judged combatants 25 43.

Personality

Nanjing is chivalrous but inexperienced. He pursues a murderer without waiting for help, nearly losing his life. His tutor subsequently criticizes this recklessness and urges him to learn from Yunqi's ability to control a battle without exposing himself to danger 32.

He takes gratitude seriously, insisting on thanking Yunqi despite repeated refusals and continuing to address him as “Benefactor” rather than by name. He distinguishes between his family's gift and his own seal, treating the latter as a personal token of regard 29 30.

As a student, he is earnest, easily embarrassed, and conscious of his limitations. He initially considers abandoning further lessons because teaching him has exhausted Yunqi. He is also uncomfortable with his uncle's suggestion that generous offers might secure more instruction. Nevertheless, he studies diligently and honors his promise to conceal Yunqi's authorship of the mantra 31 32.

Abilities & Skills

Great Sun Radiance Mantra

A fire-rooted mantra created by Yunqi, drawing on the illuminating power of yang fire and complementing Nanjing's metal foundation 31.

• Outward casting: Produces crimson-gold light at his fingertip; he successfully repeats the spell before his father, uncle, and tutor 32.
• Cultivation compatibility: His father identifies blazing heat, radiance, dispelling, and yang fire within the spell, calling it an excellent match for the Golden Light Seal 32.
• Potential applications: Yunqi teaches that the mantra can obscure sight and hearing, sweep away sinister forces, and illuminate the body's inner world. Nanjing's demonstrated use is light production 31 32.
• Limitations: Cannot initially use the single-character “Zhao” form. Learns through longer invocations and visualization of daylight and a world longing for light during eternal night 31 32.

Music and Musical Combat

Nanjing is an accomplished pipa player whom Yunqi explicitly praises 33.

• Uses the pipa to protect himself and plays “Sea-Eagle Seizing the Swan Song” during his attack on the Thin Daoist 33.
• Prefers the zither but considers it harder to cultivate with because it emphasizes intent over technique 33.
• Knows the history of famous instruments, including Immortal Lei's zithers and Heavenly Wind Over Pine and Snow 33.

Seal Engraving

An enthusiastic engraver who works without first drawing a draft 30.

• Engraves the Humble Caution Studio seal in intaglio using Ancient Han Mountain-Cliff Clerical Script 30.
• Chooses the inscription to complement its Fuxi-shaped knob 30.
• Understands special seal paste that, once absorbed, allows vermilion to grow naturally on the seal without drying or falling away 30.

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Golden Light Seal — His life-bound treasure. Forcibly wielding it against the Thin Daoist damages his lung aperture 32.
• Pipa — His usual instrument for self-defense; distinctive enough for a witness to identify him during the pursuit 32 33.
• Portable Cave Stone — Stores his engraving supplies, seal pastes, and other belongings 30.
• Engraving knife and seal-paste collection — Includes dozens of small jars in assorted colors 30.
• Humble Caution Studio seal — A musk-gold seal from his collection, engraved and gifted to Yunqi. Nanjing describes its material only as ordinary gold essence 29 30 32.
• Keepsake booklet — Holds the first impression of the Humble Caution Studio seal 30.

Relationships

• Cheng Yunqi — Rescuer, friend, and spell instructor, one year his senior. Yunqi promises to visit him again upon returning to Yu Zhang 29 31 32.
• Jiang Yuexing — Father; a second-realm cultivator who helps provide the gifts thanking Yunqi and evaluates Nanjing's new mantra 29 32.
• Jiang Yuexing's principal wife — Mother; deeply distressed by his injuries and personally thanks Yunqi for saving him 29.
• Jiang Yanxing — Uncle and head of Bright Light Hall. Protects Nanjing's lessons from interruption and strongly urges him to seize the opportunity to learn internal vision 29 31 32.
• Daoist Manifest Tranquility — Private tutor; retrieves him after the battle, praises his learning, and admonishes his reckless pursuit 27 32.
• Thin Daoist — Enemy whom Nanjing pursues after witnessing a murder; nearly kills him before Yunqi intervenes 32.