Tang Xiaoling
My Daughter Plays a Horror Game—and Exposes Me as the Ghost Emperor
Contents
Biodata
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Name | Tang Xiaoling (唐小灵) |
| Alias(es) | Lingling; Little Princess; Her Highness the Princess 1 37 |
| Species/Race | Human 37 |
| Gender | Female 1 |
| Age | Four 1 |
| Affiliation | Netherworld Fengdu; the Ghost Emperor’s household 38 40 |
| Occupation/Role | Evil Spirit Instance participant; assigned Safety Inspector in the Evil Spirit Amusement Park after Li Zhuang stole her Cleaner identity card 5 6 |
| Family | Daughter of Tang Long, the Ghost Emperor; her mother’s identity is unknown to Dragon Country’s investigators 37 43 |
| Residence | Apartment 301, entrance three, building two, Lasting Peace Community, River City 42 43 |
| Status | Alive; returned home after clearing the Evil Spirit Amusement Park 47 |
| Clearance Rating | SSS—the first player reported to achieve this rating 46 47 |
| Earned Title | Little Mischief Demon 46 |
| First Appearance | Selected for an Evil Spirit Instance 1 |
Power Progression
| Stage / Realm / Level | Chapter | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Auspicious blessing activated | 4 | The system detected an auspicious blessing, granted fear immunity, and increased every base attribute by 100 points. |
| Spirit Servant Contract established | 39 40 | Zhong Jue’s remnant spirit became bound to her through Lady Ten’s rag doll. The contract made Xiaoling his master and prevented him from betraying her. |
| SSS-rated instance clearance | 46 | Received another 100-point increase to every attribute, 100,000 Spirit Coins, two mid-grade Spirit Artifacts, and the title Little Mischief Demon. |
Background / History
Tang Xiaoling lives in River City with her companion Tiantian. Before entering her first documented instance, she told her father that she had made noodles for lunch by herself. Tang Long spoke affectionately to her and promised candy as a reward, but she broke down when she revealed that the instance had selected her 1.
Although her father rules Netherworld Fengdu as the Ghost Emperor, Xiaoling understands his duties as ordinary work. She remembers comforting him whenever he reluctantly leaves for his job. She also says that two large wardrobes at home contain pocket money he has given her 17 37 39.
Her mother is mentioned in Xiaoling’s comparison of Lady Ten’s beauty, but Dragon Country’s investigation finds no records identifying her 31 43.
Appearance
- Build: A small child with a chubby face and hands 1 11.
- Eyes: Wide and dewy, frequently conveying curiosity or distress 4 12.
- Usual companions: Often carries Tiantian in her arms; after receiving Lady Ten’s rag doll, she carries both together 2 40 44.
Personality
Xiaoling is affectionate, playful, and strongly attached to her father and companions. Rides and toys quickly lift her spirits, but separation from Old Lady Zhao makes her cry, and homesickness eventually outweighs her desire to keep playing 12 16 45. She does not understand her imperial standing: when Ghost King Zhong publicly greets her as a princess, she asks why he is calling her that 37.
She takes her father’s instructions seriously, repeatedly refusing money, protective items, and Spirit Artifacts because he told her not to accept things from others 3 9 39. Her compassion extends even to people who have treated her badly. She worries that the fleeing cafeteria patrons will go hungry and offers to wait so they can eat first 32.
Her kindness also makes her vulnerable to deception. Wu Qian persuades her to return to the Carousel by claiming that Grandma Zhao may be in danger. At the ring toss stall, Xiaoling mistakes the owner’s terrified kneeling for financial desperation and insists on paying him 15 17.
Abilities & Skills
Auspicious Blessing and Fear Immunity
The instance system grants Xiaoling fear immunity upon detecting an auspicious blessing 4.
- She remains unafraid of the gatekeeper’s mutilated appearance and mistakes his exposed brain for dandruff 4.
- Her perception of Old Lady Zhao differs from other observers’: she sees a frail granny rather than a decomposed ghost, and ordinary tears rather than blood 6 11.
- The ability does not eliminate every frightening experience. She cries when Wu Fan threatens her, panics during a fall, hesitates before the gloomy Bloodstained Corridor, and is terrified by Lin Feng’s monster disguise 13 19 25 28.
Enhanced Physical Attributes
Her blessing raises all four recorded attributes above the system’s average adult value of 50 4.
- Holding Tiantian becomes almost effortless immediately after the enhancement 4.
- She throws a plastic ring nearly thirty meters, overshooting a teddy bear ten meters away 16.
- She jumps two meters while trying to retrieve Tiantian from Wu Qian 18.
- Her control is poor: a restrained second throw travels only half a meter, and her high jump ends in an uncontrolled fall that the stallholder catches 17 19.
- Her SSS clearance later grants another 100 points to every attribute 46.
Spirit Servant Bond
Lady Ten’s doll establishes a Spirit Servant Contract between Xiaoling and Zhong Jue, Lady Ten and Ghost King Zhong’s deceased first child 39 40.
- Zhong Jue becomes her servant permanently and cannot betray her 40.
- Xiaoling senses that the doll likes her and feels as though it is communicating, although she cannot report any actual words 40.
- Lady Ten interprets this response as a possible sign that his remnant soul is awakening 40.
- No combat use of the servant is shown in the provided chapters.
Imperial Protection
Much of Xiaoling’s safety comes from her protectors and family status rather than attacks she performs herself 17 37 40.
- Tiantian intimidates spirits into leaving her unharmed and entertaining her 7 17 25.
- Lady Ten escorts her, provides food and lodging, and arranges an early departure when she misses home 31 40 45.
- Ghost King Zhong warns the other players that defying her will result in punishment in the Infernal Abyss 39.
- Tang Long projects his presence into the instance despite its rules 46.
Equipment / Weapons / Items
- Jade Pendant — Reveals the truth about Old Lady Zhao’s fatal fall, showing that her grandson tried to save her. Zhao suspects it is the legendary Karma Mirror, but this identification is not confirmed 11.
- Rag Doll / Cloth Doll — Lady Ten’s treasured handmade doll, containing Zhong Jue’s remnant spirit. Xiaoling accepts it as a toy, unaware of the full significance of its Spirit Servant Contract 39 40 45.
- Evil Spirit Princess Set — Mid-grade Spirit Artifact awarded for her SSS clearance; its specific effects are not described 46.
- Little Ghost Backpack — Mid-grade Spirit Artifact awarded alongside the Princess Set; its specific effects are not described 46.
- 100,000 Spirit Coins — Her monetary clearance reward 46.
Relationships
- Tang Long — Father and Ghost Emperor. He sends Tiantian to protect her, orders the park’s management not to disturb her enjoyment, and personally manifests inside the instance 2 3 46.
- Tiantian / Sky Dog — Her best friend and lifelong companion, outwardly a yellow kitten with a white head. Tiantian is actually an ancient auspicious beast with Ghost Monarch-level cultivation and acts as her concealed guardian 1 7 17 40.
- Old Lady Zhao — Xiaoling’s beloved “Grandma.” Initially intends to eat her, but Tiantian stops the attack. After Xiaoling’s pendant resolves Zhao’s misunderstanding about her grandson, Zhao sincerely vows to protect her 6 7 11.
- Rakshasa Lady Ten — Her “Auntie,” caretaker, and escort. Feeds her, accompanies her on rides, and entrusts Zhong Jue’s doll to her in hopes of securing the Ghost Emperor’s protection for her child 31 39 44 45.
- Ghost King Zhong — Lady Ten’s husband and the park’s master. Publicly acknowledges Xiaoling as the princess, protects her authority, and unsuccessfully offers her large quantities of coins and artifacts 37 39.
- Zhong Jue — Contracted spirit servant whose remnant soul resides in the rag doll. Xiaoling recognizes his affection without understanding his history 40.
- Jiang Daoguo / Pure Breeze Dao-Bone — A senior Dragon Country figure who offers her a talisman, bets on her survival, and seeks friendly relations with her family 3 23 38 45.
- The Ten Elders — Arrange covert protection around her home while trying to avoid provoking Tang Long or Netherworld Fengdu 42 43 47.
- Li Zhuang — Steals her Cleaner card and forces the dangerous Safety Inspector role on her; later envies her apparent good fortune 5 36.
- Wu Qian — Tries to use her as a shield, deceives her about Grandma Zhao, and steals Tiantian in an attempt to remove her protection 3 4 15 18.
- Wu Fan and Lin Feng — Players who frighten or threaten her and subsequently die at the hands of evil spirits 13 28 32 35.
- Sacred Soul Hall — An organization seeking to prevent Dragon Country from establishing contact with her family; its council authorizes killing her if necessary 50.
Story Role / Major Arcs
| Arc | Events |
|---|---|
| Selection and entry | Her selection as a four-year-old participant causes widespread alarm. She refuses viewers’ aid, enters with Tiantian, and loses her comparatively safer Cleaner assignment to Li Zhuang 1 3 5. |
| Grandma Zhao and the Carousel | The gatekeeper offers her to Old Lady Zhao as prey. Tiantian prevents the attack, and Xiaoling’s pendant later resolves Zhao’s century-old misunderstanding. Zhao leaves for the Netherworld after promising to protect her 6 7 11 16. |
| Ring toss confrontation | A stallholder attempts to trap her with hidden fees, then kneels after recognizing Tiantian. Wu Qian steals the cat, but Tiantian returns safely while the stallholder turns against Wu Qian 16 17 18 20. |
| Haunted House | Tiantian makes the spirits transform the Bloodstained Corridor into a cheerful welcome. Lin Feng’s disguise frightens Xiaoling, triggering Tiantian’s fury. She nevertheless exits safely, disproving Wei Shengjin’s prediction that she would die 25 28 30. |
| Public recognition | Lady Ten takes her to the cafeteria. Ghost King Zhong bows to her as the princess, exposing her extraordinary background to the players and livestream audience. She subsequently receives Zhong Jue’s doll 31 37 39. |
| Early clearance and return | After another day of protected amusement-park rides, Xiaoling misses her father. Lady Ten orders the instance ended a day early. Xiaoling earns an unprecedented SSS rating and returns home with Tiantian and the doll 45 46 47. |
| Political interest and threats | Dragon Country’s leaders covertly occupy her neighborhood and seek companions for her next instance. The Sacred Soul Hall plans to block their access to her family and considers assassination 43 49 50. |
Notable Quotes
“Grandma, what's wrong? Was Lingling naughty? Did I make you angry?” 11
“Don't worry, mister. Tiantian is my best friend. He's been with me ever since I was little.” 17
“Uncle, why are you calling me a little princess?” 37