Niao Niao

Biodata

Background / History

Niao Niao was trained to scout and keep watch from a young age. During Ye Jingtang’s earlier escort work, the bird regularly stood guard, with no incidents occurring on its watch. After settling in Twin Osmanthus Alley, Ye Jingtang shared nighttime lookout duties rather than making Niao Niao work both day and night 6.

Niao Niao had also been present in Ye Jingtang’s adoptive father’s household, where it witnessed Ye Jingtang carrying his drunken father from the floor to bed. It later suggested the same solution when Luo Ning became drunk 39.

Appearance

• Plumage: Large, snowy-white, and fluffy 2 44.
• Eyes: Big, glossy, and black 4 6.
• Build: Rounded enough for Wang Chihu to mistake it for a fat, neckless chicken. Niao Niao gestures that its apparent plumpness is merely fluff, though Dongfang Liren also calls it slightly fat 3 4 45.
• Habitual posture: Often rests on Ye Jingtang’s shoulder; when relaxed, lies on its back with its claws pointing upward 2 4 6 45.

Personality

Niao Niao is mischievous and comfort-loving, but dependable when entrusted with serious work. Its relaxed habits include humming while reclining on baggage or shrubbery, while its professional discipline makes it a reliable escort lookout 4 6 45.

Food strongly influences its behavior. Niao Niao begs for roast chicken, dried meat, and treats from acquaintances, and immediately leaves Pei Xiangjun’s arms when it hears that Ye Jingtang is going out to eat. Nevertheless, Ye Jingtang refuses to let it go hungry even when he has little money himself 3 8 37 45.

The bird is affectionate but readily sulks when neglected. It turns away from Ye Jingtang after being left outside for much of the day and becomes visibly anxious when Luo Ning announces her departure. Despite initially disliking Zhe Yunli, it later misses her breakfast routine 12 36 37 44.

Abilities & Skills

Scouting and Surveillance

• Trained lookout: Keeps watch from elevated positions, including a roof beam with its head poking through the roof covering 6 12.
• Aerial reconnaissance: Scouts streets and riverbanks; during the encounter near White Horse Academy, takes flight without waiting for an order 13 47.
• Covert pursuit: Secretly follows the watcher outside Ye Jingtang and Luo Ning’s inn, then leads them toward Wingless Owl 23 24.
• Night vision: Possesses extraordinary night vision, although it cannot locate Blood Bodhi during his concealed attacks 47.
• Limitations: Blood Bodhi recognizes the aerial surveillance and escapes into the river, breaking the pursuit 49.

Communication

• Understands spoken instructions and discreet signals, including Ye Jingtang’s finger gesture directing it to fetch an escort captain 2 4.
• Uses chirps, head movements, and wing gestures that Ye Jingtang can interpret; Luo Ning also recognizes its warning call 23 24 49.
• Makes owl-like calls to signal a suspicious person without attracting attention through an unusual nighttime sound 23.

Practical Assistance

• Wipes a rice jar with a cloth, then hands the cloth to Zhe Yunli before sprawling on the chopping board 16.
• Raises a wing to shelter Ye Jingtang’s head from rain after his first lightness-skill attempt breaks through an inn roof 29.
• Carries away the wrapped Dragon-Mingling Diagram as Black Bureau guards approach 49.

Relationships

• Ye Jingtang — Longstanding companion and working partner. Ye Jingtang protects its rest, feeds it even when nearly penniless, and relies on its scouting and signals. Niao Niao also helps explain his innocence during Luo Ning’s drunken confrontation 3 6 39.
• Pei Xiangjun — Affectionate caretaker who holds, feeds, and strokes it. Niao Niao immediately approaches her on their first documented meeting and repeatedly gravitates toward her lap and arms 2 6 8 42.
• Luo Ning — Protects Niao Niao when Zhe Yunli proposes making soup from it, dries its rain-soaked feathers, and feeds it. The bird becomes distressed at the prospect of her leaving 11 24 33 37.
• Zhe Yunli — Initially antagonistic: she mistakes it for a chicken, proposes cooking it, and steals its dried meat. Their relationship improves enough that Niao Niao later misses being held and fed breakfast by her 11 12 44.
• Dongfang Liren — Identifies it as a snow eagle, allows it onto her arm and shoulder, and praises its intelligence after it reports Blood Bodhi’s escape 45 47 49.

Story Role / Major Arcs

Settling in Cloud Peace City

• Accompanies Ye Jingtang through the unfamiliar crowded streets and into their dilapidated rented courtyard 3 4.
• Touches the mysterious Luo Ning’s cheek with its beak, waking her, then retreats behind Ye Jingtang when she opens her eyes 9.
• Shares meals with Ye Jingtang, Luo Ning, and Zhe Yunli while continuing to guard their home 12 17.

Pursuit of Wingless Owl

• Alerts the disguised Ye Jingtang and Luo Ning that someone is watching their inn 23.
• Returns soaked after tailing the watcher through the rain. Once dried and fed, points outside and guides the pair in pursuit 24.
• Keeps watch at the window while Ye Jingtang treats Luo Ning’s poisoned wound afterward 28.

Blood Bodhi Encounter

• Scouts the riverbank as Ye Jingtang senses a concealed threat, but cannot find the attacker even with its night vision 47.
• Returns with news that Blood Bodhi escaped underwater, then removes the wrapped Dragon-Mingling Diagram before the approaching guards arrive 49.

Trivia

• Niao Niao imitates Zhe Yunli’s martial practice. Its White Crane Spreads Its Wings looks convincing, but the rest consists of wild flapping 17.
• After tasting Luo Ning’s excessively salty pork, it avoids dinner by pretending to be full 33.
• It covers Ye Jingtang’s eyes with a wing when he looks at lightly dressed women in the street 44.
• Much of its apparent dialogue is the narration’s interpretation of gestures and chirps, rather than spoken human language 4 12 43.