Yimulei

Biodata

Background / History

Career in Luoweida

Yimulei worked in Luoweida for more than a decade, rising from clerk to chief adviser. His ordinary duties included keeping accounts, organizing documents, and mediating disputes between merchants and miners. He also developed extensive knowledge of the local mine’s tunnels, shafts, and supports 23 24.

In Nuoyaji’s previous life, Yimulei had a reputation for efficiency and was well regarded among the lower classes. Although Nuoyaji had never dealt with him directly, that reputation led him to choose Yimulei as his intended intermediary with Viscount Heluos 22 23.

Storm Disaster and Mine Rescue

After the storm devastated Luoweida’s mine, Yimulei personally went outside the city to inspect the damage. Engineers reported blocked main tunnels and dangerously weakened supports, while search crews had found none of the missing miners. Yimulei refused to declare them dead without confirmation, recognizing that abandoning the search would also undermine their families’ trust and the city’s morale. He nevertheless ordered a fifteen-minute rest for the exhausted guards and mercenaries 23.

The crisis extended beyond the mine itself: disrupted food supplies, taxes, rising grain prices, and the livelihoods of more than ten thousand residents placed the administration under severe pressure. Viscount Heluos asked Yimulei to find a solution, but Yimulei privately recognized the limits of his abilities as an ordinary clerk facing a widespread natural disaster 24.

Nuoyaji approached him at the ruins and proposed using an abandoned mine tunnel southeast of Luoweida to bring in grain. Yimulei questioned how a visiting apprentice knew about the route, but prioritized its potential usefulness over pursuing Nuoyaji’s explanation. He agreed to arrange an audience with the viscount and ordered men to inspect the ventilation shafts at Nuoyaji’s suggestion 24.

Yimulei then sent people to investigate the old passage and planned to stabilize grain prices while awaiting supplies, considering the viscount’s reserves as a temporary measure. When Nuoyaji reported hearing movement beyond the rubble through Supernatural Hearing, Yimulei immediately mobilized the rescue crews and warned them against causing another collapse. Thirteen injured miners were recovered. Relieved by the first substantial good news since the storm, he thanked Nuoyaji and resolved to remember the favor 25 26 28.

Cooperation with Nuoyaji

Through Yimulei, Nuoyaji secured an audience with Viscount Heluos. The viscount subsequently authorized Nuoyaji to assist Yimulei with disaster relief, supplied funding, and directed him to take further requests straight to Yimulei rather than repeatedly seeking an audience 40.

Their working relationship quickly became close enough that unnecessary pleasantries fell away. Yimulei reviewed Nuoyaji’s carefully revised appeal for aid and admitted that Nuoyaji wrote better than he did. He also personally delivered a Luopu mage’s robe from the viscount so that Nuoyaji could meet merchant-guild representatives in suitable clothing 41 42.

Western Mine Expedition

When Nuoyaji accepted an assignment to inspect the western mines, Yimulei was instructed to escort him to the viscount’s vault and let him choose whatever he wanted. During the walk, he also agreed to arrange delivery of another letter to Lady Meweiro in Stone Watchtower Town without questioning Nuoyaji about their connection 42 43.

Yimulei prepared the expedition’s supplies and selected two guards and three mercenaries familiar with the surrounding terrain. After seeing the party off, he returned to the viscount’s residence to manage mine cleanup, grain prices, accounts, and official correspondence amid competing demands from the empire, duke, consortium, miners, and merchants’ guild 44.

The expedition’s provisions included dry rations, waterskins, medical kits, spare boots, illumination crystals, blank parchment, and imperial gold coins, all individually recorded on a supply list. Before departing, Nuoyaji entrusted the city’s affairs to Yimulei, whose remaining responsibilities also included maintaining the grain route and overseeing street patrols 44.

Appearance

• Hair: Graying at the temples 44.
• Face: Pronounced dark circles beneath his eyes and bluish stubble during the relief effort 42.
• Bearing: Maintains a straight-backed posture despite mounting exhaustion 44.

Personality

Yimulei is pragmatic and results-oriented. He listens to useful proposals regardless of the speaker’s modest status, but expects more than an accurate description of a problem. His initial questioning of Nuoyaji gives way to action once the apprentice offers a plausible supply route and rescue advice 24.

His concern for the miners combines responsibility toward individuals with an understanding of public morale. Although he privately recognizes their slim chances of survival, he refuses to let the authorities abandon them without certainty. He is restrained in expressing gratitude, preferring to remember a service rather than repeatedly voice his thanks 23 28.

Yimulei remains disciplined under pressure. Rather than complain about the conflicting demands placed on him, he concentrates on completing the next task. His meticulousness extends to recording the serial number of every gold coin supplied for Nuoyaji’s expedition 44.

He also exercises discretion in handling sensitive matters. Although Meweiro’s name briefly interrupts his stride, he agrees to arrange Nuoyaji’s letter delivery without asking about their relationship or the letter’s contents 43.

Abilities & Skills

Administration and Accounting

• Keeps financial records, organizes official documents, and handles correspondence 24 44.
• Mediates disputes between merchants and miners 24.
• Serves as a civilian administrator rather than a mage or military commander 24.
• Coordinates efforts to stabilize grain prices and considers releasing the viscount’s reserves to bridge the shortage before outside supplies arrive 25.

Local and Mining Knowledge

• Knows Luoweida’s surrounding terrain and ore-vein distribution from more than a decade of service 24.
• Possesses detailed familiarity with the local mine’s tunnels, shaft entrances, and support pillars 23.

Coordination and Logistics

• Directs guards and mercenaries during rescue operations, including rest periods and precautions against secondary collapses 23 26.
• Organizes personnel, travel provisions, and delivery arrangements for Nuoyaji’s work 43 44.
• Selects expedition escorts for their capability, discretion, and familiarity with the local terrain, drawing personnel from the viscount’s guards and the mercenary squad assisting outside the city 44.

Relationships

• Viscount Heluos / Heross — Employer and superior. Yimulei is his most trusted secretary and handles much of Luoweida’s administration; the viscount also makes him Nuoyaji’s principal contact for relief resources 22 24 40.
• Nuoyaji — Disaster-relief collaborator. Initial scrutiny develops into mutual understanding through the mine rescue and intensive cooperation over roughly thirty hours 24 28 42. Nuoyaji later entrusts Luoweida’s affairs to him while departing for the Western Mine 44.
• Luoweida’s miners — An important constituency in his work. He mediates their disputes with merchants, insists on continuing the search for missing workers, and recognizes how official decisions affect their confidence in the authorities 23 24.

Notable Quotes

“If they're alive, I want to see them. If they're dead, I want to see their bodies.” 23

“But identifying problems alone is useless. Can you solve them?” 24

“Good... Finally, some good news.” 28

---