Xiao Zhu

Biodata

Power Progression

Xiao Zhu’s documented development consists of soul restoration, bodily transformation, and later achievement at the Celestial Master Academy; no named cultivation realm is given for him.

Background / History

Childhood and Yinxie

An orphan, Xiao Zhu survived on help from his neighborhood and left for the city to work before finishing middle school. At eighteen, he signed with Yinxie and became an entertainment livestreamer, believing its promises of accommodation, meals, and a guaranteed salary 1.

Those benefits depended on meeting performance targets. His monthly take-home pay barely reached 3,000 yuan, while housing, clothing rental, makeup, and other expenses left him with less than 1,000 yuan before meals. Despite his work as a streamer, he had almost no online presence 1 5.

Assault and Separation from His Body

Xiao Zhu was brought to a drinking banquet where Manager Zhong offered to make him a leading streamer in exchange for becoming his lover. His silence was mistaken for submission, but he was actually considering how to escape. When Zhong insisted that he spend the night with him, Xiao Zhu punched him and kicked him in the groin 33.

The ensuing violence left Xiao Zhu unconscious with a severe forehead wound. Zhong declared that he had stopped breathing and ordered others to dispose of him. Qu Nanzhu later explains that Xiao Zhu had not initially been beaten to death: his injuries were so severe that his living soul had left his body 33.

Qu Nanzhu arrived from another world, took over the body, inherited Xiao Zhu’s memories, and rescued the original soul. He subsequently ended Xiao Zhu’s Yinxie contract without paying a termination penalty 1 3. He also transferred Xiao Zhu’s karma onto himself; according to his later account, Zhong soon suffered backlash and died of terminal liver cancer a month before the New Year 98.

Restoration and Rebirth

Restoring Xiao Zhu became an early priority for Qu Nanzhu’s earnings. An ordinary Spirit Gathering Array could not provide the continuous spiritual energy his living soul required, while suitable soul-nourishing jade was unavailable 10 21.

When the branch housing him began to wilt a month earlier than expected, Qu Nanzhu urgently purchased a 6.8-million-yuan rough jadeite stone. After it revealed imperial green, he rejected a 200-million-yuan offer and commissioned an infant carving and eight beads for the restoration array 27 30.

On Lunar New Year’s Eve, the Huo household heard a baby laughing near Spirit Lake and discovered Xiao Zhu crawling through the snow among eight delighted paper figures. Qu Nanzhu gathered him up and introduced him to the family as his younger brother. The household immediately began finding milk, bedding, and other infant supplies 85.

Life as Qu Zhaoye

Named Longbao after his rebirth, he grew up under the care of Qu Nanzhu, Huo Sili, and their extended household. Qu Nanzhu initially kept him off camera, while Si Yunxiang arranged a nursery 86.

Later known as Qu Zhaoye, he entered the Celestial Master Academy and became its strongest student within a year. Qu Nanzhu attended his parent-teacher meeting, where Zhaoye spoke as an outstanding student 132 133.

As a young adult, he began a relationship with Fang Yi, who was three years older. He declined to rush Fang Yi into meeting the family, explaining that a sudden introduction would make him nervous. Their engagement celebration took place a year later; the public learned that Longbao was engaged but failed to identify his partner 146.

Appearance

• Original body: His recovering soul was identical in appearance to the body occupied by Qu Nanzhu. That body had delicate features, phoenix eyes, a high straight nose, pale lips, slightly wavy black hair, and a slender build 4 6.
• Reborn infant: A beautiful, soft, warm baby described as exquisite as carved jade. He remained warm while crawling naked through winter snow 85.
• Older Qu Zhaoye: Grows to 185 centimeters, almost half a head taller than Qu Nanzhu 132.

Personality

Before his soul’s displacement, Xiao Zhu was insecure and timid, habitually lowering his head around other people. His resistance to Zhong nevertheless shows that his quietness did not amount to consent: he sought an escape and fought back when pressured 2 33.

As Longbao, he is cheerful and affectionate. He laughs while chasing paper figures, reaches for Qu Nanzhu to hold him, and eagerly seeks attention from Xue Yu and Lin Suwan. As a toddler, he takes turns sitting in both students’ arms, even during their meditation 85 114.

His pampered childhood initially leaves him with fussy habits, including refusing ginger and accepting shredded carrots but not diced ones. His memories of his previous life later help him abandon many spoiled preferences. He learns to value filling food and practical clothing, considers other people’s circumstances, and picks up everyday skills from Chen Xun—qualities that make him popular with classmates 137.

As he grows older, he becomes attentive toward those he loves. He cooks for Qu Nanzhu and clears away the dishes himself; when discussing Fang Yi’s eventual family visit, he offers to cook because he knows his partner is particular about food 132 146.

Abilities & Skills

Jade Body

His second body develops from a jadeite infant vessel nourished by Spirit Lake’s spiritual energy and dragon qi 30 39.

• Cold resistance: Remains warm even after exposure to ice and snow 85 86.
• Ghost-resistant constitution: Qu Nanzhu predicts that the completed merger will make him impervious to ghosts 39.
• Innate energy perception: Naturally senses changes in surrounding energy fields. This is distinguished from Qu Nanzhu’s inborn Yin-Yang Eyes 134.

Celestial Master Arts

His talent earns him the position of strongest student at the Celestial Master Academy after one year 132.

• Ghostly qi detection: Recognizes ghostly qi attached to Fang Yi and warns that prolonged exposure will damage his health 134.
• Talisman use: Draws a talisman that ignites in his hand, producing chilly winds. A watching ghost recognizes the technique as Qu Nanzhu’s signature 139.
• Underworld contact: A ghost gate opens following his talisman work, allowing a black-clad underworld officer to arrive 139.

Cooking

• Prepares an improved version of scallion-oil noodles for Qu Nanzhu 132.
• Learns practical household skills from Chen Xun and volunteers to cook for Fang Yi’s family introduction 137 146.

Weaknesses and Former Vulnerabilities

Pure-Yin Birth

Xiao Zhu was born in a yin year, yin month, yin day, and yin hour. His life palace lacked yang: in life he attracted evil, and in death he would nourish sha. His separated living soul was therefore especially desirable to ghosts 12.

• Exposure risk: His temporary branch vessel could no longer protect him once it became completely lifeless 30.
• Fragile soul: Could accept merit only in small quantities during early recovery 4.
• Vessel limitations: Frequent transfers between pieces of jade were unsuitable for his soul 21.
• Restoration requirements: Needed high-quality jade and a sustained spiritual-energy supply rather than an ordinary Spirit Gathering Array alone 10.

Relationships

• Qu Nanzhu — Rescuer and older brother. Restores his soul, raises him after rebirth, and regards him as his closest person in the new world during the early story. The two were born at precisely the same moment in their respective worlds 32 85 98.
• Huo Sili — Caregiver who provides access to Spirit Lake, accompanies the soul-transfer ritual, and helps feed and raise Longbao 21 30 86.
• Fang Yi — Romantic partner and eventual fiancé. Zhaoye respects his need to prepare before meeting the family 146.
• Si Yunxiang and the Huo household — Extended family who welcome him at his rebirth and raise him with abundant affection 85 86 146.
• Chen Xun — Helps care for him as an infant and later becomes a source of practical everyday skills 86 137.
• Xue Yu and Lin Suwan — Qu Nanzhu’s students, whom Longbao affectionately calls big brother and big sister. Both help look after him during childhood 114 117 120.
• Paper figures — Eight guard him during his restoration and play with him when he emerges from the lake. Little Eighteen later accompanies him during his courtship of Fang Yi 30 39 85 138.
• Li Mao — Former manager, whom Qu Nanzhu regards as repeatedly exploiting Xiao Zhu. Qu Nanzhu blocks him before ending the Yinxie contract 1 2.
• Manager Zhong — Attempts to coerce him into a sexual arrangement and orders his disposal after the assault. Later suffers karmic backlash 33 98.
• Lu Qiyao — Fellow streamer present at the banquet. Views Xiao Zhu as a competitor and gains Zhong’s favor after Xiao Zhu’s apparent death 33.