Wen Cai

Biodata

Power Progression

Personality

Wen Cai enjoys food, sleep, and leisure, frequently neglecting his training. He attributes his poor results to being too stupid to learn, but Uncle Nine believes that diligence would still give him a path forward. He also struggles to read social situations, interrupting discussions with clients and making remarks that embarrass his master 3 4 16.

He is easily frightened by supernatural danger, even after years as a Daoist disciple. During the encounter with a disguised female ghost, he initially refuses to believe she is a ghost, then panics once convinced. His confidence returns only after Lin Yu immobilizes the enemies 9 10.

Despite his shortcomings, Wen Cai warmly welcomes Lin Yu and promises to look after him. He covers the child’s eyes outside the House of Courtesans and initially tries to take him away from the ghost. His affection coexists with jealousy over Uncle Nine’s preferential treatment of their talented junior brother 1 8 10 12.

Abilities & Skills

Basic Daoist Arts

Wen Cai possesses elementary Daoist training but has difficulty retaining and applying his lessons 3 4.

• Seven Star Steps: Has been taught the technique but cannot remember it properly 4.
• Talisman drawing: Cannot successfully draw an evil-warding talisman during Uncle Nine’s lesson, despite years of previous practice 5.
• Supernatural identification: Fails to recognize a disguised ghost and doubts Qiu Sheng’s explanation even after she reacts violently to talisman water 9.
• Further instruction: Uncle Nine assigns supervised cultivation and fist-technique practice to address his poor performance 11 24 28.

Sympathetic Talisman Control

With Qiu Sheng’s assistance, Wen Cai uses a talisman containing A Wei’s hair to make A Wei imitate his actions 23 24.

• Swallows the prepared talisman and forms a hand seal to establish the effect.
• Makes A Wei slap himself by striking his own face.
• Does not know how to end the technique; Lin Yu forces the talisman out with a spiritually empowered blow to his stomach 24.

Ritual Assistance

Wen Cai can assist with preparations and ritual implements, though his courage and judgment are unreliable 21 22 27.

• Helps burn a plum blossom incense formation at Ren Weiyong’s grave 21.
• Works with Qiu Sheng to mark Ren Weiyong’s coffin using an enchanted ink line 22.
• Passes Uncle Nine his peachwood sword during the Ren Mansion battle 27.
• Holds one end of an enchanted ink line while Lin Yu leads an attack that stops Ren Weiyong from escaping 27.

Household Work

• Regularly prepares meals and clears dishes at the mortuary 3 4 17.
• Raises the rooster Uncle Nine later uses in a ritual 22.
• Orders two sets of clothing for Lin Yu using money entrusted to him by Uncle Nine 8.

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Talisman-drawing supplies — Uses a brush, cinnabar, and yellow paper during lessons; also supplies Lin Yu with paper at Uncle Nine’s instruction 5 7.
• Enchanted ink fountain and line — Handles these for coffin protection and later helps use the line against Ren Weiyong 22 27.
• Peachwood sword — Carries Uncle Nine’s sword to the Ren Mansion and throws it to him during combat 27.
• Zombie disguise — Wears it while attempting to frighten Lin Yu alongside Qiu Sheng 13.

Relationships

• Uncle Nine (Lin Jiu) — His master since childhood. Frequently scolds and disciplines him for laziness, yet worries about whether Wen Cai will be able to support himself after his death 3 4.
• Qiu Sheng — Fellow disciple and habitual partner in mischief. They cooperate in pranks and compete for Ren Tingting’s attention, though Qiu Sheng readily abandons him when punishment threatens 5 21 22 24.
• Lin Yu — Junior martial brother. Wen Cai initially offers him protection but soon depends on his supernatural skills and help avoiding Uncle Nine’s anger. Lin Yu promises to help him improve if he practices diligently for a month; no resulting breakthrough is documented 1 10 19 22.
• Ren Tingting — Romantic interest. Wen Cai imagines winning her through a heroic rescue, but she is disgusted by his leering behavior. He later offers to take Lin Yu’s place in Ren Fa’s proposed match 15 21 33.
• Four Eyes — Martial uncle. Wen Cai receives him at the mortuary and is involved in the accident that releases his walking corpses 12 13.
• A Wei — Target of a retaliatory prank after insulting Lin Yu. Wen Cai and Qiu Sheng use his hair to make him strike himself 23 24.

Background / History

Life at the Mortuary

Wen Cai has lived under Uncle Nine’s care since childhood. Despite more than a decade of instruction, he remains a weak cultivator and handles everyday work such as cooking and cleaning. When Lin Yu formally joins the disciples, Wen Cai presents the incense for his apprenticeship ceremony and enthusiastically welcomes him as a junior brother 1 3.

Ghost Encounter in Ren Family Town

Entrusted with taking Lin Yu to order clothes, Wen Cai meets Qiu Sheng and follows him to look at the House of Courtesans. After fleeing the women’s invitation to enter, the three encounter a female ghost disguised as an injured woman. Wen Cai remains captivated by her appearance even after talisman water exposes her 8 9.

Once the danger becomes clear, Wen Cai wants to flee for help. Lin Yu instead traps the ghost and a weasel spirit, allowing Wen Cai and Qiu Sheng to retaliate against the helpless creatures. After learning what happened, Uncle Nine orders supervised training and makes the older disciples kneel before the founding master until dark 10 11.

The Zombie Prank

Wen Cai and Qiu Sheng disguise themselves as zombies to frighten Lin Yu. After seeing Qiu Sheng struck by Lin Yu’s thunder talisman, Wen Cai panics and overturns a table, breaking the lamp that controls Four Eyes’ walking corpses 13.

The released corpses attack Lin Yu. Wen Cai and Qiu Sheng return intending to apologize, only to flee again when they see a corpse approaching the exit. Still wearing their disguises, they are briefly mistaken for zombies by Uncle Nine 13.

Ren Family Crisis

Wen Cai assists with Ren Weiyong’s grave relocation and the preparations to restrain his corpse. While roughhousing with Qiu Sheng after marking the coffin, he accidentally hits Uncle Nine and seeks Lin Yu’s help. Lin Yu hides him away and uses a Healing Talisman to ease their master’s injury 19 21 22 23.

During Ren Weiyong’s attack on the Ren Mansion, Wen Cai announces that he has come to save Tingting, then immediately panics when the jiangshi turns toward him. Nevertheless, he supplies Uncle Nine’s sword and follows Lin Yu into an ink-line attack that prevents the creature’s escape. Uncle Nine subsequently resumes strict cultivation checks 27 28.

Failed Marriage Proposal

When Ren Fa repeatedly seeks a match between Lin Yu and Ren Tingting, Wen Cai envies the opportunity and volunteers to replace his junior brother—even without the proposed monetary gift. Uncle Nine tells him to go back to sleep, leaving Qiu Sheng to explain that their master means he should stop daydreaming 33.

Notable Quotes

“All right! I have a junior brother now! Don’t worry, Xiao Yu. Senior Brother Wen Cai will look after you from now on.” 1

“How could that be? What ghost comes out in broad daylight?” 9

“Tingting, I’m here to save you~!” 27