Liu Qi'an

Biodata

Background / History

Following Lou Yu to Yong'an Base

Liu Qi'an was originally a soldier at Central Base. He and the other members of Lou Yu's squad insisted on leaving with their captain to repay him for saving their lives. After settling at Yong'an Base, they worked as mercenaries and shared a residence 8 11 56.

He resented seeing Lou Yu, formerly the commander of an entire corps, reduced to running errands for Lou Quan. When the squad discovered evidence that someone had deliberately attracted mutated wolves to Lou Yu's patrol, Liu Qi'an was furious both at the assassination attempt and at the danger it posed to innocent people 6.

Lou Yu's Rescue and Recovery

Liu Qi'an accompanied John and Huo Lan into Tao Qiu's cave, where they found the injured Lou Yu and carried him back toward their vehicle 3. While Lou Yu remained unconscious, Liu Qi'an worried about his recovery and blamed himself for not having accompanied him on the patrol 6.

After hearing an explosion at the hospital, he rushed back with the food he had bought and discovered that Lou Yu had awakened with greatly strengthened lightning powers. His excitement turned to concern when Lou Yu explained that shelter at Yong'an Base depended partly on cooperating with Lou Quan's ability research 7 8. When Lou Quan's subordinates arrived to collect the newly awakened captain, Liu Qi'an clenched his fists and appeared ready to fight until Lou Yu stopped him 9.

Snow Bird and the Base Defenses

Liu Qi'an witnessed Snow Bird deliver prey to Lou Yu during a convoy mission. He subsequently spread news of the gift around Yong'an Base, helping turn the encounter into a widely discussed rumor 14 15. When the other three teammates later witnessed Snow Bird's behavior themselves, he silently celebrated having his earlier account vindicated 44.

During the spring monster tide, Liu Qi'an and the rest of the squad participated in every defensive battle and all sustained injuries. He recuperated at home with an arm in a splint and sling and several cuts on his face 64.

Still unaware of Snow Bird's relationship with Lou Yu, Liu Qi'an eventually proposed that the creature treated their captain like a favored child. The explanation convinced his teammates and gave Lou Yu a convenient cover story for Snow Bird's unusual affection and repeated gifts 78.

Meeting Tao Qiu and the Children

Lou Yu eventually revealed that Snow Bird was Tao Qiu, his partner and the father of their three children. Liu Qi'an was astonished by the revelations that Tao Qiu could take human form, bear children, and accelerate plant growth. He also immediately questioned whether bringing the family to the base would expose them to Lou Quan, only to learn that Lou Quan already knew 175.

Liu Qi'an and his three teammates eagerly accepted an assignment to help harvest wheat in Tao Qiu's valley and meet the family. After helping with the harvest, they celebrated the news that Tao Qiu and the children would move permanently to Yong'an Base 182 184 186. On their arrival, Liu Qi'an joined Huo Lan and Chen Lin in persuading the family to stay at the team residence and helping them settle in 188.

Appearance

• Large, sturdy build: His strength allows him to take cargo-loading and unloading jobs. He is described as the biggest member of the squad 56 64.
• Temporary battle injuries: Following the spring defensive battles, he wears a splint and sling on one arm and has several small facial cuts 64.

Personality

Liu Qi'an is loyal, protective, and quick-tempered. He reacts sharply to perceived mistreatment of Lou Yu and becomes openly angry when enemies endanger other humans. Although prone to confrontation, he accepts John's practical objections when the squad has no leverage to demand Lou Quan's help 6 9.

He is also talkative, expressive, and eager to prove his intelligence. His teammates frequently tease him for being foolish, while he takes great pride in his explanation for Snow Bird's favoritism. His trust in Lou Yu makes him willing to abandon suspicions rather than press his captain for answers 14 23 77 78.

Food readily cheers him up. After Eldest Cub declines his attempt to become a godfather, his disappointment disappears before he finishes eating a large black pear. His delight at Tao Qiu's permanent move includes the prospect of enjoying his crops at every meal 184 186.

Abilities & Skills

Physical Strength

• Strong enough to earn money loading and unloading cargo 56.
• His size ordinarily makes him an attractive target for mutated monsters, although they favor Lou Yu when the ability user is nearby 64.

Military and Wilderness Experience

• Has extensive wilderness survival experience from his time as a soldier and mercenary 56.
• Can use weapons and coordinate with his teammates in combat; the squad members explicitly acknowledge that they lack supernatural abilities 69.
• Performs lookout duties during wilderness operations and participates in Yong'an Base's defensive battles 14 64.

Relationships

• Lou Yu — Captain and longtime comrade. Liu Qi'an followed him from Central Base out of gratitude for saving his life. Their closeness also allows him to tease Lou Yu about romance and challenge his claim that he treats recruits as gently as children 8 12 57.
• John — Teammate and housemate. John checks Liu Qi'an's temper with practical arguments and reminds him to take his turn cleaning the kitchen and washing dishes 6 23.
• Huo Lan — Teammate with whom he exchanges teasing banter. During their recovery from the monster tide, she responds to his gloomy questions about life's meaning by feeding him candy 64.
• Tao Qiu / Snow Bird — His captain's partner. Liu Qi'an initially misunderstands Snow Bird's affection for Lou Yu, then enthusiastically welcomes Tao Qiu into the team's life and praises his cooking 78 175 184 186.
• Eldest Cub — Liu Qi'an hopes to become his godfather, but the child politely declines. He nevertheless seeks opportunities to spend time with him, arranging to sleep beside him during the valley visit and later drawing him into repeated games of five-in-a-row 184 185 206 207.

Notable Quotes

“Those bastards have gone mad. To deal with their fellow humans, they actually dared to deliberately draw mutated monsters over. If things had gotten out of hand, how many innocent people would have died?” 6

“That's not a monster. That's an immortal, like those all-powerful immortals in old TV dramas!” 175