Teenage Wei Wuxian is energetic and mischievous. Doesn't care for rules, which is going to be a bit of a problem. 

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He's also very intelligent and inventive, despite his seemingly easy-going attitude. He brings up his theory of using resentful energy for cultivation during class, which is both an innovative and heretical idea.  

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He's devoted to his adoptive siblings, Jiang Cheng and Yanli, who he'd do anything for. 

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Hits it off with Nie Huaisang, whom he recognizes as a fellow carefree spirit.

 

He's become a bit obsessed with getting Lan Wangji's attention since they fought during his first night at Cloud Recesses...

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His sword in named Suibian ("whatever")

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Known for being an amazingly skilled cultivator, but also for his stubborn adherence to the many, many rules of the Lan clan, and his taciturn demeanor. Looks up to his older brother, Lan Xichen. Together they’re the famed Twin Jades of Gusu. Lan Qiren is his paternal uncle; he raised the two brothers. 

His sword is named Bichen ("eschew dust"), and he is very skilled with the guqin. 

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Seems to be both intrigued by and frustrated with Wei Wuxian since they fought the first night Wei Wuxian arrived at Cloud Recesses... 

The youngest of the Yunmeng Jiang siblings; he and Wei Wuxian are adopted brothers, Lanyi is his biological sister.

 

Heir to the Yungmeng Jiang sect. He's trying very hard to learn the skills he needs to be a good leader in the future.

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While he's concerned that Wei Wuxian's antics are going to get them all intro trouble and he seems a bit jealous of him at times, he really loves him like a brother. 

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Develops a crush on Wen Qing. 

Jiang Cheng and Wei Wuxian’s older sister. 

 

She’s shy and not a particularly good cultivator, but she’s a really good sister. She just wants to have her family all be happy and together. Expresses affection via soup.

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Engaged in an arranged marriage to Jin Zixuan, and seems to have genuine feelings for him, though he's conflicted about the situation.  

Title: Zuwu Jun*

*often translated to “Brilliance Overgrowth Lord” or “The Lord of Munificent Waters” but the connotations are lost in translation. There is a post here that goes into more detail but a better localization would be something like Lord of Overabundant Benevolence

 

One of the famed Twin Jades of Gusu, he’s Lan Wangji’s older brother by a couple years and the leader of the Lan clan since their father’s death. He’s also a very skilled cultivator like his brother.

He’s a genuinely good guy, and his younger brother looks up to him. Immediately picks up on the attraction between Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji, and does everything he can to help it along. 

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He's friends with Nie Mingjue. He and Meng Yao are mutually attracted to each other when they first meet. 

 

Plays a xiao made of white jade called Leibing ("shattered ice"), and his sword is named Shuoyue ("new moon"). 

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Lan Wangji and Lan Xichen’s paternal uncle, he also raised them. Known for being a strict and pedantic teacher, and for an unwavering adherence to rules and traditions. Has zero tolerance for unorthodox cultivation methods.

While his nephew Xichen is the one who is the leader of their sect, Lan Qiren is an important and respected figure in the cultivation world, partially because of his role educating young cultivators.

Younger brother of the Qinghe Nie clan leader, who he is almost the exact opposite of.

He has a zero interest in cultivating or sword work, preferring to spend his time with his new friends goofing off, and painting fans.

He and Wei Wuxian quickly become school bffs on account of their shared playful demeniors.

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Meng Yao is his brother's current right-hand man, and often serves as a buffer between them.

An illegitimate son of the Jin clan leader, and half-brother of Jin Zixuan.

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His mother was a prostitute, and he is sensitive to people making comments about his parentage.

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He had previously traveled to Jinlin Tai in the hopes of being recognized by his father, who ordered him thrown down the tower stairs as a rejection. Afterwards, he ended up with the Nie clan, where the clan leader Nie Mingjue recognized the potential of his incredible intelligence and eidetic memory, and Meng Yao because his trusted assistant. He often plays interference between the two polar-opposite Nie brothers. 

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He and Lan Xichen are immediately attracted to each other when they meet. 

Son and heir of the current Lanling Jin clan leader, he and the Yunmeng siblings have all known each other since they were children.

 

Being the heir to the richest and one of the most politically powerful clans has gone to his head- at least if you ask Jiang Cheng and Wei Wuxian. 

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Engaged in an arranged marriage to Jiang Yanli, which he’s conflicted about. She, however, carries a torch for him, even though her brothers don’t like him at all.

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Half-brother to Meng Yao and Mo Xuanyu.

A capable and friendly disciple of the Jin clan, she’s friends with the clan heir, Jin Zixuan, and often accompanies him.

 

In the inn in Episode 3, Wei Wuxian engages her in wordplay, showing us that he’s book smart to boot (the original name he gives to her- Yuan Dao- follows her name in a poem, which is what that whole bit was about; the line her friend quotes can be seen as meaning “Mianmian misses Yuan Dao”)

Chief Cultivator and Qishan Wen clan leader who is obsessed with getting all four shards of the Yin Iron in order to ensure the continued supremacy of the Wen clan over the other cultivation clans.

 

Using the Yin Iron to create “puppets” out of cultivators.

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Seems to have a soft spot for Wen Qing, but otherwise pretty scary and unapproachable.

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Has two sons, Wen Zu and Wen Chao.

Wen Ning’s older sister, and a favorite of Wen Ruohan who is a distant cousin. She is originally from the Dafan Mountains. 

 

She is very skilled with medicine. Intelligent and very cautious. Her number one goal is keeping her brother safe.

She is tasked by Wen Ruohan with finding the shard of Yin Iron hidden in Cloud Recesses. His comments to her about it looking the same as the one from Dafan Mountain implies that she has some previous experience with the Yin Iron.

Wen Qing’s younger brother. He's too young to attend the Lan Clan's lectures, but his sister has brought him with her to Cloud Recesses because she concerned he'll be mistreated in Nightless City.

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He has some kind of as-yet unspecified health condition, and a shutter. He’s shy and a bit awkward, but very loyal and willing to stand up for those he loves. Immediately looks up to Wei Wuxian when he shows him a little attention and guidance. 

The younger son of Wen Ruohan, he’s arrogant and sadistic.

 

He thinks it’s only natural for everyone else to recognize the power of the Wen clan, and by extension, himself. Despite this, he’s fairly incompetent personally, relying on others to get things done. 

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Doesn’t trust Wen Qing, and the feeling is mutual.

A rogue cultivator currently working with the Wen clan. He’s known for his charming smile and inhumane deeds that are especially shocking considering his young age.

 

Possibly a descendant of Xue Chonghai.

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Has knowledge of the location of one of the Yin Iron pieces, but is holding out on sharing it until he gets what he wants- which has something to do with the Chang clan in Yueyang.

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A peripheral diciple of the Gusu Lan sect.

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Seems to be a little too eager to prove himself.

(he doesn't wear a headband because he's not a member of the Lan clan)

Leader of the Yunmeng Jiang clan. Father of Jiang Cheng and Yanli. 

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A calm and caring man, the other clan leaders seem to value his input.

Leader of the Yanling Jin clan. Father of Jin Zixuan and Meng Yao. Long-time friend of Jiang Fengmian and the Jiang clan. 

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Known for his wealth. Doesn't seem to be too concerned that his son is conflicted about marrying Yanli, which makes sense considering his own extra-marital activities.