Title: Yiling Laozu (Yiling Patriarch*)

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*while laozu means ancestor, as a title it's given to leaders or founders of religious sects, which is more of what his title is going for than "patriarch"

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Infamous for being a necromantic, heretic user of demonic cultivation and betraying his clan. Has become something of a boogey man since his death 16 years ago. 

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He has been brought back to life by Mo Xuanyu, who sacrificed himself body and soul in exchange. In return, Wei Wuxian has to kill four specific people, which corresponds to the cuts on his arm. 

 

Currently disguised as Mo Xuanyu while he's trying to avoid being recognized by people he knew before he died. (It is important to note that unlike the book, Wei Wuxian is not in Mo Xuanyu's body and he looks like himself, hence the need for the disguise)

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He was “close” with Lan Wangji before his death.

Mischievous, but also very intelligent, if not particularly wise. He is very skilled at using talismans, in addition to playing the flute which he uses to control spirits. He created a relic (Yin Hufu) that caused a lot of problems in the cultivation world, in addition to creating rituals and other magical objects, like the Lure Flag used by the Lan disciples at the Mo Manor. 

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Title: Hanguang Jun (Light-bearing Lord)

An important member of the Gusu Lan sect. The young Lan disciples look up to him. 

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He and Wei Wuxian were “close”.

Known for being very reserved (or arrogant, depending on who you ask) and righteous. Also has a reputation for showing up at just the right time.

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He and Jiang Cheng don't seem to get along. 
 

His sword is named Bichen, and he is very skilled with the guqin. Almost always dresses in white.

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Title: Sandu Shengshou*

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*Sandu is a Buddhist concept of the three poisons (ignorance, greed, and aversion/hate) that keep a soul from achieving Nirvana. Shengshou means a skilled practitioner. Whether this means that Jiang Cheng is a skilled practitioner of the three poisons, or if he's mastered overcoming them, is open to interpretation. Interestingly, hate is personified as a snake, which is a recurring motif in his weapons' designs.

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The bad-tempered leader of the Yunmeng Jiang clan, and responsible for Wei Wuxian’s death. He and Lan Wangji don't seem to like each other very much. Jin Ling's maternal uncle.

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He blames Wei Wuxian for what happened to his family, and tortures and kills anyone he thinks is practicing demonic cultivation out of fear that they may be Wei Wuxian returned from the dead.

He carries Zidian (“purple lightning”), an electrical-like whip. One of its powers is that it is able to remove a soul that has possessed an unwilling body, which is why he uses it on “Mo Xuanyu”, thinking that he is unwillingly possessed by Wei Wuxian. 

A young man with some cultivation training, he sacrificed himself in order to bring Wei Wuxian back to life. In return, Wei Wuxian has to kill four specific people on Mo Xuanyu's behalf. 

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Was considered to be mentally ill, and wore a mask or heavy makeup his whole adult life, which enables Wei Wuxian to “pass” as him, since no one remembers what he actually looks like.

Under the care of the Mo family, who are abusive towards him. They keep him locked away in his room, supposedly because of his mental illness. 

 

A bastard son of the previous Jin clan leader, he received some cultivation training at Jinlin Tai, but was kicked out for some (as yet) unknown reason.

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Mo Xuanyu's abusive family (maternal aunt, uncle, and cousin). They're resentful of the opportunity that Mo Xuanyu received to train in cultivation, thinking that their son would have been better suited for it. 

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They keep him locked away in his room, supposedly because of his mental illness.

One of the younger generation of Lan disciples. Sent to deal with what they think will be a run-of-the-mill ghost at the Mo Manor. 

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Raised by Lan Wangji. Friends with Lan Jingyi.

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Compassionate and thoughtful.

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For some reason, he thinks he recognizes the song that Wei Wuxian plays on the blade of grass at the Mo Manor. 

The 15 year-old Jin clan heir. 

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His parents died when he was a baby as a result of Wei Wuxian’s actions.

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He’s got a chip on his shoulder about being an orphan, and he’s pretty spoiled.

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Jiang Cheng’s nephew. Being raised by his uncles, Jiang Cheng and the current Jin clan leader and Chief Cultivator, Jin Guangyao.

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Knows Mo Xuanyu from Jinlin Tai, and because of the mask he assumes that’s who Wei Wuxian is, and treats him accordingly. (Technically, Mo Xuanyu is his uncle)

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One of the younger generation of Lan disciples. Sent to deal with the what they think will be a run-of-the-mill ghost at the Mo Manor. 

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Straightforward and careless, he tends to speak what's on his mind, whether it's socially acceptable or not.

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Friends with Lan Suzhi.

Title: Gui Jiangjun (Ghost General)

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An undead Fierce Corpse and Wei Wuxian’s former right hand man.

 

16 years prior, Wei Wuxian had been told Wen Ning was executed and his ashes scattered, so his showing up in the Dafan Mountain is a bit of a surprise.

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As a Fierce Corpse, Wei Wuxian can control or influence him by playing music. He's also nearly indestructible and very powerful.