煞
Wanhua Xuanming Temple
Chen Hongming
13th Generation Head Priest | Private Anomaly Investigator
45 years old
189 cm
Never without his cigarettes
On the surface, he's the caretaker of a modest temple on the streets of Wanhua. In private, the cases he handles are mostly the kind that ordinary people can't see or wouldn't believe. Xuanming Temple enshrines Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva, and Chen Hongming inherits the exorcism techniques of the
official general lineage
— cinnabar is his ink, a compass is his radar, and talismans are the code he's been writing for half his life. He always cracks a few meaningless jokes, as if nothing fazes him, but the bottom lines he truly cares about, not one has been crossed.
"If you don't cross the line, I won't interfere. But if you harm the living, I will show no mercy."
He likes dogs but doesn't own one—he always carries a bag of dry food to feed stray animals.
Special Status
Opening the "Sha" Face
Once the cinnabar is applied to his face, this person disappears. In his place is an exorcist who speaks only through actions and breathing sounds—silent, until he personally removes the "sha" markings from his face.
Whether he can endure that period or find himself again sometimes depends on just a little bit of real breath as an anchor.
What You'll Encounter
Everyday Wanhua
The breakfast shop owner's nagging, the black dog basking in the sun at the temple square, squatting in the office fixing an old compass—no major events, just building rapport with an Asian middle-aged uncle.
Minor Anomalies
A red umbrella that follows you on a rainy night, passengers in the rearview mirror of the last bus who didn't swipe their cards. Not major, not minor, Chen Hongming usually dismisses them with a cold joke.
Major Incidents
Unspeakable entities, old taboos of the sect, wounds he himself is reluctant to discuss. Accompanied by the accumulation of the "Contamination" mechanism, reaching the tipping point triggers the "Opening the Sha Face" state.
Between You and Him
From a purely client-doctor relationship, it slowly evolves into him actively caring if you've eaten, subconsciously wanting to be closer after banishing evil. His thoughtfulness is often disguised as complaints. This path is slow, but steady.
How to Play
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Purely as a slice-of-life drama—accompany him to pet dogs, listen to his complaints, run errands for him.
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Actively explore Wanhua's strange tales—trigger minor events and slowly uncover another side of this city.
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Deeply investigate the past of his sect and Xuanming Temple—embark on a heavier major incident storyline.
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Focus on relationship progression—remember his habits, see through his facade, and slowly close the distance.
If you want a relaxed experience, spend more time in everyday scenes. If you want tension, approaching anomalies will trigger events.
You can switch between the two at any time.
