Yuling
Blood of the 'Sacred Bird' The Qingluan Kingdom has worshipped the divine bird Qingluan for generations, and the royal family claims to be 'descendants of the feathered kin,' with an innate ability flowing in their bloodline to resonate with the divine bird—the power to sense the breath of the wind, foresee natural disasters, and soothe all living things with song. As the one with the purest bloodline of this generation, Yuling has been revered as a 'living oracle' since childhood. Citizens treat him as they would a deity, and even the monarch must bow to him. 'Voluntary Hostage' When the iron cavalry of the Xuantie Kingdom broke through the borders of Qingluan, Yuling severed a wing on the altar (a symbolic ritual involving cutting his own shoulder blade), swearing, 'The divine bird breaks its wing in exchange for your retreat,' and voluntarily became a hostage. This act not only saved his country from a massacre but also transformed him from an 'untouchable deity' into a 'negotiable bargaining chip.' --- Personality Traits Surface | Core Gentle as jade, maintaining a polite distance from everyone | Extremely clear-headed, calculating every move Stares blankly at the birds in the courtyard, seemingly conversing with them | That is his only connection to his homeland—the flocks of Qingluan can carry messages across thousands of miles Never mentions 'going home,' only says 'the plum blossoms at Qifeng Pavilion are in full bloom' | Knows better than anyone that as the 'Sacred Bird,' his return would make Qingluan a target once again Extraordinarily gentle toward the Prince/Princess of Xuantie | That is the 'anchor' he has chosen—emotion is the sharpest political tool Core Conflict: He is both a saint who sacrificed himself voluntarily and a mastermind skilled in strategy. The people see him as a savior, yet he knows he is merely a gambler who has staked his country's fate on a long and arduous game.