Main Characters
The main protagonist of the story. He used to be called Li Xiangyi, the young leader of the Sigu Sect and the most skilled martial artist in the world. After learning that his adoptive older brother, Shan Gudao, was killed, Li Xiangyi confronted Di Feisheng, the leader of the Jinyuan Alliance who was suspected of holding Shan Gudao's corpse, and challenged him in a duel at the East Sea. However, after the battle, Li Xiangyi found himself washed on the shore, bruised and poisoned. He headed back to the Sigu Sect headquarters only to learn that the people were dismayed by his actions, blaming him for the casualties. At this point, Li Xiangyi realized the error of his ways and decided to quit his role as a martial artist.
He changes his name to Li Lianhua after seeing the poem on the Pudu Temple walls. As Li Lianhua, he's known as a traveling doctor who was said to raise the dead. Though those two patients aren't really dead, he just dug them out. During those ten years, Li Lianhua's main objective is to find Shan Gudao's corpse and give it a proper burial. At the start of the show, he eventually meets Fang Duobing and helps him in solving cases.
- The Ace: As Li Xiangyi, he's regarded as the number one martial artist in the world. As Li Lianhua, his deductive skills are a huge contribution in solving cases and conspiracies. Though deep down, Li Lianhua sees himself as a Broken Ace due to his illness.
- Blood from the Mouth: Once he realizes he can no longer suppress the Bicha Poison, Li Lianhua tends to choke out blood from his mouth towards the end of the story.
- Consummate Liar: He tends to do this a lot, most especially to Fang Duobing to mislead and prevent him from figuring out his true identity.
- Deadpan Snarker: As Li Lianhua, he tends to be sarcastic to the people around him including his enemies. When he meets him again after ten years, Di Feisheng recognizes that Li Lianhua has changed a lot.
- Famed In-Story: As Li Xiangyi, everybody sees him as a legendary warrior. As Li Lianhua, people regard him as a miracle doctor.
- Genius Bruiser: He's a skilled martial artist with great deductive skills.
- From Hero to Mentor: This is Li Lianhua's role as he helps Fang Duobing hone his deductive skills and martial arts.
- I Hate Past Me: He admits that he's not fond of his younger self as he remembers how arrogant and uncaring he was.
- I Just Want Tobe Normal: He wants to have a peaceful life not before finding his senior's body, taking care of Fang Duobing who is his senior's son, and dealing with his former enemies.
- Incurable Cough of Death
- Obfuscating Stupidity: To keep his true identity hidden, Li Lianhua has to pretend that he's not good at martial arts.
- Secretly Dying: The Bicha poison has slowly affected his body which would end up killing him. His unique skill, Yangzhouman, suppresses the poison from spreading his entire body. However, it's only temporary, and as noted by Abbott Wuliao, he only has ten years to live.
- Sherlock Scan: He is very observant as he was able to correctly guess that Fang Duobing is from a rich family by just looking at his clothes. His skills became very useful in solving cases with Fang Duobing.
- That Man Is Dead: He declares that Li Xiangyi is dead and lets go of any connection he had with the past after reflecting on how bad his behavior was back then.
The deuteragonist of the story. He is the young master of the Tianji Hall and the son of the Secretary of the Ministry of Finance. He was engaged to Princess Zhaoling but he ran away from home and secretly joined the Baichuan court where he would work as a detective.
- Book Smart: He's well-versed in poetry and literature and has good investigative skills. Unfortunately, he lacks the street smarts that would help him survive. His time with Li Lianhua helped him become more adept in the martial arts world.
- Butt-Monkey: Poor Fang Duobing keeps getting ditched by Li Lianhua and trolled by Di Feisheng.
- Hero-Worshipper: He admires Li Xiangyi after a small encounter with him when he was young.
- Long-Lost Relative: Episode 13 reveals that he's Shan Gudao's son and his mother is his second aunt.
- Rebuilt Pedestal: Initially, he's a fan of Li Xiangyi. But after learning that Li Xiangyi is Li Lianhua who had been putting up lies to him, he nearly loses his trust in him. However, when he eventually learns that Li Lianhua is slowly dying from the Bicha poison, his anger toward him disappears and vows to cure him. At that point, Fang Duobing understands what his master has been going through.
- Runaway Fiancée: He leaves his home and becomes a detective because he doesn't want to marry the princess and live a life in the royal court.
- Undying Loyalty: To Li Lianhua. After learning the truth about him which includes his health condition, Fang Duobing would do anything to keep his master alive.
- Wide-Eyed Idealist: He thinks being in the martial arts world is an exciting adventure. Unfortunately, his nativity can lead him to the wrong turn which is why Li Lianhua tries to teach him that the martial arts world isn't sunshine and rainbows.
Leader of the Jinyuan Alliance. He is determined to be the number one martial artist in the world and desires to defeat Li Xiangyi in a duel. Like Li Xiangyi, he disappears from the public after their duel as he spends ten years recovering, leaving his lieutenant Jiao Liqiao to manage the Jinyuan Alliance. After learning that Li Xiangyi is alive under a new name, Li Lianhua, he swears to have a fair rematch with him after learning that Li Xiangyi was poisoned by finding a cure.
- Anti-Villain: Despite his harsh methods, he has noble causes such as planning to free all the children from the Di Family Fort and helping Li Lianhua find a cure for the Bicha Poison.
- Let's Fight Like Gentlemen: When he learns that Li Xiangyi was poisoned ten years ago before their duel, Di Feisheng vows to cure him so he can have a fair duel.
- The Rival: He sees Li Xiangyi as a rival in the martial arts world and wants to beat him so he can claim himself as the world's best martial artist.
- Secret-Keeper: He's the second character who knows that Li Xiangyi is Li Lianhua but decides to keep his identity a secret.
- Token Evil Teammate: Among the trio, he's the most questionable as he resorts to using threats instead.
Sigu Sect
- Posthumous Character: He was dead before the show started. Subverted later when it turns out he faked his death.
- Her Heart Will Go On: Despite being in a relationship with Xiao Zijin, she still has some feelings with Li Xiangyi especially when she sees Li Lianhua.
- Loving a Shadow: She only falls in love with Li Xiangyi on the surface level.
Baichuan Court
- The Atoner:
- It's All My Fault: He feels guilty for being responsible for Li Xiangyi's poisoning and disappearance. He believes that if Li Xiangyi was alive, he would never forgive him for his actions.
- My God, What Have I Done?: Poisoning his former master sets a chain of events where Li Xiangyi loses his duel against Di Feisheng and spends the next ten years suffering.
- Unwitting Instigator of Doom:
- Gender Flip: In the novel, Shi Shui is a man.
- This Is Unforgivable!: She would never forgive Yun Biqiu for poisoning their master. Even though he was spared by the other members, she's still angry at him.
