NovelPantheon

Li Pingyi

Mortal town administrator and aide to the young family headLi Family branch of Li Yesheng

Biography

A clever heir without a spiritual orifice

Li Pingyi is the legitimate eldest son of Li Xiewen and grandson of Li Yesheng. As a child he becomes the default leader among the younger relatives, explaining local affairs and spirit-field work to them; his friendship with Li Yuanxiu deepens when they mourn together at Chen Erniu's funeral. When the family discovers that Pingyi has no spiritual orifice, his father plans for him to follow Yuanxiu and help carry on the family's work. As an adult, Pingyi assists Yuanxiu in managing the Clan Affairs Courtyard, where he carries messages, supports town administration and follows his father's counsel that their lineage's future depends on serving the family head carefully. (Chapters 155–156, 182, 203–205)

The Thunderfire incident and its aftermath

While carrying a wooden box and slip for Yuanxiu, Pingyi is caught in the Thunderfire blast from the Yu Family's pearl; the explosion destroys both his arms and kills Yuanxiu. After waking, he asks first about the young family head and accepts that he had carried the pearl that caused the disaster. Overwhelmed by grief and shame, he takes his own life. His father delivers Pingyi's final message and the charred slip to Yuanjiao; years later, Xuanxuan says Pingyi died from shame over the incident and left no son to continue his branch's line. (Chapters 211, 215, 969)

Appearance and personality

As a boy Pingyi is described as clever and becomes a confident leader among the children. In adulthood he grows taller and more robust than his father, and later wears a thick mustache. He is dutiful in family service and close to Yuanxiu, but his mortal status and responsibility for the fatal delivery weigh heavily on him. (Chapters 155, 167, 182, 210, 215)

Abilities and cultivation

Pingyi has no spiritual orifice and remains mortal. His family relies on his intelligence, knowledge of the towns and practical work: he assists Yuanxiu with family registers, letters, maps and the affairs of Mount Yue. His injuries in the Thunderfire blast leave him without arms, after which he dies by suicide. (Chapters 155, 182, 203, 211, 215)

Relationships

  • Li Xiewen: His father and mentor. Xiewen trains him in town affairs and entrusts him with the family's service to Yuanxiu. (Chapters 155, 182, 215)
  • Li Yuanxiu: His close friend and the young family head he serves. Their bond began in childhood and shapes Pingyi's grief after Yuanxiu's death. (Chapters 156, 182, 211, 215)
  • Li Yesheng: His grandfather and predecessor in the branch's leadership of Lijing Town. (Chapters 155, 182)

Items

During the Thunderfire incident Pingyi carries a wooden box and slip for Yuanxiu. The box contains the pearl whose blast kills Yuanxiu and maims Pingyi; Pingyi is acting as its courier, not as its owner. (Chapter 211)