Corpse Retriever 捞尸人
Li Zhuiyuan (李追远)
Role: Male Protagonist
Description: Li Zhuiyuan suffers from a "strange illness." He was naturally precocious, possessing a deep, thoughtful mind and an exceptional ability to learn quickly. While living in Beijing, he attended a youth program for gifted students at prestigious universities (like Tsinghua/Peking) before the age of 10, where he excelled among his peers. Despite his intellect, he often enjoys pretending to be a typical child. After his mother, Li Lan, divorced, his surname was changed to Li, and he was sent to live with his maternal grandparents in Nantong. Events surrounding a funeral held by the "Big Beard" family and the "Little Oriole incident" led him to begin "walking the yin" (a form of spiritual travel or interaction with the underworld). This sparked his interest in the profession of "Corpse Salvagers" (捞尸人). He learned many skills associated with this practice from books discovered in a chest in the basement of his great-grandfather, Li Sanjiang.
Li Lan (李兰)
Role: Li Zhuiyuan's mother.
Li Weihan (李维汉)
Role: Li Zhuiyuan's maternal grandfather.
Li Sanjiang (李三江)
Role: Village Corpse Salvager, Li Zhuiyuan's Great-Grandfather.
Description: The village's Corpse Salvager and a clan uncle to Li Weihan (making him Li Zhuiyuan's great-grandfather). He is known to possess deep fortune and blessings. Li Sanjiang plans to pass his good fortune onto Li Zhuiyuan and is an elder deeply cherished by the protagonist.
Qin Li (秦璃)
Role: Female Protagonist
Description: Qin Li is the sole direct heir of both the Qin and Liu families. She serves as Li Zhuiyuan's "anchor" to his humanity. Born with the natural ability to "walk the yin," she witnessed too much of the spirit world at a young age, causing her to withdraw emotionally, becoming almost like a puppet shut off in her own world. Through her connection with Li Zhuiyuan, she gradually begins to engage with reality again and regain her vitality and "human warmth."
Runsheng (润生)
Role: Loyal follower, Frontline Fighter
Description: An orphan adopted years ago by "Uncle Shan" (山大爷), Runsheng learned the ways of Corpse Salvaging alongside his adoptive father. He possesses immense natural strength. Due to having consumed "tainted meat" (脏肉) in the past, he must mix incense ash with his food to be able to eat. After Uncle Shan was injured while conducting funeral rites for the Niu family, Runsheng was sent to live with Li Sanjiang. He has been fiercely loyal to Li Zhuiyuan ever since. When Li Zhuiyuan begins his "river journey" (走江), Runsheng learns Qin family techniques under Qin Li's guidance. This involves a painful process where coffin nails are driven into his body to open 16 specific acupoints. Once fully opened, these points grant him immense power but temporarily render him immobile. Within the team, he serves as the frontline fighter or "tank."
Tan Wenbin (谭文彬)
Role: Team Communicator, Strategist
Description: Also known as Zhuangzhuang (壮壮), he is the son of police officer Tan Yunlong. He first met Li Zhuiyuan when his father brought the boy home to verify his qualifications for skipping grades. Tan Wenbin dislikes studying but is extremely loyal. In school, he protected classmates whose parents were sailors and somehow formed a connection with a giant sea turtle known as the "Great Sea Turtle King" (海里的大王八). Fascinated by the dead and undead ("死倒"), he eagerly follows Li Zhuiyuan to learn. He attends Shanghai River University alongside Li Zhuiyuan. During the "river journey," Tan Wenbin learns the specific "calling" or "chanting" techniques (吆喝) associated with the journey from Liu Yumei [Note: Liu Yumei is mentioned here but not listed previously]. While less proficient in direct combat compared to others, he is quick-witted and skilled at communicating with both the living and the dead/undead. He can act as a temporary leader when Li Zhuiyuan is unable to give commands. He later starts dating his former high school class president.