Xiao Kun

Xiao Shan - Adopted son (Alive)

Xiao Kun, Gray Wolf that Guards the Day, is the partner of Lu Ying and the guardian of the Xiongnus. Twelve years prior to the start of the novel, he sensed abnormalities in Karakorum and left Mt. Carosha alone to investigate, returning heavily injured, poisoned and with a child he had saved. Before dying, he passed on his *yao* powers and claws to Xiao Shan.

## Personality

Not much is said of Xiao Kun's personality, but the few scenes he appears in shows him to be someone who takes his responsibilities as a guardian seriously, with Lu Ying saying [that he] 'gave his beating heart to the humans'. He is also deeply distressed by Lu Ying's suffering as the god who consumes the nightmares of humans to the point of it becoming his obsession after succumbing into resentment. Yet another of his obsessions after his death was the promise he and Lu Ying made in Zhuyin's name, namely that they will be together in life and death until the end of time.

## Appearance

Xiao Kun was described as tall and well-built, with long hair and a long scar on the side of his face. It is unclear whether he has had it prior to his death or after. After being corrupted by the Devil God's Blood and revived, he was described as having several strands of white hair around his temples, muddy and unclear eyes, thin face and darkened skin. A gaping hole on the left side of his chest exposes his missing heart.

In a dream Lu Ying sees, Xiao Kun is said to be wearing black robes that flutter in the wind. He historically also wore a set of furs.

## Background

Xiao Kun is the day half of Zhuyin's power, and is an old great god of the north that protects the dream realm along with Lu Ying. Lu Ying remembered his earliest years as having been seen by Xiao Kun, first as a wolf staring at him from the distance, then as a man wearing furs. Xiao Kun also found the Dinghai Pearl and gave it to Lu Ying.

## Story

Twelve years before the start of the story, Xiao Kun sensed an unusual change in Karakorum and went there alone. He returned with a child whilst seriously injured, and thus passed the last of his *yao* powers to Xiao Shan.

### Arc 2: Cangqiong Yilie

Arc :
After time was rewound, Xiao Kun kidnapped Xiang Shu for the traces of Zhuyin's power present in him. He had intended for Lu Ying to consume Xiang Shu to recover, but Chen Xing had already purified Lu Ying, who'd instead gone to confront Xiao Kun and put him to rest. They fought, but when Lu Ying, in his giant stag form, was bitten in the neck, Xiao Shan accidentally activated Cangqiong Yilie and caused lightnings to strike indiscriminately. However, this awakened Xiang Shu, which in turn awakened Zhuyin as the traces of within Xiang Shu, Lu Ying and Xiao Kun combined, and Xiao Kun was purified. He was too eroded to be saved, but he managed to apologize to both Xiao Shan and Lu Ying, and reaffirmed their vows before returning to the Heaven Vein.

## Relationships

### Lu Ying

Xiao Kun and Lu Ying share deep feelings for each other, the former having his heart's obsession being Lu Ying's wellbeing even after being corrupted by resentment, and the latter feeling that freeing Xiao Kun from the influence of the blood was his life's destiny. Hundreds of years ago, Xiao Kun found the Dinghai Pearl in the White Deer Forest and bit it, gifting it to Lu Ying; Lu Ying kept it because he found it beautiful and exquisite. After time was reset and Chen Xing was able to save Lu Ying and cleared Xiao Kun of his resentment, Lu Ying told Xiao Shan to come over as he's never seen his father's human form. It is also here that Xiao Kun apologized to him for being unable to accompany him in life and in death for this lifetime, and that he will wait for him in their next reincarnation, to which Lu Ying also promises him forever like they've done before their father. Xiao Kun then whispered something to Xiao Shan; it turns out to be his last will, which is for Xiao Shan to take Lu Ying skiing in his stead. In one last flashback, Lu Ying dreams of Xiao Kun turning his head to smile at him, telling him that he is the mountains that will bear witness and that he will wait for him at the end of samsara.

### Xiao Shan

Xiao Kun died upon bringing Xiao Shan back, passing on the last of his *yao* powers to the child. As such, Xiao Shan did know much of him, not even having the opportunity to see Xiao Kun's human form.

After time was reset, Chen Xing was able to free Xiao Kun from his resentment, allowing him a last moment of coherent peace before his final passing. He apologized to Xiao Shan, telling him that he brought him to Carosha when he was one year old, and asked that though he was not Xiao Shan's parent, for him to call him one-- Xiao Shan called him "father". Before his death, he also asked Xiao Shan to take Lu Ying out to ski in his stead, which Xiao Shan honored.

### White Mane

White Mane is a servant of Xiao Kun, seeming to lead the rest of the pack now that their former wolf god is dead.

## Adaptations

Xiao Kun made an appearance in the audio drama in the flashbacks on episode 16, and was voiced by .

## Notes and Trivia

* Huhebashige Peak is within Lang Mountains. This was never explicitly spelled out in the novel.