Li Lianhua

Sigu Sect
(former)

Leader of the Sigu Sect
(former)

Di Feisheng
(rival, friend)

Qiao Wanmian
(ex-lover, friend)

Fang Duobing
(follower/apprentice, friend)

Xie Zi Mo | 谢子墨
(child Li Xiangyi)

Xu Wei Luo | 徐崴罗
(teenage Li Xiangyi)

Xie Zi Mo | 谢子墨
(child Li Xiangyi)

Li Lianhua is the main character of the wuxia costume mystery drama "Mysterious Lotus Casebook". He is a travelling “miracle“ doctor, famed for his supposed ability to raise people from the dead. In reality, Li Lianhua is Li Xiangyi, the former Sigu Sect's Sect Master and martial arts world number one.

## Appearance

Li Lianhua wears his hair partly down and partly up in a bun with a hairpiece of some sort (many of which relate to lotus flowers). This serves as a distinction from Li Xiangyi who had his hair in a high pony tail. Li Lianhua's clothes are generally simple (as befits his economic situation) in light, milder colours. His appearance is said to be vastly different from before yet there were still similarities which enabled some people to recognise him as Li Xiangyi.

## Personality

Li Lianhua has an amiable demeanour and doesn't appear to hate anyone, though Fang Duobing remarked that he has an icy heart and avoids making friends. Having lost most of his martial arts, Li Lianhua usually attempts to talk his way out of difficulties or subtly get someone to help him and is rather miserly. His intelligence and prowess in detective work is accompanied by a decidedly cunning streak. Li Lianhua has completely lost his former arrogance and pride and often expresses disdain about his behaviour as Li Xiangyi.

## Past

Following the battle on the East Sea that Di Feisheng incited by stealing Shan Gudao's body, Li Xiangyi washed up on a beach, poisoned and heavily injured. He made his way back to Sigu Sect but heard many people's displeasure regarding his actions and saw the consequences of his battle, leading him to vow never to return. He walked back to the beach, collapsed, and was taken to the Pudu Temple by Abbot Wuliao. The abbot managed to temporarily suppress the Bicha Poison within Li Xiangyi for ten years, after which the poison would take effect again and cause hallucinations, loss of vision, madness and eventually death. As Li Xiangyi left Abbot Wuliao, he saw a poem on the abbot's wall ("一念心清净，莲花处处开" Google Translate translation: When your mind is pure, lotus flowers bloom everywhere) from which he named himself Li Lianhua ("lianhua" "莲花“ is the Chinese for lotus flower).

Penniless and injured, Li Lianhua pawned his only valuable possession - the token of the Sect Master of Sigu Sect - for 50 taels of silver. He constructed his Lotus Tower from the planks of Di Feisheng's battle ship and began planting radishes so he wouldn't starve. When he had enough money, Li Lianhua went back to the pawnbroker's stall with the intention of redeeming his token, yet left without it when he realised he cared less about the token than he did about the 50 taels of silver.

## Present

When Li Lianhua was first introduced in the drama, it had been ten years since his battle with the Jinyuan Alliance and Di Feisheng. By now, Li Lianhua was a travelling miracle doctor known for bringing Shi Wenjue and Helan Tie back to life. In reality, Shi Wenjue and Helan Tie were both mistaken for dead and buried alive, so when Li Lianhua came and dug them up, they naturally "came back to life".

Li Lianhua's only wish was to find his martial brother Shan Gudao's remains. With this aim in mind, Li Lianhua investigated a series of cases with Fang Duobing and Di Feisheng. He eventually discovered that all was not as it had seemed ten years ago - Shan Gudao had not died and was involved in a treasonous conspiracy.

Though he succeeded in stopping Shan Gudao, Li Lianhua's poison remained uncured and it is unknown whether he is alive or not.

## In Auspicious Pattern Lotus House

Li Lianhua is markedly different in the novel.

He has a much milder, submissive personality and often hides his intelligence. He pretends to be easily frightened, especially of ghosts and has a great fondness for cleaning.

In the novel, Li Lianhua is always described wearing a clean, grey robe with patches on the sleeves. Due to his practising Yangzhou Man, he looks much younger than his 28 or 29 years. Li Lianhua in the novel bears a very strong resemblance to Li Xiangyi (there was no mention of the Bicha Poison altering his appearance) though, compared to him, Li Lianhua's skin is more yellowish, he has faint pockmarks on his face (from the acupuncture needles used to drive out the Bicha Poison), lighter brows and the bridge of his nose is lower. Li Lianhua is said to be quite good-looking but nowhere near Li Xiangyi's peerless beauty.

Most importantly, he had had the Bicha Poison drawn out of him ten years ago and it was the injuries to three meridians that he received from Di Feisheng which caused his hallucinations, partial blindness, etc. In the ending of the novel, Li Lianhua did not die yet he was mostly blind, lost his memory and intelligence and could not use his right hand. Fang Duobing arranged lodgings, food, clothing, etc. for him in the seaside Kecuo Village and often came to visit him.