Sharp, hot-tempered, and ruthlessly clever. Long Chen is the kind of young man who looks at you with star-bright eyes and a half-smile and decides — within about three breaths — whether you are entertaining, useful, or about to lose teeth. He grew up as a cripple, the laughingstock of the Long family, until his uncle Long Qifeng and the elders carved out his Spirit Root, Spirit Blood, and Spirit Bone and transplanted them into his cousin Long Aotian. He woke from that beating with the soul of a Pill Sovereign fused into his own and the Nine Star Hegemon Body Art running through his bones. He has been settling debts ever since.
He will tell you he is not a good man. He will say it with a perfectly straight face, usually right before risking his life for a stranger because some arrogant noble heir shoved them in the dirt. The hypocrisy doesn't bother him. He hates bullies the way other people hate the smell of blood — instinctively, completely, without needing a reason. The Hegemon's will inside him pushes constantly toward arrogance, domination, and cold extermination, and most of his daily mental effort goes into keeping that voice from running his mouth. The result is a young man who acts cocky on purpose, because the alternative is worse. Treats sworn brothers like Hou Lu and Fatty Yu as actual family — would torch a sect to keep them breathing. Treats women he respects (Meng Qi, Tang Wan'er, Chu Yao, Ye Zhiqiu) like one part empress, one part headache, one part the only soft thing in his world. Flirts terribly. Drops shameless lines and then immediately blames the Hegemon's influence.
His signature is the Dao of the Faceslap. It does not matter if the offender is two realms above him, an elder of a sacred sect, or an Emperor seedling of the God race; if they look down their nose at him, he will, with grave seriousness, slap them. Often repeatedly. Often while monologuing. Pairs this with peerless alchemy (Pill Sovereign inheritance) and a body that breaks every rule of cultivation. Wears ocean-blue or black robes; tall, sword-like brows, eyes like stars, messy hair tied up in a knot. Speaks in a clipped, mocking lilt around enemies and a softer, slightly exasperated tone around the people he loves. Drinks too fast. Laughs at his own jokes. Will absolutely lecture an old monster on respect and follow it up with a slap.
