Chapter Text
Li Ling (Nezha)
The Nezha is a popular Chinese deity with a backstory that varies depending on if you choose to read the Taoist version. In short, the Nezha is worshipped in modern society by families who want to make sure their children grow up to be respectful to their family and honour their parents.
Nezha was born as a mortal man but was identified as blessed by a monk, Taiyi Zhenren, who said he was a gift from the gods. He is later taken on as a pupil under Zhenren, becoming a respected scholar and martial artist. Nezha was born to a respectable family and had two older brothers, however, despite his upbringing he was still very mischievous and prone to cause trouble, annoying his father to no end. This is seen when he accidentally kills Ao Bing, the son of the Dragon King of the East Sea (who is called Ao Guang), unaware of his own strength. Ao Guang demanded Nezha to pay with his own life, threatening to flood the world if he did. Nezha obliged, giving Ao Guang his bones and skin as payment. However, with the Dragon King in possession of some of his mortal body, Nezha was unable to pass on in peace. Bothered by his predicament, he went to his mother in her sleep and asked her to build a temple for him to rest in. His mother built him a small temple only for it to be destroyed by his father, who felt deep regret and remorse for the death of Ao Bing and the suicide of his son, Nezha. He destroyed the temple with a hammer.
Angered by his father’s actions, Nezha was filled with revenge. The monk, Taiyi Zhenren, took pity on his formal disciple and reincarnated him by crafting a body from lotus roots. After breathing life into Nezha, Zhenren blessed him with a Mythical Fire-Tipped Spear and the Legendary Wind Fire-Wheels. Armed with a deadly weapon and wheels that could move at incredible speeds, Nezha set out to find his father. His father, who did not want to die at the hands of his son, sent out his middle son to defend him from Nezha, only for the immortal to strike his brother down in rage. Just as Nezha was about to kill his father, two Buddhas appeared, causing Nezha to hesitate with the final strike. They reminded him that killing his father would go against the Buddhist Five Precepts, even if his father treated him unfairly by destroying his temple. Remembering the teachings of his master, Nezha then reconciled with his father, hence the respectable nature and familial honour people pray for.
As for Li Ling, he was born into a rather prestigious family as the youngest son. As for how many older siblings he had, it’s not specified. Because of his family’s rank and reputation, he grew up to be rather self-centered and a brat. He was over sheltered and protected, but it’s important to note that Li Ling wasn’t selfish. It was very hard for him to make friends. Like the Nezuha, he was very brash, mischievous, a bit disrespectful, and rather boisterous and loud after developing his Esper abilities at the age of eight. The Nezha represents the rebellious youth that eventually learns to surrender and respect their elders. The same can be said for Li Ling. A constant headache for his mentors and superiors, any attempts they’ve made to quell his attitude have all failed. That is until Raven, a member of the Esper Academy, made the effort to keep him in check. She made rules specifically tailored to Li Ling entitled “Raven’s Forty Rules.” And even if he struggled to keep them all, constantly testing her patience. Eventually under her guidance, Li Ling slowly learned what it really meant to be a hero. At the academy, he befriended and trained with fellow Espers Lewis and Tang Xuan, two individuals he would seldom admit he cares for very much. Older and wiser now, Li Ling is driven by a desire to protect people, understanding now that as an Esper, he has a mission to become a figure of hope people can look up to.
After considering Li Ling’s back story as well as the lore for the Nezha, Li Ling is quite true to the source material. In his design, he wields the Fire-Tipped Spear and gets around on the Wind Fire-Wheels. As depicted in the art of old, Li Ling has four floating arms that surround his frame quite like the Nezha in old works. Li Ling’s rowdy and boisterous attitude is also accurate to the Nezha in his youth, and his struggle with making friends is true as well considering the fact that the Nezha was quite lonely in his childhood, hence his first friend, Ao Bing. It also explains why Li Ling is so thankful to have Lewis and Tang Xuan as friends after joining the academy. Raven acts as a character similar to Zhenren, a guide for Li Ling that he holds in high regard. As for what Li Ling represents, a witty, rule-breaking youth who respects those stronger and wiser than him, it’s safe to say his accuracy to the myth and story of the Nezha gets my golden seal of approval.
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Random Observation(s): In the myth, Nezha’s parents were named Li Jang and Lady Yin. Li Ling sharing the same last name as Li Jang could be purely coincidental but is pretty neat!